1st Session. No. 250. NEW MEADOWS RIVER, ME. LETTER FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORTS ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF NEW MEADOWS RIVER, ME. OCTOBER 11, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 9, 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, of yesterday's date, together with copies of reports, with map, from Lieut. Col. W. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, dated April 26, 1911, and January 17, 1912, on a preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of New Meadows River, Me., made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved June 25, 1910. Very respectfully, Washington, October 8, 1913. From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army. Subject: Preliminary examination and survey of New Meadows 1. There are submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, reports dated April 26, 1911, and January 17, 1912, with map, by Lieut. Col. W. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of New Meadows River, Me., authorized by the river and harbor act approved June 25, 1910. 2. New Meadows River, an arm of the sea opening into Casco Bay about 20 miles east of Portland, Me., has never been improved by the General Government. The improvement desired was a depth of 8 feet for a width of 30 to 40 feet through a small ledge, which was supposed to extend across, or nearly across, the channel about one-half mile below the railroad bridge. Practically the same conditions were found to exist at the site of the old Bull Rock Bridge, about onefourth of a mile above, and the district officer estimates the cost of the desired improvement at both points for a width of 30 feet at $5,000, and $8,500 for a width of 40 feet. 3. As a result of the survey, however, it is found that the ledge does not extend clear across the channel and that a depth of 6 to 7 feet for a width of rather more than 30 feet already exists. The district officer is of the opinion that these facilities are sufficient to meet the present and immediately prospective needs of the locality, especially if the channel is properly marked, and this opinion is concurred in by the division engineer. 4. These reports have been referred, as required by law, to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to its report herewith, dated February 20, 1912, concurring in the opinion expressed by the district officer and the division engineer. 5. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports, I concur in general with the views of the district officer, the division engineer, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and, therefore, in carrying out the instructions of Congress, I report that the improvement by the United States of New Meadows River, Me., in the manner apparently desired by the interests concerned, as described in the reports herewith, is not deemed advisable at the present time. WM. T. ROSSELL, Chief of Engineers, United States Army. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS ON SURVEY. [Third indorsement.] THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, Washington, February 20, 1912. 1. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. 2. The improvement contemplated at this locality was a navigable channel about 8 feet in depth and 30 to 40 feet in width. The survey has developed an existing channel 6 to 7 feet in depth for a width somewhat greater than 30 feet, which if followed serves fairly well the demands of navigation. In view of these facts, the district officer reports that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government, and in this view the division engineer concurs. 3. One communication has been received in response to the district officer's notification of his unfavorable report, in which the writer states that he and others interested will take no exception to the unfavorable report. He inquires regarding the marking of the channel, and has been advised to take the matter up with the Bureau of Lighthouses. 4. In view of what precedes, the board concurs in the opinion that it is not advisable for the United States to enter upon the improvement of New Meadows River, Me., at this time. There are no questions of terminal facilities, water power, or other related subjects which may be so coordinated with the improvement suggested herein as to render it advisable in the interests of commerce and navigation. For the board: W. C. LANGFITT, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF NEW MEADOWS RIVER, ME. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: 1. I have the honor to submit the following report upon a preliminary examination of New Meadows River, Me., directed by the river and harbor act of June 25, 1910. 2. New Meadows River, an arm of the sea, opens into Casco Bay about 20 miles east of Portland. The river, so called, is about 12 miles long and for the lower 8 miles is at no place less than about one-third of a mile in width. At the mouth of the river the depth is great. It is deep throughout its lower section, about 25 feet at mean low tide being the shoalest depth. For the remainder of the distance up the stream the depth is less, though probably 13 feet is about the prevailing depth for the additional 2 miles up to the railroad bridge. Above the railroad bridge the stream is shoal and rocky. 3. About 10 miles above its mouth the stream is crossed by three bridges in close proximity, viz, bridge of the Maine Central Railroad Co., bridge of the electric railroad, and a highway bridge. This point is regarded as the head of practical navigation. The three bridges above referred to cross the river on a direct line between the cities of Bath (distant about 4 miles) and Brunswick (distant about 5 miles), both places of considerable importance, the population of Bath for 1900 being about 10,500, and Brunswick about 7,000. The Maine Central Railroad, the electric railroad above referred to, and the roads accommodated by the highway bridge afford means of communication to and between these two cities and other parts of the State. 4. The shores of the New Meadows River have become popular as a summer resort, and several hotels and a great number of private cottages have been built. This summer colony draws largely from the cities of Bath and Brunswick and also to a considerable extent from other sections of the State. The electric railroad, as well as the Maine Central Railroad, have stations at New Meadows River, and a line of large motor boats has been established plying from there down the river and even into the bay, accommodating a number of summer settlements, some even beyond the limits of New Meadows River. Aside from the line of power boats, which are from 30 to 50 feet in length, it is estimated that there are about 30 private boats. The locality is also a much favored excursion resort for boats running from Portland. It has been estimated that the New Meadows Steamboat Co. carries about 10,000 passengers per year. The number of yachts, aside from the business indicated above, which visit the place can not be estimated with any degree of accuracy. 5. I made a personal visit to the locality on the 21st instant and met, by appointment, Mr. H. C. Baxter, of Brunswick, who has been much interested in the condition of navigation on the New Meadows River, and from him and from others I have learned that what is desired is some improvement about one-half mile below the railroad bridge, where a small ledge makes across, or nearly across, the channel, so that the depth is reduced to about 3 feet at mean low tide or to about 1 to 2 feet at extreme low tide. 6. It does not appear that any work of improvement on this stream was ever done by the General Government, nor that it was ever examined with a view to improvement, though in 1828 a project was considered for connecting the waters of Merrymeeting Bay with those of Casco Bay, and one of the plans suggested contemplated the use of the New Meadows River as a part of the route, connection to be made with the waters of Merrymeeting Bay or Kennebec River by means of a short canal. 7. It was impracticable for me to determine precisely the extent or character of the ledge which it is desired shall be removed, but from such examination as I was able to make I judge it probable that the expense of removing at least a portion of the ledge-sufficient to meet the demands of those interested-would cost but a small sum, the expenditure of which will probably be fully justified by the resulting convenience to navigation. To determine this, however, with more accuracy and whether or not it may be made to serve if the ledge is simply marked, will require a survey. It is my opinion that the locality is worthy of improvement by the General Government, assuming, of course, that the cost will be small; but to determine this condition I recommend that a survey be authorized, the estimated cost of which is $150. 8. From the nature of the business indicated above, which consists almost entirely of passenger traffic, the establishment of terminal and transfer facilities is a matter carrying but little weight. Sufficient landings are provided and will continue to be provided for all the business presented. There are no wharves worthy of being called such in New Meadows River. The landing is mostly done by means of floats, which serve every purpose, and wharves will doubtless be built when the business develops to such an extent that they are needed. 9. There are no matters of water-power development or land reclamation to be considered in connection with this examination, nor any matters of such character which could be brought to enter into the project for improvement or to have any relation thereto. 10. As indicated above, this proposition is not one involving the movement of freight, therefore no statement of freight tonnage can be submitted, nor can any showing be made as to the actual benefit in dollars in such way as to afford a comparison with the probable cost. It is simply a matter of increasing the certainty and regularity of the movement of a large number of people back and forth from this summer resort, a number which has been increasing from year to year and which will undoubtedly continue to increase, as the locality is growing in favor and its success appears to be established. The only practicable transportation is by water. 11. A highway bridge which formerly crossed the river near the ledge above referred to was, in 1903, ordered by the War Department to be altered to accommodate the increasing traffic. The bridge went out of use in October, 1906. In January, 1909, plans for a reproduction of the old bridge were disapproved by the Secretary of War on the ground that they did not provide sufficiently for the accommodation of traffic on the river. Subsequently the bridge was located farther upstream, near the railroad bridge, and the obstructive piers of the old bridge were removed. Very respectfully, W. E. CRAIGHILL, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, 1. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. 2. The coast of Maine is visited annually by a very large number of people coming from all parts of the eastern United States for health and relaxation during the summer months, and the business caused by this custom forms a very important item in the assets of the State. The improvement of the minor waterways along this coast for the better accommodation of this travel is therefore a matter of more than local interest. I concur in the judgment of the district engineer officer that the New Meadows River is worthy of improvement by the United States to the extent specified by him. W. M. BLACK, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer. [Third indorsement.] THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, 1. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. 2. New Meadows River is an arm of the sea, extending about 12 miles inland from Casco Bay, Me. No improvement of the waterway has heretofore been made by the General Government. The work now desired is reported to be the removal of a small ledge which interferes with the navigation of pleasure and passenger boats at low and extreme low water. There is no freight traffic involved in the proposed improvement, the expected benefits being those attending the more certain and regular transportation of passengers to and from the summer colonies along the stream. While the district officer does not regard the locality as worthy of any great expenditure of public funds, he believes that a sufficient amelioration of existing |