The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-24

AdE oEA ENTRANCE TO CHARLESTON.-The
main requisites Of a prominent seaport is a
sufficient expanse Of deep water well protected
by the land, to accommodate and lie ep afloat a
numerous feet OF ships, and a sufficient depth
or water leading to the sea to enable vessels to
pass with facility. In the former reauisite
Charleston is admirably located, having for
miles around her depth Of Eve, six and seven
fathonas, wh ere the fleets Of the world might
ride. Her sea, entrance, however, has been
considered somewhat contracted, and for very
heavy ships it stands as an obstacle. The
pumpkin Hill Channel at present used, viii
permit PASSAGE at fair tides, OF seventeen to
elghteen feet, and even eighteen and
half has been successfully brought in,
The British propellers, which are now
coming into the cotton trade OF the South
90 not require more than this, and pass
IN and out Of our port with facility, and
1t is probable that three-fourths OF the
worlds commerce is transported in ships OF no
greater draft: but notwithstanding the present
depth is suitable not only for our present traf.
Ac but for q largely extended trade, asi i'm
provenent in the amount Of water on the bar
would have it's advantages. This subject was
attracting much notice, and q dredge boat
constructed by, our enterprising feliow-citizen,
I'M. Eason, ESD, had been used with conssid,s
erable success on an entrance to the harbor
known as Maffit OF Beach Channel Immediately
next to Sullivan's Island; but the late uneortr.
nate struggle put an end 10 this and all other
efforts for the improvement to the sea en-.
trance to the port. With the view OF initiating
some new efforts in this direction, several gem
tlemen belonging to the commission, who form
erly had the work in charge. among whom were
Messrs. Henry Gourdin, F. J. Porcher and w.
G. DeSauseure, accompanied by two OF our exr
perienced pilots, Messrs. Samuel Bell and 8.
s. Hancock, went down yesterday forenoon to
make an observation on this channel near
Buliivan's Islapd. This point of entrance has
some prominent advantages, among which are
very limited sea motion and proximity to the
city. Its conyeniences are so considerable that
in 1858, 80 and go. much the larger portion Of
the commerce Of the cityswas done through
this entrance. These gentlemen were much
pleased with their reconnaissance, and were
gratiAed to find better water than they had ex-
pected. The tide fell out quito iow, and sound
ings were taken at low water slack, when
the lsast water found was eleven lest, indica-
ting aboat nineteen feet at good spring tides.
A spit extending from Drunken Diek bsesker
jdts into the channel and somewhat contracts
it's dimensions; there are also sone half dozen
sunksn blockade runners near by; bat theBe
obstructioas can probably DO got rid Of at q
moderate expense, and with q removal oG the
outer part OF the breakwater this channel may
be made the neoss convenient entrance 70 the
harbor. We trust that tho Efforts or these
gentleMelyWill YireeS With .efscouraftdrne as
notwikh Andip9a me 1nany z.att.sss 49,. .,
Of ont s4 Han ssharp co&pstitibG sround
Us rendess y neoessasy that syery possible
facility should DO gtysn ~ the prompt and
cheap transaction Of basineaa at this point.
With vtgiianee and energy ON the part on hsr
sons, Charleaton win take b leading psaco
aracng the great conmsroial maEss so9 the
oountsy, & sg "a