The total appropriations to date have been $5,000 by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $398.81, and the original condition of the harbor remained unaltered. At the date of this report the improved channel through the middle and inner bars is 6 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide. Not less than 5 feet at mean low water can now be carried into the harbor. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 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 B 18.) $4, 601. 19 4,003. 34 597.85 5,000.00 COAST OF IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS, IN RHODE ISLAND, AND ON EASTERN COAST OF CONNECTICUT. Officers in chage, Maj. W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers, to December 7, 1891, and Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, since that date, with Lieut. William W. Harts, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since May 20, 1892; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor of refuge at Hyannis, Massachusetts.-This harbor, before improvement, was an open roadstead, exposed to southerly storms. In the years 1827-1838 a breakwater of riprap granite 1,170 feet long was constructed, covering an anchorage of about 175 acres, the entrance to which has a depth of about 15 feet. Between the years 1852 and 1882 extensive repairs were made in increasing the width of its base and the size of the stone forming its sides and top. The depth of water immediately inside the breakwater being insufficient for many vessels that seek the harbor for refuge, the present project of 1884 for the improvement of the harbor contemplates dredging the area protected by the breakwater to a depth of 153 feet at mean low water at a total further cost estimated in 1884 at $45,662. Eighty-one dollars and twenty cents was already on hand, $28,000 has been since appropriated, and $22,829.17 has been paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891. The 15 foot anchorage area has been increased by about 11 acres, about one-third of the area to be dredged. At the beginning of the last fiscal year work was in progress, and this work was continued until July 16, 1891, with plant owned by the Government and a hired tug. About 1.1 acres were dredged in the 15-foot anchorage area protected by the breakwater. The balance on hand will be applied to dredging in the area protected by the breakwater. 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 C 1.) $11, 662.00 2. Harbor of refuge at Nantucket, Massachusetts-This harbor is the only one between the harbors of Marthas Vineyard (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown) and Provincetown, a distance of about 100 miles, except the small harbor of Hyannis, on the north side of Nantucket Sound. It has deep water inside, and the object of improvement is to make it a harbor of refuge for vessels plying between ports north and south of Cape Cod. Before the commencement of the present work there was a shoal about 13 miles in width outside the entrance, through which the channel or line of best water was only about 6 feet deep, and very crooked and subject to changes in location. The present approved project of 1880, as modified in 1885, is to construct jetties of riprap stone, projecting from either side of the present entrance to the harbor, for the purpose of concentrating the strength of the tidal currents and excavating a channel of 15 feet depth by scour, and to complete the work by dredging, at a total cost, as estimated in 1885, of $375,000. One hundred and seventy thousand dollars was appropriated, and $152,771.78 was paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891; the expenditures resulting in the construction of the west jetty to a point 3,955 feet from the shore, and the east jetty to a distance of 834 feet from its initial point on shore, which is the outer end of the middle of the three northwest spurs built on Coatue Beach some years ago, and the foundation was laid and the jetty partially completed for an additional distance of 191 feet. At the beginning of the fiscal year work on the east jetty was in progress. This work was continued until August 14. The east jetty was extended about 1,300 feet. The balance available is to be applied to the further extension of the east jetty and raising low places in the west jetty, together with a little dredging, if necessary. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix C 2.) $17, 228. 22 17, 114.80 113.42 113.42 25,000.00 180,000.00 3. Marthas Vineyard inner harbor at Edgartown, Massachusetts.-The inner harbor at Edgartown lies in the northern part of the water way or strait that separates Chappaquiddick Island from the east end of Marthas Vineyard. It extends southward about 1 miles from Chappaquiddick Point opposite Edgartown, and averages about one-fifth of a mile in width. This harbor is so completely landlocked as to form a safe harbor of refuge for small vessels, but the contracted width of the entrance and the resulting velocity of the tidal currents make it difficult to pass through. The present project of 1889 provides for the removal to 10 feet depth of a shoal known as the Middle Ground in the central portion of the harbor at a total cost, as estimated in 1889, of $4,500. Two thousand dollars was appropriated and $13.25 was paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891; these expenditures being for prepara tions for carrying on the work by hired labor. During the last fiscal year dredging was commenced on July 16 and continued until August 5, by which about half the shoal was removed. It is proposed to apply the balance of the funds on hand to the completion of the project. 4. Harbor at Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts.-The plan of improvement of 1887 as modified in 1889 contemplates the protection of the points of land at the entrance to the harbor known as East Chop and West Chop by the construction of jetties and other works along the shore to stop the wearing away of the chops by the action of the storm waves, at a total cost, as estimated in 1882, of $60,000. Thirty-five thousand dollars was appropriated, and $27,906.86 was paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891; these expenditures resulting in the construction of a wharf and three jetties at West Chop and a track, jetty, and sea wall at the East Chop. During the last fiscal year work was commenced on August 14 and continued to September 5, by which the jetties and sea wall were extended and strengthened, and about half the needed work completed. The balance available will be applied to continuing the work of protection, mainly at the East Chop. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... 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 C 4.) $7,093. 14 6, 997. 17 95.97 44.69 51.28 7,500.00 7,551. 28 17, 500.00 5. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading from Buzzards Bay to Wareham. The commerce of Wareham is carried on in sailing vessels, and the channel is to be made a beating channel for such vessels. Another object of the improvement is the raising of Long Beach. Before improvement the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 feet at mean low water in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beach, a narrow sand spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abraded by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carried into and shoaled the channel inside. The present approved project of 1880, as modified in 1887, provides for a channel 250 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from Barney Point down to the entrance to the harbor. Above Barney Point the width of the channel is to be 350 feet, with the same depth10 feet-as below that point. The plan includes also the raising and strengthening of Long Beach, of which a large portion was submerged at low water, to carry it above the storm waves and currents and to hold it there, in order to prevent the filling of the improved channel above, by material abraded from the beach; the whole at a total cost, as estimated in 1887, of $56,236. Forty-nine thousand dollars was appropriated, and $44,746.07 was paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891; this expenditure resulting in the completion of the channel in the upper part of the harbor in front of the wharves to its full width, the deepening to 10 feet of the channel for about one-half its width from Barney Point to Wareham, and a portion of Reach No. 9, formerly obstructed by the shoal known as the Middle Ground, and the raising of Long Beach above high-water storm tides, so that the wash of sand into the improved channel inside the beach has been considerably stopped. The ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham has been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels of larger draft can be carried to Wareham than formerly. The increase in width of channel is a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor. During the last fiscal year work under contract was commenced on June 8, and was in progress at the end of the year, by which the channel was widened at its narrowest points above Barney Point. The balance available will be applied to continuing the work of dredging and to the building up of Long Beach if necessary. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... June 3, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. $4, 253.93 1,975. 11 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 2,278.82 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $144.26 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 1,760.00 1,904. 26 July 1, 1892, balance available.. 374.56 7, 236.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. (See Appendix C 5.) 7, 610.56 6. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusets.-New Bedford Harbor is an estuary of Buzzards Bay, and is the port of the cities of New Bedford and Fair Haven. Before improvement the channel had a depth of about 12 feet at mean low water. Old projects of 1874 and 1877 provided for a channel 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer Island to the wharves at New Bedford. Tis work was completed in 1877 at a cost of $20,000. The present approved project of 1887 provided for a channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water, at a total cost, as estimated in 1887, of $35,000. Twenty thousand dollars was appropriated and $12,968.33 was paid out on this work, up to June 30, 1891; this expenditure resulting in the excavation to half width of a channel 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep from the 11-foot bank to the vicinity of the wharves of New Bedford. During the last fiscal year, work was commenced on November 1 and continued to December 1, by which about 2,000 feet length of channel was widened and deepened. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining half of the channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep, extending from the "11-foot bank" to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford, and the removal of a few shoal spots between the "11foot bank" and Butlers Flats, the southern end of the projected channel. The balance available will be applied to the continuation of this project. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 ... 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 C 6.) $7,031.67 6, 568.81 462.86 213.79 249.07 7,500.00 7,749.07 7,500.00 7. Westport Harbor, Massachusetts.-Westport Harbor is an estuary on the coast of Massachusetts, lying between Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The site of the work is on Horse Neck Point (the north side of the entrance to the harbor.) Before the commencement of the improvement the site of the present work was a point of sand forming the northern and eastern boundary of the entrance to the harbor, and subject to erosion by the sea and tides. In 1886 $1,000 was appropriated for special protection of Horse Neck Point. This work was completed in 1887. The present approved project of 1888 provides for the construction of jetties at the end of Horse Neck Point to stop the wearing of this point and also for a small amount of dredging in the harbor; the whole at a total cost, as estimated in 1888, of $2,000. One thousand dollars was appropriated and $22.96 was paid out on this work up to June 30, 1891; this expenditure being for preparations for field work. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. Work was commenced September 10 and continued to October 9, by which the old work at Horse Neck Point was rebuilt and strengthened. Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. The work required to complete the existing project is the extension of the present jetty and the dredging on the Lions Tongue Shoal. The balance on hand will be applied to the completion of the exist ing project. |