Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-12-02
CAPE COD SHOALS.

Boston Mariners Petition Congress to
Investigate Plan for Channel.
| When the members OF the Massachu-
sets delegation return to Congress the
first Monday in December, they will take
With them petition from the Boston Ma
rine society asking the government to in
vestigate . plan to make safer the shoals
outside Cape Cod, where 90 many mari
ners have gone to their death. II 10 as
serted that channel nine miles long and
three quarters OF . mile wide would save
thousands Of lives, ~ this 10 one OF the
most perilous places on the New England
coast.
Z Every sailor knows that every storm
that catches him Oh Cape Cod 10 likely to
mark his last trip. and for years it has
been the dream Of sailors that these
shoals, which are series OF hills ON the
bottom of the sea, b. levelsd 20 that in
stead OF the xig-sag course mariners are
compelled to steer now, they may be able
to make straight course from HAnker-
chief shoals over Shovelful to Pollock
Rip.
1t is not all shoal water, by any means,
for there are places from twenty to nifty
fathoms deep along the route, but there
are other places that are only from six to
ten feet, and it il upon these places that
many ship has been wrecked.
There was meeting Of the Marine So
ciety this week and this plan was the main
matter discussed. A showing how great
10 the interest in it it may be stated that
every pilot, captain and mate that is COM
PEELED to use this route in going from and
! coming to Boston, has signed the petition.
There are over 100 names on it, represent
ing an Investment in shipping far into
the millions.
The petition to the government 10 not
one to construct the canal. "We are not
ready for that, said Sec Manson recently.
I'VE want the government first to em-
ploy its experts to learn il the plan is
feasible. 1t willnot shorten the route,
but it will make it safe. Now the ma
riner is compelled to make crooked
way over the shoais. II he is in thick
weather and goes little too far in one
direction he is aground, and in the fright
full tide rips that do SO much damage.
II he goes little to far in another di-
rectioD the same danger faces him.
1--WE have not even estimated the cost,
All we want to know is il the plan is
feasible. Some say that the sand removed
would be Immediately washed back in,
and others say that the movement OF the
tides and currents would Immediately
wash out q deeper channel. The same
kind OF work has been done elsew here and
in some places one thing has been the re-
suit and In others the other.
sit will not be necessary to dig out this
whole nine miles, a. . large part OF the
channel is deep enough. We propose .
minimum depth Of thirty-fve feet, which
will accommodate the largest vessels, and
three-fourths Of this 10 over that depth
now. We simply want . straight course,
which will do away with . great deal Of
the danger that 10 experienced now
The plan, which may have baen thought
OF for years, was first brought before the
society Last May, and since then Mr.. Man
son and the other ofAcers OF the associa-
tion, including Pres. Lyman II. Richards,
have bsen interviewing masters Of every
kind Of craft and hsve learned from thsn
their experiences In trying to pass over
the shoals in bad weather.
chart has been drawn showing the
locatt0n Of the shools and the depfh of
watee upon them ct diHsrent PLACES.
UoQneleeo the work Woans large amount
OF dredging. some Of winch ooald doubt-
GOOD dsal 81 Which vosid klve g IS r.
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