Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-12-18
Board OF ENGINEERS
H6Id PuDIO H6dPInQ
Excellent Showing Made in Favor Of I'm
proving Santa Lucia Inlet.

Pursuant to call issued by Capt. Geo.
3 spaulding, of Jacksonville, a pub
M hearing was held last Friday morn
no AZ Gilberts Bar Yacht Club house
before the corps Of United States engl-
neers In charge of harbor improve
ments. relative to the deepening OF the
santa Lucia inlet to depth of Is feet.
The object Of the meeting was to OBJ
tain data and all available information
AZ to the amount Of commerce that
would pass through the inlet II the
Improvements were made. The meet
ine proved enthusiastic as we'll as en-
pertaining and Instructive to many
who we're surprised at the showing
made,
Col. G. w. Lang6tt presided and the
other members Of the board were;
MAI. e. Spencer Crosby, Capt. Geo,
n Spaulding. Capt. A. H. Weber, Maj.
]. w. Sackett and Capt. o. N, Bic.
After stating the object Of the meet
Ing Col. Langfitt called on Capt. d y.
sewall to take charge OF the meeting.
The captain has spent much time and
money on the proposition and is one OF
tIsS most enthusiastic workers for the
cause, He hrst called on Mr.. + 9.
McMallen. Of Eden, who presented q
tolnminoos report on St Lucle county
IA ks4o hflsl eclplpent on ~ cQpr
It,|2 All e5ln pAfln9 our sfnasporeA-
ton facilities and rates with those OF
Cuba. porto Rico, Key West and other
blaces where water transportation beats
ieil.
Mr. = r. Anthony, of West Palm
Beach was next called upon and made
As excellent showing for Breyard' ST.
rncle and Dade counties, presenting
valuable statistics showing the increase
10 all lines, covering period OF 70
Years. He also made interesting COM
ment on his exhaustive report
Nj. j. r. Leatherman, OF pelray'
represented bis section and reaa a reso'
luton endorsing the proposed improve
ments. -.
Mr.. Geo F. Bensel, representing the
Southern States Land & Timber Co..
showed that the company owned nun
- o,,ds of acres of valuable
timber lands within fifty miles : tne
inlet, and that as soon as water Trans
Dortation was available at the mOu'l
Of st. Lucie river the company--aS n a,
report showed could move neati!
S0O,oO0 carloads Of naval stores al'
timber, but that 1t would likely remain =,
where it Is until the inlet is opeueo
He submitted maps showing the com
pany's holdings in Dade and st' Auc'
counties.
Lieut. II. L. Willoughby, a retire'
naval offcer, read an interesIlnB r'
pofs ca the numerous wrecks that ma
occurred ii recent years within twenty
i've miles Of this inlet, and stateu quo
nearly all Of them could have pee
saved Il the government had nao
harbor Of refuge at this point he a
& eued 20 this end and stated that tner
Was no harbor between the St. Jon,
and Cape Florida where vessels coul
seelx refuge in time Of storm ana sns
there was no other such long streSc
on the Atlantic coast without harpC
81 refuge, and that the Florida GOA
had long been boneyard Tor coSS
Wise ships. The lieutenant also rept
ensed the New York Yacht cruz ~
which wants southern station az u
|plei.
Capt. e. N. Dimmick' Of WesD I ., :,
Beach, commented further upon y I,
aemsrous wrecks near West fai
Beach.
Mrs. n. Saunders, Of Eden, sent
pIctarea and commuuication aooNg. = .
npmesopa wrecks, and made a plea
'ae psnineIel tie inlet Tor humanls'
ka. cspA Sssall reed the note =
'HIAta h 3ssf fo lhe beard.
5|.H|se hs Abo4e the house
a. teno ara 'llea y