Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20

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report made in pursuance with instructions contained
in second Endorsement Cso2ss-lsO upon application
for extension Of dredging operations BY the Port
Arthur Channel and Dock Company:
I visited the locality and made Q careful invest.
cation of the work being done by the Port Arthur
Channel and Dock Company. and found that under
their permit they had dredged the channel. As shown
in full blank, at the point shown on accompanying
tracing. This cut was 200 feet long. 50 feet wide and
Il feet deep. Az no limit was placed upon width
Of cut to be made. I was informed that It was the
company's intention to widen this cut until II was
the full width Of the entrance to the proposed canal.
The proposed dredging is shown in shaded part Of
the channel It the entrance.
All the material was pumped beyond the line Of
right Of way Of the canal. and Il did not appear
that any material Of consequence had escaped into
the pass. The method Of excavatinE BY means Of .
suction dredgs causes very little disturbance Of the
material in the vicinity of the dredse. and what lit
tie does escape u slight compared with other meth.
DDS OF dredging. As far, therefore, a the dangerous
dredging At the locality II concerned the portion
under way is far more 20 than that which might
arise from the extension. The proposed bulkhead il.
therefore, Of little consequence II not completely
closed. and It seems that the opening for the passage
Of the dredge IL necessary: in fact, some kind OF
opening IL necessary. a. otherwise the water would
soon be pumped out Of the pit. and the lredgs
grounded. So long. therefore. as the material
dredged 10 carefully impounded. and not allowed to
nnd its way into the deep water Of the pass. NO seri-
Gus objection appears to exist that would nilitats
against the extension, under the conditions named
in the eompsnys application. The portion of the
canal which has been s1cavsted to . peint seventy
two feet distant from the junction with Taylors
bayou has . depth Of from twelve to sixteen feet
Part Of the e1cavated material was deposited inland
beyond the railroad track. and . part on the lake
side.
It was attempted to incloss the de~positins dn
on the lake side with . levee. 10 As to prevent
any material escaping into the lake. but some breaks
of the Ieves occurred At the point shown on the
chart, and NO effort appears to have been made to
close these: 70 come Of the material pumped into
the inclosed space was deliberately permitted to e.
cape into the lake. As no regularly appointed in
spectors to watch this work were available. the
time in which the erevasses remained active cannot
be given.
The location Of the canal is dangerously near the
uoi6s VI buo Aahcs ~ opOh y ~
place The shore Of the lake il being rapidly sroded.
snd in 4 short time the erosion will have reached the
canal throughout most Of its length. / an not aware
that any provision has been made to prevent the
sitting up Of the channel under the action Of waves
and storms on the lake. and the permanency OF the
canal appears to be imperiled At the very start.
The canal crosses several streams. and in this con.
nection I wish to invite attention to the fact that
serious consequences may be expected from the slt
and detritus Of . drainage area, amounting to over
800 square miles. being turned into the deep water
Of the pass.
Taylors bayou is . large stream. and is ~aavigabls
By steamboats, for over fifty miles. About 900 car
loads Of rice were noa.ed down this stream the last
season. and this industry II Just commencing. A
cross section Of the bayou IL given on the chart At
times the current II swift, and At ordinary high
water reaches as much a four miles an hour At the
point where the canal intersects II. and At times
there In as much Is ten to twelve inches difference
Of level between the water In the canal IS excavated
and the bayou, the bayou being the higher. II this
difference Of level exists when the mouth Of the
bayou is open. 1t is reasonable to expect that the
total discharge Of the bayou may be directed down
the canal. and this silt carried down to the pass.
where It would be productive Of incalculabls harm
to the interests Of the United States in the main
tenance Of this fine harbor.
With Q two-mile current. this bayou will ~dischafEs
los. 533 cubic feet per second. and with . four-mils
current I'll. oss cubic feet per second. Under the
possible conditions Of increased current In the canal.
caused by tidal influences. ETC., It Is reasonable to
expect that serious erosion in the canal may occur.
and this material n excavated Would he dfscharred
directly into the deep waters Of the pass and further
complicate matters.
Two smaller bayous which are crossed would add
their quota Of silt but It il not believed that II
would be 30 serious. although Objectionable. and
should be guarded against.
It does not. therefore. appear to ne to BE- reason
able to permit the bulkhead which II to bs built
according to the application Of the inner end Of the
cut to have any opening IN It after Mud bayou 10
reached: and that q complete barrier be maintained
at this point until . satisfactory scheme for the dis
posal Of the drainage systems. which will be d.
veted by the canal. Is provided by the canal COM
pany and approved BY the secretary Of val. Very
respectfully. your obedient servant.
(signed) B. QUINN.
Major. Corps OF Engineerk
ton about SABINE PASS-its