The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-10-19
SEA DRfDGf FOR BAR.
NEW PLAN or IMPROVE
MENT WILL BE TRIED.
Transport Grant to BE Fitted for
Work at the Mouth of the
Columbia River.

Telegraphic advices from Washing
ton city state that the government
board OF engineers that recently visit
ed the mouth of the Columbia for the
purpose OF investigating the manner OF
improving the bar has recommended
that sea dredge be employed in the
work. The navy department has plac-
ed the army transport Grant at the
disposal OF the engineers. and the
work OF fitting out that vessel will be
commenced at once. The necessary
alterations will incur an outlay Of
100000. II Is the intention to install
machinery that will enable, the Grant
to remove i2.OO0 cubic yards of sand In
10 hours. and, as she is very large
vessel, the work can be prosecuted at
almost any time OF the year. Four or
Ave months viii suffice to prepare her
for the new work.
The news Of the determination OF the
board to use the sea dredge scheme
was received with delight in this city,
For two years there has been strong
sentiment here in favor OF this method
OF bar Improvement, Captain Cam be-
ing the leading advocate Of the idea.
While Captain Cam believes the work
viii be successful. he realizes that II
Is In the nature Of an experiment.
Other bar pilots share this opinion.
and all were pleased with the an
nouncement.
Captain McVlcar when seen yester-
day expressed satisfaction with the
new ,1lan, and said he thought it
would result In much benefit. He
was of the opinion that, with the ca
paclty Of the Grant. the depth at the
bar could be very materially increased |
in a short time. Whether or not the
will be permanent one
remains to be seen. but that some tenn
porary benefit will be derived is GER
tain.
The manner ef operating sea
iredge differs very much from that in
which river dredyss have been operat-
ed In the Columbia. Within the har-
Dor and above Astoria the dredges
have taken earth from one point ana
dumped 1t at another, with the result
hat there has been no real benefit.
rhe sea dredge will remove the sand
rom the bar and take It out into very
leep water. SO that the work once
lone will not be undone, at least by
he dredge.
While the Washington Dispatch con-
aiming the information does not re-
er to the matter, 1t is believed the en-
,lneers have not abandoned the jetty
work., and that operations there will
70 resumed in connection with the new
york.
The board has been authorized to
lsit different seaports of the country
o view the progress and effect OF
and when work is begun
ere the engineers viii be fully in
1t is The belief of shipping
len that 80 feet depth can be secured
'ithin year.
Every effort will be made to hasten
he Quitting of the Grant, which is
ow at san Francisco, To this end 1t
proposel to procure pumping ma I
hlnery which is the duplicate of the c
lrgest type now used on government t
redges, The vessel itself will require L
tile alterations, If there is no delay 7
procuring the machinery the Grant $
i'll be ready TO commence operations |
lrly next year. The dredging ma 7
llnery will have a capacity of 2o,- S
70 cubic yards of sand per day of IL
ours. The sand brought up Will be 5
aposlted In huge bins aboard the
rant, and when these are filled the c
sssel will steam out to deep water
I'd dump the sand and resume dredg-
-.- 4