7. Breakwaters at New Haven, Connecticut.-In 1880 a project was adopted for making a harbor of refuge at the entrance of New Haven Harbor by the construction of two riprap breakwaters; the first to be 3,300 feet long, extending northeasterly from the lighthouse on Southwest Ledge to Quixes Ledge, the second to be 4,200 feet long, extending northwesterly from Luddington Rock. The estimated cost was $1,311,134.

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provided: "And the Chief of Engineers may, if deemed necessary, relocate the western breakwater, and the Secretary of War is authorized, in his discretion, to expend any portion of said sum in commencing its construction." The New Haven Harbor Commissioners proposed a plan for relocation of the western breakwater, which would largely increase the anchorage afforded under the original project, and which would cost about $5,000,000. There was no doubt of the desirability of increasing the anchorage ground, but the expenditure required by this plan was larger than the present demands of commerce seemed to warrant. A plan was suggested by the officer in charge for changing the location of the western breakwater to the southwest about 6,000 feet, and constructing a breakwater 5,000 feet long, which should start at a point 1,000 feet N. 54° E. from Luddington Rock, and extend S. 54° W. crossing the rock; also for constructing a smaller breakwater from the east shore towards Quixes Ledge, to better protect the harbor from easterly storms, leaving an eastern entrance channel 800 feet wide and 13 feet deep. The cost of these works, in addition to the present estimates of $1,311,134, would be about $840,000.

Upon appropriation of $120,000 by the river and harbor act of 1890, the modifications of project above described were adopted. Further details concerning this plan, and a sketch showing location of proposed works, are printed in the Annual Report for 1889, Part I, pages 60 and 61; also Appendix D 6, pages 675–685.

Up to July 1, 1891, the east breakwater, 3,450 feet long, had been completed, affording considerable shelter to the east side of the harbor, and the middle breakwater from Luddington Rock had been begun, 350 linear feet being built northeastwardly from the rock.

During the past fiscal year the breakwater over Luddington Rock was extended 150 feet northeastwardly and 1,480 feet southwestwardly, making its present length 1,980 feet, under a contract still in progress. The work is not yet built to full dimensions of cross section, and the length is insufficient to afford much shelter.

With the available funds it is proposed to extend the breakwater southwestwardly, and with future appropriations to complete the projected breakwaters for harbor of refuge.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.....

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

$119, 914. 06

67, 285. 15

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities

52, 628.91

July 1, 1892. amount covered by uncompleted contracts....

July 1, 1892, balance available

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893..

9, 285.42 120,000.00

129, 285.42

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... $1, 541, 134.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix D 7.)

8. Milford Harbor, Connecticut. This harbor consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which a small tidal stream extends threequarters of a mile inland to the upper wharf. Originally the depth on the bar at the mouth of the river was less than 2 feet at mean low tide; in parts of the river the channel ran nearly bare.

Under the first project for improvement, adopted in 1872, a channel 4 feet deep and 100 feet wide was excavated through the bar, and thence 40 to 60 feet wide to the upper wharf; small jetties were built to protect the east bank from erosion, and two jetties were built to preserve the channel on the bar, at a total cost of $34,000. In 1881 a project was adopted for making the channel through the bar 8 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, at an estimated cost of $11,000. The 8-foot channel has been completed to 100 feet width.

July 1, 1891, the channel over the outer bar was in good condition; that from the bar to the upper wharves had shoaled soinewhat.

Work was in progress repairing Long Jetty on the east side of the head of the bay.

During the past fiscal year the repairs of Long Jetty were completed as far as seems now required. The condition of channels has not materially changed.

The project for this improvement is completed.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

(See Appendix D 8.)

$2,571.95 2, 396.49

175.46

9. Housatonic River, Connecticut.-The navigable part of this river extends from Derby, Conn., to Long Island Sound, a distance of 13 miles, and was originally obstructed by several bars upon which the low-water depth was from 3 to 5 feet.

In 1871 a project was adopted for making and maintaining a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water, throughout this distance. Besides the necessary dredging, it contemplated building a breakwater east of the channel over the bar at the river's mouth.

A channel of the required depth has been dredged several times through the worst bars.

July 1, 1891, the available depth in the river channel was about 5 feet at mean low water, except at the upper part of the river where dredging was in progress; the breakwater at the mouth had been built 3,290 feet long, and the depth over the outer bar was about 6 feet.

During the past fiscal year the depth in the upper part of the river was made 7 feet at mean low water, and the breakwater was extended 1,282 feet, making its total length 4,572 feet; a section near the shore end of the breakwater, which was injured by heavy storms during the previous winter, was repaired.

The channels in the river have shoaled somewhat by reason of freshets; the channels near the mouth of the river have shifted so as to become crooked.

With the available funds it is proposed to dredge and straighten the channels at and near the mouth; future appropriations will be applied

to extension of the breakwater, and to repair and maintenance of river channels.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 112,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix D 9.)

10. Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut.-The available depth in this harbor was originally 5 feet at mean low water.

The first project for improvement provided for an 8-foot channel over the outer and inner bars. This was dredged on the outer bar in 1837, and on both bars in 1853. In 1871 a project was adopted for making a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide, subsequently modified to 300 feet, and for building a jetty on the east shore to check the influx of sand.

This was accomplished in 1882, and a new project was adopted for widening to 600 feet the channel from the inner beacon to the Naugatuck railroad wharf, to provide for vessels driven in by bad weather, without blocking the main channel. The estimated cost of the latter project was $60,000; it is very nearly completed. A small area remains near the Inner Beacon, which it is considered desirable to dredge. The project was extended in 1888 to include widening the channel above the railroad wharf in order to relieve the crowding at that point, and was further extended by act of Congress authorizing the expenditure of the appropriation of 1888 toward dredging a 9-foot channel up to the head of the upper harbor, above the bridges, and by the river and harbor act of 1890, which directed the beginning of the breakwater from the Tongue to the Inner Beacon. The total estimated cost of these extensions was $65,000, of which $30,000 has been appropriated. Up to July 1, 1891, a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water existed from Long Island Sound up to the lower bridge, with widths of from 75 to 600 feet; thence to a point about 1,400 feet above the horse railroad bridge the depth was 9 feet, and width 75 to 90 feet. These channels are constantly used by the commerce of the harbor, which could not exist without them.

Three hundred linear feet of the riprap breakwater from the Tongue to the Inner Beacon had been built.

During the past fiscal year the breakwater was extended from the Tongue to the Inner Beacon, a total distance of 1,165 feet, and the channel above the horse railroad bridge was extended practically to the head of the harbor, with width of 60 feet.

The breakwater has not been built to sufficiently large cross section for permanence, but it affords considerable and important shelter to the harbor and wharves above.

Future appropriations should be applied to extending and widening the channel above the horse railroad bridge, to repairing the harbor channel and widen it above the railroad wharf, and to enlarge the breakwater as projected.

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 D 10.)

$19,901.35 18, 491.20

1, 410. 15 20,000.00

21, 410. 15

35,000.00

11. Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor consists of a bay partly sheltered by Fayerweather Island, and of two small streams extending inland from the head of the bay. The depth in Cedar Creek, the more important of these streams, was from 2 to 4 feet at mean low water, and the channel was narrow and very crooked.

The project for improvement submitted in 1883, including dredging a channel 3,300 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, to extend up Cedar Creek, and a breakwater from Fayerweather Island to the mainland. The estimated cost was $80,000.

Up to July 1, 1891, the breakwater had been built to the full length, but not to the width and height projected.

The proposed channel had been carried up to the head of the harbor, but with less width in places than the project required. The channel was, however, largely used, and was indispensable to the commerce of the upper part of the harbor.

During the past fiscal year the channel has been repaired, maintained, and slightly widened. It is now practically of the dimensions required by the project.

Future appropriations should be applied to maintaining and extending the channel, and to enlargement of the breakwater as becomes

necessary.

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. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix D 11.)

$5, 117.38 4, 711.75

405.63 5,000.00

5, 405. 63

35,000.00

12. Norwalk Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor consists of the tidal part of Norwalk River, extending from Norwalk, Conn., to the river's mouth, a distance of about 3 miles. South Norwalk is on the west bank of the river, about 14 miles below Norwalk. Originally the depth up to South Norwalk was about 5 feet at mean low water; between there and Norwalk the river bed ran nearly bare.

The first project for improvement contemplated a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep to Norwalk. In 1881 the project was modified to provide for a depth of 8 feet below South Norwalk. The last estimate upon this work placed the cost from commencement at $84,000.

Some parts of the river have required dredging several times. Up to July 1, 1891, the channel had been made 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep up to South Norwalk, and thence to Norwalk 6 feet deep and

from 60 to 100 feet wide; it was in fair condition, but had narrowed slightly from washing in at the sides.

This channel was constantly used by the commerce of Norwalk and South Norwalk, to which it was indispensable.

During the past fiscal year dredging was done to repair and maintain the existing channels, and they now have the full depths and widths above mentioned.

The project for this improvement is practically completed; dredging will be needed in small amounts from time to time to maintain the channels.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

Jun 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

(See Appendix D 12.)

$4,767. 21

4,583, 68

183.53

13. Wilsons Point Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor is a bay on the north shore of Long Island Sound, sheltered from all storms except southerly ones. Its natural depth of 16 feet at the mouth shoaled to about 5 feet at low water at the wharves of the New England Terminal Company, a corporation formed to secure water privileges for the Housatonic Railroad system and its connections.

In 1888 $25,000 was appropriated for this improvement as a part of Norwalk Harbor, and a project was adopted for making a channel 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep up to the vicinity of the wharves. The required depth was secured, with width of 400 feet.

In 1890 $30,000 was appropriated for this harbor, and up to July 1, 1891, with a total expenditure of $36,814.21, the channel up to the vicinity of the wharves had been made 15 feet deep at mean low water, and 480 feet wide, with an additional width of 200 feet for 750 feet on the east side near the wharves. This permitted vessels of 15 feet draft to approach the wharves at any ordinary stage of the tide.

During the past fiscal year the channel below the wharves has been further widened by about 220 feet, and a basin has been dredged 200 feet wide and about 1,300 feet long on the west side of the wharves, affording room for vessels to approach that side.

No further public improvement at this harbor is needed, and no further appropriation is required.

14. Five Mile River Harbor, Connecticut. This harbor is a small inlet over a mile long, and from 300 to 800 feet wide, on the north shore of Long Island Sound. The natural low-water depth at the mouth is about 3 feet, shoaling to zero half way up the harbor.

The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey made in 1886, and adopted under an appropriation of $5,000, made August 11, 1888, provides for dredging a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water, 100 feet wide, and about 6,000 feet long, extending to the head of the harbor; the cost was estimated at $25,000.

The total amount appropriated for this improvement is $15,000.