part of this harbor is bare at low-water, except in the narrow and crooked channels which are shown on the map. It is open to southerly winds and is without any protection from them except that afforded on the southeast by the peninsula of Nahant. Its bottom, as ascertained by several borings, appears to consist chiefly of sand and mud with underlying clay. The several channels, owing to the shifting character of the bottom, are now liable to occasional changes, as they would hereafter continue to be should they be straightened, widened, and deepened by dredging unless prevented by works built for the protection of the harbor from southerly winds, and so located as to create a concentrated tidal scour of sufficient force not only to prevent the closure and shoaling of the improved channels, but also have the effect of still further improving those channels. For this purpose it is proposed to build two rubblestone breakwaters, as shown on the accompanying map, the first to commence at a point 1,000 feet to the westward of the wharf at Black Rock (Nahant), and to extend in a westerly direction for a distance of 3,550 feet to a point about 300 feet to the westward of White Rocks, and the second to commence at a point 1,000 feet to the westward of the western end of the first breakwater, and extend towards Chelsea Beach for a distance of 3,700 feet to a point about 700 feet distant from highwater mark on that beach; the remaining portion to be closed by a rubble-stone apron work. It is proposed to build these breakwaters to a height of 5 feet above the plane of mean low-water (about half-tide) with a width of 10 feet on top and with side slopes of 45°. By the eastern breakwater it is designed to close the outlet (between Lobster Rocks and White Rocks) of the western channel which leads up to the wharves at Lynn, and thereby divert the scour of the tidal water, or so much thereof as may be necessary, into the eastern or Black Rock channel; and by the western breakwater, to regulate the Saugus River channel by concentrating the tidal scour of that river into one permanent channel, which shall pass through the gap between the two break waters. It is also proposed, first, to straighten, widen, and deepen the eastern or Black Rock channel, so as to have a depth of not less than 10 feet at mean low-water (or 194 feet at mean high-water) from its outlet into Broad Sound up to the harbor lines at Lynn, its width to be not less than 300 feet up to its junction with the present western Lynn channel, and 200 feet thence to the harbor lines, as shown on the accompanying map; and, second, to straighten, widen, and deepen the Saugus River channel so as to have a depth of not less than 10 feet at mean low-water for a width of not less than 200 feet from its outlet into Broad Sound up to the wharf at the Point of Pines, as shown on the accompanying map. The estimated cost of these works is as follows, viz: First. Improvement of the Lynn (Black Rock) channel: (a) Breakwater, 50,000 tons rubble-stone, at $1.50....... (b) 270,000 cubic yards dredging, at 28 cents, measured in situ. Adding for engineering expenses and other contingencies.. Total...... Second. Improvement of Saugus River channel: ' (a) Breakwater and apron work. 40,000 tons rubble-stone, at $1.50. (b) 105,000 cubic yards dredging, at 28 cents, measured in situ...... Adding for engineering expenses and other contingencies... Total $75,000 75,600 19,400 170,000 60,000 29,400 10, 600 100,000 Lynn Harbor is situated about 10 miles, in a northeast direction, from the city of Boston, and the light-houses nearest to it are Egg Rock light, about 2 miles to the eastward, and Long Island light, about 9 miles distant, in Boston Harbor; and the nearest forts are Forts Warren, Winthrop, and Independence, in Boston Harbor, about 9 miles distant. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. GEO. THOM, APPENDIX B. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND IN RHODE ISLAND-IMPROVEMENT OF CONNECTICUT RIVER. REPORT OF LIEUTENENT-COLONEL G. K. WARREN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BVT. MAJ. GEN., U. S. A., OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1882, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Hyannis Harbor, Massachusetts. 6. Pawtucket (Seekonk) River, Rhode 7. Providence River and Narragansett Bay Rhode Island. 8. Potowomut River, Rhode Island. 12. Connecticut River, above Hartford, Conn. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS. 14. Edgartown Harbor and South Beach, 16. Vineyard Haven Harbor, Massachu Massachusetts. 15. Buzzard's and Barnstable bays, Massa chusetts, at entrance of proposed setts. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports upon the works of river and harbor improvements, and surveys under the charge of the late Lieut. Col. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882. Under date July 8, 1882, Lieutenant-Colonel Warren reported the condition of his annual report as follows: I have the honor to state that I have my annual report on river and harbor improvements about finished, but am somewhat embarrassed in making the money statements and estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, not knowing what will be appropriated for the current year, upon which the other depends in some cases. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. BARLOW, B 1. IMPROVEMENT OF HYANNIS HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. At the date of the last annual report the proposal of Charles E. Davis to furnish riprap granite under the appropriation of $5,000, by act approved March 3, 1881, had been accepted, and contract was entered into with him July 7, 1881, at the price of $1.69 per gross ton. The work of delivering stone was commenced in July and completed in October, 1881. Two thousand five hundred and fifty and three tenths tons were placed in the work in building up the slopes below lowwater to one on two on the outside, and one on one on the inside. This completed the work in accordance with project adopted in 1874. Mr. J. P. Cotton, assistant engineer has superintended this work. The wants of the future are, dredging to increase the depth within the protected area, changing the light-house to the east end of the breakwater, and adding fog-signals. Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available... $4,949 38 July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881.. 4,670 75 July 1, 1882, amount available.... 278 63 B 2. IMPROVEMENT OF NANTUCKET HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. At the date of the last annual report the construction of the jetty under contract, dated December 28, 1880, was in progress. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, the work has been in progress under the same contract; 8,1343 tons were placed in the work, which makes the total number of tons delivered 12,123, and leaves about 3,871 tons still to be furnished. The length of the jetty is about 1,650 feet. During the year frequent surveys have been made to ascertain the effect of the work, and in May, 1882, a full survey of the outer harbor was made. A comparison of the maps of these surveys shows a continuous deposit of sand in the west angle formed by the jetty and the shore. The high-water line at the jetty has advanced 150 feet. On the east side, in the early stages of the work, the sand was cut out, and in a severe storm from the north, on October 5, considerable inroad was made on the shore immediately east of the work. To arrest this, short spurs were built at right angles to the jetty from near the shore out for 150 feet; since the building of these the sand has been deposited and the shore line advanced considerably, but not so much as on the west of the jetty. The depth of water has increased over a considerable area between the jetty and the deep channel at Brant Point, while on the west side from the outer end toward the shore the depth has decreased. The current during ebb-tide has increased, and it now flows northwestwardly out past the jetty; it is on this line that the increase in depth is noted. It is still too short to have any effect on the "outer bar," and on this is the shoalest water in the entrance to the harbor. During the year six spurs have been built on Coatue Point to arrest the abrasion of the shore. These spurs consist of double line of posts set firmly in the sand, planked up and tied together, and filled in, at first with sand bags and later with bowlders, picked up along the shore of the inner and upper harbor. The results of the year's work leads us to expect no marked increase in the depth of water in the channel until the jetty has been extended to the "outer bar." It is proposed with the appropriation of $25,000 made by act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, and a portion of what remains on hand of the first appropriation, to continue the work of building the west jetty, at the same time keeping a careful watch of its effects. With the appropriation of $25,000 by act of Congress of August 2, 1882, the second or east jetty on Coatue Point will be commenced if it should become necessary. This work has been under the superintendence of Assistant Engineer Joseph P. Cotton. The estimated cost of the west jetty was $112,000, and of the two jetties $224,000. There has been appropriated $100,000, leaving $124,000 to be appropriated to complete the work in accordance with the original plan as approved by the Secretary of War. The most difficult part (the shoalest) of the west jetty has been constructed so that more rapid progress can now be made with the work. There could be profitably expended in the year ending June 30, 1884, $60,000. July 1, 1881, amount available.. Money statement. July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881 July 1, 1882, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1882, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act passed August 2, 1882 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1883............ $67,084 72 $19,256 87 21, 292 57 45,792 15 25,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... B 3. IMPROVEMENT OF WOOD'S HOLL, MASSACHUSETTS. 70, 792 15 124,000 00 60,000 00 The amount available for this work at the beginning of the fiscal year was too small to warrant the undertaking of any work of improvement. At the request of Prof. S. F. Baird, United States Fish Commissioner, a survey was made of the northern shore of "Great Harbor," for the purpose of making a plan and estimate of a breakwater. In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated January 11, 1882, a report was made upon the construction of a pier and breakwater in the "Great Harbor," with estimates of the cost of the work. This report is appended. |