The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-29

According to an extensive report just issued by the government, the value of Bridgeport's water-borne commerce has shown a phenomenal increase in the past few years. Coal, and iron and steel products. form a large item in the business of the port which attained a value of over $67,- 000,o0O in 1914.
 The report in full follows:
 Bridgeport harbor is about 57 miles northeast of the Battery, New York City, and about 1 6 miles southwest of New Haven Harbor. It consists of a. shallow bay, about 1 mile wide at the mouth and 1 1-2 miles long, Into the extreme northwest corfaor of which empties the Pequonnock river, a small tidal stream navigable for about 1 nile- Into the northeast corL ner flows another small stream about threetfourths of a mile long known as Johnson River. Midway between these two streams is Yellow Mill Pond, a tidal basin about 1 mile in length. Cedar Creek and Burr Creek also form parts of the harbor.
 The principal portion of the harbor consists of the Main Channel, which is an extension of the Pequonnock River. This channel is now 800 feet wide and 22 feet deep at mean low water from Long Island Sound to a point just inside the inner breakwaters and Is feet deep from that point to the Stratford Avenue Bridge. The Pe- quonnock River channel has a width of from 100 to 230 feet and a depth of IS feet from the Stratfords Avenue Bridge to a point nearly 1 miles be- yond. Yellow Mill channelS extending from the main channel to the head of Yellow Mill pond, is about 1 mile long, 100 feet wide, and 12 feet deep. Johnsons River channel extends about 1 IA miles from the main channel and is 100 feet wide and feet deep. Cedar Creek channel is 2 1-2 miles in length, 100 feet in width, and 12 feet in depth The mean range of tide is 6:5 feet.
 Railroads-Bridgep is served by one railroad, the New York, New Ha- ven & Hartford. It is on the main, or shore, line of this railroad as we'll as on a branch line extending to the northern part of the State.
 Steamship Lines-Bridgeport is served by the following regular lines of steamships:
 New England Steamship Co., which maintains between Bridgeport and New York a daily (except Sunday service of two boats in each direction. One boat carries freight only; the oth- CT carries both freight and passengers.
 Merchants Steamboat Co.,. which operates one freight boat daily (ex- cepL 0unQayJ between br1QS0pOrC ana New York. This line was originally a competitor of the New England Steamship Co.,, but is now under the same control, namely, that of the New York, New Haven & Hartford, Rail road.
 Port Jefferson Steamboat Co.,, which operates between Bridgeport and Port Jefferson on Long Island. The boat of this line carries both freight and passengers and makes one trip daily during the summer season and two trips weekly during the winter. This boat carries large quantities of farm products, shellfish, etc, and is used considerably for autom obi1e traffic in the summer. .I
 The close proximity of Bridgeport to New York enables the steamship lines to make quicker and prompter deliveries than the railroad can make. For example, the freight boat of the New England Steamship Co.,, leaves Bridgeport at l a. m., docks at New York at a. m., is unloaded by a. m., is loaded again and leaves by II a. m. and arrives in Bridgeport at 3:15 p. m. The freight and passenger boat