The Portland daily press., 1882-01-30
HARRIsEcKET RIVER.
Something that will Interest Brunswick
and Freeport.

Something that viii Interest Brunswick
and Freeport.
Gen. Thorn has sent TO the Secretary OF War
reports concerning the deepening of the chan
mel of the Harrisecket from Weston's Point to
Freeport Landing, and concerning Brunswick
harbor on the Androscoggin. The survey OF
Harrisecket was made under Gen. Thom's di-
rection by Mr.. A. G. Both. The river empties
into Casco Bay at Stockbridge's Point, about
twelve miles northeast from this city, from
which point up to Westons Point "a distance
of about two miles, it has depth OF not less
than tan feet of water at mean low water, or
nineteen and half feet at mean high water,
without any distractions to safe navigation.
From Weston's Point up to Freeport Land
ing, distance Of 1900 feet, the depth dimin-
ishes from ten feet below mean low water TO
three and a half feet above mean low water,
the greater portion of the river bed being bare
at low water
From borings made in this survey it appears
that this bed consists of soft mud mixed with
some shells to q depth of about FIVE feet below
mean low water.
To meet the wants of the commerce of Free
port and its vicinity would require q channel
not less than sixty feet in width with depth
of about twelve and half feet at mean high
water, or three feet at mean low water, which,
together with the proposed basin, $50 feet wide
IN r IL ,tsros
ALSO cubic yards of dredging, the esti-
mated cost of which, at 20 cents per cubic
yard, measured IN stu. is. :...$ll,7 ,7oo
Adding for engineering expenses and con- oo-
Total s1s, 900
From the character of the material compos-
ing the bed of this portion Of the river, it is net
improbable the proposed channel would soon
be more or less shoaled by the action OF ice and
tidal currents.
The following letter from Hon. S, A. Hol-
brook appears in the communication:
At Freeport Landing there are two points,
one called Bartol's, the other Porter's, which
are the most convenient places: in the town for
ship building, provided the contemplated inn
provement is made, being one and two miles
nearer the railroad depot and center OF busi-
ness than other shipyards; vastly more con-
=
and adjoining towns. Vessels OF greater
draught of water coming to these landings With
not only ship timber, but all kinds OF lumber,
coal. SC. would increase trade to much
larger extent than is now carried on in those
articles, as IL IS tne natural sespors i1r qI5.e
nai Fl Dnrhano and q nortion Of Brunswick.
Some few years ago bought in Boston fifty
tons of coal and freighted 1t TO freeport ny
coas.gr, pelng enu en ina. AZ neyt saa.
son T sbipped to Freeport from New York 150
tons; the next season 300; the next season 5Oo,
Shoe wntu b~eu ht JuoI rto .fa tow has in.
oraasad avery wear. and If II eould be shipped
in large vessels direct from New York or
Phlladephia thereoy making coss oi sI .ransPJr, h
varv iaros the farmers wonId nse If instead of
wood: forests would increase in value, produc-
ing timber near tide water; coastlng would De
fesiseu' po'a'uo0' iiay' go 91'pfe1
oohceining Diunsw'o ~ na1.' ~ Uaans.s ~ -
aroscoggih' zen. Anoni Iep ~ neaa
s.ao "s'u :. fro,,,
tne rams ~ .ie sinaso =. Dlun' "lsA' ~
wnicn piace 70 i's nou.n = n0e...s 10y
is uis'anoo VI apou' ''A iu''ee' aA's 'A ss.,s
eno onanisi =. 1. ~. -
ohops Is an auu'.io''a, = s', ~,
'n'e' 80 ,.Is 80 ,a
OF 1ne 'lues = apou1 'mo Anu nali .os.' sa,s al
IN MeFryinee'ips Day y - aDo1s = : ''A1 : -'''
feet'
In the cnannei y 'n.oush Hae'is illee'ns 10y
the deptn Oh wafer sna' can 70 0ai,iou " s's.
sells OYER tne snoales' paf' s 'soou' ,ous ,eos AZ
mean low WATER OF mus anu ilai ioo. AZ
mean high water whilst IN the channel OF the
river itself not more than three feet of water
1o,,, ,,otar ~ We and half feet at
az mean ~" "@'o- Z. - a-S:os - =. - pr.ns
mean high water, can DC carried up 70 DRUMS
wick.
IT. ohstr,ctiors 4, tbe river consist Of sew
no vDs,A No5 = ~ ha.s.ao,s ss.to EaI,s,
eral shoais' which no Des"esn 'no
and the head of Fosters Island, about TWO ana
a ouarter miles below. The shoals are composed
: -, a,,+,d s,ahs Tba r;rar
cnleny Oh sanu, sa"uaSe anu si~Os ~ 80
below Fosters Island IS unoDstfacted ana nav
igable for depth Of not less than four feet at