IMPROVEMENT OF SHOALS IN ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, AND OGDENSBURG HARBOR, NEW YORK, AND OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN, NEW YORK AND VERMONT. Officer in charge, Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Shoals between Sister Islands and Crossover Light, St. Lawrence River, New York.-The act of August 11, 1888, provided for a survey of the shoals between Sister Islands and Crossover Light, in the St. Lawrence River, New York, which, being made, was submitted July 2, 1889, and printed in Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1889, pages 2463 and 2464. The entire improvement was estimated to cost $43,305. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $5,000 for this improvement, which has been pledged under contract for the removal of the upper and lower shoals. Work can be carried on most advantageously in the winter season when thick ice has formed, but as the ice did not form of sufficient thickness in the winter of 1890-'91 to bear the machinery, etc., necessary in connection with such operations, the time for the completion of the contract was extended so as to include another winter, and again the ice did not become thick enough, but operations are expected to be commenced during the month of July and to be completed on time as extended, August 31, 1892. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... July 1, 1892, balance available Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 $4,909.44 4,909.44 3, 952.00 957.44 10,000.00 0,957.44 28, 305.00 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 P P 1:) 2. Ogdensburg Harbor, New York. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1890, and contemplates the deepening of the various channels leading from the deep water of the St. Lawrence River and that along the city front so as to afford a depth of 17 feet at extreme low water, at an estimated cost of $158,950. When operations were commenced at this harbor the channels afforded depths from 5 to 12 feet only, and now there are three good channels from deep water in the St. Lawrence River to the nearest docks or wharves, in which water 15 to 16 feet deep is afforded, and a channel 12 to 15 feet deep has been made along the city front. The appropriation of September 19, 1890, has been pledged under contract and will be consumed in deepening the channels at this harbor. The total amount expended from the date of the first appropriation in 1852 to June 30, 1892, has been $174,449.33, and from the adoption of the project of 1882 to that of 1890 some $40,000 was expended. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. $41, 130. 80 13, 574.57 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities 27,556. 23 $2,569.68 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... 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 P P 2.) 3,209.52 40,000.00 43, 209.52 76,950.00 3. Breakwater at Rouse Point, Lake Champlain, New York.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1885, and contemplates the construction of a breakwater composed of rubble and large stone on a straight line from Stony Point until the 18-foot curve in the lake is reached, a total distance of about 2,000 feet. The estimated cost of the breakwater is $110,000. Work was commenced by contract September, 1885, and has been in progress since then. Four contracts have been worked out and resulted in the construction of some 1,700 linear feet of completed breakwater. The good effects of the breakwater are apparent in the increased shelter afforded at the docks and wharves. 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 P P 3.) 4. Great Chazy River, New York. The act of August 11, 1888, provided for a survey of Great Chazy River, New York, from its mouth on Lake Champlain to Champlain village, which being made, was submitted July 3, 1889, and printed in the Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1889, page 2466. The first estimate for the improvement of this stream provided for a least width of 50 feet, and a least depth of 6 feet, at a cost of $34,000, afterwards reduced to a channel 40 feet wide and 5 feet deep at a cost of $18,000. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $10,000 for this improvement, which was placed under contract and expended in widening and deepening the channel in accordance with the project. 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 P P 4.) $9,955. 59 9, 955. 59 5,000.00 3,000.00 5. Breakwater at Gordon Landing, Lake Champlain, Vermont.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1887, and has for its object the construction of a stone breakwater, composed of rubble and large stones, extending in a straight line to the 16-foot curve in the lake, for the purpose of affording increased shelter to a landing on the west shore of Grand Isle, Lake Champlain, Vermont. Construction commenced August 11, 1887, and was completed September 19, 1891. The structure terminated at 675 feet in length instead of 800 feet as originally contemplated. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. (See Appendix P P 5.) $5,956.05 5, 956. 05 6. Plattsburg Harbor, New York. The first appropriation for the improvement of this harbor was in 1836. The project then adopted and the modifications that have been made since have resulted in the construction of 1,550 linear feet of breakwater, the protection of a portion of the beach, and the dredging of some shoal areas within the harbor. Under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, amounting to $32,500, proposals were invited and a contract made for repairing the superstructure of the existing breakwater and for prolonging the breakwater 300 feet northward. Operations are in progress, but the contract does not require completion until November, 1892. The total amount expended at this harbor to June 30, 1892, has been $170,404.67, of which amount $82,224.66 was expended since the adoption of the modified project of 1870. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $4,052.68 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... 8,991.32 13, 044.00 2, 231.34 July 1, 1892, balance available.... (See Appendix P P 6.) 7. Burlington Harbor, Vermont.-This improvement dates from 1836; modifications of the original plan have been made from time to time so as to afford adequate protection to the increasing commercial and shipping interests of the harbor. The last modification, made in 1886, provides for further extension of the breakwater both to the north and to the south, with its gradual withdrawal as it is prolonged into water about 30 feet deep instead of 38 feet deep, so as to reduce the cost. Operations during the past year consisted in the repair of 1,000 linear feet of the breakwater superstructure under contract for the material and by hired labor. The balance of the appropriation of September 19, 1890, $15,759.89, will be expended in repairs as needed. The total amount expended to date has been $566,162.31, and under the existing project, $59,580.19. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended................ $19, 531.62 3, 771.73 15, 759.89 129,000.00 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 P P 7.) 8. Otter Creek, Vermont.-The project for this improvement proposes the formation of a channel of navigable width and a least depth of 8 feet from Vergennes, Vt., to Lake Champlain. The appropriation of September 19, 1890, $5,000, was expended under contract in the removal by dredging of 20,995 cubic yards from such shoals as most required deepening. There has been expended to June 30, 1892, $41,500. The stream now requires some 2,000 yards of rock excavation to carry out the original scheme for improvement, but unfortunately the channel afforded is not likely to prove permanent. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 (See Appendix P P 8.) $4,979. 17 4, 979. 17 10,000.00 9. Ticonderoga River, New York. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, its object being to afford a channel of navigable width and least depth of 8 feet at low water from Ticonderoga village to Lake Champlain, a distance of about 2 miles. The original estimated cost of the improvement was $42,516, and the amount expended has resulted in an improved channel. The appropriation of September 19, 1890, $2,000, was expended under contract, and operations consisted in the dredging and removal of 8,132 cubic yards of material from shoals near the mouth of the river. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during 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 P P 9.) $1,977.75 1,977. 75 26, 016. 00 10. Narrows of Lake Champlain, New York and Vermont.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1885, and has for its object the removal of such obstructions in the channel as will afford a least depth of 12 feet, and a least width of 150 feet from Whitehall to the Elbow, and 12 feet depth and 200 feet width along Cedar Mountain and across Kenyon Bay. The entire undertaking was estimated to cost $80,000; $45,000 had been appropriated, and the original project stood completed two years ago at a little more than half the estimated cost. Officer in charge, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. H. C. Newcomer, Corps of Engineers, the entire year, Lieut. Charles L. Potter, Corps of Engineers, to July 28, 1891, and Lieut. Clement A. F. Flagler, Corps of Engineers, since June 7, 1892. The principal features of this improvement as originally projected are (1) two mid-tide training walls of rubble stone extended from the shore westward into San Francisco Bay about 2 miles; (2) a connection by a canal 14 miles in length with the estuary of San Leandro; (3) a dam at the mouth of this estuary; (4) dredging of basins and channels to give a depth of 20 feet at low tide, which at high tide will accommodate vessels of the largest class. Two modifications of the original project have been adopted, namely, to increase the width of tidal canal from 300 to 400 feet, and to raise. the height of jetties from half-tide level to full high water. In the original condition of the entrance the low-water channel depth was about 2 feet, admitting at time of high tide vessels drawing 6 to 8 feet of water. The present navigable condition is a convenient channel from Bay of San Francisco to the main wharves of Oakland, for the most part 300 feet in width, and at no point less than 225 feet in width, with a low-water depth of 14 feet, admitting vessels of 18 feet draft at ordinary high water. In the upper basin the navigation is confined to vessels of about 10 feet draft or less. The total amount expended on this improvement was on June 30, 1892, $1,452,180.70. The operations of the past year are as follows: The contracts in force at beginning of the year for dredging the basin, for stone work on the jetties, for piers and steel superstructure of a highway bridge over the canal at Park street, Alameda, were completed during the year. The amount of dredging in basin was 632,905 cubic yards of spoil securely placed ashore behind levees. The north jetty was completed excepting a little work required to finish the enlarged terminal mound. The amount of stone delivered on the jetty during the year is 9,815 tons, and it was laid up in form to the extent of 31,528 square feet of dry masonry. Some work had been done in excavating for bridge piers at the beginning of the year. The excavation was finished, the concrete piers put in, and the steel superstructure was erected during the year. The bridge was completed on December 7, 1891, and has since been open to travel. The length of the bridge is 383 feet, including approaches, and the quantity of metal 195 tons. The piers contain 2,351.8 cubic yards of masonry. The contract for excavating the canal had at the beginning of the year been advanced to the extent of 250,820 cubic yards. Progress was made during the year to the extent as measured of 142,088 cubic yards, leaving for fulfillment of contract an estimated amount of 107,000 cubic yards, which is in default, the contract date of fulfillment having been June 30, 1892. The contract for additional improvement of channel in front of wharves of Oakland requires work to begin on July 18, 1892. The operations contemplated for the ensuing year are improvement of the channels, continued excavation of the canal, completing the existing portion of the south jetty, and extending it. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1892, balance available Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30,1893.. $247, 266.79 164, 847.49 82, 419.30 63,676.37 18,742.93 150,000.00 168, 742.93 |