LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING Report of Maj. W. P. Craighill of examinations and surveys, made in compliance with river and harbor act, of Nanticoke River, Delaware and Maryland; Broad Creek, Northeast River, Tuckahoe Creek, Slaughter Creek, and Cabin Creek, Maryland; and Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia. FEBRUARY 25, 1880.-Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, February 24, 1880. The Secretary of War has the honor to transmit to the United States Senate a letter of the Chief of Engineers, dated the 20th instant, covering copies of reports from Maj. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, of examinations and surveys made in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1879, of Nanticoke River, Delaware and Maryland; of Broad Creek, Northeast River, Tuckahoe Creek, Slaughter Creek, and Cabin Creek, Maryland; and of Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia. The PRESIDENT Of the United States Senate. ALEX. RAMSEY, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith, to comply with provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1879, copies of reports to this office from Maj. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, of the results of examinations and surveys, made under his direction, of Nanticoke River, Delaware and Maryland; of Broad Creek, Northeast River, Tuckahoe Creek, Slaughter Creek, and Cabin Creek, Maryland; and of Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. G.. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, Brig. and Bvt. Maj. Gen., US A. Hon. ALEXANDER RAMSEY, Secretary of War. SURVEY OF NANTICOKE RIVER, DELAWARE AND MARYLAND. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Baltimore, February 3, 1880. GENERAL: A survey or examination of the Nanticoke River, Delaware and Maryland, was called for by the river and harbor act of March 3, 1879. A very good delineation of the river below Vienna was found upon coast-chart No. 34, Chesapeake Bay, from the United States Coast Survey Office. A survey of the portion of the river above Vienna to the forks was made by Mr. Jolin L. Seager, in August, 1879. The survey of the eastern branch above the forks, as high as Cherry Landing above Seaford, Del., was made in 1878, under the direction of Mr. N. H. Hutton, when he was engaged upon the survey of routes for a ship-canal to connect the waters of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Funds have not been available for a survey of the western branch, except to Walnut Landing and for a short distance above. The headwaters of the Nanticoke are chiefly in Delaware, in the section of country to the west of Milton and Milford, but the west branch and the main river are for the greater part in Maryland. The headwaters of the eastern branch interlock closely in the neighborhood of Milton with those of the short streams flowing into Delaware Bay near the breakwater. The general direction of the stream is southwesterly and it empties near the mouth of the Wicomico River into the sound, which is connected with Chesapeake Bay by Hooper's Straits. Below Vienna (which is about 24 miles above Clay Island Point) the course of the river is somewhat tortuous, but the depth of water is ample, being measured generally in fathoms rather than feet, the least being found in the broad expanse between Long Point and Ragged Point. In one place, about 2 miles above the latter point, there are but 9 feet at mean low-water. The rise of tide increases this to about 11 feet. In the portion of the river now under consideration the banks are, sometimes on both sides and for quite long distances, bordered by low marshes, which render the navigation less easy than it would otherwise be and make buoys more important as guides for navigators. The width of the river just below Vienna is about 500 feet, and it i from 600 to 750 feet wide from Vienna to the forks. The depth near Vienna is over 25 feet at mean low-water. The width between the 12-foot curves on either bank just below the forks is about 500 feet and at no point between the forks and Vienna is the width much less. The depth of water in that portion is generally more than 20 feet at low-water and there are no abrupt changes of direction. The following description of the river above the forks to Seaford is taken from Mr. Seager's notes: Just above the forks the river is abont 1,000 feet wide, and there is a channel 250 feet wide for of a mile above, with not less than 12 feet depth; the river here turns gradually to the right for the next 4 of a mile, with an average width of 700 feet; turns back gradually to the left and runs to Sharpstown, which is 24 miles above the forks, with an average width of 600 feet. The main chamel, with not less than 12 feet, extends to this point, with an average width of 300 feet. Between Sharpstown and Gale's Creek, a distance of 1 miles, the river will average in width 800 feet, a channel with not less than 12 feet extending over this section, with an average width of 400 feet. Gale's Creek, entering the Nanticoke on the north side, is a narrow stream running through the "cripple" and extends back into tide-water about ♣ of a mile to Galestown. Galestown wharf is about 4 mile above the mouth of Gale's Creek. The river here makes a sharp turn to the right and is 600 feet wide. One-half mile above Galestown wharf the river turns sharp to the left and widens out to about 1,000 feet. A channel of not less than 12 feet depth and about 250 feet width extends to this point. A bar has formed in this wide place, over which only about 9 feet could be carried; this bar is about 4 mile in length. At the mouth of Broad Creek, which enters the Nanticoke from the east and is 5 miles above the forks, the river is about 800 feet wide, with a channel about 200 feet wide, with not less than 12 feet of water. The general character of the shores from the forks to Broad Creek is low and covered with "cripple." The river narrows gradually for 2 miles above Broad Creek and then is found about 250 feet wide and makes a sharp turn to the right, the 12-foot channel continuing to average about 150 feet in width. About 2 miles above Broad Creek the river is about 350 feet wide, and making a turn to the left widens out to about 600 feet at Cannon's Ferry, which point is about 2 miles above Broad Creek. A 12-foot channel, 150 feet wide, extends to Cannon's Ferry, with the exception of a short bar, about of a mile below, over which there are 11 feet of water. The shores are generally low. and filled with "cripple" and swamps. Between Cannon's Ferry and Seaford, a distance of 34 miles, the river has the following average widths: For the first mile, 600 feet; for the second mile, 450 feet; for the third mile, 400 feet; at Seaford, 450 feet. The shores are generally low and swampy. Ten feet can be carried to within about of a mile of Seaford; to the lower wharves below the railroad bridge, 8 feet can be carried; immediately below the bridge, the deepest water is 8 feet; from the railroad bridge to the closed bridge in Seaford, a distance of about 1,500 feet, 8 feet can be carried. Width of river at the upper or closed bridge, 250 feet. It hence appears that on the main river there are not less than 8 feet of water available at low-water as far up as Seaford, and there are no bridges below that point. No improvement of this section of the river seems necessary at present, and therefore no estimate is submitted. The following discriptions of towns on the main stream are given by Mr. Seager: Vienna, on the north side of the Nanticoke, about 5 miles below the forks, has a population of about 300. It contains three good stores and a post-office; one peachcanning establishment, one steam saw and grist mill, two schooners, with an aggregate tonnage of 180, are owned here. A small steamer plies daily between Vienna and Seaford, the present head of navigation. Riverton, a small settlement on the south bank about of a mile below the forks, contains two small stores, and is a place of no commercial importance; population about 50. Sharpstown, on the south side of the Nanticoke, about 24 miles above the forks, contains a ship-yard and five stores; population about 500. Galestown, on the north side of the river, 34 miles above the forks, and about of a mile back from the river (has a landing called Galestown landing), contains three stores, one grist-mill, and one saw-mill; population about 200. Seaford, at the head of navigation, 11 miles from the forks, is a town of considerable importance; population about 2,500; and contains about 30 stores, 5 oyster and fruit packing houses. A large business is done here in the manufacture of fertilizers; it is a station on the Delaware Railroad, and the junction of the Dorchester and Delaware Railroad. The river is crossed by a draw bridge and a closed bridge, both wood. The draw bridge passes the Delaware Railroad. The closed bridge is a common county bridge. As previously stated, no survey could be made of the west branch. The principal localities on this branch are described as below by Mr. Seager. Crotcher's Ferry, Dorchester County, Maryland, 4 miles above the forks, contains three saw-mills, one basket factory, and several stores; population about 350. Federalsburg, Dorchester County, Maryland, 74 miles above the forks, is on the Dorchester and Delaware Railroad, containing several saw and grist mills, is located on one of the most extensive water-powers in the State; it has a foundry and several stores, and a population of about 1,000. It is stated that vessels drawing 5 feet can nearly reach the town of Federalsburg. An increase of depth to 7 feet is desirable, which it is estimated, upon the best information attainable, could be had with an expenditure of $10,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. SURVEY OF BROAD CREEK, A PRONG OF THE NANTICOKE RIVER, FROM ITS MOUTH TO LAUREL, DELAWARE. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: A survey of Broad Creek was directed by the river and harbor act of 1879, the phraseology of the law as to the item beingFor survey of Broad Creek, a prong of the Nanticoke River, from its mouth to Laurel, Delaware. The necessary survey was made in October, 1879, by a party under the supervision of Assistant Engineer John L. Seager. The headwaters of this creek are near the Cypress Swamp, in Delaware, in which rises the Pocomoke River, that runs southwesterly into Chesapeake Bay, and near the sources of Indian River, that flows easterly into the Atlantic Ocean. Broad Creek itself has a westerly course from Laurel, emptying into the Nanticoke about 5 miles above the forks, and about 6 miles below Seaford, Del. The distance from Laurel, the head of tide-water, to the mouth of the creek is about 7 miles. From the mouth of the creek to Portsville, a landing about 4 miles below Laurel, there are not less than 10 feet at mean low-water, and the rise of the tide is about 3 feet; this depth is somewhat more than can be carried up the Nanticoke to the mouth of the creek. There is one point on the Nanticoke below where there are but 8 or 9 feet at lowwater. There is but one other landing of any importance on the creekLouisville, which is about a mile above Portsville. Louisville is the present head of navigation for vessels of any size; it is a small town of about 300 inhabitants, containing two stares and a ship-yard; its principal business is repairing and fitting out vessels owned on and trading from the creek. Portsville is a small place with less than 100 inhabitants. Herewith is a statement prepared in Laurel bythe gentlemen whose names are attached. They are interested in the improvement of the creek. The Delaware railroad passes through Laurel, having its southern terminus at Crisfield, and connecting all that country with Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Broad Creek is crossed at Laurel by the railroad bridge, This is an ordinary trestle-bridge without a draw, but with a span of 35 feet for the passage of lighters and small boats, having a clear height of 18 feet above the water. The county bridge, 1,600 feet above the railroad, is also a trestle-bridge without a draw. There are no other bridges on this stream below Laurel. From Portsville to about 1 mile above Louisville there is an available depth of 7 feet at mean low-water, the channel in some places, however, not being more than 40 or 50 feet wide. In this portion the width of the creek varies from 150 to 275 feet, but there are several sharp changes of direction which are unfavorable for free navigation. The remainder of the creek up as far as Laurel is very shoal, the depth declining rapidly to 3, 2, 1, and feet, and even less. The following description of the river is taken from the notes of Mr. Seager: At Portsville the river is about 200 feet wide; the 7-foot curve at this point is 140 feet wide (deepest water 104 feet); at 800 feet above, the 7-foot curve narrows to 50 feet, holding this width for 400 feet, narrowing to 40 feet; begins widening out 100 feet farther on (1,300 feet above Portsville wharf), holding average width of 60 feet for next 800 feet. Twenty-one hundred feet above Portsville the creek makes a sharp turn to the left, and is 220 feet wide; 7-foot curve will average 50 feet in width up to Louisville, which is 4,200 feet above Portsville. The river at this point is 150 feet wide and makes a sharp turn to the right; 7-foot curve continuing with average of 60 |
