HISTORY OF BREAKWATER
HARBOR AT THE CAPES OF DELAWARE.
The Thursday, February
2, 1826, Wilmingtonian And Delaware Advertiser, a
Wilmington, Delaware
newspaper, reported that the citizens of Delaware have
solicit
the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States in Congress, to renew
attention of Congress
to the construction of a Breakwater, or artificial harbor, in
the
neighborhood of the Capes
of Delaware.
Such protection for our
shipping is much wanted, refer to a 1823 report of
commissioners acting
under instruction of the Secretary of War, which was laid before
Congress.
To being the subjects
importance to the fore, the citizens of the Delaware wish to
recite a few facts,
hence;
The Delaware Bay,
presents the only outlet to the Philadelphia and other ports
adjacent to the Delaware
River, abounds in shoals. Shipping is often assailed by
sudden and violent gales
of winds and during the winter months , beset with floating ice,
which to meet these
dangers, skill and experience are often exerted in vain.
The amount of property
jeopardized by the causes exceeds thirty millions of dollars
each year.
For the 300 mile distance
between the Virginia Capes to New York Harbor,
here is not a single
harbor or place of refuge for vessels navigating the dangerous
coast.
The extent of this danger
is that between the 1st of January , 1824, and, 1st
of December
1825, 51 vessels were
shipwrecked, within ten miles of the proposed Breakwater.
One tenth of the duties
received at Philadelphia for a four year period would afford
the protection we which
we solicit, and add the immeasurable distress and loss of
life, we hope congress
will pass the granting of funds for the construction of a
secure
artificial harbor at the
Capes of Delaware.
Abstract: 08/17/18, by
Harrison H., Lewes, from The Wilmingtoian & Delaware
Advertiser, 2 February
1826. for www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com
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