accordance with the recommendations of the United States commissioners, whose labors terminated during that year. The works of preservation consist of sea walls, aprons, jetties, etc., which protect the shores of the islands and headlands, prevent additional wash into the channels, control tidal scour, and preserve the full height of anchorage shelter for vessels in the roadsteads. Such have been built or repaired at Point Allerton, and the islands of Great Brewster, Lovell, Gallop, Long, Deer, Rainsford, George, and Castle. The works of improvement have been by dredging and blasting, by which means many dangerous rocks and shoals have been removed and the main ship channel enlarged from 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water, so that it is now at least 625 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water. The following tributary channels have also been improved: a. Charles River.-The natural channel of this river has been widened, straightened, and deepened, so that from its mouth to Western Avenue Bridge, a distance of 43 miles, the channel has a width of 200 feet and a depth of 7 feet at mean low water; thence to Arsenal Street Bridge, 23 miles, the channel has a least width of 80 feet and a least depth of 6 feet. b. Fort Point Channel.-This important branch of the main ship channel had a least depth of 12 feet at its entrance, and the channel was narrow and crooked. It has been widened to 175 feet and deepened to 23 feet at mean low water from its mouth to Congress Street Bridge, a distance of 1,900 feet. c. Hingham Harbor. (See separate report.) d. Nantasket Beach Channel. The project adopted in 1880 was to widen and deepen the channel so that it would be at least 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at mean low water. The project was completed in 1881 and 1883. e." Channel between Nixs Mate and Long Island.-This channel had originally 4 feet depth at mean low water. A cut has been made through the bar 300 feet wide, 15 feet deep at mean low water. f. Broad Sound.-An obstruction called Barrel Rock was removed in 1869. The total expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $2,147,449.98. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the main ship channel was widened at the west end of Brewster Spit to 625 feet; and at the upper middle to 800 feet. It was extended towards Jeffreys Point, so that from Grand Junction Wharf to just east of Simpson's Patent Dry Docks it is now 275 feet wide, 18 feet deep at mean low water, and thence gradually narrows to 250 feet and shoals to 15 feet to a junction with the same depth off Jeffreys Point. Repairs were made to the sea wall at Great Brewster Island; the sea wall at Gallops Island was extended 300 feet, and the riprap at Long Island was strengthened. At the date of this report the several works of preservation are in fair order; the main ship channel is 23 feet deep at mean low water, 1,100 feet wide west of the upper middle, 800 feet wide at the upper middle, 1,000 feet wide at the lower middle, and at least 625 feet wide elsewhere. The subsidiary channels are in the same condition as at the date of the last report. Under date of December 23, 1891, the officer in charge submitted a report recommending, for the accommodation of the deep-draft vessels that now seek entrance to this harbor, that the main ship channel be deepened to 30 feet at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $1,500,000. This report was transmitted to the Senate in response to Senate resolution of April 18, 1892, and printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 83, Fifty-second Congress, first session. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year .$156, 826. 12 68, 901.61 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 87,924.51 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $5,992.34 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... 23, 287.62 29, 279.96 July 1, 1892, balance available Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 58, 644.55 300,000.00 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 B 11.) 358, 644.55 50,000.00 12. Weymouth River, Massachusetts.-Weymouth (Fore) River empties into the southwestern part of Boston Harbor, Mass. For 4 miles it is navigable at low water for vessels drawing 18 feet, and to the head of navigation, an additional 3 miles, at least 3 feet depth is to be found. The original project for its improvement was submitted December 2, 1889. It proposed to improve the natural channel, so that 6 feet at mean low water could be carried to the head of navigation in a channel 100 feet wide to near Weymouth Landing, thence to Braintree Bridge 80 feet wide, and above the bridge 50 feet wide; the total length of improved channel to be 7,000 feet and to cost $40,000. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated for this work $10,000. The total expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $4,468.46, and at that date the improved channel was 5,000 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. During the fiscal year 5,585 cubic yards were dredged from the river, and at the date of this report the improved channel is 6 feet deep at mean low water, 40 feet wide to Braintree Bridge, and 25 feet wide thence to the head of navigation. 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..... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 12.) $5,531.54 5, 531.54 10, 000. 00 20,000.00 13. Hingham Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of this improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel, which was 30 feet wide and 4 feet deep, so that it will be 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water. The project was originally proposed in 1874 and was modified in 1885. The original project was estimated to cost $11,000. The project of 1885 was to cost an additional sum of $18,750. The total appropriations to date have been $29,000, and the expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $25,088.35. On June 30, 1891, the improved channel had been completed as pro posed, excepting the removal of a midchannel ledge near Chandlers Island. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year, and at the date of this report the improved channel is in good order. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 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 13.) $911.65 911.65 3,000.00 3, 911. 65 14. Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is on the west shore of Massachusetts Bay, about 14 miles south of Boston Light. The object of the improvement is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels bound to Boston from the eastward which are too far south of their true course to clear the dangerous ledges near Minots Ledge Light. Öriginally the harbor had a low-water area of about 57 acres, more than 6 acres of which had a depth of at least 3 feet at mean low water. It was entirely open to the action of easterly gales, and its entrance. was obstructed by sunken bowlders. The project adopted in 1880 is to build two breakwaters, one from Cedar Point, on the north side of the entrance, and the other from the First Cliff, on the south side, and to dredge the area inclosed and in front of the entrance. The estimated cost of the improvement is $290,000. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $52,918.73. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1891, was as follows: The north breakwater was essentially completed. Nothing had been done on the south breakwater. The anchorage basin was 350 by 459 feet in area, 7 feet deep at mean low water. The entrance channel was 1,600 feet long, 100 feet wide, 5 feet deep at mean low water. The channel connecting the basin with the town wharves was 2,100 feet long, 25 feet wide, 1 foot deep at mean low water. During the fiscal year 30,000 cubic yards were dredged from the channel connecting the anchorage basin with the town wharves under a contract dated December 5, 1890; and at the date of this report this channel is 3 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, except at its upper end, where for a distance of 75 feet it is only 50 feet wide. The anchorage basin, entrance channel, and north and south breakwaters remain in the same condition as on June 30, 1891. The prospective benefits to commerce by the completion of this improvement are the creation of an additional harbor of refuge on this much frequented dangerous coast. 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...... $10, 761. 23 10, 611. 23 150.00 10,000.00 10, 150.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 217,500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 14.) ENG 924 15. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-Plymouth Harbor is 30 miles south of Boston. The object of its improvement is to perpetuate the harbor by the pres ervation of Long Beach, which forms it, and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to an enlarged anchorage basin in front of the town wharves. The various devices employed for the preservation of Long Beach are described in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1877. The original project for improvement was adopted in 1875 and modified in 1877 and 1884. The modified project proposed an improved channel 2,286 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at mean low water, leading to an anchorage basin 866 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 9 feet deep. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, were: For beach protection.. Total.... $127, 553.77 42, 713. 13 170, 266.90 The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1891, was as follows: The improved channel was 130 feet wide; the basin was 800 feet long and averaged 150 feet wide; both were 9 feet deep at mean low water. Some repairs were needed on Long Beach. During the fiscal year 11,676 cubic yards were dredged from the basin, thus completing it. One thousand three hundred feet of the bulkheads protecting Long Beach were repaired. At the date of this report the basin is completed, the improved channel is 130 feet wide, and Long Beach is in fair repair, but needs additional works of protection at its southern end. 16. Wellfleet Harbor, Massachusetts.-Wellfleet Harbor is 12 miles southeast of Provincetown, on Cape Cod Bay. The object of its improvement is to provide a navigable channel from the inner anchorage, the " Deep Hole," to the town wharves. The project originally proposed in 1871 was to dredge two channels of approach to the town wharves and to remove several dangerous sunken rocks. The removal of the sunken rocks was effected by an appropriation provided by the act of June 10, 1872. The present project is to dredge a channel from the "Deep Hole" to the town wharves, 4,200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $11.339.79. The condition of the improvement on that date was as follows: Two hundred and four cubic yards of rocks had been removed from the harbor, and the channel connecting the "Deep Hole" with the town wharves was 25 feet wide, 4 feet deep at mean low water. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year, as the funds available were not considered sufficient to give any appreciable benefit to commerce. The condition of the improvement at the date of this report is the same as on June 30, 1891. 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 B 16.) $4,649.63 4,649.63 22,000.00 17. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.-Provincetown Harbor is situated at the extremity of Cape Cod, about 40 miles southeast from Boston Light. It is one of the most valuable harbors of refuge on the Atlantic coast. The entire commerce of New England and a very large local fishing interest are directly benefited by its maintenance, which depends entirely on the preservation of the sandy beaches which inclose it. Since 1826 the project has been a general one, and provides for the preservation of the harbor by building dikes, bulkheads, and sand catches, and extensive planting of beach grass to repair and prevent storm damages to the beaches. From the nature of the work it can at no time be considered completed. A special dike across House Point Island Flats, to be built contingently, was recommended in the annual report for 1886. A plan of the harbor was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1886. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $142,558.47, and at that date operations were in progress for the construction of a bulkhead 2,000 feet long west of Wood End Light. This bulkhead was completed during the year. A total length of 3,213 feet, including spurs, was constructed. During the fiscal year the breakwater protecting the end of Long Point was extended 150 feet southeast. At the date of this report the works of preservation are in good order, but additional protection is required at the east end of Long Point to secure the light-house tract. 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 17.) $8,832.97 5,019.62 3, 783.35 1,500.00 5, 283.35 18. Chatham Harbor, Massachusetts.-Chatham Harbor is at the eastern end of Nantucket Sound, about 15 miles east of Hyannis, Mass. Its outer anchorage (Chatham Roads) is a valuable harbor of refuge from northerly and easterly gales. The inner harbor (Stage Haibor) is small, but well landlocked, and has 8 to 12 feet depth at mean low water. Its entrance is obstructed by three bars, on which the greatest depth at mean low water is 4 feet. The project for the improvement of this harbor, submitted December 19, 1890, proposes to dredge a channel through the three obstructing bars, 6 feet deep at mean low water, 100 feet wide at the inner bar, 150 feet wide at the middle bar, and 200 feet wide at the outer bar, at a cost of $10,000. |