cents ($2.90) per cubic yard, he being the lowest bidder. The amount of stone delivered by him was 903 cubic yards, under substantially the same specifications as for the Hadley work before

referred to.

All other parts of the work have been done by the day under our immediate supervision. The brush and poles for the mats were procured near the mouth of the Agawam River, about threefourths of a mile below the work, and were brought up on scows.

The number of square yards of mats laid, with the overlying rip-rap work, is 3,570, extending 205 feet in length on the river front at low water, with the down-stream end of the submerged part of the work finished at the angle with the river front shown on the plan.

The foot or outer end of the mats rests on a bar of hard gravel, well adapted to resist the tendency of the current to undermine the work.

The three scows used at this place were the same as those used at Hadley. Upon the completion of the work they were sold to the Springfield Canoe Club, with the poles, lumber, tools, etc., for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125.00).

The work we consider an ample protection against further encroachments of the river at this place.

We recommend that the selectmen of the town of West Springfield be authorized to have the general oversight and control of the work, to the extent of preventing any disturbance of it by artificial structures built in or upon it and tending to impair its stability.

All bills incurred by us have been paid, and we know of no unsettled claims against the State having their origin in any action of ours in the execution of this work.

The total amount of the expenditures incurred under our direction, of which we have furnished you from time to time detailed statements with vouchers, has been $4,877.89. Deducting the sum of $125.00 received from the sale of the scows, etc., as above stated, the net cost of the work of construction has been $4,752.89. Respectfully submitted,

E. C. DAVIS,
E. E. DAVIS,

Engineers.

NORTHAMPTON, MASS., November 5, 1891.

It is due to the Messrs. Davis to say that this work, as well as that at Hadley, has been conducted by them with

skill, good judgment and economy, with careful attention to our directions, and to our entire satisfaction. We also take pleasure in stating that in both cases the work has been thoroughly done at a cost less than the appropriation by the General Court.

The foregoing Report is respectfully submitted.

BOSTON, January 1, 1892.

JOHN E. SANFORD.

JOHN I. BAKER.

CHARLES H. HOWLAND.

APPENDIX.

By WILLIAM H. LINCOLN, OF BROOKLINE, MASS.

I should say that the development and increase of the foreign steamship business of the port of Boston began about the year 1875, when it was publicly announced that three steamers had been engaged to run regularly between this port and Liverpool. This was the beginning of what is now known as the Leyland line. These steamers were the Iberian, Istrian, and Illyrian. For many years previously the Cunard line had maintained weekly sailings from this port for passengers and freight; but its steamers were of small capacity, and did not accommodate the growing business of the port. Many of our importers were obliged to ship their goods via New York; and, as an illustration of the greater competition and increase in business, it may be stated that the rates of freight from Liverpool are now about one-fifth of what was charged at that time.

The Warren line had also started in the business, but no regular sailings had been established. The Dominion line had also made this a winter port, and provided one sailing a fortnight. The first year of the Leyland line, the three steamers already mentioned afforded fortnightly sailings. The result was so satisfactory that three more steamers were added the following year, providing weekly sailings. There did not exist at that time any line of steamers to any other foreign port; and the sailings averaged about two steamers a week for Liverpool. That was the extent of our foreign steamship commerce.