146 HAUPT — REACTION BREAKWATER AT ARANSAS PASS. [Oct. 6, 



this record is brief, for as yet nothing has been done on the work of 

 removing the obstructing jetty. The act was passed at the close of 

 the last session of Congress, March 4, and after careful and intelli- 

 gent consideration the Government Engineer of the district, Col. C. 

 S. Riche, son of Prof. George I. Riche, late member of this Society, 

 recommended the letting of the work under the appropriation and 

 provisions as made by Congress. It was authorized July 11, and 

 advertised on September 25 for thirty days, when the bids are to be 

 opened, which brings the chronology of events up to the 30th inst. 

 Additional time will be consumed before the preliminaries are com- 

 plied with. If there be no bidders, the work must be readver- 

 tised. In such case no contractor can transfer a plant to the site 

 much before the winter storms begin which involve serious loss of 

 time and increased cost for the Government, or loss to the con- 

 tractor. Even after the removal of the old jetty time will be required 

 for the currents to adjust themselves to the new regimen and de- 

 monstrate their ability to enlarge the channel. These delays there- 

 fore will doubtless retard greatly the development of the channel at 

 this important entrance on the West Gulf coast. 



The Progressive Deepening Produced by the Breakwater 

 Without Dredging or Other Aid. — In conclusion it remains only 

 to state that this half completed, single breakwater has so far con- 

 trolled the ebb currents as to have removed from the channel by 

 their own energy some 400,000 cubic yards of compact, sandy ma- 

 terial, and to have produced a progressive improvement of depths, 

 as follows: 



FEEr. 



August 28, 1896. After suspension of work on break- 

 water by company 6.0 



December 10, 1896. Before old jetty was breached the 



depth was 6.^ 



February 2, 1897. During use of dynamite 8.0 



June 8, 1897. After work was suspended 8. 75 



November 5, 1897. Without further aid from any source. 9.25 

 February 5, 1898. An examination with lead line gave. . 10. o 



June 15, 1898. Pilots reported ii.o 



August 29, 1898. Pilots reported 12.0 



and added, "The S. E. wind this summer did not fill 

 it up as it usually does." 



