Wilmington journal., 1875-01-29
HarbOr improvements.
WHM1NGroN, N. c., Jan. 10, 1875.


Col. Nm. L. DeRosset, President O
the Chamber of Commerce.:
SIR:-Four days, from the 14th tt
the 18th instant, inclusive. have beer
employed by your -ommittee In q tOHl
of inspection of the harbor and its
improvements.
Since our visit on the 9Th of Octo.
Der last (reported on the 22d) a third
dredge has been brought into service
and commenced operations upon the
shoals above Big Island on the 10th OF
December, since which time she has
been constantly at work with appar
| ent good results, the channel over
these shoals being now reported much
| improved
The dredge at work upon Snow
March channel seems to be pretty
generally engaged. but apparently not
very effective, having accomplished
but little of perceptible results. It
was expected. we believe, that the con-
tract for opening this channel would
have been completed by or before this
time.
No work has been done at Fed
eral Point. and no perceptible change
in the status of affairs there.
Zeke's Island appears to be growing,
as also the beach IN front of the break
water, but the point of beach just be-
yond the breakwater is very much en-
crosched upon, which, with the long
line of narrow beach, extending quite
to Smiths Island, we regard ~ In a
very precarious. if not a dangerous
condition, requiring attention. We
feel that we cannot too strongly urge
the Importance of some steps being
taken for building up this beach and
Strengthening it by the cultivation of
grass and other shrubbery.
The upper swash across the beach,
(of the two alluded to in our last re-
port) is no worse than it WAS, and has
no dangerous appearance. The lower
one ls very nearly closed, and has the
appearance of being bare at low tide
Bald-Head point has been consider
ably encroached 1pon, but not 80
much aa was feared; the point has
been thrown around into a hook,
leaving q deep pocket, which is in line
with the straight shore of Smiths
Island up to Bald Head creek, le.ving
quiet q narrow neck of beach to sepn-
rate it from the ocean, the waves Of |
which break over upon very high |
tides. There seems no pre- |
upon this neck by the insi 10
current, which passes outside of the |
point, the real danger being fro IL |
the ocean waves opening q pass .ge |
through the pocket, which would
sweep away the entire point,
The suction dredge Woodbury..
seems to be doing effective service of |
late, upon Bald Head channel,
there may not probably BE-
much increase in the depth of water
over what was last reported, the gen
eral character of the channel was very
greatly improved, both in width and
seeming to have concen-
trated all the conflicting currents of
the outlet.
We have been informed by pilots
that q cutoff or slue has been opened
across the upper end of the Middle
Ground Shoals known as 10 Burch |
ShoaD from near the rip-buOy of the |
western channel in the direction of the |
outer buoy of the Bald Head channel
and, furthermore, that a considerable
portion of the upper point of this
>hOal has been carried away.
Ii these reports should prove true,
it would seem that the channel is dIs-
posed to straIghten itself into the trs k !
Of the old eastern channel. VIII ch we
believe passed out lit le east of fsouth
instead of southwest, a. the present
does, and no doubt WAS the
original direction given it by nature.
From all the lights before us we
have no hesitation In saying that ves-
sells of 153 feet draught Can pass in
aud out with e Sc upon ordinary high
tides, aud upon Spr.ng tides one foot
more may pnss with perfect ease, while
ordinary vessels of II feet may beat
at will Thi- class IF vessels,
VIII ch includes our regular lines OF
) Steamships, Iced not no be detained
by tides anywhere between Whining
ton and the ocean.
And now that the main outlet Is be-
ing enlarged aud adapting Itself to the
more easy egress of an increased
volume OF III rivers water, it would
seem appropriate TO commence opera
tions for checking the flow of water
out of New Inlet, and send II down to
a .-ist in scouri, out tho Main Out
let; and, in view of this object, W.
respectfully suggest to the Chamber
the prnpr,ety of taking such steps TO-
warls securing a full appropriation for
this work from the present Congress, |
ss in it's judgment may seem necessary
and proper.
Respectfully submitted.
H. MUTT, !
(Signed) GEO. HARnIss.
II