The total amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $11,350.37, and the condition of the improvement was as follows: "Mayo," "Bay," "Lobster," and "Lumpfish" rocks had been removed, and a channel had been dredged from the "Deep Hole" to the town wharves, 4,200 feet long, 4 feet deep at mean low water, and 25 feet wide. Opposite the town wharves the channel was enlarged to 75 feet wide, to facilitate the docking of vessels. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $4,000 to continue this improvement. No appreciable benefit to commerce would result by the expenditure of this amount, and it is to be retained in the Treasury until additional funds are provided. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $22,000, all of which could be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been furnished by the collector of customs at Barnstable, Mass.: Wellfleet is in the collection district of Barnstable, Mass., of which Barnstable is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is Mayo Beach Light. Money statement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $4,649.63 4, 649.63 22,000.00 22,000. 00 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Amount of revenue collected, 1890, $253.35; 1891, $231.40; 1892, $91.60. B 17. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT PROVINCETOWN, 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 sandcatches, and extensive planting of beach grass to repair or prevent storm damages to the beaches. From the nature of the work it can at no time be considered completed. A full history of the improvements will be found in the Annual Reports of the Chief of Engineers for the years 1876, 1879, and 1886. 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 total appropriations or allotments for this work to date have been $151,418.44. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $142,588.47. The condition of the improvement on that date was as follows: Long Point.-This long, narrow, low point forms the southeastern limit of the harbor. Its northerly end was fully protected from easterly storm action; but the northwestern part of the point, opposite the fogsignal station, has for some time been abraded by storms. During the fiscal year the breakwater protecting the easterly shore was extended 150 feet to the south and west, and should be extended 100 feet farther to fully secure the light-house tract. The northwestern part of Long Point, between a point 2,000 feet west of Wood End Light and Abel Hill Dike, was narrow and low, and needed additional protection, which was being effected by the construction of a bulkhead on the inside of the point, starting about 2,000 feet west of Wood End Light, and extending westward 2,000 feet, approximately. During the fiscal year this bulkhead was completed. A total length of 3,213 feet, including spurs, was built. Abel Hill Dike.-This dike was built to prevent the rush of water from Lancey's Harbor over House Point Island Flats into the main harbor. The rapid wearing away of the southern sandspit that forms Lancey's Harbor had threatened to make a breach through the beach south of the dike. To guard against this, brush and wooden sandcatches had been built on the outer beach opposite the west end of the dike. They were all in good order. House Point Island Flats.-These flats remained essentially unaltered from the condition shown by the last survey, and as stated in the Annual Report for 1887, it still appears unnecessary to commence the dike projected to be built across these flats. The most of the grass planted during the year 1888 had rooted, and was growing at the date of this report. Beach Point, High Head Dike, and Cove Section.--These works were all in good order. With the exception of the building of the new bulkhead on Long Point, the extension of the Long Point Breakwater, and ENG 92-38 some minor repairs to the sand-catches near Abel Hill Dike, no opera tions were in progress during the fiscal year, and at the date of this report all the works of preservation are in good order. The nature of the works of preservation of the harbor requires a small sum to be always available for immediate repairs. Such necessary repairs have averaged $1,500 per annum. The prospective benefit to commerce is the preservation of an important harbor of refuge. Provincetown is a port of entry in the collection district of Barnstable, Mass. The nearest-light houses are Wood End and Long Point lights. The accompanying commercial statistics have been furnished by the deputy collector at the port of Provincetown, Mass. The dates and amounts of appropriations for this work are as follows: 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... $8,832.97 5,049.62 3, 783.35 1,500.00 5, 283. 35 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Amount of revenue collected, 1890, $111.58; 1891, $1,932.75;, 1892, $571.47. All classes and nationalities of vessels visit the harbor for shelter or with cargo. Four thousand vessels visited the harbor during the year. T B 18. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT CHATHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. Chatham Harbor is at the eastern end of Nantucket Sound, about 15 miles east of Hyannis, Mass. Its outer anchorage, known as Chatham Roads, is a capacious, deep, unobstructed harbor of refuge from northerly and easterly gales. The inner harbor, locally known as "Stage" Harbor, is small, but well land-locked. It is about one-half mile long, 500 to 600 feet wide, and has 8 to 12 feet depth at mean low water. Its entrance is obstructed by three bars, on which the depth at mean low water does not exceed 4 feet. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 5 feet. The project for the improvement of the inner harbor was submitted December 19, 1890, and was based on a survey made in October, 1890. It proposed to dredge a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water through the three obstructing bars, 100 feet wide at the inner bar, 150 feet wide at the middle bar, and 200 feet wide at the outer bar, at an estimated cost of $10,000. But one appropriation has been made for this improvement, viz, by the act of September 19, 1890, $5,000. This sum it is proposed to expend in dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep through the three bars. Bids for this work were invited by public advertisement, dated January 10, 1891, and the proposals received were rejected as excessive. The work was again advertised under date of July 10, 1891, and on August 10, 1891, the two bids received were opened. An abstract of them will be found in the annexed table. The lowest bid was not in accordance with the specifications and was rejected. A contract was entered into with Mr. Charles W. Anthony, of Fall River, Mass., on August 26, 1891. Operations under this contract were commenced in October, and the work was satisfactorily completed in December, 1891. Eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-four cubic yards of material were removed from the middle and inner bars, and at the date of this report the improved channel across them is 6 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide. At least 5 feet at mean low water can now be carried into the inner harbor. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $5,000, all of which could be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Chatham Harbor is in the collection district of Barnstable, Mass., of which Barnstable is the port of entry; the nearest light-house is Hardings Beach Light. The accompanying commercial statistics have been furnished by the collector at Barnstable, Mass.: Money statement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. $1, 601. 19 4,003. 34 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended............... 597.85 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 5,000.00 5,000.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging from Chatham Harbor, Massachusetts, opened August 10, 1891, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers. The contract was The lowest bid is not in accordance with the specifications. awarded to Mr. Charles W. Anthony with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. Vessels drawing from 5 to 8 feet visit the port in large numbers for shelter or with cargo. |