Time.

Simultaneous tidal observations, June 21, 1876, Cape Fear River, North Carolina.
The zeros of each gauge are approximately at the same level.

REMARKS.-Weather clear, light northwest wind a. m.; moderate southwest wind all p. m.

Time.

Simultaneous tidal observations, Cape Fear River, North Carolina, June 22, 1876.

REMARKS.-Weather clear: light northwest wind a. m. and light southwest p. m. The station at Snow's Marsh is at the northerly sluice. The station at Zeke's Island is at the old works, about 400 feet from Woodbury wharf.

Time.

Simultaneous tidal observations, June 23, 1876, Cape Fear River, North Carolina.

REMARKS.--Clear weather; calm moderate southwest breeze p. m. Observations are recorded in feet and hundredths above and below the zero of the several gauges.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CAPE FEAR RIVER BELOW THE CITY OF WILMINGTON, N. C.

BALTIMORE, MD., July 1, 1876.

SIR: The mouth of the Cape Fear River at one time formed one of the finest entrances on the South Atlantic Coast. As a harbor of refuge, it was and still is, for a certain class of vessels, of great importance. Located, as it is, on a portion of the coast which is subject to severe gales, it is the only harbor accessible to deep-draught vessels between the ports of Beaufort, N. C., and Charleston, S. C.

The Cape Fear River and its principal tributaries flow through a section of country abounding in iron, copper, and other metals, and large deposits of bituminous coal of superior quality are found. The immense forests of pine furnish an almost inexhaustible quantity of excellent timber and naval stores; the latter form the principal articles of export, and are always in demand from all quarters of the world.

The advantages of the Cape Fear as a site for a proposed naval coaling-station have often been mentioned.

The attention of settlers was drawn to this region at an early day. The first settlement was made about the year 1660, by a band of emigrants from New England. They settled at a point on the western bank of the river, about 9 miles below the site of the city of Wilmington. The country did not realize their expectations, and, after suffering great distress and being harassed by Indians, they abandoned the settlement and returned to New England. The next attempt at a settlement on the Cape Fear also proved a failure, although it was not as short-lived as the first colony, and at one