PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT.

There was expended between 1852 and the 30th of June, 1882, $290,459.34 in deepening the channel: first to 9 feet, then to 12 feet, then to 14 feet, and again to 23 feet, as the increasing sizes of vessels and the growing commerce of Providence demanded. Bulkhead Rock was also removed during this period to a depth of 20 feet below mean low water.

The approved project of 1878, modified in 1882, under which we are now working, provides for a channel 25 feet deep and 300 feet wide suitable for large ocean vessels, extending from Fox Point, in the city of Providence, to the deep water of Narragansett Bay, and for an anchorage-basin between Fox and Fields Points of the following dimensions, in cross-section, viz:

The 25-foot channel has been laid out in straight reaches (with enlargements at the angles), with a view to lighting them by range or leading lights such as are used in similar cases in Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, and other localities, if it should be found necessary.

A plat of Providence River, showing the improved channel, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, page 622.

AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1887.

The amount expended on the present project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $222,836.68. At that date about one-half of the excavation required for the anchorage-basin above Field's Point had been done. Bulkhead Rock had been removed, and the 25-foot channel, 300 feet wide, from Providence to the deep water of Narragansett Bay had been completed.

OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

At the beginning of the fiscal year the work of dredging, in that portion of the anchorage-area between Fox Point and Field's Point to be deepened to 20 feet at mean low water, was in progress and continued until October 12, when the contract was completed; up to this date 199,580 cubic yards of material had been dredged during the fiscal year.

Mr. W. C. Simmons was the local inspector of the work.

AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND RESULTS TO

JUNE 30, 1888.

The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1888, was $19,762.92. The result was the completion of the excavation of the 20-foot anchorage-area in the Fox Point Reach, and about one-fourth of the same area in the Sassafras Point Reach. The 25-foot channel, 300 feet wide, from Fox Point in the city of Providence to the deep water of Narragansett Bay, has been completed.

WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT.

There is required for the completion of the existing project the remainder of the excavation of the anchorage-basin between Fox and Field's Points.

OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1889.

Should an appropriation be made it is proposed to continue the excavation of the anchorage-area.

Providence River is in the collection district of Providence, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Providence in the last fiscal year was $240,197.75. The nearest light-houses are the six light-houses in Providence River. The nearest fortifications are fort on Dutch Island, and Fort Adams, Rhode Island.

MONEY STATEMENT.

July 1, 1887, amount available....

$20,763.95

July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887.......

19,762.92

July 1, 1888, balance available...

1,001.03

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888...

40,000.00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889.

41,001.03

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 165,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June

30, 1890.....

100,000.00

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

REMOVAL OF GREEN JACKET SHOAL, PROVIDENCE RIVER, R. I.

Green Jacket Shoal is in that part of Providence River which constitutes the harbor of Providence.

It lies off the wharves on the south front of the city, and occupies a part of the harbor that is required for anchorage purposes.

ORIGINAL CONDITION.

That part of the harbor in which the shoal is located is about 2,000 feet long, by from 600 to 1,200 feet wide; and of this area the shoal, or rather that part

of it which was included between the 15-foot curves, takes up about 18 acres. There were channels on either side of the shoal, between it and the harbor lines, having, the one on the north side a width of 300 feet and a depth of 20 feet, and the one on the south side a width varying from 50 to 100 feet and a depth of about 15 feet at mean low water. The water on the summit of the shoal was 1 foot deep.

PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT.

The general project is the removal of the entire shoal to a depth of 25 feet at mean low water, limiting the work by lines drawn 200 feet from the harbor lines.

A plat of Green Jacket Shoal, with report of survey, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, vol. 1, pages 598-602.

AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1887.

The amount expended, including outstanding liabilities to June 30, 1887, was $767.47. At the close of the last fiscal year the work of dredging had not commenced.

OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

The work of dredging under the approved project was commenced July 11, and continued until November 5, when the contract was completed. Two hundred and six thousand four hundred and thirty-one cubic yards of material were excavated.

Mr. W. C. Simmons was the local inspector of the work.

AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND RESULTS TO
JUNE 30, 1888.

The amount expended, including outstanding liabilities, to June 30, 1888, was $24,388.13. The result was the excavation to a depth of 25 feet at mean low water of an area of about 94 acres, extending along the western side of the shoal, making an important addition to the anchorage facilities of the harbor. On a portion of this area the depth of water before the completion of the contract was from 3 to 4 feet.

OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1889.

Should an appropriation be made for this work it is proposed to continue the removal of the shoal according to the general project.

Green Jacket Shoal is in the collection district of Providence, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Providence during the last fiscal year was $240,197.75. The nearest light-houses are the six light-houses in Providence River. The nearest fortifications are fort on Dutch Island and Fort Adams, Rhode Island.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

For the commercial statistics, see report of the improvement of Providence River and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

MONEY STATEMENT.

July 1, 1887, amount available....

$25,482.53

July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887......

24,388.13

July 1, 1888, balance available....

1,094.40

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888

28,000.00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889..

29,094.40

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1890

58,096.00

50,000.00

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

IMPROVEMENT OF NEWPORT HARBOR, RHODE ISLAND.

This harbor is at the main entrance to Narragansett Bay. These waters during summer and winter constitute a harbor of refuge for our European and coastwise commerce quite equal in every respect to that of New York Harbor, and are even more accessible. The objects of the improvement are to widen and deepen the southern (the main) entrance to the harbor, and to enlarge its capacity for vessels seeking refuge in storms, by increasing the area and depth of the anchorage within it. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 34 feet.