Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-27
wIscAssEr.
Some of its Advantages.

AT the head of the Harbor we have bridp,
which is three thousand three hundred ant
thirty (3330) feet long. This beautiful, deep
capacious and safe harbor is not only the
nearest outlet to the ocean from Quebec
but is the only harbor north of Cape Hattera.
that is free from ice the year round.
There is not harbor in the United States
either on the Atlantic or Pacific coast. thai
has such depth of water as Wiscasset, or i.
more accessible at all stages of the tide fol-
heavy-draught ships; in fact there is more
water In this harbor at dead low water than
Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia
Norfolk or Baltimore has at high water spring
tides, thus making this harbor the most &C
cesslble one on the coast for heavy-draughi
ships.
Nothing less than 80 feet of water is found
in the channel from the ocean to the wharves
on the town, with clear, wide channel
ships bound to this port are never detained
by reason of the tides as is the case in the
ports OF Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
where steamships are frequently detained
from SIX TO eight hours waiting for the tide to
rise on bars or middle grounds, to enable
OBTAINING passengers and mails and incur
ring extra expense to the vessels.
The Atlantic Coast Pilot published bv the
United States Coast Survey IN describing
this harbor on page 3.s says.
1.-The Sbeepscot river Is the first opening
into the land met with TO the westward OF
Boothbay. II is very deep, nine fathoms
beng the shoalest water in the channel from
the mouth of the river, TO the town of Wis
casset "a fourteen miles above. Its en-
trance is contained between Cape Newaget.
on the east a1d the southeast point of
Georgetown Island, called Griffiths Head
On the west and between these two points it
is 5-S miles wide with an almost unob-
structed channel"
Again on page $50 it says:
''Wlscasset Bay OF Harbor is of irregular
shape, but is wide and deep, forming a most
excellent harbor, with good anchorage, and
very little obscured, and its natural advan-
tages as a commercial port can hardly be
surpassed"
In 1903 United States Surveying Com
mission visited Wiscasset, and were so
strongly impressed with the importance of
the place and its beautiful land locked har
Dor that they recommended Wiscasset to the
Government as one of the most eligible
harbors on the coast for a naval station.
Mr. George j. Varney in his Gazetteer of
Maine on Page COP says: Should the pro-
jected railroad to connect Wiscasset with
Quebec by way of Point Lewis be built, the
commodious and land-locked harbor of the
Sheepscot must become an entrepot between
England and the Canadas by shorter route
than would be afforded by any other port"
Ii Is clearly shown by the unimpeachable
testimony above quoted that the harbor of
Wiscasset combines all the natural features
that constitute the perfect port. The APP
proach is broad and unobstructed and per
fectly easy of access at all seasons. The
main entrance to the harbor proper is a
straight passage into the land for fourteen
mles-a wide slip fashioned by nature with
bold shores of solid lodges on either side
The harbor is capacious-in fact there is
perfect harborage all the way from the sea
ana everywhere, in approach, entrance, and
barbor there is sufficient depth of water at
all seasons and all hours to float the deepest
keels that swim 1t is never obstructed by
ice.
Hon. j. Manchester Haynes who owns
a shipyard, saw mill and ice houses at Birch
Point at the head of the harbor, says he has
known shlpmasters who have laden their
vessels at his wharves in midwinter when
Wiscasset harbor was as open as in June, to
hesitate about putting to sea because the
ports of Philadelphia and Baltimore to which
they were consigned, were reported blocked
by ice. The exceptional immunity from OBJ
struction by ice enjoyed by this far northern
port is due to the small quantity of fresh
water flowing into it and to the free admission
of the tide, which sweeps up the main
entrance, filling the harbor and the western
or Montseag entrance as well, thus maintain
ing current which protects its surface from
the intense coll.
The same causes that prevent ice obstruction
operate also to obviate all dangers of filling
up by silt. Add to all these characteristics
the suitability of the shores and adjacent
land for the building of wharvcs, warehouses
and factories, and it will be seen that nature
has here provided extraordinary facilities for
commercial interchange between sea and
shore. The requisites and facilities which
other ports are seeking to obtain and which
can only be secured. if at all, by an immense
outlay are found here in full perfection ready
to subservc the most ambitious plans of
human enterprise.