west shore was very narrow and caused many serious ice gorges at and near Port Deposit. The improvements have been in progress since 1852. The present general project is for a 15-foot low-water channel below Havre de Grace and for the removal to a depth of 8 feet of the shoal opposite Watson's Island. The channel below Havre de Grace was dredged the last time in 1885 to a depth of 12 feet; it has shoaled again. The channel west of Watson's Island has been widened by dredging about 400 feet. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $148,911.35 had been expended on this improvement. The sum of $9,606.40 was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. The shoal opposite Watson's Island was dredged in accordance with the present project. Operations were commenced on July 8, and ended August 17, 1889, and 47,978 cubic yards of material were removed. By direction of the Chief of Engineers, a survey of the river from Port Deposit to Spesutia Island was made during November, 1889, and a copy of the chart of the survey was forwarded in the following month. July 1, 1889, amount available July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contract... July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1889. ... July 1, 1890, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act of September 19, 1890. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1891...... Amount (estimated) required for annual dredging..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 10.) $1,478.65 8,500.00 9, 978.65 $9,606. 40 372.25 4,000.00 4,372.25 = 20,000.00 11. Fairlee Creek, Maryland.-The original depth at the mouth before improvement was commenced was 2 feet. Inside the creek it is 5 feet at mean low water. Navigation is carried on by a few flat-bottomed, so called, lime boats and one schooner. The existing project of improvement is for a 7-foot low-water chaunel 100 feet wide across the bar and inside the creek, for a total distance of nearly 3 miles, at an estimated cost of $15,558. An appropriation of $5,000, made by the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, being the first one made for this improvement, was exhausted during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, and a cut was made across the bar at the mouth 80 feet in width and about 900 feet long and of the required depth. It is not known what the present condition of this cut is, but it was expected that it would soon fill up again. As yet, there is no appreciable benefit to be reported upon the very limited commerce of the creek. Nothing was done here during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. July 1, 1889, amount available... July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1889.. Amount appropriated by act of September 19, 1890................ Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 11.) $309.31 309.31 5,000.00 5,558.00 12. Corsica Creek, Maryland.-Before improvements were made there was an ample depth of water in this stream as far as Hooper's Landing, about 4 miles above the mouth. From there to the head of navigation at Centreville the depth was 8 feet and the channel very narrow. The original project, adopted in 1882, provided for a channel 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water from the above landing to the bridge at Centreville, including a turning basin at the latter place, at an estimated cost of $30,000. The sum of $29,405.59 had been expended at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, including outstanding liabilities. During the past fiscal year $594.41 were expended. The result is the completion of the channel in accordance with the original project and no further appropriation is recommended. July 1, 1889, amount available..... July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1889 (See Appendix H 12.) $594. 41 594.41 13. Choptank River, Maryland.-At the time the project for the improvement of this river was made, in 1879, the depth of water between Denton and Greensborough varied from 2 to 8 feet at low water. Navigation by small sailing vessels extended to 3 miles above Denton. Above that point and for a distance of 5 miles, lighters were used for the transportation of freight to the lower landing-places. A project was made in 1880 for an 8-foot low water channel 75 feet wide, at an estimated cost of $79,000. During the three following years the channel was dredged to a depth of only 6 and 7 feet on account of the small appropriations made and the high prices for dredging. Since 1885 the originally proposed depth has been made whenever possible and the width restricted to 40 feet. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $30,076.26 had been expended, and the least depth in the improved channel from Denton to Case's Wharf, was 5 feet, a sufficient gain to warrant the establishment of a steam-boat line for freight with Baltimore, which now runs regularly. The appropriation of $7,500 made by the act of August 11, 1888, had been withheld on account of the excessive bids previously received, until February, 1889, when an agreement was made with the American Dredging Company of Philadelphia for continuing dredging as proposed, at 15 cents per cubic yard. Operations were commenced on June 25, 1890, and it is expected will be completed in August following. At the close of the fiscal year 1,970 cubic yards of material had been removed and the proposed channel, 40 feet in width, had been extended to a point 222 feet above where the work terminated in 1888 at Case's Wharf. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, is $61.36. It is stated that an additional steam-boat line will be started at the close of this season's work. July 1, 1889, amount available $7,423.74 July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1859 July 1, 1890, outstanding liabilities... $61.36 356.86 July 1, 1890, balance available Amount appropriated by act of September 19, 1890... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 .. 7,066.88 7,500.00 14, 566. 88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 13.) $23,000.00 14. Cambridge Harbor, Maryland.-The entrance to this harbor was originally only 44 feet deep at mean low tide at the shoalest place. The average depth in the harbor was about 3 feet; at a few points it was 8 and 9 feet. Strong northwesterly winds often made the bar impassable for vessels drawing 3 feet. The local commerce was in consequence carried on by a limited number of sailing-vessels of the smallest class and by one steamer of light draft. Improvements were commenced in 1871 and completed in 1879, in accordance with the original project, the result having been a channel 100 feet wide across the bar and an increase of anchorage ground in the harbor, both having been dredged to a depth of 8 feet at mean low water. During the year 1884 the channel at the entrance was slightly widened. At the close of the year ended June 30, 1888, $32,500 had been expended. A new project was submitted in 1887, based upon a survey made in accordance with the requirements of the act of August 5, 1886, for a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water and 150 feet wide from the Choptank River to the Railroad Wharf and for dredging the inner harbor below the draw-bridge to 10 feet, and above the bridge to 8 feet at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $17,736.60. Under the present project, $4,828.91 were expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, making a total of $37,328.91 expended on the improvement of the harbor to that date. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. At the close of operations in 1889, there existed a channel 12 feet in depth and 88 feet wide across the bar to opposite the Maryland Steamboat Company's Wharf, and 22 feet wide as far as the Railroad Wharf, which enabled vessels drawing 114 feet of water to sail directly to the latter point without much difficulty. July 1, 1889, amount available.... July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1889..... July 1, 1890, balance available...... Amount appropriated by act of September 19, 1890....... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 $171.09 71.09 100.00 5,000.00 5, 100.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 14.) 7,736.60 15. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. During the past fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880: The pungy Eva Hemingway from Choptank River, Maryland, the schooner Two Brothers from the harbor at Cambridge, Md., and the schooner Jesse W. Knght from Chesapeake Bay, near Sharp's Island. (See Appendix H 15.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. It appearing from the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefore being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, William F. Smith, United States Agent, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army, Retired, was charged with and completed their survey, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed in Ex. Docs. of the Fifty-first Congress, first session. 1. Appoquinimink Creek, Delaware-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 19. (See also Appendix H 16.) 2. Wicomico River, Maryland.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 20. (See also Appendix H 17.) 3. North East River, Maryland.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 21. (See also Appendix H 18.) 4. Chester River, between Crumpton and Jones' Landing, Maryland.Printed as House Ex. Doc. 65. (See also Appendix H 19.) 5. Manokin River, Maryland.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 149. (See also Appendix H 20.) 6. Elk River, Maryland.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 157. (See also Appendix H 21.) 7. Onancock Harbor, Virginia.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 83. (See also Appendix H 22.) 8. Harbor of Cape Charles City and approaches by Cheuton Inlet, Virginia.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 29. (See also Appendix H 23.) 9. Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. 207. (See also Appendix H 24.) IMPROVEMENT OF PATAPSCO RIVER AND CHANNEL TO BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA. Officer in charge, Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, until July 23, 1889, and after that date Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engi neers. 1. Channel to Baltimore, Maryland.-The depth of this channel has been by successive steps increased from 17 feet at mean low water to 27 feet, with an average rise of tide of about 18 inches. The project of improvement first adopted and commenced in October, 1853, had for its object to give a channel 22 feet deep at mean low water with a width of 150 feet. Little was done before the late war, but afterwards these dimensions were increased, a depth of 24 feet at mean low water being determined upon with a width of channel ranging from 250 to 400 feet. This channel was completed in 1874, important changes of position having been given to a portion of it, by which the distance was materially lessened and the expense of maintenance decreased. The object of the improvement was to permit the approach to Baltimore, at mean low water, of vessels drawing from 223 to 23 feet and at ordinary high water of vessels drawing 24 and 24 feet. Later the project had in view a depth of 27 feet at mean low water with a width of 600 feet, and this was in progress June 30, 1889, with funds granted by the act of August 11, 1888, by which an appropriation of $300,000 was made. Operations were brought to a close in August, 1889, for want of money and were not resumed in the year ending June 30, 1890. The channel throughout has been excavated to 27 feet at low water. The Craighill Channel below the Cut-off, the Cut-off Channel and the Brewerton above the Cut-off have been excavated to 400 feet width; the Fort McHenry Division is generally 250 feet in width, except at the upper end where it is 500. All the angles are much wider, the object being to facilitate 105 the movement of large ships at these turns. The por erton below the Cut-off and of the Craighill abovestern Branch to dredged for years, and are not now considered a p under improvement by the United States. Their August 1, 1889, feet and the depth 24. as 20 feet. Up to June 30, 1889, the United States had exper0, 1890, $426.19, with the result indicated above. The city of Baltis and surveys. of Maryland, chiefly the former, have also contributesed the ultimate more than $500,000. The expenditure up to June 30, 10, States was $2,461,997.65. July 1, 1889, amount available July 1, 1890, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1889.... July 1, 1890, balance available Amount appropriated by act of September 19, 1890 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1891............. 430.09 $148, 193. 89 102, 564. 38 45, 629.51 340,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix I 1.) 385, 629.51 360,000,00 360, 000. 00 2. James River, Virginia.-When the improvement of the James River was regularly undertaken by the Government the navigation was ob structed by sunken vessels, by remains of military bridges, and by other obstructions put into the river during the late war to prevent the national fleets from approaching too close to Richmond. There were also other natural obstructions. Rockett's Reef and Richmond Bar had only 7 feet of water at mean low tide. From Warwick Bar to Richmond the channel was crooked and obstructed by dangerous rocks and ledges, the Dutch-Gap Cut-off was not then open, and the river was in a poor condition as regards its availability for commercial purposes. The original project of improvement was to secure a depth of 18 feet at full tide (corresponding to about 15 feet at low tide) to Richmond, with a channel width of 180 feet. This project had reached an advanced stage of progress when Congress, by act approved July 5, 1884, adopted the project looking to 22 feet at mean low tide from the sea to Richmond, the width to be 400 feet from the sea to City Point, 300 from thence to Drewry's Bluff, and 200 feet from thence to Richmond. July 1, 1888, the available balance was $1,047.98. The additional sum of $225,000 was provided by the law of August 11, 1888. No appropriation was made in 1889. The total amount expended on this river by the United States up to June 30, 1889, was $1,094,539.86 which includes the sum of $363,655.31 expended since the new project has been entered upon to give a depth of 22 feet at mean low water. The condition of the river June 30, 1889, was as follows: the available draught from the sea to City Point at high tide was 19 feet; thence to Kingsland, 18 feet; over Kingsland, 16 feet; thence to Richmond, 16 feet. The amount expended in the year ending June 30, 1890, has been $69,137.48, and the following is the practical available draught at high water: from the sea to Curl's Neck, 194 feet; thence to Goode's rocks, 18 feet; thence to Richmond, 16 feet. The principal operations of the year have been dredging at the cut near Stearn's Dike in the Dutch Gap Cut-off, in the partial removal of |