Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-04-07
WOULD ABANDON
THE NORTH JETTY
News Comes to Grays Harbor
Like a Bolt From a
Clear Sky. Get Busy
THE REASONS ASSICNE D
Board Of Engineers at Wash
ington Would Stop North
Jetty Extension
THE REASONS ASSICNE D

came upon Grays Harbor like a
cloudburst. 1t informed the Harbor
that notwithstanding the favorable
report of the district engineer on the
proposed eXtention of the North Jet.
ty at the entrance to the Harbor, the
Board of Engineers decided adverse
ly to the project.
The notice was received by the
secretary of the Hoquiam Commercial
club, and gives thirty days for parties
interested to make such statements
and arguments as may bear on the
case, such statements and arguments
to be made in writing. Secretary
Mcclure Immediately became busy
and notified his club, and the Aber-
deem Chamber of Commerce. and a
meeting was held in Hoquiam Sun
day afternoon, at which the situation
was discussed. Nothing definite was
reached, further than the Aberdeen
and Hoquiam would fight shoulder tc
shoulder in an effort to have the de
cision of the board reconsidered
A meeting of the Board of Trustees
Of the Aberdeen Chamber of Com
merce was held yesterday afternoon
at which it was decided to make {
determined effort to convince the
Board OF Engineers of its error ant
to have the project continued q,
rapidly as possible. The reason as
signed by the board appear to be
founded upon misinformation con
cerning the commerce, possibilities
and needs Of Grays Harbor. The dis
trict engineers, familiar as they are
with the harbor have reported favor
ably upon the extention Of this jetty
and the department records will show
many reports of distinguished en-
gineers in the past twenty-five years
recommending this jetty work.
The decision of the Board of En-
gineers, together with a formal notice
to protest, follows:
To Whom 1t May Concern:
The River and Harbor Act approx
ed March 4. 1913, contained provision
for preliminary examination of
"Grays Ilarbor Bar, Washington. "
The required examination was made
by the District Officer, and pursuant
to favorable recommendation there
on, survey was authorized. The
report of the District Officer on the
survey was Favorable for the improve
ment Of the locality to the extent of
recommending an eXtention of the
north jetty for a distance of $500 feet
at an estimated cost of $1.775,000, un-
der certain conditions Of local CO.
operation, with a view to securing
the project depth of "a feet.
In accordance with law, the report
has been referred to the Board of
Engineers for Rivers and Harbors
for consideration and recommends
ton From the information present
ed, the Board is not convinced of the
advisability of the United States un-
dertaking any additional improve
ment at this locality at the present
time for the following reasons:
(a) The cost of the work, taken
in connection with expenditures al
ready made, is considered excessive
when compared with the commerce
of the port.
lb) The recent extention of the
north jetty may result in more stable
channel conditions than have existed
in the past.
Co 1t is by no means certain that
the further extention proposed would
insure the project depth; on the con
trary, it is probable that further
work, involving large expenditures,
would be required.
(d) Experience at this harbor en-.
trance appears to indicate that it is
not economically advisable at the
present time to attempt to secure
greater depths than can be obtained
with the existing jetties.
All parto interested in the pro-
posed improvement are invited to sub
nit, within a period of thirty days
from the date Of this notice, state
ments and arguments bearing upon
the necessity for the improvement in
the interests of commerce and navi
cation. Such statements should BE-
addressed to THE Board of Engi
neers for Rivers and Harbors, Sou
thern Building, Washington, D. c.