The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-05

IMPkOyIrG BELLINGHAM BAY.
Starr Rock. Between Whatcom and
FairhAven, to BE Removed.

Brig. Gen. Casey, chief OF engineers.
has transmitted to the secretary OF war
the report OF Capt T. w. Symons on the
propriety of improving Beilingham bay.
The report IS as follows:
.tBeligngham Bay is a portion OF the
great body of water 10 which. as whole.
the name Puget sound Is now generally
applied. II reaehes to within fifteen
miles of the international boundary line
and II opens out into that portion OF
Puget sound In which are situated the
islands forming the San Juan archlpel-
ago. Ii II about ten miles long from
north 10 south. and FIVE males wide from
east to west. 1t has an average depth
OF ten fathon1s. with q maximum depth.
according 10 the coast survey charts. oil
4wenty-six gathoms 1t Is this fact OF It's
being sufficiently shallow to allow anchor
age that distinguishes fellingham bay
from most OF the other harbors OF Puget
sound. Upon Il are situated the cities OF
New whatcozzs and Fairhaven.
.tTha Improvement Of rockingham bay In
two particulars has been demanded by a
greater or less number OF the people of
the bay The first feature Is connected
posiis brought down hy the Nooksack
river. same two years ago statements
were made to me that the whole upper
or northern portion of the bay was shcaa-
ing rapaiiy. and that IN order 20 prevent
II from continuing the Ncoksack river
should be turned into It's cid course. into
r.arnFni bay. Investigation revealed the
fact that the statements were not well
founded. A comparison was made by me
Of the coast survey data gathered In 49,
ana the data gathered In 1891 by Captain
Gilbert. of the coast and gec<aetfc survey
covering The northwesteru portion OK the
bav. IN Sha Vicinity Of tho cities OF New
whatcons AMI F'airhayen. The result or
the comparison was TO show that the bot
tom. az the hay was practically i1en;seasiy
The same az the TWO dates.
There has unlpesksenably been con-
siderable deposition ~ sediment IA TIE
southwestern portion of the bay. about
shs. r,sosarsa ns the Neoksaek river. bat II
hnx moi vet extended over a very fsTwe
pertion OF the bay. or TO an extent ssiffi-
cfene Il, Justify any fear OF damage 70
,sse commerce OF tie hay fer many years
20 come snisak IL wosfia he well, how
ever 10 make a survey ~ determine &C
eurasely IRE extent snss rate OF The shoal-
ting
.sWhs,s TIE Nocssack river must be con-
sssarea detrimental 70 the bay &c GER
&aan esseast. due 20 the deposits brought
.sou-,,. II is esteemed 10 De of great value.
- ma, is fresh waters circulating ahcai
,t.s frsnts az New whatsoua and FAIR
saxen vrevent the ravages OF she tere8o
ar,a,s~ ire pile wAarvss. etc. With whica
tae shores are itnei. 50 important Is
thss fresh water considered that very
straax pyoteSt wcula SO zap against she
r-os.s, az detecting X from the barber.
-.SyaaiIe II see~ss desirable and sdsis-
anss =, make a survey 70 determine sss
.mn,,nt and rate cf sheslgng. ard 70 a.
-s,e a. a Satisfactory and definite under
ssaussaw fAe-eog. | am rot, win Eay
urnSe-t kssswaesassA OF TIE orantes that
~ tass particular feature BeiIIn Cham osss
IL ~ssrkAv az Improvement by tire general
government
.~rhe seSenss eeasEre 80 EeiissgAars lay,
an v~ss,ees 70 walsh Improvement - ae'
,..a,.sssea. Is sAe existence - a rock known
- Ssa~w rs=Sg. situated near the eastern
Ssss.-s az the hay hStw2%n F'atrnsSea ana
Nsur w-aasrxs,rsA T-asts TSck. tsessS sssTVcs-
~ IL. see locality 81 the two riss>s ard
wsvere she maximum sxesea.e1< 81 ship
! psas takss place. = q danger AL :