Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-16
PUBLIC MEETING,

In pursuance of public notice, meeting OF the
citizens of Wilmington Interested in the preservation
and improvement OF the entrance to the port. was
convened at the Methodist Episcopal church on
"Wednesday ng The 9th inst. for the purpose of
taking into consideration the proper means TO be
adopted to secure these desirable ends.
On motion of DR.. A. J. DpRosset. Jr, the meeting
was organized by calling John Dawson, ESQ.,, M.
p, to the Chair, and appointing James Fulton and
L. Burr, Jr.. Secretaries.
The meeting having been organized, Geo. Davis,
Esq, in few eloquent remarks, introduced to the
audience Professor A. d. Bache, the distinguished
head of the U. S. Coast Survey, who had kindly
consented 10 be present. and plain the conclusions
which the Commission had come, " it'll regard to the
present of the Harbor-the causes " hch had
produced such state, and the means proper TO be
adopted Tor the prevention of further evil effects from
the operation OF these causes well as TO restore
The former state of things, and with 1t The former
depth-being equal TO 20 feet at high water.
Prof. ache commenced his lecture by general
description of the coast OF n Orh Carolina, and OF the
several inlets lying under the protection of its Capes
and the shoals projecting from them and alluded
briefly to their changes. The Cape Fear inlet,
though protected by The Cape and by extensive shoals
(the Frying Pan shoals had. in consequence of the
opening OF New lmiet shodled from before the begin
ming OF The present century, and al such rate that
| there TWO and half feet less water on the
Main Bar al high water, than there had been In 1877
at low water now there was twelve feet only at high
water, where there had formerly been fourteen and
half at low. The Cape Fear entrance In d con-
dtion of rapid deterioration, and hence the lmpor-
tance and, indeed the urgent ssIty OF Immediate
action 10 endeavor the evil. Natural causes
were at work which must be counteracted, or the
inlet would become too shoal to meet the demands Of
commerce.
The importance of this inlet, in national or gene.
raj point OF view, explained, barber OF re-
fuge, and harbor of supply for al for the small
naval steamers, and for those OF the mercantile ma
TlHe, from The Immense deposits on The head walters
Of the Cane Fear. To accummOdate the larger coast
ing trade, depth OF fifteen TO eighteen ieet on the
Bar is necessary.
To Wilmington this outlet for its commerce is Of
vital Importance. Close this outlet, and of what
avail will be the large expenditure amounting 10 mill
lions, railroads bring the produce ct twenty
eigh counties of this Stale and OF several III South
Carolina TO The wharves of Wilmington. Oh what
avail to open the Coal Mines ii the products cannot
be sent to market Limit The exit to New-lnel
alone, and the capacity for commercial Increase Will
soon be reached. The coast-wIse trdde OF w lning-
ton, estimated tour millions OF dollars, and
the foreign exports OF half million. must inevitably
dwindle away. OF twenty-eIght vessels at the
WharVes when the commission on the Improvement
of the entrance, met in Wilmington In December
last, four barQues, and fourteen bTigs. w Ith
decrease OF the depth Of these Will be replaced
by schooners, and the larger schooners by those OF
lIgh er drdught, and these being unable to compete
with cuastIng vessels OF greater dranghs and there
fore transporting with greater economy The commerce
of Wilmington must undoubtedly retrogade. large
portion of Tie State is interested as well as In!ng-
in arrestng such a caiamItous state OF things.
Prof. Bache describes by reference to maps,
prepared by the Coast Survey, the present c. ndIon
OF Main cha nnel, the rip Western channel, and
the New Inlet. In 1851, the depth Oh the Main Bar
feet. on the bulk head of the Western channel
feet, and at NewlnieI Bar feet. Between 1851
and 1852 the Main Bar has stoaled nearly nine inch
Reference made in complimentary terms to
the Iabors of Lieut.. Mafit, and of Mr.. Bodies, and
Mr.. Gregory in making these surveys. Cape Fear
entrance shown from Mosely's Map of 1888,
passing directly out to sea, through opening of
less than three quarters of mile wide, the @!
tie river direct and not winding now, the depth
the Main Bar 10 feet at high water. W here New
Inlet now Is, there was then sand beach nearly a
mile in width By reference to Joshu' POus' Map
OF 1877, (for which Prof. Bache acknowledged his
Indebtedness 10 K. w. Brown, Esq, The pioneer in
the Cape Fear Improvement a motion Of the Main
bar towards the land shown, the New Inlet was
opened but the passages between the two islands
north of Smiths Island did exist and the inlet
comparatively shoaI, it, is prob lbIe, the
sounding on Polts' Map refer in all cases TO high
A table was shown containing summary of the
observed depths the Main channel, the Western
channel, and the New lulel Bars, from which the
deductions drawn: Ist. That the observations
exact enough to show that the combined depths
had always been from twenty 10 tMe ny Hour feet, |.
aud, COURSE the water which escaped through lew
Inlet as lost The Main Bar. I'd. That The depths
The " esteru Bar had always been variable. In-
cdeutdIiy the differences weTr explained between
channel aud Molfrll's cnanneI, in Charleston,
which d commission had proposed to open by dTedg-
ing the bulk head at its inner entrance The ques-
uoa of the acuon OF the j7uy On the depth OF Tie
esIerr channel also discussed, and diagram,
showing the shore line of Oak Island, by accurate
survey, before the Fort constructed, and, annu-
ally, a!Ies the construction of the jetty's
Iuenced, referred 10 as proving that The present
line several hundred feet inside of of
1920. The effect Of permitting the washing way
OF Oak Island shown 10 he the inevitable de-
o1 the " esern channel. The jtItys alter
The position but the depth of the cilanne and
until constructed OF sufficient length o reach
Tile middle ground, such must continue 10 be the
case. Sd. Inc depth The Main Bar has already
decreased though at irregular Tate, the ope
ming OF the New Inlet. The commission the
Cape Fear Improvement have endeavored to ascer-
the date OF The opening of that Inlet, and have
fixed it at about 1850. 1t first very shoal.
The late of shoalIng the Main Bar was about wv
feet ten years, from 1900 1920, nine inches in
ten Years 1910, and foot III wears 1850.
Unless by sumo changes in the physical causes now
operating, This shualIIg must go 4Ih. More wa
ter now passes OF New Intet than FORMERLY. as
shown by the OF the depths of the Main
and estern channel being less than formerly. 5Ih.
Bald Head is rapidly wearing away. The stone
JetIys the opposite shore probably increase the
" ear of The Bald Head side. 9th. The middle
ground Shoal, betW the and western channel,
has very much increased, and the dry at low
water has much extended. 7Ih. The southern side
of Smiths Island is abraded by the waves, and
furnishes the fine sand OF which the Main Bar is
composed. 7;h. New Inlet is underlied by rock,
pronounced by Profs. Agass and Holmes q belong
to The newest tertiary. On this fine sand is thrown
and moved TO and fro by the waves, forcing the Bar
depth on it-carryIng it outward by Southwardly
IVHS ardIlp he Hpth 4