Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-12-15

and always have to insure their cargo
The rate is almost prOhibitory.
Mejor Raymond broke in at this point
to say that this was just the sort of in
formation he desired.
Mr.. Somers continued giving figures
and facts that were attentively listened
to by the Major. The Major remarked
that these figures were desired by Con
gress, and would assist the engineers in
making their report.
Councilman Long, who is also lum
ber merchant, said that he co-incided
with Mr.. Somers, that it was very ex.
pensive to have lumber shipped here.
They have had vessels that could not
enter after arriving with their cargo.
He referred strongly to- the trouble ex-
perienced in landing lumber for the
Boardwalk, howit was foated ashore by
an endless chain because the vessels could
not put in here. He had known of YES
sells being compelled to lay off shore until
favorable tide, and been wrecked in an
unexpected storm. Iflarge vessels could
put in over the bar, q saving of at least
two-thirds would result.
Mejnr Raymond here explained that
Congress only anticipated making the
channel ten feet deep. The law prohibits
him from making a report on anything
else. The whole thing to be learned is
twill the improvement be advantageous
to shipping interests ?"
Mr.. Long said it would certainly be
advantageous to all, both marine and
merchant.
The Major said the engineers could
report on a ten foot channel and then
make it twelve.
VIM. johnson, of the Knickerbocker
Ice Company, said that he was greatly
interested. His company shipped from
5000 to 10000 tons of ice annually,
and during May and August they had
twenty-five or thirty vessels bauling it
here. Some of these vessels could not
enter because of no channel depth, and
one or two were wrecked. One had to
throw the cargo overheard after running
on the bar. The company had to insure
the cargo. They are compelled to pay
double freight rate. They were fire.
quently compelled to ship ice by train.
The deepening of the Inlet would greatly
reduce rates and help navigation.
of water is claimed on the bar now. 1t
is not there. There is less than five feet
at mean low water, when sailboats can
not go outside. The buoys are out of
place. Many Philadelphia and New
York yacht clubs would come here if
channel was deep enough. The yacht
Columbia, drawing only eight feet of
water, could not get in last summer. As
a port of refuge many coasters would
use this channel with fourteen or fifteen
feet of water, and it is great disad-
vantage to coasters to be unable to get
in here. We want what they have at
Charleston harbor, jetties turning water
into a narrowing channel beyond the
bar. The water would cut it's own
channel with jstties properly built.
Captain Parker will draw plans and
submit them to Major Raymond in few
days.
E. r. Donnelly and Will II. Bartlett
agreed with Mr.. Somers. A deeper chan
mel would make difference of 81 q ton
in freights.
I. G. Adams-what has been done at
New Orleans can be done here.
D. B. Ingersoll-To get bricks here we
have to charter vessels not fully sea-
worthy, on account of shallow channel.
We pay 1900 to $4,000 annually in
freights, much of which could be saved if
vessels Of greater draught could be use.
Councilman E. s. Lee-We have to
charter small schoonsrs and pay extra
freights on our bricks and building
material. Change in channel makes it
difficult to enter harbor, which is q
great set back to our commercial inter-
ests. Our freights are as high as Sc. 200
a year. Mr.. Lee asked "Would jetties
cause the beach to wash away ?"
Major Raymond-Years ago engineers
had planned jetties in which they dis
cussed the possibility of causing beach
to cut away. l cannot myself express
an opinion, not having completed q
study on that point.
Major Raymond asked if a changing
channel was not worse than shallow
depth
Mr.. Lee-To some extent.
Jesse Yates-I have been pilot all my
life. The last ten years shipping inter-
ests have fallen off one-half, mainly on
account of the bar. We used to have Is
feet there, now IL at best. Frequently
l have to send vessels away. Last sum-
mer 80 or 40 vessels set signals for
pilots but could not get in. This often
happens.
L. C. AIbertson thought it was the
duty of the government to extend favOrs
to towns needing it.
Editor Hall of the Daily Union called
special attention to the size and impor-
tance of Atlantic City, it's past rapid
growth, it's present Enterprise and grow
ing Importance.
OF
ing 20, 900 and summer population OF
100, 900, it's commercial interests should
be helped to expand and not be allowed
to retrograde for lack of a suitable har-
Dor. We stand alone here on the coast
as a popular health resort with peculiar
interests which should be recognized.
The railroads to this city are spending
hundreds of dollars, helping the city to
grow, bringing thousands of people here,
and increasing commerce.
Our large feet of sail boats and visit
ing pleasure yachts that would come
were very important to thousands OF
people. Not within q radius of 60 miles
5 had the government ever favored any
town with public improvements.
Judging the future by the past this
city will be much more important five or
ten years hence than it is now.
Alderman j. d. Southwick-Transpor-
tation interests comes first in the United
States. Hotel interests second. So in
this city. We want New York capital
to start q line of steamers here. They
are now ready to come and we want q
place to land them. As for q port OF
entry, we leave that to our political
friends.
s. P. Morris-Shallow water and high
freights means distress to our CONNER
cial interests. Stone building material
requires low freights, which can only be
gained by good safe channel. He
hoped Major Raymond would do all he
could.
Prosecutor Perry-The deepening ol
the channel will extend it's benefits be-
yond Atlantic City.
Councilman Rose referred to shipping
interests and the great Importance Of
better harbor facilities.
Mr.. g. 81. Jenness, editor of the Pleas.
antville Press said:
"Mr. Chairman:-It seems to me that
this is a movement that is not confined
t0 Atlantic Cifv a1ono II 10 IF spforoct