Wilmington journal., 1874-07-31
NO. 81.
WILMINGTON, n. c., July D, 1874.

| CNtFtCS III. IIOOt11SOR, ESQ.,, RCE
President Of the Chamber Of Goa
nlerce:
SR:-Your Committee made tou
of inspection to the public works fo
improving the Harbor during tt,
present week. On Tuesday, the 21st
we visited the two Inlets, or swashe!
across the beach, (alluded to in oul
report of the 22d of May last.) Also
the old breakwater, and beach ada
cent, Zeke's Island and Federal Point
The next day was appointed for O visit
to Bald Head and its surrounding
but was prevented from doing so by 6
storm of wind and rain.
Since our report of the ODD of Nav
last, no work whatever has been done,
as then advised the appropriation was
April.
The swash alluded to in our last re-
port as beng between two and three
hundred feet wide has considerably
contracted, being now not more than
oU or go feet wide, and appears dis
posed to close itself, although quite
deep, and the water passes through
with great velocity.
! The second swash is wider than the
first, probably rs to 100 feet wide and
appears quite deep also; not having
seen it before, we are unable to sac
whether it is enlarging or contractinG
| We think they could be closed with
very little labor or expense. II has
been suggested that these svasbes ere
not dangerous, and will probably close
themselves by the operations of na-
ture, owing to the extensive marshes
and shallow water of the bay interven-
ing IN distance Of some two miles or
more between them and deep water Of
the river. This may be true, and we
nope 1t may prove SO, but we should
1eel much better satisfied if they did
not exist.
The point of beach previously
alluded to as in a dangerous
condition) has not worn any
since last reported, but rather en-
larged and strengthened, which is a
very encouraging feature; the beach
beyond, however, is evidently vast
ing, which may, to some extent, be
attributed to portions of ii, which are
stlil exposed to the action OF the
wind, not being protected by brush
fences and shrubbery.
The break-water is in very good
condition except the northern end of
1t, next to Ieke's Island, being laid in
shallow water, has been somewhat un-
dermlned, and this, added to some
leaks, has produced a current passing
through, sufficient to prevent the for
nation of beach iii front This can i;c
easily remedied, and no doubt will re-
celve attention as soon rs regular on
eratlOns commence.
Zeke's Island presents TO new or
changed features.
The DETECTING break-watcr at Fed
eral Point stands very well. The ebb
current passing outside Of it seems to
create an eddy below, which has the
appearance of forming reef or ehoaI
from its point far out into the inlet,
curvlng toward Federal Point shore.
some distance below. If this apDear-
ance proves II reality, then We have
another very encouraging feature in
the operations OF the work.
The suction dredge Woodbury., az
rived from baltimore about q week
ago, and is now undergoing some ne
cessary repairs, which VIII probably |
require a week or tgo 10 com |
plete, when she Will be ready |
for work on Bald-head channel, !
from which We may reason |
ably expect valuable results rs |
nature is disposed to favor it, there !
now beng more water upon It, than |
upon the rip Of the old, or western |
channel, and is being generally used by /
Of 12& feet and under, and v.e
think from an examination of the Coast I
Survey map of soundings, recently |
made by Mr.. Vinal, and the state
ments of some of the pilots, that II,
DR. even 10 feet may be towed safely |
through it.
The steam tug Euston is still in BAL
timore receiving a new boiler and gen
eral repairs; in a few weeks We may
expect to see her III position, when ac-
tive operations will commence again.
The last Congress made an appro-
priation of $3.50, ,OG0 for this work dur
ing the present fiscal year ending July
Both, 1875, which is thought by some
to be liberal. Perhaps it is, conlpara-
lively, but in reality it is inadequate to
a successful issue of the work in hand. |
We hoped for larger amount, but
must be content with this, and should |
nature favor the work in the future as
it has done in the past, our Supervis-
ing Engineer will be able to make 4
good report of the appropriation.
We are pleased to say, that Capt
L fhilhps returned some days ago, and
is now at his old post, which seems to
suit him SO well, and we trust he will /
earn new laurels in this new branch
in the science of engine tering.
We feel gratified in being able to re
port the general situation of affairs in
a much better condition than We OK
pected to find them, and Congratulate
the Chamber upon the encouraging !
aspect before Us, rendering the nope
that the operations of the present fiscal
year will greatly facilitate the com
merce and navigation of our port
Respectfully submitted,
III. MUTT,
GEO. HARRIS, Committee.
ALEX. SPEUNTS