portions, and the sand spit had been partly protected by catch sand fences and brush and stone work. The ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham had been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels can be carried to Wareham with larger draft than formerly. The increase in width of channel had been a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor. During the past fiscal year work of dredging has been carried on under an old contract completed on July 7. Plans have been made for further work under the new appropriation, allowing all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. A minor survey has been started to serve as basis for the coming season's work. 6. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts.-New Bedford Harbor is an estuary of Buzzards Bay, and is the port of the cities of New Bedford and Fair Haven. Before improvement the channel had a depth of about 123 feet at mean low water. Old projects of 1874 and 1877 provided for a channel 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer Island to the wharves at New Bedford. This work was completed in 1877 at a cost of $20,000. The approved project of 1887 provides for the deepening, widening, and straightening of the channel from Buzzards Bay to New Bedford, so as to obtain 18 feet depth at low water, over 200 feet width, and over its entire length, at a total cost estimated in 1887 at $35,000, of which $20,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. At the adoption of the present project the channel was winding and only about 15 feet deep. Twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars has been appropriated and $19,537.14 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the straight channel had been completed on its western side to 15 feet depth with 80 feet width over its entire length; and a slightly crooked channel of 80 feet width with 18 feet depth also existed over the same distance, wandering a little from the projected channel. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriation, and contract for the dredging entered into, work to be completed October 1, 1893. No work but preparation has as yet been done in the field. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining half of the channel, 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep, extending from the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford to the "11-foot bank," and the removal of a few shoal spots between the "11-foot bank" and Butlers Flats, the southern end of the projected channel. The balance available will be applied to the continuation of this project. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 5,000.00 5, 038.56 2, 197.57 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 C 6.) 7,500.00 7,500.00 7. Westport Harbor, Massachusetts.-Westport Harbor is an estuary on the coast of Massachusetts, lying between Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The site of the work is at Horse Neck Point (the north side of the entrance to the harbor). Before the commencement of the improvement the site of the present work was a point of sand forming the northern and eastern boundary of the entrance to the harbor, and subject to erosion by the sea and tides. In 1886 $1,000 was appropriated for special protection of Horse Neck Point. This work was completed in 1887. The approved project of 1888 provides for the improvement of the channel from the Atlantic Ocean up the West Branch to Adamsville, up the East Branch to Westport Point so as to secure and maintain a channel depth of 7 feet at low water over its entire length, by dredging on the "Lion's Tongue" Shoal if necessary; and for the protection of Horse Neck Point (the eastern headland of the entrance) so as to prevent the erosion of this point and the shoaling of the adjacent parts of the channel and harbor; all at a total cost estimated in 1888 at $2,000, of which $1,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.. At the adoption of the present project, Horse Neck Point was gradually wearing away and the adjacent parts of the channel and harbor were shoaling. Two thousand dollars has been appropriated and $662.19 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the headland had been protected by one jetty, 150 feet long, made of brush and stone. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under new appropriation, all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. A minor survey has been completed to serve as a basis for the coming season's work. The dredging itself has been commenced and finished as far as the funds allowed. 8. Canapitsit Channel, Massachusetts.-This waterway lies about 20 miles south of New Bedford, running between the islands of Cuttyhunk and Nashawena, and connecting the waters of Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay. The object of the improvement is to make this channel safe for the use of light-draft sail boats, and also especially of the surf boats belonging to the life-saving station of this dangerous locality. The approved project of 1891 provides for the widening and deepening of the present channel from Vineyard Sound to the ocean, between the islands of Nashawena and Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts, so as to secure a depth of 6 feet at low water with a least width of 150 feet over its entire length, at a total cost estimated in 1891 at $4,800. At the adoption of the present project the sand shoals, and especially the numerous bowlders, made this passage specially dangerous to the life-saving-station boats and other shallow-draft row and sail boats. Four thousand eight hundred dollars was appropriated for this work by act of July 13, 1892. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the appropriation, and the dredging itself has been commenced and completed as far as the funds provided allowed, a channel of about 66 feet width and at least 5 feet depth at low water having been cut entirely across the shoal, completing about half of the proposed work. Further work in the field awaits further appropriations by Congress; $5,000 more is still necessary to complete the project, and the reasons for this increase in the amount required for the work are stated in full in the appended report of the local engineer. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended. 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 C 8.) $4,800.00 1, 539. 54 3. 260.46 2,248.32 1,012. 14 5,000.00 5,000.00 9. Taunton River, Massachusetts.-This river rises in Norfolk County, Mass., and empties into Narragansett Bay at Fall River. The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading to the city of Taunton, at the head of navigation, so that vessels of 11 feet draft can reach the city at high water. In its original condition the channel was narrow and obstructed by bowlders, and from Berkley Bridge to Taunton the depth was not, in places, more than 5 feet at mean high water. A vessel of 30 tons burden was as large as could go up to Taunton. From 1870 to 1879 $63,000 was appropriated to secure 9 feet depth at high water. This work was completed in 1879. The approved project of 1880, as modified in 1888, provides for the widening and deepening of the river so as to secure a channel of at least 12 feet depth at high water with 100 feet width from its mouth up to Berkley Bridge (above Dighton), thence 12 feet depth with 80 feet width (100 feet width at bends) up to Briggs Shoal, thence 11 feet depth with 80 feet width up to the shipyard, thence 11 feet depth with 60 feet width up to Weir Bridge, Taunton; all at a total cost estimated in 1888 at $108,000, of which $101,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. At the adoption of the present project the channel was limited to 9 feet at high water, and was too narrow and too much obstructed by bowlders for easy navigation by the craft making use of it. One hundred and eight thousand dollars has been appropriated and $100,976.98 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which a large part of the proposed work had been done, especially at the places most complained of by the vessels using this river. Vessels of 11 feet draft could reach Taunton, at the head of navigation. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriation, all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. The dredging itself was commenced and completed as far as funds allowed, 5,050 cubic yards of dredged material and about 177 tons of bowlders having been removed from the most troublesome parts of the river above Briggs Shoal. There remain, to complete the existing project, widening and deepening at a few points above the bridge and the removal of a small amount of ledge rock. Further fieldwork must await further appropriations by Congress; $17,000 more is required for this work, and the reasons for this increase in the estimated cost are stated in full in the appended report of the local engineer. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. $23.02 7,000.00 7, 023.02 6, 968. 24 54.78 51.01 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended 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 C 9.) 3.77 17, 000. 00 17,000.00 10. Pawtucket River, Rhode Island. This river, otherwise called Seekonk River, is the upper portion of Providence River, and extends from Pawtucket to Providence. Before improvement the channel in the river had a ruling depth of about 5 feet at mean low water. Between 1867 and 1882 $52,000 was appropriated to dredge the channel to 7 feet depth. This work was finished in 1876. The approved project of 1883 provides for the deepening of the river so as to secure a channel of at least 12 feet depth at low water, with 100 feet width from its mouth at Providence up to opposite Grant & Co.'s wharf at Pawtucket, and thence 12 feet depth with 40 feet width through a stone ledge for a short distance farther to Pawtucket Bridge; all at a total cost estimated in 1883 at $382,500, of which $145,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. At the adoption of the present project the channel was narrow and only about 5 feet deep. One hundred and eighty thousand dollars has been appopriated and $144,295.12 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the shoalest places had been improved and about nine-tenths of the needed work done, securing a channel about 12 feet deep and from 40 to 100 feet wide (the greater portion being 100 feet wide) up to above the lower wharves of the city of Pawtucket. This completed portion of the channel had been already a great benefit to the commerce of the river. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriation, and contract for dredging entered into, work to be completed April 1, 1894. A minor survey has been made to serve as basis for the coming season's work. No work, except of preparation, has as yet been done in the field. The work yet to be done is to widen the channel for a short distance at two places and to deepen the channel through the ledge to the same depth with a width of 40 feet. The balance available will be applied to continuing the improvement, July 1, 1892, balance unexpended...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. $704.88 35,000.00 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year 35, 704.88 1, 256. 65 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities. 34, 448. 23 $28.34 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 13, 860.00 13, 888.34 20, 559.89 July 1, 1893, balance available .... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 202,500.00 100, 000. 00 11. Providence River and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.-The object of this improvement is to furnish a wide and deep channel for foreign and coastwise commerce from the ocean to Providence. Before the improvement of the river was commenced in 1853 many shoals obstructed navigation, and at one point in the channel, a place called "The Crook," the available low-water depth was but 4 feet. Between 1852 and 1873 $56,500 was appropriated to secure first 9 and then 12 feet depth of channel. This work was finished in 1873. The approved project of 1878, as modified in 1882, provides for the deepening of the river and the deepening and widening of its anchorage basins, so as to secure a channel of at least 25 feet depth at low water with 300 feet width from the deep water of Narragansett Bay up to Providence, R. I., and so as to secure anchorage basins of 20 feet depth with 600 feet width, 18 feet depth with 725 feet width, 12 feet depth with 940 feet width, and 6 feet depth with 1,060 feet width, from Fox to Field Point; all at a total cost estimated in 1882 at $675,000, of which $560,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. At the adoption of the present project the channel was limited to 12-foot depths, and the anchorage areas were much too small and shallow for the craft seeking them. Six hundred and ten thousand dollars has been appropriated and $559,920.50 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which all the 25-foot channels, most of the 20-foot anchorages, and a part of the 18-foot anchorages had been dredged, this being about fivesixths of all the proposed work. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriations, and contract for dredging entered into, work to be completed April 1, 1894. The dredging itself has been commenced and 76,421 cubic yards of material has been removed from the anchorage areas just above Sassafras Point. |