The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-13

Report Of Professor Il. d. Bache, Superintendent Of
the U. S. Coast Surrey. to the Secretary Of ths
TYeas,yu an relation TO The dughf Of usssels lDhich
can enter Columbia Ricsr, Oregon.
Webs HILL, Dec. 3, 1850.
Sin: have the honor to communicate a second
photographic notice in regard TO the western coast,
and to request authority for its publication. II is
contained in a report by Lieutenant Washington
A. Bartlett, u. S. navy Assistant in the Coast Sur
vey and refers the south channel at the entrance
of Columbia river, Oregon.
Yours, respectfully,
A. d. BACHE, Sup't, &c.
Hon THOMAS GOWN.
Secretary Of the Treasury.
Assi.iant in the Coast Surrey. in relation 70 the
draught of pessels tohieh enter The South Chan
mel, Columbia riuu s'ifranes Oregon.
WAsHIsoToN, Nov. 80, 1850.
Ss: In answer to your inquiries as to the draught
for vessels which may at any time be carried INTO
the Columbia river by the new south channel, !
have to state that late survey OF that channel,
and my personal experience In passing over the
South Bar, in vessels OF deep draught, show con
clusively that vessels drawing seventeen feet can
be taken over the south bar at one-quarter flood
or three. quarters ebb without the least risk Of
touching, aud twenty feet can pass ut high water
In making the preceding statement 1t Is proper
TO say that have fully considered the 'droP"
which vessel makes when In the swell OF the bar,
which is, however, much less IN the South tnan IN
the old north channel, when the wind ID In the
usual northwestern quarter
In the winter or spring seasons, when the wind
is in the outh southwest quarter there 10 nveiy
breaker on the south bar, at which time II VIII De
smoothest the north bar, and this southery vino
being then fair for the north channel, there ls no
occasion to take the south bar, in southsry Dinds,
going in; vet with moderate draught, in sailing
vessel, the south channel is safest in coming
out, although the wind may he "dead in" to the
49, hahn n nd
it ia not necessary to tack In shoal water
The United States steamer Massachusetts, and
United States sloop -of-war Falmouth, each draw
in seventeen feet water have passed the bar oil the
south channel into the columbia rlVer' Hihee oui
survey was made.
In addition, would state that my experience at
the mouth Of the Columbia has convinced me that
the South channel is the practicable commercial
channel of that river for certainty and safety with
the additional advantage of accomplishing the pas
sage to from the river without waiting ior par
ticular wind. Ships frequently pass the bar IN
ward in fifteen minutes after receiving their pilot,
and outwards in thirty minutes after getting their
anchors.
disabled ship that can be sailed SO as to have
good storage way, can pass over the SCUM par IN
safety when it would be Impossible 70 get ner III
by the north channel.
From the 18th of April to the 9th August 1850,
there was no day that the south channel was not
practicable for vessels and was IN daily use.
l crossed the bar (south channel) IN the plot
boat "Mary Taylor" during the heaviest gale that
occurred within the abovenamed period, beating
out with the wind dead ahead.
The principal pilot of the bar is Captain White,
late pilot of New York harbor. He ia very inteli-
gent and competent to his duties, and no accident
has occurred ut the mouth of the Columbia since
September lS49, when he commenced his duties
pilot.
The commerce of the Columbia river, the great
artery of the fertile valleys Of the Columbia and its
tributaries. is rapidly Increasing. The Pacific
Mail Steamship Company's steamers now proceed
L.. onI raf,,r 10. Gap wi
monthly mails. A small steamer has been built at
Astoria and is now employed in the river trade. A
second steamer was on the stocks when we LETT tn
river.
Regular lines of sailing and steam propeller yes.
sells are also established between San Francisco and
the various towns the Columbia; also to MIS-
qually and other points in Puget's Sound.
For further particulars. have the honor to refer
you to my report of June last.
Very truly, your obedient servant,
WASH. A. BARTLETT,
Lieut.. U. ). Navy, Asst Coast Survey.
Professor A. ID. BAcHE,
Superin tendent u. S. Coast Survey.