The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-16
SHOWING NEEDS
OF The HARBOR
Local Business Men Entertain
Congressional Committee.
Mr.. SHIELD WAS THE SPEAKER.
Chairman Of Harbur Commissioners Told Of
Need Of More Wharfage and Anchorage
Space Here.
MR.. SHIELD WAS THE SPEAKER.

Today the waterways in the immediate
vicinity of this city are being inspected
by the congressional committee on rivers
and harbors under the pilotage OF men,
bers OF the harbor commissioners, Cham
ber OF Commerce. and the city committee
on harbor improvement, as we'll repre-
sentstives OF the shipping interests OF the
port
The congressional committee arrived In
the Algonquin from down the bay, where
Newport and Narragansett Pier had been
inspected yesterday and landed at Fox
Point and were met by Secretary Webb
OF the Chamber OF Commerce, who con-
Quoted them to the Narragansett hotel.
where rooms had heen reserved for them
and where Mr.. Webb In his capacity as
host also took up quarters. Counting Mr..
Webb, there we're 10 in the party that
registered at the hotel. but az the con-
ference In one OF the hotel parlors after
dinner there were present: Hon. Theo-
| dore II. Burton. Ohio. chairman; Roswell
| +. Bishop, Michigan: De Alva &. Alex
ander. New York; James RI. Davidson.
| Wisconsin; Wesley S. Jones. Washington;
John Fl. Bankhead Alabama; stephen NJ.
| Sparlrman, Florida: Joseph r. Ransdell.
| Louisiana: George F. Burgess, Texas;
Benjamin c. Humphreys, Mississippi;
George p. Lawrence. Massachusetts; Il.
| 8. Acheson. Washington; James II. Cas-
sidy, Cleveland, clerk Of the committe,
and Joseph r. MoGann, Cleveland, assist
| ant clerk. Adm b. Capron. ex-Congress-
man Bun Congressman d. l.. d. Granger,
| Harry Vale of Newport and Engineer
! Parish OF the Coast Survey, stationed at
Newport: the harbor improvement COM
| mission. composed OF Mayor Miller, Fred
eriok H. Jackson, James NJ Scott, Samuel
| Conant and Rowland G. Hazard, together
with J. W. Paine, formerly OF the Olney
| a Peine GOAL firm of Pawtucket. Lyons
Delany and q. S. Bowen, also OF Paw
tucket; Eugene Philips and other.
HARBoR NEEDS SHOWN.
The president OF the board Of harbor
commissioners. J. Herbert Shedd who is
a we'll known local engineer had a large
number OF maps and plans outlining the
improvements needed TO make this port
one OF the greatest shipping centres IN
the east. the locations Of which were in
spected today.
He called attention to the dangerous
fogs off shore here and at Cape Cod and
then continued:
Here. we have Providence harbor, TO
which we have safe access without pilot
In storm. Passage is possible by two
different channels into an inland bay. rs
miles In length. containing 14o square
|
miles in length and the island shore l04
miles. The two channels lead to Provi-
dence with a width of 400 feet and a depth
OF rs feet, low tide.
The upper harbor is seven miles long the
channel in that part also varying from
2J to 80 feet in depth, at low water. while
the width of the upper harbor is about
one to two miles.
"It is possible to have excellent wharf
connection with both sides OF the bay
and 1t is hoped that the proposed plans
will convince the committee that our
needs mean an increase In commercial in
terests to our own city, state and the
whole country"
He described the plan, which calls for
a long line of piers and slips on both sides
OF the river, one on the west side being
suggested mostly for local use.
wHARvES BOTH SIDES.
. This stretch OF about a half Of mile
would provide about II slips and piers
running at right angle with the channel
and having the sea wall about 630 feet
back from the harbor line, with the slips
about go feet in width and about 900 feet
IN depth. Then for the purposes OF
transportation Il is suggested that a street
about 81 feet in width be laid out between
the city wharf to Harbor Junction.
The plan for the east side wharfage ia
cilitfes call for a stretch about mile
and a quarter long. on the same principle
as the other one. except that as this
would be able to handle only such mer-
chandise and cargo as would be consigned
for transportation by rail 10 other points
north This would stretch from the
wilkesbarre pier to Kettle point and
would have about as many slips and
docks as the other.
TO WIDEN THE CHANNEL.
In addition. It is proposed that double
line of anchorage be placed near the
channels, mooring bIoys allowing OF
safe anchorage from the bow and stern
OF vessels by means OF a screw pile, four
feet IN diameter. with n chain about "a
times as long as the depth OF the water
with a buoy OF about three tons weight
attached to the chain. Although he stated
that n would be impossible at this time
TO estimate the cost or such improve
ments. yet he thought that about $500 900
would cover II.
In regard 10 desired changes 10 the
channel and anchorage conditions. MIR.
Shedd explained 20 the committee that
one OF the chief things wished for IL the
dredging out of two places one at a trife
southeast of Rocky Point. whore turn
IN the channel greatly hinders navigation.
Another such change n desired north OF
Conimicut Point. here a piece about 1000
feet In length and about 500 feet in width
being the cause of trouble
In this line the big change which is
proposed IL the Strengthening of the
channel from Pawtixet light To Kettle
Point. some s,oco.co yards. II IL desired
that the present channel be reserved for
anchorage ground. and the straight line
nv Fields Point from the above men
toned points be the channel. 400 feet In
width and about 95 feet IN depth
The points mentioned were pointed ont
IN tho trip on the Algonquin today, and
after a brief stop at Warwick Neck the
party came ND the bay and embarked for
trip up the Seekonk. where John II.
Frceman's plans for making that water
way n landiocked basin we're explained