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feet deep at low water, but the channel leading to it had an average depth of less than 6 feet. Amount expended to June 30, 1888, 89,907.76; expended during last fiscal year, $11,418.23. As a result, a channel of 9 feet depth and 75 wide has been dredged entirely to the anchorage, and several cuts have been made to enlarge the anchorage.

Work is now in progress under a contract for expending available funds in dredging to a depth of 9 feet.

It is proposed to expend funds which may be appropriated in constructing one or both breakwaters, and, subsequently, in dredging to a depth of 12 feet at low water.

July 1, 188, amount available .....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

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$92.24 20,000.00

20,092.24

$3,893.68

7,524.55

7,505.88

18, 924, 11

1, 168, 13

July 1, 1889, balance available......

(Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix A 21.)

205, 000, 00 50,000.00

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF August 11,

1888.

The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement:

1. Harbor and channel at Pembroke, Maine.-(See Appendix A 22.) 2. Monhegan Island Harbor, Maine.-(See Appendix A 23.)

3. Medomac River, Maine.-(See Appendix A 24.)

4. Hampton River, New Hampshire. (See Appendix A 25.)

A preliminary examination of Harrissecket [Harraseeket] River, Maine, was made by the local engineer, and reported by him as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, the result of the preliminary examination containing informa tion sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary. Estimated cost of improvement, $36,000. (See Appendix A 26.)

It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received.

1. Belfast Harbor, Maine.

2. Union River and Union River Bay, Maine. 3. St. Croix River, Maine.

4. Pleasant River, from Columbia Falls to its mouth, Maine. 5. Kennebunk River, Maine.

6. Cacheco River, from Dover to its mouth, New Hampshire.

IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, until December 20, 1888, since which date Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar, 1,000 feet wide and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project adopted in 1880, and modified in 1883, is to build two converging rubble-stone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The estimated cost of the project was $375,000, and the amount appropriated to date is $232,500.

To June 30, 1888, $207,498.27 had been expended, and the north jetty was 2,675 feet long, of which 1,930 feet are fully completed, and the residue, 745 feet, was a core of stone built up to low water. The south jetty was 1,300 feet long, of which 1,077 feet were fully completed, and the residue, 223 feet, was a core of stone built up to low water.

The Plum Island Dike was 817 feet long, 5 feet high above mean low water, except near the center, where a weir is left temporarily, 150 feet long, and 2 feet deep at mean low water.

The sand-catch in rear of the south jetty was in two branches, one 480 feet long, and one 572 feet.

All these works were in good order.

During the fiscal year, 5,185 tons of rubble-stone were deposited in the north jetty. It is now 2,675 feet long, of which 2,080 feet are completed, and the residue, 595 feet, is a core of stone built up to low water. On June 30, 1889, the south jetty, the Plum Island Dike, and the sand-catch remain in the same condition as at the date of the last report.

A survey of the bar was made in June, 1889. It showed that the channel had straightened, but narrowed slightly, and the depth on the crest of the bar was less than last year, owing to the slight spring freshet in the river.

The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are the deepening and widening of the channel across the bar, thereby af fording a harbor of refuge on the inside of Salisbury Point, and also affording easy access at high water to the wharves at Newburyport for vessels drawing 17 feet approximately.

July 1, 1888, amount available.....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.

July 1, 1889, balance available...

$1.73

25,000.00

25, 001. 73

$3,946. 68

7,847.11
9,485,55

21, 279.34

3,722.39

142,500.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 1.)

50,000.00

2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to straighten, deepen, and widen the natural channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 21 miles.

The channel originally was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals; and below Newburyport by ledges, cribs, piers, and wrecks.

At mean low water vessels drawing not to exceed 7 feet could cross the bar and proceed about 6 miles above Newburyport.

The mean rise or fall of the tide at the mouth of the river is 7 feet, at Haverhill Bridge, 4 feet.

The project originally adopted, in 1870, proposed to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, to remove Gangway Rock, to remove the wreck of the schooner Globe, and to remove the "Boilers." The cost was estimated at $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874 to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and Rock Bridges, and at Little Currier's Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at ordinary high-water stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island Bridge (5 miles), 163 feet; from Deer Island Bridge to Haverhill Bridge (12 miles) 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchell's Falls (14 miles), 10 feet; through Mitchell's Falls to the head of the Upper Falls (24 miles) not less than 43 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence runuing. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000.

The total appropriations to date have been $170,500. The total expenditures to June 30, 1888, were $170,498.43, and the river channel had been improved in accordance with the modified project, with the exception of the removal of the "Boilers," upon which no work has been done.

No operations were in progress during the year, and the improvement remains in good order.

To complete the improvement so that the same depth of water which has been obtained through Mitchell's Falls can be carried to Lawrence, additional work will be required at the falls above Haverhill, which is estimated to cost $11,000; and additional improvements could be made in the lower part of the river, which are estimated to cost $11,500, or a total of $22,500.

The improved channel is in good order and meets all existing demands of commerce.

No appropriation is recommended for the year ending June 30, 1891.

July 1, 1888, amount available

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities, outstanding July 1, 1888.

(See Appendix B 2.)

$1.57

1.57

3. Powow River, Massachusetts.-Powow River is a tributary of the Merrimac River, into which it enters from the north, about 3 miles above Newburyport. From the mouth, tide water extends 9,600 feet in a narrow crooked channel not navigable at low water.

The project proposed for its improvement is to dredge a channel 9,600 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 12 feet deep, at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $77,000.

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $3,000 for this work, provided a suitable draw was built in the bridge which now crosses the mouth of the river.

Action is in progress by the town authorities having in view compli ance with this proviso.

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No expenditures were made during the year ending June 30, 1889, and the original condition of the river is unaltered.

To complete the proposed improvement will cost $74,000, of which amount $10,000 could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.
July 1, 1889, balance available....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 3.)

$3,000.00

3,000.00

74,000.00

10,000. 00

4. Ipswich River, Massachusetts.-Ipswich River empties into Plum Island Sound about 9 miles south of Newburyport, Mass. It is navigable from its mouth to the wharves at Ipswich, a distance of 3 miles. Before improvement, at low water not to exceed 14 feet draught could be carried in a narrow channel.

The mean rise or fall of the tide is 8.4 feet.

The object of the improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river.

The original project was submitted in 1875. It proposed a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $25,000.

The total amount appropriated for this improvement to date is $5,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $2,500. At that date a navigable channel existed at least 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water

The expenditures during the fiscal year were $32.08.

Proposals were invited by public advertisement for the completion of the improvement, and but one bid was received. It was rejected as excessive. The work will be re-advertised.

The condition of the improvement June 30, 1889, is the same as on June 30, 1888. It is believed that the funds available will suffice to complete the present partial project, or all that the present commerce justifies.

The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.....

July 1, 1889, balance available

$2,500.00

32.08

2,467.92

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 20,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 4.)

5. Harbor of Refuge, Sandy Bay, Cape Ann, Massachusetts.-This bay is situated at the northeastern extremity of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. It is open to the full effect of easterly and northeasterly gales.

The proposed improvement contemplates the construction of a National harbor of refuge of the first class. The anchorage covered by the proposed breakwater will contain 1,377 acres.

No definite project for the masonry construction of the breakwater above the rubble mound has been adopted. To the level of 22 feet be

low mean low water it will consist of a mound of rubble-stone 40 feet wide on top. The estimated cost of the improvement is $5,000,000.

The total amount appropriated to date is $300,000. The expenditures to June 30, 1888, were $194,125.24.

The condition of the improvement June 30, 1888, was as follows: 242,934 tons of rubble-stone had been deposited, by which 2,200 running feet of the substructure of the breakwater were essentially completed.

During the year ending June 30, 1889, a survey of the breakwater was made and a contract entered into for the delivery of 110,000 tons, more or less, of rubble stone to be deposited in the break water. Under this contract 41,965 tons were delivered during the year.

To complete the project will require an appropriation of $4,700,000. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $150,000 could be expended to advantage.

The prospective benefits to commerce and navigation by the construction of this harbor of refuge are increased safety to life and property, and a consequent reduction in freights and insurance.

July 1, 1888, amount available.....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

$5,874.76 100,000.00

105, 874.76

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.....

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities....

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts..

$28, 740. 02
8,896.52
48, 304.85

85,941.39

July 1, 1889, balance available....

19,933. 37

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 4,700,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891

Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 5.)

150, 000, 00

6. Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts.-Gloucester Harbor is an important center for the fishing fleet of New England, about 20 miles north of Boston. Its inner harbor was originally obstructed by sunken rocks and shoals, preventing free movement of vessels; and the approaches to the wharves were shallow, varying from 1 to 12 feet. The outer harbor was open to all southerly winds.

The first project submitted in compliance with the act of July 11, 1870, proposed to clear the harbor of sunken rocks, and to build a stone breakwater from Eastern Point to Round Rock Shoal. The operations in execution of this general project under the acts of July 11, 1870, and June 10, 1872, have been confined solely to the removal of isolated sunken rocks specially obstructive to the navigation of the inner harbor.

The act of June 10, 1872, appropriated $10,000, which sum was applied to the removal of Clam Rock, Pinnacle Rock, rock off J. Friend's Wharf, rock off Pew's Wharf, and a portion of Babson's Ledge.

The act of August 5, 1886, appropriated $5,000 for a survey of the harbor, and for continuing work on Babson's Ledge.

The survey was completed in December, 1886, and a report and general project based on this survey was published in the report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, page 500.

The revised project proposed to remove from the inner harbor 1011⁄2 cubic yards of rock known to exist, and 216,000 cubic yards, scow measurement, of material, at an estimated cost of $65,000; and to construct

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