Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... $135, 000, 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 25,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix A 20.) 21. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navi gation. During the past fiscal year the wreck of the schooner Isabel Alberto, in Rockland Harbor, Maine, and the masts of the schooner Huntress, sunk off Browneys Island, Maine, were removed under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880, at a cost of $972.39. (See Appendix A 21.) EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Lieut. Col. Peter C. Hains, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted. 1. Channel near Hardys Point, below Pembroke, Me.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 1, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 104, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 22.) 2. South Fork of Bagaduce River, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of August 17, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 17, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 23.) 3. Vinal Haven or Carver Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 26, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the locality is worthy of improvement by the General Government to a limited extent. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $800. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 31, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 24.) 4. Lincolnville (Duck Trap) Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 17, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 100, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 25.) 5. Frenchs Beach Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 17, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the harbor is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 25, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 26.) 6. Rockland Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of August 17, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that this harbor is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $1,000. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 105, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 27.) 7. Owls Head Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 18, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the harbor is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 67, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 28.) 8. Tennant Harbor, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 18, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the harbor is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 101, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 29.) 9. Georges River, Maine.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of October 17, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the river up as far as Thomaston is worthy of improvement by the General Government. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $1,200. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 58, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 30.) 10. Portland Harbor, Maine, with a view to extending the channel along the front of the wharves on the south side of the harbor, so as to give a depth of 8 feet at mean low water as far south as the Plush Mill Wharf.-Lieut. Col. Hains submitted report of examination under date of November 19, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that Portland Harbor is not worthy of improvement by the General Government in the manner proposed. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 102, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 31.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. This district was in the charge of Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers. 1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar, 1,000 feet wide and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project, adopted in 1880 and modified in 1883, is to build two converging rubblestone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The estimated cost of the project was $375,000. The original depth of water on the bar was 7 feet at mean low water. To June 30, 1892, $251,023.79 had been expended, and the north jetty was 2,675 feet long, of which 2,485 had been completed. The south jetty was 1,300 feet long, of which 1,077 feet were completed. The Plum Island Dike was 817 feet long, 5 feet high above mean low water except near the center, where a weir 150 feet long and 2 feet above mean low water was left temporarily. The sand catch in rear of the south jetty was in two branches, one 480 feet long and one 572 feet long. All these works were in good order. On September 16, 1892, a contract was entered into, to deposit 15,000 tons of rubblestone in the north jetty. Operations under this contract were commenced in May, 1893, and during the fiscal year 669 tons of stone had been placed in the north jetty, essentially completing 25 feet of its length. During the latter part of June, 1893, a survey of the bar was made. It showed that the channel across the bar had straightened, widened, and deepened since the survey of 1891, it being not less than 13.6 feet deep. The condition of the Plum Island Dike, the south jetty, and the catch sand remain unchanged since June 30, 1892. The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are increased safety and facility of navigation. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 22, 786. 29 23, 898.33 1,759.80 July 1, 1893, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix B 1.) 97, 500.00 97, 500.00 2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to straighten, deepen, and widen the natural channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 211⁄2 miles. The channel originally was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals; and below Newburyport by ledges, cribs, piers, and wrecks. At mean low water vessels drawing not to exceed 7 feet could cross the bar and proceed about 6 miles above Newburyport. The mean rise or fall of the tide at the mouth of the river is 7 feet; at Haverhill bridge, 4 feet. The project, originally adopted in 1870, proposed to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, to remove Gangway Rock, to remove the wreck of the "Globe," and to remove the "boilers." The cost was estimated at $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874 to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and Rock bridges, and at Little Curriers Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at ordinary high-water stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island Bridge (5 miles), 16 feet; thence to Haverhill Bridge (123 miles), 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchells Falls (13 miles), 10 feet; through Mitchells Falls to the head of the Upper Falls (2 miles), not less than 44 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence running. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000. The total appropriations to date have been $242,366.72. The expenditures to June 30, 1892, were $230,876.20, and the river channel had been improved in accordance with the modified project, with the exception of the removal of the "boilers" at Newburyport. During the fiscal year a contract was entered into for the removal of the "boilers." Operations were commenced under this contract in October, 1892, and 201 cubic yards of ledge was removed up to the close of the fiscal year. The act of July 13, 1892, provided "That the amount appropriated in act of September 19, 1890, for improving Merrimac River at Mitchells Falls may be applied to the general improvement of the river in the discretion of the Secretary of War," and under this provision the amount is being expended in the removal of the "boilers." The improved channel is in good order. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $1,484. 72 2, 091. 35 3, 576. 07 5,515. 45 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1893, balance available..... (See Appendix B 2.) 3. Powow River, Massachusetts.-Powow River is a tributary of the Merrimac River, into which it enters from the north, about 3 miles above Newburyport. From its mouth tide water extends 9,600 feet in a narrow, crooked channel, not navigable at low water. The project proposed for its improvement is to dredge a channel 9,600 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 12 feet deep at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $77,000. The river and harbor acts of 1888 and 1890 appropriated $8,000 for this work, provided a suitable draw was built in the bridge which crossed the mouth of the river. The act of July 13, 1892, appropriated a further sum of $4,000 for improving this river. The condition required by the proviso in the acts making appropriations for this improvement has been complied with, but the funds available are inadequate to obtain any appreciable benefit to commerce, and they will be retained in the Treasury until additional funds are provided. No expenditures were made during the year ending June 30, 1893, and the original condition of the river is unaltered. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended........ Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix B 3.) $8,000.00 4,000.00 12,000.00 12,000.00 65,000.00 30, 000. 00 4. Ipswich River, Massachusetts.-Ipswich River empties into Plum Island Sound, about 9 miles south of Newburyport, Mass. It is navigable from its mouth to the wharves at Ipswich, a distance of 3 miles. Before improvement, at low water, not to exceed 13 feet draft could be carried in a narrow channel. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 8.4 feet. The object of the improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river. The original project was submitted in 1875. It proposed a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water. In 1887 the project was modified by limiting the present improvement to opening a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep through "The Shoals" and "Labor in Vain," and extending it to the "Deep Hole" opposite the town wharves. The amount appropriated for this improvement to date is $7,500. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $2,537.08. On September 17, 1892, a contract was entered into to complete the partial project. No work was done under this contract during the fiscal year. The condition of the improvement June 30, 1893, is the same as on June 30, 1892. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year $2, 462.92 2,500.00 4, 962. 92 19.21 4. 943. 71 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended..... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1893, balance available (See Appendix B 4.) 2, 100.00 2, 843. 71 5. Essex River, Massachusetts.-Essex River empties into Ipswich Bay about 3 miles southeast of the mouth of Ipswich River, Massachusetts. It is navigable at high water to the wharves in the town of Essex, a distance of 6 miles, but no navigable low-water channel exists for 12,000 feet below the town wharves. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 8.8 feet. The object of the improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river. The project for improvement was submitted May 15, 1891, and proposed a channel 60 feet wide, 4 feet deep at mean low water to the wharves at Essex, estimated to cost $25,000. The total appropriations to date have been $5,000. No work has been done under the project and the original condition of the river remains unchanged. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. $5,000.00 5,000.00 20,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 20,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix B 5.) 6. Harbor of refuge, Sandy Bay, Cape Ann, Massachusetts.-This bay is situated at the northeastern extremity of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. It is open to the full effects of easterly and northeasterly gales. The proposed improvement contemplates the construction of a national harbor of refuge of the first class. The anchorage covered by the breakwater will contain 1,377 acres. The estimated cost of the improvement is $5,000,000. The original project of 1884 proposed to build only the substructure of the breakwater of rubblestone. The present project, approved March 17, 1892, proposes to build the entire breakwater of rubblestone. |