Questions about the tides have arisen in the discussion of questions relating to these matters, which, whether practical or not, require somewhat nearer determinations than those heretofore made. WORK DURING THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR. It is proposed to make some repeated levelings and tidal observations, and to sound over some of the shoals that are said to have formed since the dredging operations in 1875. No appropriation is asked for. IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPROVEMENT. Pawtucket is a town of about 30,000 inhabitants, largely engaged in manufactures. In 1878 there were 350 schooners and 14 barges towed up the improved channel, having a freight of about 100,000 tons. It is in the Providence collection-district, that place being the nearest port of entry. The revenue collected there in the past fiscal year is $145,187 79. Improvement of Providence River and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. LOCALITY OF IMPROVEMENT. Providence River is an estuary of Narragansett Bay, extending from Nayat Point to the city of Providence. Its length is about 7 miles, with a width varying from 1,000 feet to 2 miles, and a depth in the channel varying from 12 feet to 50 feet at mean low-water, with a mean rise of tide of 4.7 feet. Near its head this estuary is joined by another, called the Seekonk or Pawtucket River, extending 5 miles further, to the town of Pawtucket. The Providence River also contains Bulkhead Rock, for whose partial removal there is an unexpended special appropriation of $5,000. All the improvement thus far included under the title of this work is situated in the limits of Providence River, except a possible deepening upon a shoal below Nayat Point and above Rocky Point, to facilitate the navigation by means of the west entrance to the bay; it is not in the way, using the middle entrance to the bay. HISTORY OF PREVIOUS IMPROVEMENT. According to the records we have, a survey was made of Providence Harbor by Lieut. Wm. S. Rosecrans, United States Engineers, under an appropriation made by the city, which was completed in March, 1853. In 1852, an appropriation of $5,000 was made, and this was expended by Capt George Dutton, United States Engineers, in dredging, in 1853, at the "Crook '-a bad shoal then existing just below Fox Point, and having a depth of only "4.3 feet at low tide." The dredging was carried to 9 feet depth at low-water, over an area of 50 yards by 280 yards. The next appropriation was $25,000, made in 1867, based on an estimate made by an assistant of the United States Coast Survey, (Mr. F. P. Webber). This was expended in 1867, by Colonel D. C. Houston, United States Engineers, in dredging at the locality of the "Crook," with the exception of $2,000 employed to remove a wreck opposite Sabin's Point. With this dredging a depth of 12 feet at low-water was secured up to Fox Point. In 1870, another appropriation of $5,000 was made by Congress which was expended under my direction at the locality of the "Crook" (which itself may be said to have been removed), and a depth of 14 feet at mean low-water secured up to the wharves at Fox Point. (For details of foregoing, see Annual Report, 1871, pp. 727-730). On June 10, 1872, another appropriation was made. It was $10,000, and was all expended under my direction in widening the channel just below Fox Point. A survey was made this year, as authorized by Congress, with a view to cutting off the "point of long bed," on the east side of the channel, opposite Sassafras Point. (See Annual Report for 1872, p. 820; and for 1873, pp. 968-970). On March 3, 1873, an appropriation of $10,000 was made, which was all expended in removing the point of long bed. (See Annual Report for 1874, pp. 237-239). This practically completed the improvement by dredging as far as it was needed for the use of coasting-vessels. The city had also expended largely in deepening about the wharves. HISTORY OF REMOVAL OF BULKHEAD ROCK. An estimate for removing this so as to give a depth of 14 feet at mean lowwater was made by Capt. A. H. Holgate, United States Engineers, in June, 1870, at a cost of $2,500. Its least depth then was 8 feet at mean low-water. A depth about that sought was secured that year by large blasts of gun-powder placed upon the rock. In the Annual Report for 1875, p. 291, an estimate was submitted to increase the depth to 18 feet at mean low-water, requiring an appropriation of $5,000. This was renewed in the Annual Report for 1876, part I, pp. 207-208; and again in the Annual Report for 1877, part I, p. 199. On June 18, 1878, an appropriation of $5,000 was made for removing this rock, but operations upon it were reserved, for the reason that the new plan requires greater depth. (Annual Report for 1878, part I, p. 232, par. 3.) HISTORY OF THE IMPROVEMENT FOR LARGE SEA-GOING VESSELS. This is given in detail in the last Annual Report (part I, pp. 231-241) up to the beginning of the present fiscal year. In brief, this improvement was designed at first by the Board of Harbor Commissioners of Rhode Island, with a view to obtaining a free channel-way from Providence to the Ocean, having a depth of 23 feet at mean low-water and least width of 400 feet, besides an enlarged basin for anchorage of a somewhat less depth shoaling up to 10 feet at an extreme width of 800 feet. This was to cost, in round numbers, $500,000. The plan was submitted to an advisory council, appointed by request, by the President of the United States, of which Rear-Admiral Daniel Ammen was chairman. This council changed the plan somewhat, so as to make the 23 feet mean low-water channel only 150 feet wide, gradually shoaling to 12 feet on an extreme width of 940 feet, and to 6 feet at an extreme width of 1,060 feet; the channel-way to be symmetrical in cross-section with the greatest depth in the middle. This was also estimated to cost about $500,000. After being memorialized, Congress referred the matter to the War Department for a report, which was made by myself. I submitted an estimate for work during the next fiscal year (the one just closed) of $100,000, to make a channel 23 feet deep at mean low-water 200 feet wide, to at once open the harbor to ocean steamers to the greatest depth proposed, leaving the widening to be a subsequent matter. Congress, however, appropriated only $50,000 for this purpose. The interests of Providence, as represented by some of its most prominent public and business men, it was thought, in view of the amount appropriated, would be best served by commencing the center line of the new channel at a depth of 20 feet at mean lowwater, and carrying it through between Fox Point and Field's Point to a width as great as the money would allow. This latter course was adopted by the Engineer Department. WORK EXECUTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1879. Advertisements for proposals for dredging were issued August 5, and the following proposals received : Abstract of proposals received at the Engineer Office, U. S. A., Newport, R. I., August 20, 1878, for excavation in Providence River, R. I. The contractor did not commence work until October 5, 1878. He had a large dredge of the clam-shell pattern, capable of dredging probably from 2,000 to 3,000 cubic yards per day, six scows of 200 yards capacity each, and a steam-tug. The power of the tug and capacity of the scows, owing to the distance to the dumping ground, were insufficient to keep the dredge employed continuously. The work was prosecuted up to December, 25, 1878. The weather then became too cold to successfully carry it on. The contractor sent his dredge to New York, ostensibly for the purpose of repairing, or completing the necessary repairs. Work was to have been renewed, weather permitting. During the time the work of dredging was in progress there was removed from the channel 72,314 cubic yards of mud. This excavation made a cut 3,100 feet long, 70 feet wide, and 20 feet deep at mean low water. The material was nearly all deposited in the deep water of Narragansett Bay, between Half-way Rock and Gould Island, and Conanicut Island and Rhode Island. The amount of work accomplished was not satisfactory. The contractor was duly notified that his rate of progress was too slow. On his assurance of putting on additional machinery and prosecuting the work in the spring with vigor he was allowed to continue with what facilities he had. It was then too late in the fall to make arrangements to put other parties on the work that season, and it was not deemed advisable to make new arrangements for the spring work, as the contractor was confident of his ability to then make the desired rate of progress. The winter was unusually long and severe, and it was not until April that the weather was suitable for the resumption of work. The contractor was urged to begin as soon as possible. He promised to have two dredges on the work by April 1. Under date of March 19, 1878, he wrote that he was unable to procure suitable dump scows; after this no word was received from him, and communications sent to him were unnoticed, although I had evidence of their being received. He and his bondsmen were then notified that the terms of the contract had not been complied with, and that other parties would be invited to bid for the completion of the work, and that the said bondsmen would be held responsible for any increased cost. The following offers were received in answer to letters addressed, asking for prices for doing the whole or part of the work: 19 cents per yard. 194 cents per yard. H. N. & A. J. Beardsley, Bridgeport, Conn... The lowest bid received was 194 cents per cubic yard, which is 8 cents per yard in excess of the contract price. The prices given were considered excessive, and for this reason, and because the contractors' bonds were not large enough to cover the difference, the offers were rejected. Mr. Seward's contract called for the removal of about 391,000 cubic yards; deducting 72,314 cubic yards removed, leaves 318,686 cubic yards to be dredged to complete the contract; this latter number of yards, at 8 cents per cubic yard (the difference between the contract price, 114 cents, and the lowest offer received, 194 cents), amounts to $25,494.88. The reserve held on work done (10 per cent.) is $831.62. The amount of bond given for faithful performance of contract was $5000, which amount, if added to the reserve and subtracted from $25,494.88 (the amount necessary to complete the contract at the increased price), would leave a deficit of $19,663.26. The dumping ground for this work is 19 miles from Providence and it is because of this great distance that all excavated material must be towed, that the prices asked were so high. The ground was selected as the nearest place known to me, where objections could not be raised to the dumping. In the work in Providence River under my direction in previous years, many complaints were made of dumping done to the injury of property on the adjoining shores. A law of the State of Rhode Island prohibits dumping on the east side of Providence River below Devil's Hand Rock. The State Board of Harbor Commissioners are unwilling to have any material dumped except at or in the vicinity of the dumping-ground selected or on the flats in Providence Harbor above Sassafras Point. The water at the latter place is too shoal to permit dumping except at high-water. It is proposed to withhold the remainder of the appropriation of $50,000 made by act approved June 18, 1878, until the appropriation of $60,000 by act ap proved March 3, 1879, is made available, and then to invite proposals in theusual manner for the whole amount. It is thought that the interests of the government will be best served by so doing, as it will offer greater inducements to procure suitable means to perform the work. This work has been under the superintendence of Mr. H. A. Bentley, assistant engineer. BULKHEAD ROCK. This rock, as before stated, was removed to about 14 feet depth, under an appropriation of $2,500 made in 1870. The line of the east side of the proposed channel, by the new plan of improvement, extends east of the rock, and to make the required width and depth at this point requires a depth of 20 feet at mean low-water on Bulkhead Rock. Advertisements were issued for doing this under date of May 30, 1879, and the following bids were received: Abstract of proposals received at the Engineer Office, U. S. A., June 26, 1879, at 12 m., for the removal of Bulkhead Rock, Providence River, R. I., to a depth of 20 feet at mean low-water. |
