Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-01-17
HARBOR SMPROVEME E$.
WILMISGToN. y. c., 9th Jan. lS'

WILMISGToN. y. c., 9th Jan. 1873.
the (Ha1nGe,. Of Commerce
S1R-On Tuesday. the 7th instant,
we visited the public works near New
Inlet for the improvement OF the Bar
and River. on board the steam tug Jas.
r. Easton, Capt. Leary.
We find that, since our lasi visit on
the 1st of November, (reported on the
tin there has been about one hundred
and seventy 07O feet of the break
water finished by planking, and about
five hundred (50O) feet of foundation
cribs placed in position, and filed with
stone up to low water lines, while work
is progressing on about one hundred
and sixty feet of the finishing super
structures, sixty feet of which is now
nearly ready for planking, thus ag-
gregating the present extreme length
of the break-water at about thirty-slA
hundred feet, $500 of which about
twenty-four hundred and twenty feet
t242Ol are finished, and about one hun
dred and sixty feet in course of COM
pletion, maxim the monthly average
of work done about eignty-tve feet OF
finished superstructnre, and about two
hundred and fifty feet of foundation
cribs placed in position. This, We
think, may be considered pretty fair
progress for the past two months, con-
sidering the very stormy and disagree
able weather which has occurred within
that time, as also, the Intervention OF
Christmas and New Years holidays.
snspenIing work for the time.
The engineer has thought proper to
make slight change in the direction
of the breakwater, passing 1t across
the shoal in front of Zeke's Island,
directly towards the Main Inlet, in
stead of resting it upon Zekc's island, +,
which, being merely bank Of sand,
would be in danger of being swept
AWAY by heavy storm and strong cur
rents, thereby widening the breach
and exposing the breakwater. Ihis.
no doubt, is move in the right dircc-
/ tion, although it increases the length
! of the breskwater some two hundred
! feet, leaving some seven hun,lred feet
of cribbing tO be put III for its final
completion.
The sand-beach in front follows the
work very closely, and closes III upoll
it immediately upon the stoppaSc OF
! the leaks in the hreakNater.
The continuous storIny weather and
eastwartlly winds have had the effec,
Z of somewhat wearing the line of Smith
Island beach to the southward, but not
! to a dangerous extent. The outer
point of this beach has worn off con
! siderably, Strengthening the genera
lines from Zeke's Island, This was tc
be expected from the strong currents
passing into and out of the river
pressing hard upon it, and may
reasonably be expected to continnt
until checked by Instructions on tho
riverside of Federal Point.
We did not have time to walk fal
down the beach to examine the conIll
ton and effects of the catch-sand fences
and grass cultivation, for building VI
and securing the beach, but as far ~
we could see, they were very salts
factory; in fact everything connected
with the work wears a very encouraging
aspect. True, the progress OF the worl
is more tardy than We hoped it wOule
he (which is no fault of the Enginee
in charge, or the operatiyes), and mor'
80, perhaps, than would result III tn
best interest Of the Government, ant
the commerce of our port, but we hav'
the satisfaction of knowing that wha
has been done, ard is being done, il
effective, and suTe preparation TO
more actiye operations for ltllizlns
our magnificent harbor and river TO
the benefit of onr rapidly growing
commerce.
Had Congress exercised a more lib
eral spirit toward this work, long err
this time We should be reaping TIN
benefits of it.
The unparalleled SUCCESS, TINS far
which has followed the inalequat
appropriations, it is hoped will ope1
the eyes of Congress to it's importance
ard practicability, and justify NOR
liberal spirit than has been heretofore
manifested.
BY the close of the present fsca
year, when the present appropriation
will have been exhausted, the break
water may be expected to be complete
also, most of the work at New Inlet
of pressing necessity for its security
when full appropriation will be re
. uuired for removing shoals, wrecks
and other distractions to free pas
sage of the river water to the ocean
We therefore suggest to the Chambe
the propriety of placing this matte
fairly and squarely before Congress
through our representative, Hon. A
r NJ. Waddell, and urging full and sui
| ticient appropriation to accomplis
some tangible good.
: --':- Fl. NUT,
Ch'mn Committee OH Bar and Rive
improvements.