Mansfield submitted report of examination under date of October 26, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the river is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $400. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 40, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix B 25.)

5. East Boston Channel, Massachusetts, from the southeasterly line of the location of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad to the channel at Jeffries Point, so called.-Lieut. Col. Mansfield submitted report of examination under date of October 27, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the locality is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $200. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 55, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix B 26.)

6. Neponset River, Massachusetts.-Lieut. Col. Mansfield submitted report of examination under date of October 31, 1892. It is his opinion, concurred in by this office, that the river is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $500. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 35, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix B 27.)

IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, IN RHODE ISLAND, AND IN EASTERN CONNECTICUT.

This district was in the charge of Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. William W. Harts, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.

1. Harbor of refuge at Hyannis, Mass.-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 approved project of 1884 provides for the dredging to 15.5 feet depth at low water of about 34 acres of shoal area north of the existing breakwater, so as to increase the deep-water harborage by that amount; all at a total cost estimated in 1884 at $45,743.20 (including $81.20 left over from a former project), of which $28,081.20 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.

At the adoption of the present project the 15.5 feet depth anchorage covered only about 47 acres, and the 34 additional acres to be dredged carried an average of about 12 feet depth of water at low water.

Eighty-one dollars and twenty cents was already on hand, $34,000 has since been appropriated, and $28,075.60 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which 11 acres out of 34 had been dredged. During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriations and contract for the dredging entered into, work (together with that at New Bedford) to be commenced by May 1 and completed October 1, 1893. Nothing but work of preparation has as yet been done in the field.

The balance on hand will be applied to dredging in the area protected by the breakwater.

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, outstanding liabilities.

$66.10

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...

3,600.00

$5.60 6,000.00

6, 005.60 467.53

5, 538. 07

3,666. 10

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 C 1.)

1, 871.97

11, 662.00 11,662.00

2. Harbor of refuge at Nantucket, Mass.-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.

The approved project of 1880, as modified 1885, provides for the construction of two jetties as training walls, one on each side of the harbor entrance, planned so as to allow the tidal current to assist in scouring out and maintaining a good channel, and for the completion of the work by dredging where necessary to obtain a depth of 15 feet at low water in this channel; all at a total cost estimated in 1885 at $375,000, of which $170,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.

At the adoption of the present project no jetties existed and the channel entrance was barred by a shoal of 1.5 miles width, on which there was only 6 feet depth of water at low tide, the channel being very crooked and subject to changes in location.

One hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars has been appropriated and $169,886.58 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the west jetty had been built to 3,955 feet length with full height, the east jetty had been built to 834 feet length with full height, and, after a gap of 160 feet, 1,300 feet length had been raised to halftide level.

During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriation. A minor survey was made to serve as basis for the coming season's work.

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 (estimated) required for completion of existing project......$180,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 100, 000. 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 C 2.)

3. Marthas Vineyard inner harbor at Edgartown, Mass.-The inner harbor at Edgartown lies in the northern part of the waterway 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 approved project of 1889 provides for the removal to 10 feet depth at low water of a "middle ground" shoal in the central part of the inner harbor, at a total cost estimated in 1889 at $4,500, of which $2,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.

At the adoption of the present project the middle ground shoal carried only about 6 feet depth of water and was a very troublesome obstruction.

Four thousand five hundred dollars has been appropriated and $1,934.01 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which about half of the shoal had been dredged to full depth.

During the year plans have been made for work under the new appropriations, all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. A minor survey has been made to serve as a basis for the coming season's work. The dredging itself has been commenced and finished as far as funds allowed, a third quarter of the original shoal having been removed.

Further field work must await further appropriations. Two thouesand five hundred dollars more is still necessary, for reasons stated in full by the local engineer.

2,500.00

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 C 3.)

2,500.00

4. Harbor at Vineyard Haven, Mass.-Vineyard Haven is a deep indentation in the northern shore of the island of Marthas Vineyard, on the southern side of Vineyard Sound. The approved project of 1887, as modified in 1889, provides for the protection of the "Chops" (or headlands) from erosion and the intervening harbor from being filled by the eroded material; the whole to be done by means of stone sea walls and jetties to be built along the beach in front of the bluffs at both headlands. The total cost was estimated in 1882 at $60,000,

of which $35,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.

At the adoption of the present project the headlands were gradually wearing away and the adjacent parts of the harbor were shoaling. No protection works were in existence.

Forty-two thousand five hundred dollars has been appropriated, and $344904.03 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which there had been built a sea wall of 450 feet length and a jetty of 50 feet length at the East Chop, and a sea wall of 400 feet length, three jetties of from 80 to 296 feet length, a wharf, and a short breakwater of 60 feet length at the West Chop.

During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriations and contract for stone work entered into; work to be commenced May 1 and completed by July 1, 1893. A minor survey has been made to serve as basis for the coming season's work. A few day's field work has been done by the contractor.

The balance available will be applied to continuing the work of protection at both chops.

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...

5,000.00

5, 219.05

July 1, 1893, balance available.....

1,506. 11

17,500.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 17,500.00 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 C 4.)

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.

The approved project of 1880, as modified in 1887, provides for the deepening and widening of the channel from Buzzards Bay to Ware. ham, so as to obtain 10 feet depth at low water over 250 feet width from the entrance up to Barneys Point, and thence the same depth over 350 feet width up to Wareham; and for the raising and protecting of Long Beach (the eastern headland of the entrance) so as to prevent the erosion of this beach and the shoaling of the adjacent parts of the channel and harbor; all at a total cost estimated in 1887 at $56,236, of which $49,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year. At the adoption of the present project the headland of Long Beach was wearing off and the adjacent parts of the channel and harbor were shoaling. The channel was narrow and crooked and limited to 9 feet depth at low water.

Fifty-six thousand two hundred and thirty-six dollars has been appropriated and $46,721.18 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the channel had been deepened to half width and full depth of 10 feet in its upper portion, and to less width in its lower

portions, and the sand spit had been partly protected by catch sand fences and brush and stone work.

The ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham had been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels can be carried to Wareham with larger draft than formerly. The increase in width of channel had been a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor.

During the past fiscal year work of dredging has been carried on under an old contract completed on July 7. Plans have been made for further work under the new appropriation, allowing all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. A minor survey has been started to serve as basis for the coming season's work.

6. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts.-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. This work was completed in 1877 at a cost of $20,000.

The approved project of 1887 provides for the deepening, widening, and straightening of the channel from Buzzards Bay to New Bedford, so as to obtain 18 feet depth at low water, over 200 feet width, and over its entire length, at a total cost estimated in 1887 at $35,000, of which $20,000 was appropriated prior to the commencement of the fiscal year.

At the adoption of the present project the channel was winding and only about 15 feet deep.

Twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars has been appropriated and $19,537.14 had been expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, by which the straight channel had been completed on its western side to 15 feet depth with 80 feet width over its entire length; and a slightly crooked channel of 80 feet width with 18 feet depth also existed over the same distance, wandering a little from the projected channel.

During the past fiscal year plans have been made for work under the new appropriation, and contract for the dredging entered into, work to be completed October 1, 1893. No work but preparation has as yet been done in the field.

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 vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford to the "11-foot bank," and the removal of a few shoal spots between the "11-foot bank" and Butlers Flats, the southern end of the projected channel.

The balance available will be applied to the continuation of this project.