The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-11
DANGERS OF THE COAST.
Report Of the Harb0r Commission
ers of Massachusetts.
Important Changes Of the Sands-vineyard
Haven a. Place Of Refuge
tions az to the Enlarging Of tho An
chorage for vessels-Cape Cod,
Chatham and Monomoy.

lions az to the Enlarging Of tho An
chorage for vessels-Cape Cod
Chatham and Monomoy
BOSTON March 8, 1873.
The coast Of Massachusetts,, but more particu.
larry that comprising Cape Cod around TO the
Rhode Island line and including the islands, has at
tracted the special attention OF the Photographic
Survey, and perhaps there have been, in the his
tory OF Massachusetts, or any other portion OF the
Atlantic coast, few instances of changes on SO
grand scale as those in progress at the elbow
OF Cape Cod and It's vicinity. Cape COD, with Its
shoals and treacherOus sands, undergoing con-
tinual important change, is the dread OF the mari
ner and were 1t not for the Ravens OF refuge which
this OF land ex tie nding into the sea OFFERS no
doubt the record OF marine disasters on this por-
ton OF the Atlantic coast would be much larger
than 1t now Is.
VINEYARD HAVEN.
The thousands of vessels which put into Vine
yard Haven every year to escape the dangers OF
the deep attest the incalculable commercial value
Of this important harbor OF refuge. The annual re-
port of the Harbor Commissioners Of Massachu-
sets contains large amount OF valuable informa-
ton concerning the work Of surveying the coasts
and shoals and the physical changes now going on
the coast, and embraces fund Of valuable facts,
historical as well as otherwise, appertaining to
those changes The want OF proper shelter IN
Vineyard Haven Is q subject which has for long
time engaged the shipping interests. Reports
were current that the harbor had been rapidly fill
ing up, and that the promontories at Its mouth,
known as "East Chop" and 'West Chop" were
wasting away SO as to increase the exposure OF
the anchorage ground. To ascertain precisely the
facts upon which such reports might be founded,
Oord nliaA IN Dro potp Qnn i'm
tendent of the Coast Survey. who Immediately Or
dered REORGANIZATION OF this port, and visited
the scene himself as soon as his parties were on
the ground. Among other observations made, the
following extract from the report made on the sub
ject is OF especial INTEREST,"
The hope Of providing shelter for this roadstead
Is small. The entrance must not he closed by jet.
tees from the Chops and the building OF an isolated
breakwater outside is impractcable because OF the
great depth Of water and the strong tide. The
the lagoon is entirely practicable, and would not
be very expensive, but this lagoon would freeze IN
Saps ana tins lagoon as exists without re-
mova OF its shoals, there are ample depth and area
for about forty-two merchant vessels swinging as
free as in the rOadstead or quite double that num-
Der packed closely as they could conveniently be In
80 quiet place. The whole area OF the lagoon Is
trife 400 acres against 544 acres OF rOadstead
(naving depth Of eighteen feet and upward) in the
haven.
Relative to the
PRESENT CAPACITY OF THE ROADsTEAD,
as compared with that shown by former surveys
Professor Mitchell says that since 1S45 the four or
five fathom curves have moved out toward the
Sound. This has resulted from slight shoaling
probably due to the deposits OF sand torn from East
and West Chops by the sea. Professor Writings
surveys OF the past season, compared with those Of
previous years, show that these two chops are
losing ground at their extremities. Within the
four fathom line all the submerged contours nave
fallen back In more or less degree. AS bounded by
the six foot curve the cove has retained about Its
old superficial area; as bounded by the twelve foot
curve 1t has enlarged four acres, and as limited by
the eighteen foot curve 1t has enlarged from SIS
acres in 1S45 to 544 in 1871, gain OF twenty
nine acres; so that, far from there having
taken place any decline Of this port, q real
improvement has been in progress Only three
first rate men-Of-war can be accommodated in the
anchorage, ana these must occupy the most ex.
posed situations. Sixty merchant ships can, how
ever, now find swing room in the anchorage,
against ffty-slx in 1s45. OF miscellaneous mer-
chant vessels comfortably accommodated, the
number is now liza, although eco have been accom-.
modated at one time. An examination Of the re.
port of Professor Whiting, in the Appendix, shows
some diversity Of opinion between him and Profess
sOr Mitchell upon the feasibility OF constructing
breakwater at the entrance Of Vineyard Haven.
The arguments OF both these authorities are OF
great interest and value, and by comparison OF
such views, and more thorough investigation upon
the points Of difference, result may at last be
reached that Will be accepted as true by ALL but 1t
is quite probable that the subject OF breakwater
| at the entrance OF Vineyard Haven will be brought
| to the attention OF Congress.
THE PROBLEM OF IMPROVEMENT.
In his report to Professor PIERCE, superintendent
States Coast Survey Whiting
or eastern shore Of East Chop the bluY has wasted
away considerably. The limit line is now about
bluff extends north and south for distance Of
| about four thousand five hundred feet, with an
os aDoo treen m ht
| feet-has been cast into the waters OF the sound,
| to be borne by wave and current action to some
| other resting place. Immediately within the East
Chop, and along the southerly shore OF the harbOr
| quite All increase and advancement OF the beach
from the point Of the chop at the end
| ing of the bluff to the most westerly wharf
known as Norris wharf-about the same distance
that OF the extent OF the bluffs outside. The aver
age distance which this shore has made out is about
forty-hve feet, representing over three hundred
thousand square ieet OF increased area OF beach.
Whether this accumulation and deposit OF sands Is
from the material OF the bluffs washed down, so
near at hand, or whether It has come from other
sources OF supply, Professor whiting viii not pre-
N'''0 " NORTH SIDE OF THE HARBoR.
change has taken place. The beach at the inner
| point OF the chop has been cut away but this
| waste Is not 80 much III gross amount az tnat on
| the East Chop. Opposite the lighthouse the waste
is not so great but along the northern point OF the
Chop, and opposite the point where the old light
house stood the waste Is again larger, and
| the edge OF the bluff is now about
where the old lighthouse Stood From the
end OF the blufY and along the shore OF the Sound
westwardly from it some increase Of beach has
taken place. The difficulties in the problem OF i'm
| provement OF this place OF shelter Professor
Whiting says are intrinsic. The elements OF facility
and safety, not only OF Its approaches, but Of the
| immediate entrance, must be secured. The geo.
| graphical position and situation of this harbor
must not be overlooked. Its proximity to cruising
grounds Of difficulty and danger where fogs prevail
in summer and binding snow storms rage in VIM
| ter, IS peculiar. In times OF such emergency and