The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-06
THE BAR IMPROVEMENT
REPORT OF BOARD HAS
BEEN SUBMITTED.
Recommends Extension Of Pres
ent Jctty and Building Of
Spur on the North.

The board Of engineers appointed Ia
submit a report on the matter OF i'm.
proving the Columbia river bar has NJ
ed its recommendation with Genera
Gillespie. The report recommends ex-
tension Of the present (or SOUTH jetty
due west for two and one-haf miles
os 70 much Of this distance as the
depth Of water viii permit. The board
entertains some doubt that this single
Jetty VIII produce and maintain per-
manent channel 10 feet deep, ana to In
SURE such a channel, II the EXTENDED
jetty falls short OF that accomplish
ment. II recommends the construction
Of north Jetty two and half miles
long. designed TO project from Cape
disappointment towards the south Jet
ty and operating with the latter to
force through an opening two miles in
width the full volume OF the Columbia
river.
II this is done, the board says. there
Is no doubt about the permanent main
tenance of the desired channel across
the bar. The board Is not sure that o
north jetty Is needed as long as pro-
jected, and II shorter one will accops
piish the purpose. 1t can be stopped
short at the proper noint
The board estimates the proposed ex-
tension OF the south jetty will cost 81
2G0, 900, and the construction of the
north jetty 81 POS, 900 to which s250.O00 Is
added, being the cost Of operating the
dredge Grant, making the total cost OF
the proposed Improvement S3.IlJ.V0O
The report concludes:
"The boards plan is such as TO permit
OF the carrying forward Of the project
within the limits prescribed by the act
of June 10. 1902. After providing 70"
the conversion If the Grant into
seagoing dredge and for its operation
for a temporary deepening Of the bar
channel. there remain available suffic-
lent funds for the completion OF the
south jetty and its 2 l-2 mile extension
This work should be pushed as rapidly
as funds will permit, subject only tc
the limitations with regard to imprac-
tlcabls depths, and In the opinion Of the
board 1t alone will secure bar channel
Of greater depth than has ever existed
heretofore. Provision should. how
ever, be made for the construction Of
the north jetty, so that the work may
he prosecuted under the most advant-
aseous conditions, and whenever it IL
necessary for securing channel of the
full dimensions prescribed, there is
every assurance that, when additional
money is needed for constructing the
north jetty, II viii be promptly author
lied by congress"
The board reports adversely on the
Haupt reaction ietty plan as lmpractic-
able in ways and amounting in effect
to a mere extension of the old jetty.
The recommendations contained in
the report meet with popular approval
in Astoria. The belief pervails that
extension of the jetty alone will oblit-
crate the bar that obstructs navigation,
and 1t is the general opinion that a
spur jetty from the Washington shore
will be necessary to make the south
jetty fully effective, The two jetties.
is is believed will serve to perpetuate
the dredging operations already provid-
ed for. The recommendations Of the
board are quite hi lihe with local opin-
ion. and qualification was freely ex
pressed yesterday,