SALEM HARBOR, MASS. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON EXAMINATION OF SALEM HARBOR, MASS., WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING A CHANNEL 12 FEET DEEP AT MEAN LOW WATER FROM THE OUTER HARBOR TO THE MOUTH OF THE SOUTH RIVER. AUGUST 29, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 27, 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 26th instant, together with copy of report from Col. Frederic V. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, dated June 5, 1913, on preliminary examination of Salem Harbor, Mass., made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913. Very respectfully, HENRY BRECKINRIDGE, From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army. To: The Secretary of War. Subject: Preliminary examination of Salem Harbor, Mass. 1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report dated June 5, 1913, by Col. Frederic V. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination of Salem Harbor, Mass., with a view to providing a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water from the outer harbor to the mouth of the South River, called for by the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913. 2. Under a project adopted by the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, a channel was dredged 10 feet deep at mean low water from that depth in the harbor to the outer end of the wharves, 300 feet in width at the entrance, gradually narrowing to 200 feet at Derby Wharf light. This channel has since shoaled, and the improvement desired, as indicated by the act ordering this examination, is the deepening of the channel to a depth of 12 feet at mean low water. The principal wharves of the city are located on South River, and it appears that the State of Massachusetts has been granted permission to dredge this river to a depth of 10 feet beginning at the upper limit of the channel provided by the United States. For reasons stated, the district officer does not believe that it is advisable for the United States to increase the depth in the channel up to the mouth of South River to 12 feet at the present time, but he deems the harbor worthy of improvement to the extent of maintaining the 10-foot channel dredged under the project adopted in 1905. In this opinion the division engineer concurs. 3. This report has been referred, as required by law, to the board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to the board's accompanying report, dated July 29, 1913, concurring with the views of the district officer and the division engineer. 4. 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 Salem Harbor, Mass., with a view to providing a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water from the outer harbor to the mouth of the South River, is not deemed advisable at the present time. WM. T. ROSSELL, Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS. [Third indorsement.] THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, July 29, 1913. To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY: 1. The act of March 3, 1905, adopted a project for the improvement of the entrance to South River, Salem Harbor, which provided for a channel 10 feet deep at mean low water from that depth in the harbor to the outer end of the wharves, 300 feet in width at the entrance, gradually narrowing to 200 feet at Derby Wharf light, at an estimated cost of $12,000, the whole amount being appropriated. The project was completed in 1906, since which time no work has been done, and it appears that some shoaling has taken place. The improvement now desired, as indicated by the act, is an increase in project depth on this section to 12 feet. The rise and fall of the tide is from 7.6 feet to 10.3 feet 2. It appears within that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has expended about $8,000 on South River, and has allotted $4,000 more for this work. Further cooperation of a similar character may be expected in connection with any future work that may be done by the United States. 3. The commerce of Salem amounts to about 300,000 to 400,000 tons, of which about 38,000 tons is handled in South River, which is the amount to be affected by the improvement now under consideration. The investigations of the district officer lead him to the conclusion that the present project for 10-feet depth is worthy of maintenance, for which purpose funds will be requested in his annual report. He concludes, however, that at this time it is not advisable to increase the depth to 12 feet. In this view the division engineer concurs. 4. Interested parties were advised of the unfavorable character of the district officer's report and given an opportunity of submitting their views to the board, but no communications on the subject have been received. 5. From the facts presented, it would appear that if the depth of 10 feet authorized under the project of 1905 were restored and maintained it would provide fairly well for the moderate amount of traffic handled on this river. The State of Massachusetts has applied for and has been granted permission to dredge South River to a depth of 10 feet beginning at the upper limit of the channel provided by the United States. There would be no material advantage in increasing the outer portion of the channel to 12 feet. In view of the conditions briefly stated above, the board concurs with the district officer and the division engineer and reports that South River, Salem Harbor, is not at this time worthy of a greater improvement than is authorized under the existing project. 6. In compliance with law, the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, waterpower, or other related subjects which could be coordinated with the suggested improvement in such manner as to render the work advisable in the interests of commerce and navigation. For the board: LANSING H. BEACH, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SALEM HARBOR, MASS. WAR DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, From: The District Engineer Officer. Boston, Mass., June 5, 1913. To: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army (Through the Division Engineer). Subject: Preliminary examination of Salem Harbor, Mass. 1. In compliance with instructions contained in letter dated March 18, 1913, and with provisions of the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913, the following report is submitted on the HD-63-1-vol 10- -3 |