mercial statistics from the collector of customs of the port of New Haven, Conn., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, and the customs collections during the past thirty years from June 30, 1855, to June 30, 1887, inclusive. Total, $9,072,080.

The exact amount of value transported can not, as you are aware, be perfectly obtained, but enough has been collected from official sources to base this estimate, reaching approximately the sum total of upwards of $1,000,000,000, or in exact figures $1,029,064,990.

This amount may seem very large, but when I estimate the value of vessels used in this transportation I feel warranted in doubling the estimate (say, $2,000,000,000).

I also inclose copies of letters from distinguished officers of our navy and merchant marine, together with petitions and other papers bearing the indorsement of the proposed plans by the president of the New Haven chamber of commerce, the president of the New York chamber of commerce, the president of the vessel-owners and captains' society, the president of the marine society, and also the president of the maritime association of the port of New York.

Hoping this collection of material will be useful, the whole showing the importance of the Government granting immediate and liberal amounts to complete this most necessary and long-needed want,

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Col. D. C. HOUSTON,

Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

CHAS. HARVEY TOWNSEND.

Estimate of value of merchandise annually transported through Long Island Sound to and from the city of New York, from New Haven, Conn., and other eastern ports, fiscal year ending June 30, 1888.

The above estimate has been compiled from original documents in my possession.

CHAS. HARVEY TOWNSEND, Harbor Commissioner of New Haven Harbor.

NEW HAVEN, CONN., January 10, 1889.

LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT AND CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE NEW HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ORGANIZED 1794), New Haven, Conn., October 31, 1888. SIR: The New Haven Chamber of Commerce respectfully ask your indorsement to their memorial to Congress for advancing the construction of the breakwaters and other improvements off the port of New Haven, Conn., for the general benefit of for.

eign and domestic commerce, believing that whatever tends to benefit the commerce of Long Island Sound is a direct benefit to New York through the interstate commerce centering at your port.

The measure has received the approval of commercial men from Maine to Georgia, and we respectfuly ask the added weight of your indorsement.

[Seal of Chamber of Commerce of New Haven.]

President.

JAMES D. DEWELL,
T. ATTWATer Barnes,
Corresponding Secretary

To the President of Vessel Owners' and Captains' Co-operative Association.
Approved.

JAMES A. VAN BRUNT.

President Vessel Owners' and Captains' Co-operative Association. A copy of this letter addressed to "The President of the Marine Society” received the signature of Ambrose Snow, president of that society.

LETTER OF RADCLIFFE BALDWIN, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK MARITIME ASSO

CIATION.

THE MARITIME ASSOCIATION OF THE PORT OF NEW YORK,
PRODUCE EXCHANGE Building, Beaver STREET,

New York, December 12, 1888.

DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the board of directors held this day a communication from your chamber, addressed to the president of this association, was received, and the following resolution unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That this association indorse the memorial to Congress of the Chamber of Commerce of New Haven for advancing the construction of breakwaters and other improvements off the port of New Haven, Conn. Very respectfully, yours, etc.,

Attest.

Mr. T. ATTWATER BARNES,

Sec'y Chamber of Commerce, New Haven, Conn.

RADCLIFFE BALDWIN,

President.

WM. H. VAN Brunt,

Secretary.

LETTER OF COMMANDER F. M. GREEN, U. 8. N.

NAVIGATION OFFICE,

Navy-Yard, New York, December 17, 1888.

MY DEAR SIR: In answer to your inquiries I beg to say that having commanded a ship of the North Atlantic squadron during the years 1886 and 1887, I have had frequent opportunities of noticing the enormous traffic passing through Long Island Sound, both by sail and steam, and have been particularly interested in it from the fact that before entering the U. S. Naval service I was for many years engaged in the merchant marine. Among the many striking features of the traffic along the coast, I bave been much impressed with the very great and growing value of the harbor of New Haven as a port of refuge. A visit to that place with the North Atlantic squadron in the summer of 1886 made me better acquainted with the great advantages, both present and prospective. During my visit the ships lay just inside the breakwater in about 4 fathoms, an excellent summer anchorage and well protected from southeast gales at all seasons. When, however, the new breakwater, stretching southeastwardly from the west shore shall have been completed, the benefit to the coasting trade will be great indeed. Situated at the widest part of the sound, the sea caused by a wind from any point between southwest and southeast is very heavy, and the nearest shelter is New London nearly 40 miles away. The clearing away of the obstructions in Hell Gate and the increasing commerce of the East River, as well as the improvements now making in Harlem River, have wonderfully increased the number of vessels passing through Long Island Sound and will do so still more, and every navigator on board of them will be thankful to have such a harbor of refuge so accessible and so safe to avail themselves of. Few people realize, until they have navigated this coast constantly in bitter winter weather and in the numerous fogs which beset our shores, the enormous value, both in money and comfort, of securing harbora

of refuge. I have designedly omitted speaking of the military advantages of such a harbor, which are very great, but the benefits to be derived by the thousands of schooners and steamers passing through the Sound is ample to more than justify the building of the proposed breakwater.

Very truly yours,

F. M. GREEN,

Commander U. S. N., Navigation Officer.

CHARLES H. TOWNSEND, Esq.,

New Haven, Conn.

LETTER OF COMMANDER C. M. CHESTER, U. S. N.

UNITED STATES STEAMER GALENA, Navy-Yard, New York, November 30, 1888.

MY DEAR SIR: During the past three years as commander of this vessel it has been my pleasure to visit New Haven several times.

I have, while deprecating the distance at which a ship of the size of the Galena had to anchor from the city, been struck by the excellent possibilities of the harbor. These impressions have only confirmed me in the views formed from a careful study of the great water sheet extending from Block Island, between Long Island and Connecticut, when, while in charge of the hydrographic branch of the United States Coast Survey, I had a plan for the resurvey of the Sound.

It is indispensable that in the near future Long Island Sound will become a most important entrance for the commerce to the great port of New York. Even at this date the traffic through Hell Gate is immense. New Haven occupies a central position between New York City and the "Race," with no harbor for 50 or 60 miles on either side of it. That a safe harbor at this point is a necessity is apparent to all seafaring men.

The breakwater already built has fortunately provided a refuge for vessels during a southeasterly gale; but for those, stronger as a rule, from the southwest no provision has been made. A short time ago the press was filled with an account of a terrible catastrophe which had happened to a United States revenue vessel just outside of the breakwater; it was reported she had been overwhelmed by the sea and all hands lost, but happily the rumor was ill founded, and she escaped after a fearful wrestling with the waves, being much damaged in the encounter.

Last summer I experienced one of those south west gales, and, although provided with a steam-launch, was compelled to give up an attempt to reach the ship at anchor in the outer harbor and remain on shore, anxious lest she should follow most of the other vessels present and drift ashore. The break water, in the construction of which many of your citizens are interested, would not only prevent such accidents, but would make this one of the finest harbors on the coast.

As a naval officer, I would like to add that when the subject of our coast defenses, now fast growing in importance, shall be properly considered, New Haven, with a harbor such as the breakwater would make it, with accommodations for our largest iron-clads, will become of vast strategic value to the country; for where, may I ask, have we another single port in the vicinity of the metropolis which will allow the entrance of a vessel drawing 30 feet of water at all stages of the tide, save, perhaps, the exposed one of Gardiner's Bay? One can imagine what England would give for a place of like natural advantages. How long would she be in building up a grand harbor; and wonder why the money from our own great resources is not immediately forthcoming to carry out the suggestions of the harbor commissioners of New Haven, supported by petitions to Congress from important citizens, representing the whole Atlantic seaboard?

Very respectfully, yours,

Capt. CHAS. H. TOWNSEND.

C. M. CHESTER,

Commander U. S. Navy, Commanding Galena,

LETTER OF MR. JAS. M. TOWNSEND.

"RAYNHAM," TOWNSEND AVENUE, New Haven, Conn., January 10, 1887. DEAR BROTHER: I must call your attention to the large fleet of vessels that sought refuge in New Haven Harbor during one of the very heavy gales last autumn. Öne afternoon, before the "gale broke," I counted one hundred and seventeen (117) sail

of vessels of all classes at anchor from Long Wharf, in the channel, to the breakwater The vessels under the lee of the breakwater seemed to have little protection when the wind shifted to the southwest, and when it veered more westerly, and at low tide, they lay across the channel, blockading the whole approach to the wharf.

Upon inquiry, I find it is the opinion of vesselmen, owners of vessels, as well as those who sail them, that the same protection, or ample protection, should be made for vessels exposed to the southwest gale as is now being furnished against southeast gales on the east side of the harbor, and that the Government should at once appropriate liberal and sufficient sums for the west breakwater, which, in the opinion of all who know the necessity of it, should be hurried to completion.

Sincerely, yours,

Capt. CHAS. Harvey Townsend,

JAS. M. TOWNSEND.

New Haven, Conn.

LETTER OF MR. JOHN C. BYXBEE, COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AT NEW HAVEN.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, COLLECTOR's Office,
New Haven, Conn., January 7, 18-9.

DEAR SIR: Inclosed please find commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888; also custom receipts at this port for the past thirty-three years, from June 30, 1855, to June 30, 1888, inclusive.

The last showing that upwards of $9,000,000 have been paid into the Treasury of the United States during this brief period would seem to warrant the Government in granting liberal appropriations for the general benefit of foreign and domestic commerce, by indorsing the plans of the U. S. Engineers in the scheme for locating a place of refuge off the entrance of this port.

This measure has received the approval of commercial men from Maine to Georgia who are interested in establishing these important works on the east approach to the port of New York, and securing such an important position for a spacious harbor of refuge for vessels of the larger class, making a rendezvous and base of operations for our naval vessels in time of war engaged in defending the coasts of Long Island Sound from the approach of hostile fleets.

Yours, truly,

Capt. C. H. TOWNSEND,

JOHN C. BYXBEE,
Collector of Customs.

New Haven.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888.

STATISTICS OF CUSTOM-HOUSE AT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, THE LAST THIRTYTHREE YEARS, FROM JUNE 30, 1855, TO JUNE 30, 1887, INCLUSIVE.

The following table will show the collections as follows:

This harbor is on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 9 miles southwest of New Haven, Conn. It consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which the Wepauwog River, a small tidal stream, extends three quarters of a mile north to the Milford Wharves, and the Indian River, another small inlet, extends northeasterly. The mouth of the latter stream is partly closed by a dam formerly used to create power for a tide-mill.

The original depth on the bar just outside the mouth of the rivers was less than 2 feet at mean low water, and in some places between there and the upper wharves low tide left the channel nearly bare. The mean rise of the tide is 6.2 feet.

PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

A survey of breakwater at Milford, Conn., was ordered by Congress in the river and harbor act of 1872. There being no break water, a survey of the harbor was made for a breakwater, and in his report, dated December 21, 1874, (printed as part of Ex. Doc. No. 107, Forty-second Congress, third session, and also on page 1011 of the Annual Report of