Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-31
DOMEsTIc NEWS.
The Proposed Pacific Coast Harbor of
Refrue

The Proposed Pacific Coast Harb0r OF
Refuge.
WASHINGTON, January 305h.-The Senate,
q few days ago, on motion of Mr.. Farley,
adopted a resolution calling on the Secretary
of the Treasury for copy of the report made
by Professor Augustus G. Rodgers of the
United States Coast Survey, on the subject
of the proposed harbor of refuge to be con-
structed on the Pacific coast, at the most
suitable location, somewhere between San
Francisco and the Straits of Fuca. The de-
sired copy will be furnished to the Secretary
of the Treasury by the Coast Survey Office,
and transmitted TO the Senate early this
week. Meanwhile your correspondent pre-.
seuts the following summary of its principal
points The subject was investigated by
Rodgers at the request of the Pacific Coast
Board of Army Engineers, and his elabor-
ate and valuable report is addressed to
Colonel G. S. Stewart. He considers at the
outset, as the most prominent general ques-
tions involved, first, the geographical forma-
ton of the Pacific Coast relative to natural
harbors second, the meteorology Of the sec
ton of coast to which the inquiry is directed,
and third, the routes of commerce now exist
ing and the future probability of changing.
Attention is called to the fact that between
the Straits of Fuca and San Francisco bay
distance covering nearly eleven degrees OF
latitude-although there are numerous sum-
mer anchorages, there is not single harbor
of safe access to vessel in distress during the
southeIly winds of winter 1t is next shown
that any harbor of refuge located with regard
to the interests of any port or fleet on this
coast should be placed to the north
of that port or fleet, for the reason
that the storm winds are always from the
south, while the return fair weather is
marked by northwest and northerly winds.
In other words the storm bound vessel should
be able to run to leeward for safety. SINH
larly it is noted that the first local requisite
of harbor of refuge should be the general
safety of approach from the seward. After
completing his general argument, Professor
Rodgers furnished statistics of trade and
routes Of the Pacific coasting vessels, and
proceeds to make detailed comparison of
the different localities proposed for the har-
Dor of refuge. Finally, he recapitulates the
conclusions at which he has arrived, as fol-
lows
As compared with Cape Gregory, Trinidad would
be more commodous would be much nearer to the
bulk of the coasting during the southerly
gales equally easy of general approach, and much
more readily entered with southerly winds and de-
parted from with northwest winds. An equal ex-
penditure would inclose more protected area at
Trinidad than at Gregory. AS compared with Port
Oxford, Trinidad is less commodious. The skeleton
hafDOr OF OrIOru Is on q larger scale. AS 10 prOS-
unity and easy approach for the bulk OF the coast
ing commerce. Trinidad largely superior to Port
Oxford. Trinidad has no outlying dangers Oxford
has dangerous reefs on the south. An equal expeI-
diture Trinidad would include q larger protected
area than Oxford. AS compared with Crescent City,
Trinidad is much more commodious 1t is nearer, and
would be accessible to the bulk of the coasting
commerce during southerly gales. 1t is more easy
of general approach, and could be entered with less
risk at al! times. An equal expenditure at Trinidad
would inclose more protected area than at Cres-
cent City. The general facilities Tor constructing u
large harbor refuge at Trinidad l believe to be
greater than at any Of the localities named. have
the honor Colonel, through you, to submit to the
Board of Engineers my general conclusions in favor
of Trinidad Bay as being the Tost suitable location
for arbor refuge on the Pacific coast south OF the
Straits of Fuca.
A Nonsenslcal and Ciiimerical Scheme.
New YoRK, January 90th.-The papers
for some days have been filed with dispatches
from New York setting forth the prospects
and intentions of the Continental Double
Track Railroad from New York to Omaha,
with spur running to Chicago. A Tribune
reporter, who had already interviewed Scion
Humphrey, President of the Wabash line,
and had been assured by him that the scheme
was nonsensical and chimerical, to-day talked
with various other railroad men who had no
personal interest in the matter, and found
them unanimous in the same belief
The road would cost vast sum of
money, as its proposed route is through
the high mountains of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, and the bondholders could
have no hope for speedy return for their
investments. The opposing lines would at
once reduce rates below the prices fixed by
the proposed company, and being well estab-
lished and having paying local business,
would quickly bring it to terms and compel
a pooling arrangement or sale of the road
The projectors are not very prominent in
railroad nor financial matters, and the alleged
capital of 500, 100000 is pronounced to be
as mythical as the road itself.
Pacific Coast Postal Changes.
WASHINGTON, January 30th.-The follow
ing Pacific coast postal changes are announced
for the week: Offices established - Blair,
Shasta county, Cal, Eunice L. Blair, Post
mistress Melrose, Alameda county, Cal,
James I'll. Chichester, Postmaster American
Flag, Pima county, A. L, Peter III. Loss,
Postmaster: Grace. Pima county, A. T.,
James Branson, Postmaster; Stone Cabin,
Pima county, A. t., John P. Seimmerman,
Postmaster. Offices discontinued-Or Whit
man county. W. T.; StQughton, Clarke coun-
ty, w. I. Postmasters ppointed-Edward
S. West, Casper, Meudoc;no county, Cal. !;
Jonathan s. Brown, Monmouth, Mono coun-
ty, Cal; Evan J. Bevan, Plymouth, Amador
county, Cal; William Gordon, Porterville,
Tulare county, CAL. Milo Kingsbury, Fair
play. Llko county, New; Henry Hilp, Jr.,
Ward White Pine county, New; William
w. Stone, Mount Vernon, Grant county,
Or; Dudley McCann, Brush Prairie, Clarke
county, W. T.; Lewis B. Fenwick, Chewelah,
Stevens county, w. T.; John X. Gather, La
Center, Clarke county, w. t.; George A.
Morrison, bennington Willard county, Utah;
Josiah l.. Jayner, Washington, Pima county,
A. T.
Northumberland Passengers.
OMAHA, January 10Th Through passen-
gers on to.day's train leaving at 1:30 P. NJ !,
to arrive in Sacramento February I'd: VIM.
Hamilton, Pittsburg, Pa; Dr. and Mrs. J.
c. Bailey, U. S. a; James Scott, Scotland !;
T. w. Sterling, New York; John L. How
Forman, Pottstown, Pa; G. M. Bruce.
Richmond, Va; Ed. Brooks, Silver Cliff,
Col; Lyman Eimere and wife, New York !;
Miss Sadie Bresack, Walton, n. Y; Miss
Belle McNaughton, jackson, Mich; w. G.
Blakely. Mineral Park, Arizona; A. h.
Fiske, New York; +. S. Plempton and wife,
Boston.
OMAHA, January 30th.-The following
through passengers were on to-days train,
leaving at 1915 P. NJ, to arrive in Sac
ramento February Sd J. B. Atkinson and
wife, Philadelphia; P. Berwin. San Fran
cisco; w. G. Forbush, Q. S. Army; Rev E.
II. Watts, Sacramento, Cal. John G. Jacob
sen, New York; R. w. Oakley, Baltimore !;
Jas. j. Morrell, Louisville, Ky; w. K.
Henderson, st. Paul, MINI. /; W. H. Cam
eron, Canada.
The Appropriation Bills.
WASHINGTON, January 30th.-The Legisla-
tive Appropriation bill, has been perfected by
+ha Suh Committae and will he cnns;darod
by the Senate Committee to morrow. The
Sundry, Civil and General Deficiency are the
only remaining ones Of the regular annual
appropriation bills to be considered. The
River and Harbor bill, which under the new
rules is reported ready for the House by the
Agricultural Committee, will probably be
completed this week.
Not Familiar with the Capitol.
WAsH1seToS, January 30th.-The Star
last evening printed the following news item i:
Senator Sharon rushed out through the Sem
ate lobby yesterday and seeing an employee
said to him Somebody wants to see me
in the Democrat Club-room Where ia the