The Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia having lately appointed a committee of their Board to make a general Examination into the state and situation of all such Matters as are established for the safety of the navigation, and the Protection of the Trade of this Port, and, which are under their care and superintendency, down the Bay and River Delaware and at the Capes. This Business being compleated and the committee having thereon reported to the Board, they now do themselves the Honour to inclose to your Excellency a copy of that Report. The Wardens are induced to make this communication, for the information of that honourable Board in which you preside, from a sense of the Propriety that the Supreme executive authority of the commonwealth should be regularly informed of the Measures which are pursued in any of the other Departments of the Government, as well as because their committee have ventured to suggest some Improvements to the navigation, which the Wardens conceive would be useful ones:—an accurate survey of the Delaware Bay, they view as a work of no inconsiderable Importance to the trading Part of the community—it would probably lead to the Discovery of some valuable situations for Harbours, which are not yet known, it would have a Tendency to insure the safety of the navigation, to promote the commercial Interests of the State and add to the Reputation of the Port.

By Order of the Board, I have the Honour to be, your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble Servant,

The Committee of Wardens who were appointed to inspect into the State, and examine the Situation of all such matters as are under the care and superintendency of the Board, down the Bay and River Delaware, and at the Capes.

Report, That they have minutely examined the Light-House at Cape Henlopen, as well as every Thing that is any way connected with it. The Land in the Environs of this Building, they observe to be so changeable from the strong currents of Wind, that within these few Years, where there have been deep Ponds, there are now moles considerably high; and on the contrary, where there were Hills of sand there are now Vales and Hollows; every precaution should therefore be taken to secure the Foundation from the growing Effects of this Evil. Barriers of Logs and Fences of Rails and Bramble have already had their Effect, and ought to be attended to.

Under-wood and Weeds of every kind, or indeed, any thing that can be brought to vegetate, will doubtless have a tendency to prevent the sand from blowing away. The Gravel which is now around the Foundation evidently strengthens, and no doubt in a great measure secures it stability, it may, therefore, at some future Period be necessary to encrease this Bank, which can easily be done by taking a quantity of it from the Margin of the sea, which can easily be done by taking a quantity of it from the Margin of the sea, which is at no great distance from the Light-House. They remark too, that on the sea shore there does not seem to be any Encroachments made by the perpetual dashing of the Surf.

The Light-House, but particularly where the Lanthorn is placed, and the upper part of the Structure, sustains much Injury from the frequent Rains in stormy weather, which unavoidably beat in thro’ the small apertures of the ventilators, this inconveniency might in some measure be obviated by guarding them with Hoods or Caps of sheet copper,—these should be about six Inches Broad and of the same Length, placed so as to drop or slant to an angle of thirty Degrees.

From the bleak and exposed situation of the Light-House it is unavoidably assaulted by repeated and severe storms, and notwithstanding the Thickness of the Walls, the beating of the Rain, especially in the North-East Gales, has so affected them by the penetration of the Moisture, that in many places the Mortar, on the inside, has begun to crumble & a good deal of it to fall off:—Perhaps there isno more effectual method of securing the building from such mutilation, than by giving it a coat of Rough-casting on the outside; this, however, would necessarily require a considerable Expenditure of Money, and consequently the command of proportionate Funds.

There are eight Iron Stantions in the Corners of the Walls, (the form of the Light-House being an Octagon,) these are built in with them, and are designed to support the Lanthorn, as they extend from the fifth to sixth flight of Stairs, they are now, in many places, become bare, and the better to protect them from the corroding of Rust, it would be necessary to have them plastered over with Mortar, or at least whitewashed.

The small House which was built for the accommodation of the Commissioners, and is now used by Mr. Hargis, as a Workshop, occupied by the keeper of the Light-House, is likewise out of repair; but as the latter is more necessary than the other, it would, of course, require more immediate attention. Before the Roof was mended by the new shingles, which have lately been put on it, the Inclemency of the weather to which it was exposed, had destroyed a good deal of the plastering in the upper Story, about the dormant Windows, this had not yet been repaired; the Lime, however, and the Laths are already provided, so that there is nothing now wanted but nails,—the necessary quantity of which Mr. Hargis informs them, would be about Three Hundred. Of the coat of Painting which was given to the Roof of this House, after the shingling was repaired, there seems now but little to remain, but as there is red Oker and Oyl, the principle things necessary to renew it, already at the Light-House, the only material which is now wanted, is Tar to mix with them, for they are informed that Tar will not only absorb itself into the shingles, but accelerate the absorption of the Oyl, and will make the coat on the Roof more lasting.

The pavement around the dwelling House, they observe, has in many places given way, this appears to have been occasioned by the same Violence of the Wind, which they have already mentioned, which, however, has been not a little increased by the particular situation of an old smoak House, now mouldering in a State of decay, having caused such whirling of the Winds as to blow away the sand on which the Bricks are placed, they therefore directed this Wooden Hoven, which was of no use, to be immediately taken down, and the Pavement, where the Ravages of the Wind had destroyed it, to be supported by Logs.

There were some Panes of Glass on the Eastern side of the Lanthorn, which were cracked, and some others, on the same side, changed, apparently by the scorching of the sun; the Glass becomes of a whitish colour, tho’ varigated with small specks, this, of course, suggested to them the necessity of replacing those Lights with such as were more transparent, they at the same time directed Mr. Hargis to shift them to the Land side, where clear Glass is not so absolutely necessary.

The remaining necessaries and Stores which the Committee found at the Light-House, consisted of about two Hundred Gallons of Oyl, which was contained in two of the eight cisterns, one of which was quite full, and the other about three-fourths.

There was also a quantity of thick Spermaccti Oyl, which being of no use at the Light-House, they had it put into a cask and taken on board of the sloop and carried to Philadelphia. The Cotton Wick which is yet unused is about four Dozen of Balls; a quantity sufficient for the consumption of nine months. Besides the Lime, red Oker and Lathing, already mentioned, there is a keg of white Lead nearly full, twenty-five Panes of Glass fitted to the Lanthorn which are very good, and one Hundred more of a kind, but ordinary in quallity. The House Lamp and Lanthorn, which were wrote for by Mr. Hargis, they find are necessary, and ought to be purchased and sent down.

The Brushes in use at the Light-House were so much worn as to make those carried down necessary.

The Committee having made their observations on every Thing which invited their attention on the Southern Cape, cannot well omit doing Justice to Mr. Hargis, by reporting, that they found every thing under his care and management in as good Order as their nature and circumstances would allow.

They made some Enquiry concerning the Glass which Mr. Hargis had some time ago purchased for the use of the Light-House, the Price of which being so high that the Board were not altogether satisfied of the propriety of paying his order for the Money, at least, until some Investigation of it was made, and all they could learn of the matter is, that Mr. Shield had Instructions from the Wardens, to direct Mr. Hargis to buy the Glass, which was then much wanted, on the lowest Termes he could make, but at all events to purchase it, and Mr. Hargis informed them, that he could not procure it at a less price than that which he agreed to give.

The Difficulty of conveying Oyl, &c. to Cape Henlopen, for the use of the Light-House, is not a little increased by Lewistown Creek having more and more for these several years past filled up, and the Transportation of any Thing by that channel, of course, becomes, in proportion to the change in the Depth of Water, less practicable. The sloop was obliged to lay better than three quarters of a mile off the mouth of the Creek, here the casks were put into a skow and carried up to a landing place called the Stone Wharf, which is about five miles up the Creek, and from this place were carted two miles farther by a Road of deep heavy sand to the Light-House; to complete this business it necessarily took up four days, and a fifth was employed in starting some of it into the Cisterns, and stowing away the Rest into the Vault. It was a mortifying Disappointment, at the same time, to find that seven casks of the Oyl, which was purchased from Hughes and Anthony, was so thick as to be totally unfit re-conveyed on board the sloop in order to have it brought back to Philadelphia, this unavoidably detained them another Day. They also had a cask containing what had settled at the Bottoms of some of the Cisterns brought on bnoard of the sloop to be likewise taken to Phila’s.

The Land on Cape Henlopen appears to be perfectly sterile, and no part of it that they saw capable of Tillage or any improvement in Agriculture. The Timber is principally Pitch-Pine and Cedar, but none even of these large,—the Underwood, Myrtle Shrubs and Huckleberry Bushes.

From the Southern Cape they crossed the Bay to Cape May,—here they viewed the Ground which has been purchased, with a Design to erect thereon a Beacon or Land mark; this they contemplated as far as it might add to the securities already established for the safety of the navigation of the Bay and River, and, were they to hazard any opinion on this subject, it should be opposed to the adoption of a measure, which it would require a considerable sum of money to complete, and in the End, by no means answer those valuable purposes, which have been anticipated from it. Perhaps, a Buoy, placed on the North-West Part of what is called Crow’s Shoal, would be a better mark to govern vessels running into Cape May Channel, than the proposed Beacon; for there are already on the Cape better natural Land marks than any artificial ones that could be set up.

The Buoy, which the Ice last Winter had forced from the Middle, and had floated on shore about two miles above the Pitch of Cape May, they now got on board of the Sloop.

From Cape May they run to the Brandywine, the Beacon-boat fixed on this Shoal, they found placed in four Fathom Water, the Tide being then about three quarters Ebb, running, North-East from it they immediately shoaled into ten Feet Water, continuing in the same course they soon deepened into three Fathoim, the Pitch of Cape May, then bearing South-East, three quarters East, running still in the same Direction until they were about three quarters of a mile from the Beacon, they found a quarter less five, Cape May, then bearing South-East half East, and the Beacon Boat at the same Time, South-West, a quarter West. The Committee are here led to remark, that, altho’ this Beacon is placed five Hundred yards higher up than where it formerly lay, they are of opinion that when it becomes necessary to place it again, three or four yards still higher up, would be a spot more elligible, as the Beacon is designed to point out the Northern End of the Shoal.

From the Brandywine they run to the Brown, which they went over about the Distance of six Hundred yards to the North-West of the Beacon placed on this shoal, in a quarter less Twain, Cape Henlopen, then bearing South half East, and the high Tree at the mouth of Lewistown Creek, which is a well known Land mark, at the same Time, bearing South and by West.

From hence they run upon the Shears until they struck in five and an half Feet Water, which appears to be the highest part of the Shoal, the Tide then being about quarter Flood, and the situation about four miles distant from the shore, the Light-House then bearing South-East, three quarters South, and the high Tree near the mouth of Lewistown Creek, at the same time, bearing South and by West, three Degrees West.

With regard to the Cross Ledge, they have examined what remains of the Pier on which the Beacon was formerly erected, and they find, that it would be totally impracticable either to re-build it, or to build another on the same place, owing to its having been sunk in the Hull of an old Vessel, which in settling in the sand had taken so deep a Keel, that when she broke up and left the Pier, it lay in such a manner, that at Ebb Tide the Northern Corner was two Feet above the water, and the Southern Corner four feet below it; they find also, that the Shoal has extended itself, at least, three hundred Fathoms farther to the South-South-East, than it was when the Pier was sunk; and they are of opinion that any Mark, which in future it may be thought necessary to place, with a view to point out the lower End of the ledge, should be fixed, at least, that Distance from the Ruins of the other.

The Result of every observation they have been able to make on this situation, has led them to form this opinion, that a Diamond Piere, sunk on its own Frame, well built and sufficiently secured with plates of Iron to break off the Influence of the pressing Ice, and at the same time proper attention paid to repairing it as often as it becomes necessary might endure for many years, as the Shoal is very regularly flat on the highest parts. At about half a mile below the old Pier, when the tide is at its lowest Ebb, there is about seven Feet Water across this Shoal.

From some appearances, as well as from Information, they were induced to believe that Nantackset Bay or Cove, formed by what is called Davis’s point, might in the Winter Season, afford a safe Harbour to vessels of a middling Draught of Water, however, on sounding it in various places, they find that those only, which draw about six or seven Feet water could avail themselves of this situation.

From this Place they run up to Reedy Island, and examined the Piers which are buildt on the opposite Shore; the Diamond Pier will, in some places, require an increase of Ballast, as in the North-East Corner and in two or three places on the Land side, some part of it is washed away, the others tho’ are still full. They are all of them, affected in some Degree at each of the Corners, by the Decay of the Wood which some time ago has begun to rot: The second one from the Land is considerably sunk at the South-West Corner: That one which is joined to the Land, is considerably damaged; some part of it, but particularly on the upper side, having been carried away, will require immediate amendment.

They sounded the water round each of those Piers which are detached from the Land, and find Depth sufficient for any Vessels of the Burthen of those which are usually employed in our Trade.

They now proceeded to Marcus Hook and examined the Piers which have lately been erected at that place; and they find that in many places of each of them, the Ballast has been washed away,—to repair this Damage, one Hundred Tons of Gravel Ballast would, perhaps, be sufficient; and to prevent farther Depredation from that cause, it would be necessary to have it put on as soon as possible; in every other Respect these Piers appear to be in perfect good Order.

They took a Survey of the Piers at Mud Island, the uppermost of which they find in a total state of Decay, the lower one, however, is yet in pretty good order. In sounding the Water between them, they found it so shallow as leads them to conclude, that it would not now be of any use to bestow upon them any Expense for Repairs; unless indeed, it should be deemed necessary to extend them farther into the channel by subjoining an additional Pier to each.

They are nevertheless of Opinion, should any farther Improvement here, be proposed and deemed necessary, that a Diamond Pier, built at a proper Distance between what are called the Boom Piers and the point of Hogg Island, would be a better security for Vessels from the Ice, and be much more likely to endure a considerable Length of time, without filling up, as there would be a sufficient passage of water between them and the shore.

They likewise examined the Boom Piers which lately were partially repaired, and they find that they yet want filling up with Ballast, and that the East Corner of the outside one, is still too low, by, at least, the Height of one Log.

The Buoy on the Middle as well as that on the flat Ground they examined on their passage down the Bay, and found them both placed in the situation which Capt’n Shield reported immediately after he laid them down.

They cannot conclude these Observations without remarking, that a general survey of the Delaware Bay, accurately made, would be a Work of much Utility and Advantage, and contribute in no inferior Degree to insure the safety of the navigation and promote the Commerce of the Port of Philadelphia.