Wilmington journal., 1873-07-18


Co.. Wns. L. DeRosset, President OF
the Chamber of Commerce
SIR On Wednesday, the 9th inst.
we visited the public works near New
Inlet for improving the harbor, on
board the steam-tug jas. r. East0u,
Capt. Leary.
Since our last visit on the 5th oi
June, reported on the 9th } the break
water has been completely finished to
Its final terminus on Zeke's Island.
4,4O3 feet, (near seven-eighths of a
1 mile).
A few leaks remain iD that part of
the work last put up, which require a
little nursing until nature brings up
sand to make the beach against it,
consequently few hands are kept
there to stop the leaks with sand bags,
while the main force has been moved
over to Federal Point, where opera
tlons have already commenced.
| The beach in front of the break
water is making up very rapidly. and
II 1t continues to make up, as it has
done for the past month, will soon
form solid beach to the island.
Thus it will be seen that one combi-
nation, or one link in the chain of
|
harbor, has been finished, and most
successfully has it been accomplished
When we consider the formidable
character of this work, the immense
volume of water being forced through
this opening of near seven-eighths of a
| mile like q mountain torrent, by the
| combined pressure of the river and
Buzzard Bay currents, some parts of it
as much as forty feet deep, with the
precedents of failure in former at
tempts at closing it, creating doubts
| of success in this and doubts in the
| minds of able engineers and statesmen
as to the propriety of aporopriating
| money III what appeared SO hopeless
an undertaking, we say that when all
these things are considered, the I'M
dertaking was formidable indeed and
to the. moral courage, skill, and judici-
GUS management of the Engineers who
planned and executed the operations
are we indebted for the eminent, we
| may say unparalleled success which
has crowned their efforts thus far
and all this, too, with the petty sum of
$275,O 600, mere trifie i'll comparison
with the magnitude of the work accom-
6lished, or its real intrinsic value.
We can say nothing of the effect
upon the lower harbor and main outlet
by the increased volume of water which
has been turned upon it, except from
hearsay, the substance of which is n
gradual Improvement.
We had not the opportunity OF see
ing as much of the operations of the
brush-fences and grass cultivation as
was perfectly satisfactory.
On TI1ac1ox- tho 9th met tho f.rut
crib of the new breakwater at Federal
Point was placed III position near the
old fish-house wharf, and in thirty-six
hours it was entirely covered with
sand, hiding it from view, which seems
to indicate ready tendency Of making
up the beach as rapidly as the cribs
are placed in position. We are in
formed that second crib was placed
in position on the 10th.
We trust it will not be considered
out of place or inappropriate, i'll con-
nection with this harbor improvement,
to notice what appears a significant CO.
incidence. It will be remembered, by
those, at least, who are familiar with
the early history of this section of the
State, that the two representatives in
the National Congress at this time,
from the Cape Fear District Colonel
Wadden and Mr.. Ashe), upon whose
efforts are we mainly to rely for fur
ther appropriations of money for pros
ecuting the work to a successful issue,
are hneal descendants of leaders of
the first successful colony upon the
Cape Fear River, and whose ancestors
for two hundred years have been fore
most i'll council and on the field in
battling against every enemy to the
settlement, and who, III those dark
days of our country's history which
tried mems souls, established their i1l-
tegrity by pledging their lives, for
tunes and sacred hOnOrs in defence of
the rights of their people against
British oppression, and who, 10y their
powerful influence, both moral and
physical, did much towards the estab-
ishment of our Government.
We say it seems significant coinci-
dence, (and may we not hope fortu-
nate One,) that our present representa-
tive men should be Of that line of noble
patriots who fixed their destinies upon
the bosom OF the placid Cape Fear
two centuries ago.
And if they shall exercise bnt a tithe
of the moral and physical influence in
the interest and welfare of their sec
tion, as was displayed by their an
cestors i'll planting the Colony and pro-
tecting their much loved Cape Fear,
we may hope soon to sec this noble
river restored to its primitive beauty
and usefulness.
Respectfully submitted,
II. MUTT,
Oh mn Com tee on Bar and River I'm
provements.
KEunsuICE County.