Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-12-15
IMPORTANT MEETING
IN ATLANTIC CITY.
To Consider the Subject of
{ Improving the

10 CONSIDER the OuDJecC OF
Improving the
HlRB0R and DEEPENING The inlet CHANNEL.
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ADDRESS THE
MEETING AND URGE THE NECESSITY OF
SECURING AN APPROPRIATION FROM CON-
GREss TO MAKE THE IMPROVEMENTS.
A very large and enthusiastic meeting
of citizens was held in Odd Fellows
Hall, Atlantic City or. Friday last, to
take the preliminary steps necessary to
secure an appropriation from Congress
for the deepening of the Inlet channel.
This is q measure in which all who live
in the territory adjacent to Atlantic City
are deeply interested. Year by year the
Inlet channel has been gradually filling
up and the risks of navigation have
become more and more hazardous. The
meeting of last week was called by
Major C. W. Raymond, of the United
States Engineering Corps, who was sent
there by the Secretary of War to make
surveys and estimates, and get such
statistical and other information as will
be of assistance in preparing his report
to the Secretary for the use of Congress.
All the leading professions were well
represented by representative men, many
of whom spoke briefly but forcibly in
favor of the project. From them all
Major Raymond obtained much valu-
able Information of various kinds that
will materially assist him in preparing
his report, and, it is to be hoped, will
eventually secure from Congress an ap-
preparation for the deepening of the
channel and the permanent Improvement
of the harbOr.
In making few opening and explana-
tory remarks, Major Raymond said-as
reported in the Daily Pres
"Gentlemen, under an act passed in
1896, there was provision in it that
the Secretary of War have a survey
made of Absecon Inlet, with view of
creating ten feet depth of water over
the bar. Under that law am required
to make report and submit the project
and feasibility to the Secretary of War,
and he will in turn send it to Congress.
| NOW Uuc SURVEY ud6 dllc cduy UOCA 1Hducs
In order that the Secretary of War may
be more fully informed of the necessity of
this Inlet being deepened, and the
benefits to navigation to be derived,
which such an improvement would do,
l communicated with him, and he gave
me orders to call public meeting in At
lantic City to ascertain the views of
citizens and Others, and to gain statis-
tical knowledge that will aid in direct
ing the work of Congress. As l have
said, the survey has been made and all
that remains is for me to submit my
report and recommendations. | want
all the information Obtainable as to the
need of port. What you will say will
be taken down by my stenographer, Mr..
j. Mcclure, 80 that may combine it in
my report to the Secretary of~War and
Congress. / believe it was ten years ago
that an old Board of Surveys came here,
sounded these waters, and submitted q
report to Congress for twenty foot
channel. Their estimate of the cost was
$3,OOO,O0O. Congress at that time felt
that such an expenditure was not war
ranted. | cannot now give any fair
estimate of what the cost of the pro-
posed improvements, under the change
will be, but it will be nothing like
$3,OOO,OO0. ] might add that the desire
of the government at present is to create
ten foot depth, and maintain it over
the bar. This means that the engineers
may go as deep as twelve feet. Any ad-
ditiOnal information that any citizen
may have, besides the views about to be
expressed, will gladly receive in writing
at my Office in Philadelphia. l would
now suggest that His Honor, Mayor
Stoy, open the meeting"
Mayor Stoy stepped to the front, and
in formal language welcomed Major
Raymond. He assured the Major that
the people of Atlantic City appreciated
his efforts to create a port here, and
would heartily act in conjunction with
him. The only hope of all was that the
improvement may come, and it could
not come too soon. The Mayor advised
the speakers to be brief in their remarks,
that all may have. chance to be
heard.
Captain Thomas French was the first
speaker. He dwelt upon the eccentric
manner in which the Inlet channel
changed, and how forty years ago YES
sells of heavy craft easily put in and out
OF this Inlet. The Captain did not be-
lieve it would cost anything like $3,0O0,-
600 to make the improvement, and that
it could be done for less than one mil
lion. He spoke of the sinking of vessels
having an affect upon changing chan
mel, and creating bars. He believed if a
proper system of jetties were created
eighteen feet could be maintained over
the bar.
General Elias Wright was the next
speaker. He said he had no knowledge
Of navigation, but believed that if Capt
French's idea was carried out the pro-
per depth of water would be secured.
The General said he had heard that the
jetting of the Inlet would probably
affect the bathing grounds, which would
be undesirable. He did not believe this
was a sound objection, as jstties have
been the means of creating more beach
instead of cutting it away.
Judge Joseph Thompson was next in
troduced. The Judge said he was
neither an engineer OF sea captain, but
saw the good to be gained by making
this harbor for cOastwise vessels. He
first congratulated the city upon having
present at the hearing such representa-
tive gathering of land owners, shipping
masters, captains and merchants. He
referred to the interests of the lumber
and brick companies and merchants
who would feel the benefit Immediately.
Since the survey was made ten years ago
Atlantic City has increased in population
and wealth wonderfully, and it now
stands forward to demand recognition.
The government owed it to her. There
is no denying the need of q harbor in
Atlantic City to offer place of refuge in
storm to vessels that leave the Delaware
Breakweter and Sandy Hook. He cited
an inst---e where q number of years
ago when the channel was deep here,
that Congressman Gardner counted 1O4
vessels putting in here for safety during
blow. The Judge said steamships
would not be expected to put in here,
but vessels of q moderate draft.
Warren Somers, of the Somers Lumber
Company, gave statistical information