The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-03-28
THE uARroR OF RErUcE.


Assistant Engineer Habersham sur
veyed both of the bags at Foulweather,
and in his report, after speaking of the
one south of the Cape, has the follow
ing to say in regard to the other:
But better harbor, at much less
cost, would be secured by building
breakwater from the extreme point of
Cape Foulweather northward, inside Of
the reef above described, for distance
of 600 feet. This would enclose an
an area of about Que hundred acres,
under the lee of the Cape, with good
anchorage in from / to s fathoms OF
water. having free entrance from the
west, | 200 feet wide. Such harbor
would satisfy the present necessities,
not only as refuge, but also "a port
of entry, Yaquina Bay being accessible
only to light-draught coasting vessels !;
and it might be enlarged at any future
time, if desired, by extending the break
water along the reef
The cost per linear foot OF break
water here, on the plan recommended,
would be as nearly as can be estimated
from the data obtained, as follows, its
dimensions being: Length, GOO. feet,
average depth below low tide 81 feet,
Ashlar masonry. .... $40 GO
Bubble masonry. l26 -
Small rough rubblc, llO
cubic yards, at 81 2...." go 90
Large rough rubble. 1925
cubic yards, at 81 937 90
Per linear foot. ....... 994 80
Making for its length of
coo feet. .......s.... 596,592 90
Add for contingencies 10
per cent. ............. 59,639 ~
4Os$Ai sss'-s pvut-'A ~
This report of IIabersham's is incOr-
porated in Col. Wilson's report, and we
cannot see how the Portland Board OF
Trade after reading ftcan make thestate-
ment that "Port Oxford, in Oregon, is
by nasure the best located and pro-
tected port, and of easier construction
at less erpsase as harbor of refuge
etc, when the same report SAYS that at
Oxford the cost would he $9,40j, GOO
We do not profess to know so very
much about figures, and we do moi
like TO contradict statement made by
such Al august body as the Portland
Board of Trade, but it does seem to us
that there is q small difference in favor
of Foulweather of about SS,TlS,T49
OF course tho Board considers this i
small sum, but the Board of Engineer
may think it quite an item.
The Board also makes a very serious
mistake, we think, when it saws tha
Port Orford is the best location for {
harbor of refuge Mariners all agree
that the south and southwest gales ar,
the ones to be feared on this Coast, anC
at Oxford there is no natural protection
at all from them, all would have To b,
artificial. At Foulweather the Cap,
affords a natural protection. and during
the late storm the bays surface at tina
point was as smooth aud placid as wa
the Willamette at Portland.
In the face of this fact how can tn
astute Board assert that Port Oxford i
the best location
Another point as to the location
Sailing vessels, in going north from
San Francisco, first take a westerl,
course for several hundred miles so a
to get into the trade winds, and if the,
then happen to be overtaken by heav,
gale from the south (and that is the di
rection nearly all the heavy storm
take), how are they ever going to get il
to old Tichenor's breakwaterl 1t woul,
be Impossible. They would even b.
fortunate if they could gain tue coas
as far north as Foulweather.
sorXo ADVICE.