Smyrna times., 1880-04-28

60, CDprK ASA HARBoR.-Ihe COM
49, of our citizens who left here on
"wednesday last for Washington, MessrS'
George W. Cummins, John b. Hohecker'
Iobn E. Tygert, David j. Cummins' w..
Covonder. ]. W. Dennsy, John Z. Bailey,
oahort II Cummins, John E. Collins and
Alsrsd H. Hudson, to wait upon our coz
r.o,.,,en. and through them the commit
t.o on commerce to present and enforce
a. claims Of our creek to government ald
in making it more accessible as a narO0r,
returned we'll pleased with their VISIT anu
in high hope, if net this, certainly al an
.orlv session of Congress their prayer VIII
bo granted. Very fortunately Tor them'
the survey that was ordered at a former
session. made by corps OF civil engineers
dor Colonel McCoombe some eighteen
months ago, just completed and printed oy
,bs Bureau. came very timely to their ald'
and perhaps with the commerce commit
4..s of the Senate and House before whom
tLo srb;ect will be laid by our Congress
mon. will be far more potent than the voice
oF orr united delegation. Thereport shows
the survey of Smyrna or Duck Creek TO
have boep very carefully made. The bear
;nos at the Creeks mouth, nature OF OBJ
,tructions and probable cost of removal,
denth and width of creek, shoales, &e'
This survey extended its labors one mile
above Smyrna Landing to Dsnney's MILL
a distance of fifteen miles by the course OF
the stream from the lighthouse. Every
thing pertaining to the navigation of the
Creek was thoroughly mapped, and, before
an inouiring committee, OF more value
than all the verbal explanations that could
be made. The engineers not only made a
faithful chart but went further and re
commended that an appropriation be made
to improve the navigation to the landing
near this town. This, however, though
very important to our local commerce, is
not asked of the Government, our citizens
having already raised a sum by private sub
soription to accomplish this work. But the
obstructions at the junction of the creek
and bay, mainly Of sand, that SO interferei
with the iagress and egress of vessels ano
boats when in need of place of security il
times of driving sasterly storms, is prop
erly considered awork belonging to the Gov
ernmsnt, and recommended strongly b,
the corps of engineers who were sent t
fully investigate the subject. They shoV
l.. A. ~ 4bara ic 60Oth n
water of from 10 to II feet at low tide, tha
the creek is from 200 to 300 yards wide, anc
that from so to 100 sailing crafts could TAX
shelter there from stress of weather.
the bay. And this is rendered more fore
bic from the fact that there is no place {
security between the Peapatch and Nahon
River for vessels in distress 10 run int
The engineers say in their report tha
$1,000 will be sufficient sum to remov
the distractions at the Bay. 1t would !
well, however, while at it to put it beyen
the possibility or probability of filling u
again. In the recollection of some of OF
older residents a point of land run oil
from the lighthouse considerable distanC
covering an area of some five acres. I'll
ceassless in-rolling waves and an occasions
violent storm from off the opposite Goa
have done their work and this tongue
land has nearly all disappeared. While
steod as breast work for the mad wav
to dash against, the sandbar obstruction
were much less to navigation. What
needed is an artificial one of stone or pilin
to take the place of this natural barri
and We may hope for a good strea
and safe harbor. Whether all this can
accomplished at once or not, the men vi
tsok the time and incurred the expense
go to our national capital to accomplish
are deserving Of thanks at the hands
their fellew citizens.