Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-06-08

BEAUFORT H. RBOR.

BEAUFORT H RBOR.
We copy the following extracts from the repor
OF. II. L. Whiting, Esq, assistant in the Coast
Survey to the Superintendent, on the Survey Of
Beaufort Harbor. 1t is gratifying to know that
public attention in this State is becoming fully
awakened to this subject and we cannot doubt
that the following official communication will be
! read with much interest, and contribute to bring
about increased efforts to secure to our citizens
the advantages of zone of the best harbors and
ports on our whole Southern coast:
wv AsHrNGroN, May l9, 1852.
DEAR SiR: The survey is extended on
the outside shore, about three miles from either point
OF the inlet, and beyond the limits of the bar and
shoals OF Its entrance. In the harbor and about the
town. have carried the survey beyond all the i'm
poiant localities SO to fully include all the chan
nel.ways connecting the harbor with the interior
waters and furnishing typographical details TO show
the approaches by land to the best water and land
ings, with the character of the shore, which is of
course represented in our conventional signs.
have also made as accurate survey as the char
acter will admit Of the shoals and bars within the
atbor, as they exist at low water Of ordinary spring
tides:
X
In reporting upon the natural character and pre-
liminaries of Beaufort, as harbor and port, l will
state such facts as have come under my personal
knowledge and also communicate my opinion regard
ing its entrance and the facilities might afford to the
com mercial interest of this region.
The outside beach, or " bank" opposite Beaufort
harbor, is of the usual formation of this coast 1t is
mostly covered with low pine, and mixed growth,
and its average width is about half mile; the sand
high, thus forming good and sufficient shelter from
both wind and sea, to all vessels anchored inside the
banks; the holding ground is also good, as shown by
the results Of the Autographed survey.
The interior shores of the harbor are mostly Of
marsh growth, with masses OF oystebeds and Shells
which, the edges and where the sand has united
with them, are quite hard and solid. At LexonvilIe
and Shepherds point, and at the town of Beaufort
the main upland comes to the waters re. At the
two former points. the deep waters of Newport and
North River channels approach quite near the Shores
and without any intervening shoals.
During the last thirty years there does appear
TO have been any particular change, either in the
shore line shoals within the limits of the harbor
The and action of the tide, &c., which first
formed them, seems to continue them in their general
| position and extent.
That the inlet and bar of Beaufort are probably the
best on our whole eastern sea-coast, south OF the
Chesapeake Bay, is, ] believe, matter Of fact, and
needs no comment.
One Of these causes is the shelter and eddy cur.
rents occasioned by Cape Lookout. The inf uence
the south, and in the bite' Of the Immediately
under it. is, TO cut and carry away the sands and
shoals which storms may throw up, and deposite
them al the point of the Cape. At least, it is obvi.
Gus that the influence which has formed Cape Look-
out. and creates the deep water and bold shore OF
this cove Immediately south Of it, will not allow ary
depostes to take place at point where the eddy
and counter currents have their greatest effect {;
while the projection Of the Cape and the shoals ex.
tending beyond il, prevent the action of the with
| in ,iS from, hoiD, kav
effect, upon coast presenting unprotected and
nearly outline the action of storms and break
ersas is the case the shores both above and below
Cape Lookout and Cape Ha,teras.
| The other influence whch | think will always tend
to preserve the inlet at Beaufort is from the
is,cnce Of any large interior sound or bay.
The current hroug the inlet is wholly tidal one,
| and in the back waters of '' Borgue' and " Cove
sounds,' and from :" Newport and - NORTH rivers
accumulate more the flood tide than escapes on
the ebb; they also of such extent and located
to be materially affected by the tide, being filled
and emptied by the food aud ebb, and there are no
fresh water feeders TO either of the rivers sufficient
at all affect their currents.
There is thus strong and continued tidal current
through the inlet and this current Is not lost OF
over2owered by the heavy swell from the sea, dead
enng its effect and throwing back the sand, which
it dispaces in shoals and bars but it with the
eddy currents of the cove into which the inlet opens
and the Same action and effect is continued that the
current out OF e Inlet prOduceS all tending 10 pre-
, serve aid deepen the channel.
In comparing the inlet at Beaufort with Ocracok.
and others opening from The large sounds, the advan
ages and disad van,ages Of either Obvious. Thes
latter are almost much exposed on the inside o
the great of waters in the sounds they
the outside of the ocean. The effect Of storms
tide is consequently great as well as uncertain
Heavy storms from the westward prevent the It'd
from flowing through the inlets from the ocean, Will
the waiera surf from the sounds heave up swashe
and shoals from the inside.
| The action of storms from is still strong, wh
the waters of the sounds are driven back, and shoa
thrown up and formed the mouth OF the in
let, without any counter influence prevent carr!
them away.
In commercial point of view. Beaufort, as har
Dor and point, has many advantages and is well Sit
uated There is no river inland navigation to de
lay or require the towing of large vessels. A shiI
t drawing twenty feet of water can leave at any
state of the tide with almost any wind, and dis
charge her pilot at Sea in from ,hifty to forty-6v
: minutes after weigbiag anchor.
v 1t seems, therefore, that the usefulness of
the best harbors and ports on our whole Southern
coast 10 lost for the of proper facilities Of
municaton and internal Improvements, giving acccs
to it from the interior country and cities.
- II =
e remain, sir, very respectfully yours,
. HENRY L. WHITING.
Prof. A. D. BAcHE, Superintendent
U. S. Coast Survey, Washington.
n ~ man ma ned Smith-Alerander SmiA
; native of Glasgow, aged about twenty one year