Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-03

A careful examination of these facts have led US
to the following conclusions: 1st That the main bar
if left to ITSELF would have exhibited material de-
crease of depth from the date of Wimbe's survey.
1t would have been subject to variations, the
Western Bar; but these variations would have been
temporary and slight caused by shifting sands, and
would not have nuriously affected the Commerce of
the Port. 1t might even have continued to increase
as has been shown that it did between the time of
Mosely's survey, and that of WimOle. End That
the opening of New Inlet and the consequent din
mutton of the volume of water which passed out at
the main entrance had tendency necessarily to di
minish the depth Of water upon the main bar and
that the main bar continued to decrease, with some
slight variations, according to the increase of the
New Inlet. 3d. That this continued to be the state
of things up to the period of Capt Glynn's survey
in 1889, at which time the New Inlet had attained
its greatest DEPTH having reached formation of
rock which prevented any further increase.
Since the year 1885, the New Inlet has not in
creased in depth, but has been subject only to tenn
porary variations caused by the prevailing winds.
gale from the north east for instance, washes the
sand from the capes, and deposits it about and upon
the rock of which its bottom is formed, while gale
from the south west is equally certain to wash it
from the rock, and carry it out again to the Ocean
These facts have been established by accurate sound
ings made by the Pilots, and by the operations of
the U. S. Coast Survey; and render it certain that
subsequent to that PERIOD the New Inlet has exerted
no influence towards the shoaling of the main bar.
1t has also been shown that the variations in the
depth of the western channel have been so slight
than is shown by Glynn's survey, to be unable
to cause any material injury since that date, what
ever its effects may have been previously. But still
the shoaling of the main bar has continued; and lat
tery has increased the rapdty Of its action to such
extent to render this entrance useless for the
the larger class of vessels thus indicating the oper
alton of some and powerful cause to produce the
result.
Very shortly after the publication of Capt. Glynn's
survey, about the year 1S4O the United States Gov
ernment for the protection of Fort Caswel from abra
son constructed stone jettieS upon the Oak Island
shore, running out into the river, Of them to
the distance of four hundred feet The effect ofthesc
jetties to change the of the current and
to throw it upon Bald Head-the opposite shore
with such force and in such manner as to cause
material wash, while the sand from this wash
carried Gut by the action of the current and depos
tied upon the main bar This has been ascertained
by the most accurate soundings made by scientific
men and affords the only possible reason for the
continued shoang of the main bar after the causes
proceeding from the opening of New Inlet had ceased
to operate. We have already shown that these
causes have not and could not have produced any
material effect after the date of Capt. Glynns
vey in 1889 and, if we correct in these conclu
sons, we feel very positive that we are then the
Government of the United States is directly charge
able with the construction of one which has
operated very powerfully towards the injury of our
bar, and of our Commerce.
Having thus endeavored to give historical &C
count of the Cape Fear and its outlets we proceed
to examine the grounds upon which the immediate
undertaking and ultimate and speedy accomplish
ment of the improvement of our Bar, and restora-
ton of the original state of things address them
selves to the Government a work peculiarly be-
longing to her, and demanded by the necessities of
portion of her people.
When Government is appealed to- to do any par
ticuar work, it is an indispensable prerequisite to
success that it should appear that what is asked is
itself practicable. In answering this demand we con-
graduate ourselves and the Convention, that
not left to rely upon our reasoning and conclu-
sions, but that special commission appointed by
the Secretary of War, composed of able officers of
the Engineer Corps and the Navy, with Prof Bache
at its head has, upon the fullest examinations and
explorations, made report to Government setting
forth the entire practicabity of the work and re-
commencing plan for the improvement of the en-
trance based upon the gradual restoration of the
circumstances existing when there was twenty (2O)
feet of water upon the Bar and expressed opinion
with much confidence, that its execution will again
restore that depth Before the appointment of this
commission, Congress had appropriated $40, 900 for
this work, which sum has since been expended, to-
gether with part of 800 900 subscribed by certain
citizens of Wilmington for the purpose of continuing
operations until Government should make the nee
sessary appropriation for it. Capt. Woodbury. who
has charge of these works in report made to Gen.
Totten, Chief of the Engineer Departmenf on the