Western Avenue Bridge (a distance of about 43 miles), so that there shall be a minimum depth of 7 feet at mean low water, with a width of 200 feet; second, from Western Avenue Bridge to Market Street Bridge (an additional distance of 31 miles), so that there shall be a minimum depth of 6 feet at mean low water, with a least width of 80 feet; and, third, from Market Street Bridge up to the dam at the head of tide-water (an additional distance of about 13 miles), so that there shall be a depth of 2 feet at mean low water, with a width of 60 feet. The estimated cost of this improvement, as revised in 1881 for reasons stated in my annual report of last year, was $125,000. The following amounts were specially appropriated for the improvement of this river, viz: No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. Under a contract made August 27, 1880, with Messrs. Moore & Wright, of Portland, Me., 50,4984 cubic yards were dredged below Brookline Bridge, at a cost of 39 cents per cubic yard, measured in scows. Under a contract made June 14, 1881, with the Eastern Dredging Company, of Portland, Me., 12,500 cubic yards were dredged, at a cost of 37 cents per cubic yard, measured in place, thereby completing the improvement as far up as Western Avenue Bridge, a distance of about 43 miles from the river's mouth. This contract called for the removal of 100,000 cubic yards, measured in place. Dredging was commenced above Western Avenue Bridge, but before much progress had been made the work was abandoned by the contractors, and the contract was annulled by the Department on July 22, 1882, the retained percentage being declared forfeited. Proposals for the completion of this work were subsequently invited by my predecessor on two separate occasions, but all bids were rejected, the prices being considered excessive. Under the appropriations made by the act of August 2, 1882, for the improvement of Boston Harbor, the sum of $67,500 was recommended by my predecessor to be applied to the completion of the improvement of this river. Proposals were invited on August 31, 1882, for dredging from Market Street Bridge to Watertown Bridge, but no favorable bids were obtained. In view of the fact that no appropriation was made in 1883, the above sum, recommended by my predecessor to be applied to the im provement of the Charles River, was set aside, by authority of the Department, for the works of preservation and improvement in Boston Harbor proper. Contract was entered into on May 22, 1883, with Mr. John McDermott, of Cohoes, N. Y. (he being the lowest bidder), for the removal of 42,000 cubic yards, from a point near Stickney's Wharf, above Western Avenue Bridge, up to the wharf of the Brighton Abattoir. This dredging was completed on June 7, 1884. The work was only carried up to the Arsenal Street Bridge, as the draws and piers of this bridge do not conform to the channel projected above it. The contract was modified to conform to this change on May 16, 1884, by authority of the War Department. The total quantity of material removed under this contract is 57,631 cubic yards, measured in scows. The channel has been widened and deepened thereby from a point opposite Stickney's Wharf, in Cambridge, up to Arsenal Street Bridge, a distance of 13 miles, so that its minimum width is now 80 feet in the straight parts and 100 feet at turns, and its minimum depth is 6 feet at mean low water. The total quantity of material removed from the channel from 1880 to 1884, inclusive, is 127,971 cubic yards, measured in scows. Thereby the projected improvement has been completed from the mouth of the river up to Arsenal Street Bridge, a distance of 7 miles. A sketch indicating the improvements completed and projected is published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884. • This improvement, as far as completed, is not regarded as an important benefit to commerce, for reasons fully stated in my Annual Report of last year. To complete the improvement to the head of tide-water, in accordance with the existing project, will, at present rates, require the expenditure of $116,000. The amount recommended for expenditure for Boston Harbor during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is as follows: For widening and deepening main ship-channel at Upper and Lower Middle. $128,000 For engineering and contingencies.... Total... 4,300 2,200 10,500 145,000 The amount of funds on hand now unallotted and available for the above expenditures is $5,000, leaving $140,000 to be appropriated. No appropriation for continuing the improvement of the Charles River is recommended; but the sum of $50,000 can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, in furtherance of the existing project, provided the draws of the two bridges on the part of the river to be improved are rebuilt so as to conform to the projected channel. The several works completed and projected for the improvement of this harbor are located in the collection district of Boston and Charlestown. Boston is the port of entry. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, have been furnished by the United States collector of customs. Money statement. 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.. $31,412 23 5,000 00 36, 412 23 $19,841 12 8,042 12 27,883 24 8,528 99 190,000 00 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year er ding June 30, 1887 190,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1e66 and 1867. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. CUSTOM-HOUSE, BOSTON, MASS., SIR: The record of transactions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, for official use, has just been completed, and in compliance with your request of May 27, I inclose a statement of the special transactions you desire. Yours, respectfully, Maj. CHARLES W. RAYMOND, R. WORTHINGTON, Collector. Engineer Corps, U. S. A. TRANSACTIONS OF COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION AT THE PORT OF BOSTON DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885. The object of this improvement is to protect the harbor by the preservation of Long Beach, and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to the wharves of Plymouth. Previous to the year 1875 the work done in this harbor was for the preservation and strengthening of Long Beach. An account of the various devices employed for this purpose is given in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1877. This work, from its nature, cannot be considered completed and permanent, small annual expenditures being necessary to keep it in repair. Such expenditures have been made for many years, amounting, from 1824 to 1884, to $112,916.89. Before improvement, the chaunel to the wharves was about 6 inches deep at mean low water. The project for the improvement of the main channel was adopted in 1875. It provided for straightening the channel, and giving it a width of 100 feet and a depth of 6 feet at mean low water. This project was modified in 1877 so as to include the excavation of a basin 150 feet wide and 8 feet deep in front of the city wharves. The original estimate of cost of the modified project of 1877 was $41,500. The existing project for improvement was adopted in 1884. It contemplates dredging the channel to a depth of 9 feet at mean low water, widening it to 150 feet, and rounding off its junctions with the main ship channel and basin. It requires the excavation of 81,000 cubic yards (scow measurement), and was estimated to cost $27,000. Owing to the unusually low price of the dredging already executed, the total cost of the improvement, under the existing project, is now estimated at $22,500. From 1866 to the present time there has been allotted and appropriated by Congress $108,800, as follows: Amount allotted in 1866 from appropriations made July 2, 1864, for harbors Amount allotted under act of July 25, 1868. Total..... $8,300 7,500 10,000 10,000 2,500 3,000 5,000 10,000 5,000 3,500 10,000 10,000 14,000 10,000 108, 800 EXPENDED TO JUNE 30, 1884. $70,329 75 28,419 16 98,748 91 For beach protection and superintendence Total..... During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, the following work has been done: Under contract of September 27, 1884, with Mr. George E. Runyan, of Boston, Mass., 36,426 cubic yards, scow measurement, were removed by dredging. The channel formerly dredged to a width of 100 feet and a depth of 6 feet at mean low water has thereby been deepened to 9 feet for a least width of 90 feet, with increased width at its junctions with the main ship-channel and the basin in front of the wharves. The work of protecting Long Beach has, since 1870, been mainly confined to the restoration of its northern extremity, within 2,000 feet of the beacon, and has resulted in the re formation of about 200,000 cubic yards of sand, the growth being wholly due to this work. The works at Long Beach are in good condition and continue to produce very favorable results. The slight repairs and additions needed are already provided for, and will be made during the present season with funds now on hand. The cost will not exceed $1,000. No shoaling has been observed in the channel dredged during the past year. Should funds be provided, it is proposed to continue the dredging so as to complete the improvement in conformity with the project proposed in my letter of January 30, 1884. This will require the excavation of 44,574 cubic yards, measured in scows, and is estimated to cost $13,500. The dredging of the basin in which the channel terminates to a depth equal to that of the channel is much desired. This basin was dredged to a depth of 8 feet at mean low water in 1881, but has since shoaled sothat it has now an average depth of only about 7 feet. As I have explained in my letter to the Department of January 30, 1884, this shoaling was principally if not wholly due to the lowering of Town Brook, and as the brook has now found its natural bed, no further shoaling from this cause need be anticipated. The excavation of this basin to a depth of 9 feet at mean low water will require the removal of 20,000 cubic yards, measured in scows, and is estimated to cost $6,000. In furtherance of the project above mentioned, I recommend the following appropriations, which can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887: 1. For the repair of damage by storms at Long Beach.. 2. For widening and deepening channel.. 3. For deepening basin... Total...... $500 13,500 6,000 20,000 This work is located in the collection district of Plymouth, Mass., of which Plymouth is the port of entry. The nearest light-houses are the Plymouth (Gurnet) Lights, about 5 miles from the city of Plymouth, and Duxbury Pier Light, distant about 2 miles. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, have been furnished by the collector of customs for the port of Plymouth, Mass. July 1, 1884, amount available.. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $51.09 10,000 00 10.031 09 6,733 59 July 1, 1885, amount available 3,317 50 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 20,000 00 20,000 00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1857. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. CUSTOM-HOUSE, PLYMOUTH, MASS., SIR: I have the honor herewith to forward to you a report of receipts and disbursements of revenue at this port, also the amount of merchandise in bond, entrances and clearances, domestic arrivals, composition of cargoes, number of arrivals and departures for harbor and otherwise, passengers by water, and property benefited by Government works at this port. |