Wilmington journal., 1876-02-25
HAxBOH IMPROVEMENTS,

: WILMINGTON, N. .C., FEB. 10, 1876.
, COL VIM. L. DeRosset, President O
: the Chamber Of Commerce.:
SIR:-On the 10th inst, in compan,
of the French Consul, j. Loeb, Esq.
We made a visit to New Inlet ane
vicinity, the present seat of operation,
for in roviug the harbor, where al
wa Ii g and activity We were wei
coined on rrival at the point by the
new assistant engineer, Henry Bacon
E>q., who very kindly affordei u.
every fscljity i'll his power for obtain
ng Information desired.
Since our visit on tha 26th of October
last (reported 9th November) about
l, ZOO feet of
has been successfully placed in posi-
ton, aggrega ing about 1000 feet now
laid, which appears to be doing well.
no appearance whatever f its moving
or undermining, on the contrary the
sand iucllues to collect upon ana
| around it in such = manner as to Sc
cure it as permanent foundation fer
| future operations for VIII tch it was III
trnded. Nor is this slight OF ~tructfon
To the volume of water passing in aud
ont the inlet, barren OF good results
although but just begun, for, we find
the fixed current or channel somewhat
br ken aud dispers d, thereby reliev-
Tug the pressure up Il .ke's Island
aid the beach in rOnt of the old break
water, as widened ty the rapid growth
nf land in both, enlarging and widen
ing tn III, also, the appearance of
shoals encircling their outer front.
The dangerous epcroachment OF
water uUon the old breakwater alluded
u IN our last report. has entirely DIS
appta' ed The leaks have been closed
by She formation of beach, over a hun
drrd feet wide in front, and which i.
how uni r, ken at haif-tide, from the
inlet at Zekea Island, south.
FEDERAL POINT
l.. iikewis extending itself below he
dedec or. ther by assisting to contract
the Inlet.
THE TWO DREDGES
have been effectively operating upon
Sac Hs-marsh channel behind Horse
Shoe ShOal, which, no doubt, has
facilitate "A operations at the iu!et by
detracting a portion of water from it.
The contractors expect to complete
the channel by OF before Nay.
BALD HEAD CHANNEL,
presrnting no marked Improvement |
of late. aud the suction dredge Wood |
barry requ ring h-avy repairs, it was
/ thought advisable to suspend opera
tons there on the 1st inst. and set.
what nature alone would d. for TIL
channel, at the same time save that
much expense 20 b. applied elsewhere,
aud at IA future tim, if found necessa-
~, the money hel available to pro-
cure more appropriate dredge for the
purpose.
About the first of this M on th Col.
Craighill, the supervising engineer,
made a visit OF several days inspection
of the works, which he found all
right and progressing satisfactorily.
1t will thus be seen that the work
is progressing ID a very encouraging
manner. The contractors have me-
and overcome many uuexpect. d diff
culties; not however without consider
able loss, but they have persevered
with commendabte energy al wonder
full success The laws of nature and
the fates themselves seem to yield to
the indomitable will of man. In The
great struggle SO long and persistently
Derseyered III, nature comes forward
with generous uand to aid accom-.
Diishing his will, which is indeed en-
In the progress of the work that
particular point has now been reached
when decided blow for victory seems ,
necessary. The main track of the
hanuel and force OF the current hav-
ug been somewhat weakened und scat
cred by skilIful skirmishing, vigor-
'us assault upon the main work before t
re force of waters are concentratedI
lpon a new channel would seem to b.
wise ana proper for successful issue.
Should Tie Congres, at lis present
ession fail to make the :
NECESSARY APPROPRIATION
or this purpose by scaling the requi
itiOn as heretofore, 1t is plain that the ,
Met cannot be touched during the
lext fiscal year, but must take its
,hauces in the condition in which it s
nay be left upon the completion of the ,
present cont act for carpeting the
anne, the result of which no man
;0ll see.
The supervising engineer has asked
III appropriation of S2IO 900 for prose-
,utiug the work during the next fiscal
'ehr, aud this requisition has been ap-
proved by the chief of angiueers, also
~ the Secretary of War, and will ~,
loubt be advocated by our Senators
lnd Representatives in Congress. It
low remains with the Chamber to de-
ermino the proprlety or necessity to
urther urge it.
About the 1st of the present month
dr Henry Bacon took charge of the
work hy appointment as assistant
engineer in place of Capt. Charles Is.
Phillips, .. s. A, who had been re-
ieved at his own earnest request. 1t 1
s to be hoped that Mr.. Bacon will
prove as faithful and succe ,sfui in his
operations as his predecessor.
In conclusion with 10 reflection
whatever upon Mr.. BAcon). we desire
= cxpr' SIS our regret at the loss of
Capt. Phillips from the work, to whose
mineut ability, industry, watchful
less aud fidelity to his task for the
} asst three years. may be attributed in
great manner the wonderful SUCCESS
which has attended it, his proverbial I
.0urtesy to all with whom he had bust
less relations, his genial, social qnali-
les securing him many warm personal
who will no doubt join US in
his hour of separation, i'll hearty and
incere wishes for his eminent success
IL his new fields of labor, and in his
uture. prosperity
Respectfully submitted.
81 MUTT. com
GEO HARRIss.