63D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (DOCUMENT 1st Session. MILFORD HARBOR, CONN. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF MILFORD HARBOR, CONN. SEPTEMBER 11, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 10, 1913. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated September 8th, instant, together with copies of reports, with map, from Maj. G. B. Pillsbury, Corps of Engineers, dated November 9, 1912, and August 14, 1913, on a preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of Milford Harbor, Conn., made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved July 25, 1912. Very respectfully, HENRY BRECKINRIDGE, Acting Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, From: The Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. 1. There are submitted herewith for transmission to Congress reports dated November 9, 1912, and August 14, 1913, with map, by Maj. G. B. Pillsbury, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of Milford Harbor, Conn., authorized by the river and harbor act approved July 25, 1912. 2. Milford Harbor is located on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 8 miles southwest of New Haven Harbor, Conn. The present project for improvement of Milford Harbor, adopted in 1902, provides for a channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep across the bar and through the lower harbor to Merwins Wharf, with an anchorage basin of the same depth and of about 5 acres in area on the east side of the channel, and a channel through the upper harbor from Merwins Wharf to the straw works wharf 90 feet wide and 6 feet deep. Some rock has been encountered, which has prevented the completion of portions of this project. For this reason, and in order to secure a more efficient improvement, the district officer recommends that the project be modified to provide for a channel 10 feet deep and 100 feet wide to Merwins Wharf, thence 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide, increased in width at the ends and at the head, to a point 150 feet above the town wharf, with two anchorage basins, one about 2.3 acres in area and 10 feet deep on the east side of the head of the 10-foot channel, and the other 4 acres in area and 6 feet deep on the west side of the entrance to the 6-foot channel. The estimated cost of the proposed work is $14,700. There is now a balance of $8,040.86 available for maintenance and improvement of the harbor under the present project, and an estimate of $6,700 is submitted for completion of the work now proposed. The division engineer concurs in the views and recommendations of the district officer. 3. These reports have been referred, as required by law, to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to its accompanying report of August 26, 1913, concurring in the views expressed by the district officer and the division engineer. 4. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports I concur with the views of the district officer, the division engineer, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors that the improvement by the United States of Milford Harbor, Conn., is deemed advisable so far as to modify the project to the extent specified above, at an estimated cost of $14,700 for first construction and $3,000 every four years for maintenance, these estimates being based on the supposition that the construction work will, as now seems desirable and advantageous, be prosecuted under a first appropriation of $6,700, being the amount required in addition to funds on hand to complete the improvement. WM. T. ROSSELL, Chief of Engineers, United States Ármy. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS ON SURVEY. [Third indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, August 26, 1913. To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY: 1. This is a report of survey of Milford Harbor, Conn. The existing project for this harbor, adopted by the act of June 13, 1902, provides for an entrance channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep to Merwins Wharf, an anchorage basin of the same depth and about 5 acres in extent on the east side of the channel, and a channel from Merwins Wharf to the straw works wharf 90 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The 10-foot entrance channel has been completed. The 6-foot channel has been completed to a point about 500 feet above the town dock. A portion of the anchorage basin on the east side of the channel and a small basin on the west side, which was constructed as a substitute for the full-sized basin on the east side, found necessary on account of ledge rock in the latter, have been dredged to a depth of 10 feet. It was not found practicable within justifiable limits of cost to carry the channel to the strawworks wharf on account of rock. The mean range of tide is about 6.2 feet. 2. The commerce of Milford is divided into two parts-that which pertains to the vicinity of Merwins Wharf, amounting to about 28,700 tons, and that which is carried up to the town dock, amounting to about 5,600 tons. 3. The improvement locally desired is the provision of a turning basin at the head of the present channel near the town dock and the enlargement of the anchorage basin near the mouth of the river. The present anchorage area is used by a considerable number of small craft and by oyster boats transferring cargo, and is at times congested. 4. A complete survey of the harbor has been made by the district. officer, and his study in connection therewith leads him to the conclusion that a modification of the existing project rather than an extension thereof is needed and is advisable. He finds that the outer channel depth of 10 feet is sufficient and also the river-channel depth of 6 feet, but the width of the latter, 90 feet, is not adequate. The anchorage on the east side of the channel, 10 feet deep, which covers an area of about 2 acres, is regarded as sufficient for the larger vessels using the harbor. It appears, however, that there should be a moderate increase in the anchorage on the west side of the channel, but that a depth of 6 feet for this portion will suffice. He believes that the river channel should be given a width of 100 feet, increased at the bends and at the head of the channel. He states that there is no present or prospective commercial development that gives promise of using the channel above the town dock, and he recommends the abandonment of that portion of the channel that lies more than 150 feet above this dock. He therefore presents a project in accordance with the above, estimated to cost $14,700 and $3,000 every four years for maintenance. The district officer states there is now an available balance of about $8,000, and an estimate of $6,700 for completion of the modified project is submitted. The division engineer concurs in the views of the district officer. 5. From the facts presented, it appears that it is advisable to modify the existing project for this locality, and that the plan proposed by the district officer will meet the requirements of commerce and navigation. The cost involved is not large and appears to be justified by prospective benefits. The board therefore reports that in its opinion it is advisable to modify the existing project so as to provide for a channel 10 feet deep and 100 feet wide to Merwins Wharf, thence 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide, increased in width at the bends and at the head, to a point 150 feet above the town dock, with two anchorage basins one about 2.3 acres in area and 10 feet deep on the east side of the head of the 10-foot channel; the other 4 acres in extent and 6 feet deep on the west side of the entrance to the 6-foot channel-as shown on the accompanying map, at an estimated cost of $14,700, or $6,700 in addition to the funds on hand. The maintenance of the channel is estimated at about $3,000 for every four years. The amount required in excess of available funds, $6,700, should be made available in one appropriation. 6. In compliance with law, the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, water power, or other subjects so related to the project proposed that they may be coordinated therewith to lessen the cost and compensate the Government for expenditures made in the interests of navigation. For the board: FREDERIC V. ABBOT, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF MILFORD HARBOR, CONN. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New London, Conn., November 9, 1912. From: The District Engineer Officer. To: The hief of Engineers, United States Army (Through the Division Engineer). Subject: Preliminary examination of Milford Harbor, Conn. 1. The following report on the preliminary examination of Milford Harbor, Conn., is submitted in accordance with the requirements of the act of Congress approved July 25, 1912. 2. Milford Harbor lies on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 8 miles to the southwestward of the entrance to New Haven Harbor. It consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which a small tidal stream extends nearly a mile inland to the town of Milford, at the head of navigation. 3. The original depth on the bar in the bay at the mouth of the river was less than 2 feet, and in parts of the river the channel ran nearly bare. The improvement of the harbor by the General Government was commenced under a project adopted by the act of June 23, 1874, which provided for a breakwater, shore protection, and dredging. The project was modified and extended in 1878 and 1879 and 1882, and completed in 1891, with the exception of the breakwater, which was deemed unnecessary in view of the provision for a harbor of refuge at New Haven. The act of June 13, 1902, authorized the present project for the improvement of the harbor, which consists in dredging and maintaining a channel across the bar and through the lower harbor, 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep to Merwins Wharf, with an anchorage basin of the same depth and of about 5 acres area, on the east side of the channel, between long dike and the harbor line; and a channel through the upper harbor, from Merwins Wharf to the straw works wharf, 90 feet wide and 6 feet deep. The original estimate for this project was $15,000, but the first cost of the improvement was subsequently ascertained to be $25,000. Under this project, the 10-foot channel has been completed to full project dimensions; the 6-foot channel has been completed to full project dimensions to a point about 500 feet above the town |