length, the reduction to 350 feet of the opening between the east end of the west breakwater and the north end of the light-house pier, the use of creosoted timber in repairs to the old breakwater, the construction of spurs along the face of the outer west breakwater to reduce the effect of accumulated seas, and for deepening by dredging the inner harbor at the mouth of the Oswego River. The object of these improvements was to give protection to the city docks and wharves, and to the commerce of the harbor and lake a depth suitable for the heaviest-draught vessels on the lakes. The natural entrance to the mouth of the river was shallow and difficult of access. The total amount expended from the date of the first appropriation in 1826 to June 30, 1885, is $1,556,325.01. The amount expended from the adoption of the present project to June 30, 1885, is $1,082,962.14. The total expenditure has resulted in the completion of the originallyprojected harbor, the completion of the west breakwater, with the reduction to 350 feet of the opening between the east end of the west breakwater and the north end of the light-house pier, the construction of 213 linear feet of the east breakwater, the completion of one spur-crib, and the deepening of the river mouth to a depth of 15 feet at low water, securing full protection to the docks and wharves west of the river mouth, and channels of entrance 16 feet deep and 350 feet wide each to the inner and outer harbors, and 15 feet deep at low water. Early in December, 1884, a severe northwest storm caused a breach in the west breakwater 145 feet in width, and necessitating repairs for a length of 100 feet each side of the breach. This portion of the breakwater has been repeatedly breached, and, in the opinion of the officers in charge, the remaining old work should be entirely removed and rebuilt in a stronger manner at an estimated cost of $80,000. There are several other breaks which should be repaired, in order to avoid any severe injury which may occur from the violent seas to which this structure is subjected. The appropriation asked for includes the cost of repair of the breach and $70,682, the balance of the original estimate, and is to be applied to repairs and the extension of the breakwater. The old west breakwater of the inner harbor is in a very dilapidated condition and should be repaired in order to prevent it from becoming an obstruction to the harbor. Several private individuals have applied for permission to use the breakwater as a dock on condition of putting it in good repair and maintaining it so. The officer in charge recommends that such legislation be enacted as will permit of such occupation, the repairs to be made according to plans to be approved by the Engineer Department. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. $10,303 83 80,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 90,303 83 $82, 265 97 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities 6,265 10 88,531 07 July 1, 1885, amount available 1,772 76 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 70,682 00 150, 600 00 (See Appendix N N 11.) 12. Sackett's Harbor, New York.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, and proposed the deepening of the harbor over an area of about fifteen acres to a depth of 12 feet at low The depth previously existing was less than 8 feet over a large part of its area. In 1826 and 1828 the sum of $6,000 was expended in cleaning and deepening the harbor. The total amount expended from 1826 to June 30, 1885, is $12,740.18; the amount expended from the adoption of the present project to June 30, 1885, is $6,740.18, and has resulted in the removal of 24,010 cubic yards of sand, mud, and gravel. With the completion of that work the harbor had a depth of 12 feet at low water over about six acres of its area, except a small part thereof, where the presence of rock in place limited the depth to a little less than 12 feet. During the fiscal year operations were limited to the construction of a crib of 18 feet square and 9 feet high on the shoal which extends southerly into the harbor from the east end of Ship House Point. The object of the crib is to define the harbor entrance and furnish mooring facilities for vessels lying in the harbor. To protect the harbor from the shore drift around Ship House Point, the officer in charge recommends the construction of low jetties, and to this work it is proposed to apply the appropriation asked for. July 1, 1884, amount available..... $429 41 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 357 30 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 72 11 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 15,000 00 2,000 00 (See Appendix N N 12.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge, Captain Maguire, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Niagara River, New York, from Youngstown to Lake Ontario.-Report transmitted to Congress, and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix N N 13.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, Lieut. Col. H. M. Robert, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, he was charged with and completed the following: 1. Scajaquada [Scajacuada] Creek, at Buffalo, New York.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 157, Fortyeighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix N N 14.) 2. Salmon River, New York, at and below Fort Covington.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as house Ex. Doc. No. 135, Fortyeighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix N N 15.) 3. Mouth of Salmon River and the inner natural harbor thereat, on Lake Ontario, New York, with a view of making a harbor of refuge for vessels in distress and for purposes of commerce and navigation.-(See Appendix NN 16.) IMPROVEMENT OF OGDENSBURG HARBOR ON THE RIVER SAINT LAWRENCE; OF HARBORS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN, AND OF GRASS AND TICONDEROGA RIVERS, NEW YORK, AND OF OTTER CREEK, VERMONT. Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, to February 20, 1885, and Maj. Milton B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, from that date. 1. Ogdensburg Harbor, New York.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1882, which contemplates the deepening of the channels along the city front and in prolongation of the lower reach of the Oswegatchie to deep water in the Saint Lawrence River, so as to afford a depth of 15 feet in the channels and 16 feet on the outer bar at extreme low water. When operations were first commenced at this harbor, the channels afforded depths of 5 to 12 feet only, and now there are two good channels, from deep water in the Saint Lawrence to the nearest docks or wharves, in which water from 15 to 16 feet deep is afforded, and a channel 12 feet deep and 150 feet wide has been affected along the entire city front on the Saint Lawrence River. The total amount expended from the date of the first appropriation in 1852 to June 30, 1885, has been $130,624.53, and from the adoption of the project $20,624.53 have been expended. The officer now in charge calls attention to a probable necessary increase of the estimate for the improvement under the existing project, owing to the material encountered in gaining increased depths in the channels being harder than was expected, which makes the cost double that of the estimate in some portions of the channels. He recommends that the estimated cost be placed at $108,000, instead of $76,000 on this account, and suggests a modification of the present project at a total estimated cost of $48,400. The sum asked for this improvement is to be applied to dredging operations, in case the present project is adhered to. Should it be thought best to discontinue the dredging within the harbor, after carrying the improved channels from deep water in the Saint Lawrence to the vicinity of the docks and wharves which are nearest to the upper and lower entrances, then $23,400 will be sufficient to complete the work. July 1, 1884, amount available .... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $489 28 15,000 00 15,489 28 $9,432 94 1,680 87 11, 113 81 4,375 47 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... 1 [ Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can profitably be expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 83,000 00 35,000 00 (See Appendix O O 1.) 2. Grass River (at Massena), New York.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1881, and has for its object the formation of a channel with a least depth of 4 feet and a least width of 40 feet from the Saint Lawrence River to the village of Massena, a distance of about 7 miles by water. The natural depth of the shoal places is some 2 feet. Proposals were invited by advertisement in 1883, and in response but one bid was received, which indicated that the funds available were only sufficient to remove one-fourth the amount of obstructing material at one of the shoal places. It was therefore considered best to await further appropriations, so that operations could be carried on economically and with an expectation of effecting some direct benefit to the channel with the money expended. The additional appropriation of $9,000, if made, will be applied, together with the funds available, in deepening the channel by dredging. July 1, 184, amount available... July 1, 1885, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix O O 2.) $2,948 GO 2,948 60 16,000 00 16,000 CO 3. Breakwater at Rouse's Point, Lake Champlain, New York.—The project for this improvement was adopted just before the close of the present fiscal year, and contemplates the construction of a breakwater composed of rubble and large stone on a straight line extending from Stoney Point in the general direction of the southern point of the 6-foot curve south of Windmill Point, until the 18-foot curve is reached, a total distance of about 2,000 feet. From The estimated cost of the breakwater is placed at $110,000. the amount appropriated for this work some expenditures have been made for certain necessary incidental expenses connected with the preparation of the project, office expenses, &c. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... July 1, 1-85, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix 0 0 3.) $35,000 00 1,021 83 33,978 17 110,000 00 76,000 00 4. Swanton Harbor, Vermont.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1873, and had for its object the protection of anticipated docks and wharves by the construction of a breakwater in front of the place where it was thought they might be located. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $70,188 07, and has resulted in the construction of the existing breakwater. Its site was necessarily selected before the docks there now were located, and they are situated so as to receive very little if any protection from it. In view of these facts, and the uncertainty of the location of other docks and wharves which may be built hereafter, it is recommended that no further appropriation be made until the future develops some add itional shipping interests to be benefited by the construction of increased protection, and shall indicate the requirements in further extension of the existing break water. July 1, 18-4, amount available.... July 1, 18-5, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount available..... $529 41 202 48 32693 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix 0 0 4.) $169,500 00 5. Plattsburg Harbor, New York. The first project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted probably in 1836, the date of the first appropriation for it. That project and the modification of it, adopted and completed, have resulted in the construction of 1,250 feet of breakwater, the protection of a portion of the beach, and the dredging of shoal areas within the breakwater. The last modification, made in 1870, proposed the extension of the breakwater to the southeast, the protection of the adjacent beach by revetment, and the dredging of shoal areas within the barbor. Operations have been confined to dredging and repairs as required since 1875. During the season of 1884 there were 3,022 cubic yards of material removed from shoal places near the steamboat docks, in order to afford sufficient depth for the steamers frequenting the harbor; which con. sumed the available funds, and the officer in charge states that additional dredging is required. The total amount expended to June 30, 1885, has been $138,411.94, of which amount $52,911.94 were expended since the adoption of the modified project in 1870. The appropriation asked for this harbor is to be applied to dredging operations and repairs of the existing structure. July 1, 1884, amount available $1,278 85 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... 1, 190 79 July 1, 1885, amount available... 88 06 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 12,000 00 5,000 00 (See Appendix O O 5.) 6. Burlington Harbor, Vermont.-The improvement of this harbor dates from 1836. Modifications in the original plan have occurred from time to time so as to afford adequate protection to the increase of the commercial and shipping interests at the harbor; the last of which was proposed by the officer in charge in 1884, and had for its object the protection of the docks and wharves extending southward of those that derived protection from the breakwater. The new work in progress during the past year has been in conformity with the modification of 1884, besides which extensive repairs have been made where a gale in May, 1884, caused much injury to 1,175 linear feet of the oldest portion of the structure. The breakwater was extended 200 feet southward during the year, and now comprises a continuous substantial structure some 3,500 feet long, nearly parallel with the general line of the docks and wharves, and about 1,000 feet distant from them. In addition to the repairs which were made during the year, however, and covered the 1,175 linear feet injured, the officer now in charge recommends the renewal of old and decayed portions of the superstructure which are liable to become breached, and it is proposed to carry forward this work during the present season to the extent of the remaining funds. |