Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-11-14
WILMINGTON. n. G. 7tb Nov 1912

| WILMINGToS, n. c., 7th Nov. 1873,
Col. Um. l.. DcRosSct, Prcsidcrt of
the Chamber Of Commerce.:
SIR:-The public work at New In
let for improving the Harbor was
visited by your Committee on We'd
nesday last, the 9th instant. in the
company of Col. Craighill and Capt.
Phillips, (Chief and Assistant En-
gineers of the work, on board the tug
Jas. L. Easton, Capt. Harper.
Since our visit on the 9th of July
last, reported on the 11th, embracing
a period of seventeen weeks, nineteen
cribs have been placed in position and
| filed with stone up to low water line.
making twenty in all, and extending
| about ourhundreda and thirty-five (4355
| feet on the line of the new breakwater
from Federal Point, in nearly a south
west direction. No time has been de-
/ voted as yet, to finishing this work
above the high water line, as it is con-
sldered of more importance to push
| forward rapidly with the foundation
cribs, to prevent as much as possible
| undermining of them by the currents.
Moreover, the high tides flowing over
the work, more readily brings up and
deposites the sand by the side of it.
than if it swept by from being shut off
entirely before the general current has
been changed.
We find the beach making up rap
idly on and around the point, and the
sand is following the breakwater out.
and shoallng very perceptibly on both
sides of it. We therefore consider
the work progressing satisfactorily.
The boisterous weather of late and
high tides has had rather happy effect
than otherwise upon the old break
water In sweeping over a portion of it.
bringing thousands of tons of sand,
which has been deposited on both
sides and even on the top of it.
The breakwater we consider safean
secure very small portion of it now
remains uncovered in front by beach
formation, while flats in its rear and
shoals in front, extend almost unbro-
ken from the starting point on Smith
Island beach, to its terminus on Zeke's
Island.
AS far as We had opportunity for
seeing, the brush fences and grass
have done and are doing all that was
promised for them.
Upon retrospect of the general
pan anu 1blpIS, we nave 10 report
very satisfactory progress under the
many embarrassing circumstances IN
der which this work has labored from
its very incipiency, and thus far with
the most satisfactory results.
We beg to call your attention to the
frequent changes OF late in the channel
of entrance through the New Inlet.
which at this time is very crooked and
difficult and must be more or less haz-
ardous. We would suggest that its
use be discouraged except fer small
vessels.
And again, we beg to call attention
to the fact that SIX months or more
have elapsed since the new channel
out by bald head, known rs the
Seward channel, was plainly defined
and bouyed, by order and under direc-
ton OF the L. S. coast survey after
careful and elaborate survey, as contain
ing about nine feet Of water at low tide,
pretty straight, plain and open, since
which time outsiders have reported
ten to ten and a-half feet, and strange
to say, up to this time we have heard
Of no vessel being piloted through it.
Our pilots frofi some unknown cause
refuse to use it,
Respectful Y submitted,
II. NUT, Chairman.
ALIEN. SPkUNT,
GEo. HAERISs,
Committee. /