Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-07-21

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docnment have here appears 10 be fully sensible
of our great exposure and, as part OF me pan Oh
coast Notifications, recommended the erection OF
fort at this inlet. This convention has recommen-
died. in the place of fort, that the the inlet shouo
be closed up which be done at less expense and
" hen once closed there would be an END OF all 1ur-
Their expenditure. Neither soldiers nor munitions OF
war would have TO be supplied So the House Will
observe that the closing up OF this inlet VIII nave
double effect: that of Increasing the volume of wa
ter passing out of the main bar and also lnsurlng
protection against hostile INVASION.
| have now. Mr.. Speaker, given the House such
facts must impress it with the nationality OF this
work, and place it the same footing as any other
great Improvement but would be doing much in
Justice to my constituents if rested their application
on this basis alone Sir, the first resolution adopted
by the convention referred to, demands the compile
ton of this work as act OF justice; they allege
that YOU have caused their difficulties and that Is
yo1r duty to remove them. What is its language:
Resolved, That the General Government by the cree
fcatons there, the consequent washing away of the
sands upon the opposite point of Bald Head and their de-
post upon the Cape Fear has been the cause
DINA
By reference to this map which l hold in my
! hands, kindly furnished me by the Coast Survey,
will show the Justice of their complaint.
In the year 1923 1924, Fort Caswell was erect
ed on this point of land, known Oak Island and,
in course of few years, it was discovered that Its
foundation was being fast washed away by the force
ietties out INTO the channel, to prevent this
abrasion. The etties constructed they were
run ont from three to four hundred feet. The rene
dy complete. High dry land was formed around
them far as they extended: but, consequence,
our best and deepest channel was destroyed. In the
year 1927 l. for the first time, made trip: and
i is my recollection that vessel passed out of the
river where there is, at present, high dry land
What has made the change! Then ii was fifteen
feet water; it is dry land. Facts-which are
/" stubborn things "-clealy show the cause OF the
change. will read few letters from individuals of
high character and responsibility, whose life bust
ness it has been to examine and to become acquaint
ed with every change of the depth of wafer on the
bar and whose opinion upon such subjects must
command the confidence Of the House The first
letter which will read is from Captains Bates and
Lawson. These gentlemen have had charge of the
Wilmington and Charleston boats for the last ten
or fifteen years, and which occupation required them
to pass and repass two or three times weekly. over
the bar. | will not consume the time of the House
by reading the letter, but merely give synopsis -
They, in answer TO letter of mine. state ii as their
opinion, derived from observations made by them
during the course of the last ten fifteen years.
that the mpediments in the western channel have
been chiefly caused by The building of the jetties to
project Fort Caswel
The next letter which will read has been fur
nished me by the pilots of the bar. These gentle
men know WELL and believe each of them above
stating anything but what is the truthful conviction
of their mind:
Ds, your letter gsk1 @ Co. May the
effect the Government works Oak Island protect the
site Fort Caswe has had upon the channel and the
depth OF water on ne par we nave 10 reply as olows
cases. tnree OF Jour ee anu nu very oecueu ei
tect IN closing up the channel caieo tne mp, the one
usually taken by le Charleston steamers and the effect
the nam oar mas peeH ou Pereep'lpy, anu YER
fanny TO reduce the oePch Oh water oln neel 10 1855 tan
ten feet.
~ ono" IloIe " 't pIS q W. ~ -. ~
ceny constructor tcle ac pau ieao W protect nC PonC
ana copnteract tn enect VI tne eeIes 70 a.
lana Inc water mas oRen 1eePeeu Oh the mp 10 ABOUT
thirteen or fourteen eeV at hgn Coe ana Is no" ucn pet
ter than the main par ,. H., :, 49,.
have most OF us been pilots mere during the last ten
the eect OF the eI1le5 on O lsaho mas oee us we nave
stea TO reouee nt Gep OF on a f ne
e W. b oi.on This ,o+bod of ron1vnc 70 o,r 1.+r &C
Wv nave di4 o f ; ~ yUr b; S a.
l. Ject >.
1t we are, resPectluIly your ooecle6t 3 Ser r
20 4lCHA fI DoshEK' q u 6 t2NllH
IF John w UALLo"AH' = DAV1 = D
e ? N uH 1890! 11 nH :, ~ H. EN-,
T ~ P Irq iAf''h naNTrI s !. DpsAAN'
u rF!GE, - P p SMITH II
- JAMES " " S Gl-EhMoNs' f1ED4ohp l ~ aok,
re IANlEs Il 1 ClEnnNloNe' E" NJ "a S1ALho"A1'
lie 2oLiU9 Do1rn' n 1hA'0N'
r - JAMES AKNoLDI n
> hon w. . ASAE' M ~
will now read letter from General Alexander
'e NacRan the president of the Wilmington and Roam
If oke Ra1lr"Ad company gentleman who IS wei
Is Known 70 many " 'llS anu "no
ir o' oE Nv T "I =. I s n.y. ~
" Wy long pa'"oe S''"u' ee'olu ~ Ou' le" III 'ne
Id COUNTY wno, 0, o, ,o5,
DEAR SIR -You ask for nv onnion as to the niurou
ell produced by the ees erected
Oak Island Point to protect the beach from washing away
at i o1 81 h t, ch ony ~ say tnat IL IS 1i
G to ohsep1a the channels Of the rive and f
the line place to Charleston
for the last seventeen years the opinion forced upo
me- At ana previous 10 the erection OF these ette Their