The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-04
INTERESTING
INFORMATION
ABOUT HARBOR
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION HIS
SECURED FROM ACTING CHIEF
OF ENGINEERS OF WAR DE-
PARTMENT FIGURES APPRo-
PRlATIoNs AND IMPROVE
MENTs MADE, TOGETHER WITH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

From the acting chief of engineers
Of the War Department, the Pensacola
Commercial Association. relative to-
the Pensacola harbor, a history Of ap-
preparations and improvements made,
and a financial statement accompanies
the information.
mo estimate of funds to be appro-
priated for this work during the
present session of Congress was sub
nlitted by the Department, for the rea-
son that the amount available June
3G. 1911, was considered SUFFICIENT to
cover the cost of contemplated opera
items during the fiscal year 1913. and
the conditions being so favorable there
that no work Is proposed, as stated in
the annual report. till after June 80.
1872, writes the acting chief OF en-
| gineers.
Original Depth 1875 Feet.
The history shows that the harbor
of Pensacola had an available depth
across the inner bar, at the entrance
to the harbor, in 1879, previous to any
work of Improvement, 1875 feet A
project of 1877 considered the removal
Of wrecks of 1873, and called for the
removal of the wrecks. The project
of 1881 provided for dredging a chan
mel 800 feet wide and "a feet Deep,
and protecting Fort McRae. Dredging
under this project was carried on till
| 1898, when the available channel was
225 feet wide and "a feet deep.
| In 1891 the board of engineers pre-
scented project for opening a
channel across the Caucus shoal. In
| 1895 special board of engineers rec
commended no change be made in the
project of 1891, and a United States
dredge to be used to open a channel
&c feet deep. and as wide as prac-
ticable. In 1895 the United States
dredge Gedney opened this channel to
| a width of 120 feet and depth of "a
feet for a length of about 10000 feet
across the Caucus shoal, and now
known as the Caucus channel
In 1896 the same board recomm end
ed continuing the work by building
Caucus shoal 80 feet deep and 800
feet wide. and the construction OF jet
| ties for its maintenance.
The river and harbor act Of March
1899 extended this project to securing
a channel depth of 80 feet from the
! gulf to the docks at the east end Of the
city. 3 The amount expended on this
project to June 80, 1905 was $685.
/ 1864.
The river and harbor act of June
1902, appropriated 100000, of which
$4,000 might be used in constructing
/ q SGd-EOtnS SuCL1OH QTeuBe. 1nG (Au-
/ Gus was built and turned over to the
district in August 1906 The act modi-
fed the project to a channel 80 feet
deep, 500 feet wide, with no approval
estimate of the cost of the project.
/ $172.221.27 was expended for the
dredge. 1895. 537 .0S for improvements.
of which s26s,206.22 was for mainten-
ance.
The project is about 80 per cent
1 completed.
In September. 1905. the Caucus com
menced dredging and to June 80, 1911,
removed 3.375.52S cubic yards of ma
terial At that date the depth of the
channel was not less than 81 feet and
| the minimum width 400 feet. The
dredge Caucus suspended the work
i May %, 1911. leaving for st. Andrews
Bay, Florida, to begin dredging opera
tions there.
Commerce Large.
! The commerce of the port is re-
| ported as very large. The compile
ton Of the project win greatly increase
the facilities for large commerce at
Pensacola. but will not materially af-
| feet the freight rates. It Is proposed
to apply the available funds in dredg-
i ing operations towards the completion
! of the project and maintenance OF
depth. 1t is not proposed. however,
to do any further work until after the
| fiscal year. ending June 80. 1912.
Financial Statement.
The money statement is as follows.
! June 80, 1911.
Unexpended July /, 1910. $3.50. o2s.4
Appropriated Feb. 81, 1911. 100000
Total .............s 145. O2s. 40
Amount expended for inn
provement ...............$ z6.0OO.OO
tenance ................. 46,2O6-zz
Total 71,206.22
July 1, 1911:
Balance unexpended ,....... S53. 820.lS
Outstanding liabilities $500. 2,147.1s
Balance available ........ 81, 6TS.o0
The cost oR The dradg ire during the