C 6. IMPROVEMENT OF NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. New Bedford Harbor is an estuary of Buzzard Bay and is the port of the cities of New Bedford and Fairhaven, Mass. New Bedford is an important port of entry. It is largely interested in manufactures, those of cotton predominating, and has an extensive commerce in addition to its whale fisheries. The population of New Bedford and Fairhaven in 1888 was about 38,000. The object of the improvement is to provide a channel 18 feet deep at mean low water. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 3 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before improvement the channel had a ruling depth of about 12 feet at mean low water. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. As early as 1839 some little dredging was done for the improvement of the harbor. The increase of depth obtained, however, was only 2 feet, and the cut but 30 feet wide. A survey of the harbor was made in 1852, but a definite project for its improvement was not made until 1874. The project provided for a channel 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer Island to the wharves at New Bedford. This project was modified in 1877, increasing the width of channel to 300 feet, and by means of appropriations made in 1875-276, amounting to $20,000, the project was completed in 1877. Since that time vessels of larger draft have been employed in the harbor, and vessels of 15 feet draft not only now touch the bottom in this channel, but in the channel below Palmer Island, which was not included in the former improvement. There is not sufficient water for the commerce of the port. The project under which work is now carried on was adopted in 1888. It provides for the excavation of a channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water extending from Butler Flat to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford. A plat of the proposed improvement was published in House Ex. Doc. No. 86, Fiftieth Congress, first session. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1890. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities at that date was $29,966.02. The result was the excavation of the channel under the original project and its modifications to a width of 300 feet and a depth of 15 feet at mean low water, and the excavation of the western half of the 18-foot channel from the 11-foot bank to the deep water above Palmer Island, and thence the southern half of the channel to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford. The resulting increase in commerce renders a large anchorage area necessary for the accommodation of the large vessels which can now enter safely. By act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $10,000 for continuing the improvement, and a project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared and approved by the Chief of Engineers. The project contemplates: (1) Dredging to a depth of 18 feet at mean low water so much of the point opposite buoy No. 11 as is included between the channel lines. (2) Dredging to the same depth the eastern half of the proposed channel through the shoal between buoys No. 12 and 13. (3) Dredging to the same depth a few points extending into the eastern half of the channel opposite Palmer Island. (4) Dredging to the same depth the northern half of the channel from the deep water above Palmer Island to the vicinity of the wharves of New Bedford. Advertisements for proposals for dredging were issued November 21, 1890, and the proposals opened December 22, 1890. All were rejected. Some experimental digging has been done in the hard material forming the bottom of the channel, and the dredge Texas has been modified so as to adapt it to this work. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining half of the channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep, extending from the 11-foot bank to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford, and the removal of a few shoal spots between the 11-foot bank and Butler Flats, the southern end of the projected channel. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and the funds asked for ($15,000) to continuing the work of dredging in the new channel. New Bedford Harbor is in the New Bedford collection district, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was $50,387.92. The nearest light-houses are Clark Point Light and the lights in New Bedford Harbor. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark Point, Mass. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Received by Treasury settlement Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $57.53 12.69 10,000.00 10, 070. 22 3,038.55 7, 031.67 15,000.00 15,000.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging at New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts, received at Engineer Office, U. S. A., Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated November 21, 1890, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, on Monday, the 22d day of December, 1890. [To be commenced on or before March 15, 1891, and completed on or before December 31, 1891.] C 7. IMPROVEMENT OF WESTPORT HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. Westport Harbor is an estuary on the coast of Massachusetts, lying between Narragansett Bay, R. I., and Buzzard Bay, Mass. The site of the work is on Horse Neck Point (the north side of the entrance to the harbor). ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before the commencement of the improvement the site of the pres ent work was a point of sand forming the northern and eastern boundary of the entrance to the harbor and subject to erosion by the sea and tides. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. The original.approved project of 1887, with its subsequent modifications, provides for the construction of jetties at the end of Horse Neck Point, to stop the wearing of this point, the number and spacing of the jetties to depend on the cost of the work, and a small amount of dredging in Westport Harbor. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1890. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $1,000, and the result was the construction of one jetty on Horse Neck Point. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. By act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $1,000 for the continuation of the improvement. A project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. This project provides for extending the present jetty to a point near the lowwater line, and a small amount of dredging on the Lion Tongue Shoal, near the mouth of the west branch of the river. Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to complete the existing project is the extension of the present jetty and the dredging on the Lion Tongue Shoal. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and the funds asked for ($1,000) to the completion of the project above described. Westport Harbor is in the collection district of New Bedford, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at New Bedford during the last fiscal year was $50,387.92. The nearest light-house is Seaconnet Light. The nearest fortification is fort at Clark Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $1,000.00 22.96 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended............. 977.04 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 1,000.00 1,000.00 C 8. IMPROVEMENT OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS. This river rises in Norfolk County, Mass., and empties into Mount Hope Bay, a name given to the northeastern part of Narragansett Bay. It is about 44 miles in length, measured along its course. The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading to the city of Taunton, at the head of navigation, which requires large quantities of coal, iron, clay, moldings, sand, and other heavy articles for its extensive manufactures dependent largely on water transportation, so that vessels of 11-foot draft can reach the city at high water. The rise and fall of the tide before improvement was 51 feet at Dighton and 3.4 feet at Taunton. In its original condition the channel was narrow and obstructed by bowlders, and from Berkley Bridge to Taunton the depth was not, in places, more than 5 feet at mean high water. A vessel of 30 tons burden was as large as could go up to Taunton. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. The approved project of 1871 and its subsequent modifications provide for a channel 60 feet wide and 11 feet deep from Weir Bridge to the ship-yard; a channel 80 feet wide (100 feet at the bends) and 11 feet deep from the ship-yard down to and through the Needles and Briggs Shoal; thence to Berkley Bridge a channel of the same width and 12 feet deep. From Berkley Bridge to the deep water at Dighton the channel was to be 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep. The depths are estimated from high water. The ledge which crossed the bottom of the river at Peter Point and the numerous bowlders which lay on the bottom and sides of the channel from Taunton to Dighton were to be removed. A plat of the river showing the improved channel was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, page 606. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1890. The amount expended on the improvement of the river up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $156,987.22. With the exception that but 40 feet of the 60 feet of width could be dredged between the bridge at Weir and the ship-yard on account of interfering with private property, and that on account of the hardness and depth of material at the sides the 80-foot channel was not in all cases dredged to its full width, the channel down to Berkley Bridge had been completed. The channel as proposed between Berkley Bridge and Dighton had been completed, with the exception of removing a small amount of ledge rock uncovered in dredging, and had been cleared of bowlders from Taunton down to Berkley Bridge. The work of removal of the ledge at Peter Point had been completed. The material blasted in the channel had been dredged and deposited in the form of a half-tide dam running from Reuben Island to the west shore of the river, with the view of accelerating the current in the dredged channel off and above Dighton and preventing deposits in that part of the channel. Vessels of 11-foot draft can now reach Taunton at the head of navigation. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR By act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $7,000 for continuing the improvement, and a project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. This proj ect contemplates dredging in that portion of the river just below Pioneer Rock, and extending the work up the river through Briggs Shoal and the Needles to the mouth of Three-Mile River, if funds permit. Advertisements for proposals for dredging were issued November 21, 1890. The work was readvertised March 5, 1891, but no proposals were received in response to either advertisement. Dredging was commenced June 18, 1891, with plant consisting of dredge Rhode Island and two scows belonging to the United States, and a hired tug. The work was commenced at the first shoal above Berkley Bridge and continued upstream. The first reach and a portion of the second were completed. Mr. Perry Lawton is the local superintendent. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. There remain to complete the existing project the widening and deepening of the channel at a few points above the bridge and the removal of the small amount of ledge rock above referred to. This ledge projects about 30 feet into the eastern side of the channel, diminishing its depth by a few inches, while there is ample width and depth beyond the channel line on the western side. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and the funds asked for to the completion of the existing project for the improvement of the river. Taunton River is in the Fall River collection district. Fall River is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Fall River in the last fiscal year was $71,080.32. The nearest light-house is the Borden Flat light-house. The nearest fortification is Fort Adams, Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. |