With the above amount a channel had been dredged from the 8-foot depth in Raritan Bay to Keyport wharf, a distance of 5,000 feet, with a width of 200 feet for the first 4,200 feet and 160 feet for the remainder.

There has been no appropriation for this work since 1882 and there have been no funds for expenditure since the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890.

The commerce of Keyport Harbor is reported for the calendar year 1891 to be 241,252 tons against 222,965 tons for 1890.

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892..

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ....... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix F 11.)

$5,000.00

5,000.00

12. Mattawan Creek, New Jersey.-Before its improvement by the United States this small stream was obstructed at its entrance into Keyport Harbor by a mud flat, on which the best depth at the worst section was 3.1 feet at mean low water, though the 3-foot channel was. too narrow and tortuous for use. Above this flat a good 4-foot channel existed to 13 miles above the mouth, and thence to the steamboat dock at Mattawan 3.5 feet, shoaling to 1.8 feet at the freight dock 600 feet above and 17 miles from the mouth. The range of the tide is 4.7 feet. Notwithstanding the above difficulties it carried commerce valued in 1880 at $800,000.

The project for the improvement was adopted in 1881 and provides for dredging a channel 4 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide from the mouth to Winkson Creek, and thence 75 feet wide to the railroad bridge at Mattawan, 250 feet above the freight dock, at an estimated cost of $33,120.

To June 30, 1891, the amount expended under this project was $21,000, with which a channel had been dredged giving the required depth from the mouth to the freight dock at Mattawan, with widths varying from 100 to 30 feet. No work of improvement had been done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, though a contract was entered into March 21, 1891, for the removal by dredging of about 5,300 cubic yards of material.

Work under the above contract was begun September 9, 1891, and completed September 26, by the removal of 5,028 cubic yards of material. Under the contract the channel on the north side was given an additional width of 35 feet for a distance of 1,420 feet upstream from the mouth of the creek, giving a continuous channel with widths vary. ing from 90 to 125 feet and depth of 4 feet at mean low water from Keyport Harbor to the mouth of the creek.

The expenditures during the fiscal year have been for dredging under contract and office expenses, and amount to $2,485.87.

The commerce for the calendar year 1891 is reported to be 199,850

tons, against 187,850 tons for 1890, an increase of 12,000 tons.

13. Shoal Harbor and Compton Creek, New Jersey.-Shoal Harbor is an indentation of the shore on the south side of Sandy Hook Bay, 5 miles west of the entrance to Shrewsbury River. It is bare at low water and the water deepens so gradually outward that the 5-foot curve, mean low water, is only reached at a distance of 3,000 feet from the high-water line. Compton Creek, which flows into Shoal Harbor, is 5 to 6 miles long, with 3 to 5 feet of water in the lower reach. At one-quarter of a mile from its mouth it is crossed by a fixed bridge, beyond which no boats ever go. Between this bridge and the harbor there is a harbor of refuge of limited capacity, having a depth of 9 feet of water in places, to which fishing vessels resort when the tides allow them to cross the shoal at the entrance. The range of tides is 4.5 feet. The plan of improvement adopted in 1884 had in view the connection of the 5-foot mean low-water curve of the creek on the inside with the 5-foot curve of the bay, by means of a dredged channel 150 feet wide, and the protection of this channel against shoaling by means of a tim ber dike placed on the west side of the harbor, at a total estimated cost of $64,130.

The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, was $1,649.80.

The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, amount to $3,350.20.

Ten thousand eight hundred and eight cubic yards of material was removed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, and 4,921 from the beginning of the present year to July 29, 1891, making a total of 15,729 cubic yards. The condition of the creek after the completion of the contract showed an improved channel with a mean low-water depth of 45 feet, commencing in the mouth of the creek and extending a distance of 1,200 feet, with a width of 100 feet for the first 800 feet of its length and 70 feet for the remainder.

The commerce of the creek has increased, being reported, for the calendar year 1891, as 48,000 tons, against 35,500 tons for 1890.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended....

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year..

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............ Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix F 13.)

$3,350.20 3, 350.20

3,000.00

56, 130.00

14. Shrewsbury River, New Jersey.-When the present project for this improvement was adopted, in 1879, the river was obstructed by a number of shifting sand-bars, which had caused the complete suspension of navigation in the South Branch and only permitted the passage of vessels engaged in commerce up the North Branch at or near high water. A considerable trade was carried on, however, even under these difficult conditions.

The originally adopted project for the improvement was to dredge a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, and from 300 to 150 feet in width, across the shoals from the mouth to Red Bank, on the North Branch, 8 miles, and Branchport, on the South Branch, 9 miles, maintaining these channels by longitudinal dikes. This project has not been moditied as to the end sought, but estimates of the diking, dredging, and cost have been increased from time to time.

The amount expended on this project to the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $218,498.10.

With this amount numerous dikes have been built and maintained and channels dredged in various parts of both branches and main stem, 6 feet deep and from 25 to 100 feet wide. These improvements have resulted in a marked increase in the commerce.

The amount expended during the fiscal year is $5,961.58; with this amount the channel in the South Branch, between Sedge Island and Seabright, was redredged to a depth of 6 feet at mean low water and width of 100 feet, for a distance of 900 feet; a shoal in the channel of the North Branch above Upper Rocky Point removed to a depth of 6 to 7 feet at mean low water and width of more than 100 feet, and slight necessary repairs made to the.dike at the mouth of the river.

The commerce of the river was reported for the calendar year 1890 to be 556,500 tons; this has increased to 623,000, tons for the calendar year 1891.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended..

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 ....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix F 14.)

$6,001.90

5,961.58

40.32

10,000.00

10, 040.32

20, 062.00

15. Manasquan (Squan) River, New Jersey.-In its original condition this stream had a depth of from 4 to 6 feet at mean low water for several miles above its mouth, but was obstructed at its outlet into the ocean by a sand spit, which had deflected the stream into a channel parallel with the beach communicating with the ocean across shifting sand bars, on which the best depth did not exceed 15 feet at mean low water; mean range of tide, 2.4 feet. In severe storms this channel was sometimes entirely closed by the sand, remaining so until the fresh water in the river had accumulated sufficiently to force a new outlet. Under these conditions the river could not be used by commerce.

The project for its improvement was adopted in 1879, and contemplated dredging the lower river and obtaining by means of jetties a permanent outlet nearly at right angles to the beach, with a depth of 6 feet at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $52,120. This was increased to $72,000 in 1882, the increase being due to advanced prices and to a proposed increase in the length of the jetties.

The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1891, was $39,000.

With this amount two jetties had been constructed, but neither to its full length, appropriations having ceased in 1882. No permanent improvement had been effected.

An appropriation of $2,000 was made in the act of September 19, 1890, to be expended in the removal of obstructions placed by the Government at the mouth of the river, if in the discretion of the Secretary of War the same should be done. There were no expenditures on account of this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, as the removal of the obstructions alluded to in the act of September 19, 1890, was, in the opinion of the engineer in charge, deemed unnecessary, and

so reported under date of December 19, 1890, and was approved by the Secretary of War December 30, 1890.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix F 15.)

$2,000.00

2,000.00

31,000.00

IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY, SCHUYLKILL RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA, AND RIVERS IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY; HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY; CONSTRUCTION OF PIER AT LEWES, DELAWARE; DELAWARE BREAKWATER, DELAWARE.

Officer in charge, Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Albert M. D'Armit, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since May 18, 1892; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, to April 1, 1892, and Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, since that date.

1. Delaware River, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.-Trenton, the head of natural navigation on the Delaware River, is about 30 miles above the upper part of the port of Philadelphia. In its original condition this part of the river was obstructed by shoals at the following localities Between Bordentown and Trenton, a distance of about 5 miles, a narrow and circuitous channel existed, which carried from 3 to 6 feet at mean low water; at Kinkora Bar, about 9 miles below Trenton, a shoal carrying from 7 to 8 feet, and at Five Mile Bar, at the upper part of Philadelphia, a shoal across the Pennsylvania channel carrying only 3 or 4 feet at mean low water, there being, however, 13 feet of water past Five Mile Bar, in the New Jersey channel, passing south of Petty Island.

Below Philadelphia the river, in its original condition, presented obstructions at Mifflin Bar which reduced the depth at mean low water to 17 feet, at Schooner Ledge and Cherry Island Flats to 18 feet, at Bulkhead Shoal and Dan Baker Shoal to about 20 feet.

In that part of the Delaware River between Trenton, N. J., and Bridesburg, Pa., efforts in the past have been directed toward reliev ing commerce from the obstructions which exist in the upper 9 miles of the river, or that part between Kinkora Bar and Trenton. A detailed survey of the river between Bridesburg and Trenton has been made for the purpose of obtaining the necessary data for determining upon a plan for the improvement of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia to meet the requirements of commerce.

Previous to 1885 the efforts to improve the river between Philadelphia and the bay have been confined to dredging, except at Schooner Ledge, where solid rock has been removed, under appropriations for special localities, and also under general appropriations for the Delaware River below Bridesburg.

A Board of Engineers, convened by direction of the Secretary of War for the purpose of considering the subject of the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay, recommended, under date of January 23, 1885, the formation of a ship channel from a point opposite Philadelphia and about midway between the American Shipbuilding Company's yard and the Gas Trust Wharf to deep water in Delaware

Bay, having a least width of 600 feet and a depth of 26 feet at mean low water. The formation of such a channel is to be obtained, except at Schooner Ledge, where rock would require to be removed, by regulating the tidal flow by means of dikes, with recourse to dredging, where necessary, as an aid to such contracting and regulating works. The estimated cost of obtaining a channel of the above dimensions is about $2,425,000, which covers the estimated cost of the permanent improvement of the Delaware River between the upper part of Philadelphia and deep water in the bay. This estimate of cost does not include the improvement of Philadelphia Harbor, which is a separate project. With the present requirements of commerce above Philadelphia, it is not considered that the part of the river lying between Trenton and Bridesburg demands any further improvement.

The entire amount expended on the improvement of the Delaware River from 1836 to June 30, 1891, under appropriations both for special localities and the general river, was $1,980,359.55, of which $117,961.27 was expended on that part of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia. As a result of this expenditure there had been formed at the latter date a channel of navigable width and 74 feet deep at mean low water through the bars between Bridesburg and Bordentown; a channel across Kinkora Bar 9 feet deep; a channel across Five Mile Bar 13 feet deep; a channel from 200 to 400 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep through the shoal areas at Port Richmond; a channel across Mifflin Bar from 150 to 250 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep; a channel through Schooner Ledge 330 feet wide and 24 feet deep, except over a small area discovered in 1889, where the depth is reduced to 23 feet at mean low water; a channel through Cherry Island Flats from 200 to 450 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep, and a channel across Bulkhead Shoal 600 feet wide and from 20 to 21 feet deep.

The channel between Philadelphia and Camden across Smith Island Bar had been improved by the formation of a dredged cut protected by revetment, so as to give a channel 100 feet wide, with a minimum depth of 6 feet at mean low water.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the sum of $100,362.21, which includes the liabilities outstanding June 30, 1891, was expended in surveys, examinations, and in dike construction and dredging at Kinkora and Bulkhead bars, making a total expenditure since 1836 of $2,080,721.76, of which $728,721.76 has been expended on present project. The changes which have resulted during the past fiscal year are summarized as follows:

At Kinkora Bar stone has been placed in the dike to fill depressions caused by settlement. The dredged channel has shoaled considerably and the line of deepest water has moved to the westward. The minimum depth at mean low water across the bar is now 8 feet. At Five Mile Bar the dike has formed a channel from 12 to 13 feet deep at mean low water and from 200 to 300 feet wide. At Mifflin Bar the channel now carries a depth of 25 feet, with a minimum width of 200 feet and a depth of 24 feet, with a minimum width of 350 feet. At Cherry Island Flats the channel, which was dredged to a depth of 24 feet between 1879 and 1884, has shoaled about 1 foot over a distance of about 10,000 feet and deepened over the remaining distance. At Bulkhead Bar the east dike has been practically completed, and under its action, assisted by dredging, a channel has been formed across the bar with a depth of 26 feet at mean low water and a mininum width of 100 feet. The 24-foot channel has a minimum width of 370 feet.