The New York herald., 1876-10-01

intervene between the small sIauds the cxpanse of
water opening into the Sound will 'r time DC cleared
and ceepened ior this purpose, SO that ndusos that
are Al present developing IN out-oithe-way places
away from New York Will ind convenient and spacious
homes IN close proximity to the market aud the steam-
ship or railroad that convey the productions TO
the consumer. IL Is utter nonsense 10 say that ihis
Of Tor shipping and that ogs that do not often occur
and currents that Will b. moderated as 10 be unn-
portnnt delay the growth OF New York along her
natural lines of expansion.
OPENING HARLEN RIVER.
Almost from the oeg,nning OF the growth Of New
York from an unimrortant Town 10 It's present SIZE
the value OF the Harlem River hpo OF water coin
muncation has been recognized by thoughtful mon.
IL forms natural connection between the Two chief
channels alcng which the commercial interests OF the
city have grown and In early days tho rights OF
navigation on the Harlem River were actively defended
by all those who knew their then and prospective
value Numerous efforts have been made from time
TO time by shorssgned advocates OF public improve
ments well by selfish railroad and other corpora
tons TO destroy this channel by dammIng and bridging
u without regard 10 It's navigabe characcr but iortu-
their proposed improvements " and The latter were
compelled 10 recognize rights which thor selfish
ness and arrogance would have destroyed forever
The present obetructons 10 navigation have caused
the channel n the junction OF Harlem River with
Spuyten Duyvh Creek 10 narrow almost to onethrd
lis original width, and consequently no through COM
muncaton possible except for very small rowboats
The consequence Is, that instead Of having diurna
tidal scour through both creek and river by which the
beds OF both be clcanscd OF their mud deposits,
each - converted iuto simple creek running inland
short distance and growing shalower every year The
muate vast quaint OF mud in both water courses.
which tend render the neehborhood unhealthy, the
alternate ebb and now OF the tide exposing the mud 10
the action Of tho atmosphere
The chiet choking OF the channel occurs between
Kngsbridge and the Fordnam Bridge, both Of which
structures merely wooden vinducts, halt rotten
with ago and neglect Tho absurdliy OF permitting
thcm remain in tncr present condition, as obs.ruc
tions to navigation, apparent TO any one VINO visits
the locality. For tho sake OF the convenience of
crossing the narrow channel which they afford
erous interests 10 local commerce are sacrificed and
n val nj lie 4 yes
its important purpose without interfering much with
navigation, and small steamers and sioops can ascend
the Harlem River as high the Fordnam Bridge with
moderate cargoes OF building materials, manure aud
other necessaries TO tho adjoining farms and Settle
ments Southwark Of Kingsbrdge IS the Macomb's
Dam Bridge SO called on account OF the mill dam shat
was time constructed across tho river this
point. The dam IS now almost entirely removed
whilo the high wooden bridge that spans tho river Is
furnished with draw for the accommodation OF pass
ing vessels
Further south the Fourth Avenue Bridge OF the Hud-
son River and Harlem Railroad is drawbridge, is
the Harlem Bridge, which the river at the
northern end OF Third avenue. From point south
ward the East River other bridges exist the
channel consequence, much used for commercial
purposes The mouth OF the Spuylen Duyv,l CT eek is
closed by the Hudson River Railroad drnwbridge, u
structure built piles and easily adapted TO pro-
posed Improvement in tho channel. Latterly propo-
stion has been made both to bridge and tunnel tho
Harlem River for the extension OF the Man
naltan Island into the wards lately annexed; but
1t would be extremely unwise ana improper to
these works except with special regard to the
opening OF the river from the East River the Hud-
Tor vessels OF at least niteen feet draught
THE HyDRoGRAPHY OF THE HARLEM RIVER.
Owing to tho causes already mentioned the bed OF
the river Is most uneven one regards tho level OF
low water. Commencing AZ He'll Gate, north OF the
great Mill rock. the depth OF the middle OF
the channel is about SO feet at mean low tce. IL de-
creascs from this depth nor.hward to opposite the
feet except at one point, where hard bar, with deep
water each side of IT. runs across the chnnne win
very shoal points, but having opening II
feet OF water about midway between the island and
the New York shore. Opposite the western end OF
Randals Island the Harlem River % feet deep, and
between Randali's Island and the main land Of New
York II deepens at some points to 81 ioet but at the
northern end OF this section It shoals to
about 81 feet. then suddenly TO II feet,
and opposite to the channel between Randali's
Island and the Port Morris shore, deepcns
again to 25 feet Below Harlem Bridge the mean depth
10 feet, While north OF II is increase 10 II ieet
Again. TO the north Of the railroad bridge ind 20
ieet increasing 27 feet and diminishing TO 81 feet
aud IL ieet Macomb's Dam Bridge is approached.
Immediately above tho dam the water suddenly
deepens to 80 feet but rapidly shoals again 10 TO- L.
Is, and II feet High Bridge is neared. North OF
High Bridge tho channel feet Deep with the sound
ings OF 13 T. a. 8, aud 10 feet 70 the entrance Of
sherman's Creek. Thence 10 Fordham Bridge the
depth varies follows, H. II, I, ~. Is, and .,
ham and Kings bridges the channel gives ~
feet Of water and from the last named point 10 the
mouth 2, sPoy,sn y M Dayv Ureex wh1sn 10r@s me con
tOo o. ~ and ieet at the railroad bridge BY the
Hudson.
The character Of tho channel through which tho
foregoing soundings gwen Is very variable both
as 10 width and the nature Of the bottom. Sand,
mud and gravel, mixed in some places with largo
Wards and Randall's isards and New York the
on is broad aud unobsrucicd save at the point west
OF Wards Island already described. The deposits
along the shore lines narrow and stceply siopcd,
cearness OF the river bed beng due to the TIDAL
flowing through the Port Morris channel and
Little He'll Gate, which scour the lower Harlem River
clear of all muddy matter But the proper
tered the mud deposit found invade the channel
much degree and increases in relative the
higher tho river Is ascendcd. Thus the channel be-
tween the bridges marked by series OF depressous
separated by ridges OF deposit which are created by
the eddes and counter currents oil the river itself
largely influenced by the bends In It's course and the
substrata oil rock which unuerile the mud.
Sherman's Creek, which is estuary oi the Harlem
River, penetrating inland and norhwcstward between
two high ridges, is also mud bed bordered by
stretches OF salt marsh, which originally part OF
the bed OF the creek. THIS area, when filled by The
tide forms reservoir, whence an ebb flow is created
which helps to keep clear comparatively deep tho
southern section Of the channel. similar estuary
penetrates inland ENTHUSIASTICALLY IRON the eastern
side Of the river below NacomD's Dam Bridge, and
er1ses an equal influence as tidal reservoir Both
of these creeks shown the accompanying map
the Harlem River and It's approaches.
THK LATERAL APPROACHES PROM THE EAST RIVER.
IN order to connect the improved and dcepcned
Harlem with the East River, that the purposes OF
the improvement may be entirely fulfilled and direct
line OF communication established between the
Sound and the Hudson, II will be necessary to open
the several available channels that now exist between
islands themselves and also separating them
from the main land OF Now York and thc Westminster
shore. Little He'll Gate and the Port Morris channel,
which lies between Randals Island and the mainland
must be rendered naviaaDc before the main work on
the Harlem River can assume any great utility Tho
eastern entrance oil Little He'll Gate covered by
largo area Of salt marsh called ">unken Meadow,'
which snb-raum ol rock and is surrounded
its northern southern and western sides by mud
shoals having depth oil water al low tide varying
from twelve iecL These mud Hats suscepti-
bio Of enclosure and reclamation by comparatively
inexpensive system OF dkiDg which will add
considerable area to that available
for building purposes. The channel Of Little Hell
Gate has average depth oil water OF about fifteen
feet but is broken here and there along its by
rocky promIncnccs, which must be removed before
the channel can be considered open Little He'll Cato
would afford passage OF about 800 iect wide, but
would not be either sale or as easy OF navigation
entrance for the Harlem River the Port Morris
cnannel especially during the prevalence oi north
castery and northcriy winds The last named passage
is narrow and OF variable depth, with a mud bottom
interspersed with rocky projections and averaging IN
present depth about the same as Little Hcl Cate. But
unlike II the lands each s,dc are low, and the
AM a not be 20 rrrnI