line drawn from Lime Rock through the spindle, which is in the southeast part of the harbor; the excavation of a channel 10 feet deep at mean low water along and outside the harbor line south to a point opposite the gas company's wharf, and the construction of jetties on the western shore of Goat Island, to arrest the drift of littoral sand and gravel into the southern entrance. A plat of Newport Harbor, showing the plans of the work, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, Vol. 1, page 604. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1886. The amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $92,820.04, with the following results: Of the area to be dredged to 13 feet within the harbor, about two-thirds had been completed, except at a few places in the northern part of the harbor, where the material was found too hard for the dredge in use at the time, and except that a bulkhead was left in the extreme northeast part of the harbor to protect an anchorage for small vessels. The channel along and outside the harbor line south to a point opposite the gas company's wharf, and the 15-foot channel 750 feet wide around and to the eastward of the dolphin on Goat Island Spit had been completed, with the exception of a strip along the western edge and to the north of the dolphin. The 460 feet (about) of increase of width to be made between the 15-foot curves at the southern entrance, by dredging the spit south of Goat Island, had been completed, with the exception of a strip of about 56 feet in width. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. An appro priation of $15,000 having been made by act of Congress of August 5, 1886, for continuing the improvement, advertisements were issued on September 18, 1886, inviting proposals for dredging under the approved project. The bids received and terms of contract will be found in appended table. The work of dredging was commenced October 27, 1886, and continued until December 30, 1886, when it was temporarily suspended on account of ice. It was recommenced March 5, 1887, and was in progress at the end of the fiscal year; 56,352.6 cubic yards were excavated up to that date. Mr. David Hamilton, in October and November, 1886; Mr. T. A. Churbuck, in November, 1886; Mr. Charles D. Marsh, in November and December, 1886; Mr. M. S. Persons, from March to May, 1887; and Mr. Theo. Topham, in May and June, 1887, were local inspectors of the work. AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1887. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1887, was $14,743.83, and the result was the completion of the 15foot channel at the southern entrance to the inner harbor, and the channel around and to the eastward of the dolphin on Goat Island Spit completed, with the exception of a narrow strip along its western edge, about nine-tenths of the 13-foot anchorage area; and of the total area to be deepened within the harbor (about 90 acres), about two-thirds have been completed. The berth for vessels at the quartermaster's wharf at Fort Adams, was deepened to 10 feet at mean low water, and the effectual stopping for the present of the supply of littoral sand and gravel from the outside of Goat Island into the southern entrance by the jetty on the southwest shore of the island. When the northwest angle between this jetty and the shore has been filled, and the sand and gravel commence to be washed around its end, another jetty further northward on this shore will be required. The southern entrance is completed for vessels of 15 feet draught. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to complete the existing project is the dredging of a narrow strip along the western edge of the 750-foot channel around and to the eastward of the dolphin on the Goat Island Spit; the remainder of the excavation within the harbor of the anchorage area of 13 feet depth, and the excavation, also within the harbor, of the anchorage area of 10 feet depth; also the building of additional jetties outside of Goat Island whenever they may be required to arrest the drift of littoral sand and gravel into the harbor entrance. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. It is proposed to devote the small remainder on hand July 1, 1887, of the appropriation made by the act of August 5, 1886, to extending the 13-foot anchorage area and removing a few bowlders therefrom. Newport is in the collection district of Newport, and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Newport in the last fiscal year was $2,184 51. The nearest light-houses are Lime Rock and Newport (Goat Island) lights. The nearest fortification is Fort Adams, Newport, R. I. MONEY STATEMENT. July 1, 1886, amount available.... $381 99 Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886... 15,000 00 15,381 99 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 52,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889... 30,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Abstract of proposals for dredging Newport Harbor, R. I., received at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated September 18, 1886, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, Monday, October 4, 1886. Contract awarded to the Hartford Dredging Company, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, and dated October 13, 1886. Time of completion extended to July 30, 1887. There are 132 vessels owned and hailing from this port, viz., 107 sail, 25 steam, the tonnage of which amounts to 6,322.03 gross, 5,051.34 net. Tonnage of the smallest vessel 2.75 gross, 2.17 net. The largest vessel draws 13 feet when loaded. BUSINESS OF THE OLD COLONY STEAM-BOAT COMPANY FOR YEAR ENDING MAY 31, 1887. [Furnished by Mr. George Pierce, Supervisor.] Passengers carried between New York and Fall River, via Newport. BUSINESS OF THE NEWPORT AND WICKFORD RAILROAD AND STEAM-BOAT COMPANY HARBOR OF REFUGE AT BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND. This island is a part of the State of Rhode Island. It is 14 miles east of Montauk Point, the eastern end of Long Island, and its nearest point is about 10 miles from the mainland. Besides the wants of the mackerel-fishing fleet and the general coast navigation, the island is an important point on our shores for ocean navigation. It has a signal station connected by submarine telegraph with the mainland. Vessels are passing the island at all times and on all sides of it, and its position renders it of national importance. The object of the improvement is to furnish a harbor of refuge for vessels engaged in foreign and coastwise commerce. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 3 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before the construction of the present harbor of refuge Block Island had no harbor which afforded protection for decked vessels. The only ones used were open boats, which, on the approach of storms, were hauled up on the beach by The largest of these boats were of about 10 tons burden. oxen. PLANS OF THE WORKS. The original project and its subsequent modifications provided for a harbor of refuge on the eastern side of the island, consisting of an inner harbor or basin for small vessels and an exterior harbor for large ones. The basin was to be about 250 by 300 feet in area, and inclosed, with the exception of an opening 80 feet in width. The exterior harbor was to be formed by a riprap break water, which has been built. About 300 feet from the sea end of this breakwater, which is 1,900 feet long, a gap 200 feet long was left for the convenience of vessels. The present project contemplates the filling of this gap, which was found to let in too much sea in stormy weather. A plat of Block Island, showing the position of the harbor of refuge and a plan of the works, may be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, Vol. I, pages 612, 613. On the 8th of December, 1884, the Senate of the United States directed that report be made of the necessity and cost of enlarging the inner harbor of refuge. The report, which was accompanied by plans and an estimate of the cost ($46,189), was printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 27, Forty-eighth Congress, second session, and may also be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, Voi. I, page 610. The commencement of this work has been approved by Congress making an appropriation of $12,000 therefor in the act of August 5, 1886. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1886 The total expenditure up to June 30, 1886, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $324,363 88. The inner harbor and the main breakwater, built in prolongation of the eastern side of the inner harbor and extending 1,900 feet from the shore, were constructed in the years 1870 to 1879, inclusive. The utility of the work at once became apparent. In stormy weather the inner harbor especially was filled with fishermen and coasters, and it soon became necessary to increase its depth from 7 feet, to which it had been dredged in the first instance, to 9 feet at mean low water. In 1883 a strong jetty was built out from the cliff to the eastward of the inner harbor, and a masonry wall was constructed on the inside of the crib-work forming the eastern side of the inner harbor. The filling in the gap in the main breakwater was carried to the height of about 14 feet above mean high water, and at the close of the work under the last contract about onehalf of the total amount of stone required for the completion of this work had been delivered and placed in the gap. The sea which formerly came into the outer harbor through the gap in the main breakwater in easterly storms had been stopped by this partial filling. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. An appro At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. priation of $20,000 having been made by the act of Congress of August 5, 1886, for enlarging the inner harbor and filling the gap in the main breakwater, advertisements were issued March 21, 1887, for furnishing rip rap granite for main breakwater, and for the commencement of the enlargement of the inner harbor in accordance with the project referred to above. The bids received and terms of the contract will be found in the appended table. |
