Evening star., 1901-08-28
Gen. Gillespie's Inspection of the
Government improvements
new BREAKWAfER A SUCCESS
Character of the Work and Its
Rapid Construction.
COLONEL RAYMOND PRAISED

General Gillespie, chief of engineers, who
has just concluded an inspection of the
government improvements in Delaware bay
and river. Is enthusiastic over the excel
lence Of the work performed in that vicin-
fty under the supervision Of Colonel Chas
w. Raymond, corps OF engineers.
The two breakwaters at the entrance to
Delaware bay" said General Gillespie to-
day. "are types Of the earliest and latest
methods Of marine breakwater construction
adopted by the United States. The old
Delaware breakwater was commenced In
1923 and completed In 1898 1t is about one
mile long, contains 1881, ,5S7 tons Of stone
and cost about s. S07, coo. The harbor which
it covers has a very limited area, and as 1t
has been slowly shoaling during long
period, while the average draft Of sea-go-
ing vessel has been increasing, 1t has not
now sufficient depth for the purposes OF
commerce. 1t Is still Of great use as a
harbor of refuge for small coasters and
fishing vessels.
New Harbor Of Refuge.
''The new harbor Of refuge In Delaware
bay was designed in 1892, with view to
provide convenient and sheltered anchor
age for vessels of deep draft. The harbor
Is formed by a stone breakwater about
mile and half long, covering an area OF
552 acres with minimum low-water depth
of 80 feet and an additional area OF -
acres with minimum 1ow-water depth OF
"a feet. A row of ten piers above. the up
per end of the harbor protects tt from Ice
descending the bay. The construction OF
the breakwater and piers WAS authorized
by Congress in the act of June 3. 1886.
Construction was commenced by the con-
tractors Hughes Brothers q Banks OF
Syracuse, N Y. on May 4. 1897. and at the
present time the work is very near COM
pletion. 1t is of great interest to engineers
on account Of the character Of the struc-
lures and the rapidity with which they
have been built. The brcakwater contains
about 1,464. 40 tons of stone. which have
been placed in position in about torty-four
working months, or at an average rate OF
about SO, 800 tons per month In the old
breakwater the greatest amount OF stone
deposited in one year was about 52.O0O tons.
In the new breakwater the greatest amount
deposited In one year was 450. .f6O tons. and
62, 719 tons have been deposited In single
month.
Character of the Work.
.'The work consists of substructure OF
random stone rising to the level Of mean
low water, surmounted by superstructure
of very heavy stones, carefully laid In posi-
tion. so as to form compact wall twenty
feet wide at top and forty-one feet above
mean low water. The characteristic fea-
ture Of this superstructure is it's steep ex-
and careful study of the storm-developed
slopes Of the old breakwater. The success
of this light cross section in resisting
storms suggests the probability that break
waters OF this type have heretofore been
built of much better dimensions than are
necessary when the stones are properly dis
posed. If this view Is confirmed by expert
ence in more exposed localities a great saw
ing in the cost of harbors will result.
Great Saving I'm Cost.
''The works of the new harbor of refuge
were estimated by a commission Of engf-
neers in 1892 to cost $4. 4.865,00O. They will
be fully completed in November, 1901, for
about 81 239. .3334. This great saving In cost
Is due to the low price for the work C$1. 1875
per ton in place.. as well as to the wise
supervision exercised by Col. Raymond over
the details of the work In order to ex-
ecute the work at the lowest cost and at
the rate OF speed required, the contractors
provided the most powerful and efficient
plant both at the breakwater and at the
quarry. This plant and the methods fol-
lowed in conducting and measuring the
work will doubtless be fully described In
the final report. The last breakwater was
begun and executed by Col Raymond, an
engineer Of the highest character and at
tainments, and well known here through
his service as Engineer Commissioner sew
eral years ago."