The amount expended upon this project to June 30, 1892, was $3,009.34. During the fiscal year a survey was made which shows that there has been extensive shoaling in the channel since 1882. Work has not yet been commenced under the existing contract for dredging in the channel between the head of the canal and Hoxie's Landing. It is believed that the improvement will be temporary. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended........... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 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 sectious 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix G 10.) $2,500.00 103.59 2, 396. 41 1,950.00 446. 41 1,700.00 1,700.00 11. Goshen Creek, New Jersey.-In its original condition, Goshen Creek carried a low-water depth of from 2 to 4 feet, with a least lowwater width of 20 feet and a high-water width of 36 feet from Goshen to a point about 4,000 feet below; and from thence to the mouth, a distance of about 2,500 feet, a low-water depth of from 3 to 5 feet with a least width of 30 feet. The project for its improvement, adopted in 1891, proposed the deepening and widening by dredging of the 4,000 feet of the creek below Goshen Landing to a low-water depth of 3 feet and a width of 30 feet; the formation of a dredged channel 3 feet deep and about 50 feet wide through the bar at the mouth to the limit of the sand beyond the lowwater line, and the protection of the channel by a sheet-pile jetty. The improvement was commenced during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, and $2,770.16 was expended in widening and deepening the channel to the proposed dimensions over a distance of about 3,975 feet below Goshen Landing. By this work about one-fourth of the projected improvement has been completed, and the navigable conditions have been proportionately improved. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix G 11.) $3,000.00 2, 770. 16 229.84 12. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navi gation.-During the past fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of July 14, 1880: The iron steamship Gaudaloup, and the tug Starlight, from the channel at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey; the side-wheel steamship Florida, from off the coast of New Jersey, about 13 miles from the excursion house at Atlantic City; the sailing ship Geestemunde, from off the coast of New Jersey, about 3 miles south of Absecon Inlet; the schooner Marcia S. Lewis, from the entrance to Great Egg Harbor Inlet, New Jersey; the schooner Annie S. Gaskill and barge McClellan, from off the entrance to Delaware Bay. (See Appendix G 12.) EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Barnegat Inlet, entrance and harbor, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of August 13, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 16, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 13.) 2. Dennis Creek, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of July 29, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the creek is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $250. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 46, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 14.) 3. Cooper Creek, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of August 13, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the creek is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $300. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 81, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 15.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN DELAWARE AND IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA EAST OF CHESAPEAKE BAY. This district was in the charge of William F. Smith, United States agent, major of engineers, U. S. Army, retired; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Wilmington Harbor, Delaware.-Previous to 1836, when the first appropriation for the improvement of Christiana River was made, the depth of water at the entrance was about 8 feet. The minimum depth in the channel of the portion of the river below Third Street Bridge was 8 feet. This depth was increased by dredging in that year to 10 feet. Under a project commenced in 1871 and completed in 1881, a 12foot channel from 100 to 200 feet wide was made from the mouth to above the city of Wilmington. The present project was adopted in 1881 and is for a 15-foot low-water channel from the mouth of the river to the Pulp Works, with a width of 150 feet from the mouth to the Rolling Mill Wharf; 100 feet to the Delaware and Western Railroad Bridge; and 75 feet to the Pulp Works. The project included further, a channel 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide from the latter works to the Delaware Railroad Bridge and construction of a jetty on the north side of the mouth of the river. Dredging operations and the conENG 93-9 struction of the jetty were begun in the following year. The original estimate was $175,551 which was increased in 1883 to $191,384 by changing the width of the proposed channel to 150 feet throughout. In 1884 the project was amended by raising the height of the jetty 4 feet; an extension of 322 feet to the jetty as then built was also proposed and approved, but has not yet been carried out. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the sum of $201,404.66 had been expended under this project. There was then an improved channel 15 feet deep at low water and 150 feet wide between the mouth and the ship railway at the Pusey & Jones shipyard. During the past fiscal year operations were carried on under the appropriation made July 13, 1892, and the channel, as approved, was extended from the Pusey & Jones shipyard to within 75 feet of Market Street Bridge, and one of the ledges of rock near Third Street Bridge was removed to the required depth. Under a supplementary contract the bar at the mouth of the river was also dredged, having shoaled considerably during the past four years. The total number of cubic yards of material removed under the dredging contracts was 72,986, and under the contract for removal of rock, 467. With exception of a ledge of rock just below Third Street Bridge, over which there is 12 feet of water, and for the removal of which to 15 feet a contract has been made, the channel in the river is now completed in accordance with the project from the Delaware River to Market Street Bridge. 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 II 1.) 47, 634.00 47, 634.00 2. Ice harbor at New Castle, Del.-This ice harbor is one of the oldest in the Delaware River, its construction for the protection of vessels against floating ice having been commenced during colonial times. Since the beginning of the present century, its improvement has been carried on by the General Government at various intervals, the total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, being $234,937.14. Nothing was done during the past fiscal year. The existing project, as far as it relates to the construction of ice piers, is completed. The harbor in its present condition affords the best shelter on the Delaware River for deep-draft vessels in winter, and the necessity for increasing the protected area is already apparent. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended ...... (See Appendix H 2,\ $3,846.80 263.80 3, 583.00 3. Appoquinimink River, Delaware.-This stream is a tidal tributary of Delaware Bay, flowing through New Castle County, Del. It is navigable for about 10 miles for vessels of light draft. A bar having only 1 feet of water over it at low tide obstructs the mouth of the river seriously during that stage of the tide. The average rise and fall of the tide is 6 feet at the mouth and 3.2 feet at Odessa, the head of navigation. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey of the river made in 1889 and adopted under an appropriation made by the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water with a width of 100 feet from the mouth to New Bridge, near Townsend's Wharf, and thence 80 feet wide to the county bridge at Odessa, the estimated cost of the improvement being $39,963. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the sum of $4,963.72 had been expended by dredging in the upper river, resulting in a greatly increased harbor space at the town of Odessa. During the past fiscal year an additional length of 4,487 feet of channel was improved, extending it to a point 6,762 feet below Odessa Bridge. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year................ 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 H 3.) $36.28 5,000.00 5,036.28 5, 036.28 29, 963.00 10, 000. 00 4. Smyrna River, Delaware.-This river, formally called Duck Creek, had, before improvements began in 1879, a minimum depth of 2 feet within the river and about 4 feet over the bar at the mouth. Navigation was possible only at high tide, and was carried on by one steamer and seven small schooners. In 1878 a project was made for the improvement of the whole river, including a plan for deepening the channel across the bar at the mouth. By special direction of Congress the improvement of the bar was commenced first, and during the following four years three appropriations, aggregating $10,000, were expended in dredging a channel across this obstruction 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. The dredged channel soon filled up again. A new project was submitted in 1887 for a 7-foot low-water channel, 60 feet wide inside the river and 100 feet at the bar, the channel at the latter point to be protected on each side by stone jetties. The estimated cost of this project is $90,698.40. The portion of the project relating to dredging has been adopted. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the sum of $17,143.96 had been expended in dredging inside the river. At that date a channel had been dredged 40 feet wide and 63 feet deep, at mean low water, between Smyrna Landing, the head of navigation, and Eagle Nest Landing, about 5 miles below. The channel made has been of great benefit to navigation and has facilitated expeditious and regular transportation, which heretofore was impossible. A contract for the available funds has been made and it is expected that the proposed work will be completed during the year 1893. 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 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts....... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............. $89.67 3,000.00 3,089.67 40.49 3, 049. 18 3,049. 18 19, 365.00 10, 000. 00 5. Murderkill River, Delaware.-This river is a tidal stream and a tributary of Delaware Bay, and flows through Kent County, Del. Its navigable portion is about 9 miles long. The condition of the river is fair, for the greater part of its length the average width and depth being 90 and 6 feet, respectively. Outside the junction with Delaware Bay, however, exists a serious obstruction, the flats, which are nearly bare at low tide and extend for nearly a mile from the shore. The average rise and fall of the tide at the mouth is 3.83 feet. The project for improvement, proposed in a report on a survey made in 1891, provides for a channel 7 feet in depth at mean low water, 80 feet in width from Frederica, which is at the head of navigation, to the mouth of the river, and 250 feet in width on top and 150 feet in width at the base to the 7-foot depth in Delaware Bay, the cut at the mouth to be protected by forming an embankment of the dredged material on each side to a height of at least 2 feet above high spring tides, the estimated cost being $47,550. An appropriation of $7,000 was made by the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, for this improvement. A contract has been made for dredging a cut 60 feet wide and 5 feet deep along the line of the proposed channel at the mouth, and on June 28, 1893, operations were begun. At the close of the fiscal year 220 feet of the cut had been dredged and 2,350 cubic yards of materials had been removed. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 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 H 5.) $7,000.00 152.90 6, 847. 10 6, 847. 10 40, 550.00 10,000. 00 6. Mispillion River, Delaware.-This river is a tributary of Delaware Bay and enters the latter about 17 miles northwest of Cape Henlopen. It is navigable for about 12 miles, as far as Milford, a thriving town with shipyards and numerous factories. The mouth of the river is greatly obstructed by a flat fore shore without a channel. Vessels can only enter and depart at high water which rises on an average 4 feet. The river from Milford to the mouth has been improved by the General Government between the years 1879 and 1889, and $17,000 has been expended in making a channel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water. |