In 1878 a project was made for the improvement of the whole river, including a plan for deepening the channel across the bar at the mouth. By special direction of Congress the improvement of the bar was commenced first, and during the following four years three appropriations, aggregating $10,000, were expended in dredging a channel across this obstruction 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. The dredged channel soon filled up again. A new project was submitted in 1887 for a 7-foot low-water channel, 60 feet wide inside the river and 100 feet at the bar, the channel at the latter point to be protected on each side by stone jetties. The estimated cost of this project is $90,698.40. The portion of the project relating to dredging has been adopted. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $12,536.35 had been expended in dredging inside the river. At that date a channel had been dredged 40 feet wide and 63 feet deep at mean low water from Smyrna Landing to Brick Store Wharf, a distance of 3 miles, with the result of opening navigation for vessels drawing 6 feet to the first-named point, which formerly they were not able to reach. The main landing on the river was thus brought about 2 miles nearer the town of Smyrna. At the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, dredging operations under contract with the National Dredging Company, of Wilmington, Del., were in progress. The contract was completed on August 10, 1891, the proposed channel, 40 feet wide and 63 feet deep, having been extended farther down the river since July 1, to Eagle Nest Landing, about 24 miles below Brick Store Wharf. The narrow channel thus far made has been of great benefit to the existing shipping, and has considerably facilitated expeditious and regular transportation, which heretofore was impossible. It is contemplated by the steamboat company to put larger boats on the line after the full projected width and depth in the channel have been made. 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 H 4.) $4,697. 28 4,607.61 89.67 3,000.00 3,089.67 19,365.00 5. Mispillion Creek, Delaware.-The entrance to this creek has a mean low-water depth of only 14 feet. Within the stream the original depth was, before improvements were begun, from 4 to 5 feet. The original project for improvement, which was made in 1879, is for a 6-foot low-water channel, 40 feet wide, from Milford, at the head of navigation, to the mouth. But for a small shoal near the mouth which remains to be dredged, the projected channel is completed, $17,000 having been expended up to June 30, 1889. A report upon a survey of the mouth of the creek embodying a new project was submitted during the past fiscal year (see Appendix H 21). 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 H 5.) $12,000.00 14, 000. 00 6. Broadkiln River, Delaware.—In its original condition the depth of water in the river was from 3 to 4 feet at the numerous shoals which impeded navigation. The depth at the entrance was and still is from 1 to 2 feet at low water. A project for a 6-foot low-water channel inside the river from Milton to the mouth and for a new entrance across Lewes Cape was submitted in 1871, at an estimated cost of $80,447. This estimate was reduced in 1881 by a revised project to $51,450. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $35,000 had been expended, and the channel inside the river was completed. After entering, vessels are now no longer detained by the shoals at low tide and proceed directly to their destination. Whilst the results are of great benefit to the existing shipping it is not apparent that the latter has increased to any appreciable extent. Nothing was done during the past fiscal year. 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 H 6.) $21, 500.00 7. Inland water way from Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, to Delaware Bay, at or near Lewes, Delaware.-This improvement is made with the view of forming an inland navigation route, about 75 miles in length, between Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, and Delaware Bay, at or near Lewes, Delaware. The project adopted in 1886 contemplates an open channel 70 feet wide at the bottom and 6 feet deep below the mean low-water level in the Delaware Breakwater Harbor, beginning in Chincoteague Bay and following approximately deep water in Synepuxent, Isle of Wight, and Assawoman bays; thence across the country for about 4 miles, between Little Assawoman Bay and Indian River Bay, and across the latter into and up Rehoboth Bay; thence from the head of Rehoboth Bay across Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred, for about 8 miles, to Delaware Bay. The originally estimated cost of the improvement was $350,000. A modification of the project was submitted during the past fiscal year to the Chief of Engineers, at the request of the Delaware Congressional delegation, for a reduction in the proposed width of the water way from 70 to 20 feet. The reommendation was approved by the Secretary of War on March 2, 1892. There are several shoals within the bays named where the present depth of water does not exceed 23 feet. It is estimated that the amount of commerce created by this improvement, when completed, will be $2,000,000 per annum. Three appropriations have been made for this work, one of $18,750, and one of $50,000, to be expended between Chincoteague Bay and Indian River Bay, and one of $50,000 to be expended between Chincoteague Bay and Delaware Bay. Up to June 30, 1891, the sum of $58,585.28 had been expended and a cut 20 feet wide at the base and 4 feet deep had been made connecting the 4-foot depth in Assawoman Bay with that in Indian River Bay. Three temporary wooden bridges had also been constructed across this canal. During the past fiscal year these bridges were provided with draws and a few shoals at the inlet of lateral drains in the canal were removed. A few small schooners and sloops are now making occasional trips between Ocean View at the northern end of the canal and Chincoteague Island. The depth made in the canal is maintaining itself. The route for the section of the inland water way between Rehoboth Bay and Delaware Bay was finally located during the past winter. The commissioners appointed by the legislature of the State of Delaware are now engaged in the appraisement and condemnation of the land appropriated for the canal, and it is proposed to begin active operations on this section soon after the title has been obtained. 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..... $60, 164. 72 9, 347.59 50, 817. 13 25,000.00 75, 817. 13 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 206, 500. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 7.) 8. Susquehanna River above and below Havre de Grace, Maryland.Before improvements were begun in this section of the river the least depth of water over the shoals between Havre de Grace and Spesutia Island was 5 feet at low water. The channel between Watson Island, above Havre de Grace, and the shoal running out from the west shore was narrow and was believed to be one of the causes of ice gorges at and near Port Deposit. Improvements have been in progress since 1852. The present general project is for a 15-foot low-water channel below Havre de Grace and for the removal of the shoal opposite Watson Island to a depth of 8 feet below mean low water. The channel below Havre de Grace was dredged the last time in 1885. It has shoaled again. The channel at Watson Island has been widened about 400 feet, but the shoal which was removed has nearly entirely reformed since the discontinuance of work in 1889. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $158,687.65 had been expended in these improvements. There were no operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. A report on the survey of the river in this locality was submitted December 26, 1891, with estimates for a new project (see Appendix H 22). July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. $4,202.35 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 annual dredging Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 8.) 107.66 4,094.69 4,000.00 8,094.69 20,000.00 9. North East River, Maryland. This river is a small tributary of Chesapeake Bay, and joins the latter at the head of the bay, east of the. mouth of the Susquehanna River. Its tidal portion is in Cecil County, Md., and is broad but shallow, and about 5 miles long, the town of North East being at the head of navigation. The average rise of the tide is 24 feet. The river is obstructed by a bar about three-fourths of a mile below the town. The original depth of water on the bar was 18 inches at low tide. In 1873 and 1881 a channel was dredged with appropriations aggregating $15,500, from outside the bar to the wharves; the depth made was 6 feet at mean low water. Certain portions of the channel filled in again, reducing the former depth to 4 feet. The present project for improvement, adopted in 1890, provides for a channel 6 feet deep at low water, 75 feet wide across the bar, and 60 feet wide to Davis's Wharf at North East. The estimated cost is $5,140. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $17,806:15 had been expended in the improvement of this river, of which sum $2,306.15 was expended under the present project. On that date a channel existed across the bar 5,700 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 64 feet deep, ending in deep water at the junction of Stony Run. It was too early then to give any statements what effect the opening of this channel had upon shipping, which has ever been very limited. Nothing was done during the past fiscal year. 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.. (See Appendix H 9.) $2,393.85 2, 332.22 61.63 2, 640.00 2,701.63 10. Elk River, Maryland.-This river is a tributary of Chesapeake Bay and is navigable for 17 miles as far as the town of Elkton, in Cecil County, where the tide rises on an average 2 feet. Improvements were begun in 1873, when a project was made for a 6-foot low-water channel from 50 to 70 feet wide in the river proper, from the county bridge at Elkton to Cedar Point and in Little Elk River from the junction to Bennett's Wharf, and for 3,300 feet of diking as a partial protection. The project was completed in 1884. The result was a channel 80 feet wide over the bar near Cedar Point and 70 feet wide up to the bridge, with a general depth of 7 feet below mean low water. Before improvements were begun the least depth in the channel was 14 feet. The present project for improvement, proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889, and adopted under an appropriation of $10,000, made September 19, 1890, provides for an 8-foot low-water channel, 100 feet wide, from the county bridge at Scott's Wharf to the clubhouse opposite Cedar Point, a distance of nearly 3 miles. The estimated cost is $24,000. During the past fiscal year the channel was improved as proposed for a length of 3,800 feet below the county bridge, and a shoal below the mouth of Little Elk River was removed to the required width and depth. The harbor space was thereby greatly increased. 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 $9,942. 18 8,846. 41 1,095.77 5,000.00 6, 095.77 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 H 10.) 9,000.00 11. Fairlee Creek, Maryland.-The original depth at the mouth before improvements were begun was 2 feet at low tide; within the creek it was about 5 feet. Navigation was, and still is, carried on by a few flatbottomed, so called, lime boats and by one small schooner. The existing project is for a 7 foot low-water channel, 100 feet wide, from deep water in Chesapeake Bay to a point about 3 miles above the mouth of the creek, the estimated cost being $15,558. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $10,000 had been expended and the channel, as proposed, from deep water in the bay to the mouth had been completed, and a portion of the channel inside the creek had been dredged to the required depth for a distance of 4,738 feet, but only for a width of 50 feet. Although the availability of the creek for the purposes of navigation and commerce was measurably increased by the improvement lately made, there are as yet no signs that indicate any increase in the very limited commerce as it now exists. There were no operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year 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 H 11.) $115.35 92.88 22.47 5, 558.00 12. Chester River, Maryland, from Crumpton to Jones Landing. This river is a tidal stream, 40 miles long, forming the boundary line between Kent and Queen Anne counties, Eastern Shore of Maryland, and flows into Chesapeake Bay. It is navigable for 33 miles for vessels drawing 6 feet of water at low tide. The minimum depth of water within the last 7 miles of the river is 3 feet, but the tide rises on an average 2.1 feet at the lower end of this section. Portions of the river situated farther down have previously been improved by the United States. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889, and adopted under an appropriation made September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, and 60 feet wide from Crumpton, in Queen Anne County, to a point 1 mile below Millington, in Kent County, at an estimated cost of $12,750. The length of the section to be improved is about 6 miles. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, preparations had been made for beginning the improvement under the first appropriation and the work had been let. Operations were begun on October 28, 1891, the contract being completed February 8, 1892. The result was that the 4 miles of river between Crumpton and Kirby Landing were cleared of all obstructions, a channel 6 feet deep at low water and 60 feet wide having been dredged through all the existing shoals and bars. The channel is still in good condition, and a number of grain boats have commenced to make regular trips from Kirby Landing. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. 4.903.77 |