, 1888-06-20

ANS' AA6
the matter to E6nmiHicate the following:
As;yill be noticed from the accompany
ING chart of sonndinggxs taken by Chief Pilot
Slang Of the, channel leading into the har-
bour,, there is a sailing channel between
the "a; feel, deep curves, which is clear and
deep and is fit for use by vessels of the
largest dimension, hut it Is only 900 feet
broad and hence pretty narrow and 1t is
lessened in breadth by q shallow ground
proceeding from the eastern end OF the long
Stone and Coral-R bounding the Har.
bour on the North, which shallow ground
bends in a southeastern course and has
II to IS feet water, and terminates in the
sO.called Great Middle Bank with only 9 to
10 feet of water.
Only $50 feet South of this Great Middle
Bank, about midway between the Point
Battery and Long Reef, there is a large
shallow ground called Round Reef, which
is almost dry; the deep sailing channel
runs to the North and West of that Ground,
hence vessels above Is feet draught have
TO make two very sharp turnings when
ntering the harbour
To the East of Round Reef schOOners and
other crafts not drawing more than 10 to II
feet can pass. The first question to be
decided is, to what depth III eventual ex-
cavation should be made; a lesser depth
than % feet would no doubt be insufficient,
when it be remembered that it is the intent
that larger steamers should be able to run
into the barbour; hence the investigations
have turned upOn the point OF obtaining
that depth.
The most complete Improvement OF the
harbour would he obtained by removing
the shallow called Rnnnl Rect and by de
posting a portion Of the exchvated stun
to form 4 barrier from long Reef to the
Large Middle Grdihd, Whereby there would
be obtalB8t' in the centre part OF the
harbour 4 clear +1TITafge and complete
basin, aIlinoo11t Would Hot be necessary to do
further than to make some tritilng regula-
ton of tho channel, which even fit he pref
tn narrow would be u straight and clear
channel, the use of which would not be at
tended with any difficulty.
The removal ofthe said Shallow to a depth
of % feet, would require;
dredging of an area Of 10000 o. to % feet.
do. " 100000" " Is +"
do. 124,5OO" 10
orr total dredging of 10, 245,O 900 cubic feet
of stuff.
With a Dredging Machine like the one
in st. Thomas, which removes 1000 cnblc
feet at a cost of 500 pr. day Tor working ETC.,
there would be required:
1899 working days,
OF upwatdsi Qf Years. and the expense for
working With the dredgirg machine alone
would exceed $100,OOO.
A less perfect but 10 doubt quite AIDE
quate improvement would be obtained by
widening the channel by removing the
a~bovenamed projecting Ground between
Long Reef and Great Middle Reef, as we'll
us this latter too, and by blasting the west
ern part of Round Reef, whereby there
would be obtained a channel which at the
narrOwest points would be 500 to 600 feet
broad and quite clear, the passage through
being also free Ofsharp turningS and hence
no difficulties be attended Herewith.
THE bounds, within which the excava-
ton would have to be made are given on
the chart by the blue pencil lines Gb. and cd.
and the course in this improved channel is
given by the red line HI. ~. n.
This improvement would require, at the
channel, the dredging of:
an area of $4,000 o. 49, depth
g " 4lO,5OO" t. ="
$4,000" s. F"
" 29,5OO" 4
41,OOO" 3
1885, 800 Cubicfeet of drsdging:-
at Round Reef
an araa of AZ 9OO n 22I depth