Isaingking who offers to do the work for bocents a cubic yard. The Breakwater, if extended to a length of 20 yards as shown in the plan, will contain 245,778 cubic yards of stone which at 60 cents a yard comes to $147,466.80.
I have shown the subsidence of the foundation to a depth of 10 feet below the seabed, but if trial borings are made along the crest of the bank and it is found that the bottom is much softer than I have supposed, it will be necessary to allow a margin for sinkage and this may somewhat increase the estimate of the Cost. What this increase (if any) will amount to, can only be determined by a detailed survey of the locality.
I have discussed with His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief the proposition to sink hulks laden with stones as an alternative to the scheme for a breakwater. Commander-in-Chief Hamilton concurs with me that there would be but little advantage in such a project. The junks would sink into the mud in course of time and their masts would be the only obstruction to the passage of an enemy's ships, but the ravages of the teredo navalis in these seas are such that the masts of the junks would soon be destroyed, leaving the passage unimpeded as before to vessels of light draught.
These same objections apply to a line of piles, the cost of renewals of which would be heavy and continual.
5. J. M. Price,
27 January, 188...
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