Evening journal., 1896-10-27

The continuous appropriation made
by the last River and Harbor bill for
the purpose of constructing the break
water is s466O 600. and it was based on
the estimate of the engineer commits
sion. Not more than 25 per cent of
the appropriation can be expended in a
single year; though the secretary OF
war can award a contract for the en-
tire work. The estimates of the COM
mission of engineers was as follows:
Breakwater, s3,S63 1913; 10 ice piers,
S377 800; engineering and contingen-
cies, $424,127; total s4655. .0Oo. That
estimate was made in 1891. but con-
tracts have been made since that date I
for stone for other breakwaters and for
dikes at a much lower figure than that
upon which the estimates Of the engi- /
neers were based, so that there Is lit
tie doubt but that theappropriation will
cover the cost, If not considerably ex-
ceed it,
Colonel William p Craighill. now
chief of engineers; Major G. w Ray
mond and Captain w. II. Bixby COM
posed the commission appointed under
the River and Harbor act of 1880. They
were instructed ito examine and re-
port on the project of national har-
Dor of refuge for deep draught vessels
near the mouth OF Delaware bay" In
1891 the commission made a prelimi-
nary report. and in January. 1892. a
final report. the recommendations of
which were adopted by the War De
partment. In this report the commits
sion speaks of the necessity of har-
Dor OF refuge in the vicinity which was
recognized and provided for by the con-
struction of the Delaware Brealxwater.
projected in 1923. After referring TO
the immense value that work has been
to commerce, the report speaks of its
inadequate area and limited depth.
prohibiting its use by deep draughtv YES
sells Of the present day. 1t willalways
be of value to small vessels, the re-
/ port says, but no extension can be
made to it to adapt it 10 deep draught
! vessels.
In speaking of "The Shears" the
report says that a harbor Of refuge
/ there would be conveniently located
| for communication with the shore and
the main ship channel. The cOnstruc-
/ ton of a breakwater on the line of
| least depth along the eastern branch of
The Shears" would be In the line OF
/ the direction of the ebb currents, and
would not be liable TO cause undesira-
bic changes in the adjacent shoals.
Chas. E. Baird NJ. D.,
A detailed survey was made in 1891
/ over an area of six square miles. This
work was difficult. as the weather was
unfavOrable and the locality is much
! exposed, but 1000 soundings were
made, half of which were located by
| triangulatiOn. BOrings made since
/ indicate that the bottom is hard sand
/ overlaid by heavy mud. A comparison
with the survey of 1881 and the coast
survey chart of 1S43 show that there
have been no changes in the location
of the east fork of The Sheers" and
unimportant changes in the west fork
A NEW ISLAND A POSSIBILITY.
In it's report the commission speaks
of the defencs OF the har-
Dor, saying that while the
commission is not charged with that ,a
piers could be utilized with unusual ad.
vantage for the purpose of defence. II
is understood that this reference was tC
a suggestion made by one of the as
sstants in the United States engineers
office in this city that an island be built
instead of ice piers, upon which fortih-
cations could be placed, defending not
only the harbor OF refuge, but Philadel-
phia and the towns of the bay and
| river. 1t is asserted that an island OF
considerable area could be constructed
as cheaply as the ice piers could be
built
1t is not known how long a time
would be required for the construction
of the proposed breakwater, but under
the continuing contract system it would
not be subject to the neglect which for
years characterized the building of the
/ IlDIQrrnrn Drao 1rrrra HI
the work would probably 20
on steadily, the same as the
| work of improving Philadelphia har-
Dor has proceeded since 1898. A few
years would probably suffice for its
| construction, unless some unforeseen
obstacles intervened. The work will be
under the direction of the United States
engineer at this city, and Major Ray
mond has been instructed TO advertise
for proposals. so that in all probability
something will be done next year. An
immense plant will be required by the
contractor securing the work, and sew
! eral months time will be necessary in
which to assemble the necessary YES
sells, scOws, tugs and machinery.
! NEGLECT OF THE BREAKWATER
Although projected in 1928, there
/ WNAt DtlAlAn VI years at a llilt WMtn
no appropriations We're made and no
work done on the Delaware Break
water. The original project has been
completed, but years ago it was modi-
fed to provide for the closing of the
gapway, and that work still remains
unfinished, though contracts have at
last been let to complete. Many ves-
sci has been carried ashore in north
east storms by the great seas that raced
through the unclosed gapway There
nave been times when the harbor be-
hlnd the breakwater proper has been
so nlled with ships that late comers
nave been compelled to anchor in the
me OF the gapway, and take the risks
OF being driven ashore. After the
work Of filling the gapway was begun
II was left at a height of low water for
so long time that a number OF
schooners were wrecked on the stone
pile at high water.
In 1898 Major Barnard, then sta