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APPENDIX.

J. HERBERT SHEDD, Esq.,

ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY,

NEWPORT, R. I., December 27, 1884.

Chairman of Harbor Commissioners, Providence, R. I.

SIR: I take pleasure in complying with your request of the 22d inst. for a résumé of my works in Rhode Island since the date of my last annual report to the Chief of Engineers.

The works in progress in this State during this period are as follows:

Providence River and Narragansett Bay.

Pawtuxet River.

Newport Harbor.

1st. Providence River and Narragansett Bay.

The report just mentioned brought the work down to July 1st, 1884. At that date no dredging was in progress, the contract under which dredging was carried on during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, having been completed in November, 1883.

By authority of Act of Congress of July 5, 1884, a contract was made with the Atlantic Dredging Company, and work was commenced Oct. 23 on the excavation of the channel 25 feet deep at mean low water and 300 feet wide between Field's Point and Pomham Light, which we denominate the Pomham Reach. Two dredges are now at work on this channel, which is now about half completed.

From the above and from the report above referred to, of which I had the honor to send you a printed copy, you will observe that the upper three of the straight reaches into which I have divided the new 25 foot channel, viz.: the Fox Point, the Sassafras Point and the Field's Point reaches, have been excavated to the full width of 300 feet. Of the three lower reaches, the Pomham is now

excavated to a width of not less than 230 feet, while the Pawtuxet and Gaspee reaches have not less than 200 feet of the projected width of 300 feet.

2d. Pawtuxet River.

In the Act of Congress of July 5, 1884, making appropriations for Providence River and Narragansett Bay, an item of $1,000 was included for removing bowl. ders at the mouth of the Pawtuxet River.

The expenditure of the amount available was limited to removal of the most dangerous obstructions, and work was commenced on these by hired labor on Sept. 1st and finished Sept. 26, 1884. Forty-nine bowlders were removed, leaving a clear channel four feet deep at mean low water, and about 60 feet wide at the narrowest place.

3d. Newport Harbor.

Dredging was commenced in this harbor Oct. 17th under a contract made with the Hartford Dredging Company, and is now in progress A channel 10 feet deep at mean low water and 60 feet wide has been dredged for a distance of about 1,100 feet southerly, along the harbor line in the south part of the harbor. This channel was finished Nov. 17. On that date dredging was commenced on the east side of the main channel running northerly through the harbor, and is now in progress. By the work done in this locality up to date, the main channel at the bend northeast of Lime Rock Light and opposite the pile beacon at the southeast extremity of Goat Island, has been widened 120 feet for a distance of 800 feet, giving a clear channel of 15 feet depth at mean low water.

Two bowlders were removed from the harbor in the latter part of September, 1884, by hired labor.

Very respectfully,

GEORGE H. ELLIOT,

Lieut.-Col. of Engineers.

EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF LIEUT.-COL. ELLIOT TO CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., FOR 1884.

Improvement of Pawtucket River, Rhode Island.

By instructions from the Chief of Engineers, dated the 24th of April, 1883, I was directed to have made a survey of Pawtucket River, Rhode Island, in compliance with the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, and to submit a report thereon and a project for the improvement of the river. The report and project, with a history of the improvement which was commenced in 1868, were submitted to the Chief of Engineers on the 8th of November, 1883, and are appended hereto. No other work was done during the fiscal year 1883-'84. A plat of the river showing the proposed channel accompanies this report.

OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885.

The rebuilding of Washington Bridge with good and sufficient draw-openings having been commenced, it is proposed with the appropriation made by the act of Congress of July 5, 1884, to commence the excavation of a channel extending from the deep water at Red Bridge to a point opposite Grant & Co.'s Wharf, at Pawtucket, 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep at mean low water, and carry it as far as the funds will pay for.

Pawtucket River is in the Providence collection district, and that port is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Providence in the last fiscal year was $202,227.57. The nearest light-house is Sassafras Point Light. The nearest fortifications are Fort Adams, Newport, R. I., and the fort at Dutch Island, Rhode Island.

MONEY STATEMENT.

July 1, 1883, amount available.....

July 1, 1884, amount available......

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884....

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.......

$529 58

529 58

50,000 00

50,529 58

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 332,478 00

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June

30, 1886....

75,000 00

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

PAWTUCKET, R. I., June 29, 1884.

DEAR SIR: Your letter asking for information from the Business Men's Association was handed me a few days ago for reply.

I have examined into the statistics somewhat and find that the report of June 14, 1883, contains very nearly the statistics for a corresponding time of 1884. The coal tonnage is, however, increased about 7,000 tons, and I presume that there has been a gradual increased consumption of other materials of 5 to 8 per cent. over 1883.

Trusting that this is sufficient data for your report, I remain,

GEORGE H. ELLIOT,

Very respectfully, yours,

Lieut. Col. of Engineers.

GEO. E. NEWELL.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF PAWTUCKET RIVER, RHODE ISLAND.

NEW LONDON, CONN., November 8, 1882.

This river was surveyed in 1870 and 1873, besides which partial examinations were made in 1872 in connection with improvements then in progress, and in 1879 very complete tidal observations were made, chiefly with the object of determining the influence of three bridges on the currents of the river. With the information obtainable from the maps and reports of these surveys and improvements, a preliminary examination of the locality seems unnecessary.

Since 1867 $52,000 has been appropriated for this improvement, making the depth of channel 7 feet at mean low water, where the available depth had been 4 feet. The dredged channel is 75 feet wide. The mean rise of tide is about 5 feet.

The last appropriation made for the Pawtucket River was in 1873. Since its expenditure the business of Pawtucket has greatly increased, and there is a demand for a channel of greater depth and width.

It is to obtain a project with estimates for an enlarged channel that this survey is desired.

Pawtucket is a manufacturing place of about 30,000 population; the improvement desired would be of general benefit to the community, and is undoubtedly one worthy to be made, and the work a public necessity, if the cost be not unduly great. This latter can be satisfactorily determined only by survey.

In my judgment, the survey ought to be made, and I recommend an allotment

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