way has been widened and the flow of water around the island much increased. No further work at this place is now contemplated by this department. IMPROVING HARBOR AT BLOCK ISLAND, R. I. The approved project of 1884, as modified in 1888, provides for the construction of a harbor of refuge on the eastern side of the island, consisting of an enlarged inner harbor (or basin) for small vessels, and an exterior harbor for larger ones. The basin was to be about 800 feet square and completely enclosed except at its 100 feet wide entrance. The exterior harbor was already formed by an old breakwater on the east and the adjacent shore on the south and west, but an old gap near the end of this breakwater was to be filled up. The project covers the construction of the stone sea walls of the enlarged inner harbor ($46,000), the repair of the old breakwater ($24,000, and a little dredging ($5,000) along the western side of the old breakwater and also inside the harbor; all at a total cost estimated in 1888 at $75,000, of which $74,000 has been appropriated up to December 31st, 1893, leaving $1,000 still to be appropriated to complete the improvement as projected. A plan of the works may be found at page 612, Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, and further details at page 609 and 613 of 1885, page 506 of 1888 and page 842 of 1893. At the adoption of the present project this harbor was neither large enough nor well enough protected for the proper harborage of the craft seeking refuge at this place during storms and bad weather. During the last fiscal year preparations were made for the continuance of field work. Minor surveys were made and contracts for the stone work were entered into. Since the end of the last fiscal year and up to December 31st, 1893, the work of placing stone on the breakwater has been carried on, 6,309 tons having been so placed, thus completing all stone work. Dangerous bowlders have been removed and 4,452 cubic yards of hard sand dredged to 12 feet depth from the shoal at the enlarged entrance to the inner harbor and 960 cubic yards of mud to 10 feet depth from the entrance to the old inner basin. Fender piers have been placed at the entrance to the enlarged inner harbor, thus completing all contract work. As a result of all work up to December 31st, 1893, the gap in the old breakwater has been filled up so as to make the breakwater of 1,900 feet total length; the north sea wall has been completed and west sea wall also finished, completing all stone work as projected. Fender piers to be placed at the entrance of the enlarged inner harbor are also in place. The shoaled entrances to the basins were dredged. There was on hand December 31st, 1893, only $4,652.24 available for the continuance of work. Work on this improvement under this appropriation will be completed next summer, after which further work will await further appropriations. IMPROVING PAWCATUCK RIVER, R. I. The approved project of 1885, as modified in 1892, provides for the deepening and widening of the river so as to secure a channel of at least 8 feet depth at low water with 100 feet width, from its mouth up to the lower wharves of Westerly, and thence a channel of the same depth with about 40 feet width, up to the upper wharves of the city; all at a total cost estimated in 1891 at $42,400, all of which has been appropriated up to December 31st, 1893. A plan of the works may be found at page 624 of Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, and at page 845 of 1893. At the adoption of the present project the channel was limited to 5.5 feet depth over 75 feet width below the city and the same depth over 35 feet width opposite the city. During the last fiscal year preparations were made for the continuance of field work. Since the end of the last fiscal year and up to December 31st, 1893, actual work of removing obstructing bowlders and rocks has been carried on, clearing off such obstructions down to the general level of the dredged bottom, from about 1,000 feet length of the 100 feet width channel below the city and about 3,000 feet length of the 40 feet channel between the wharves at Westerly. As a result of all work up to December 31st, 1893, the 8 feet depth channel had been completed to full width from deep water up to within a half mile of the city and to partial width the remaining distance and had been cleared of bowlders. There was on December 31st, 1893, a balance of $1,679.03 available for the continuance of work. Work on this improvement under present appropriations will be completed probably before May, 1894, after which further work will await further appropriations. IMPROVEMENT OF ENTRANCE TO POINT JUDITH POND, R. I. There is at present no approved project for this work, it having been reported as not worthy of improvement in 1873 by General Warren (pages 286-9 Report of Chief of Engineers for 1874, and House Ex. Doc. No. 84 of the 43d Congress, 1st Session); and also as not worthy of improvement in 1888 by Major Livermore (page 642-3 Report for 1889). $7,500 was appropriated for this improvement in 1892; but the unused portion (nearly all) was returned to the U. S. Treasury, November 28, 1893. At the date of this appropriation the entrance to this Pond was very shallow, (less than 3 feet) crooked, and variable in location. Up to December 31st, 1893, except inspections of the locality and reports of same, no work had been done on the work of this improvement. There were on December 31st, 1893, no funds available for the further prosecution of this work. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS. In accordance with Act of Congress of July 13th, 1892, preliminary examinations of the following waterways have been made during the last fiscal year, to determine their worthiness of improvement by the General Government. These localities were reported upon as follows: Pawtuxet Harbor, Providence River, R. I., recommended as not worthy of improvement by the United States. Apponaug Harbor, Coweset Bay, R. I., recommended as not worthy of improvement at present by the United States. Greenwich Harbor, Greenwich Bay, R. I., recommended as not worthy of improvement at present by the United States. Wickford Harbor, Narragansett Bay, R. I., recommended as worthy of moderate improvement by the United States and a survey of this harbor was recommended to determine the character and amount of improvement advisable. Inner Harbor at Point Judith Breakwater, R. I., recommended as not worthy of improvement at present by the United States. Breachway into Salt Pond, Block Island, R. I., recommended as not worthy of improvement at present by the United States. It is hoped that information may be obtained from surveys by the U. S. Engineers, which have been asked for by the Board, to enable a plan to be devised for turning the main ship channel at and below Field's Point slightly to the west so as to avoid the rocky east bank of the present channel, which has heretofore given some trouble to navigation. Respectfully submitted, J. HERBERT SHEDD, Harbor Commissioners. State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HARBOR COMMISSIONERS, MADE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE JANUARY SESSION, 1895. PROVIDENCE: E. L. FREEMAN & SON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. |