The sun., 1898-01-19
THE NEW BREAKWATER,
Work Stopped tor the Season Owing
To Ice IN ti,c Bay.

Work Stopped tor the Season Owing
To Ice in nc Bay.
Special to THE Sun.
LEwEs, Del, Jan. Is.-The activity
which has marked the work of con :
structing the new Breakwater in the
Delaware Bay opposite hewes, for the
past six months, has ceased.
The work discontinued for the re-
malnder OF the winter season on account
OF the disadvantages in carrying it on
caused by ice, which cut up the vessel
property of the contractors so badly that
during the ice period it pays them to
stop the work.
The Delaware Breakwatcr which for
several years past has been continually
increasing in prominence in the com
mercial world rs u port of call for
vessels from all parts Of the globe, is the
most centrally located point between
the great cities of the Eastern States.
where vessels can make ia harbor, and
the consignors and consgnees OF car
goes shipped to this country from for
eign ports, to be sold after arrival, want
the cargo at the most convenient point
to all the principal ports of discharge,
in order to save time in its delivery,
as very often the delay OF twenty. four
hours means the paying of several
hundred dollars additional frcghtage.
Hence the advantage of the Delaware
Breakwater us a waiting for orders'
place, the inadequacy of1he present har-
Dor became more and more apparent with.
the growing prominence
For years the enclosed space
inside the present breakwater has been
filling in until it will barely shelter q
vessel of more than ten feet draught and
is consequently no protection for the
heavy draught foreign trade vessels
which are compelled to drop anchor out
further in the bay without any protec-
tion from the gales which at times raw
ages the coast, sweeping over this harbor
and which have lett so many monu-
mcnts OF their disastrous work, in the
shape OF old hulls along our beach.
Recognizing the need of better protec-
ton here, Congress at the instigation Of
the various commercial bodies of the
country, passed an act OH
January 5,h, 1882, authorizing u
Board Of Engineers to make a survey and
estimate of the coast of Il break water
that would meet tht requirements. This
was the first step taken in the matter.
In 1892, September 10, the Board of En-
gineers completed their work and re-
ported that fora structure 5000 feet in
length, with ice piers, they estimated il
would cost 81 6G5, 900.
On June 3, 1896, the River and Har-
Dor act contained an appropriation of
80 900 for the work and authorized the
Secretary of War to make a contract for
the whole work under appropriations to
be made from time to time. The
contract was awarded to Hughes
Bros. 4 Bangs, of Syracuse, N.
y, on February :, 1887, to
to complete the work exclusive Of ice
piers for Sl,G3S, 1888, or about 80 per
cent. Of the estimated cost Under the
contract they must deposit 2S0,00O gross
tons OF stone yearly ia sufficient appro-
prlation to cover cost is made. With
sufficient appropriation they should
the work by the year 1901,
with a total deposit Of ,3S4 900 tons OF
rock. For the fiscal wear ending, June
3d. 1893, the sum of $3D4 ,}}}}4 was appro-
priated for it. The work now stands
with 1900 feet or nearly one-quartcr of
.he substructure completed with total
laying of l25, 600 tons of stone, and i'm
It's present state somewhat breaks off
;he fury of the sea and affords some pro-
actio