IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. Lynn Harbor is situated 9 miles northeast from Boston. It is 1 by 2 miles, approximately, in extent, the greater part of which is dry at low water. It is protected on the north and west by the mainland, and on the east by Nahant Beach, and its entrance, 2 miles wide, into Massachusetts Bay, is on the south side. A plan of the harbor, showing the projected improvement was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, Part 1, page 532. Before improvement, three narrow and crooked channels of approach to the wharves existed, in each of which there was about 6 feet depth at mean low water. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 9.3 feet. The western channel leads to the Point of Pines and the mouth of Saugus River. The main ship channel is entered between White and Lobster Rocks, and connects about 3,600 feet northward with the Black Rock Channel, which is the most eastern, near Nahant Beach. The project for improvement was adopted in 1884. It provides for the excavation of a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, from a point near and east of the White Rocks, to deep water opposite Little Nahant, a distance of 3,610 feet. This is called the outer improved channel, and is merely a rectification and deepening of the main ship channel. The combined main ship channel and Black Rock Channel are sufficient for the purpose of commerce for the next 2,500 feet. Then commences the inner improved channel, which is projected 6,450 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 10 feet deep at mean low water. It extends from deep water, opposite Sand Point, to the harbor commissioners' line, and follows very closely in direction the extension of the united main ship and Black Rock Channels. On September 24, 1888, this project was modified. It was then proposed to extend the main ship channel 400 feet within the harbor line and to excavate at its inner end a basin 500 by 300 feet in area, 10 feet deep at mean low water. It is supposed that the inner channel will need to be dredged occasionally to maintain its width and depth, but a training wall about 6,000 feet long, has been proposed to aid in keeping the outer channel open, if experience shall show it to be necessary. This wall is to start from the shore at "Little Nahant," and is to cross the Black Rock Channel. Its outer position is to be parallel to the outer improved channel. The cost of the original project was estimated to be $145,000. This estimate was revised in 1885, and then made $157,000, to provide for an increased amount of dredging found to be necessary during the progress of the work, to round off the junctions of the natural channel with the dredged channel, to provide flatter slopes to the sides of the cuts than was originally designed, and also to provide funds for necessary surveys during the progress of the work. The modifications proposed September 24, 1888, were estimated to cost $25,000, which would make the total cost of the improvement $182,000. The total appropriations for this harbor to date have been $91,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $75,612.46. On June 30, 1891, the outer channel had been completed as proposed3,610 feet long, 200 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water; the inner channel was 6,450 feet long, 10 feet deep at mean low water, 150 feet wide, or 50 feet less than is proposed. The basin was 125 feet wide, 500 feet long, 10 feet deep at mean low water, connected with the main ship channel at the harbor line by a cut 100 feet wide, 400 feet long, 10 feet deep at mean low water, and a contract was in force with the New England Dredging Company to excavate 40,000 cubic yards at 18 cents per yard from the basin. Operations under this contract were commenced in September, 1891, and satisfactorily finished in October, 1891. The basin was completed as proposed 500 feet long, 300 feet wide, 10 feet deep, at mean low water; connected with the inner channel by a cut 200 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water. During the year a survey of the outer improved channel was made, and by comparison with previous surveys it was shown that no change had occurred in the channel or its approaches since it had been dredged, and therefore the proposed training wall is not as yet necessary. At the date of this report the improvement is in good order. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $91,000, and of this amount $50,000 could be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Lynn is a port of entry in the collection district of Marblehead, Mass. The nearest light-house is Egg Rock (Nahant) Light, 3 miles distant. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been furnished by the collector of customs at Marblehead, Mass. The date and amount of appropriations for this work are as follows: Amount (estimated) required for the completion of existing project 81,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 50,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Amount of revenue collected 1890, $3,509.60; 1891, $4,855.96; 1892, $3,545.17. All classes of vessels frequent the harbor. Number of vessels boarded during the year, 743; average draft, 13 feet; average tonnage, 230. Β 10. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS. This harbor is situated in the northeastern part of Boston Harbor, immediately westward of Winthrop Head. A chart of the harbor was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1888, part 1, page 470. The harbor contains, approximately, 350 acres, all of which is dry at low tide except a short, narrow, crooked slough east of Snake Island. To the town wharf no low-water channel exists. The mean range of tides is 9.4 feet. The nearest deep-water channel of Boston Harbor is known as the "Back" Channel, and it extends from Point Shirley to East Boston. It has from 9 to 16 feet depth at low tide. The town wharf is distant 3,900 feet from this "Back" Channel. The original project for the improvement of this harbor was submitted November 28, 1887; it was based on the survey provided for in the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886. The project proposes to excavate a straight channel 3,900 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water from the "Back" Channel to Rices Wharf, at an estimated cost of $17,600. For this improvement the following amounts have been appropriated: By act of August 11, 1888 Total.... $1,000 5,000 6,000 The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $5,326, and at that date the improved channel was 3 feet deep at mean low water, 3,900 feet long, and 35 feet wide. Opposite Rices Wharf it was 50 feet wide. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year, and at the date of this report the condition of the improvement is the same as on June 30, 1891. The beaches and headlands protecting this harbor on the east were seriously abraded by the storms of the winter 1888-'89; this abrasion has been continued and they will soon require protection, not only to secure this minor harbor, but to prevent injury to the main harbor of Boston. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $11,600, all of which could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Winthrop Harbor, Massachusetts, is in the collection district of Boston, Mass., of which Boston is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is situated upon Deer Island Point, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. The existing commerce is nominal, and commercial statistics are included in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. No increase in the tonnage of the harbor is apparent, and no new lines of water transportation have been established. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended Money statement. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.......... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... $3,618. 82 3, 116. 62 502.20 3,000.00 3,502, 20 8, 600.00 8,600.00 B II. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Boston Harbor consists essentially of an inner and outer harbor, united by a deep waterway, and each accessible from the sea by a distinct channel, widening into a deep and spacious roadstead. 1. Inner harbor.-This harbor lies to the north and westward of Long Island, and has deep water and good anchorage in the President Roads, seaward of Lower Middle Bar, and also near the city, westward of Upper Middle Bar. Four rivers discharge their waters into this basin, the Charles, Mystic, and Chelsea rivers from the north, and the Neponset from the south. The direct entrance from the sea is by Broad Sound. 2. Outer harbor.-This harbor lies to the southward of Long Island, and has a fine anchorage in Nantasket Roads, as well as in Hingham Bay, a well-sheltered harbor southeast of Peddock Island. It connects with the inner harbor by the main ship channel through the "Narrows," and by secondary channels east and west of Long Island. It is reached from the sea by Nantasket Roads, which lie south of Georges and Great Brewster islands, and is marked at the sea entrance by Boston Light. Weymouth and Weir rivers empty into the outer harbor. Both the inner and outer harbors are subdivided into several minor harbors, and contain many islands, which shelter the anchorages from winds and storm waves. The range of tides at the navy-yard is 9.8 feet, and at the entrance to the outer harbor 9.4 feet. A sketch of the harbor was printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1888, page 454. The object of the improvement is, first, to preserve the harbor by protecting the islands and headlands; and, second, to improve it, by widening, deepening, and straightening the channels. The projects adopted for this purpose since 1866 have been mainly in 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 the tidal scour, and preserve the full height of anchorage shelter for vessels in the roadsteads. The works of improvement have been by dredging and blasting. The total appropriations from 1825 to date have been $2,304,276.10. The total expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $2,147,449.18. WORKS OF PRESERVATION. Point Allerton.-This headland at the southeasterly entrance of the harbor is protected by a granite sea wall 1,202 feet in length, completed in 1873.. Its concrete foundation for a distance of 1,005 feet is protected by an apron and eight short jetties of granite rubblestone. No work was done on it during the fiscal year. Its condition June 30, 1892, is as follows: The wall is generally in good order, although some of its joints should be repointed. The bluff protected by this wall is not fully covered from storm action, and the sea wall should be extended westward for a distance of at least 150 feet, and the foundation of the extension should be protected with riprap. This is estimated to cost $15,000. Great Brewster Island.―This island is on the north side of the main ship channel near the entrance. It is protected by a granite sea wall 2,840 feet long, which was completed in 1869. During the fiscal year the joints of about 600 running feet of the wall were repointed, and the return wall at the north end was relaid. On June 30, 1892, the wall is in fair order, but repointing is still needed, for which funds are available, and the work will be done during the next fiscal year. Georges Island.-Its northern and eastern shores are protected by a granite sea wall 2,150 feet long. West of this wall a riprap improvement extends for 450 feet, and south of it another 600 feet long. The sea wall and southern riprap were built about 1835. The western riprap was built in 1884-85. No work was done on the wall or ripraps during the year, and they are in good order at the date of this report. The unprotected western shore line of the island in front of the Government buildings was considerably abraded; the highwater line had been moved back in places nearly 25 feet. This shore line should be protected by a light sea wall 1,400 feet long, at a cost of $35,000. Lovells Island.-The western shore of this island is protected by a rubblestone apron, 975 feet long, built in 1873, and repaired and extended in 1884; the northern shore is covered by a granite sea wall, 750 feet long, built in 1843; and the eastern shore is protected by a granite sea wall, 800 feet long, built in 1869, and repaired in 1879 and 1886, and |