Roberts's brickyard, 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low tide. In other words, about 1 mile was added to the navigable part of the river. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been $8.82. This expenditure has not added to the facilities of navigation, but a contract has been made for continuing the dredging from the point where it was stopped the year previous. The work provided for under this contract will add about three-fourths of a mile more to the navigable part of the river. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended $9,888.48 8.82 9,879.66 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $325.00 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 9,000.00 9, 325.00 July 1, 1892, balance available.... 554.66 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 7,500.00 8,054.66 7,500.00 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 A 21.) 22. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-Before the improvement of the river was begun the river from Dover to the Lower Narrows was much obstructed by bowlders, ledges, and shoals, the depth being in some places as little as 6 inches at mean low tide. The tide here rises and falls about 6.75 feet. The first regular project for improvement was adopted in 1871, and looked to the forming of a channel 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep from the Lower Narrows up to Collins's wharf. The estimated cost was $45,000. Subsequently more accurate and extended surveys have shown the practicability and importance of extending the improvement up to the head of navigation, and the project was extended and the estimate increased to $85,000. The project was completed by 1879. The improvements made had opened up a large commerce, employing large vessels where formerly only flatboats had been used, in consequence of which the project was still further extended by providing for a "cut-off" through Alleys Point, widening to 60 feet and deepening to 5 feet the existing channels through Trickeys and Clements shoals, and blasting and removing other obstructions. The extended project was completed in 1888. In 1889 a new survey was made, in compliance with the requirements of the harbor and river act of August, 1888, and as the large increase of trade seemed to justify still further improvement of the river a new project was submitted, looking to obtaining a depth of 7 feet, increased to 7 in rock, and a minimum width of 50 feet in rock and 60 to 75 where the material is less expensive to remove. This project was adopted in 1890. The expenditures up to June 30, 1891, have been $170,215.29. These have resulted in giving a channel through the rocky bed of the river 5 feet deep at low tide, and 40 feet wide in the narrowest parts. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been $24,188.83. With the expenditure of this sum the upper end of the channel in front of the wharves at Dover has been deepened to 7 feet at mean low tide, for a length of 1,200 feet, with widths varying from 100 to 140 feet. Portions of the channel above and below Clem ents Wharf, of a total length of 600 feet, have also been dredged to the same depth. The improvements in the navigation of the Cocheco have been of great benefit to the people of Dover and the vicinity. In the item of coal alone it is reported that not less than 35,000 tons are supplied annually at a saving of 50 cents per ton, which could not have been done had no improvements 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..... $24, 784.71 24, 188.83 595.88 15,000.00 15, 595.88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 135, 000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 22.) 23. Harbor of refuge at Little Harbor, New Hampshire.-A survey was made of Little Harbor in 1882, and a plan of improvement proposed, which looked to the opening of a channel of entrance to a depth of 9 feet at low tide, and a width of 100 feet, together with a basin 300 feet by 700 feet, which was to be protected by a rubble stone breakwater. The estimated cost was $33,000. This project was approved in 1886, and its execution entered upon. In 1887 the project was enlarged, as the old one did not seem to meet the requirements of those interested. The enlarged project provided for the construction of two breakwaters, one on the north, the other on the south side of the entrance to the harbor, and the dredging of an anchorage about 49 acres in extent, in the protected area, to a depth of 12 feet at mean low tide. The estimated cost of the enlarged project was $235,000. The project was adopted by Congress in 1888. Before the improvement was begun the harbor was exposed to the full force of the sea in northeast gales, and the depth of water at the entrance and within the harbor was not sufficient to accommodate even small craft at low tide. The total expenditures up to June 30, 1891, have been $33,442.44. These expenditures have been applied to dredging part of the area for an anchorage, and to the partial construction of the breakwater on the south side of the harbor. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been $8,980.39. This amount has been applied to the break water, which has been partly built, but as the contractor refused to go on with his work after certain stone which he was allowed to take from Fort McClary was exhausted, the contract was annulled and the work readvertised. No work was done up to June 30, 1892, under the new contract. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended $36, 557.56 8, 980.39 27, 577. 17 July 1, 1892, amount covered by awarded contracts. $50.00 26, 640.00 26, 690.00 July 1, 1892, balance available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 887.17 30,000.00 30, 887. 17 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 A 23.) $135,000.00 24. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navi gation. During the fiscal year two wrecks, enda gering navigation,, were reported-the schooner Isabel Alberto, sunk in Rockland Harbor, Maine, and the schooner Huntress, sunk off Browneys Island, to the southwestward of Moosabec Reach, Maine. Steps have been taken looking to the early removal of both obstructions under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880. (See Appendix A 24.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Penobscot River, Maine, was made by the local engineer in charge, Lieut. Col. Smith, and report thereon submitted. It is his opinion, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Lieut. Col. Smith was charged with and has completed its survey and submitted report thereon. The works of improvement on Penobscot River proposed in the project submitted are, with estimates of cost, as follows: 1. Improvements near Bangor, Me.: Widening channel 60 feet on Brewer side and deepening two areas Removing top of small ledge in front of harbor line off Bacon's Wharf. $15, 280 200 1,520 2. Construction of two jetties near Crosbys Narrows.. 17,000 3. Construction of three jetties at High Head and Frankfort Flats, between Winterport and Bucksport, Maine 20,000 165,000 Total 202,000 In case that an appropriation is made for the improvement of Penobscot River the question of construction of jetties or deepening the navigable channel by dredging should have further consideration. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex, Doc. No. 37, Fifty-second Congress, first session. (See also Appendix A 25.) The required preliminary examination of Kennebec River, Maine, from Waterville to steamboat wharf at Augusta, was made by the local engineer in charge, Lieut. Col. Smith, and report thereon submitted. It is his opinion, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Lieut. Col. Smith was charged with its survey, which has been completed and report thereon submitted by Lieut. Col. Hains. The cost of securing a 5-foot navigation from the steamboat landing at Augusta to Waterville is estimated at $45,800; the cost of lengthening the lock at Augusta, now the property of a private corporation, so that it could pass vessels of the class that would go up to Waterville, is estimated at $25,000, making the total estimated cost of this improvement $70,800. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 76, Fifty-second Congress, first session. (See also Appendix A 26.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers. 1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar 1,000 feet wide and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project, adopted in 1880 and modified in 1883, is to build two converging rubble-stone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The estimated cost of the project was $375,000. The original depth of water on the bar was 7 feet at mean low water. To June 30, 1891, $234,712.75 had been expended, and the north jetty was 2,675 feet long, of which 2,300 feet had been completed. The south jetty was 1,300 feet long, of which 1,077 feet were completed. The Plum Island Dike was 817 feet long, 5 feet high above mean low water (except near the center, where a weir was left temporarily), 150 feet long, and 2 feet above mean low water. The sand catch in rear of the south jetty was in two branches, one 480 feet long, and one 572 feet. All these works were in good order. During the fiscal year 7,166 tons of rubble-stone were deposited in the north jetty, and at the date of this report this jetty is 2,485 feet in length fully completed, and in addition 190 feet are partly completed. The south jetty, the Plum Island Dike, and the sand catch remain essentially as on June 30, 1891. A survey of the bar was made during the latter part of June, 1892. It showed that the channel across the bar had straightened, widened, and deepened since the survey of 1891. It was now not less than 13.1 feet deep in a navigable channel at least 200 feet wide. The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are the deepening and widening of the channel across the bar, thereby affording a harbor of refuge on the inside of Salisbury Beach, and also affording easy access at high water to the wharves at Newburyport for vessels drawing 17 feet, approximately. 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 B 1.) $22,787.25 16, 311. 04 6, 476. 21 20,000.00 26, 476.21 97,500.00 2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to straighten, deepen, and widen the natural channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 21 miles. The channel originally was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals; and below Newburyport by ledges, cribs, piers, and wrecks. At mean low water vessels drawing not to exceed 7 feet could cross the bar and proceed about 6 miles above Newburyport. The mean rise or fall of the tide at the mouth of the river is 7 feet; at Haverhill bridge, 4 feet. The project, originally adopted in 1870, proposed to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, to remove Gangway Rock, to remove the wreck of the Globe, and to remove the "boilers." The cost was estimated at $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874 to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and Rocks bridges, and at Little Curriers Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at ordinary high-water stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island bridge (5 miles), 16 feet; thence to Haverhill bridge (12 miles), 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchells Falls (14 miles), 10 feet; through Mitchells Falls to the head of the Upper Falls (21⁄2 miles), not less than 41 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence running. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000. The total expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $230,866.72, and the river channel had been improved in accordance with the modified project, with the exception of the removal of the "boilers," upon which no work has been done. No operations were in progress during the year, and the improvement remains in good order. The funds made available by the act of September 19, 1890, were to be expended at Mitchells Falls, and as they were insufficient for any practicable benefit to commerce, they have been retained in the Treasury. To complete the improvement so that the same depth of water which has been obtained through Mitchells Falls can be carried to Lawrence, additional work will be required at the falls above Haverhill, which is estimated to cost $11,000; and additional improvements could be made in the lower part of the river, which are estimated to cost $11,500, or a total of $22,500. The improved channel is in good order. 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 B 2.) $10,000.00 9.48 9,990.52 1,500.00 11, 490.52 3. Powow River, Massachusetts.-Powow River is a tributary of the Merrimac River, into which it enters from the north about 3 miles above Newburyport. From its mouth tide water extends 9,600 feet in a narrow, crooked channel, not navigable at low water. The project proposed for its improvement is to dredge a channel9,600 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 12 feet deep at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $77,000. The river and harbor acts of 1888 and 1890 appropriated $8,000 for this work, provided a suitable draw was built in the bridge which crossed the mouth of the river. The condition required by the proviso in the acts making appropriations for this improvement has been complied with, but the funds available are inadequate to obtain any appreciable benefit to commerce and they will be retained in the Treasury until additional funds are provided. |