APPENDIX No. 5. SEA WALL AND EMBANKMENT AT DAVIDS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR, SEA WALL AT GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. REPORT OF LIEUT. COL. H. M. ROBERT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. IMPROVEMENTS. a. Sea wall at Davids Island, New York, | b. Sea wall at Governors Island, New Harbor. York Harbor. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, * for the GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith * fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, annual reports upon sea walls at Davids and Governors islands, New York. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, H. M. ROBERT, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. 5 A. SEA WALL AND EMBANKMENT AT DAVIDS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. This island, which is occupied by the recruiting service of the Army, lies at the head of Long Island Sound, about opposite New Rochelle, and is 21 miles distant by water from the Battery, New York City. In 1883, upon recommendation of the depot surgeon, an estimate for a sea wall was transmitted to Congress, papers concerning which were printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 205, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. The recommendation was renewed in 1884. The object first stated was to prevent the collection of garbage and refuse matter upon the shores; the second recommendation stated as an additional and important object, the preservation of a fresh-water pond from overflow by the sea at high tides. The pond was separated from the sound by a narrow beach, which was not high enough to prevent waves breaking over. This pond, formerly used as a water supply, is now chiefly used for obtaining ice. An additional object of the sea wall is the reclamation of about 2 acres of low marshy land, which the embankment was intended to fill up. In 1886 a revised estimate of cost was presented, as follows: 1,000 linear feet of wall, at $35 per foot... 40,000 cubic yards of earth embankment, at 30 cents per cubic yard . $35,000 Total...... 12,000 47,000 The plan then was to build the wall of masonry and carry it 12 feet above mean low-water level. The mean rise of tide is 7.3 feet. Under the appropriation for sea walls and embankments, made by act of Congress, approved September 22, 1888, an allotment of $47,000 was made for the above work. The plan of construction of sea wall was modified to one for a riprap wall of outer slope 1 on 2, inner slope 1 on 1, to be built to 10 feet above low water and capped with a course of dimension stone 2 feet thick and 6 feet wide. The originally designed vertical masonry wall was intended to prevent the lodgment of garbage, etc., but the stringent regulations concerning the disposal of such matter now being enforced in the harbor of New York and adjacent waters, will prevent any nuisances of that kind; and the riprap wall was considered equally efficient for every other purpose and more economical. The sea wall was completed in April, 1890. A survey of the island in connection with desired sea walls was made in June, 1891. The map of this survey was made and transmitted to the Chief of Engi neers with final report, dated May 20, 1892. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. No work upon the sea wall has been done. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. The sea wall is 954 feet long and contains 9,068 tons of riprap and 953.7 linear feet of capping stones 2 feet thick and 6 feet long, stretching across the wall; its height is 12 feet above mean low water about 43 feet above mean high water. The wall is in good condition; it has settled slightly in places, owing to the softness of the foundation on which it rests, but not enough to need repair. The embankment contains 31,836 cubic yards of filling. The embankment close to the wall has been cut out to depths of from one-half foot to 13 feet in places by seas breaking over the wall at extreme high tides. It will require about 1,000 cubic yards of filling to repair the bank. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. Nothing further is contemplated except to repair the damage to the embankment above described, and such other slight repairs as may from time to time be needed. The report on the survey referred to mentions a wall on the west side of the island north of the coal wharf as necessary to check the continuing erosion of the shore; the estimated cost of this wall and of embankment behind it is $30,000. Money statement. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended........ Amount transferred to allotment for sea wall at Governors Island, New $5,000.00 4,000.00 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.... 1,000.00 55,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 5 B. SEA WALLS ON GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. The shores of this island were frequently covered with offal and garbage, which, drifting up at high water and decaying in the sun as the tide fell, were (in summer) a source of constant danger to the health of the garrison. In 1865 a project was adopted providing for inclosing the entire island by a masonry wall, to be built at or near low-water line, in order to prevent the lodging of such refuse matter. Under an allotment made in 1865, 700 linear feet of masonry wall was built on the southwest side of the island in 1866, and under other smaller allotments 399 linear feet, as reported, was built. This was subsequently extended as a temporary dry wall nearly along highwater line to Castle Williams, covering the entire southwest side of the island. By act approved August 7, 1882, $39,000 was appropriated for "completing a sea wall already commenced on the southwest side of Governors Island, New York Harbor, and constructing a sea wall on its southeastern portion." Under this appropriation and one of $15,000 made in the sundry civil bill approved March 3, 1883, the wall was extended 206 feet along the south side of the island and 1,502 feet along the east side of the coal wharves. In 1884 an allotment of $500 was made for completing the filling and grading behind the east wall, left unfinished on account of the exhaustion of funds. Under act of Congress, approved September 22, 1888, making appropriation for sea walls and embankments, $50,000 was alloted to this work and applied to construction of a wall 1,099 feet long, extending eastwardly from Castle Williams wall and connecting it with the ordnance wall. The act making appropriation for preservation and repair of fortifications, approved August 18, 1890, included an appropriation of $50,000 "for completing sea wall on Governors Island, New York Harbor." A wall was built on the west side of the island extending southwardly from the Castle Williams wall, a distance of 1,499 feet, and connecting it with the wall around the south side of the island. This was finished in March, 1892, and up to July 1, 1892, the entire island was inclosed by sea walls, except the short distance between the coal dock and the permanent stone wharf. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. At the beginning of the year a contract was in force for constructing about 212 linear feet of wall, extending north from the north end of the east wall, passing under the coal dock and main landing, with return to the westward. Work under this contract was begun early in July and completed November 5, 1892, the total length of wall built being 297.5 feet. After advertising, by circular letter, proposals were received for building a sea wall to connect the one last built with the shore end of the stone wharf, replacing an old timber bulkhead. With approval of the Chief of Engineers, dated September 13, 1892, the lowest bid, that of I. H. Hathaway & Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., to do the work at the rate of $17.75 per linear foot, was accepted. Work was begun October 25, 1892, and completed December 17, 1892, the total length of wall built being 99.85 feet. Under public notice circular in January, 1893, 249 cubic yards of riprap, at $1.50 per yard, delivered in place, was purchased and used to protect the foundation of the wall on the north side of the island at its most exposed point. In March and April 345 cubic yards of earth was purchased, under public notice, at 37 cents per yard, and applied to filling and grading the area behind the sea walls on the east side of the island. By approval of the Chief of Engineers, dated March 16, 1893, $4,000 of the balance of allotment for Davids Island (from appropriation for sea walls, 1888) was transferred to sea walls on Governors Island, to admit of re-pointing, protecting the foundation, additional filling and grading, and removing the old landing near Castle Williams. Under public notice circular, proposals for these several works were received April 12, and the following were accepted: 1. For riprap delivered around the foundation, as required, about 850 cubic yards, at $1.40. 2. For pointing the sea walls, using mortar of Portland cement and sand, equal parts; per barrel of cement used, $10. 3. For broken stone, graded and rolled into the embankment back of the sea walls, per cubic yard, $2.50. 4. For re-grading and sodding part of the embankment back of the north sea wall, about 4,000 square feet, $350. The lowest bid received for removing the old landing was $800; it was higher than was expected, and as it was believed that the landing could be repaired so as to be available for use for that amount, the bids were rejected, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, dated April 14, 1893, and June 2 proposals for repairs to the landing were received and the lowest bid was accepted. Up to the close of the fiscal year under the first of these offers 685.3 cubic yards of riprap had been placed around the foundation of the walls and work was in progress. Under the second offer 45 barrels of cement had been used in pointing about 759 linear feet of wall and work was still in progress. Under the third offer work had not been begun. Under the fourth offer the sodding and grading were completed June 1893. 21, Work of repairing the old landing was about to be commenced. PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SEA WALLS AROUND THE ENTIRE ISLAND. The entire island is now inclosed by stone sea walls; the completion of the repairs now in progress will leave them all in good condition. Additional riprap protection and pointing may be needed from time to time, but nothing is required for the ensuing year. |