Milford chronicle., 1912-11-01
The DELAWARE BREAKWATER
As a National Harbor of Refuge. An
Absolute Necessity Upon the Com
Pletion of the Panama Canal.

Without belittling the Importance of
the tariff question as an important issue
in the present political campaign. the
residents of the cities located on the
Delaware River and Bay are vitally in
terested in a matter, which to them is
OF vaster Importance i; and that is in the
election to Congress of men who are
pledged to the further improvement of
/ the Delaware River Channel and 10 the
completion of the National HarbOr of
| Refuge at Lewes, Delaware.
In recent years it has become more
and more apparent that such a harbor
Is an absolute necessity: not alone for
| the development of the maritime inter
ests of the cities located on the shores
of the Delaware Bay and River. but
because of the shelter it would afford
to vessels in times of need. especially
during the early Fall. winter and stormy
season.
President Taft, when Secretary of
War, recognized this necessity and
urged the completion of such a harbor
OF refuge by continuing the present
Delaware Breakwater from its norther-
ly end to the Delaware shore.
A recommendation was made to Con-
gress Tor an adequate appropriation,
but some reason or other the matter
was dropped and not until Michael
DonOhO became a member of Congress
from the Fifth Pennsylvania District
was the question of enlarging and ex-
tending the Breakwater revived. Con-
gresham DonOhO was quick to perceive
the value of the harbOr of refuge to all
maritime interests-nOt alone those do
ing business in the Port of Philadelphia
.and he has steadily pressed this mat /
ter until the present time, when it looks
as though the new Congress will take
favorable action. In fact Congressman
Donoho has practically pledged himself
to this work, and with the united sun
port of the citizens, especially the mer-
chants and traders located along the
Delaware River and Bay, vessel owners.
pilots and all others interested in navi-
cation. there will be no difficulty in OBJ
tanning the required appropriation. /
1t IS matter of record that twenty
years ago Congress appropriated Four
Million six hundred and sixty-ive thous-
and "a, ,665, ,0O0) Dollars for the construct
lion of a sufficiently large breakwater
20 protect the HarbOr from storms but
'nly about fifty per cent of this amount
vas expended, and what should have
,een the most complete Harbor of Re
'uge in the World considering location
ma natural advantages) is now partial
'efuge and an incomplete ,breakwater.
1t is cOnservatively estimated that
hree thousand craft (from the smallest
motor boat to the largest battleshio)
'ould ind perfect security at one time
n the water area covered by the
Breakwater improvement.
Descriptive maps of the proposed
National Harbor Of Refuge at Lewes.
Delaware, besides comprehensive detail
d information will be furnished upon
pplication in writing to Congressman
lichael Donohoe. Representatives,
Washington, d. C.
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Another important element that enters
he agitation for better and safer har-
or facilities is the approaching com /
letion of the Panama Canal, with its :
ost to the United States Government
Three Hundred and seventy-fve {