TANGIER HARBOR, VIRGINIA.

SIR : I have the honor to transmit herewith, in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, a letter from the Chief of Engineers dated the 14th instant, inclosing a copy of a report of Maj. W. F. Smith, Corps of Engineers, Retired, United States Agent, dated the 9th instant, upon the preliminary examination of Tangier Harbor, Virginia.

It is the opinion of Major Smith, concurred in by Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, and the Chief of Engineers, that this locality is not worthy of improvement by the Government.

Very respectfully,

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OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, .D. C., January 14, 1891.

SIR : I have the honor to submit the accompanying copy of report dated January 9, 1891, from Wm. F. Smith, United States Agent, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army, Retired, giving results of preliminary examination of Tangier Harbor, Virginia, made to comply with provisions of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890.

In view of the facts given in the report of his assistant, Major Smith does not consider Tangier Harbor worthy of improvement by the general Government. This opinion meets with the approval of the Division Engineer, Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, and is concurred in by this office.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. LINCOLN CASEY, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers.

HON. REDFIELD PROCTOR,
Secretary of War.

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PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF TANGIER HARBOR, VIRGINIA.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Wilmington, Del., January 9, 1891.

GENERAL : In compliance with instructions in Department letter of September 20, 1890, and the requirements of the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Tangier Harbor, Virginia, made under my direction by Mr. A. Stierle, Assistant Engineer, a copy of whose report is herewith inclosed.

In view of the facts given in the report of the assistant, I do not consider Tangier Harbor, Virginia, worthy of improvement by the general Government.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. F. SMITH,
United States Agent.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY,
Chief of Engineers, U.S.A.

(Through Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division.)

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[First indorsement.]

U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE,
Baltimore, Md., January 10, 1891,

Respectfully submitted to the Chief of Engineers.

Because of the facts and reasons set forth in the report of the local engineers and from my own knowledge of the locality, it is my opinion, having in view both the present and prospective demands of commerce, that Tangier Harbor, Virginia, is not worthy of improvement by the United States.

WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Colonel, Corps of Engineers.

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REPORT OF MR. A. STIERLE, ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Wilmington, Del., January 7, 1891.

SIR: In compliance with your instructions I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Tangier Harbor, Virginia.

Tangier Harbor is a natural cove or indentation in the shore, on the east side and near the southern extremity of Tangier Island.

Tangier Island is the most southerly one of a chain of islands in the Chesapeake Bay, which extend in an almost due southerly direction from Bishop's Head Point, in Dorchester County, eastern shore of Maryland, and which form the dividing line between Tangier Sound
and the main channel of the bay.

The island is in the State of Virginia and is a low alluvial formation, with a general elevation not more than 2 feet above high water, through which innumerable small channels and drains run in every direction. The shore line on the west side is fairly straight and is about 4 1/2 miles in length; on the east side it is very much serrated, giving the island a triangular shape, with the greatest width about 2 miles at the apex, the west shore forming the long side of the triangle. Its area may be about 3 square miles. From the southern point extends a long and very narrow hook in a southeasterly direction, which finally returns upon itself and thus forms a natural harbor, sheltered from the north around by west to south. This harbor is also known as Cod Harbor. It is an excellent harbor of refuge for the oyster and fishing boats plying upon Tangier Sound, with good holding ground for anchors and an average depth of water of 10 feet.

The island is inhabited by about 800 people, who live principally by fishing and oystering. A very small area of the land is fit for cultivation, the main portion being marsh. There is also one school house and a church, besides six stores. About in the center of Tangier Harbor stand, upon an isolated wooden pier, a few frame buildings, originally erected for a so-called fish factory, where large catches of menhaden are boiled down during the summer season for the purpose of extracting the oil. This factory was built about fourteen years ago. A small store was subsequently added to these buildings, and, for the last four years, the Eastern Shore Steamboat Company have made this pier a landing place, stopping twice per week on their route between Baltimore and Snow Hill, Md. Communication between the island and this pier is maintained in small boats, like it is everywhere else over the island. A horse was landed here some time ago and was looked upon as a great curiosity.

I have been informed that the people desire a channel dredged about 7 feet deep and 100 feet wide from the center of the harbor towards the shore to give them better facilities for landing. The present landing at the isolated pier is nearly one-half of a mile from the shore and is difficult of access in rough weather. The proposed cut would obviate this difficulty and would locate the landing nearer the center of the island. There can be no doubt of the great convenience that would accrue to the inhabitants by such an arrangement, but there is at present no commerce except that absolutely necessary to supply the necessaries of life, and no increase is possible under any circumstances. The urgency of the improvement by the general Government is not apparent, and it is very doubtful, if the surrounding conditions are considered whether the improvements, if made as suggested, would be of lasting benefit to the community concerned. The cut certainly could not be a permanent one.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. STIERLE, Assistant Engineer.

General WM. F. SMITH
United States Agent.