The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-01-20
IMPROVING wlLLAPA HARBoR.
Captain Taylor Says 1t Can BE Done II
Small Expense.

Captain Taylor Says 1t Can Be Done ut
Small Expense.
A Washington correspondent says:
In his report recommending the i'm.
provement of Willapa river and Mail
boat slough. Captain Taylor, of the
corps of engineers, says:
"Willapa river empties into the Pa.
cific ocean through Willapa harbor
about 25 miles north of the mouth OF
the Columbia river. The entrance to
Willapa harbor from the ocean has for
many years maintained depth of over
Is feet at mean low water, and at the
present time has depth of about 81
feet at mean lower low water.
1.-The mouth of the Willapa river is
considered to be in the harbor about IL
miles in direct line from the ocean
bar. From the ocean bar to this point
the depths are ample for any class of
vessels, ranging from ~ feet to as much
as 70 feet at mean lower low water.
Near it's mouth the Willapa river is
joined by the North river, which flows
in a course nearly at right angles to
that of the Willapa. Just above the
junction of these two streams is bar
having ruling depth of water over it
of about Is feet at mean lower low
water. The bottom of the river at this
bar is lumpy, and the material forming
it appears to be fine. hard sand and silt.
The bar separates the deep water of
Willapa harbor from the deep water OF
that part of Willapa river below Mail
boat slough, which is a small cutoff
channel, leaving the Willapa river
about one-half mile above South Bend.
the principle city ON this harbor, and
joining it again about e miles below
the city. Immediately above the lower
end or mouth of Mailboat slough is an
other bar, having controlling depth
of about IA feet at mean lower low
water. These two bars have existed
with about the same depths which they
have today since the earliest recorded
surveys of this harbor were made, ex-
cept that the upper bar has secured
away from two to three feet since 1892,
when the government began the con-
struction of dixie closing the upper
end of Mailboat slough.
''The principal businesses of Willapa
harbor are the the lumber business and
the fish and oyster business. Located
at South Bend are three sawmills, whose
com ined aggregate daily capacity is
about 1900 feet. 1t is reported that
two of these mills are to be rebuilt with
largely increased capacities.
1.-THE lumber is mostly shipped to
San Francisco in small schooners, as
deep-draft vessels are denied charter
for cargo from this harbor ON account
of the two bars above mentioned. 1t
is claimed that, were these two bars re-
moved, the mills located on this harbor
would be able to compete with mills of
Puget sound, Columbia river and other
deep-water Pacific coast ports in the
foreign lumber trade. Whether the
lumber business of this harbor would
be so extended or not may be ques-
toned, but there can be no question
but that the present trade would be ma
terially benefited. as the vessels which
now carry the lumber experience delays
on account of these bars. One flood
tide is required for loaded vessels to
cross the two bars. Before the harbor
throat distant abont 19 miles from
South BenO is reached, the tide is
ebblng. AS insurance companies pro-
hibit vessesl towing to sea on an ebb
tide, they are forced to lie at anchor in
rather poor roadstead, called North
cove, for about "a hours. During the
winter southwest storms frequently |
spring up, and vessels may be barbound
from one day to a week after leaving
South Bend.
81 am of the opinion that the most
advantageous and economical method
of improving these bars is to dredge a
channel through them to depth OF 20
feet at mean lower low water. Near
the lower shoal mud flats, which are
covered at two-foot stage of tide, ex-
tend about IL miles to the north and
about one mile to the south. At high |
tide this forms wide expanse OF wa
ter, and for this reason the channel
through the lower shoal should not he
less than 200 feet wide. The channel |
through the upper shoal may be reduced
to 100 feet in width. The waters OF
the Willapa river carry but little sedi-
ment in suspension, its course is short,
and for IL miles above South Bend 1T
is tidal stream. For these reasons it
is believed that dredged channel
would be fairly permanent"
The estimated cost Of this improve
ment is as follows: Dredging at lower
shoal, $50, 900 cubic yards, at 20 cents.
$50, 900; dredging at upper shoal, I00,-
900 cubic yards. at 20 cents, $40, 900;
engineering. contingencies, ETC., 81, 900;
total err 000