Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-15
River and Bar improvements.

River and Bar improvements.
WILMINGTON, n, c., March 18th, 1872.
Col. U-m. L. DcRosset, President Of lie
Chamber Of Commerce. - "
Sir The monthly visit Of YOUR COM
mittee to the HarbOr Improvements, near
Now Inlet, was made on Thursday last, tie
18th instant. f#-.
1t will be remeinbeIpd that during the
past month, Cape Fear river has been Wis
tied by an extraordinary frcShet, the Water
rising to an unusual height, SO much SO,
that during its eXistcnce, the water at the
works was not reduced at low tide more
than eighteen inches below the line Of high
water mark. AS a matter OF course, very
little work could be done during this con-
ditiOn Of affairs. Add to this, Il continuance
of stormy weather during nearly the whole
month. One storm OF great violence,
which lasted for four days collsecutively,
the wind blowing all the While from one
direction, was well calculated to result i'll
damaging effects. Strange as it may APP
pear however, we are pleased to say, that
no damage whatever was done to any part
of the work, either of the breakWater, the
brISh-fenccs, or the grass which had been
planted; everything is intact, as though no
storm or high tide had occurred, while
there are indications OF considerable dam
age to the exposed and unprotected parts
of the beach.
The simple statement of these facts, we
feel it to be, the strongest commentary at
our command, upon the utility and stabili-
ty of the works now progressing
Work upon the bTeakwater is progress
ing satisfactorily, under the circumstances,
and considering the smallamOunt of means
allowed to progress with.
,1,4il
been dcne although only about thirty or
forty feet have been completed by the
finishing superstructure. The beach i'll
point continues to follow up the work, and
the flats Of the bay inside of the work is
rapidly filling, $50 that it is difficult to get
Il small boat to the beach from the river,
except at high tides.
We here desire to call attention to an di5-
parent change going on in the current of
the main New Inlet, which now seems to
take a sOutheasterly direction from the in
ner shore OF Federal Point, dia2onaiy
across the inlet, outside the outer point OF
Zeke'S Island shore, moving in 4 somewhat
parallel line 10 Smiths Island beach, throw
ing up in its passage, a reef or line of shoal
from the outer point of beach to Zcile'S
Island.
How this change of cawent Gf colTecl)
will affect the present plan of operations
We are unable to say, and if We were, it
would be exceeding our province to speak.
1t prejudicial, the Engineer in charge will
very soon discover it, if he has not already
done SO. "a+ 9.-.
There is still another matter to which
we deem it proper to call the attention of
the Chamber. Ii appears from the chart
OF a survey, made last Summer by Captain
Junken. of the L. S. Coast Survey, and
ifc Jipoaf;nI, 4l.nIo OF oil
upon the rip across the western channel Gf
the main outlet Of the harbor, near Fort
Caswell, nine and a half (95) feet OF
draugllt water at low tide, the benefits of
Which, as yet, have not been made availa-
BILE. This passage appears narrow ana not
exactly straight and can only be rendered
available by the addition of two or three
buoys iudiciously placed.
And again, we are informed QlnoGicialIy
OfcourSe) thatthe volume of water now pas
sing the main outlet OF The HarbOr, being
largely increased, by the construction OF
the b1cak-water near New Inlet, and tax
ing The general direction of the Eastern, or
old main ship channel on the BaIdhead
side of the outlet, is perceptibly wearing
channel through the outer bIllll-head on
Keeper shoals, and that ten feet UO)
dralIght can now be obtained across it at
low tide. II these reports should prove
true, (and we suppose the facts VIII soon
be developed by tie officers Of the coast
survey now 1T work upon this outieD, we
can see no good reason why our commerce
should not lave the benefit of any improve
ment in the navigation, and as rapidly IS
such improvement is made, by having tie
channels properly marked by buoys.
All Of which is respectfully submitted tor
your consideration.
II. MUTT, Chairman.