As additional funds become available it is expected they will be applied in further extensions of the breakwater, so as to keep pace with the growth of the commerce and the extension of the line of docks and wharves, and in general repairs of the older portions of the existing structure. July 1, 1884, amonnt available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities. $383 26 50,000 00 50,383 26 $37,120 99 1,960 27 39, 081 26 11,302 00 July 1, 1885, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix O O 6.) 203,000 00 50,000 00 7. Otter Creek, Vermont.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1872, and, as modified in 1882 and 1884, proposes the formation of a channel of navigable width and a least depth of 8 feet from Vergennes, Vt., to Lake Champlain. During the fiscal year operations were confined to the improvement of Bull Brook Bend and its immediate vicinity by dredging, and resulted in securing a good channel 75 feet wide and 8 feet deep at low water, through what had previously been the most serious obstruction on Otter Creek. The officer in charge reports that Steamboat Landing, Sharkie's Bend, Crittenden's Bend, and the mouth of the creek, should all be improved by widening and deepening the channel at these places in order to carry out the scheme of improvement. July 1, 1884, amount available...... $3,851 92 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 3,203 58 July 1, 1885, amount available 648 34 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 39,748 00 20,000 00 (See Appendix O O 7.) 8. Ticonderoga River, New York. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, its object being to afford a channel of navigable width and a least depth of 8 feet at low water, from Ticonderoga Village to Lake Champlain, a distance of about 2 miles. The estimated cost of the improvement was $42,516, of which amount $10,000 was appropriated, and, as expended, has resulted in an improved channel which is now 60 feet wide, except the upper 2,000 feet, only 30 feet wide, and affords a least depth of 6 feet. To complete the improvement this channel should be widened in its upper reach to 60 feet and should be generally deepened. The principal industry subserved by this improvement is the manufacture of pulp and paper from wood fiber, which requires the annual transportation of about 2,000 tons of coal and 10,000 cords of wood. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix 0 0 8.) $32,516 00 10,000 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1854. 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. Whitehall Habor, New York.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 138, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix 0 0 9.) 2. Lake Champlain, at Four Channels.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 211, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix O O 10.) 3. Mouth of the Saranac Rirer, at Plattsburg, New York.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 72, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix O O 11.) 4. Muquam Bay, Swanton, Vermont.-(See Appendix O O 12.) PACIFIC COAST. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS OF OAKLAND AND WILMINGTON, OF PETALUMA CREEK, AND OF THE HARBOR OF REDWOOD, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Oakland Harbor, California.-The contract for dredging in force at the beginning of the year was completed on April 7. It involved 59,089 cubic yards, and resulted in a ship channel 100 feet wide and 14 feet deep at low water, extending from the head of the jetties to Webster street, a distance of 4,200 feet, and covering all of the present commercial water front of Oakland. There were delivered on the south jetty during the year 16,685 tons of stone. The area facing laid was 101,617 square feet, the contract in force at the beginning of the year having been completed. A contract for dredging 800,000 cubic yards, more or less, in the tidal basin was made on October 4, 1884. The performance under this contract has been unsatisfactory, 30,047 yards only having been excavated during the year, while the requirement exceeded 250,000 yards. The dredge of the contractor was burned June 19. Operations were resumed on July 1 with the Von Schmidt dredge, which has always given satisfaction. The depth and condition of the jetty channel have shown improvement during the year. There is now a continuous ship-channel from the bay of San Francisco to the water front of Oakland, with 18 feet at high At the beginning of the improvement the corresponding depth was about 10 feet. The present project contemplates a depth of 20 feet at low water and 26 feet at high water. Payment having been made during the year for the land condemned for a canal to connect the harbor with San Leandro Bay, the construc tion of the canal can be undertaken whenever sufficient funds become available. The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is to be applied to this work, to the continuation of dredging the tidal basin, and to some further work on the south jetty. The funds now available are pledged under the existing contract for dredging, which, it is expected, will be fulfilled during the coming year. July 1, 1884, amount available ... Amonnt appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities... $63,950 29 139,600 00 203, 550 29 $104, 238 96 7,965 48 112,204 44 91,345 85 939,929 20 July 1, 1885, amount available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount thatcan be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 300, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P P 1.) 2. Wilmington Harbor, California.-At the beginning of the improvement the low-water depth at the entrance was about 1 foot. The depth now is 10 feet. At high water vessels drawing 15 feet enter the harbor, which now accommodates almost all the coasting trade. The channel maintained its depth during the year, and showed improvement on the inner part inside the harbor, but there has been some increase in the amount of sand at the entrance. Bids were invited for dredging but no contract was made. After due advertisement a contract for delivery of 18,000 tons of stone was made on March 24, and work was begun on May 1. The stone is to be applied to the construction of a dike about 700 feet in length, intended to protect the southern end of Rattlesnake Island from abrasion, and to raising the jetties above high-water mark. The east jetty was raised for a length of 230 feet, and 320 feet of the dike were built, the advance being well paved for a distance of 135 feet further. The quantity of stone delivered was 5,284 tons. The contract will be completed in November. The present project is intended to secure 4 to 6 feet additional depth by dredging and by the extension and completion of jetties, both operations to be carried on simultaneously, if the amount appropriated shall permit. July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $17 87 50,000 00 50,017 87 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. $9,851 02 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities 7,258 70 17,109 72 July 1, 1885, amount available.............. 32,908 15 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 250,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1837 150, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1857. (See Appendix P P 2.) 3. Redwood Harbor, California. - Redwood City is a town of 2,000 or 3,000 inhabitants, situated at the head of a slough bearing the same name. This slough opens into San Francisco Bay, and affords a connec tion by water with San Francisco and other points situated on navigable waters, by which means much the greater part of the commerce is carried on. The slough at its mouth is quite shallow, and at its head is for a considerable distance bare at low water. The navigation is assured entirely by the tide, which rises here 5 or 6 feet. A railroad connects the village with San Francisco, and affords a transportation of some of the products of the country to points not situated on navigable waters. The port at Redwood is an outlet for a considerable area of country, part of which is agricultural and part timber land. An increase of depth of 3 feet would remove these difficulties. The character of the improvement must consist in dredging for about 1 mile below the town, and as there is no tidal basin above the town adequate to keep the channel clear, it is to be expected that dredging will have to be repeated periodically every few years as deposits accrue. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriated $3,000 for this work. The amount being insufficient to produce a good result, it has been held to await further appropriations. The estimate for the work is $15,400, and the whole amount is necessary in order to insure a contract. The work is to consist in dredging, the amount of which, to enable vessels drawing not more than 7 feet to reach the town front of Redwood City, is estimated at 40,000 yards. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 $3,000 00 3,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix P P 3.) 12,400 00 12,400 00 4. Petaluma Creek, California.-The improvement of Petaluma Creek, as outlined in the original report and estimate of December 2, 1879, was completed May 2, 1884, by the excavation during the year of 43,267 cubic yards of earth, which is deposited upon the banks. A cut-off 800 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 3 feet in depth was made, and the channel dredged. The channel before improvement was, for 2 miles below Petaluma, bare at low water, and not covered until the tide had risen 2 or 3 feet. Within this distance there were three abrupt bends that seriously embarrassed navigation. The channel is now straightened by three new channels, cutting off the bends. The channel was deepened by dredg ing to 3 feet at low water through the whole length, except for 2,600 feet at the upper end, where the depth was made 2 feet. Some filling has taken place, caused by wash from the land in freshets. The amount appropriated is The amount expended is.... $30,000 00 27,656 91 This improvement has been and will continue to be of great advantage to a considerable commerce and to a large number of industrious people occupying a fertile tract of country. July 1, 1884, amount available.. July 1, 1885, amount available.. (See Appendix P P 4.) $2,343 09 2,343 09 Removal of sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The last Annual Report stated the low-water depth on the wreck Escambia to be not less than 33 feet, and that it was not a danger to vessels. No further examination has been made, but nothing has occurred to indicate a change in her position or that the depth is decreased. Bids were invited in August by advertisement for the removal of a barge and dredging machinery sunk at Oakland Landing, on the San Joaquin River, but no contract was made, for the reason that at the time the bids were received the owners remained in possession and continued to remove such parts of the wreck as had value. The machinery was removed in this way, and the barge was left in a broken condition. The obstruction was removed by the United States snagboat Seizer in January, 1885. The expenditure during the year was $86.89. It is intended to make another examination of the Escambia when a favorable opportunity offers. (See Appendix P P 5.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1854. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Islais Creek, San Francisco Bay, California. (See Appendix PP 6.) 2. San Mateo Rirer, California.-(See Appendix P P 7.) Reports on the above examinations were transmitted to Congress, and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the locality was worthy of improvement by the General Government, Lieutenant-Colonel Mendell was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 261, Forty-eighth Congress, second session: 1. Napa River, California.-(See also Appendix P P 8.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers. The object of the improvement is, to prevent this harbor from being the place of deposit of the materials brought down by the San Diego River during floods. In 1875 a project was formed to turn the river back into one of its former outlets in False Bay. The work was executed in 1876. From a point in the river bed near Presidio Hill a new water way was cut across the plain to a slough from False Bay. The old channel was closed. A levee, faced with stone and extending from highland to highland, was built along the artificial cut and between it and the harbor of San Diego, to restrain the river overflow in floods. The improvement has thus far been a success. On account of the extraordinary floods of the winter of 1883-'84 no repairs were made last year. The river continued to flow until this summer-an unusual event. The injuries to the embankment and its stone facing caused during two years by the burrowing of badgers, by the trails made across it by cattle, and by the gullying of the top and slopes from surface water, have been repaired. The cost of the work done has been $78. The levee is in fair order. |