Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 75,000 00 (See Appendix A 4.) 450,000 00 5. Cathance River, Maine.-The project for the improvement of this river was based upon the survey made in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and of not less than 10 feet depth at mean low water (or 15 feet at mean high water), from the outlet of the river into Merry meeting Bay to the channel of Kennebec River near "The Chops," a distance of about 2 miles. The natural channel was crooked, and had but 6 feet of water at mean low water in its shoalest part. Three appropriations have been made, viz: Work under the first two appropriations was completed on the 22d of October, 1881. The last appropriation has been applied to the improvement of the channel at "The Outer Bar" near "The Chops." This work was nearly completed on the 30th of June, 1883, and wholly so on the 16th of July, 1883. No additional work is proposed for this river. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. (See Appendix A 5.) $1,645 30 1,645 30 6. Royal River, Maine.-The channel of this river opposite Wolfe's Point, just above its mouth, was obstructed by a land-slide in March, 1882. The wing-dam projected as a part of the improvement, which was in progress at the date of the last annual report, was completed in September, 1883. The new channel, to be obtained by dredging, was commenced in August and completed November 9, 1883. Nothing more is needed for this river. July 1, 1883, amonnt available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. (See Appendix A 6.) $8,080 97 8,080 97 7. Portland Harbor, Maine.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1833-36 and modified in 1866, 1872, and 1881. The building and extension of a breakwater on Stanford's Ledge for protection of the inner harbor and deepening of different portions of the harbor by dredging, have all been completed with the exception of the dredging of the "Middle Ground," which is only partially done. Work on the " Middle Ground" was in progress on the 1st of July, 1883, and continued until the 16th of August, 1883, when the existing contract was completed and the funds practically exhausted. By the removal during the year of 69,063 cubic yards of soft material a channel across the "Middle Ground" was widened 90 feet with a depth of 21 feet at low water, where the original depth was about 10 feet only. The width of channel now dredged is 1,340 feet. The appropriation of $30,000 of July 5, 1884, will complete it, and the project adopted for this harbor. 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 appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885... (See Appendix A 7.) $10,694 38 10,520 35 174 03 30,000 00 30, 174 03 8. Kennebunk River, Maine.-The improvement of the channel from the mouth of the river to Kennebunkport was completed in 1882 as projected. In September and October, 1883, the "Government Wharf" was repaired, leaving a small balance on hand available for contingencies. 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 (See Appendix A 8.) $1,028 85 692 51 336 34 9. Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1879, the objects being: 1. To close, by means of a rubble-stone breakwater, the channel between Great Island and Goat Island, so as to prevent the strong current of flood tide from passing through that channel, as by it vessels in going up the barbor were said to have been thrown upon Goat Island Ledge, which projects into the channel, here quite narrow. 2. The removal of Gangway Rock (which lies in the channel between South Beacon Shoal and the navy-yard) to a depth of 20 feet at mean low, or 281 feet at mean high, water, the shoalest part of which has but 12 feet on it at mean low water and 9.7 feet at extreme low water of spring tides. 3. The removal in part, to a depth of 10 feet at mean low water, of the ledge at the southwest point of Badger's Island, upon which vessels are liable to be, and have been, thrown in coming down the harbor on the ebb tide. The estimated cost of this improvement is $155,000, for which the following appropriations have been made, viz: By the river and harbor act of March 3, 1879 Total $10,000 25,000 20,000 17,000 20,000 92,000 During the year ending June 30, 1884, the work done has been the removal of 500 cubic yards of Gangway Rock, and the removal of 300 cubic yards of the ledge at the southwest point of Badger's Island. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1884, in completing the Goat Island Breakwater, and removing 1,300 cubic yards of Gangway Rock, and 600 cubic yards of Badger's Island Ledge, was $63,284.90. The officer in charge asks that $50,000 be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for continuing the removal of Gangway Rock. July 1, 1883, amount available ... $28, 201 10 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. $19,931 05 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. 4, 140 00 24,071 05 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 4,130 05 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 20,000 00 24, 130 05 63,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 50,000 00 (See Appendix A 9.) 10. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-The upper portion of the channel of this river from the Lower Narrows to the Packet Landing in the city of Dover, a distance of about 1 miles, was in its original condition crooked and shallow, and obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals, having at some points only from 6 inches to 2 feet depth at low water, the mean rise of tides being 63 feet at Packet Landing. No general project embracing the whole of this channel has been adopted, but partial projects for various points have been made and executed under appropriations granted from 1836 to 1882, inclusive, amounting in all to $123,000. The work done has resulted in the widening, deepening, and straightening of the channel, the total expenditure to June 30, 1884, having been $122,975.76. Under the appropriation of $28,000 of August 2, 1882, a cut-off channel through Alley's Point, with the widening and deepening of the adjoining channels above and below in progress at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, was essentially completed on the 15th of November, 1883, when the funds were exhausted. A special report, with approximate estimate, was, at the request of the Dover Board of Trade, submitted by the officer in charge on the 18th of January, 1884, for additional work of the same general character as that already executed, and as desired in the upper part of the channel. It seems to be rendered necessary by the increased size of the vessels engaged in the commerce of Dover. The amount of the estimate was $30,000. It is not yet possible to say whether the $28,000 appropriated July 5, 1884, for "completing improvements" of this river will be sufficient for that purpose. 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 appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. (See Appendix A 10.) $17,243 16 17, 228 92 14 24 28,000 00 28, 014 24 11. Lamprey River, below New Market, New Hampshire.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1874, the object being to afford a channel of a navigable width and not less than 11 feet in depth at mean high water from its mouth to the head of tide-water at New Market, a distance of about 2 miles. The natural channel was, in places, narrow and crooked, and much obstructed by sunken rocks and shoals, with not more than 9 feet of water upon them at mean high water. Two appropriations have been made for this work, viz: The projected improvement having been essentially completed, no additional appropriation is deemed necessary. July 1, 1883, amount available.............. $308 42 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 289 00 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 19 42 (See Appendix A 11.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge, Col. George Thom, Corps of Engineers, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Androscoggin River, below Brunswick, Maine. (See Appendix A 12.) 2. For the extension and completion of the breakwater near the third bridge in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire. (See Appendix A 13.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the localities were worthy of improvement and the work a public necessity, Colonel Blunt was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress, and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 44, Forty-eighth Congress, first session : 1. Penobscot River and Bangor Harbor, Maine. (See Appendix A 14.) 2. Resurvey of the breakwater at the mouth of Saco River, Maine. (See Appendix A 15.) 3. At the mouth of Great Bay, with a view to the improvement of the navigation of Piscataqua River. (See Appendix A 16.) HARBORS AND RIVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Officer in charge, Maj. Chas. W. Raymond, 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 was 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 project was adopted in 1880, and modified in 1883. For this work $170,000 have been appropriated, and up to June 30, 1883, $86,105.32 have been expended. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, the dike across Plum Island Basin was completed as far as at present contemplated, and some temporary leaks in it were repaired. The shore extension of the south jetty was completed and prolonged by building a catch-sand of open wooden frames filled with sea-weed. A hydrographic survey was made, which shows clearly the influence of the work already done and the necessity for its prompt completion. The amount available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ($41,428.55), it is proposed to expend in continuing the construction of the jetties in accordance with the approved project. To complete the present approved project $205,000 is estimated to be necessary, all of which could be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. $43,894 68 July 1, 1884, amount available... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 42,466 13 1,428 55 40,000 00 41.428 55 205,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix B 1.) 2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the work is the improvement of the channel of the river from its mouth, near Plum Island Light, to the head of the Upper Falls, a distance of 213 miles. Previous to the commencement of the work the channel was narrow and crooked, and much obstructed by bowlders, ledges, shoals, and the remains of old crib-work and piers. The present project was adopted in 1870, and modified in 1874. It proposes a channel of proper width, having the following depths at high water of ordinary stages of the river: from the mouth to Deer Island Bridge, 16 feet; from the Deer Island Bridge up to Haverhill Bridge, 12 feet, thence to the foot of Mitchell's Falls, 10 feet, thence to the head of the Upper Falls, not less than 44 feet, with the mill-water at Lawrence running. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $162,670.09, and resulted in improving the channel from the mouth to the head of the Upper Falls, in accordance with the adopted project. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, 101 cubic yards of the ledge called North Rock were removed to the depth of 9 feet at mean low water. The amount available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ($3,588.73), will be expended in clearing a new channel at Rock's Bridge, conforming to the new draw, as now rebuilt. 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 a cost, as estimated, of $22,500, which amount, if appropriated, can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available $4,329 91 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 4,241 18 July 1, 1884, amount available ........... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 . 88 73 3,500 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 3,588 73 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix B 2.) 22,500 00 22,500 00 |