During the fiscal year navigable channels of 9 feet depth at low water were made as follows: The varying stages of water in the river made it necessary to move from one bar before the channel there was completed, to begin work upon another where the need was more urgent. Following are the results of work done under this contract, making channels of navigable width (generally 60 feet), and of 9 feet depth at low water: The average cost per cubic yard of this dredging, not including inspec tion or contingent expenses, was 11.55 cents. After the available funds were exhausted, it is understood that dredging was continued by private parties. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. Nothing has been done towards annual maintenance of channels since the spring freshets; the bars on the upper part of the river have available low-water depths of 5 to 8 feet, except where they have been dredged by private parties. The channel between the Saybrook Jetties, dredged 12 feet deep and 130 feet wide, retains nearly that depth and width. The Hartford Dike is in fair condition; the Glastonbury Dike, built on a convex bank, is now nearly covered by the advance of the bank. Both jetties at Saybrook are in fair condition. They should be built up to the dimensions provided for in the project, to make them permanent. The length of dikes and jetties is as follows: PROPOSED OPERATIONS. Future appropriations will be applied to maintenance of the 9-foot channel in the river, completing the dike at Hartford, raising the jetties at Saybrook, and dredging between them. Appropriations for improving the Connecticut River below Hartford have been as follows: Application. Date. Amonnt. Dredging at Saybrook Bar. Dredging at Saybrook Bar (the unexpended balance of 1836 was reappropriated). Mar. 3, 1839 Balance due contractor under previous appropriation. Dredging at Pratt Ferry, Pistol Point, Mouse Island; piling at Hartford.. Dredging at Pratt Ferry, Pistol Point, and Saybrook Jetty. Dredging at Hartford, Pratt Ferry, Glastonbury, Saybrook Jetty. Compensation for previous dredging Dredging at Hartford, Pratt Ferry, Glastonbury, Saybrook Jetties, Salmon Mar. 3, 1875 20,000.00 Saybrook Jetties, survey from Hartford to Rocky Hill. Dredging at Hartford, Press Barn, Glastonbury.. Mar. 3, 1879 10,000.00 Dredging at Hartford, Glastonbury, Saybrook Jetties. June 14, 1880 10,000.00 Dredging at Hartford, Pratt Ferry, Glastonbury, Glastonbury Wing Dam, Dredging at Hartford, Clay Banks, Pratt Ferry, Press Barn, Glastonbury, Dredging at Hartford, Clay Banks, Pratt Ferry, Press Barn, Glastonbury, Dividend, Pistol Point, Mouse Island, and between Saybrook Jetties; extending west jetty at Saybrook....... Dredging at Hartford, Clay Banks, Naubuc, Press Barn, Glastonbury, Dividend, Pistol Point, and Haddam Island; repairs of Hartford Dike, and Saybrook Jetties Compensation for previous dredging. Annual dredging at Hartford, Clay Banks, Press Barn, Glastonbury, Annual dredging at Hartford, Clay Banks, Press Barn, Glastonbury, Sept. 19, 1890 Total 12, 500, 00 420, 165. 22 By course of river The Connecticut River is in the collection district of Hartford. the distance from Holyoke, Mass., to Hartford, Conn., is about 34 miles, and from Hartford to Long Island Sound about 50 miles. There is a light-house on Saybrook Point, on the west shore of the river, at its mouth, and another at the end of the west jetty, besides which there are three small beacon lights in the lower part of the river, which are maintained by the United States. Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, Connecticut, about 16 miles east from Saybrook Point, is the nearest work of defense. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Abstract of contract for improving Connecticut River, in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. Coal COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1891, BELOW HARTFORD. Receipts and shipments by water. Stone (mainly from Portland). Total Owned in district: Steamers Sail vessels Barges... Not owned in district: Vessels of all kinds Total The decrease in freight tonnage as compared with that of 1890 is attributed to the temporary substitution of a semiweekly for a daily service, made necessary by the burning of steamer City of Richmond and to dullness in the stone trade. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891. D 4. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR OF REFUGE AT DUCK ISLAND HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. Duck Island Harbor is a bay on the north shore of Long Island Sound, between headlands known as Menunketesuck and Kelseys Points, respectively on the east and west sides of the harbor. It is about 7 miles west of the mouth of the Connecticut River, and midway between the harbors of New Haven and New London. In this distance of 46 miles there is no secure harbor of sufficient size and depth to shelter any considerable part of the general commerce of the Sound. Duck Island Harbor has a large anchorage area with depths of 16 feet or more at low tide, and with good holding bottom. It is sheltered from the north by the mainland, partly sheltered from the east by Menunke tesuck Point, and slightly sheltered from the south by Duck Island, an island about 900 feet long (north and south), by 300 feet wide, situated in the mouth of the harbor rather more than half a mile west-southwest from Menunketesuck Point. PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENT. Under act of Congress of August 2, 1882, a preliminary examination of this harbor was made by Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, the report upon which was printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, Part I, page 684, and in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 50, Fortyeighth Congress, first session. This report outlined two plans for improving the security of the harbor, and suggested that the adoption of a project be deferred for further consideration. The act of Congress approved August 5, 1886, provided for a "resurvey of Duck Island Harbor on Long Island Sound, including plans, specifications, and estimates of cost for making the same a harbor of refuge." A preliminary examination, together with the recent coast survey charts, afforded all the information necessary, without a detailed survey. In my report on this examination, dated November 12, 1886, and printed (with map) in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engi neers for 1887, Part I, page 641, the required plans, etc., were presented. They contemplated the construction of three riprap breakwaters, one extending westerly from Duck Island, one northeasterly from the island toward Menunketesuck Point, and the third southwesterly from Menunketesuck Point. These would shelter an area of about 115 acres, with 16 feet depth or more at low tide in case of southeast storms, with a larger area for storms from any other quarter. The harbor would have a broad western entrance with 17 feet depth and an eastern entrance between the breakwaters over 25 feet deep and about 750 feet wide. The breakwaters proposed were to be of riprap, 10 feet wide at top, which was to be 10 feet above low-water level (about 6 feet above high water), with inside slopes of 1 upon 1, and outside slopes of 2 upon 3. The estimated cost of riprap stone was as follows: Breakwater westerly from Duck Island, 3,000 feet long Breakwater northeasterly from Duck Island, 1,750 feet long Breakwater southwesterly from Menunketesuck Point, 1,130 feet long..do... Total, 301,000 tons of stone, at $1.40 per ton .tons.. ...do... 181, 000 79,000 41,000 The beginning of work under this project was approved by the Secretary of War September 27, 1890, after the first appropriation for this harbor had been made, and up to July 1, 1891, under a contract not then completed, 5,126 tons of brownstone had been delivered and placed, building 270 feet of the breakwater, but with cross-sections of dimensions somewhat less than provided for in the original project. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. At the beginning of the year a contract was in progress with Eugene S. Belden, of Rocky Hill, Conn., to deliver riprap sandstone and build a breakwater at the rate of 94 cents per gross ton of stone delivered and placed. During the fiscal year there was delivered and placed, under this contract, 18,336 tons of riprap, building 676 feet of break water. Work was begun May 14, 1891, and the contract completed October 3, 1891. The total amount of stone delivered under the contract was 23,462 tons, and the total length of breakwater built was 946 linear feet, extending westerly from the west side of Duck Island and terminating in a depth of 15 feet at mean low water. The wall was built to a height of 7 feet over mean low water, with top width of 5 feet and side slopes of 1 upon 1. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. The work done under the contract completed last year is the only public work of improvement yet done in this harbor; its condition is as described above. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. Future appropriations will be applied to extending breakwater already begun, to raising and widening it, and to building the other breakwaters, as provided in the approved project. The only appropriation made for improving Duck Island Harbor, Connecticut, is the one of $25,000 made by act of Congress approved September 19, 1890. Duck Island Harbor is in the collection district of Hartford. The nearest light-house is at Saybrook Point, at the mouth of the Connecticut, about 8 miles eastward. There is a light vessel on Long Sand Shoal, about 5 miles to the southeast. Fort Trumbull, New London Harbor, 21 miles east, is the nearest work of defense. Money statement. 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..... 403, 540.00 100, 000. 00 Abstract of contract for improving Duck Island Harbor, Connecticut, in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. No statement of the number of vessels passing this harbor of refuge has been received. It may be approximately estimated as two-thirds of the number passing New Haven Breakwater, for which the record is 137,882. The value of this commerce can not be ascertained. |