APPENDIX. ABSTRACT FROM REPORT OF GENERAL G. K. WARREN TO CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., FOR 1881, AND SUMMARY OF PROGRESS OF WORK TO JANUARY 1, 1882. Improvement of Pawtucket (Seekonk) River, Rhode Island. At the beginning of this fiscal year there was an unexpended balance of $529.58, which still remains for contingencies. The project as far as adopted and approved is completed. The commission appointed by the State of Rhode Island to consider the obstructions caused by the bridges at India Point, at the mouth of the river, reported to the legislature a plan for doing away with both the present railway and highway bridges and substituting a combination bridge, located between the old bridges, with the highway on top and the railway underneath. The proposed bridge was to have a draw 80 feet wide on each side of the pivot pier. If this plan should be adopted and the bridge built on piers occupying the smallest practicable sectional area, and the foundation of the old bridges were completely removed, the necessities of the navigation interests of this river would be well provided for; but unfortunately for these interests, others which conflict with the proposed plan render its adoption improbable. The principal obstruction is the highway bridge with its narrow draw span, and the tidal obstructions caused by the foundations of the bridge, which create a very dangerous current there. The railway bridge, while having a badly located draw span, offers very little obstruction to the flow of water, and with some small changes could be safely and easily navigated, if the draw span of the highway bridge were properly located and the obstructions to the tidal flow removed. No appropriations for this improvement have been recommended or made since 1873. The obstructions at these bridges render any further improvement comparatively useless. The increase in the size and draught of vessels of late years makes it desirable that the ruling mean low-water depth should be increased to 9 feet. This could probably be done for an additional appropriation of $33,000, which could be profitably expended in one year. This dredged material would have to be towed out of the river, which could not be done at the rate above estimated unless the Washington bridge is rebuilt. This work is under the superintendence of Assistant Engineer H. A. Bentley. MONEY STATEMENT. July 1, 1880, amount available. July 1, 1881, amount available. $529 58 529 58 Improvement of Providence River and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. WORK EXECUTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1881. The contractors for excavating under the appropriation of $60,000 made March 3, 1879, and the money left over from the abandoned contract under the appropriation of $50,000 made June, 1878 (the first one made for this work). completed their contract January 1, 1881, having removed 558,227.6 cubic yards of material. By act of Congress approved June 14, 1880, an appropriation of $60,000 was made for the continuance of this work. Proposals for excavation were invited, publicly, and on the 14th of August, 1880, the following tenders were received: The Atlantic Dredging Company were again the lowest bidders, and the contract was awarded to them. They began work March 8, 1881, and at this date, June 30, 1881, they are prosecuting it, having removed 253,100 cubic yards. The work accomplished during the fiscal year has increased the width of channel 23 feet deep at mean low-water across Pawtuxet Shoal from 70 to 200 feet, and the width of the channel 20 feet deep at mean low-water above Field's Point from 200 to 425 feet. The adjoining sketch shows the locality and extent of the improvement made. Congress by act approved March 3, 1881, appropriated $60,000 for continuing this improvement. Advertisements for proposals for excavation under this appropriation were issued, and on the 8th day of June, 1881, the following tenders were received: Name and Address. Price per cubic yard. Atlantic Dredging Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.... 17 cents for depth of 14 feet at mean low-water, and 19 cents for 12 feet depth. The contract was awarded to the Atlantic Dredging Company, the only bid ders. BULKHEAD ROCK. Operations for the removal of this rock to a depth of 20 feet at mean lowwater were commenced March 8, 1880, and completed October 14, 1880. The contractor's "plant" consisted of a sloop having a carrying capacity of about 80 tons, and a steam hoisting engine, a drilling frame 26 × 32 feet, a steam drilling apparatus, and the ordinary divers, armor, and air-pump. The crew contained seven men, including the captain and divers. The extreme length of the rock at 20 feet depth was 120 feet, and its general width about 30 feet, so that the drilling frame had to be moved four times to cover the whole surface of the rock. The superficial area was about 2,900 square feet, and the mean depth to be removed 34 feet. The total number of holes drilled was 112, and their total penetration 543 feet, an average of about 4.8 feet for each hole. Two hundred and eighty-two pounds of giant powder were used in blasting these holes. may be seen from these data that one hole was drilled to each 26.7 feet of superficial area, on which area 2 pounds of powder were exploded. In addition to this 50 pounds of powder was used in making surface blasts. The large area of rock to each hole drilled and blast made may be accounted for partially by the facts that the rock is of a brittle nature, and the large surface blasts made in 1870 shattered it to a great extent. There were removed under this contract 794 tons of rock; which was deposited on the shore east of the work. The explosive material used is known as No. 1, 2, and 3 giant powder. There is now a depth of 20 feet at mean low-water on this rock; it is even with the surface of the bottom which surrounds it on three sides; on the west or channel side there is a sharp fall of 5 or 6 feet, so that this abrupt face of the rock would confront any vessel of a greater draught than 20 feet, if the vessel should be sailing across the channel. It would not be an obstruction in passing up or down the channel, for the edge of the rock is on the line of channel and does not extend beyond the general contour of 20 feet depth. As the work of improving the main channel progresses and the ultimate depth sought (23 feet at mean low-water) is obtained, it may be found necessary to blast off this edge of the rock, or in some way cover it up so that if a vessel should strike it there would be less danger of serious damage being done. The improvements in this river have been under the superintendence of Assistant Engineer H. A. Bentley. The probable operations during fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, will be the continuation of the excavation of a channel 20 feet deep as far as the appropriation of June 14, 1880, will carry it in width. It is proposed with the appropriation of March 3, 1881, to excavate to depths of 12 and 14 feet at mean low-water and as of great a width as the money will pay for. The depth to be dredged to was changed from 20 to 12 and 14 feet for the reason that the work contracted for would be sufficient to make the 20-foot channel about 500 feet wide, and although this is not as wide by 100 feet as the original plan contemplated, it is a good navigable channel, and it was deemed best to extend the widths of 12 and 14 feet depth and give smaller vessels a chance to anchor and keep out of the deep channel and away from the large craft; leaving the completion of the 20-foot channel to subsequent appropriations. One hundred thousand dollars could be judiciously expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, in widening the channel at Pawtuxet Shoal and increasing the anchorage ground above Field's Point. MONEY STATEMENT. Improvement of Providence River and Narragansett Bay. July 1, 1880, amount available..... $103,001 28 Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1881... 60,000 00 $163,001 28 July 1, 1881, amount expended during fiscal year, ex. clusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1880.. 74,330 56 July 1, 1881, outstanding liabilities.. 3,258 14 77,588 70 July 1, 1881, amount available.. 85,412 58 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 270,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1883... Improvement of Providence River-Removal of Bulkhead Rock. July 1, 1880, amount available.. July 1, 1881, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1880....... IMPROVEMENT OF POTOWOMUT RIVER, RHODE ISLAND. 100,000 00 $4,742 13 4,742 13 A report of the survey under which this improvement was planned is printed as part of House Ex. Doc. No. 18, Forty-sixth Congress, third session. Three estimates were submitted in the above-mentioned report for channels across the bar at the mouth of the river; two providing for a depth of 6 feet at mean low-water, at a cost of $11,550, and one for a depth of 5 feet, to cost $5,587.50. Congress, by act approved March 3, 1881, appropriated $5,000 for this work, and as this amount is very near the smallest estimate, the project to make the depth of 5 feet was adopted. Advertisements for excavation were issued, and on June 8, 1881, the following tenders were received: The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Mr. S. A. Hammond, who is expected to commence the work July 1, 1881. This improvement is under the superintendence of Assistant Engineer H. A. Bentley. MONEY STATEMENT. Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1881.. July 1, 1881, amount available.... $5,000 00 48 99 4,951 01 SURVEY OF POTOWOMUT RIVER, RHODE ISLAND. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, GENERAL: I forward herewith the report and map of the survey of Potowomut River, Rhode Island, assigned to my charge by you under the law passed at the last session of Congress, and made by Assistant H. A. Bentley. The survey was asked for for the purpose of making an estimate of the cost of deepening the water to 6 feet at mean low-water over the bar at the mouth, and make the channel 150 feet wide. The present depth is about 24 feet at mean low water. The dredged channel would be about 2,500 feet long. There are also a few rocks to be removed. It is estimated that it will cost $11,550 to make a depth of 6 feet at mean lowwater, and $5,587.50 to make a depth of 5 feet. The mean rise of the tide is about 4 feet. Vessels drawing 11 feet will be able to pass to "Hope Lands" Landing, about 4 of a mile above the mouth, when the improvement is made. The navigation to be benefited is that of vessels bringing ashes and other fertilizers and ice, together with small boats and yachts. The region is a rich agricultural one, without manufactories or through travel. It is in the Providence collection district, and that place is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there for the year ending June 30, 1880, was $405,652.73. Very respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. |