The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-09
MILLION DOLLAR JtTTY.
PROGRESS OF WORK OF DEEPEN
ING GRAYs HARBoR CHANNEL.
Report Of Capt. Harry Taylor. of the
Engineer Corps, on the Condi-
tion OF the work and ON
the Benent Already Accrued.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
ABERDEEN. Aug. s.-Perhaps the mos'
important government work in progress
in the state II that OF the million dollar
jetty in course OF construction at the en-
trance to Grays harbor. the object being
the deepening OF the channel across the
bar. As Is common to all waters carry
ing sediment, the tendency Is to de-
posit OF the detritus at the mouth, form
ing shoals or bars. and. In navfgable
waters, proving more or less of an OBJ
struction to navigation. The jetty sys-
tenn contemplates the increase OF the
current by narrowing the channel. ana
the deepening of the waterway by the
increased rate of flow. the sediment being
carried out into and distributed by the
deeper water beyond. The bar at the
mouth of Grays harbor has heretofore
prevented vessels OF deeper draught than
fifteen feet entering or departing. except
under favorable tidal conditions.
Attention was called to the need OF
q deepening OF the channel to the open
sea. for the facilitating OF the constantly
increasing commerce OF this section OF the
state. Surveys and soundings were made
and estimates furnished. and finally an
appropriation OF s7o5,oc0 secured and con-
tracts entered into. That the enterprise
Is conmendable and the large appropria-
ton justifiable Is apparent in the results
already secured. The official report OF
Capt Harry Taylor, in charge OF engin-
eering work In the state. has been filed
In the war department. Referring TO the
work OF the past year on the Grays har-
Dor jetty, Capt Taylor says:
AT the beginning OF the year the con-
tractor was actively at work carrying on
the various classes Of work required un-
were pushed until October 8. 1899. when
pile driving In the trcstle was suspended
for the season. The foundation work
ed 10 the end OF the trestle, in the early
part OF November. Rock dumping con-
tfnued until November Is. 1894 when se-
80 badly as to cause temporary suspen-
sion OF this work. The trestle was re-
paired and rock dumping resumed and
il. when all active 's work was suspended sI
and repair Of the plant was begun, pile
d driving was resumed March 49, mattress
dumping April 3 On account .of the
shortage Of piles. comparatively slow pro-
gress was made until May !, when an
ten days very rapid progress was made.
On May q a storm of most unusual
severity occurred, which destroyed 4a2 feet
Of the trestle. carried the pile driver into
the sea and did other damage. The pile
driver was recovered In the harbor and
towed to the wharf. taken out OF the
June l. since That time al branches wof of
the work have been actively carried on.
Progress During the Year.
The progress during the year was
very satisfactory. the contractor having
at all times been considerably ahead OF
the amount OF work done. and he showed
at oil times disposition to do all the
work possible. The total amount earned
hin the ds ysa the fes,s
progressed at the rate of about forty
eight feet day. At the end of the
year, the srestls was being carried across
the jetty was originally planned. In this
channel, depths as great as twenty-nine
feet at low water were found. Great diff
nculty was experienced in sinking side
mattresses In this depth OF water. and
u was difficult TO get any OF the mat
tresses in their proper places. For these
this section of the tetty, and the central
lefty was increased to four feet in thick
ness and thirty feet in width. This form
OF foundation allows the mattress work
to proceed rapidly. reduces loss and ap-
pears to give satisfactory results. Dur
Ing the preceding year. various forms of
point 70 the conclusion that in shoai
water the cheapest and best form Of
foundation IL central mattress three
feet thick and twenty feet wide. q side
during the year has followed the com.
pietion Of the mattresses as rapidly as
possible. During the latter part OF May
and all OF June. trestie construction has
been carried on In water deeper than any
which was supposed TO exist at the time
the project was made. This will increase
the amount OF rock necessary TO conn
plete the jetty very materially.
During June. a survey of the bar and
vicinity was made. This survey shows
across the bar There are two channels
across the bar. In which there Is a depth
OF eighteen feet. Two years ago the
sar was fourteen feet Immediately SOUTH ans
of the jetty and near the inner end. Their.
has been considerable accumulat ton OF
sand About a mile south Of the jetty
however. there appears to be a material
wearing away OF the sand In the lasf
two years, the fonr-fathom curve has
approached the shore IN places as much
as 100 feet, and the nge-fathom curve
has approached about the same distance
Along the line Of the lefty. about two
years ago. there was only SIX feet o. wa
ter where now there Is over twenty-four
feet, and in one place the thirty.foot
curve approaches very close to the line
OF the iatty,
Immediately west Of the entrance
there has been comparatively little charge
IN the position OF the four or fvc-f athona
curves North Of the entrance. these
curves have gone out from tho shore
a short distance The survey this wear
shows that the depth In the prolor cation
OF the channel across the bar increased
very fhEiutls GFNth 81 iHlrrN Feet being
found AZ distance OF Z. 20 feet from the
nve~fafhGm curve"
summing up his conclusions from the
data thus given. Capt Taylor cnnclusess
This condition IL very favoraAse 10 the
permsnency Of deep water over the BAR
after q IL once secured
The financial estimates show thar n
total appropriation Of S7nA.sa has been
made fer the work. or this sum there
remains incorporated the sum az ssas 1sn
and IN addition - this unexpendsd bal.
Ia AZ "a ffaF ~.
required for tbs completion OF the tessr
making the total cost 81 the improve
meni u a.o..o
New SaMmiIl for Arltnnfnn