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Should it be considered desirable to have estimates made of the cost and permanence of the improvement, a survey would be necessary, which would cost about $300.

Respectfully submitted.

NEW LONDON, CONN., November 10, 1882.

J. W. BARLOW,

Major of Engineers.

D 17.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF STONY BROOK HARBOR, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK.

For the purpose of making the preliminary examination required by the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, I visited Stony Brook on the 12th October, in company with Mr. P. H. Butler, a resident of the place and a gentleman to whom I am indebted for much valuable information. With Mr. Butler I went from the head of the harbor to the outlet and examined the general features of the locality. The next morning I visited the beach at the foot of Rassepeague Point to ascertain the character of the material there deposited.

During my stay at Stony Brook I conversed with several persons who had views and opinions to offer; among them, Mr. Thomas S. Mount, with whom I had previously corresponded on the subject.

From my own observations and the information obtained from others, I am able to present the following facts:

This harbor is situated upon the north shore of Long Island, about 50 miles east of New York City. It lies behind a low sand beach which. stretches out from Rassepeague Point, in an easterly direction, a distance of about 2 miles towards the west face of Crane Neck, which has a direction nearly at right angles with the face of the beach.

This bluff (Crane Neck) projects 3 miles to the north of the beach, affording a well-known anchorage for large vessels in easterly storms. Inside the beach lies the harbor of Stony Brook, having but a narrow and shallow entrance near its eastern extremity. The harbor is crescent-shaped, and is about 2 miles in length and half a mile wide. The mean rise and fall of tide is about 7 feet; at high tide the whole area is submerged, showing a fine expanse of land-locked water surrounded on all sides, except towards the sound, by steep and well-wooded hills. At low water, large grassy islands emerge towards the eastern part, between which the tide ebbs and flows in several channels, uniting in a single outlet.

The business portion of the village does not present a thriving appearance, and the commerce and navigation of the harbor have nearly all died away, on account, it is claimed, of the filling up of the harbor and the shoaling of the entrance. It is also claimed that the former use of the harbor for commercial purposes was considerable; that many vessels were built here; that a large quantity of wood was shipped annually, and return cargoes of manure and ashes were brought in for fertilizing the adjoining farms. It is stated, too, that this region is very productive, yielding fruits and vegetables in abundance, which would give large returns could these products be transported by water, with the aid of better harbor facilities, to New York City or to Connecticut, The people feel that their harbor, which it is said was once an excel、

lent port, has been almost ruined by natural causes, and will, in a comparatively short time, be wholly useless if something is not speedily done to arrest the action of these causes.

Just above the entrance to the harbor the current washes the foot of a high sand bluff, about 1,200 feet in length, carrying material into the harbor to a considerable extent, and depositing it also on the flats outside; to this cause is attributed the shoaling at the entrance. The protection of this bluff from further erosion, and dredging a channel through the shoal to deep water beyond, are thought by the citizens to be the necessary remedies. It is, however, questionable if these means would be sufficient.

Stony Brook Beach, nearly 2 miles in length, rising 15 to 20 feet above low water, and the numerous shoals and flats behind, were deposited by the same natural causes which are now increasing the shoals at the entrance to the harbor. These causes are probably the waves and currents of Long Island Sound acting upon the headlands on either side of Smithtown Bay. Crane Neck, on the east, a sandy bluff upwards of 100 feet high, and Rassepeaque Bluffs on the west, from 40 to 60 feet high, plainly show the effect of this action. The débris from these bluffs has been driven into the bay, forming a succession of wave and drift bars, the largest being the long beach above referred to, which nearly closes the harbor, a small channel being kept open by the preponderance of the ebb tide, due to drainage from the back country.

It would require a thorough survey to give even a fair idea of the proper method and approximate cost of the desired improvement, without which I cannot understandingly make the recommendation required by the Department circular letter of August 11. My opinion, however, formed on the above facts, which are all that I have been able to obtain, is that the improvement would be necessary to the commerce of a small community only, and that the cost of permanently completing the work will be so great that it is not worthy to be made. From an engineering point of view the questions presented by this harbor are very interesting, and the information to be obtained by a careful survey, it is believed, would be of great value. For this reason I would recommend that a suitable survey be made, including an examination of the currents and tides. It may be possible then to devise a plan of improvement which the present information does not afford, and which will meet the wants of those interested, at a moderate expense.

It is estimated that such a survey will cost $600, the field-work to be done in the spring or summer, as it will be impracticable to accomplish it this fall.

NEW LONDONN, CONN., November 8, 1882.

J. W. BARLOW,
Major of Engineers.

D 18.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF BLACK ROCK HARBOR, CONNECTICUT.

On the 6th of October I visited Black Rock Harbor for the purpose of making the preliminary examination required by act of Congress of August 2, 1882. I met several gentlemen who are interested in this harbor, and from them learned the nature of the improvement desired, and also something of the magnitude of the interests to be benefited. Black Rock Harbor has long been known as one of the safest and

most accessible harbors of refuge on the Connecticut shore. It is 4 miles west of Bridgeport, and is formed by the projecting mainland on the west and Fairweather Island on the east side. It is thoroughly land-locked, except from the south, from which direction it is also well sheltered by Penfield Reef. There is a light-house at the southern extremity of Fairweather Island, and another on Penfield Reef, rendering the entrance to the harbor safe and easy at all times. The anchorage behind the island is about 2,800 feet in length and 1,200 feet in width. During the years 1836-38, $21,550 was expended in the construction of a breakwater across a break in the island about its middle point, which had made the harbor almost useless. This work was well built and is still in good condition. The island is joined to the mainland at its northern end by a sand beach about 2,700 feet in length, bare at low water, over which the tide flows, and in stormy weather carries large quantities of sand and gravel into the upper part of the harbor. This deposit has become so great that it has spread southward over a large portion of the best anchorage, to its very serious injury.

Besides the value of this harbor as a port of refuge, it is now becom ing of great importance from a commercial point of view. At its northern end several creeks flowing through a marsh bottom enter the har bor; upon and near these there have recently been built a number of very large manufactories which desire to utilize these streams for navigation, provided the harbor below shall be protected from further injury, so as to insure a permanent outlet to Long Island Sound.

The protection needed is a breakwater or dike along the sand beach from Fairweather Island to the main shore. The length of structure required is about 3,000 feet, and as its height need not exceed 7 feet, the cost is quite small in comparison with the interests involved. The region to receive benefit from this improvement will soon be entirely devoted to manufacturing purposes.

It would therefore appear that this work is one of public necessity and an improvement worthy to be made. To enable me to present a more detailed project for this improvement, I respectfully recommend an allotment of $400 for survey.

NEW LONDON, CONN., November 8, 1882.

J. W. BARLOW,

Major of Engineers.

SURVEY OF BLACK ROCK HARBOR, CONNECTICUT.

ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY,

New Haven, Conn., December 12, 1883. GENERAL: I have the honor to report as follows upon the survey of Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut, made under authority of the act of Congress relating to river and harbor improvements, passed August 2, 1882:

Black Rock Harbor is a harbor on the Connecticut shore of Long Island Sound, lying 3 miles west of the city of Bridgeport, with the western part of which it connects by means of two salt-water creeks, the most easterly of which is known as Cedar Creek, upon whose banks a number of Bridgeport factories have been built. It is claimed that the harbor has been very much used as a harbor of refuge for vessels passing through the sound, but that its waters have shoaled a good deal by the washing down of Fairweather Point, which forms its eastern

border; and that the commercial interests of the city of Bridgeport, as well as of the sound, require its restoration, preservation, and improvement. This would involve the construction of a breakwater about half a mile long to prevent the washing away of the half-submerged sandbar which connects Fairweather Point with the mainland, and the dredging of a part of the harbor and of Cedar Creek.

The factories already established on Cedar Creek have nearly $500,000 invested in buildings and machinery, employ about 1,000 hands, and use up about 28,000 tons of iron and coal and 1,000,000 feet of timber annually.

It is stated that the city of Bridgeport is growing towards the west, and that its population is now about 34,000, having increased about 5,000 in three years.

The construction of a riprap breakwater half a mile long, 10 feet high, and 6 feet wide on top, with the usual side slopes, built of granite blocks of about half a ton in weight, would cost as follows:

19,000 tons, at $2.75 per ton Contingencies

The dredging of 80,000 cubic yards of material from the harbor and creek, at 25 cents per cubic yard, adding 10 per cent. for contingencies, would cost.. Total

$52,250

5,750

58,000

22,000

80,000

I send herewith the report of Assistant Engineer Henry N. Babcock, who made the survey, and copies of letters from the harbor master of Bridgeport, the Bridgeport Forge Company, and the Bridgeport Board of Trade, relating to the commercial and other statistics of Black Rock Harbor and the interest which the city of Bridgeport has in its preservation and improvement.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WALTER MCFARLAND,
Major of Engineers.

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REPORT OF MR. HENRY N. BABCOCK, ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

ENGINEER OFfice, United STATES ARMY,
New Haven, Conn., November 30, 1883.

MAJOR: I have the honor to present the following report on a survey of Black Rock Harbor, made under your direction in October, 1883.

Black Rock Harbor is on the north shore of Long Island Sound, 3 miles west of Bridgeport, Conn.; it is about 14 miles long (north and south) and three-eighths of a mile wide at the widest. No fresh-water stream discharges into the harbor. At its north end is a salt marsh of considerable extent, with two creeks running through it. This harbor has been long known to coasters as a safe and accessible harbor of refuge from storms from any quarter, and has been much frequented; since the improvements in Bridgeport Harbor, however, many vessels that formerly would have sought refuge in Black Rock Harbor have anchored in the Bridgeport channel.

The available low-water depth of Black Rock Harbor for anchorage is from 6 to 8 feet.

The harbor is sheltered on the east by Fairweather Island, a long sandy island connected with the mainland at the northeast by a sand-bar, nearly bare at half-tide. It is said that this bar is wearing away and the material being deposited in the harbor. On the south end of the island is Black Rock light-house. From a point northeast of the light-house a breakwater of 1,790 feet long was built several years ago; it is still in good condition, except at a few points within 200 feet of the north end, where it has fallen, apparently the result of undermining on the west side. It ought to be

repaired and extended about 100 feet farther north; the cost of this would be about $2,500. I am informed that this breakwater was built by the Light-House Department. The improvements desired are:

1st. The construction of a sea-wall, 2,600 feet long, on the bar between Fairweather Island and the mainland; and,

2d. Dredging a navigable channel in the easterly one of the creeks at the head of the harbor. Probably in the near future a channel up the west creek will also be asked for.

The material of the bar north of the island is hard sand, amply firm enough to support any kind of a sea-wall. I tried the character of the sand with an iron rod. Out of eighteen trials I was unable to find a place where the rod could be worked down more than 3 feet by hand, and this distance in each case was through firm sand, with no admixture of mud. Near the mainland there are a few places where patches of marsh-grass appear, suggesting that the bar might be formed over an old marsh. If it is, the mud is too far down to endanger the safety of a wall. I am informed that if the Government build the sea-wall, the city of Bridgeport or the town will build a wagon-road behind it, which would add something to its effective breadth and security. Whether or not material from the bar is being washed into the harbor I am unable to say. There is some noticeable shoaling since the coast survey of 1848, but it is in the southern part of the harbor, farthest away from the bar. It is certain that a large amount of tide-water flows in and out over the bar, and if any dredging in the upper harbor is to be done, a sea-wall would be a necessity for the security of the channel.

The channel desired at present should be 3,300 feet long, extending from deep water in the harbor up the east creek as far as the Forge Company's buildings; it is not improbable that an extension farther up the creek will be asked for in the future. The bottom is of mud, except at the mouth of the creek, where there is some sand mixed with it, but all easy digging. The desired depth is 6 feet at mean low water, which, with the rise of tide (6.76 feet), would give an available high-water depth of over 12 feet. The present depth at low water is 1 foot. Eighty feet would be a sufficient width for this channel. Nearly all of Long Island Sound in the immediate vicinity of Black Rock Harbor has been taken up as oyster-ground under a State law; to avoid injury to these grounds it will be necessary to deposit the material against the shore east or northeast of Fairweather Island or in deep water not less than 5 miles from the work.

ESTIMATES

For a sea-wall to connect Fairweather Island with the mainland 2,600 feet long, 6 feet on top, with side slopes of 1 on 1, and rising to 10 feet above mean low water, or about 3 feet above mean high water, to be built of carefully piled riprap granite, in pieces averaging one-half ton weight or over:

18,860 tons granite, at $2.75 per ton Add for contingencies....

Total

$51,865

5,135

57,000

A shorter line (about 1,600 feet long) might be selected, which would connect the island with a tongue of marsh standing at or nearly up to high-water level; the cost of this would be $35,000, but it is not an advisable economy; the tide would flow in and out around the north end of the wall and cut a new opening through the marsh. For a channel up the east creek, known as Cedar Creek, to be 3,300 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water:

70,000 cubic yards excavation, at 25 cents per cubic yard. Add for contingencies....

Total......

$17,500

2,500

20,000

The commerce of Black Rock Village consists chiefly of the fuel, building materials, and fertilizers used by a population of about 1,500 people. These improvements are demanded principally by the manufacturing interests of the city of Bridgeport. The land at the head of Black Rock Harbor is especially desirable for manufactories, and has already been taken advantage of by six or seven companies; many others would locate there if the channels in these creeks were opened.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. WALTER MCFARLAND,

Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

HENRY N. BABCOCK

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