The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-24
o u r n A r 3 o r


Harbor on New YORK.
Nsw YoRs, Dec 81 1867.
SRIn the summer of 1854 verbally called the atten
ton Of the late President Of your Board Walter Jones'
Esq., 10 the wash Of earth from the streets and wors OF
which mo-. ony thus hspbo was being
fected but that the width Of tho channel inside OF tho bar
at Sandy Hook had become seriously narrowed and ulti
mately the depth OF water on the bar must become
lessened and that in view Of the great interests that
would be affected by any reduction the depth OF water
there, proper that investigation should be
made of the extent Of the deposit silt into tho rivers
bordering city for the purpose OF placing the results
before the public IN order hat its attention might be d
rected to the consideration of element in CONNER
cial position secondary to none other viz the mante
nance OF depth OF water a, the entrance of harbor
equal to the full requirements Of our commerce,
Mr. Jones readily entertained my proposals, aud under
his direction at once proceeded TO make such observa
tons as thought best calculated TO furnish the essential
elements IN the case restricting myself to the subject Of
deposits in our hsrbor the upon the bounds
res thereof BY the extension OF ana PIERS and
the injurious effects therefrom, DID not propose 70 con
sder for the twofod that tbs necessity Of restrain
ing these ebcroachments bad become manifest TO the
public. that not only had the attention OF Legislature
been called H. The subject, but that then receiving
the consideration OF committee appointed tor the pur
pose of investigating and reporting thereon and secondly
that the ope stiun Of such encroachen similar to
that which proposed 10 ia vesgste-viz the reduction
of the tidal volume Of harborths the deductions In
one case would he equally applicable To tho other.
AS prelude to my task assumed TO irdisputabe
that the bar ut Sandy HOOK in its general features, Ike
the bars Of all tidal rivers presented series OF irregular
distractions etching the entrance into the lower
bay with varying and less depth OF water upon than
In tho channels within ii.
The admitted produce this general result
but the following apply in my opinion peculiar
Iy TO the locality under consideration
To tho arrest Of he current Of the last Of tho Obj tide
from the bay wher3 il meets the first Of the flood,
when surT.nders the deTtus holds suspension.
To the difference OF the food and cob currents in
their directions.
g. To the action Of ground sweis from tho sea- which,
If heavy and flowing from the southwark and eastward
deposit sand and gravel upon the bar and at all times,
when aided by tie current Of the fool within the
trance thereof.
To the occasional drninution cf the back water Of
the bays and rivers leading thereto from drought and the
reduction Of the 6a volume by the presence of upon
fats and tie shores.
To reduction o; the teal by the constant &C
creton OF 6ertus upon the shores
The first three positions similar in great degree To
those entertained by f. Caiver r. N; the fifth one by
Sir Henry de Ia Becbe.
In the prosecution Of my observations, selected six
locations which thought best suited to furnish me
sth the elements desired; and prov ding myself with an
equal number OF bottles OF like capacity, go cubic
inches repeatedly allied one OF them with water from
each these localities at halt tide (ooth ebb ann tow
both ry and weather and At different seasons Of
the year waer then filtered, and the resduum
weighed and noted in grains the average results OF
which ceduced from the operations OF several years. fur
pish the following
Weight in grains, of deposits in 80 cubic inches Of