there is an old jetty which was constructed upon a bowlder reef which projected from the shore at this point and extends out to about 300 feet from the highwater line. This jetty, which was built of rounded bowlders found on the island, had not much stability, and has become much flattened down by the sea. I propose to build up on this jetty, and to extend it about 200 feet on a line parallel to and distant about 950 feet from the main breakwater; thence the western part of the proposed inner breakwater follows an arc of 90 degrees with a radius of 150 feet, and connects with the northern part which is on a line running at right angles with the main breakwater, and intersecting it at a point about 650 feet from the outside of the crib-work forming the north side of the present inner harbor, or about 950 feet from the Government wharf on the south side of this harbor. The inner breakwater is to be constructed of granite riprap 4 feet wide on the top, which is to be 5 feet above mean high water. The western part to have side slopes of 1 on 1, the northern part to have a slope of 1 on 1 on the inside, and a slope of 1 on 1 on the outside. The shore end of the western part above the lowwater line is to be constructed of crib-work filled with stone. At a distance of 150 feet from the main breakwater, or, more exactly, 150 feet from the 6-foot curve of the submerged bank on the inside of this breakwater, I propose to leave in the inner breakwater an opening, on each side of which there is to be constructed a pier-head of dry masonry, protected by fender piles in the usual manner, leaving the opening 100 feet wide in the clear. The northern part of the inner breakwater, which is on the most exposed side, should be built first. This would allow us to remove the crib-work which forms the northern side and a part of the western side of the present inner harbor, and to use the stone filling and foundation-say 4000 tons-on the western side of the enlarged harbor. The area of the pro The area of the present inner harbor is about 1 acres. posed harbor, inclosed between the low-water line on the shore and the inner breakwater, is about 18 acres. About 5 acres are inclosed within the curve of 9 feet at mean-low water, 9 acres within the 6-foot curve, and 15 acres within the 3-foot curve. Experience has shown that the depth gained by dredging in the present inner harbor is permanent, and it will doubtless be found that the shoaling of that part of the outer harbor which it is proposed to include within the new works will be stopped, since the littoral sands now brought in by the waves from the westward, and the sands which are now brought in through the gap in the main breakwater, and which, when it is closed, may be brought in around its extremity, will be arrested; the former by the western part and the latter by the northern part of the proposed inner breakwater. It is probable that, for the purpose of sheltering the larger class of vessels in the outer harbor in northerly and northeasterly storms, and of quieting the water in that harbor in all storms from the eastward, it may be found necessary at some time in the future to extend the main breakwater in a westerly direction 1,000 or 1,200 feet, or to such distance as may be desired, leaving an opening between it and the present head of the break water. The area of the enlarged inner harbor for small vessels (nearly all of the vessels which now use the harbor of refuge at Block Island are of this class) is not as large as I would have proposed, except that I do not wish to encroach so much on the area of the outer harbor as to impair its usefulness for large vessels, the number of which seeking refuge at Block Island is likely to increase, especially in case the main breakwater is extended as above mentioned. If deemed desirable, however, when we come to the construction we can make the northern part of the inner breakwater on a line 100 or 200 feet further north with but little increase of expense. The Government wharf, which occupies the land side of the present inner harbor, is the only wharf at Block Island, except a private wharf which was built some years since outside the inner harbor and on the inside of the main breakwater, by permission of the Secretary of War. The latter wharf is used only in summer, and by steamers which carry visitors and excursionists from and to the mainland. The Government wharf is always overcrowded with the traffic of the island. All the freight carried to and from the island is brought here, and at it are landed the United States mails and the supplies for the four light-houses, which are on the island, and the steam fog signal. The enlargement of the inner harbor will allow additional private wharves to be built within it, and thus relieve the Government wharf, but the building of such wharves should only be by authority of the Secretary of War and under such conditions as may be prescribed by him. In the following estimate of the cost of the proposed enlargement I have not included any dredging of the area proposed to be included within the inner harbor. None will be necessary in the first instance, and when it becomes so it can be done gradually and as the wants of the harbor may require. As before suggested, any additional depth which may be gained by dredging in the enlarged nner harbor will be permanent. ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROPOSED ENLARGEMENT. 21,120 tons of riprap granite, at $1.65 per ton..... $34,848 2,000 Building new crib-work above the low-water line at the inner end of 334 cubic yards of dry stone masonry in the pier-heads at entrance to Add 10 per cent. for contingencies.... 200 520 3,674 748 41,990 4,199 BLOCK ISLAND, R. I., December 16, 1884. MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 13th, in which you ask for the statistics of the use by vessels of the inner harbor or basin during the last few years, and especially during the last year, was received on Saturday, In reply would inform you that on its receipt I at once sought an interview with Mr. Uriah Dodge, who keeps the range-lights here, and also with my son, C. C. Ball, who keeps the store here, both of whom have more or less to do with the boats and vessels which frequent the harbor. There is no record kept by any one of the arrival and departure of vessels, hence I could gather nothing authentic, more than I have got together in a report which I inclose, which, in my opinion, is not far out of the way, and which I hope and trust will answer your purposes. The report may be considered as that of the past year; the three previous years on an average. say 20 per cent. less. Mr. Dodge, the light-house keeper, says that thirty-five boats and small vessels fill the basin full enough, especially in bad weather. He further says: The general stock of swordfish here last season, at a rough estimate, I think the estimate is too small by about 124 per cent. Should you want any information further please let me know and I will do the best I can for you. Yours, respectfully, Lieut. Col. GEO H. ELLIOT, U. S. A. NICHOLAS BALL. P. S.-The mackerel fleet of 200 sail, which is spoken of in the report, I should say would average the past six years 100 sail that came into the outer bay for a harbor, the crews coming on shore in their boats to obtain water and supplies. Several years ago the fleet fished in these waters for two months and harbored around the island, one side or the other, nearly every night. N. B. STATISTICS OF THE USE BY VESSELS OF THE INNER HARBOR AT BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND. Names of home vessels engaged in the fishing and freighting business.—Steamers: Geo. W. Danielson and Ocean View. Schooners: N. F. Dixon, Rose Brothers, Hattie Rebecca, Annie Godfrey, Laura Louise, Mystery, Laura E. Garnage, and about fifty others, including sloops, &c. Vessels from New London, Connecticut.—Schooners: Emma, Chapel Brothers, Maria, White Cloud, Hattie Douglass, Robert Gray, Nelson, Woolsey, Alnoma, C. M. Harris, Laurel, Conquest, Horizon, James Woolsey, Kate Church, Belle of the Bay, Scotia; Sloops: Thorn, S. R. Packer, Favorite, Nettie Foote, Superior, Fashion, J. G. Freeman, Sharon, and about fifteen or twenty others whose names are not at hand. Vessels from Noank, Connecticut.-Schooners: Mary Hoxie, Emma, Jas. Potter, Mary Potter, Redwing, Phebe, Annie Fowler, Ada, Belle, Ira and Abby, Willey; steamer Eva; Sloops: S. B. Miller, Wildwood, Eagle, Millie, Isabella, Ella May, Tiny B., and about ten or fifteen others whose names are not at hand. Vessels from New Bedford, Massachusetts.—Schooners: Quilip, Gracie Phillips, Bella, Emma Clifton, Wasp, J. W. Flanders, Maria, Black Swan, Spy, Yankee Bride, Village Belle, Penekese. Sloops: Transit, Frank Clarke, Carrie, Ida, Wm. Young, and about ten or fifteen others whose names are not at hand. In addition to the above there are about 225 mackerel and other fishing vessels from Cape Cod and the east; 50 menhaden steamers from different places, about 20 vessels from Newport, R. I., during the winter, quite a number from New York, and there are annually probably thirty cargoes from larger vessels, with coal, wood, lumber, bricks, &c., besides the numerous yachts and other craft which frequent here in the summer months, Government vessels with supplies, &c. The greater part of them are compelled to anchor in the outer harbor in consequence of the overcrowded basin. Vessels with cargoes are greatly inconvenienced, and often are compelled to wait for vacancies, and even then collisions are imminent, to the great disadvantage of all concerned. IMPROVEMENT OF LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. Little Narragansett Bay lies on the north side of the eastern entrance from the ocean into Long Island Sound, and is inclosed on the southern and eastern sides by a long and narrow tongue of land, extending from the mainland at Watch Hill, first westerly and then northerly to the entrance to the bay, which is from the outer harbor of Stonington. Pawcatuck River, upon which is situated the flourishing commercial and manufacturing town of Westerly, R. I., empties into the eastern side of the bay, and has been improved by the United States. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 2.63 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION The navigable draught of water through the bay before improvement was about 4 feet at mean low water, and this depth limited the navigation of Pawcatuck River. PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT. The project of 1878 for the improvement of the bay provided for a channel 200 feet wide and 73 feet deep at mean low water, extending from the entrance to the bay to the mouth of the Pawcatuck, and the removal of the bowlders which then obstructed navigation, and any others which the excavation of the channel might develop. Subsequently it was determined to clear away some large bowlders which interfered with steamboat navigation between this channel and Watch Hill, an important place of summer resort. The estimated cost of the improvement was $51,000. A plat of Little Narragansett Bay, showing the improved channel, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1879, page 314. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS. The project was completed in the fiscal year 1883-'84. The main channel as projected was excavated to its full width and depth, and the channel to Watch Hill was increased from 90 to 165 feet in width by the removal of bowlders. Vessels drawing ten feet of water can now reach the mouth of the Pawcatuck River at high water, but the full benefit of the improvement cannot be utilized until further deepening of that river to enable vessels of the same draught to reach the important manufacturing town of Westerly. A report on this subject was submitted September 19, 1884, in compliance with the river and harbor act of Congress of July 5, 1884, which was printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 183, For |