July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1893, 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 F 3.) $172.57 116. 02 56.55 8, 200.00 4. Arthur Kill, New York and New Jersey.-A history of this improvement, which originated by special resolution in the Senate, is given in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1889, Part I, p. 819. The improvement consists in the removal of a point of land near and to the south of the Staten Island Bridge for the purpose of straightening the channel, in order that the currents may be directed more truly in a direction perpendicular to the draw-span of the bridge, thus facilitating the passage of long tows. It is estimated to cost $26,500. A statement of condemnation proceedings for acquiring to the United States the land needed for this improvement will be found in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1890, Part I, p. 843. Sixteen thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars and fifty-nine cents had been expended up to June 30, 1892, in acquiring land and in dredging off about 1 acre of the point, with a resulting increase of 210 feet in the channel width and uniform mean low-water depth of 13 feet, where the land was originally 6 feet above that plane. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, amount to $4,845.15, with which the channel was given an additional width of from 15 to 60 feet and mean low-water depth of 13 feet, one-third acre of the land removed, making a total of about 14 acres removed under the project, giving a total channel width at this point of not less than 725 feet. The commerce for the calendar year 1892 is reported to be 4,835,004 tons, against 6,947,635 tons for 1891. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended............ Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year $754.41 5, 000, 00 5, 754. 41 4,845. 15 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.............. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix F 4.) 909.26 4,500.00 4,500.00 5. Channel between Staten Island and New Jersey.-Before this improvement was undertaken by the United States there was a navi gable channel having a minimum depth of 9.2 feet from the deep water in Newark Bay to Elizabethport. The first project for the improvement of the channel was made in 1873. This provided for dredging it to a depth of 16 feet for a width of 150 feet at its shallowest part, and protecting the cut by parallel dikes. The estimated cost of this was $443,210. This project was changed in 1880 so as to dredge a channel 400 feet wide and 13 feet deep over the middle 200 feet of its width, leaving it but 12 feet deep over the remaining widths of 100 feet on each side. The estimated cost of this work was $125,705. In addition to this it was proposed, should it be found necessary, to build four detached dikes along the line of the channel, two on the north and two on the south side, the estimated cost of which was $60,000, bringing the total estimated cost of the proposed improvement up to $185,705. Subse quently it was decided to give the channel 13 feet depth for its full width of 400 feet, increasing the estimate to $210,000. A modification of this project, having in view the abandonment of the dikes, was submitted May 9, 1889, and was approved by Department letter dated May 15, and a further modification, calling for a uniform channel depth of 14 feet at mean low water over the entire width of 400 feet, was approved October 20, 1890. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $197,276.38. With this amount 2,237 feet of dike was built, the channel dredged throughout its entire projected length to a mean low-water depth of 13 feet, with widths varying from 300 to 350 feet, and in the vicinity of the bend at the Corner Stake Light, for a distance of 3,000 feet, the width had been increased to 400 feet, with mean low-water depths of from 13 to 14 feet. An appropriation of $15,000 was made in the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, and a project for its expenditure in dredging the channel to the required dimensions was approved July 26, 1892. No work has been done during the fiscal year, operations under the above project having been deferred until a survey is made, and the most appropriate localities for the expenditure of the appropriation thereby determined. It is also expected that a more advantageous letting of the work can be had later in the season. The amount of commerce reported for the calendar year 1892 is 3,643,914 tons, against 9,219,481 tons for 1891. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix F 5.) 15, 756. 12 46,000.00 30,000.00 6. Passaic River, New Jersey.-This river is being improved under two separate projects, the first applying to the river below Center Street Bridge, Newark, to and beyond the shoals in Newark Bay, a distance of 7g miles, and the second to the upper course of the river from Center Street Bridge as far as Passaic, a distance of 8 miles. The most recent appropriation was, however, made in a single sum for the entire river, and the two projects will hereafter be united, so that the funds can be expended at those parts of the river most urgently needing control or repair in the interests of navigation. a. Below Newark.-The lower portion of the river, from Center Street Bridge to Newark Bay, was first surveyed by the Engineer Department in 1879. The greatest depth in the channel at a point above the Elbow Beacon was only 7.1 feet, and in many places the greatest depth was 7.5 feet at mean low water. A project was adopted, based on this survey, providing for obtaining by diking and dredging a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from the Center Street Bridge to Newark Bay, at a cost of $232,875. This project was modified in 1884, pursuant to the river and harbor act of that year, providing for extending the dike at the mouth of the river into the bay, a distance of 12,000 feet, and for dredging a channel across the shoal in Newark Bay 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, increasing the original estimate to $353,875. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $233,692.18. With this amount 6,205 feet of dike had been built and maintained, the channel through the shoal in the bay and the channel up the river as far as Lister Dock dredged to the required dimensions, and a bar above the Zinc Works Dock removed to the required depth, with a width of 120 feet for a distance of 1,600 feet up stream. A survey made in December, 1892, shows that the above conditions have been fairly well maintained. The work done during the fiscal year consisted in making a survey of Newark Bay from Bayonne, N. J., to the Newark and New York Railroad Bridge, and of the river from Baeder and Adamson Dock to Center Street Bridge, Newark, and in dredging under a contract with P. Sanford Ross, for the removal of about 60,000 cubic yards of material from the channel in the river between Center Street Bridge and Lister Dock, Newark. Work under the contract was begun June 14 and was in progress at the close of the fiscal year, 11,294 cubic yards having been removed at that date. The expenditures during the year amount to $2,591.06, for surveying, inspection, and administration. b. Above Newark.—Before its improvement was undertaken the upper part of the river had a navigable 6-foot channel, except at Middle, Belleville, Rutherford Park, and Holzman Bars, where the depths were 4.5 feet, 3.9 feet, 3 feet, and 3.5 feet, respectively. The project of improvement was adopted in 1872, and provided for a channel across and above the shoals from 7 to 6 feet deep, mean low water, and from 200 to 50 feet wide, to be obtained by dredging and diking at a cost of $123,924. It was modified in 1885 by extending the channel below Middle Bar 1,500 teet to the Erie Railroad Bridge, increasing the estimate to $129,000, which was further increased in 1886 to $133,762. A further modification, to include the removal of Third River Bar, the redredging of bars formed by freshets, and removal of bowlders at various points in the river, increasing the esti mate to $193,822, was approved October 6, 1890. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $135,677.06, with which channels had been dredged to the requisite depth, with widths of from 60 to 75 feet, a channel through Third River Bar dredged to the required depth, with width of 100 feet for a distance of 800 feet, and below this bar the channel was increased in width by 40 feet, with the same depth for a distance of 700 feet, and by 20 feet for a further distance of 245 feet, giving a continuous channel through this reach having a width of 100 feet and depth of 6 feet, mean low water. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, amount to $2,807.91, and operations were confined to dredging at Belleville and Rutherford Park bars, under a contract entered into with James McSpirit, of Jersey City, September 24, 1892. Work began October 5, 1892, and is still in progress, 5,200 cubic yards of material having been removed to date. Under this contract the channel through Belleville Bar was completed to the required width of 100 feet and mean low water depth of from 6 to 7 feet, by the removal of 2,105 cubic yards of material. The commerce of the entire river for the calendar year 1892 is reported to be 1,362,647 tons. As the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, makes the appropriation for the two reaches of the river under one heading, the following consolidated money statement for Passaic River is presented: July 1, 1892, balance unexpended: Below Newark.. Above Newark.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892........ June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year: $5,807.82 $8,980. 76 45,000.00 53, 980.76 Below Newark.. Above Newark. 2,591.06 5, 398.97 22, 525. 15 July 1, 1893, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix F 6.) 124, 347.00 60, 000. 00 7. Elizabeth River, New Jersey.-This stream, which is 23 miles in length from its mouth to the head of navigation, at Broad street, Elizabeth, has a width of from 50 to 90 feet, and before its improvement the wharves in the city could only be reached at high water by vessels. drawing less than 4 feet; its commerce was estimated at 45,000 tous annually. The range of the tide was about 4.7 feet at its mouth and 3.4 feet at Bridge street. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1878 and provides for obtaining, by dredging, a channel 60 feet wide and 7 feet deep at high water from the mouth of the river to the head of navigation, at an estimated cost of $25,530; this was increased in 1882 to $43,160, the increase being due to advanced prices. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1892, was $31,886.20. With this amount the channel had been dredged in 1883 to the required depth to within 1,000 feet of Broad Street Bridge, but soon became obliterated by reason of deposits of silt and sewage refuse. It was redredged in 1891, shoals being removed from the river at the bend above South street, at South Street Bridge, at John street, at the bend in the river below John street, and at the New York and Long Branch Railroad Bridge to a depth of 7 feet at mean high water, with widths of 30 to 50 feet, giving a 7-foot mean high-water channel with widths varying from 30 to 50 feet from the mouth of the river to within 900 feet of Bridge Street Bridge, in the town of Elizabeth. A survey made in November, 1892, indicates a channel from 30 to 50 feet wide, extending from the mouth to Bridge Street Bridge, the head of navigation, with mean high-water depths of from less than 5 feet to more than 7 feet. No active operations have been in progress during the fiscal year, as no bids were received in response to public advertisement of February 18, 1893, inviting sealed proposals for dredging, at date of opening, March 29, 1893. It is expected that an advantageous offer may be received for doing the work by hired labor, later in the season. The commerce of the river for the calendar year 1892 is reported to be 39,575 tons against 36,225 tons for 1891. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended............... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix F 7.) $113.80 5,000.00 5, 113. 80 467.26 4, 646. 54 6, 160.00 6, 160.00 8. Rahway River, New Jersey.-In its original condition the Rahway River had a depth of 8 feet and more at mean high water from its mouth to Bricktown, 3g miles; 7 feet to Edgar Dock, 44 miles; 4.4 feet to Milton Avenue Bridge, 43 miles; and 4 feet to Main Street Bridge, 5 miles, in the town of Rahway. Its commerce was estimated at 120,000 tons, and three attempts had been made to establish a line of steamboats on the river, but had failed on account of the bad condition of the stream. The original project for its improvement was adopted in 1878, and provides for dredging a channel 125 feet wide and 8 feet deep at high water from Bricktown to Milton Avenue Bridge, and 100 feet wide from that point to Main Street Bridge, at an estimated cost of $66,250. The amount expended on this improvement to June 30, 1892, was $37,000. With the above amount the channel had been given a depth of 7 feet at mean high water and width of from 100 to 50 feet to within 550 feet of the head of navigation. There has been no appropriation for this work since 1882 and there have been no funds for expenditure since the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. The channels have reverted nearly to their original condition. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... $29, 250.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 29, 250.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix F 8.) 9. Raritan River, New Jersey.-Before its improvement by the United States the Raritan River had a depth of 8.5 feet at "The Stakes," 3 miles; of 6.5 feet at the "Middle Grounds," 4 miles; of 7.5 feet at Whitehead Sand Dock, 8 miles; and between this point and New Brunswick, 124 miles above the mouth, the channel was obstructed by a number of rocky shoals, with depths of from 8.4 to 6.9 feet at mean low water. The city of New Brunswick and the Delaware and Raritan Canal, which terminates here, together with extensive brickyards on the South River, did a large commerce, estimated in 1871 at 3,053,857 tons per annum, |