The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-05 00:00:00

THE SUN,

and consolidation from the sand and shells driven
on it by the waves ; any good, therefore, that the
raking system may have done in fine weather
is speedily lost, and before vessels can pass the rake
must work again. Therefore, to produce a suffi-
ciently permanent effect, the engineers of the Com-
mission are all of opinion that piers must be carried
out into the sea, which shall confine the current
increase its velocity, and which, at the same time,
will be directed upon the bar. Thus the bar will
kept removed, and kept clear of the scouring action
of the current. It is true that it will be again
formed outside in deeper water, but then the piers
must be extended according to the filling up of the
bottom.
It was with this system of piers in view that the
engineers of the Commission made their estimate,
and choice of channel. The difference between the
Sulina and the St. George's party lies in the differ-
ence of their estimates. Mr. Nobiling, the Prussian
engineer, estimates the opening of the northern or
Kedriles mouth of St. George at 1,600,000 ducats,
and for further works which he considers as indis-
pensable such as tracking path up the river, the
rectification of the Olinka channel, &c., 1,400,000
ducats—in all 3,000,000 ducats, or 1,500,0001. ster-
ling, while at Sulina he thinks 1,100,000 ducat., or
about 550,000/. sufficient. According to Mr. Hart-
ley's estimate the proportion between the expenses
required for each branch would not be greater than
4to 3, that - is, 1,000,0001. at St. Georges, and
750,0001. at Sulina ; at each mouth, then, the cost
of further advance would be 1051. per foot forward.
The difference in these estimates is in some mea-
sure to be attributed to the fact that the Prussian
engineer prefers to use stone throughout, while his
English colleagues proposes to revet the banks with
timber piling, protected by " pierres perdues" at
the foots for such distance as he hopes that the
banks will form behind his piers into dry land ;
thenceforward he is for stone works, after the usual
fashion. _ _

Thus the question stands for the present. In
comparing the results which wouldfollow, accordiug
as one or the other channel should be decided upon,
we find—First, that the bottom at Salina would
fill up one-half sooner than at St. George's, the
slope being in the former 1-400, and in the latter
1-150. The 5 fathoms line is in Sulina at 1,700
yards, and at St. George's at 1,200 ; the 10 fathoms
2,500 at St. George's, and 6,000 at Sulina. Secondly,
in the St. George's these would be an entrance 1,150
feet wide, at Sulina only 600. The St. George is a
broad, deep river, navigable throughout, so as to
admit of any development of commerce, especially
steam navigation. The Salina must, even after the
•ontemplated improvements, remain a narrow, tor-
tuous channel, hardly sufficient for the wants at
present. In the St. George there would be a noble
port close to the entrance ; at Sulina the most dis-
mal crowding and want of room, so that in case of
the least accident or obstruction the traffic is stopped
altogether.
All depends on the question whether the navi-
gation will be able to bear the heavier outlay re-
quired for the opening of the better, larger, and
safer channel. I have said in one of my former
letters on this subject that if anything is to be
achieved, the European Powers will have to take
the money question into their hands, and it seems
in such a case the interests of all those Powers at
any rate who have a large trade with the Danube
would require that the best channel and the most
complete works should be adopted, even at the risk
that the first heavy outlay should not be repaid
without overburdening the navigation.