THE HIGH TIDES.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

THE HIGH TIDES.

(To the Editor of the Westport Times.) Sir, The serious calamity now coming upon Westport by the encroachment of the sea surely calls for action, and Erasures within the power of man should he taken even if success is only problematical. The do-no-thing policy is suicidal. I will just point out and urge my oft repeated statements, that there is a cause for this encroachment, that this is no freak of nature but the following of fixed laws, discoverable by man if due attention is only given to effects, and tracing back to first causes.

There was a time when the beach made up on the north side of the river, at that time the course of the river was more direct (all the north beach is silt from the river, made up by steady continuous action), now no silt is deposited on the north side, but all taken to the South Spit and bar formation.

That the first cause is obstruction by snags up the river on the south side, allowed to remain, and tho force of the current not sufficient to remove them, they therefore turn the river at right angles with double force against tho north bank, and consequently cut it away and deepen the channel, while the south sido banks up, also a consequence of tho obstruction, both these causes affect the outlet by cutting into

a bank that it has not sufficient force to master until immense damage is dono by the supply of silt necessary to prevent sea encroachment being stopped by the course of the river diverted at this particular point carrying the silt to the South Spit My remedy is first to assist nature by cutting through this bank and thus make a better entrance, a deeper channel, and a de. positing of silt on the north beach, and preventing the sea making a channel near the cometry, which would cause the destruction of the bonds and all up to the National Hotel. Then the removal of all snags, which would relieve at all events the pressure of water on the north bank of the river, &c , &c. The length of a letter to detail matters would be too great an encroachment on your time, I will only remark I have heard of no arguments consistent with facts brought against my proposal, and such is the desperate condition of Westport, total ruin staring us in the face (and we cannot inhabit a swamp), that the extremity of the case demands that the trial be made; it would not make matters worse, and deliverance hopeful. Again, the cost would be comparatively insignificant, only a few hundreds. I leave the matter in your hands to deal with, you can gather doubtless sufficent from these remarks to forcibly and emphatically appeal to the common sense of this community and lead them.to action, when my voice or my pen would have no avail. —I am, Mr Editor, yours truly, J. E. Feaseb. Westport, May 16.