Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-04-28
Van Buren, HarbOr.

vSu nuECh 1uSTuOTs
The following is report OF soundings
made in the harbor Of Van Buren, on the
29th and 3Olh Of last month, by Judge
Phelps, Of Canada, gentleman well
known as connected with the Erie and
Welland canals. His statements need
not to be corroborated by me; but as !
had the satisfaction Of being with him
during the whole Of the last day he was
engaged in sounding, ! cannot but con-
slider the plan pursued by him us calcula-
ted to produce the conviction in every
mans mind, that he has absolutely and
perfectly demonstrated the great supcn
ority of Van Buren harbor over all its
rivals ON the lake. You will confer
favor on me by publishing the report in
your paper as early as convenient.
With much respect, sc. sc. j. W. G.
Fredonia, April L, 1856.
! DEAR SIR-l beg leave, through your
columns, to lay before the public faith
ful examination Of the Van Buren har-
Dor. And first, soon after arriving at
this place, and commencing the building
of a temporary Temperance Coffee
House, or hotel, ! discovered by some
practical soundings through the ice, that
a shoal extended from the end Of the bar
OH the west end, or upper part Of the
harbor, and toward the pier now nearly
completed, which caused some little a
larm in my mind, fearing that other
shoals nigh, possibly be found in said
harbor that nigh materially injure the
same. accordingly procured num-
| ber of men to assist me, and ran lines in
right angles from north to south, and
east to west, at chains distance from
each other, throughout the whole har-
Dor, and cut through the ice at each
/ corner where these lines crossed; and
am happy to say that after crossing the
above named shoal, found throughout
the whole harbor most remarkable lev
ell and even surface of bottom, which is
as follows: beginning with 9 feet inch
es water at the outer emo Of the pier, and
deepening gradually to the depth Of the
pole sounded with, which was l6 10
feet long.
Vessels in approaching the present
pier, after getting within the end Of the
bar extending from Sturgeon Point,
which has its bearing north 90 degrees
east from the present pier; l say after
coming within the end Of this bar, may
approach the pier on any line which has
its bearing from south 90 deg. west TO
south as deg. west, but the best line is
south 80 deg. west. The best location,
however, for pier approachdble at all
times, would be about So rods below the
present one, at point extending from
the alley between Jefferson and Monroe
streets; 10 this pier any steamboat or ves-
sci might safely approach al all times
and in all Heaiiers, and make saul N all
,einds, as there is sufficient water to COM
mence beating out against north wind
even from the end Of said pier. This
pier the directors Of the V. b. company
have agreed to erect the neri winter,
and steamboats, and other vessels can ar
rive at that pier and depart from it, with
in any point between the lines Of north
45 degrees east and north as degrees
west, and with over ten feet water on
all parts from north to a northeasterly
course; and nearly that on the northwest,
erly line, even as the water now is,