In furtherance of this improvement there has been appropriated $60,000. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $2,138.07. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, a physical survey of the harbor was completed; the project was prepared and approved, and a contract was made for the expenditure of the amount available July 1, 1884, $57,144.08. For the completion of the improvement under the existing project $85,000 are required, of which $16,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in the completion of the dredging, it being thought best to delay the building of the training-wall until the dredged channel shall have been open at least one year. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..... July 1, 1884, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix B 7.) $57,861 93 717 85 57,144 08 85,000 00 16,000 00 8. Malden River, Massachusetts.-The present project was adopted in 1882, its object being to straighten, widen, and deepen the natural channel by dredging from its mouth up to the second draw-bridge, at a cost as originally estimated of $35,000. The natural channel was crooked and narrow, and had barely 7 feet of water, which the adopted project would improve to 12 feet. By act of Congress of August 2, 1882, $10,000 was appropriated. During the present fiscal year $8,689.37 was expended. The natural channel was improved from its mouth to the draw-bridge at Malden, a distance of 14 miles. Its least width is now 50 feet, with 70 feet at turns, with 12 feet depth at mean high water. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $8,689 37 8, 689 37 37,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 37,000 00 (See Appendix B 8.) 9. Removal of sunken vessels obstructing or endangering navigation.-The wreck of the schooner Sunbeam lying in Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts, was, in accordance with the act of 1880, examined, advertised, removed, and sold. The cost of the removal was $971.52; the cost of the sale was $2.50; the receipts were $2.50. The work of removal was effected by contract. (See Appendix B 9.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. It appearing, after preliminary examination, that the localities were worthy of improvement and the work a public necessity, Major Raymond was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 74, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 1. The headland in the town of Hull at the entrance to Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, with the view to its protection. (See Appendix B 10.) 2. Ipswich River, Massachusetts. (See Appendix B 11.) 3. Sandy Bay, Rockport, Massachusetts, with the view to the construction of a breakwater for a harbor of refuge. (See Appendix B 12.) 4. Fort Point Channel and the channel leading to the wharves of the New York and New England Railroad, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. This locality having been recently surveyed under authority of the State, and a large part of the improvement completed under the same authority, no action was taken in the matter. (See Appendix B 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. George H. Elliot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor of Refuge at Hyannis, Massachusetts.-This harbor, on the northern shore of Nantucket Sound, is sheltered by a breakwater 1,170 feet long, constructed by means of several small appropriations which were made from time to time in the years 1827 to 1838, amounting to $70,904.82. It was not as strongly built as we would now build a breakwater in a locality of like exposure, and from 1852 to 1882 the sum of $52,452.76 was expended in increasing the width of its base and the size of its facing-stones, and in repairs. It is now in fair condition, and affords effective shelter for the anchorage of about 175 acres, but the depth of water inside is insufficient, and complaint is made that vessels drawing more than 15 feet have to remain outside the breakwater in an exposed position. The anchorage undoubtedly needs deepening to meet the requirements of the great amount of commerce which passes through Nantucket Sound. The facilities for entering the harbor are soon to be increased by the erection of a small light on the shore to range with Hyannis Light and guide through the entrance. This is the only harbor for refuge between Cape Monomoy and Wood's Holl, a distance of 33 miles. A branch of the Old Colony Railroad terminates here, and considerable quantities of coal and lumber are landed at Hyannis. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix C 1.) $259 88 $261 22 40 12 56 12 96 248 26 2. Harbor of Refuge, Nantucket, Massachusetts.-Nantucket Harbor is on the north side of the island of Nantucket. It has deep water inside and would form an excellent harbor of refuge for vessels plying between the South and all Atlantic ports north of Cape Cod were it not for the shoal bar which obstructs its entrance. In the memorial to Congress on which the first appropriation was made for the work now in progress it was stated that more than thirty thousand vessels annually pass through Nantucket Sound alone, and that more than five hundred vessels have been wrecked around the island. Before the commencement of the present works there was a shoal 14 miles in width, outside the entrance, through which shoal the channel or line of best water was very crooked and subject to changes in loca tion. The ruling depth in the channel was about 6 feet at mean low water, and it has been about the same as far back as we have any record of it. In 1829 a project for dredging a channel through the bar was adopted, and in the years 1829 to 1832, inclusive, the sum of $40,924.12 was expended in carrying it out. No permanent improvement resulted from this expenditure. The present approved and adopted project consists in extending jetties of riprap stone from the eastern and western sides of the entrance across the bar, to deep water outside, for the purpose of concentrating the strength of the tidal currents and the excavation of a deep channel by natural forces. The western jetty was to be built first and the other as developments should show its necessity. The amount expended on this project, up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $65,769, and the result was the construction of the western jetty to a point 3,075 feet from its initial point on shore. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1884, was $22,412.11. The western jetty was extended 440 feet, making a total distance of 3,515 feet from the initial point on the shore. The distance, at the close of the year, of the end of the jetty from the 12-foot curve on the outer side of the bar was about 2,371 feet. With the available remainder of the appropriation of August 2, 1882, it is proposed to complete the current contract for extending the western jetty. This contract will expire July 31, 1884. It will probably carry the outer end to a point about 4,016 feet from the shore end, or to about 1,870 feet from the 12-foot curve on the outer slope of the bar. The small amount remaining after the completion of the current contract, about $400, will be reserved for lighting the extremity of the western jetty, until work shall be resumed, and for repair of possible damages by waves and ice. It was intended to devote the next appropriation to the commencement of the construction of the eastern jetty, it having been found that the scouring of a deep channel through the bar will require more concentration of the strength of the tidal current than can be effected by a single jetty, but the inner part of the eastern jetty, which will have to be left at a low level so that it will not interfere with the proper filling of the tidal prism by the flood tide, should not be undertaken before sufficient means are provided for finishing it in one working season; for otherwise its construction might prove temporarily inconvenient to the local commerce of the port. It is proposed by the officer in charge to hold the amount appropriated by the act of Congress of July 5, 1884, $10,000, until the whole amount of the estimated cost of this portion of the eastern jetty, not less than $85,000, can be made available. It is hoped therefore that not less than $75,000, may be appropriated at the next session of Congress, so that by commencing early in the summer of 1885 this part of the work can be completed before the winter of that year. The original project for this important harbor of refuge was estimated to cost $238,000, if it should become necessary to carry both jetties to deep water, and the amount (estimated) required for completion of the existing project, which will be found below, is the part of this originally estimated cost of the whole work which has not yet been appropriated. This estimated cost will, however, be found to fall short of the actual cost of the completed work, since the cost of riprap stone per ton delivered in the jetty on the bar at Nantucket has been found to be much in excess of what was anticipated, and the length of the eastern jetty must be greater than that of the western jetty, instead of the same length, as was contemplated. A revision of the amount necessary to complete the works will be made as soon as the proposed location of the eastern jetty has been adopted. The amount thus far appropriated for the work is $110,000. July 1, 1883, amount available.... $34, 231 00 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities... $16,707 82 22,412 11 July 1, 1884, amount available .... 11,818 89 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... 10,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... 21,818 89 128,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix C 2.) 100,000 00 3. Wood's Holl and Harbor of Refuge at Wood's Holl, Massachusetts.— Before the commencement of the improvement the channel of the strait, which was obstructed by bowlders that covered the bottom, was very narrow and crooked, and the tidal currents were from 4 to 5 miles an hour. Even with steam only small vessels of about 8 tons draught could pass it at all times, and for them it was dangerous. In Little Harbor there was a bar which obstructed the approach to the wharf and on which there was but 71⁄2 feet at mean low water, or 5 feet at extreme low water. In 1853 and 1854 $2,482.76 was expended in the construction of a breakwater on the northern side of Great Harbor, to close a passage through which water passed in storms between it and Buzzard's Bay. The amount was insufficient for the work, and the remainder of the cost was borne by private parties. In the years 1879-81 there was expended $14,094.26 in cutting a channel through the bar into Little Harbor 130 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water and in widening and deepening the strait into Buzzard's Bay. At no place in the main channel of the strait was it less than 120 feet in width at 9 feet depth at mean low water, or 140 feet in width at 71 feet depth at the same stage of tide. The present approved and adopted project consists in the construction of retaining-walls and a hollow pier for the use of the United States Fish Commission, and to serve also as a coaling station for the Revenue Marine and other branches of the public service and as a harbor of refuge. The amount expended on the present project, at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, including preliminary survey and liabilities outstanding at that date, was $2,914.64, and the result was the removal of 269.84 cubic yards of bowlders from the site of the pier and retaining walls in depths of water from 3 feet to 20 feet at mean low water. By reason of delay in procuring title to the land, and the approval of title by the Attorney-General, no other work was done during the fiscal year 1882-83, beyond the préparation of plans and specifications for the retaining and pier walls and the issuance of advertisements for proposals. 5908 EN-6 The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities. outstanding on the 30th of June, 1884, was $33,903.18. The eastern, southern, and western retaining-walls and the excavation of the trenches for the foundations of all the pier-walls were completed. The riprap foundation of the east pier-wall was wholly, and that of the south pierwall was nearly, completed. About one-fourth of the masonry of the east pier-wall was completed, and the masonry of the south pier-wall was commenced. With the remainder of the funds available from the former appropri ation, and the appropriation made by act of July 5, 1884, it is proposed to complete the pier-walls; to dredge inside the pier; to provide the wharfing required by public vessels, and to fill in behind the retainingwalls as far as the funds will permit. The estimate of the cost of improvements originally contemplated and of additional work was $77,775, and there has been appropriated $77,000. For reasons which will be found in the report of the officer in charge, this work will require an additional appropriation of $8,669. A plat of Great Harbor, Wood's Holl, showing the works in progress, accompanies this report: July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1883, amount available.... outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities... 8,669 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix C 3.) 8, 600 00 4. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is an estuary at the head of Buzzard's Bay. Its commerce is chiefly connected with the manufacture of iron, and depends largely on the transportation of material used therein. Before improvement, the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 feet at mean low water in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beach, a narrow sand-spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abraded by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carried into and shoaled the channel inside. The original and adopted project of 1871 for the improvement, and its subsequent modification, was to straighten the channel and widen it to 100 feet in the upper and 300 feet in the lower part. The depth in the upper part was to be 9 feet, and in the lower part 10 feet at mean low water. Work under this project was finished in 1876 by the completion of a channel from 250 to 300 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water in the lower part of the harbor, and a channel from 100 to 300 feet wide and 9 feet deep through and above the upper bar. The cost, including the cost of some work at Long Beach, was $40,000. The present enlarged plan, the one now in progress, provides for making a channel 250 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from Barney's Point down to the entrance to the harbor. Above Barney's Point the width of the channel is to be 350 feet, with the same depth |