depth within the limit of the proposed channel was found to be 7.2 feet at low water. At Bristol Bar the least depth was 4.7 near the county wharf. Steam navigation on both bars is impeded at low water. The improvement consists in dredging a cut 200 feet wide and from 12 to 13 feet deep, which will give, when completed, a channel of about 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep at low water. Bids received for dredging were excessive (probably on account of the small appropriation and the difficulty of fiuding convenient dumping grounds) and were rejected. An attempt will be made in the autumn to secure reasonable bids. Up to June 30, 1889, $255.29 has been expended. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $5,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888........... 255.29 4,744. 71 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix L 1.) 75,000.00 10,000. 00 2. Channel at Mount Vernon, Virginia -Previous to the commencement of this improvement there was a depth of but 4 feet at low water over the wide flat between the wharf at Mount Vernon and the main channel of the Potomac River, a distance of 1,900 feet. The present project, adopted in 1879, and amended in 1888, is to excavate a channel from deep water of the Potomac to the wharf at Mount Vernon which shall have when completed a width of 200 feet and a depth of from 9 to 10 feet at low water, with a turning basin of 200 feet radius. The amount expended to June 30, 1889, is $13,971.44. The channel has been dredged a distance of 2,300 feet from the wharf to the main channel of the Potomac. It has a width varying from 60 to 100 feet, and the basin a width of 360 feet. The depths in the channel and basin within the limits mentioned vary from 9 to 12.8 feet. As stated in the Report for 1888, no instrumental examination has been made from 1881 to June 30, 1888. The superintendent of Mount Vernon reported that the channel had filled about 10 per cent. (in depth). Upon this representation was based the statement that $8,500 would complete the improvement. A survey under the last appropriation showed that the basin was nearly obliterated, and that the work required to complete the channel would be increased by the deposit. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $6,000.00 $5,466. 44 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities...... 5.00 5, 471. 44 July 1, 1889, balance available....... 528.56 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 2,500,00 2,500.00 (See Appendix L 2.) 3. Breton Bay, Leonardtown, Maryland.-The harbor of Leonardtown, at the upper end of Breton Bay, prior to the commencement of the present improvement, had a least depth of 5 feet at low water, which was insufficient for the passage of steamers to and from Leonardtown Wharf. The bar which was assumed to extend to the 9-foot curve in the bay was about 1 mile in length. The original project submitted in 1875 provided for a channel 150 feet wide, with enlargement to 400 feet in the widest part at the turn, and turning ground at the wharf of maximum width of 430 feet and length of 770 feet, depth 9 feet at mean low water. In 1885 it was proposed to widen the cut to 200 feet for a distance of 11⁄2 miles, and to enlarge the basin to a width of 400 feet by 800 feet in length, depth in channel and basin not to be less than 10 feet. The effect of the increased dimensions would be to preserve the navigable width of the channel. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $29,173.96. A basin was dredged 980 feet long by 370 wide, at the upper end; and thence a channel was dredged 150 wide for a distance of 1,870 feet, and 185 feet wide for a further distance of 1,420 feet. The depths varied from 8.5 feet to 13.3 at low water. the channel up to June 30, 1888. This describes During the year ending June 30, 1889, $2,486.06 was expended in excavating 13,141 cubic yards of material at the rate of 13 cents. The total cost of the work to June 30, 1889, is $31,660.02. The channel was widened at the turn 80 feet for a distance of 480 feet and 95 feet for a distance of 605 feet. The dimensions above the turn are the same as in 1888. At the turn the width varies from 185 to 280 feet, and the depths from 84 feet to 14.6 feet at low water. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1888, amount available. $326.04 3,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 3, 326. 04 $2,483.56 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... 2.50 2,486. 06 July 1, 1889, balance available.... 839.98 17,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix L 3.) 4. Nomini Creek, Virginia.-This stream is an important tributary of the Potomac, 82 miles below Washington, draining a large area of productive country. Navigation was obstructed by a bar of sand and oyster shells at its mouth, over which but 3 feet could be carried at low water, and the dangers and difficulties of passing the bar were further increased by a cross-tide and an exceedingly rapid current. After passing the bar 8 feet can be carried to Nomini Ferry, 3 miles above the mouth. The original project for the improvement was adopted in 1873, the object being to excavate a channel through this bar 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water. In 1879 the project was modified to provide for a width of 150 feet in the channel. The large increase of trade which followed the opening of the new channel called for an amended project, which was submitted in 1882. This amendment consisted in the enlargement of the width to 200 feet, and the dredging of a tidal supply channel and the sinking of mats to divert cross-currents which obstruct navigation and tend to fill the main channel. The appropriations have been barely sufficient to keep the channel navigable, and it is difficult and dangerous at night and during the prevalence of northeast and northwest winds. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $32,500. At the close of the work in 1883, a channel was dredged 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep from the 9-foot curve outside the entrance to the creek to White Oak Point, a distance of 4,400 feet. No dredging was done from 1883 to 1889. During this interval this cut was reduced in width and depth by deposits of sand at several places, and the channel has shoaled to the depth of 72 feet above the upper end of the cut. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $4,310.80 was expended, which re-opened a channel 94 feet wide through a sand, shell, and gravel bar lying at the mouth of the creek for a distance of about 1,470 feet. The depths in this cut vary from 8.9 feet to 13.8 feet at mean low water. From the beginning of operations to June 30, 1889, $36,810.80 has been expended. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1883.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, balance available.. $5,000.00 $3,615.57 4,310.80 689.20 35,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 4.) 5. Harbor at entrance of St. Jerome's Creek, Maryland.-The outer bar in the bay has a length of 2,193 feet from the 9-foot curve in the bay to Corsey's Point in the creek. The least depth of water on it before improvement was 2.8 feet; the average depth in the channels to the ponds used by the Fish Commission for hatching oysters was half a foot. The length of the inner channel to the wharf of the Fish Commission is 3,742 feet. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, and contemplated dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water through the outer bar at the mouth of the creek, and a channel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep through the south prong of the creek, the material therefrom to be thrown up in a dike so as to form a pond for the purposes of the United States Fish Commission. The channel through the outer bar was made navigable and the ponds were formed. The preservation of the depth on the outer bar is doubtful. The United States Fish Commission has abandoned the station. This harbor is situated at a desirable point for a refuge for oyster boats. Up to June 30, 1889, $25,635.11 was expended. July 1, 1888, amount available $1,361. 40 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 496.51 864.89 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 5.) 26,000.00 6. Rappahannock River, Virginia.-The principal obstructions to navigation before the improvement were Fredericksburg Bar, having a depth at low water of 4 feet, and Spottswood bar, 6 miles below Fredericksburg, having a depth of 6 feet, besides five bars having depths of about 8 feet, within the distance of 12.6 miles below Fredericksburg, and two bars between Port Royal and Tappahannock, at distances of about 33 and 61 miles from Fredericksburg, having depths of about 9 feet. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1871 and was modified in 1879. It provides for a channel 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep at Fredericksburg Bar; channels 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep through the bars between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, 30 miles below, and channels 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep through the two bars between Port Royal and Tappahannock, where a larger class of vessels must be provided for. Between March 3, 1871, and June 30, 1879, $90,500 was expended upon the first project. The amount expended upon the present project from June 14, 1880, to June 30, 1888, is $96,642.44. At that date the channel-depth for 12.6 miles below Fredericksburg, the distance improved, was not less than 8 feet at low water, and the width about 100 feet. Below this steamers have less difficulty in navigating the river. The amount expended during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1889, was $2,943.62, making the total expenditure upon the present project to that date, $99,586.06. The expenditure in 1889 was mainly for removing snags, repairing dikes, and protecting the banks. The condition of the channel as to depth and width is about the same as on June 30, 1888. July 1, 1888, amount available $357.56 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888, $15,000, less $3,000 for Urbana Creek 12,000.00 12, 357.56 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts... 2,769.28 9,943.62 July 1, 1889, balance available. 2, 413. 94 179,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Rappahannock River, Virginia, at Urbana Creek, a tidal tributary thereof. Before improvement the navigation was obstructed by a bar at the mouth, over which but 6 feet of water could be carried. The present project was adopted in 1879. It provided for a channel through the bar 150 wide and 10 feet deep at low water. The plan was extended in 1883 to include the removal of a bar in the harbor, and in 1888 to provide for the addition of works intended to prevent the dredged channels from filling. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $15,500. A channel 120 feet wide and 10 feet deep was excavated through the bar at the mouth, and the bar in the harbor was excavated to a depth of 10 feet and a width of from 80 to 300 feet. On June 30, 1888, the channel through the bar at the mouth had filled in on one side so that its width was reduced from 120 to 90 feet. The depth remained 10 feet. There was expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, in examination and preparation for resuming work, $150, making a total of $15,650 expended to June 30, 1889. The condition remained about the same as on June 30, 1888. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1883.. $3,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... 150.00 July 1, 1889, balance available 2,850.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 16,080.00 5,000.00 (See Appendix L 6.) 7. Totusky River, Virginia.-The obstructions to the navigation of this river consisted of two bars, one at its mouth, which forms a part of the wide flat between the outlet of the river and the navigable channel of the Rappahannock, having a least depth of 4 feet, and the other about 2 miles above the mouth, known as Booker's Bar, having a ruling depth of 3 feet. Ten thousand dollars was appropriated up to August 2, 1882. This sum has been expended in building and repairing a longitudinal dike 2,117 feet in length, the effect of which has been to scour out the channel to a depth of 3 feet at low water. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ $12, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 7.) 8. Mattaponi River, Virginia.-This stream empties into the York River at West Point, Va. It is navigable at low water as far as Walkerton, 40 miles above West Point, for vessels drawing 9 feet; small steamers can go as far as Aylett's, 12 miles further, and it can be made navigable for barges to Mundy's Bridge, 26 miles above Aylett's. Previous to the commencement of the improvement the river was obstructed by three or four bars, and by snags, wrecks, and overhanging trees. The original project for the improvement of this river, based on a reconnaissance in 1875, was adopted in 1880, the object being to provide a channel 40 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low water, by the removal of snags, drift, wrecks, and overhanging trees, and by dredging through bars. ENG 89-9 |