354 Subsidence along the Sea-coast of New Jersey, 



A tide mill on tlie sea-side, about two miles below Beeseley^s 

 Point, was attended by the same miller"^ for twenty-five years, ^ 

 and he informs me that he knows he lost four inches in the head 

 of water in that time, and may have lost more. 



From these several results — three of a subsidence of three feet 

 in one hundred and fifty years, one of two feet in one hundred 

 years, two of one foot in fifty years, and one of four inches and 

 one of eight inches in twenty-five years,— we may with some de- 

 gree of probability, set the average subsidence in the district 

 where the observations were made, at two feet in a century. 



With the exception of the statements of two pilots upon the 

 Earitan River I have nothing upon which to base any estimates 

 for the present rate of subsidence in the vicinity of New lork. 

 One of the pilots founds his conclusion upon observations made 

 upon the wharf at Washington, and he is confident there is eight 

 inches more of water there than there was twenty-five years ago. 

 The other draws his conclusions from the depth of water upon 

 the reef of rocks in the river below New Brunswick, and the 

 depth upon the middle ground near Amboy, and from the action 

 of ^the centre board of the vessel which always touches at these 

 points, he is satisfied that the water is deeper than it was thirty 

 years since; but bethinks not six inches deeper. The oppor- 

 tunities for accurate observation are much less frequent here than 

 in the southern part of New Jersey, but from the phenomena of 

 the marshes and of the submersred forests on Lons: Island and in 



northern New Jersey, I should infer that there was no material 

 difference in the rate from that already deduced. 



This paper is presented for the purpose of calling attention to 

 the remarkable and important phenomena of which it treats- 

 I purpose to continue the investigation, and shall be glad to 

 receive statements of facts bearing upon the subject ; either for 

 or against the conclusions to which I have arrived. Facts in 

 relation to the rate of subsidence are particularly desirable. I 

 have given all that have come to my knowledge, and they agree 

 singularly well with each other; but it is not unlikely that other 

 and more numerous observations may give a different result. 



New Brunswick, N. J., August, 1857. 



* Mr. Nicholas Godfrey, 



