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harbor at Block Island, Rhode Island, together with an estimate of the cost of removing the same, and of otherwise placing the harbor in proper condition to answer the requirements of commerce." This was referred to me, through the Chief of Engineers, for report, under date March 15, 1880. My report, accompanied by one in greater detail by Assistant Engineer J. P. Cotton, is appended. Congress, by act approved June 14, 1880, appropriated $6,000 for this work. While this is not the full amount estimated, it will probably accomplish all that is at present needed.

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Amount appropriated by act approved June 14, 1880....

July 1, 1880, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1880, amount available....

$345 53 6,000 00

$6,345 53 345 53

$6,000 00

Special Report.

ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY,

NEWPORT, R. I., March 15, 1880.

GENERAL:-In obedience to your instruction of March 11, 1880, transmitting a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States in regard to the obstructions of the entrance to the "inner harbor" at Block Island, Rhode Island, I have the honor to submit the accompanying report prepared by Assistant enginer J. P. Cotton.

This report has been prepared from maps and records in this office and upon the information obtained by consultation with the petitioners for the improve

ments.

The report gives a description of the "inner harbor," with a sketch of inner and outer harbors. This work has increased in importance until the depth of 7 feet made in 1873, and then thought sufficient, has become too small to accommodate the vessels running there.

The estimate to make 9 feet depth at mean low-water in the "inner" harbor and in the entrance thereto, and to remove the wreck, is $8,000.

Block Island is in the Newport collection district. The amount of revenue collected there in the year ending June 30, 1879, was $1,811.01.

Respectfully submitted,

Bvt. Maj. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT,

G. K. WARREN, Lieut.-Col. Engineers,

Brig. Gen. and Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

Bot. Maj. Gen. U. S. A.

REPORT OF MR. J. P. COTTON, ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

ENGINEER Office, UNITED STATES ARMY,
NEWPORT, R. I., March 15, 1880. (

GENERAL:-I have the honor to submit the following report on the nature of "the obstructions to the entrance to the inner harbor' at Block Island, with an estimate of the cost of removing the same and of otherwise placing said harbor in proper condition to answer the requirements of commerce."

The harbor at Block Island is wholly an artificial one, being the area sheltered by the breakwater. When the work of constructing this breakwater was commenced in 1870, it was found that with no landing and no safe harbor within 25 miles there would be much delay and expense in building it. So great was the dread of Block Island among vessel owners and officers that it was difficult to find one that would freight stone there.

In view of this and the necessity for shelter for a crane-boat, pile-driver, and scows to be used on the work, authority was obtained by Gen. Warren to build a small inclosed harbor in the sheltered angle of the shore and breakwater. This harbor, which is referred to in the resolution calling for this report as the "inner harbor," is inclosed by a timber crib filled with stone. It is about 250 feet by 250 feet, with an opening of 60 feet in width. This enclosed area was dredged to 7 feet depth at mean low-water, which with the mean rise of the tide of 3 feet gave a depth of 10 feet at mean high water. The anchorage sheltered by the breakwater outside of this is called the "outer harbor."

The following sketch shows the relative location and extent of the outer and inner harbors of Block Island, Rhode Island.

Prior to the construction of these harbors the boats used here were small open boats that could be hauled up on the shore on the approach of storm. Upon the completion of the "inner harbor" they abandoned their old landing and occupied it, and as soon as its stability had been tested by one winter's storms they began to use larger boats, and now there are five or six sloops and schooners owned here.

When the "inner harbor" was built 7 feet depth was sufficient for such vessels as were used at the island or that were thought likely to seek it, but since there has been a harbor there, secure at all times, so that regular communication can be kept up with the main land, the island has come into prominence as a summer resort. In place of an open sailboat, carrying the mail and passengers once a week to and from the main land, they have a tri-weekly mail by a schooner of 40 or 50 tons burden, and in the summer a daily mail by steamer.

A steamer is being built to run regularly between the island and the mainland. A line of steamers, forming part of a 'fast line" from New York, is to touch here on their way from Greenport, Long Island, to Newport, R. I. For these steamers and others seeking the harbor a greater depth than 7 feet is required.

The obstructions to the entrance to the inner harbor are

First. The hull of a schooner of about thirty or forty tons that lies near the northwest corner of the Fall River Iron Works Company's wharf.

This

schooner dragged her anchor and came ashore here in August, 1879, and sank. She was stripped and abandoned. She is covered at high-water, and, being in the track of vessels entering and leaving the "inner harbor," is a dangerous obstruction.

Second. The depth of 7 feet at mean low-water, made in 1873, has been some. what diminished by silting up and by the sand blown from the "sand breach” over the cribwork. The depth outside the opening has been decreased by a deposit of sand that extends from within a few hundred feet of the breakwater to the opening of the "inner harbor." Outside to the northward of the wharf of the Fall River Iron Company this sand is near the breakwater. As you ap proach the " inner harbor" it is spread out and covers the bottom over a great part of the entrance to the "inner harbor." The amount of shoaling here is not great, probably not more than half a foot in the opening and 2 feet in front of the Iron Company's wharf.

In the petition asking the removal of these obstructions they ask that the "inner harbor" and entrance thereto be dredged so that vessels drawing 9 feet can enter at ordinary low-water.

ESTIMATES.

For removing wreck of schooner near Fall River Iron Company's wharf......

For dredging the inner harbor and entrance thereto to 9 feet depth at mean low-water 14,000 cubic yards of clay, pebbles, and sand, at 50 cents

$200 00

7,000 00

800 00

$8,000 00

Add for contingencies

Total....

The price placed upon the dredging is based upon the cost of that done in 1873. The amount is small and the material hard, and will be likely to cost fully 50 cents per cubic yard.

Respectfully submitted.

Your obedient servant,

JOS. P. COTTON, Assistant Engineer.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. G. K. WARREN, U. S. A.,

Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers.

Improvement of Little Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

LOCALITY OF IMPROVEMENT.

Little Narragansett Bay is at the mouth of Pawcatuck River, and is between Stonington and Watch Hill. It is separated from the ocean by a narrow sand beach extending from Watch Hill toward Stonington, a distance of about 3 miles, leaving an opening between its end and Stonington of about 1 mile. The water in this bay is shoal; 4 feet at mean low-water is the greatest depth that can be carried across it. The Pawcatuck River, navigable to Westerly, a distance about 5 miles from its mouth, can only be approached through this bay; this river has been improved by the general government under my direction so that there is now a channel 75 feet wide and 5 feet deep at mean low-water up to Westerly. The mean rise of the tide is about 2.6 feet.

HISTORY OF PREVIOUS IMPROVEMENT.

The river and harbor act of March 3, 1875, directed a survey of this bay, which was made during the summer of 1875, and reported on November 30, 1875. (See Annual Report for 1876, part I., pp. 217 et seq.) The improvement recommended in this report was for a channel 200 feet wide and 74 deep at mean low-water, extending across the north shore of the bay from Pawcatuck Point to the deep water near the mouth of the bay opposite Sandy Point, and the removal of dangerous rocks in the channel near Rhodes' Folly and Watch Hill. The estimated cost of this improvement was $51,000.

Congress, by act of August 14, 1876. appropriated $5,000 for the work. This money was expended in removing the rocks near Rhodes' Folly, and to dredging and removing rocks from the east end of the proposed channel at Pawcatuck Point. By act of Congress, approved June 18, 1878, an appropriation of $10,000 was made for the continuation of the work. The money was expended at Pawcatuck Point, and completed a channel here 185 feet wide and 74 feet deep at mean lowwater.

WORK EXECUTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1880.

An appropriation of $5,000 was made by act of Congress, approved March 3, 1879-available July 30, 1879. Proposals for dredging were invited under this appropriation, and the following is an abstract of those received:

Abstract of proposals received at the Engineer Office, United States Army, Newport, R. I., Tuesday, August 26, 1879, at 12 m., for excavating in Little Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

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The work was awarded to the lowest bidder, and the dredging commenced April 1 and completed May 20. There were 17,935 cubic yards of sand, mud and shells removed, connecting the channel at Pawcatuck Point, previously made, by a cut 40 feet in width and 74 feet deep at mean low-water, with the deep water on the west side of the bay. This cut is too narrow to be of much practical use to vessels, but it demonstrates, what had already been surmised, that the only difficult part of this improvement was at the shoal at Pawcatuck Point.

This improvement has been under the superintendence of Mr. H. A. Bentley, assistant engineer.

PROBABLE OPERATIONS DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

The act of Congress approved June 14, 1880, appropriates $5,000 for continuing the work. It is proposed to expend this in widening the cuts made last year. The amount of money estimated as being necessary to complete the improvement is $26,000, and this amount can be judiciously expended in the next fiscal year.

IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPROVEMENT.

The places that will be benefited by this improvement are Westerly and Watch Hill. Westerly is a manufacturing village on the Pawcatuck River. It has fine stone quarries and is, generally, a thriving town. The full value of the improvement of the Pawcatuck River made by the general government cannot be realized until the projected improvement in the bay is completed. This improvement will also be of the greatest value to Watch Hill, which has its only landing in the bay. Watch Hill is a popular summer resort where 45,000 passengers were landed from the steamboats during the past year.

The number of vessels taken through Little Narragansett Bay during the year 1878 was 205. There were 31 vessels drawing too much water to cross the bay that were lightered at Stonington and their cargoes taken to Westerly.

Little Narragansett Bay is in the collection-districts of Providence and Stonington; the latter is the nearest port of entry. The revenue collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, was: Providence, $405,652.73; Stonington, $1,796.84.

Money Statement.

July 1, 1879, amount available....

$6,693 97

Amount appropriated by act approved June 14, 1880..

5,000 00

$11,693 97

July 1, 1880, amount expended during fiscal year..

6,492 55

July 1, 1880, amount available.......

$5,201 42

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... $26,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,

1882.....

26,000 00

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