The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-07
BAR IS UNHUORED
soUNDINGs ARE TAKEN IN MOBILE
 HARBOR.
Feared, However, that Channel Inside Was Filled to Great Extent by the Tropical storm of
 Semtember.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Mnhila Dac- l


 Mobile Dec. 6.
 The condition of the approaches to Mobiles harbor is the subject Of some considerable concern Of late. It IS feared, on some sides, that the terri ble storm of September 2T, has inJur- ed the outer bar and the approaches to the harbor.
 It was to determine this point that the delegation ol the Alabama Outer Bar Association made the trip to the outer bar few days ago, and Judge Austill, the President of the Associa- tion in formal repors Tpe or tne fElp o Shaw, declares that the outer bar has not been Injured.
 A somewhat different story is told, which has, according to other but re- liable authority, been filled in for a distance of about twelve miles, perhaps six feet. in depth. While that portion of the channel had before been dredged down to twenty seven feet, the sound ings taken recently indicate that the channel is so filed in for the twelve miles that it is now only about twenty one feet in depth.
 Because of this state of affairs, John R. Williams, the haI bor master, has issued instructions that no vessel shall, until further orders, take on load that will requiree a draught of over twenty feet.
 Judge Austill's report to Secretary shaw upon the satisfactory condition of the outer bar. as revealed by the trip of the Association delegation on the revenue cutter Winona, Is quite ex- haustive. It is. in full. as follows:
 Mobile, Ala, Dec. 5th, '06. Hon. Secretary U. S. Treasury,
 Washington, D. S.:
 "Sir:-In compliance with directions from the Treasury Department, Cap tain A. F. R. Hanks of the revenue cutter Winona, on returning to this port last week, rendered the use of the cutter to the Alabama Outer Bar As- sociation, to make trip to Grants Pass and the outer bar, for the pur- whether the late severe storm had made any changes in the depth of wa ter in said pass and over the outer bar .r .s. .u,r on Monday last. The boat sailed down the day with quite number Of the members of said Association. On the way down, Lieutenant B.ockway, ex- ecutive officer of the Winona, informed the writer, as chairman of the said As- sociation. that the Winona had passed in and out of Grants Pass several times since the storm, and he had al ready taken soundings in said pass to, note any changes that had been made.
 He reported that he depth of water in the pass had been increased about one foot, and chat the width Of the pass had been increased to some ex- tent, as a result of the recent storm.
 Accepting Mr. Brockway's state ment as correct, the trip to the pass was omitted, and the Winona sailed for the outer bar. On approaching the cut across the bar, the sailor who was accustomed to casting the sounding line began to take soundings in the presence of quite a number Of the party.
 ''Lieutenant chalker of the Winona kindly stood by the writer and re- sailor as the result of each sounding was given. The following figures, which indicate fathoms, We're given by the sailor casting the line.
 The Wiona kept close to the east side of the cut as we went out over the bar. The following depths were given as we proceeded along the east side of the the cut; 1L2 l5s' $ S44' l-5 E. 5. 5, 4 3-4. s, 6, and 8, the last of the above soundings indicated that we had passed into the Gulf.
 The boat then headed westward, de- scribing a semi-circle around the bell buoy. In going around the bell buoy we passed the channel, coming back into the west side of the chanel and After the last sounding over the bar, above mentioned, the following souu1ndings were made: AaA 3-4. 5. 4 8-4 5, IA, IA. 5 1-2, 1-4.-6 3-4, where the soundings ceas- ed, as we had entered into the deep waters or the lneI pay
 While, of course, soundings taken as above would not indicate positively the condition of the whole bottom cut, yet it is sufficient to justify reporting that there has been no shoaling up in this cut. since the dredging was done.
 "The information secured will en- able the Outer Bar Association to pre- sent an intelligible memorial to Con gress asking the purchase of Grants Pass by the Government, thereby mak- ing it a free pass and asking the con tinuance of the work on the outer bar until we have secured thirty-fiv feet (35) with width of one thous- and feet G,000).
 Again thanking the United States Treasury Department for the use of the revenue cutter Winona, I am with respect.
 Your most obedient servant, HI. Austill, Chairman of Alabama Outer Bar As-
 sOciatiOn "