Evening journal., 1897-11-10
WAVES HIGH AS HILLS
Will Be Stopped BY New
Harbor of Refuge.
WATER SHOOTS UP OVER 200 FEET
AT THE PRESENT DELAWARE
E'REAKWAT'ER, WHICH WAS
ONE OF THE FIRST IN AMERICA.

NJ The PRESENT DELLA w AXE
EREAKWATER, WHICH WAS
ONE OF THE FIRST IN AMERICA.
Hughes Brothers e Bangs. Of This
city, who have The contract for the
new haubor of refuge at Delaware
Breakwator, have resumed their work
after the effects of the recent gale
with barges tugs and bulk-head build
ers.
The now work IS not meant to eclipse
ilhe offices of the old Breakwater. but
50 to add to it's facilities thGt the fral-
est CRAZE may have absolute security In
TINE Of storm.
The Delaware Breakwaier. being the
Oldest structure OF the kind in this
COunyry, has furnished data to the gov
ernment engineers for many similar
structures, several Of which are now
being built. 1t was originally modelled
after European break waters, which Ii
much resembles. but the experience
gained has modified the plans Of re-
cent structures. Ii is not now Thought
necessary to have the foundation pOr-
tion so wide in proportion to the super
structures as in the earlier plans.
The cost Of such works has been
much reduced since the introduction
Of dredging machinery and vessels for
handling the materials. Stone Us now
fcated over the line of the work end
dropped out Of the bottom of the scows
where in early days it required much
labor to lead III upon sailing vessels
and to unload it and put IL in place
Much larger stones can now be used IN
the superstructure, as they can be
handled readily by steam machinery.
WATER SHOOTS UP 200 FEET.
In MANY places where very larg,
blocks are required they are made o.
|, cement in the position they are to re
main. In France cement blocks weigh
ing more than 100 tons have been pu
into such structures. II is especially
necessary where the wave action 4
very marked thlt the stones i'm tn
! supuTstructure shall be large. In som
places where great waves strike a per
d, pendicular wall the water has been oh
served to shoct up 200 feet. fallin
upon The top Of the stones and tendin
.. to wash them off. In sCme cases larg
o stones have apparently been pulled on
y OF the wall into The sea.
Several explanations have been 0fferc
b. for this, persons thoroughly informe
inclining to The belief that the impag
Of the wave forces the air through IN
il. interstices between the stones to an al
. space at the back. and that the eXpar
!. sive power of the air pushes The ston
= seaward.
TO STOP A GREAT WAVE.
oil Ocean waves, themselves. are
Lrfr "a I1 A t n
l. waves are frequently thirty feet hig
a and the highest are forty-five fe-t o
e Cape Horn waves have been observe
fifty feet high. The energy OF gre,
g waves has been calculated. from mea,
i i,Temeniss win a dynamcmete-, to
N as much as 5000 pounds per squa
5. fCot applied along the entire depth
the wave. which gives some idea Of n
T. force which bieakwa.er mutt eus.ai
IF The waters receding from The br6a
" water carry with them any lO-
sr stones. The activity OF the waves
Y. felt to a certain depth, below which q
r wster is quiet.
'r This necessitates a ccnstruct''
It. which is divided into three parts; fir
so the foundation, or the part lying belc
The depth Of wave action, second, in
IN portion lltluuluE lut utpll lIom u
IN commencement Of wave action to Z
high tide level; third, the superstru
ct ture, or portion above high tide iev
n The portion lying below wave acti
as is made Of small stones lying on Z
hcdom with just the slope On the sid
or i'm which they naturally lie VIII
he dumped on Inc line CT The breaSwao
TO This is all idle material and perfOrl
he no office except as a support In Anne
.e- can waiers the surface OF this pOrti
Ie- would be from - to Is fecs beii
ay the surface. varying with the amp
NJ tude of the tide, which is from three
ed eight feet
M The slope OF the mas serial en- the 81
ond portion will be modified by !
wave action. A Tecedlrg wave will r
the stones down the side to poll
ay where they will be no further affec'
ay by the waves or by gravity Tn
ras slopes are roDreseuted by a pr9porti
ks, for the lowest portion Of / cn ~; u
m is a slope ! hieh and IL horizon
ut The portion affected by wave action
ell lew high tide has a slope Of en- 3. z
mt suDerstructure is very mudh steer
snt viz. 7-10 on 1. The suDerstruc.ure
lot width On The top Of 20 feet.
..,,,-,r ,rr,rr, NUNS NON nurI,