feet. It was removed down to fourteen feet, at mean low water, under an appropriation made in 1870. A depth of eighteen feet, at mean low water, is deemed to be necessary, to make which it is estimated will require an appropriation of $5,000.

Newport Harbor, Rhode Island.

With a small balance of the appropriation of March 3, 1875, and the assistance of the officers of the United States Navy, Torpedo Station, and those of the Old Colony Steamboat Company, two large boulders were removed from the channel. These boulders have been struck several times, at extreme low tides, by the large steamboats, and during the last year caused considerable damage. The improvement planned at this place was designed to facilitate business at the port, and not to increase its capacity as a harbor of refuge. With this view, all has been done that is now needed.

Block Island Harbor, Rhode Island.

Work has been commenced on the proposed detached pier, under the appropriation made by the act of August 14, 1876. The funds. now available will complete the breakwater designed for the business of the island.

The harbor has become the resort of numbers of fishing vessels, belonging elsewhere, so that at times it is quite filled up. It will undoubtedly be sought by fishermen and ordinary coasters in numbers sufficient to fill a harbor of several times its capacity. The present work was not designed to meet this want. At the close of the season's work a final report will be made, which will include plans and estimates of cost of meeting the probable wants of the future.

Pawcatuck River, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

This improvement, as projected, has been completed, and no further work is now contemplated. The small balance is reserved to remove any small obstruction that may by accident be placed in the channel. Little Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The improvement projected for this locality, is to open a channel

two hundred feet wide and seven and a half feet deep, at mean low water, along the north shore of the bay, by dredging and by removing such rocks as may be found in the way.

The original estimate for the work was $51,000, deducting $5,000 already appropriated, leaves $46,000 still required to complete the work. One-half of this amount could be advantageously expended during the next fiscal year, and would probably suffice to open a channel one hundred feet wide, and thus utilize the improvement of Pawcatuck river, which was completed last year.

We wish to express our high appreciation of the value to this State of the services of the distinguished men who compose the United States Advisory Council: Rear-Admiral Daniel Ammen, U. S. N., Brevet-Major-Gen. G. K. Warren, U. S. A., and Prof. Henry Mitchell, U. S. C. S.

Respectfully submitted,

J. HERBERT SHEDD,
N. F. POTTER,
JEDEDIAH WILLIAMS,

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Harbor Commissioners.

APPENDIX.

A.

PETITION TO CONGRESS.

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:

The petition of the undersigned, Harbor Commissioners of the State of Rhode Island, etc.,-acting under the authority and on behalf of the said State, respectfully represents

That the port of Providence is situated at the northern limit of coast wise navigation for vessels that cannot safely pass the dangerous coast of Cape Cod, and has long been an important commercial station. It has good railroad facilities connecting with all parts of New England and the northern States.

The United States has, from time to time, expended money for the improvement of navigation to this port; but, for several years, the sums so expended have been of trifling amount.

The business of the port demands vessels of deeper draught than can pass over a long bar which is in the unimproved part of the harbor, having a least depth of about fourteen feet at mean low water, along the pathway of vessels.

By the excavation of a channel of suitable width and depth through this bar, and the straightening and widening of the channel at minor points, ocean vessels of deep draught may pass from the sea to the harbor, by the eastern passage, a distance of about thirty miles.

In order to furnish a convenient course for vessels of equal draught through the western passage, it would be necessary to cut a channel through a short bar about eight miles below Providence harbor. As there are two safe and commodious entrances to Narragansett Bay, one or the other of which can be made by vessels in a storm from any

quarter, it is very desirable that vessels driven to enter by the western passage, should be able to continue, without interruption, on their way to Providence harbor. The western passage is the most impor

tant to commerce.

The material of which these bars are composed is believed to be sand and -mud, easy of excavation. The city of Providence has expended or appropriated about a hundred thousand dollars for dredging in the harbor since 1870, and the average price per cubic yard, for the last three years, has been less than twelve cents.

The character of the tidal basin is such that channels would probably be permanently maintained at small cost.

Your petitioners, therefore, pray your honorable bodies to make an appropriation for the removal of obstructions, so that vessels of the larger class may find convenient and safe passage to this important harbor.

J. HERBERT SHEDD,
N. F. POTTER,

JEDEDIAH WILLIAMS,

Harbor Commissioners.

B.

STATEMENT TO GEN. WARREN.

To Gen. G. K. Warren, Major of Engineers, Newport, R. I.:

SIR:-We have received from you a communication enclosing a resolution of the House of Representatives, of which the following are copies:

[COMMUNICATION.]

ENGINEER'S OFFICE UNITED STATES ARMY,
NEWPORT, R. I., February 8, 1878.

Mr. J. Herbert Shedd, Civil Engineer, President Rhode Island Harbor Commission,
Providence, R. I.:

SIR-I have just received the resolution of the House of Representatives, of which the enclosed is a copy.

The subject has been referred to me by the Chief of Engineers United States Army for a report, with directions to confer with parties representing the interests involved. The matter, you know, has already been considered by us, so that

its points are familiar. I wish therefore you would forward to me such report from your honorable board as will represent the question in the light you regard it, to aid me in making my report, and to be transmitted with it to the Chief of Engineers. In its regular course it will probably be transmitted to Congress and printed for the use of the members in passing upon the subject itself.

Yours respectfully,

G. K. WARREN,

Major Engineer, Brevet-Major-General United States Army.

On motion of Mr. Eames:

RESOLUTION.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

February 5, 1878.

}

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be and he is hereby directed to communicate to this House as soon as practicable what improvements, if any, are demanded by the interests of commerce for the improvement of navigation to the port of Providence, R. I., based on examinations and surveys already made by the Coast Survey or other departments of the Government, together with the estimated cost of such improvements.

In response to your request we respectfully submit the following:

The improvement of the navigation of this port, for which we ask and which we consider to be urgently demanded by the interests and for the safety of commerce would be accomplished:—

First By widening and deepening the main channel from Fox Point, above and east of which (on the Providence and Seekonk rivers) are our present wharves, to Field's Point, which is at the entrance to the inner harbor from Narragansett Bay. The distance between the two points by the thread of the channel is about one and one-sixth nautical miles. There is deep water at both the upper and lower ends of this distance, but in the middle a bar exists having at points only fourteen feet depth of water at low tide. A channel suited to this position should be about 1,060 feet in width between its outer banks, 150 feet of which width, in the centre, should be 23 feet in depth at low water, and then of decreasing depths on each side, to the outer banks, where the depth should be 6 feet at low water. This form of channel would meet all the requirements of the case. It would afford good anchorage ground on each side of the central path'way, leaving a free course for the manoeuvering or passage of vessels under sail.