BAR, JETTY, AND HARBOR. 27 



to time, and now, at this late day, when commerce has 

 entirely departed from our shores, the government 

 have at last commenced — what was almost the iden- 

 tical original plan — the building of a jetty " from," 

 as Mr. Sanford says, " just west of Brant Point, to 

 the bell-buoy, or into deep water ; and the work already 

 indicates that marvellous results will follow, although 

 too late for the people born in the last century." 



The whole credit of this last movement on the part 

 of the general government belongs entirely to Mr. 

 John W. Band ; he, in 1878, started a petition to which 

 he succeeded in getting the signatures of three hun- 

 dred persons, including the underwriters of New York, 

 Boston, and Philadelphia,* for an appropriation of 

 money to ''improve Nantucket Harbor," the peti- 

 tion having again in view the project of cutting 

 through the " Haulover." Upon the presentation of 

 the petition to Congress, a survey was ordered, and 

 Gen. G. K. Warren was appointed to make the sur- 

 vey, which he did in 1879. His report, however, did 

 not favor the project of a canal through the Haul- 

 over ; but he recommended the construction of a jetty 

 or jetties, the first to be constructed near the harbor 

 entrance on the west side, and if necessary, a second 

 one from Coatue. 



In reply to a communication asking for some facts 

 in relation to the harbor, bar, and jetty, Mr. Lawton, 



* David Thain, Esq., of Philadelphia, G. H. Folger, Esq., 

 and Capt. B. F. Brown, in Boston, and C. B. Swain, Esq., and 

 Capt. G. C. Allen, in New York, all took a deep interest in the 

 matter. 



