The New York herald., 1874-12-04

made at tide gauge iFreneh's Landing). In ad-
dit1on TO those three standard gauges and in pro-
gauges were set up and used at Martins Dock.
Whtenead's Sand Dock, waitehead's Dock, Kear-
tide gauges and for minute reading. we're
used At watson's Dock, Sandy Point and Martins
M sopes dang shs sns
servations made near the New York and Long
Branch Railroad II bridge simultaneous tical OBJ.
and alter high and low water stands, aud at all
the seven gauges
The vclocttea and directions OF tidal currents
were observed during whole eDb ana hood. both
| above and below the New York and Long Branch
Railroad bridge. Cylindrical poles reaching from
the surface OF the wHter to depth OF six eet be-
q ses e
were used - hoats. The position OF these free
floats was Determined IN very short Intervals o.
Of carefully measured and wei located base lines.
three fAthoms were taken by means OF hand lines;
those IN shallow water by means OF poles. Each
sounding was located by instrumental observa-
tlOns on shore.
|, Three base lines were careiuuy measured and
true bearings OF the longest lines were observed.
RESULTS or THE FIELD WORK.
passing through Rsritan Bay % and up the era Raritan
anC ayeI M steady % In range un the s
Ioot more than at Sandy HOOK. From French's
Landing up the tidal wave dtminishes very little,
While there is difference IN time ofonly II minutes
between the establishments Of South Amboy and
from the latter place to New Brunswick, a torsuous
and shallow channel, Ave and snree-tourths miles
nes The avsrsse Duration ~ Of fail of tdes recRon
ing from the middle OF one stand 10 the middle Of
the next, increases from Sandy Hook up to New
Brunswick, lasting at Sandy Hook Oh. Ism, as
South Amboy Oh. 2sm., at Frenchis Landing IN.
lam. and at New Brunswick N. lam. Mean high
dows through which the river winds its way.
The hood, which runs in the channel near South
nour during the swiftest part OF an average tide
gradually diminishes In velocity on its way up.
nerenced rSn masimnm veiocitv dnrtpS an
average tide OF the ebb current Is LEO nautical
miles per hour IN the cnanne! near Amboy. The
the upper part Of the river but increases consider
ably IN duration me river water Is brackIsh at
The minimum depth OF the Delaware ana Rarttan
Canal as reported BY MI. ]. J. Wtstar, General
ohesspease and Dslswafe Canal over over wnicn "a .
large quantity Of through or Joint trafiic is
@ (tne Delaware and Rari.an Canal Company Con SyI Is.
now altering cufverts. dredging canal beds, and
otherwise preparing to make me scms depth OF 10
condition to carry the same" Letter OF Mr.. L J.
Wistar, General superintendent Hence soundings
structtons, while those showing depths less than
the cnannel when the Contemplated deepening OF
the canal shall have been enected.
not Be ess snan zoo snu allowing the aere
tows. which can just get through the loO-foot
draws a. Perth Ampoy no 70 pasa saGn Other safely
stderaaions as basis, we ind tue following
obstructions to NAVIGATION :-l) shoal water IN
(F1ve mites above New Brunswick Q dam is built
across the whole width Of the river Tor the pur-
don OF the Rartan River acts as valuable tidal
basin basin TO the Lver;l e.! gravel, SAND and mud
ABOUT about 100 feet below % the New BransWicx iocia
The custom OF the Delaware ana RariLsn Canal
Company Of dumping the material dredged IN the
| canal over the towpath, nom whence 1t rolls
down the steep embanKment and Is carried down
and deposited BY the river current below New
Brunsw,ck. has most likely contributed 20
below the New Brunswick locks. Tney consist or
shoss 81 the sns
| channel and endangering vessels, which are apt
&c rn ON by the sDO egs o
/ $500 ieet above Martins Dock commences, about
feet long 9n ann 100 1ses wide ana running
reduces the channel width considerably toj
opposite Martins Dock there is q reef Of rock IN
Widmar's DOCK and above Lawrence's Greek. Tnis
obstrucsion consists Of gravel anu sand. r.l
he ys wh g. the arouaa s
Selow Crab Island ana = due 70 the sudden ues ss-
pension OF the cross.sectton OF the river. o. The
able channel to the navigator.
| THIS OBSTRUCTION
is due to various % g causes use VIZ The non-cofnci-
rents the great increase 10 the width OF the cross
section OF the river; and, finally, to the outles Of
survey Of 1851 with the recent survey, one nnds q
/ rather Increased depth IN generally wider
n s a
passing through, and IN some cases 60 the con-
docks sss % the shore the
the scour increased In presenting this report OF
the obstructions to navigation, with the charts
from New Brunswick TO It's outlet the capacity OF
| the river for Improvement becomes evident Tne
assinss % me = serious oosssces Of rocky shoals and
sharp curves In she course OF the river, manfests
therefore, that the removal OF these G impediments
| win increase the now. and, AZ the same time, by
ing eject The construction OF Jhe dixie, indic8-
/ ted approximately IN position upon the chart and
| extending from point below the mouth Of Red
Crab Island BY It's e1ect in the removal Of certain
shoal spaces in the channel and concentrating In
tho first important element in the general I'm. n
provemeut OF the river. The next would be to
strengthen the course Of the rivsr BY excsvstns
and deep curves at present existing. But as the
amount devoted 10 the survey was not adequate
proposed new rouss oi the cSsnns, and Is other s
questions, relating TO the ownership OF the land,
/, &C, would need inquiry, it has been deemed ex-
pedtent at this time TO glance merely at what Is
considered the next important step in
the Improvement No estimate, OF course,
can now be presented for sucn ex-
cavarion; but should Congress grant money Tor she
Improvement OF the river, would recommend
70 cost and advantage, win the same elements
contingent upon following the present course OF
the river. The obstacles existing In the river
from Crab island TO New Brunswick have Already
been enumerated In this paper. and 1t Is proper
now to present the estimates made for their re.
mova including the cost or the dixie ana excava-
tions between Grab Island and Red Root Creek. "a
THB ESTIMATES
to secure depth OF eight feet at mean low water
Is Sl,TO7Ce3 81; to secure q depth OF ten feet at
mean low ster, 81 093, ,662 06 It ID not certain
that the excavation OF the tidal BASIN
be necessary, at least to the extent
there given; the funds available having
been exhausted before o survey Of that portion OF
the New RrunaSxtck xhich zn,,ld