Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-06-09
Vol. FIII.-No. So

est ebb, no found I65 feet water nj the sba,,n
| Now al persons conversant with thus subject know
that the phot5 viii not, hirh water ottent IN
take over the Bar vessel drawing more than NJ foot
to ID iect9 inches water. L hope this survey will bn
brought TO the notice of the Board of Pilots and that
some explanation will be "ven of this disrror,rco NJ
O. further states his belief, that if the channel wero
marked out by proper buoys, land four he thinks would
be suilclent deep laden SHIPS might, with suitable
precautions pass over at high water Can il be posi-
bic that the placing of four buoys vod be sufficient to
enable AIRY merchant vessel f,Ilv laden flor hc;r H.,
rarely II ever exceeds the depth of water mentioned
by Mr. CO TO pass this Bar with safety and that tho
experiment mas not even been tried? This Report was
made upwards of four years ago, and question who
thor The subject has been brourht eren to the no
tee OF the Legislature, little are the wants of Tho
body would ask, Messrs. Editors, for what purpose
surveys arc made, if it be intended to act under
them.
Report on the Surrey Of Harrison's Bar.
Tins bar Is situated James river lust opposi.o
Harrison's Point at Berkeley five miles below Ctv
Point and about half way between Jordan's and Coz.
gins Points. 1t is said be the ony obstruction to the
navigation for merchant ships up to Warwick. 1 sur.
Veyed the bar during the month Of NAV; map of the
survey IS herewith laid before you exhibits the SCUM
ding and the nature of the bottom over the whole space
where the shoals exist.
There are through the bar channels one of which.
is known by the old or south channel the 9TH
cro new or north channel The shoal between them
Is called the middle ground and is may be observed
! on the map, remarkably shallow.
The south channel, WAS told was formerly chief;
ucd 1t IS very crooked but deep enough any mer
chant ship; its bottom soft mud, which tho lead
7 euiin oeep Whatever may nave been the
formation of this and deep channel it is re mar
kaSe, that its edges excessively abrpt so that shin
may be wrecked without previous notice from lead
IL deylate slightly from the main 1t is rop--
resented by some and appearances to Indicate
that this chasm is gradually filing, while the north chan
mel, the contrary is deepening This seems partjcu
lary probable from the of their bottons that OF
the south channel being Il soft black mud to considc
rable depths whereas the bottom OF the north channel
a It's staowest place, is clean gravel, from which it is
natural to infer that the Of tide is all exercd
upon this point where light substance is allowed to
remain.
The north channel is almost exclusively used il
has been represented that ships drawing more than Ii
feet of water could pass through oyer the barr but
by tho survey made last year, have asccrtaned hat
the least depth of the north channel is at thn
lowest ebb l64 feet and that but for short distance
SO that the tide rising found by measurement at least
22o feet at this pace, ship drawing II feet might pass
over the bar ct high water. The channel however
beng irregular and very the shalowes point
slight deviation from the course might throw vessel!
drawing more than Is feet of water, on shoals
Whether 1t is owing to this circumstance that the
par Is represented as atfordmg only ID feet of water or
al the chalnei mas actually deepcned, could de-
termine with certainty my enquiries on this subject ha
wing received contradictory rather Incline
however, 10 the latter opinion; ls because of the
ness Of the materials which constitute the bottom st the
shaowest place, which indicate that light ones are
washed away 3D. because this place is very narrow
whereas shallow places commonly wide; 3D.
because the bottom is irregular nterspersed with
Jumps from which be inferred that the corrosion
the current is still going 9TH, because other chan
ges according to all accounts have been remarked hero
in the main channel being generally said that YES
sells do bear TO Coggins Point than they were
wont to do.
Though the fact shat large clips may pass over the
bar, Is not generally admitted, was nevertheless
mentioned me, beforo the examination took rrSco
by some gentleman acquainted with the localities: how
ever the passage of vessels deeply loaded cannot ba
attempted at all times without dangers but tho chan
mel was marked out by proper buoys, am confdens
that with suitable precautions, deep laden ships migbt
tby keeping exactly the middle of the channel pass at
nigh water oyor the short space here the danger exists
which is hardly 200 yards The would only have
to wait for the tide and them if the wind proved adverse
1t would be very easy matter to haul tow them up
over this small distance. -Four buoys would l think
be sufficient, viz: two where the must alter her
course and the two others each side of the narrow
pass just at the bar The cost of these buovs would he
;trlitlng, and their service very great.
For the purpose of procuring all times q safe uavi
gatlon tor large vessels would be necessary TO straight
en- the channel, and cXcavae depth of AL feet
and width of at least 200 yards Ships Of any size
might then sail up and down at mid tide with perfect
security the tide rising, already stated at least
i22O feet Tho expense of this excavation as the re-
suits from my calculation, would be about 81 900 dot
liars. W.
r This work would probably be permanent there bco
lcvory appearance that the channel if actually deem
ening, has tendency do so; since the soundno n,
dictate that only light materials arc brought bv the r
err and that previously stated they cam top at the
bar But as 1T be doubted whether so considerable
expense would be compensated by the advantage OBJ
tanned OF experiencing delay difficulty in PASSING
over this obstacle.
| brighter prospects ahcod.--Wc have received infor
nation, from source to be depended mon That oTr
waters shortly to be occupied by the stearboar
United States and Philadelphia from Baltimore with
view OF completing steamboat navigation as far as
charleston An agent is expected on to examine tho
Whon route, and to make such arrangements as his
further information may suggest. We again assert
that for variety and novelty, despatch and ease this
roc holds out inducements tic western and southern
traveller not to be met with elsewhere and which must
give the preference over every other line of sta
geS to Fayetteville claims first attention and sh,1d
be immediately attended to. aTordng every facility
TO the western traveller. The Wilmington line is in
complete operation, running tho distance Of 90 miles
over fine road i'll L hours. We all keep atchfD
eye over these important movements and apprisc our
readers Of the progress Of the good work,
LNcwbYa Spectator,
AN rTrEETsTITG FAntLT.-A few days since n vounr
man named David Brown alias Hogan arrested on
a charge o. having been concerned in breaking into
the grocery store Of Dir Knoylton on the night Of Nav
the 9TH, and stealing various articles ticrcifom TES
prisoner at first denied all knowledge ofhc robbery but
subsequently, confessed that nc IN company witt ~
brothers named Ransom and Tyler Moore engored b,,
housei yler was observed 10y Of tho vnlchmcn and
Pirfnrd but cscarod. Ransom walked up 10 W,rb,,,,
ard asked hir1 common plecc ,tr, Il -