APPENDIX I. IMPROVEMENT OF PATAPSCO RIVER AND CHANNEL TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. REPORT OF COLONEL WILLIAM P. CRAIGHILL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Patapsco River and Channel to Balti- | 2. James River, Virginia. more, Maryland. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith the annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1892, for the works of improvement of rivers and harbors which have been in my charge. In cases where the commercial statistics may not be as full and complete as desirable, it is not for want of desire and effort on my part to have them so. During the year I have been Division Engineer of the Southeast Division, member of the Light-House Board until May 19, 1892, and of a number of special Boards. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. I I. IMPROVEMENT OF PATAPSCO RIVER AND CHANNEL TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $300,000, with which the improvement was vigorously continued under contract until the end of August, 1889, when operations were brought to a close for want of funds. The depth of the channel was already 27 feet at low water, by which access was afforded to Baltimore by ships of the heaviest tonnage. With this appropriation great improvement in the width of the channel had been made, especially at the angles. The next appropriation was of $340,000, September 19, 1890, and another of $151,200, March 3, 1891. The former contained the following clause: Provided, That such contracts as may be desirable may be entered into by the Secretary of War for the completion of the existing project, or any part of same, to be paid for as appropriations may from time to time be made by law. By advertisement of September 30, 1890, proposals were invited for completing the channel to a width of 600 feet, with a depth of 27 feet at mean low water, which were received December 2. The contract was awarded to the American Dredging Company, of Philadelphia, at 10 cents per cubic yard for removal and redeposit, to cover 6,000,000 cubic yards of material. The time for completion of the work is June 1, 1893. Under this contract operations were resumed as soon as the weather would permit, February 17, 1891. There have been excavated during the fiscal year the following amounts of material: The areas excavated in this division during the fiscal year were: At lower end on west side, 4,000 by 250 feet; at upper end, 16,50 by 215 feet on the west side and 14,500 by 86 feet on the east side of channel. BREWERTON DIVISION. The area excavated in this division was 16,900 feet by 50 feet on north side and 4,000 by 50 feet on the south side. CUT-OFF DIVISION. On this division the areas excavated were: On the east side, 19,500 feet by 33 feet, 5,100 by 663 feet, 8,600 by 100 feet; and on the west side, 13,600 feet by 100 feet and 7,600 feet by 33 feet. LOWER DIVISION. On the east side there was excavated during the year an area of 19,500 feet by 150 feet and on the west side an area of 52,400 feet by 50 feet, much of the latter being removal of deposits within the limits of the 400-foot channel. All excavations mentioned are to a depth of 27 feet at mean low water. LENGTH AND WIDTH OF THE SEVERAL DIVISIONS. The Fort McHenry division, extending from the city limits of Baltimore to the upper end of the Brewerton division, is 28,500 feet long, with a minimum width of 400 feet. Brewerton division.-This division extends from the lower end of the Fort McHenry division to the upper end of the cut-off division; it is 23,500 feet in length and 600 feet in width, being completed practically, though some work, small in extent, may be found necessary on a final examination. Cut-off division.-This division is 23,100 feet in length with a minimum width of 5333 feet. It extends from the Brewerton to the lower division. Lower division.-This extends from the cut-off division to deep water of the Chesapeake Bay; it is 24,000 feet long and 600 feet wide; present operations being confined to the removal of deposits from within the lines of the 400-foot channel as heretofore excavated. Angles. At the junctions of the several divisions the angles are all excavated to a maximum width of 1,000 feet for a depth of 27 feet at mean low water. Surveys of the areas for dumping east of the lower division, and of the Brewerton and Fort McHenry divisions, were executed during the year, and revised estimates of the amount of excavation necessary to complete the project were made, based upon these surveys. The results show an increase of only 5 per cent on the original estimates, or 300,000 cubic yards, making the total quantity to be removed 6,300,000 cubic yards, which insures the practical completion of the project within the estimates. Considerable repairs have been made to the hull and boiler of the tug Les'ie. She is nearly 40 years old, but her condition is now quite good. The following are the amounts and dates of appropriations for improving harbor at Baltimore, Md., including Patapsco River. *July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 205, 834.03 207, 334, 03 208,000.00 Amonnt appropriated by act approved August 5, 1892.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 50,000.00 |
