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Storm Warnings.-Day and night signals are displayed on a steel tower just east of the bridge crossing the canal at Port Arthur, and day signals are displayed at the Coast Guard Station in Sabine Pass. Hospitals. There is a United States Public Health Service Relief Station at Port Arthur and also one private hospital.

Small Boats Facilities.-Small boats can secure gasoline, oil, water, etc., just below the town on the Sabine-Neches Canal. Boats up to 40 feet long and 4 feet (1.2 m) draft can be hauled and minor repairs made at the small ways along this section of the canal. There is a mooring basin on the west side of the canal just above the highway bridge.

Pilotage, Anchorage, Quarantine, and other general information for points on the Sabine waterways, are given at the end of this section. The Port Series, volume No. 14, gives further detailed information regarding the port of Port Arthur. See page 4.

Taylor Bayou has a navigable depth of about 4 feet (1.2 m) for about 30 miles above the upper turning basin at West Port Arthur. There is some traffic on the bayou towing barges loaded with oil and rice. Two draw-bridges across the bayou immediately above the turning basin, the first a railroad and the second a highway bridge with horizontal clearances of 40 and 69 feet, respectively.

The Sabine-Neches Canal is a continuation of the Port Arthur Ship Canal above the mouth of Taylor Bayou. It parallels the shore of Sabine Lake back of a narrow strip of land to the mouth of the Neches River; beyond the Neches River it crosses a narrow neck of land through a half-mile cut and continues across the upper end of Sabine Lake to the mouth of the Sabine River. As far as the Neches River it has a depth of 32 feet (9.8 m) and a bottom width of 200 feet; beyond the Neches River it is 30 feet (9.1 m) deep and 125 feet wide on the bottom.

A bascule highway bridge crosses the canal at Port Arthur. This bridge has a clear horizontal opening of 200 feet and a vertical clearance of 20 feet (6.1 m) at high water. Five miles above the bridge there is an abandoned guard lock. The ship channel passes to the east of the lock. Sabine-Neches Canal Light 1 marks the point where the canal enters the Neches River from the south. That part of the canal crossing the upper end of Sabine Lake is marked on its north side by four lights spaced somewhat less than a mile apart.

During high-river stages on the Neches River, usually from January to the last of April, a vessel may encounter an athwartship current crossing the Neches River along the canal route, which may prove dangerous if not guarded against.

The following are extracts from the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War for the navigation of Port Arthur Ship Canal, the Sabine-Neches Canal, Taylor Bayou, and the turning basin at Port Arthur.

Navigation of canals, basins, and bayou.—Pilots and vessels, while in the canals, basins, and bayou, will be subject to all the rules and regulations of the United States relating to pilots and vessels on western rivers.

No boat of 10 tons gross tonnage or over, while in the canals or bayou, shall be raced with or crowded alongside of another boat, or moved at a greater rate of speed than 7 miles per hour, without regard to the velocity of the current or run of the tide.

In the basins, boats of 10 tons gross tonnage or over shall reduce their rate of speed to 4 miles per hour.

Boats, in navigating these canals, basins, or bayou, shall ordinarily keep to that side of the midchannel which lies on the starboard side of such vessel, and when meeting other boats will alter their course to starboard, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

Boats with tows or rafts, or any boat moving at a slow rate of speed, must permit boats moving in same direction and at a greater rate of speed to pass, and shall in no case attempt to cross the bow or crowd upon the course of the passing boat.

Sailing vessels and barges.—Sailing vessels of 100 gross tonnage or over shall not be permitted to sail up or down these canals, basins, or bayou. Not more than two (2) such vessels shall be towed through these canals, basins, or bayou by a towboat at the same time, and one of these shall be towed alongside the towboat and the other on a hawser not exceeding 500 feet long.

This rule shall also apply to the towing of barges of 100 tons gross tonnage or over through these canals, basins, or bayou, except that as many as four (4) such barges may be towed at one time through these canals, basins, and bayou when towed in the following described manner: Barge first behind towboat to be towed by a bridle line not exceeding 50 feet long, leading from opposite sides of bow of barge to towboat, and the following barges, not exceeding three, to be tied close up so that not more than 6 feet will intervene between any two barges.

All logs, sawed or hewn timber rafted into or through these canals shall be securely tied together by iron dogs and chains, each piece of the raft having at least one fastening and no part of the raft to exceed a width of 40 feet.

Anyone desiring to raft logs, hewn or square timber through these canals must first file written request and secure written permit from the United States Engineer Office at Port Arthur, Texas, for so doing.

Right-of-way.-United States dredges or other United States boats, and such contract dredges as may be employed from time to time by the United States in these canals, basins, and bayou, while they are at work therein shall have exclusive right-of-way over all vessels navigating such waters. All vessels in passing these dredges must exercise due caution by slowing down before reaching them and going by at a rate of speed less than 4 miles per hour.

Mooring boats, barges, etc.-No boats, barges, rafts, or other floating craft shall be anchored or tied up in these canals, basins, and bayou in such places or in such manner as to prevent or obstruct the passage of other boats, barges, rafts, or other floating craft.

No boats, barges, rafts, or other floating craft shall be anchored or tied up to the banks of these canals, basins, and bayou, or on the batture adjacent to same where they are liable to be carried into the canals, etc., by high tides, storms, floods, or otherwise for a greater period of time than 72 hours, unless such boats, etc., are engaged in receiving or discharging cargo.

Written requests for permission to moor boats, barges, rafts, or other floating craft in the basins or batture adjacent thereto for a period not to exceed 30 days may be granted by the engineer officer in charge or by his authorized representative, and boats, etc., so using the basin or batture must be securely moored by bow and stern lines to the places assigned to such boats, etc., and be promptly removed on due written notice being given. Owners of craft thus afforded mooring space must assume all risks of damage.

Refuse in the canals, basins, and bayou.-No ashes, cinders, slag, waste oil, refuse, or obstructive matter of any kind shall be dumped, cast out, or unloaded in these canals, basins, and bayou from or out of any ship, barge, or other floating craft, or from the shore, wharf, manufacturing establishment, or mill of any kind, nor shall such be deposited on the banks of these canals, etc., or in or on the banks of any tributary stream where the same shall be liable to be washed into these canals, etc., either by ordinary or high tides or by storms or floods.

Certain statistical information is required regarding ship and cargo passing through the canal or any portion of it. This information is to be furnished the United States Engineer Office at Port Arthur, Tex.

NECHES RIVER AND BEAUMONT

Neches River, emptying into Sabine Lake from the northwestward has an improved channel, 32 feet (9.8 m) deep for 1811⁄2 miles to

Beaumont. This channel has a bottom width of 200 feet, both in the open river and through the cuts. During high-river stages, usually from January to the last of April, the depths are several feet greater. During such periods of high water, a vessel may encounter an athwartship current in crossing the Neches River along the canal route, which may prove dangerous if not guarded against. The turning basin at Beaumont is 500 feet wide and 1,500 feet long. The improved section of the river is well marked by lights and buoys.

Three drawbridges (described under Beaumont) cross the river at Beaumont above the improved channel. The highway bridge at Port Arthur is the only bridge between Beaumont and the Gulf. There is an overhead wire crossing near Mansfield Ferry with a vertical clearance of 192 feet (58.5 m) above mean low water.

There are numerous pipe lines and cables crossing the river below Beaumont; these are indicated by warning signs on the river banks. Above Beaumont, a depth of perhaps 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried for about 30 miles up the Neches River, but for several years past (1935) there has been no commerce on this section of the river and there are probably many snags.

Port Neches, on the Neches River 6 miles above Sabine Lake, is an important oil refining center. There are two oil handling terminals with a total berthing space for five ships. One terminal has a transit shed (312 feet by 96 feet) with rail connections for handling general cargo. Considerable petroleum products, asphalt and roofing material are shipped from here. It has railroad communication and an improved highway to Port Arthur and Beaumont.

Beaumont (population 57,732 by the 1930 census), on the Neches River 1812 miles above Sabine Lake and 43 miles from the Gulf, is the largest city in eastern Texas. There are numerous railroads and improved highways radiating from the city and connecting with all parts of the country. A number of steamship companies maintain more or less regular freight service out of Beaumont to both coastwise and foreign ports and the petroleum industry owns or charters and operates a large fleet of tankers to distribute their products to all parts of the world.

The principal commerce is in petroleum and petroleum products. Other commodities of commerce include lumber, rice, cotton, flour, and iron and steel products.

A depth of 31 feet (9.5 m) can be carried to the port of Beaumont from the Gulf. The only bridge below Beaumont is the highway bridge at Port Arthur. There are two railroad drawbridges opposite the city and above the improved channel, and a highway drawbridge about 1/2 miles further up the river. The railroad bridges have horizontal clearances of 96 feet and 103 feet respectively and the highway bridge has a horizontal clearance of 90 feet. The minimum vertical clearance is 11 feet (3.4 m) above high water at the first railroad bridge.

Terminal Facilities. The principal terminal development is the municipal wharves and warehouses on the south side of the city, on the protruding point just north of the turning basin. Practically all the general shipping of the port is handled at this terminal. The wharves extend along both sides of the point and have a total berthing space of 2,900 feet. There are 8 transit sheds with a total floor

space of over 154,000 square feet. There are highway connections to the wharves, and railroad tracks extend along the face of the wharves and behind the transit sheds. There is some mechanical equipment for handling cargo. The Superintendent of Docks has an office at the terminal; the office of the Port Director is in Beaumont.

There are ten extensive petroleum handling terminals along the Neches River below Beaumont; the larger ones are the Magnolia Petroleum Corporation plant 1 mile below the turning basin with a wharf frontage of 1,531 feet and the Yount Lee Oil Co. plant 5 miles below Beaumont with 2,000 feet berthing space.

Towboats and seagoing tugs are available at Beaumont.

Supplies and Repairs.-There are numerous stores in Beaumont for securing provisions and general supplies. Some ship chandlery supplies are available.

Fresh water of good quality can be secured alongside the municipal wharves and also at most of the wharves along the river. Bunker oil can be secured at four of the oil terminals along the river; the maximum rate is 7,000 barrels per hour. There are no coal bunkering facilities.

The Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., located on the west side of the river above the railroad bridges, has a marine railway with a lifting power of 2,500 tons capable of handling vessels up to 345 feet long and 17 feet (5.2 m) draft. This yard is equipped to handle practically any repair work on wood or steel vessels; its equipment includes a derrick barge of 100-ton capacity.

The Beaumont Iron Works is a well-equipped plant capable of handling any kind of foundry or machine work.

Radio. The Magnolia Radio Co. handle a general commercial business. The call letters are WOD.

Small Boat Facilities.-There are small boat landings in the bend below the turning basin and along the river above the railroad bidges. A boat yard at the mouth of Brakes Bayou has three marine ways and can handle vessels up to 130 feet long and 10 feet (3.0 m) draft. Gasoline, oil, and water can be secured along the water front.

Hospitals. The nearest facility of the United States Public Health Service is the relief station at Port Arthur. There are two local hospitals.

Pilotage, Anchorage, Quarantine and other general information for points on the Sabine waterways are given at the end of this section. The Port Series, volume No. 14, gives further detailed information regarding the port of Beaumont. (See p. 4.)

Pine Island Bayou, emptying into the Neches River about 9 miles above Beaumont has a navigable depth of about 8 feet (2.4 m) for a distance of about 10 miles to the pumping plant of the Neches Water Co. Transporting fuel oil to this plant is about the only commerce on the bayou.

SABINE RIVER AND ORANGE

Sabine River, emptying into Sabine Lake from northward, has an improved channel with a depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) and a bottom width of 125 feet from the Sabine-Neches Canal for 6 miles to the Orange municipal slip, 11⁄2 miles below Orange and thence a depth

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of 25 feet (7.6 m) to the turning basin at Orange. A draft of perhaps 10 feet (3.0 m) can be carried for 10 to 15 miles above Orange, but for several years past (1935) there has been no commerce and there are probably snags in the upper river. A highway bridge with a 125-foot swing span crosses the river just above the town and at Echo, about 12 miles above Orange, there is a railroad drawbridge with 96 feet horizontal clearance. The river below Orange is well marked by lights and buoys.

Cow Bayou, emptying into Sabine River 4 miles above Sabine Lake, is a crooked stream navigable for a draft of 42 feet (1.3 m) for 22 miles. A highway drawbridge crosses the bayou 10 miles above the mouth. There are oil fields a few miles above the bridge. Orange (population 7,913 by the 1930 census) is a city of some commercial importance, 8 miles above Sabine Lake and 36 miles from the Gulf. Its principal commerce is in lumber and its products. A depth of 30 feet (9.1 m) can be carried from the Gulf to the municipal wharf and a depth of 25 feet (7.6 m) for 2 miles further up the river to the turning basin which is 500 feet wide by 1,500 feet long. The highway bridge at Port Arthur is the only bridge between Orange and the Gulf. The city is located on the main coast highway between Lake Charles and Beaumont and on two trunk railway systems. The large saw mills formerly operating on the river below the city are now (1935) closed.

A municipal terminal is located on a slip 2 miles below the city. There is a wharf 1,504 feet long and two transit sheds with a total floor area of 72,000 square feet. The wharf has railway and highway connections. The harbor master has an office on the wharf.

Along the river front of the city, there are several smaller wharves, some used for handling lumber and others for river and harbor craft. Towboats are available at Orange.

Supplies and Repairs.-Provisions and some marine hardware are available. Fresh water of good quality can be secured either at the municipal wharf or along the river front in town. There are no fuel bunkering facilities.

Small boats can secure gasoline, oil, water, and provisions at wharves in Orange.

There are two marine repair yards at Orange with facilities for building, hauling, and repairing moderate sized vessels. The larger yard can haul vessels of 1,800 tons up to 235 feet long and 15 feet (4.6 m) draft aft but the forward draft is restricted by the pitch of the ways (three-fourths inch to 1 foot).

Storm Warnings.-Day storm warning signals are displayed on the waterfront.

Hospitals. The nearest facility of the United States Public Health Service is a relief station at Port Arthur. There is a local hospital. Pilotage, Anchorage, Quarantine, and other general information for points on the Sabine Waterways are given at the end of this section. The Port Series, volume No. 14, gives further detailed information regarding the port of Orange. (See p. 4.)

LAKE CHARLES CANAL, CALCASIEU RIVER, AND LAKE CHARLES Lake Charles Canal (chart 592).-This canal is a link in the series of deep waterways connecting the city of Lake Charles with the Gulf of Mexico at Sabine Pass. The route has a controlling depth