The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-02-25
Mexican Gulf marbOr..

Editors Democratic tatesmdn-Since my
memorial to Congress, asking an appropIia-
ton for SaluriG harbor, of December 30,
1874, am fully confirmed as to the instabili-
ty Of quicksand harbors, by facts most of
which l have learned, since my former pub
LEGATION, from an old, most esteemed, intel
ligent and honorable citizen of Texas.
The late immortal Maury, besides laying
down the great Gulf river, referred to in
said memorial, in 194S, made q report to
committee of Congress, in which he pre-
dIcted that the eastern terminus of a rail-
road across the continent, built anywhere
below and within few degrees of the thir-
ty-hfth parallel of latitude, must necessarily
be at the nOrthen angle of the Gulf of Mexico
whereon could be found the best and deep
est harbOr, and that that point would GER
tainly, in . short time, command the great
est part Of the commerce of the civilized
world.
Capt. Dehaven, renowned for his Arctic ex-
plOration, when on the Gulf coast survey of
1858 and 1880, showed that Galveston har-
Dor must inevitably fill up by natural neces-
sary and inevitable laws,
Commodore Moore, in his report of 1871.
on the bay and harbor of Galveston, gives
the average width Of the channel, between
the ends of the wharves and the line of
twelve feet water on the opposite shore of
Pelican island, at $50 feet; the United States
coast survey of 1856 at 800 yards, and Lieut..
McGregor's survey of 1866 ar 225
yards, thus making the filling up at that
period of 140 yards, while its depth in the
same period decreased from thirty to six
teen and eighteen feet in depth. McGre-
gor's report adds, that if it continues to
decrease in the same ratio, in ten years it
will be no longer naYigable for vessels of
any size.
This result was temporarily frustrated by
the memorable storm of 1856, when the
railroad bridge and vast amounts in value
of vessels, cargoes and merchandise were
unhaLpilY destroyed at Galveston, which
only temporarily deepened the channel.
As evidence of the ratio of the filling
up of this channel from Bolivar point to the
wharves at Galveston, which, in my memo
rial of February 10, 1874, described as
sand depositing, this bend of from twelve
to thirteen feet water is already reduced TO
eight feet, as proved by the steamer Hutchi-
son., Of Morgan's line grounding there last
Thursday, January 81, 1875, drawing eight
feet water, and remaining there until hauled
1
Lieut.. McGregor, taking the history and
surroundings Of Galveston hArbor, pro.
nOunced its certain ruin, unless it could be
saved by straitening the channel, and cut
ting a canal through the eastern end Of
Galveston island, near Fort Magurder, to a
small bay of fifteen. fifteen and one-half,
fifteen and three-fourths feet inside the outer
| bar.
These improvements, he says, will cost a
large sum of money, but sees no other way
of keeping Galveston harbor from filling up
in time. Other means might be devised for
forcing the water through this channel and
keeping itself clear; one thing is certain,
dredging will not answer; IL viii ill up
again Immediately.
With tais plan and views Of Lieut.. Nc.
Gregor before him, Gen. Wright, an en-
inent United States engineer, who had
been to Europe to inform himself upon this
subject, by examining the mouths Of the
European rivers and observed the effects OF
works undertaken by our own foreign gov.
ernments, says, II should say it would not
be practicable with any reasonable measure
of expenditure to effect the change which
he QlcGregor) indicates"
If l understand il, the shoals are Of sand.
Being asked has oppinion Of dredging fol
|
tidal channels and haFbors, he answered
81 have no hesitation in saying that Il
would result IN complete failure. Take the
instance Of the outer bar Of Galveston. on
which there Is an average depth OF twelve
feet. The bar, as Il stands, is the result
of the joint action Of the ebb currents from
the bay, and the wind currents and SCI
along the shore The latter are CONSTANT,
1 80 er.,e~s . H. =
former is striving 70 increase il. Thu
Tlsol-s-fsot .;liLUi.... ,f tI,,,,,er'
posing forces. Dredge the bar TO a greater
depth, the equilibrium is destroyed and tn,
outside currents will restore It. TGelv,
feet Is all that the ebb needs, and Is al
that 1t can get and hold from opposing
forces. Deepen the bar 70 fifteen feet b,
dredging to-day, Il would he twelve fee
tomorrow or week hence. Such an i'm
provetnent, II possible, would be OF the mos
transitory character, as IL clearly proved b,
reason and experience"
Saluria bar is Of stiff blue, UNDERLYING
twelve or thirteen feet Of Quicksand. frontec
By gulf Of the same, 400 feet deep, and
will not All mp.
The experiment Of removing quicksand
bars IN the Ohio river was tried, as will BE-
seen BY the large appropriation made By
Congress, from 1920 70 1888, when, or near
which latter time, large sum was appro-
priated to destroy them, e, instead Of I'M
proving, they had essentially contributed 70
destroy the channel
One instance within my own knowledge
will cite: To improve the most dreaded
bar from Louisville 20 Cairo, q rising dam
was thrown from the west side Of the riVeE
70 the head Of Cumberland island, 50 as %
throw the channel Of the river, at low
water, between said Island and the Ken.
tucky shors, z distance Of about 200 yards.
Il The consequences was, that the bar AZ the
head Of the Island was Transferred eome
j i've OF ak miles below.
In ascending the rivcr from New Orleans.
the boat on which vas, with MANY pag.
eengerE, grounded, and swung across The
channel u sleW hours q sand bauk formed
on the lower side Of The boat which became
. PIomenade ground for paaseDeera, until
s1s passengers and cargo were lighlered Of.
This and other like factsled % the destruc.
ton Of he dana By Congressional appro-
priation, e they had cansed the desrruc-
tion q many fagbootl during hiQh watofs.
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