1899.] HAUPT — REACTION BREAKWATER AT ARANSAS PASS. 139 



the channel and intersecting that portion of the curved reaction 

 breakwater then in place about its middle point (see Fig. 2). It 

 thus acted as a submerged mat or retaining wall to prevent further 

 scour, and as the breakwater subsequently rose, by the deposition 

 of rock, to a plane three feet above the surface a perfect cul de sac 

 was formed for the accumulation of sand. The Harbor Company 

 was strenuously urged to remove the obstructing jetty, the existence 

 of which was not suspected, as soon as discovered, but as it had 

 made no provision for this unexpected work either financially or in 

 the contract it was not removed. In consequence a shoal formed 

 reaching to within six and one-half feet of the surface. 



The Goodyear Contract and Suspension of Work, May, 

 1897. — This so discouraged the Harbor Company that it was willing 

 to enter into a contract, dated September 12, 1896, with Col. C. P. 

 Goodyear, of Georgia, to complete the entire work and furnish the 

 capital as per an amended agreement dated March 11, 1897. Under 

 these contracts Col. Goodyear exploded 23,350 pounds of dynamite 

 on the old Government jetty and channel between December 18, 

 1896, and May, 1897, by which he blasted out about 500 feet of the 

 old jetty, thus opening a small breach through which the currents 

 could partially escape seaward, but, being unable to secure the pay- 

 ments, which he had every reason to expect, for work done elsewhere, 

 from the Government, he was obliged to surrender this contract, 

 and since that date. May, 1897, absolutely nothing has been done 

 to create a channel. In fact, so discouraged were the residents of 

 southwestern Texas, as well as the company, that it was decided to 

 request the Government to appoint a Board of Engineers to appraise 

 the work done with a view to its reconveyance to its jurisdiction. 

 Such a Board was appointed by the Honorable Secretary of War 

 June 22, 1897, and submitted its report November 22 of the same 

 year, or only about six months after the work of blasting was sus- 

 pended, yet it reveals some interesting features to which attention 

 is briefly directed. 



Report of the Board U. S. Engineers of 1897. — It states 

 that between October 30 and November t8 there was *' only part of 

 one day that satisfactory soundings could be taken on account of 

 the roughness of the water," ^ and that this examination gave a depth 

 of eight and one-half feet. The map accompanying this report, 



^ Vide, p. 3, Doc. 137, H. R., 55th Cong., 2d Session. 



