Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-29
YAQUINA HARBOR.
The Government Wsrk-RepOrt Of the
improvements in Progress.

Jne DaT, AT low WaVeT, ucloio III
provement, were from seven to eigh
feet. Three distinct channels exist
ed, known as the north, middle anC
south channels. The middle chan
mel, though free from rocks, wal
usually the shoalest of the three
and was little used. The north
channel, besides being long anC
tortuous, was so studded with rocks
as to be unnavigable. Owing to the
shifting nature of the bar, these
channels were constantly changing
both in position and depth. The
mean rise of the tide was IL feet.
PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT.
The project adopted in 1881 was
to run out dixie or jetty on the
south side of the entrance, so as te
cause the south channel TO shOal up
and be DETECTED northward with a
view to opening and maintaining
the middle channel with a least
depth of seventeen feet at high wa
ter.
AS originally projected the dixie
was to start from near low water
line and run out into the sea dis
tance Of $500 feet, and was to rise
two feet above mean low water.
The beach on the line of the jetty,
from high water level, was to be
protected by sinking gabloas in the
beach with sand heaped over them,
and by covering the surface with
layer of mattresses and stone.
The stone for the jetty was to be
deposited in place from barges, and
cribs were to be used ifpracticable. 1t
was found, however, that cribs could
not be used on account of the strong
currents and high seas, and that the
ocean swell even in quiet weather
was too great to permit the use Of
stone barges. Accordingly the jetty
had to be built from the shore end,
by carrying the stone out over
a tramway, and was begun at
high-tide line instead Of low-tide
line, thus making the total projected
length of the jetty in 1881, 300
feet.
In 1884 the jetty WAS extended
,horeward q distance of 316 feet to
close a gap that had been washed
,ut by the sea, making the total pro-
ected length of the jetty about 1000
eet.
The present project, adopted in
SSS, is to raise the south ietty to full
Ugh water without extending it
thus making its total length
784 feet, and to construct IL mid
ide jetty on the north side Of the
ntrance, about 1900 feet in length,
from the north head
long and behind the reef, putting
ut from the head to a point oppo-
ite the end of the south jetty, and
Iistant from it about 1000 feet.
The result on the harbor entrance
vas to keep the channel more in one
lace and to increase the depth over
he bar. The south channel has been
hut off and the tendency of the
'aters to go north restricted.
The result of all this work has
cen to cause the channel to run in a
irect line out to sea, and to main
ain an ordinary depth of eleven to
welve feet at low water.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND REMARKS.
The recommended amount of $751;
DO for the completion of the pres
Mt project made by my predecessor,
'as believed by people interested in
he improvement of the bay to be too
mall; and in consequence re-esti-
late was asked for, and under in
Iructions from the engineer depart
lent, was made by me, and it, with
ny report was printed in Sen. Ex.
'oc. No. AZ, Fifty.tirst congress.
A careful study of the action of the
ea on the ietties, during the past
inter, convinces me that the cross
ection of the jetties estimated for
herefor is excessive, and that the
esults desired can be equally OBJ
aimed and maintained by jetties Of
mailer cross section. The sand has
Ormed in behind the south jetty, so
hat 1t is practically revetment wall,
ather than jetty, If the same
hing occurs at the north jetty, as
ecent events seem TO indicate, the |
otal cost to "surely complete and
1--WE the requisite strength and sta
'ility to the work, according to the
'res ent project, will be very materi-
Illy reduced from the amount prev
ously estimated ut 1870, ,56l,S0 (Sen.
FIX, Doc. No, AZ, Fifty-tirst congress,
irst SESSION. II the amount, in
'enate bill Of Sls5,OO0 is secured for
he work this year, estimate that
with the plant on hand, Sl25, 900 can
be protitably expended the next
year, This will probably be enough
10 fully complete the project depend
Ing on the difficulties met with la
building the north jetty aud ths
readiness with which the sand
continues.
FUTURE OPERATIONS.
AZ Is eXpe0tad with the money
available fropl tue pext spprOpria-
tion, II any such them bs, 10 com
plete, as far as possible, the north
jetty, before undertaking any work
on the south iettV.