156 Timehri. 



It is further proposed that along the east side of this training jetty 

 the bottom should be dredged to 20 feet at low water, over a width of 

 250 feet, as this is believed to be a depth practically sufficient for the 

 port. The ruling depth of the Suez canal is 25 feet, and 30 feet in the 

 harbours. 



The new canal of Amsterdam is of about the same capacity, but 

 here the greater depth could only be gained at an increase of cost which 

 the circumstances would not warrant. Xo second groyne is thought 

 necessary, as it is believed that with one training dam the scour will be 

 sufficient to keep the depth, aided by occasional dredging, and as a 

 narrower channel would interfere with smaller craft beating out. The 

 total length of this dam will be about 11 miles, but if constructed of 

 branch mattresses in the manner as now executed in the Mississippi 

 mouth and at Charleston, the abundance of that material in this Colony, 

 leads to expect that the work might be done for a possible sum. 



By utilizing the dredging of the channel, and building deep mattresses 

 with pockets or gang boards, to be tilled with this mud, two berme 

 dikes with their top to low water can be laid, between which again other 

 dredging material can be deposited, and the whole covered again by hand 

 laid fascine work till the height of two feet above mean high water of 

 spring tide be reached. The slopes of 1| to 1 must also be covered by 

 rubble. By this mode of procedure it is believed pile work may be 

 altogether dispensed with, relying only on dead weight. Old hulks may 

 also with advantage be used. 



A refuge harbour at the head of tugs and pilot boats will be useful. 

 It may be advisable to begin at the sea end, so as to oppose the finished 

 end to the direction of the sea waves. In beginning from the shore, the 

 unfinished work being always opposed to the sea, would occasion much 

 loss of time and material. An opening may be left some where near the 

 West Bank to accommodate the Essequebo traffic wishing to enter the 

 river. The silting up on the west side will, however, be very rapid, and 

 therefore this opening will only be of temporary use. 



In the estimate hereto appended the work is approximately esti- 

 mated at S3, 000, 000. It is, however, possible that by a judicious selec- 

 tion of dredging plant, and a cheaper mode of fascine work than hitherto 

 usual, this amount may be diminished. The outlay may seem a large 

 one, but the importance of the object renders it imperative that it should 

 be considered. 



At present the entrance to the port is inadequate for the character 

 of the shipping frequenting it, and is tending to become worse. With a 

 depth at low water of 20 feet, the port of Georgetown will be the finest 

 in the West Indies. The largest merchant ships and steamers now afloat 

 will be able to enter, and should a greater depth in after times be found 

 necessary, nothing in the system herein projected will interfere with an 

 enlargement of the channel. 



