Hanpt.] I4G [Jan, 18, 



Discussion cm the Dynamic Action of the Ocean in Building Bars. 



By Lewis M. Eaupt. 



(Bead before the American Philosophical Society, January IS, 1889. ) 



Mr. President : A little more than a year has elapsed since the publi- 

 cation of my paper on the Physical Phenomena of Harbor Entrances, 

 and during this time it has provoked, as was expected, some discussion. 

 It seems a propos that the record of this investigation should be entered 

 in the publications of this Society, and I have, therefore, the honor of pre- 

 senting for the Proceedings the following paper, entitled : Discussion on 

 THE Dynamic Action of the Ocean in Building Bars. 



It is a reply to a Report of a Board of United States Engineers, before 

 •whom I had a hearing in January, 1888, relative to the methods proposed, 

 and who rendered an adverse decision March 16, 1888, in which they ask 

 for precedents. In presenting them it becomes necessary to take up the 

 items of the Report seriatim, and reply to them specifically. 



This representation seems to be the more necessary since this Society 

 has done me the honc»r to endorse so highly the plans submitted in the 

 paper before mentioned. 



(1) The Report states that my paper presents — 



" (1) A theory of ocean bar formation based upon the movement of the 

 great tidal wave toward and along our coast ; and (2) a theory of harbor 

 improvement based upon the idea that this tidal action is the controlling 

 element in the forces aflFecting the magnitude and position of the bars. 

 Each of these theories will be briefly considered. 



" Prof. Haupt calls attention to the natural division of the Atlantic coast 

 into three great bays, and the effect they exert upon the relative height 

 attained by the tide at different places along the coast. This subject is a 

 familiar one and has no novelty. It was discussed by Prof. J. E. Hilgard 

 in a lecture delivered before the American Institute more than seventeen 

 years ago, in which he sets forth the only important facts connected with 

 the tidal wave contained in the paper before us." 



As this quotation creates the impression that I claim originality for 

 these statements of facts, long well known, I must respectfully refer to 

 the only claims whicli I have made specifically in the paper submitted to 

 the Board for examination (see pages 20, 21 of pamphlet on "The Physi- 

 cal Phenomena of Harbor Entrances"), from which it will appear that 

 no such claims were made. I have also referred in that paper to the 

 United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Reports and other documents, 

 as containing the data upon which my "theory of improvement" is 

 based. In the reference to Prof. Hilgard's paper upon the tides, what he 

 says is this : " Where a bay or indentation of the coast presents itself. 



