July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. $4,053.09 6,299.75 July 1, 1892, balance available...... 692.31 (See Appendix L 4.) 5. Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.-In 1828, when the United States began to improve the inlet, vessels drawing 9 feet could cross the ocean bar at low water, but the channel thence into Pamlico Sound was not practicable for vessels drawing more than 5 feet. To 1837 the sum of $133,732.40 was expended, producing an increase of 3 feet in the depth in one of the channels to Pamlico Sound, and "a material increase in the number of vessels seeking this outlet from North Carolina ports to the sea," but the shoaling of the dredged channel and destruction of a jetty constructed to prevent it led to the abandonment of the improvement. In 1891, when the inlet was surveyed preparatory to resuming its improvement with the sum of $90,000 appropriated by the act of September 19, 1890, the depth in the channel on the bar was not less than 14 feet at mean low water and 4 to 6 feet in the channels thence to Pamlico Sound. The project of 1889 is to dredge a channel 300 feet wide and about 6,000 feet across the inner bar, at an estimated cost, if 10 feet deep, of $100,000; if 13 feet deep, of $190,000, and if 15 feet deep, of $280,000, with the possible construction of necessary protecting dikes, at an additional cost of $320,000, aggregating $600,000. To June 30, 1891, $1,747.71 had been expended. At that date the inlet had been surveyed, but the improvement had not been commenced. To June 30, 1892, no work has been done. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended $88, 274.29 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. $95.56 75,000.00 75,095.56 July 1, 1892, balance available ... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 12.774. 16 27, 774.16 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. (See Appendix L 5.) 6. Fishing Creek, North Carolina.-When the first appropriation was made by Congress, September 19, 1890, for its improvement, its depth was about 4 feet at ordinary stages 38 miles to Bellamys Mills and its width 40 to 100, and occasionally 120 feet. The project of 1889 is to clear it of snags, logs, and overhanging trees to Bellamys Mills. To June 30, 1891, no money had been applied to the improvement, and no money has been applied to it during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, because the bridges over the creek have not been provided with draws as required by the law before any part of the money appropriated can be applied to the improvement. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... $10,000.00 10,000.00 5,000.00 15,000.00 10,000.00 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 L 6.) 7. Pamlico and Tar River, North Carolina.-(One river, called the Pamlico below and the Tar above Washington.) When the United States began to improve it in 1877 its channel was obstructed in two places below Washington by piles; just below Sparta by scuttled lighters; 1 mile below Tarboro by the wreck of a steamer; immediately below Washington by a bar with a depth of 5 feet at low water on its crest in the channel; between Washington and Tarboro the available depth was 2 to 3 feet not more than eight months annually, and above Washingtion the entire river was more or less obstructed by snags, logs, and stumps in its channel and by trees overhanging from its banks. The project of 1875 is to secure by dredging and removal of war obstructions a clear and safe channel 9 feet deep at low water up to Washington, and of 1879 to clear a channel 60 feet wide, 3 feet deep at low water, 22 miles to Greenville, and 20 inches deep at low water 66 miles farther to Rocky Mount, at a total final estimated cost of $92,200. To June 30, 1891, $68,793.13 had been expended upon this work. At that date there was a channel up to Washington, crooked and difficult to run, with a minimum depth of about 7 feet, from which some stumps needed to be removed, and two troublesome shoals between Washington and Tarboro, with a depth upon one of only about 1 foot at low water. The river between Washington and Tarboro was at intervals considerably obstructed, and from Tarboro to Rocky Mount much obstructed by snags, logs, stumps, and overhanging trees. With the amount applied during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the channel has been cleared of snags, logs, and stumps, and the banks of leaning and overhanging trees from the falls at Rocky Mount down 64 miles to within 2 miles of Greenville. 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 L 7.) 832.67 2,275. 15 10,000.00 12, 275. 15 42,000.00 8. Contentnia Creek, North Carolina.-When the United States began to improve it in 1881 it was badly choked with fallen timber, snags, logs, and stumps; also obstructed by sand bars, and navigation ren dered exceedingly difficult, in many places next to impossible, by the dense overhanging growth. The project of 1881 is to clear it 63 miles to Stantonsburg of overhanging trees and its channel of snags and logs to a depth of not less than 3 feet at the flush-water stages of eight or nine months' annual duration, at an estimated cost of $77,500. To June 30, 1891, $48,701.50 had been expended upon this work. At that date the channel to the depth of 3 feet had been moderately cleared 31 miles up to Snow Hill, and roughly cleared 32 miles farther to Stantonsburg. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, no work has been done, awaiting a period of specially low water for clearing Spring Slough, near the mouth of the creek, of snags and stumps. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1892, balance available... 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 L 8.) $3,588.90 1, 341.25 2,247.65 37. 10 2,210.55 7,000.00 9,210.55 18, 500.00 9. Trent River, North Carolina.-When the United States began to improve it in 1879 the river was comparatively free from obstructions from Newbern, 21 miles, to Pollocksville, between which points a draft of 6 feet could be carried at low water; above Pollocksville it was obstructed by bars of sand and rock, and especially by great numbers of snags in the 14 miles from Quaker Bridge up to Trenton. One steamer ran regularly to Pollocksville and one occasionally 9 miles farther to Quaker Bridge, above which point navigation was confined to flat boats and rafts. The project of 1879 was to secure a channel 3 feet deep at low summer stage from Pollocksville to Trenton by removing all obstructions and dredging a cut 50 feet wide through the shoals, at a cost, estimated in 1887, at $59,000. In 1889 the project was extended to remove obstructions to permit navigation by small steamboats 33 miles above Trenton and by pole boats 6 miles farther, to Upper Quaker Bridge, at an additional cost of $13,000, the two projects aggregating $72,000. To June 30, 1891, $53,897.07 had been expended upon this work. At that date the channel had been cleared of snags, etc., and the banks of overhanging trees from the mouth to Trenton, and fairly cleared 7 miles above that point; a channel 3 feet deep at low water and 50 to 75 feet wide had been dredged through the shoals between Pollocksville and Trenton; a turning basin had been dredged and revetted at Trenton, and a channel dredged to the depth of 8 feet and width of 100 feet through Foys Shoal, 6 miles above Newbern. But steamers which the improvement had enabled to make regular trips to Trenton had again been prevented from ascending to it by shoals which had reformed in the 2 or 3 miles immediately below that place. With the amount applied during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the river has been carefully surveyed from Trenton, 393 miles, to Upper Quaker Bridge, but the funds available have been insufficient for other work. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. $1,640.56 1, 031. 84 608.72 25.50 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available. 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 L 9.) 583.22 5,000.00 5, 583.22 11, 500.00 10. Neuse River, North Carolina.-When the United States began to improve it in 1878 the minimum channel depth during nine months annually was 9 feet from the mouth, 40 miles, up to Newbern; 4 feet thence, 50 miles, to Kinston; 3 feet, 46 miles farther, to Goldsboro; and 2 feet thence, 53 miles, to Smithfield. Between Newbern and Kinston there were long stretches of shoals, upon at least one of which the depth at the low-water season was only about 18 inches. The channel was obstructed at two points below Newbern and at two between Newbern and Kinston by inclined iron-pointed spars, and boxes or vessels or cribs filled with stones. From Contentnia Creek up 119 miles to Smithfield the river was badly obstructed by overhanging trees and by dense masses of logs and snags in the channel. The project of 1871, as modified or extended in 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1883, is to remove the war obstructions, to clear the channel to Smithfield of all snags, logs, and overhanging trees; to contract the channel way by jetties so as to insure during the entire year an unobstructed 8-foot navigation to Newbern, a similar 4-foot navigation to Kinston, and during nine months annually a 3-foot navigation to Smithfield, at a total final estimated cost of $374,000. To June 30, 1891, $253,900.86 had been expended upon this work. At that date there was an 8-foot navigation to Newbern, but between Newbern and Kinston there were nine shoals, aggregating 3,150 feet in length, on some of which the depth at low water was about 14 feet and on others about 2 feet, and the river was somewhat obstructed by snags, logs, stumps, and overhanging trees, and also for 23 miles above Kinston. With the amount applied during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the channel to a width of 120 to 250 feet, and banks for 23 miles immediately above Kinston and for 233 miles between Kinston and Newbern, were cleared of snags, logs, stumps, and overhanging trees, leaving the river, as regards obstructions other than shoals, in excellent condition to Goldsboro. 91.500.00 (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 L 10.) 11. Inland water way between Newbern and Beaufort, North Carolina.(Via Neuse and Clubfoot rivers, Clubfoot and Harlowe Canal, and Harlowe and Newport rivers to Beaufort Harbor.) When the United States began to improve it in 1885 it was navigable by boats 15 feet wide with 3-feet draft. The project of 1884 is to secure a channel 30 feet wide at bottom and 5 feet deep at mean low water throughout the route by dredging in Clubfoot and Newport rivers and Harlowe Creek at a cost estimated in 1886 at $92,000. To June 30, 1891, $27,079.40 had been expended upon this work. At that date a channel 13,000 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at mean low water had been dredged through the worst portions of Harlowe Creek, securing through it far better navigation than that through the canal, and vessels drawing 33 feet made regular trips, "except when prevented by slides, caves, and consequent insufficient depth in the Newbern and Beaufort Canal," owned by a corporation. Further work having been postponed (Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1891, page 161) to await cession or sale of the canal to the United States, no further appropriation is required until such cession or sale is made. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, no work has been done, the cession of the canal to the United States being awaited before the improvement is resumed. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1892, balance available.... $7,920.60 50.58 7,870. 02 1.00 7, 869. 02 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 57,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 11.) 12. Harbor at Beaufort, North Carolina.-When its improvement by the United States (begun in 1836) was resumed in 1881, the erosion of Fort Macon and of Shackleford Points, and widening of the entrance between them caused serious shoaling of the channel on and inside the bar, across which there was then a mid-channel depth of not less than 15.3 feet at low water. The project of 1881, as modified in 1887 and 1891, is to stop the erosion of the points by jetties to prevent the shoaling of the channel and harbor, and to dredge a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water from the bulkhead channel in the harbor about 1,800 feet long to the wharves at Beaufort at a cost estimated in 1887 at $163,000. To June 30, 1891, $123,673.34 had been expended upon this work. At that date the erosion of Fort Macon and Shackleford Points had been arrested, and a cut at least 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low water had been dredged from the bulkhead channel to the wharves at Beaufort. With the amount applied to the improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, 9,989.22 cubic yards of sand has been dredged, making a cut 714 feet long and 35 to 100 feet wide between the bulkhead channel and the wharves at Beaufort. |