Evening journal., 1916-07-22
TO make Delaware
BAY BEST HARBORS
Improvements Proposed at
Breakwater Mean Perfect
Safety for Ships
.$I,83O,00O SET
OUT IN THE BILL

OUT IN THE BILL
II the recommendation sent yester-
day by the War Department 70 Con-
gress are followed the Delaware Bay
will become the safest and most ac-
cessible harbor Of refuge on the At
lantic Coast. The report submitted
by General Black. chief of-the engi-
neers. urges that extensive improve
ments be made to the Delaware
Breakwater. The program calls for
an expenditure OF StS30,00O which
also will take care Of the deepening
of the harbor. II Is suggested that
100000 be appropriated for the ini-
tiai expenditure. and the rest placed
at the disposal Of the department to
be used as needed for the completion
of the work.
The report Of the secretary's rec
concentrations has aroused deep in
terest among those who have been ex-
pending their efforts for the develop
ment of Philadelphia into a port of
the first consequence. They regard
II as Of the greatest commercial value
70 philadelphia and viii urge the un-
reserve adoption of the report as
presented 70 Congress,
Expenditure Explained.
Just what the expenditure Of 81
$4,000 by the United States Govern
ment in improving Delaware Bay as
a harbor Of refuge will mean. was
explained yesterday by r. c. Sutton,
chief clerk Of the United States Engi-
neer's Office. Philadelphia.
THE object OF extending the break
water said Mr. Sutton, lis to create
larger and safer haven of refuge
for vessels seeking shelter from storm
or while in the harbor awaiting
orders or for other reasons. The
present breakwater affords little or
no protection from northwest storms
or from heavy ice descending the
bay. The proposed extension will
remedy these defects and provide the
safest and most accessible harbor of
refuge on the Atlantic seaboard"
AZ present the Delaware Break
water Is 5000 feet long. The report
submitted 10 Congress calls for an
extension Of 6 600 fest toward the
Delaware shore The addition 10 the
present wall will be Of the rubble
mound type OF construction, which
means that stones of all sizes from
the great boulders down, will bC
dumped into the bay and allowed tC
hnd their own resting place, making
sea wall Of the most substantial
character. The work would consum
two or three years. II the build'nl
Of the wall is directed by Congress
the work will be under the direct su
pervision Of the Philadelphia ofic'
pf government engineers
For Better AnchOrageS.
To provide improved anchorage IA
iiities for ships. deepening VIII bs
Undertaken at various points on the
shoal area. twenty-foar ftet is the
feDth prescribed. When the work Is
completed. the bay viii Become a
most attractive harbor for Atlantic
coast shipping.
The work Of deepening the harbor
Fould cost $4,000. Filling in be-
IWttN tue iN' Na'Ao dAoh VIII h' UT
iertaken IL Congress approves the
Expenditure
When asked II the proposed improve
ments had any bearing ON the strength
1ninr Of our coast defenses, Mr.. Suttoi
faid that the good which would resul
would he largely commercial He sai
d was Of the utmost advantage &
Philadelphia.
They Wanted More.
The survey upon which was based tn
report OF the War Department wa
made hv Colonies J. +. Kuhn and G.. :
Zinn. They urged n much larger pr'
rram Of improvements than was agree
upon Their report recommended an e.
oenditure Of s2.5045S4.
This included a channel 400 feet wild
md is feet deep al mean low water
iront Of the wharyes az Lewos, for
ength Of GOO feet with turnin
,asin f00 feet square AZ the upper en-
o accommodate commerce The cost Z
his improvement was estimated Q
sl3o94O. The officers urged the COZ
truction Of n solid breakwater approx
natelv 1926 feet long along the NORTH
vest line. costing 81 .030. .l44: and IN
iredrinV of areas in the hsrbor Of refup
% depth Of Is and "a feet, costin
ssl7 500
Colcnels Kuhn and Zinn reported tina
he growing commerce Of Lewes Just
He'd the digging Of the channel and SAT
hat the shallow water and limited are
n deep water in the harbor Of refug
was a source Of danger 10 vessels