The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-27

TREASURY DEpAArAxSF.


Eoes Napigas0r4 ~ Lks HsasyH Csa Of tEs United
SatsaCoPy Of letter from the Superintendent TO the
Secretary q the Treasury, with copy o. communication
from Captain W. l. Dali p ~ s. 81 Columbia and az
tracts FROM letter Of Captain James Watkins NJ s.
Soden Age relative to facilities for navigation afforded
BY the development Of dspose Of reddish sand detected
BY Commander Alden United States navy inside Of the
bar At the sntranes 70 San Francisco harbor California
CoAsF sURyEY OEncE, May I, 1856
SIN: have the honor subjon herewith copy OF let
ter addressed by Capt W. l. Dali, Of the Pacific mail
steamship Columbia to Commander James Alden Uni
ted States navy, assistant in the Coast Survey relation
to the development made by the last-named officer OF
sposits Of sand peculiar % the inside Of The bar al the
entrance TO the harbor Of San Francisco and which
made the general subject Of my communication the de-
paxtuent under date October 20, 1855.
In addressing Commander Alden, Captain Dali says:
After completing the survey Of the the bar
Dor Of San Francisco you were kind enough to show
your chart and point out to the characteristic sound
ngs you called my attention particularly the fact that
the bar crossed the Lead would bring up
gray rand @ red peeks and that such bottom found
&C place outside the bar
Since then have had two occasions opportuni-
ty the information acquired from your chart
= In October Of last year coming from the Columbia
river made Point Arena, lninety-hye miles from the
Heads and at the time met dense fog. by
time and the revolutions Of the wheels uatl up with
Point Reyes, when the altered for the Heads
To be certain Of my position got Of the lead every
fifteen minutes In four hours after passing Point Reyes
found myself in i've fahoms. which supposed be On
the north forming the Francisco
harbor Steering 3. s. E. and sounding carefully the
water deepened 10 athoms, when had the Lead
armed and il brought up gray saad utA red specks'
certain then (relyng your ehars that inside
the bar and off the Of the harhor kept the
until got eighteen fathoms when hauied
up n by T., and in short time got the soGndIngs I'M
der the north shore then altered the n BY n
which took in clear of Fort Point and the first thing
through the fog the long wharf North beach
On my last trip from Oregon made Point Reyes at
midnight and the light on Point Bonea at intervals
m WI ten he
Jog shut down dense that could not ships
length. continued until by the soundings were
on the north bank and in four and half iathoms.
then dropped kedge and waited FOR daylight At 5,
m, got under way, steering T. 8 E. and sounding we
got eight athos and the lead being armed brought
up gray sand eta red perts When in fifteen fathons
changed the course E by N and by the deep
ter supposed in mid-ehauneL When the fog lifted
running fairly up the channel and midway be
Fort Point and North shore Had not been guided
by what had learned from your chart should in both
instances have had to remain at anchor outside until the
fog lifted
three days in dense fog Had the soundings and pecu-
liares OF the bottom been well known then now,
should have been able in by the lead The chart Of
the entrance of harbor Of San Francisco will be in
valuable assistant the captains Of steamers running
this saving much time during the oggy season. and
enabling them with proper caution to enter the barber at
times when without they would be obliged 10 wait out
side for clear weather.
Capt James Watkins of the Pacific Mail CompanyTs
steamship Golden Age" in transmitting TO me copy of
the Communication Just quoted remarks in regard the
facilities for navigation be afforded by the publication
Of the development referred to by Capt Dali:
"A short time prior to my leaving San Francisco
crossed the bar board the United States Ac
tive and highly grathed To know that the bar
chart when published. will furnish safe guide into
the harbor in thick weather with lead As the sound
ings marked and accurate there be mista
king them, in my opinion with proper attention to the
lead
would respectfully request authority to publish this
communication in the usual form for the benefit Of nav
tors the of tbs uaited STATS
Very respectfully, yours,
A. b. BACHE, supt
Han Ilurs GrrrHRrE SECRETARY Of the TreasnrY.