The state board of harbor commissioners annual report, just issued, has the following regarding contemplated work at Lake Anthony opening:

 

By chapter 441 of the acts of 1898 the commissioners were directed to make a survey of Lake Anthony, in the town of Cottage City, and to cut a channel between the lake and Vineyard sound of such character and dimensions as will afford a safe and convenient passage for boats and vessels of not more than five feet draft, and, if necessary, to cause the lake to be dredged and deepened, in order that it may be used as a boat harbor.

 

Lake Anthony is a body of water with an area of about 35 acres at high tide, situated in the town of Cottage City. It is connected with Vineyard sound by a narrow outlet, almost completely choked with sand which has been driven into it by the sea. At its southern end it is separated from the sound by a hill of glacial drift, which slopes to the north into a low sand beach, over which the sea breaks into the lake in times of heavy storms, carrying the sand, which has caused the northern end to be gradually filled. At its southern end also there is an area of about 14 acres, which has a depth of over five feet at mean low water, and it is between this area of deep water and the sound that it is proposed to make the cut to enable the boats and vessels to pass in and out of the lake. At this place the distance across between the high water mark of the sound and the lake is about 125 feet, and the depth of five feet in the lake approaches quite near the high water line.

 

Plans and specifications were prepared, providing for an opening 100 feet in width and 5 feet in depth in mean low water, the sides to be protected by pile and timber jetties; and the work was advertised June 24, 1898. Bids were received on July 7, but they exceeded the amount available for doing the work, and thereupon were rejected.

 

The shore of the sound at this spot is exposed directly to the northeasterly storms, which beat very heavily; and the experience of the board with the jetties at Menemsha convinces us that something more substantial than pile and timber jetties will have to be provided to successfully resist their action. The area of deep water in the harbor should be enlarged, and this will require dredging to be done.

 

This is especially necessary from a sanitary standpoint, as the pond at times is very offensive, owing probably to causes which are increased by a large area of shoal water. Cottage City has a summer population of about 20,000 and is far and away the largest summer colony on the seashore of the commonwealth. To enable this undertaking to be carried out in a proper manner a further appropriation should be made.