RIVERS AND HARBORS, ETC.

APPENDIX A.

IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

REPORT OF LIEUT. COL. PETER C. HAINS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
Portland, Me., July 8, 1893.

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith my annual report for the fiscal year 1893 on harbor and river works in my charge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

PETER C. HAINS,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Corps of Engineers.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY,
Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

A 1.

IMPROVEMENT OF ST. CROIX RIVER, MAINE.

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provided for an examination and survey of the St. Croix River, the reports on which were published in Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1890 (page 463).

When the survey was made the available depth over the shoals at mean low water was from 6.5 to 9.5 feet, and at the upper steamboat wharf at Calais it was but 1.5 feet. The channel was also narrow.

The improvement proposed was a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water, and generally 200 feet wide (but narrowed to 150 and 100 feet in the upper part of the harbor to avoid ledge) up to the upper steamboat wharf, immediately below the bridge, which marks the head of navigation. Such improvement would enable steamboats to land at the upper wharf at all stages of the tide, and would also permit the larger vessels engaged in the lumber trade to receive their full cargoes at the wharves, instead of dropping down the river nearly 4 miles after being partially loaded, and completing their cargoes from material rafted down to them. The object was to be accomplished by dredging and by the construction of a small jetty and training wall. The work proposed extends over about 4 miles of the river. The difference between high and low tides is about 20 feet. The estimated cost of the improvement was $280,000.

The following appropriations have been made:

An examination of the river was made in 1867 by the officer in charge of the district, and subsequently appropriations were made for the improvement amounting to $35,000 in the aggregate, but the appropriation of 1867 provided that the Dominion Government of Canada should expend an equal amount on the improvement. In 1873 the Dominion Government of Canada appropriated $25,000 for improving the river, that being the amount that had been appropriated up to that time by the United States. A conference was held by the engineer of the district with an agent of the Dominion Government, and a plan of improvement was agreed upon. The obstructions consisted of slabs, sawdust, and other mill waste; but before allowing the expenditure of the money appropriated by the Government of Canada, the Minister of Public Works required that some guaranty should be given that the further deposit of this refuse in the river should be discontinued. As there did not seem to be any law at that time by which the deposit could be prevented, the money that had been appropriated was not expended on that improvement (with the exception of $1,000 for a survey of the river from the "ledge" to the head of navigation, made in 1873), and in 1879 Congress authorized the appropriations made for the St. Croix to be expended on Lubec Channel, which was done.

The appropriation of 1881 was for "Repairing breakwater on the St. Croix River near, Calais," and was expended for that purpose. The act approved September 19, 1890, appropriated $35,000 for the

improvement of the St. Croix, "but upon condition that the Government of the Dominion of Canada shall expend a like sum in the improvement of said river." On account of the proviso contained in the act no expenditures have been made, and no work has been done under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, pending action by the Dominion Government.

Money statement.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

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.

$35,000.00

35,000.00

245,000.00

Number of vessels arriving and departing during calendar year 1892 (estimated).

IMPROVEMENT OP LUBEC CHANNEL, MAINE.

This channel lies between the eastern extremity of the State of Maine and Campobello Island, Dominion of Canada. It has a length of between 2 and 3 miles, connecting the waters of Quoddy Roads below with those of Friar Roads above. The least width between low-water contours is about 400 feet and between high-water contours about 800 feet. The mean range of tides is about 17 feet. It affords a sheltered route, and the most direct one, for vessels to and from Eastport and the St. Croix River, besides being the only passage not in waters belonging to the province of New Brunswick. The channel is also important in connection with Quoddy Roads as a harbor of refuge.

During such storms as make anchorage in the latter unsafe vessels may escape through Lubec Channel into sheltered waters above. The following appropriations have been made:

Previous to 1879 the mean low-water depth in the channel did not exceed 5 feet, and at extreme low-water the depth did not exceed 2 feet.

The project adopted in 1879 provided for a channel 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep at mean low tide, which would be equivalent to 9 feet at low spring tides. The estimated cost was $48,000.

This estimate was based on prices below what the work was subsequently done for. This project was revised in 1880, the estimated cost being increased to $130,000. The project was again, in 1884, amended so as to provide a channel 275 feet wide and 300 feet wide in the bends, the depth of 12 feet being retained, and the estimated cost of the entire project being increased to $171,500.

At the close of the fiscal year ending. June 30, 1892, there had been expended the sum of $168,954.42. The project was completed.

The river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, contained an order for an examination of Lubec Channel, the report on which was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1891 (page 616). A new project is therein submitted for a channel having a least width of 500 feet and a depth of 12 feet at mean low water, the cost, in addition to the amount already expended, being estimated at $231,000.

No work was done during the year ending June 30, 1893. There were no expenditures during the past year.

There is a light-house on Campobello Island at the narrows, opposite Lubec. Lubec is in the collection district of Passamaquoddy.

Money statement.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended..

$45.58 45.58

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

The commerce of Lubec Channel not being local in its character it is impracti cable to obtain statements of the tonnage. The keeper of the Lubec Channel LightStation has estimated that not less than 1,200 sailing vessels passed the station during 1891, besides a considerable number of steamers.