1817, January-Schooner Pennsylvania, from Charleston; drove out and on shore near cape May; full of water. October Schooner Concord, from Ocracock to New York; blown ashore and cast away on cape May; vessel and cargo lost. November-Sloop Canton, from Fredericksburg for N. York, blown ashore and cast away on cape May; cargo 3.000 bushels of wheat, lost. 1820, January-brig Mary Jane, from St. Thomas for New York, cast away at Cold Spring bar; crew saved. Brig Hyperion, from Rio, driven ashore on Cohanzy Flats, when trying for shelter. Brig Concord, from Curracoa, Brig Joseph S. Lewis, February-Ship Emma Matilda, do. beam ends, do. on her Ship Maria, from Matanzas; drove on shore on Townsend's Inlet near cape May; bilged. May-Ship Superior; parted cables at the Brandywine, and had to put back. 1821, January-Schooner M'Donough, from Boston; lost anchor and cable under cape May; bore away and made harbour at Rhode Island. Brig Venus, from Cape Haytien for Philadelphia; was four times off the Delaware bay and New York and twice off the Chesapeake; was driven from each by heavy gales; crew frost bitten and nearly exhausted; cargo damaged, also sails and rigging. Ship Montesquieu, for Philadelphia; driven from her anchors in the bay and stood for sea. Ship North America for Philadelphia; lost rudder and cables and anchors, and stood for sea. February-Ship Rebecca for Philadelphia; cut both cables, and stood to sea. Brig Feliciana, from New Orleans; lost anchors and drove over the shears; saved almost by miracle. Ship Orleans from New Orleans; sunk by the ice in the bay; vessel and cargo nearly total loss. Sloop Active from Matanzas; lost anchor and cable in the bay and had to go to sea. March-Sloop Antelope, for Savannah; driven ashore at cape May and lost rudder. June-Schooner Mary and Betsey from New Orleans; cargo tobacco, pork, four, &c. anchored in Old Kiln roads; parted and ran on shore near Lewistown bar. September-Brig Newbern from Gibraltar; was drove ashore at Bombay Hook, after loss of cables and anchors. Sloop Winslow, master; drove from her anchors and was lost near Lewistown, Brig Timaranda lost both masts near the Shears; ulti mately saved and towed up by pilot boats. Brig Louisiana from St. Jago; do. do. 69 Schooner Sally from Norfolk to New York, drove ashore at cape May; cargo and one of the crew lost. April-Schooner Polly and Sylvia, for Petersburg; was drove ashore in a gale near Lewistown. Schooner Regulator was drove ashore on cape Henlopen, and cast away. December-Sloop Valiant from Newbern for New York in search of shelter, was cast ashore ne r cape May. 1824, February-Schooner Nancy, from Martinique to Plymouth, in search of shelter drove ashore near cape May and bilged. 1825, January-Sloop Boxer for Philadelphia, made anchorage under cape May; was drove off, and spoke 18 days afterwards, having lost cables and anchors. Schooner M'Donough from Rio de la Hatche, split her sails, lost anchors and cables, and drove ashore at Lewistown. April Sloop Spartan from Savannah, drove ashore in a gale, above Lewistown; probably lost totally. May-Brig Louisiana from Baltimore; drove on and was lost upon the Flogger. June-Sloop Kitty Ann, drove ashore in the gale under cape May. Sloop George Ogden, do. do. do. Thirteen others, do. do. do. Sloop Friendship from New York, do. do. Eight sloops drove ashore in the gale under cape Henlopen. Brig Bevan parted cables in the gale, cut away mast, and drove to sea. Brig Rose lost cables and sails; returned, reports a ship and brig on shore, dismasted and bilged; also thirty-two sail large and small on shore on cape Henlopen, beach covered with goods. Pilot boat Lewis Clapier, on shore at cape Henlopen; stern stove in. Sloop Paragon from New York Sloop Three friends do. Sloop Betsey for New York, abandoned near cape May; drove ashore at cape Henlopen. Schooner Herald for Newburyport lost anchors; drove Schooner William & Catharine from Baltimore; driven ashore near Blackbird creek. ashore at Bombay Hook. Brig Washington, do. do. Brig Mary, Correy; lost both anchors and cables, and had to drive to sea. 1822, January-Brig Irene drove on Lewistown beach; cargo damaged. February-Brig Hamlet got to anchor under cape Henlopen; obliged to cut cables and go to sea. Schooner M'Donough was drove from her anchors in the roads, and to sea. Brig Concordia was drove from her anchors on Mispillion; totally lost. May-Sloop Seaman from New York, drove on the Overfalls; afterwards in a heavy storm was totally lost. Ship Factor, Sheed, lost anchors, cables, and windlass in same storm, and had to put to sea. Brig Mary lost masts, anchors, cables, in same gale. June-Schooner Polly, with naval stores, was driven on the Flogger; totally lost. 1823, January-Brig Alert, from England, touched on the Shears; afterwards was ran on shore near Lewistown, with eight feet water in her hold; only part of cargo expected to be saved. Seven vessels ashore between Cohanzy and Back creeks. Nine vessels ashore near Lewistown. The Uno, of New York, has not been heard of; supposed to be lost with all hands, within the bay. The Emeline, her sails have been found; her crew supposed to be lost within the bay. do. The Fame was driven on the beach do. The M'Donough do. do. captain drowned. November-Schooner Maria parted cables in the bay, and had to drive to sea. December-Schooner Tombull blown as far north as Egg Harbour, was ran on shore for preservation of the crew. 1826, February-Schooner Boscer blown ashore at cape May. Brig Joseph Eastburn drove from the bay with loss of cables and anchors; crew frost bitten; manned by pilots, and afterwards got in. Barque Catharine from Liverpool, driven to sea from the bay by the ice. August-Schooner Cicero, from Baltimore, drove on the Brandywine; cargo totally lost with vessel. To Delaware Bay 835,483 Chesapeake Bay 3,253,611 4,185,481 tee. the harbour of New York 916,957 Thus the expenditure on the Delaware, in proportion to the revenue paid, is only a fraction more than one per cent.; whilst the expenditure on the Chesapeake Bay is more than 53 per cent.; on the New York harbour more than 24 per cent.; on the harbour of Boston a fraction less than 1 per cent.; so that Baltimore has received 450 per cent. more of the public money, than Philadelphia and all other ports on the Delaware; New York has received 125 per cent. more; and Boston has received about 50 per cent. more. STATEMENT, Shewing the value of vessels and their cargoes, bound into the Delaware, between the 28th December, 1826, and 15th January, 1827, which were compelled to go to sea, or to seek precarious shelter elsewhere. Philadelphia, 24th Dec. 1826. Sir,-Caleb Newbold, esq. late last evening, handed me your favour to him of the 21st inst. The duties of the secretaries of our Insurance offices are arduous at this period, and prevent them from giving what I was desirous to furnish you fully with, through the commitAt their request, the accompanying list of loss and disaster to vessels and cargoes bound into and out of the Delaware, as also of those who, from distress at sea, or on the coast, sought shelter there in time of storm and peril, from leak, loss of spars and sails, want of water and provisions, sickly or disabled crews, and the multitude of other casualties inseparable from the pursuits of the merchant and the mariner, has been made hastily up, but from sources to be relied on. It contains, however, but a minor exhibit of the appaling sufferings of seamen and the incalculable loss of property to individuals and the public, which are annually experienced on this coast more particularly in the Delaware, which has been, and still is, resorted to by foreign as well as general coasting vessels when in distress, counting upon the efficiency and ability of its pilots, and the promptness with which every want is supplied when human exertion can bring the sufferers to any of its present places of shelter. These are yet in emergency, distant from either cape, and require, against the obstructions of ice and adverse winds, more time and powerful exertion than the gene-dustry of Mr. Stewart, I am persuaded he has not been rally exhausted state of crews under such circumstances can sustain. The result is obvious and apparent to the most careless observer. Place but a shelter at the entrance of the bay, the commerce of the Delaware will not alone be protected and preserved by it, but that of the whole coast, daily passing and repassing its capes, together with foreign vessels who resort there when overtaken by accident at sea. All will find a haven where their crews can be recruited; damages repaired, and their wants fully supplied secure from mishap or danger, thereby the interests of merchants, and the lives of hundreds of individuals will be saved from jeopardy or untimely death. It is necessary to observe, that the vessels within named were brought to the most secure anchorage possible within the capes, and that, whether driven on shore inside or without the bay afterwards, was a consequence not under the control of the pilots or commanders, but by an overwhelming act of the elements operating in a space where no efficient security could be seized upon to prevent disaster. Had but a barrier in their vicinity, existed, at which they coul! have attached in threatening and inclement weather, these occurrences would not have been on record, nor brought up now to renew afresh the sorrows and distress of the widow and the fatherless, nor those of the impoverished merchant or underwriter; nor would the consequent immense losses to the revenue have to be so imperiously presented to the view of the representatives of the Union. I regret my labours, so far, will prove so unsatisfactory at so important a period; nevertheless will be happy, if by a continuance of them, they can be made productive of the slightest aid towards the important object you have now to advocate. With due deference and respect permit me to be, sir, your most obedient servant, ALEX. STEWART, JR. Hon. JOHN WURTS, Washington, D. C. Amount of revenue arising from commerce, and amount of expenditures paid from the Treasury, calculated from the 1st of January, 1790, to the 31st December, 1825, viz. Dear Sir: PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 1827. I inclose you a valuable document from Mr. Stewart, which ought to convince every one of the importance of the contemplated Breakwater to the commerce of the United States. With all the zeal and indefatigable in able to collect all the cases of disaster which might fair- John Wurtz, Esq. Value of vessels with their cargoes, bound into the Delaware, or from thence, with others seeking shelter there, which have been compelled to go to sea, by losing anchors or cables, or to seek precarious shelter within its Bay, or at Reedy Island, Newcastle, Chester, &c. from force of storm and ice; by which almost all are injured, as well as the crews more or less frozen or disabled. Commencing on the 28th December, 1826, and ending the 15th instant, comprizing a period of only eighteen days. Collected and reported under the direction of a committee of the Philadelphia chamber of com COASTING TRADE. 19,621 71 In addition to the above, the value of the following coasting and foreign vessels is to be added; which, with the bay, river, and small coasting craft, will swell the actual amount of property at risk, at the above period, much beyond two millions of dollars. Sloop Charlotte and Sarah from New York; got into Newcastle. Schooner Greek from the Vineyard; put into the bay; subsequently drove out in distress. Schooner St. Croix, from Trinidad; got into Newcastle piers. Schooner James from Boston; got into the capes of Delaware. Schooner Amelia from Newbern, N. C. do. Sloop Friendship from Norfolk; got into Cohansey. By order of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Ship Florian, bound from Charleston; got into 30,000 Ship Carolinian do. do. anchored in the bay, drove out, not since heard of 25,000 Schooner Little George Eyre, do. Havanna; got into Lewistown Roads Brig James & Mary, do. Pernambuco, do. Schooner Farmer's Ingenuity, do. Norfolk; got into Maurice river Schooner Messenger, do. Providence, R.I. got into Pea Patch Schooner Socrates, do. New York, do. Ship Juno, do. Bremen; got into Reedy Island Ship Benjamin Morgan.* bound from New Or- Brig Floyd,* do. New Orleans; drove out of the 10,000 COASTING TRADE THROUGH DELAWARE Mr. SERGEANT Submitted to Congress the following Estimate of the Annual Coasting Trade to and from Ports within the limits of the United States, passing in and out of the Delaware Bay, &c. Philadelphia, January 10, 1828. Many of the vessels in the annexed schedule are owned by citizens of Eastern States, and much of the insur6,000 ance on vessels and cargoes is effected in states east of Pennsylvania. 50,000 There are agents in Philadelphia for four insurance 12,000 companies of Connecticut and Massachusetts. It is very difficult to estimate the amount of the value of transient vessels and cargoes, coastwise, coming to, 20,000 and going from Philadelphia; but the number is very 30,000 great, probably amounting to twenty millions of dollars, passing in and out of Delaware Bay in the course of a 15,500 year. 200,000 A very large proportion of the cotton and tobacco coming to Philadelphia from North Carolina, and owned there, comes in transient coasting vessels, (of course not in the annexed estimate.) One house mentions that they have received in 1827, 3,200 bales of cotton owned in North Carolina, nine-tenths of which came in transient coasters. The amount of the trade from Wilmington, Del. to N. York and other ports, is very considerable. J. J. BORIE, Chairman of Breakwater Committee of Philad. Chamber of Commerce. 35,000 140,000 46,000 Attest. Average value Average value Total value of Total value of Total value of ESTIMATE of the annual Coasting Trade to and from ports within the limits of the United States, carried on at Philadelphia, by the Packets which run regularly only, all of which pass in and out of Delaware Bay, taken for 1827, December 31st. of vessels. Total twenty seven milllions eight hundred and ninety-five thousand nine hundred dollars. Attest: A. G. RALSTON, J. J. BORIE, Chairman of Breakwater Com. of Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Secretary of Breakwater Committee of Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. PHILADELPHIA, January 10, 1828. REPORT. 73 The tolls do not bear a corresponding increase, arising from two causes; one of which is, that the tonnage has increased in a considerable degree, by the transit near this city, of heavy articles, of little comparative value, for short distances; the other cause arises from the toll on coal being materially lower, a measure which the board, after mature consideration, found to be absolutely necessary for the encouragement of the trade; the consequence has been an augmentation of near 100 p. cent. in the quantity brought to market, which has met a ready sale. The great increase in the consumption of this valuable fuel, is very important to the interest of the company. At the commencement of last season, many thousand tons were left unsold in the coal yards, on the Schuylkill front of the city, out of only 16,767 tons brought down. It is now believed, that when the navigation reopens, the yards will be entirely cleared by the consumption of this winter, although the quantity brought to market was 31,360 tons, to which, if there be added 5000 tons for the surplus of 1826, the consumption will be shown to be upwards of 36,000 tons, being a total increase of 24,233 tons. following statement will show that other articles than Important as the coal trade is to the company, yet the coal contribute more than two-fifths to the amount of our income: The increase of the trade from and to the Susquehanna is considerable; and the facilities of our navigation are eagerly sought for by the people on the borders of that river. The completion too, of that, great work, the Union Canal, after the meritorious and persevering efforts of its public-spirited President and Managers, promises, during the coming season, to add materially to our inToll was received upon about 1000 tons from that source last year. come. The annual income from water power on the Flat Rock canal is $4,567 50; the rents from other sources is about $2000. The remainder of the loan, authorized by the Ordinance of 3d April 1826, has been raised as follows: 25,000 dollars at 5 per cent. interest, without the liberty of converting into the stock of the company; and 10,200 dollars at 6 per cent. interest, with a premium of 20 per cent. and with a right to convert. In the last report the Board communicated their inten To the Stockholders of the Schuylkill Navigation Com-tion of doing some further planking on those canals ex posed to leakage by passing over strata of limestone: this was accordingly done, and at considerable cost.Much money has been expended, also, in the improvement of the channels and towing paths of some of the pools; the early rise of the waters the last season prevented their completion; but contracts being made for the principal parts, they will be finished when the state of the water will permit. By the act of Incorporation the company are required within a certain period, to carry their works to Mill-creek about 2 miles above Mount Carbon. As that period is nearly arrived, and as this is a very important coal region, it was thought best to have the work completed; and it was accordingly put under contract, and is now in progress. It will, the Board have no doubt, be finished by the first of June-the time limited in the contract. Finally, the Board are happy to state, that the anticipation in their last report is fully realized; and they again look forward with confidence to a very considerable augmentation of the income of the company. Respectfully submitted. By order of the Board, JOSEPH S. LEWIS, President. 33,097 Philadelphia, January 7, 1828. |