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directed in a proper line, instead of causing a diminution of the depth fairly swept the remaings of the bar on to the south bank and into deep water. From that time to the present the depth has never been less than 1612 feet, and frequently as much as 1712 feet.”[1]
In conclusion Mr. Brunton said that there could be no reason why similar results should not follow the erection of properly executed Piers at Niigata.
In reply to a question from the Chairman, Mr. Brunton said that two years ago he had estimated the cost of such works as he had described at about $800,000.
Mr. Brent made a few remarks regarding the communication between Niigata and Nagaoka and said that a native company had already started a small steamer, drawing only 112 feet of water, to run between those places up the Shinanogawa, and he thought they intended to put a second boat on the same river shortly.
In reply to a question from the Chairman, Mr. Boyle remarked that it did not appear why the post did not use the road down the valley of the Shinanogawa to Niigata, instead of the road along the coast, but he had been informed by the local authorities that arrangements were being made for the post to follow the valley route.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Brunton for the very interesting statement he had given the Meeting. The history of the bar showed that it was of comparatively recent growth. It appeared that as late as 1820 the Shinanogawa received near to its mouth the waters of the Aganogawa, and it was said that the depth of the entrance was then twenty or twenty-five feet. But in order, as it was supposed, to improve the drainage of the plain and to check inundation the channel of the Aganogawa was diverted and conducted into the sea by its present mouth which opens a few miles above the mouth of the Shinanogawa. The waters of the former were thus lost to the latter, the force of the stream was checked just at the point where it was most necessary to preserve it and consequently the growth of the present bar rapidly increased. The desired object was not attained for the obvious reason that as the mouth of the river contracted in depth it could not carry off the same volume of water as before, and the people were again troubled with inundations. Unmindful however of the warning afforded by the opening of the Aganogawa, north of Niigata, the Japanese had lately sought to repeat the mistake by opening a cutting from the Shinanogawa into the sea at Teradomari, about 26 miles south of Niigata. Fortunately this cutting had not been completed and the work upon it was now stopped. Were it allowed to be carried out it would complete the ruin of Niigata, as the mouth of the Shinanogawa would probably in that case be soon entirely closed. What was required was that the Shinanogawa should carry off all its- ↑ From Sir C. Hartley’s paper on the Delta of the Danube, read before the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.
