The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-28
THE FRONT hARsoR.
Some Interesting Suggestions Con-
corning its improvement-The PROP
lem Afforded by the Ice.
To the Editor ofthe Press:

To the Editor oftke Press:
SIR:-I was much interested in reading the
article under this heading published in the
PRESS of Saturday last. and having made
something of a study Of the problem Of pro-
teeting the harbor beg leave to submit
few suggestions viz:
That before any further steps are taken to
extend the present breakwater, careful in
yestigations be made as to the effect such eX-
ten sion will have on ice in the harbor. OBJ
servations of the ice, made almost daily dur
ing the past winter, seem 10 indicate that the
end of the present breakwater is the point
on which the ice impinges in its movements
with the ebb tide. If this should prove to
be the case, now what VIII be the effect when
this point is moved 1000 feet toward the
channel? Will not such extension intercept
a considerable portion of the ebb current
from Back Cove and form kind of scoop to
catch and hold the ice? Is it true that
breakwater at Spring Point VIII tend to IN
crease rather than decrease the "undertow"
in the harbor? A line drawn from mid
channel off Portland Head and touching the
fathom curve off Spring Point will fall
near Fort Gorges. A corresponding line
drawn from the same point and touching the
end OF the proposed extension OF the present
break wafer Will ldll on TIE EdSttTH IIOHlc-
made. Which, then, will afford the greater
protection to the harbor? The waves which
cause the "undertow" in the harbor are
propagated in the direction of the lines
above described, and, other things being
equal, they will continue in their original
direction. Why, then, expose nearly one
half the width of the harbor to their sweep
| when this can be avoided? If it is true. as
| stated, that none of that sea comes into the
harbor,' referring directly to those seas
tol, N.ri lodi xx.hx
not extend the ledge and keep out more sea
| 1t does not follow because there Is ledge at
| Spring Point that the breakwater must
necessarily follow the trend of it, as is as
sumed by the writer of the article III ques-
| tions That idea was carried out in the pres
ent breakwater, 1000 feet Of the inner end Of
| which is Tin the PASTURE, and only knows
| salt water By the smell.
| | therefore suggest that stead of extend
| ing the present breakwat9r as proposed q
| careful study be made OF this problem in
| connection with a breakwater at Spring
| Point; commencing at point near the four
| foot rock as shown on the coast survey chart
| of the harbor and extending 600 feet into the
| channel and at right angles to the set, OF
| the seas that enter by Portland Head. The
| inner end need not be connected with the
| Shore for, as the article correctly states, the
seas that break on this ledge do not reach
| the harbor. 1t is true that the cost OF this
breakwater will be somewhat greater than
| the proposed extension Of the old but not
/ much greater The stone from the dry land
| portion of the old breakwater are convenient
| for use and it would seem but simple justice
| that after all these many years of useless
| existence they should be made at last to
serve good purpose. think too, that a
| study of the ice problem will suggest that
| all of the old breakwater, except the extreme
| outer end, should be removed to about half
tide mark so that the first of the ebb tide
would have chance to force the ice from
the inner harbor over it. This would fur
nish large portion of the material needed
for the new structure and greatly reduce its
| cost. .. A. b.
| portland March 9th 1893