The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24

compressed air breakWater accom-
plished this.
IL ran my pipe along the edge OF
the pier down into the water at the
outer end, then along the bottom sea-
ward for a distance of a hundred feet.
and to this | connected at right angles
another pipe 800 feet long. the mains
lying right on the bottom. The depth
of the water averaged forty feet and the
sea bed was extremely rocky. Tho pipe
was perforated every six inches and the
air pressure was only twenty pounds,
just enough to overcome the hydrostatic
head. This produced smooth water.
MY first practical installation was
made at Crutch Island Maine, and the
following report made by Mr.. Moon,
the quarry superintendent, tells its own
story. According to him: on the day
OF the trial waves were rolling so high
that the spray was flying over the tops
OF the trees along the shore. Fifteen
minutes after I turned on the air. I
could paddle around in a canoe in the
smooth water that the air breakwater
furnished"
MIR. Brasher believes that his system
can be applied TO the situation on the
New Jersey coast. and he claims that
plants of this sort could be built and
maintained and do effective work at a
lower coast than the OUTLAWS involved
IN building bulkheads and jetties that
last but q little while. Undoubtedly air
compressor equipme nts capable Of sup
lplying sufficient air would he very ex-
ponsivc, but tho submerged piping
would be relatively inexpensive. and
lying upon the scabcd would not he OK
ftRa.I ia, tho hIntra ~ h. hraa L
crs.
The ncNbihty Of the invention points
to other valuable fields Of employment,
and Mr. Brasher has suggested some Of
these. one Of the hardest things in
dealing with stranded vessels Is to pro-
tcct them from the pounding waves dur
ing salvage operations. To refoat
them it is necessary to remove some Of
their cargo. and money is saved If this
can he done by transfer to lighters in
stead Of being dumped overheard. But
lighters cannot lie alongside a ship SO
exposed If a sea is running, and i'm order
to afford this needful shelter Mr. Brasher
would make use of temporary air
eakwater
Again, dredging operations arc fro
quontly called for in exposed places
hut this work can he done only when the
sea Is substantially calm. with his
breakwater, however, Mr. Brasher says
such drcdgcrs could operate during the
toughest weather. Further. the cree
ton 81 permanent breakwatcrs and piers
or the building Of lighthouses and dams
might 90 on without interruption, no
matter what the state Of the weather. II
sheltered by an air breakwatcr: and
this young engineer asserts that light
ships can ride out the toughest ga, in
an artificial lagoon of calm sea produced
10y suitably disposed apparatus Of this
character"
1t l. common knowledge that lives are
sacrificed every year along tho coast
because Of the difficulties encountered
in launching rescuing boats from the
shore. The life savers themselves give
Of their own numbers in this toll Ac-
cordingly Mr. Brasher suggests the use
Of his equipment 50 that the surf near
the beach can be quoted and the life
boats can get away more certainly and
without the handicap with which their
crews have now to battle.