Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-01-01
The Work in Wilmington Harbor.

Desiring for this statistical review
full and reliable information concern
ing Wilmington Harbor, the effect of
the breakwater erected by the U. S.,
and the proposed dredging opera
tions, the HERALD addressed on the
subject LIEUT.. CLINTON B. SEARS,
U. s. A., the Executive Engineer in
charge of Wilmington Harbor, who,
with the courtesy that is characteristic
of the regular army officer, kindly
furnished the following data and sng
gestions:
The main work, or breakwater, was
finished some eighteen months ago,
and since then but little has been done,
except the building of some collateral
training walls, or jetties, to guide the
tidal currents and defect them where
they would do the most good. This
delay in active operations has not been
thro' any want of funds, as we have
some $4,000 left, but because we
wished to give the current time to ac-
comOdate itself to the new conditions;
to study it's effects in stated time in
securing out a channel, and to note
and determine the line of natural
channel, in order to use this as the
line of the deeper channel to be made
artificially. If we had gone ahead
Immediately after the completion of
the main work, and dredged out
channel across the bar, we would have
risked the failure of the whole affair,
by blind location for the axis of the
channel; i. e. after being dredged, it
might have rapidly refilled; because
not placed where the natural forces
could exert their maximum effect to
keep it open.
During the past year, L havei been
making careful study of this matter,
by making frequent, close and accu-
rate photographic surveys of the bar,
noting all changes, and ascertaining as
far as possible their causes, by series
of current observations; noting the
velocities of the tidal currents, both
at the surface and near the bottom, at
different stages of both flood and ebb
tides, and thro' tides of different ranges
and determining their directions at
different points in the harbOr, and by
a careful examination of the waves
and swell, and the effect of their action
in shifting the bar or portions thereof.
We now think we have data suffi-
cient to enable us to wisely locate our
artificial channel, with every prospect
of its remaining open. Besides the
knowledge gained for this end, we
have by waiting saved the removal of
some 10000 cubic yards of sand, as
there is now fully four feet more water
in the natural channel across the bar
than there was three years ago, when
we first began operations. The result
of long and patient observations by
eminent and experienced. engineers i'll
Europe, extending thro' u long series
of years, shows that every foot of
water gained on the bar of Il harbor,
augments its commercial facilities
three times; this harbor therefore has
now twelve times the commercial ca.
pacity, or tonnage facility, it had three
years ago, but as yet no advantage has
been taken of it. This lies with tho
people interested, and in no way con-
Germs the u. S.
Last summer We contracted with
Mr.. A. Beschke mot General-this
gentleman disclaims any aspiration
for one of the military titles, which
SeeuI tU delight tile hearts or SO many
people in this country,) to dredge out
100000 cubic yards more or less of
sand and remove about 1000 cubic
yards of stone; this to be completed
before July lst, '75. 1t is expected
that this will give US channel some
200 feet wide, and ten feet deep at
mean low water; and this is consider
ed ample to accommodate the CONNER
cial wants of this port for number of
years, as the high tides rise six and
six and half feet above M. L. W.
giving at high tide over sixteen feet,
which will accommodate a heavy tom
mage, more indeed than will propably
be taken advantage of for many years.
Mr.. Boschke launched his new dredg-
ing scow on the 26th inst. He has
some work yet to do towards fitting
it out, but should be at work within
two weeks. The completion of his
contract will about exhaust all the
funds appropriated for this work, and
will, probably, for number of years
at least, terminate any government
operations i'm connection with the i'm.
provement of this harbor. 1t will re-
main with the people of Los Angeles
county to utilize to the utmost the
advantages due to the work done by
the United States.