Black Rock Harbor

From the Buffalo Patriot, May 30.

BLACK ROCK HARBOR

On Saturday evening last about 130 feet of the pier at Black Rock yielded to the pressure of the water, and the basin was in a few minutes reduced to within two feet of its natural level, and the depth of water in the canal was consequently reduced in the same proportion. But it is not expected that this disaster will interrupt the navigation of the canal between the Mountain ridge and Black Rock, as the deep cutting from that point to the river, will, in any event furnish the requisite amount of water for the passage of boats.

We have never participated in the controversies connected with the construction of the works at the Rock, neither have we at any time, had much confidence in their stability. We are not now disposed to rail at the Commissioners, because they have disagreed with us, or our neighbors, in opinion, nor is our confidence in their integrity impaired, because they have misapprehended the power of the elements, which threatened the security of the public works, if constructed on a principle which was evidently a favorite one with them.

We presume it will be no less, with the Commissioners, than with the people of the state generally, a subject of extreme regret, that so important a portion of the Canal, as that immediately connected with the Niagara river, should have been made to depend upon barriers, too feeble to resist the force of its current, or the pressure created, in extending the level of the Lake, upon a plan, which experience seems very fully to have demonstrated, is of precarious permanency.

In order to repair the breach in the pier, we are informed a temporary dam will be constructed at the foot of the rapids. The navigation of the canal to this place, will of course be, for a time suspended.

The current in the harbor is so strong, that the steam-boat Henry Clay, was with difficulty towed up, on Sunday, although assisted by steam and a fair wind.