The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-13
foFFICIAL.l

Report Of Professor A. d. Bache, If The y. 8.
Coast Surrey, TO the Secretary Of the Tree
surv, IN relation 10 The draugh of Vessels
phich can enter Columbia Riuer, Oregon.
WEBB's HILL. Dec. 3, 1850.
Sin have the honor To communicate second
photographic notice in regard to the Western
Coast and to request authority for its publication.
Il is contained in report by Lieut.. Washington
A. Bartlett, u. s. Navy, Assistant IN the Coast
Survey and refers to the south channel at the en-
trance Of Columbia River, Oregon.
Yours respectfully,
(Signed) A. ID. BACHE, Sup't. &c.
Hon. Thomas CoRwIN, Sec. Of Treasury.
Report of LII. Washington 4. Bartlett, IT, s. n,
Assistant in the Coast Surrey, in relation 10
the draugM Of Vessels Which can enter he
south channel, Colombia Rirer entrance Ore
gon.
WAsuNGToN, Nov. 80, 1850.
SIR In answer to your inquiries as to the
draught for vessels which may at any time be car
rrd into the Columbia river by the new south
channel have TO state that our late survey OF that
channel, and my personal experience in passing
over the south bar in vessels OF deep draught,
show concIusiyely that vessels drawing seventeen
feet can be taken over the south bar at . food or
ebb, without the least risk of touching, and
twenty feet can pass at high water.
In making the preceding statement, 1t is proper
to state, that | have fully considered the " DROP
which II vessel makes when in the swell Of the
bar, which is, however, much less in the south
than in The old north channel, when the wind is
in the usual northwestern quarter.
In the winter or spring seasons, when the wind
is in the south or southwest quarter, there is a
lively breaker on the outh bar, at which time il
will be smootlest the north bar, and this south
erly wind being fair for the north channel, there
is occasion to take the south bar, in Souiheriu
,cinds, going in vet with moderate draught, IN
ia inn chs 10 C.a,;
coming OUT although the wind may be " dead inn
to the bar; the bar being so short and quickly
passed, that it is not necessary to tack III shoal
wafer.
The U. S. steamer Massachusetts, and U. S.
sloop-of war Falmouth, each drawing II feet wa
ter have passed the bar of the south channel into
the Columbia river, since our survey 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 or accomplishing
Il e passage, to or from the river, without waiting
far particular wind Ships frequently pass the
bar inward in fifteen minutes after receiving their
pilot, and outward in thirty minutes after getting
their anchors.
A dsal led ship, that can be sailed so as to have
god steerage way, can pass over the south bar in
safety, when it would be Impossible to get her in
by the north channel
From the 18th of April to the 5th of August,
1850, there was no day that the south channel
not practicable for vessels, ard was in daily
use
| crossed the bar (south channeD in the pilot
boat MARY Taylor" during the heaviest bar that
occurred within the above named period, beating
out with the wind ahead.
The principal pilot Of the bar is Capt. White,
late pilot Of New York harbor; he is very inte- "
gent and competent to his duties, and no accident
has occurred at the mouth Of the Columbia since
September, l849, when he commenced his duties
as pilot.
The commerce of the Columbia riyer-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
to astoria, and return to San Francisco with the
monthly mails small steamer has been built
at Astoria, and is now employed in the river trade.
A second steamer on the stocks when we left
the river
Regular lines Of sailing and steam propeller
vessels, also established between San Fran.
cisco and the various towns on the Columbia; also
to Nisqualy. 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 ODD servant, I,
(Signed) 'WASH'N A. BARTLETT,
Lieut.. U. S. Nary, ass Coast Surrey
Professor A. D. BAcHE,
Superintendent U. S. Coast Surrey.