Wilsons Point is in the Fairfield collection district, and is about 14 miles south west from Bridgeport, the port of entry. Norwalk Lighthouse, on Sheffield Island, is about half a mile south of the harbor. The nearest work of defense is Fort Schuyler, Throgs Neck, at the head of Long Island Sound, about 29 miles southwest. No commercial statistics for this harbor have yet been received. The amount of commerce reported for 1890 was 221,202 tons; it was probably some what greater for 1891. D 14. IMPROVEMENT OF FIVE-MILE HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. This harbor is an inlet on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 2 miles west of the mouth of Norwalk Harbor, Connecticut. It is about 1 mile long and from 300 to 800 feet wide. About three-quarters of a mile above its mouth it runs bare at low tide. At the mouth the depth is about 3 feet, increasing to 9 feet at a point about 750 feet out into the sound. The mean rise of tide is about 7 feet. Since 1848 Five Mile River has been largely engaged in oyster-growing, and in this business now employs about 137 vessels. These vessels can only enter or leave the harbor at high tide, consequently during their busy season they are obliged to lie up for the night at other and less convenient harbors. PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENT. By act of Congress approved August 5, 1886, a survey or examination of this harbor was ordered, which was made in the following fall, and reported on under date of December 7, 1886, and printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, Part I, page 639 In this report a project for improvement was proposed, which consisted in dredging a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, to extend up the harbor, and to be about 6,000 feet long; the estimated cost was $25,000. This project was adopted in 1888, when work under it was ordered by the appropriation of $5,000 made by act of Congress of August 11, 1888. Up to July 1, 1891, 22,938 cubic yards had been dredged under this project, making the channel about 1,500 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 8 feet deep at mean low water. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. At the beginning of the fiscal year a contract for dredging was in force, entered into with Mr. George B. Beardsley, under date of February 27, 1891, rate 14.6 cents per cubic yards, measured in scows. Work under this contract was begun August 25, and completed October 9, 1891, the total amount dredged being 30,000 cubic yards. The previous dredged channel, 1,500 feet long, about 50 feet wide, and 8 feet deep at mean low water, was widened to 60 feet and extended about 950 feet to a point opposite Monsells Dock. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. Under the existing project the channel has been dredged from deep water in Long Island Sound about 2,450 feet up the harbor, with width of 60 feet and depth of 8 feet at mean low water. It retains its depth fairly well, the only shoaling being from a slight falling in of its banks. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. With future appropriations it is proposed to widen and extend the harbor channel, as contemplated by the project. Appropriations for improving harbor at Five Mile River have been made as follows: Five Mile River is in the Fairfield collection district, and is about 13 miles west of Bridgeport, the port of entry. The nearest light-house is on Sheffield Island, nearly 2 miles from the mouth of the harbor. The nearest work of defense is Fort Schuyler, at the head of Long Island Sound, 27 miles southwest. Money statement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount enpended 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.. $5, 126.87 5, 013. 83 113. 04 5,000.00 5, 113. 04 10,000.00 10, 000. 00 Abstract of contract for improving Five Mile River Harbor, Connecticut, in force during fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. George B. Beardsley, Bridgeport, Feb. 27, 1891. Dredging*.... 14. 6..... Contract completed Oct. 9,1891,30,000 cubic yards dredged. Part of a contract for dredging in the harbors of Bridgeport, Black Rock, Five Mile River, and Norwalk. About 10,000 tons of coal were landed here during the year 1891, and this would be largely increased but for the delay in discharging because of shoal water. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891. D 15. IMPROVING STAMFORD HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. This is a small harbor on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 6 miles east of the New York State line. The harbor consists of a bay about a mile long and a mile broad, and of the mouth of the Mill River, a small stream which is dammed at Oliver Street Bridge, the head of the harbor. The original low-water depth for a mile below the bridge was from 1 to 3 feet in a crooked channel, and the 6-foot curve in the bay was about 6,600 feet below the bridge; the wharves are all in the upper half of this distance. The mean rise of the tide is 7.9 feet. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. By act of March 2, 1829, Congress appropriated $100 for making a survey of the harbor of Stamford, Conn., with a view to its improvement. The survey was made by Capt. Hartman Bache, U. S. Engineers, in 1829. In his report on the same, dated May 10, 1830, Capt. Bache recommended excavating the channel (proposing to build a steam dredge for the purpose), the cost being estimated as follows: For a channel 12 feet deep at ordinary high water (about 4 feet at mean low water). For a channel 10 feet deep at ordinary high water $13.250.00 1,035.20 No money was appropriated for carrying out this plan. The river and harbor act of 1882 authorized a survey of this harbor, which was made in the following year. In his report on this survey, dated December 12, 1883 (printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 50, Fortyeighth Congress, first session, also in annual report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, Part I, page 672), Col. McFarland, U. S. Engineers, submitted a project for dredging a channel 80 feet wide and 5 feet deep at mean low water, from deep water in the bay up to Oliver Street Bridge, estimated to cost as follows: Dredging, 80,000 cubic yards of mud, at 20 cents.... Total..... $16,000 4,000 20,000 It was not intended to include the removal of the ledge under and just below the bridge. The beginning of the work under this project was approved by the Secretary of War, August 30, 1886, after the first appropriation for improving the harbor had been made. Up to July 1, 1891, the channel had been made 5 feet deep at mean low water and 80 feet wide up to within 1,000 feet of the head of the harbor, where the width was but 50 feet. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. The dredging under open market transaction which was suspended in June, 1891, was resumed November 17, 1891, and completed December 10, 1891; the total number of yards removed during the fiscal year was 7,365, making a total of 22,915 cubic yards under the appropriation of 1890. Two bends in the upper part of the harbor were widened 20 feet on the west side for a distance of about 650 feet north from W. D. Smith's coal dock. PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORK. The channel depth is now 5 feet at mean low water, and about 80 feet wide from deep water in the bay up to within 1,000 feet of the head of the harbor; near the head of the harbor the width is from 50 to 70 feet; at the bends the width has been made from 100 to 140 feet. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. The last appropriation completes the amount originally estimated for this project, and the project itself is practically completed. Small amounts will be required from time to time to maintain the channels. Appropriations for improving Stamford Harbor have been made as follows: Stamford Harbor is in the Fairfield collection district of which Bridgeport is the port of entry. There is a light-house on the Middle Ground at the harbor entrance. The nearest work of defense is Fort Schuyler, Throgs Neck, 20 miles to the south west. 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.. $3,287. 18 3,226. 45 60.73 15,000.00 15, 060, 73 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1891, NOT INCLUDING that via No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891. The above figures show an increase of freight tonnage of 9,000 tons over those reported for 1890. COMMERCE OF THE EAST BRANCH (SOMETIMES CALLED THE canal). No statistics have heretofore been received of the commerce of the East Branch. No new steam lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891, but a somewhat regular communication has been 'inaugurated between the East Branch and Cold Spring, Long Island, by sailing vessels, which bring over produce, and which use the East Branch as being most convenient to the business center of the town. In the above figures no small boats or pleasure craft are included. |