sive, amounting to $198,000, the channel of the Penobscot at Bangor, and for a distance of 34 miles below, was opened to a width of not less than 200 feet, and to a depth of 14 feet at low water, in the shoalest part of which there was before not more than 8 feet, and all dangerous rocks removed from the channel; and at Bucksport the middle ground, with but 4 feet at mean low water, was dredged to a depth of 12 feet. This work, completed in 1880, has stood well and proved satisfactory. The river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, made provision for an examination and survey of "Penobscot River and Bangor Harbor, Maine." In compliance therewith, and in consequence of representations of the want of harbor room at Bangor, a project and estimate was submitted to Congress for widening the channel opposite Bangor, and for widening, straightening, and deepening the channel of the river near Crosby's Narrows, at a total estimated cost of $75,000. The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, appropriated $20,000 for this improvement. Proposals received in April, 1885, having been rejected as too high, bids were again invited and a contract entered into at reasonable rates for the expenditure of this appropriation, which will be exhausted during the present season. The officer in charge estimates that an additional sum of $40,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, for continuing the work. 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, amount available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 2.) $20,000 00 33 46 19,966 54 75,000 00 40,000 00 3. Moose-a-bec Bar at Jonesport, Maine.—The project for the improvement of this bar adopted in 1881 was the cutting of a safe and direct channel through it, not less than 200 feet wide and 14 feet deep at mean low water, the mean fall of tides being 11 feet. The old channel is narrow and crooked, and obstructed by ledges. The estimated cost of the improvement was $40,000. Appropriations have been made as follows: Ten thousand dollars will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to complete the improvement, which is important, this channel being a general thoroughfare for regular lines of coastwise steamers, as well as sailing vessels. 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.. July 1, 1885, amount available $105 66 10,000 00 10, 105 66 78 62 10,027 04 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix A 3.) 10,000 00 10,000 00 4. Belfast Harbor, Maine.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1876, the object being to give a depth in front of the wharves sufficient to enable steamers and other vessels to arrive and depart in all stages of the tide. In the upper part of the harbor there was not more than 4 feet at mean low water when surveyed in 1875, and this depth increased downwards to about 12 feet at mean low water. Under the several appropriations, aggregating $22,000, made in the years 1876, 1878, and 1879, this harbor has been excavated to a depth of 10 to 12 feet at mean low water from the wharf-lines out to deep water, in completion of the project adopted. In November, 1883, an examination was made of the dredged channel in front of the wharves, which showed that no filling had taken place. No further expenditures are proposed for the present. July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix A 4.) $2,843 05 2,843 05 5. Rockland Harbor, Maine.—The project for the improvement of this harbor, adopted in January, 1881, was the construction of a harbor of refuge by means of two rubble-stone breakwaters, built for the present to a height of 5 feet above mean low water, to be raised to a greater height if found necessary, one extending about southerly from Jameson's Point, 1,900 feet from high-water mark, the other extending about northerly from South Ledge, 2,640 feet; the estimated cost being for the first $135,000, and for the second $415,000; total, $550,000. The appropriations have been: By act of June 14, 1880. $20,000 40,000 40,000 100,000 The total expenditure to June 30, 1885, has been $82,687.21. It has been applied in the construction of the Jameson's Point Break water, completing it to a length of 1,400 feet, of which 291 feet have been built during the past fiscal year, the work being still in progress. To complete this breakwater and begin the construction of that on South Ledge will require an appropriation of $75,000. The original estimate for this work was based upon representations that stone could be delivered from the neighboring quarries at from 60 to 75 cents per cubic yard. The average of the lowest bids so far accepted has been 93 cents, and unless more favorable contracts can be made in future the cost of the work may exceed the estimate. 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. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885, amount available............... $2,603 37 40,000 00 42,603 37 $20,747 44 4,543 14 25, 290 58 17,312 79 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A 5.) 450,000 00 75,000 00 6. Portland Harbor, Maine.-The project for the improvement of this harbor, adopted in 1833-36 and modified in 1866, 1872, and 1881, has now been completed. The last item, the removal of the Middle Ground, was finished January 13, 1885, by the dredging, during the season, of 124,603 cubic yards of material. A balance of the last appropriation remains on hand, as stated below, available for future contingencies. 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.. July 1, 1885, amount available (See Appendix A 6.) $174 03 30,000 00 30, 174 03 21,837 74 8,336 29 7. Kennebunk River, Maine.--The improvement of the channel from the mouth of the river to Kennebunkport was completed in 1882, as projected. In September and October, 1883, the Government wharf was repaired, leaving a small balance on hand available for contingencies. July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix A 7.) $336 34 336 34 8. Breakwater at mouth of Saco River, Maine.-This breakwater, built between 1869 and 1873, was found, by a survey made in 1883, to require repairs and raising to enable it to better effect its object of preventing the encroachment of sand on the channel of the Saco River at the mouth. The estimate for this purpose was $70,000, and $15,000 was appropriated in the act of July 5, 1884. This sum is now being expended under contract, and up to June 30, the outer end of the breakwater had been raised and repaired for the length of 150 feet. The appropriation will be exhausted in the fall, and $50,000 is asked for continuing the work. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884....... $15,000 00 $3,837 76 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 868 64 4,706 40 July 1, 1885, amount available 10,293 60 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 55,000 00 50,000 00 (See Appendix A 8.) 9. Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.-The project for the improvement of this harbor, adopted in 1879, embraced three items, viz: (1) The closing of the channel between Great and Goat islands, parallel and close to the "Third Bridge," stopping a tidal current which was stated to be very inconvenient. This was done in 1880. (2) The removal to 20 feet low-water depth of Gangway Rock, a ledge in the channel opposite the navy-yard, which had but 12 feet depth at mean low water. This is about one-half done. (3) The removal of part of the ledge at the southwestern point of Badger's Island, which is in the way of vessels coming down the harbor on the ebb tide. This is about one half done. The original estimate for these works was $150,000, and the appropriations have been The officer in charge estimates that an additional appropriation of $30,000 will be required to wholly remove Gangway Rock and complete the removal of Badger's Island Ledge. When these two are removed the project adopted in 1879 for the improvement of this harbor will be completed. 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 July 1, 185, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available...... 30,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A 9.) 30,000 00 10. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-The upper part of the channel of this river from the Lower Narrows to the Packet Landing in the city of Dover, a distance of about 1 miles, was in its original condition crooked and shallow, and obstructed by ledges and bowlders, with, at some points, only from 6 inches to 2 feet depth at low water, the mean rise of tides being 6 feet at Packet Landing. No general project embracing the whole of this channel has been adopted, but partial projects for different sections have been made, and executed under appropriations granted from 1836 to 1884 inclusive, amounting in all to $151,000. The work done has resulted in the widening, deepening, and straightening of a large part of the channel, the total expenditure to June 30, 1885, having been $141,185.59. The appropriation of $28,000, July 5, 1884, is now being expended in operations similar to preceding ones, in the channel above Clement's wharf. Up to the 30th of June, the contractor had removed, by drilling, blasting, and dredging, about 3,408 cubic yards of material, a large proportion being solid rock. He will complete his contract this fall, exhausting the appropriation. To carry the work through to Dover, giving an improved channel as far as Packet Landing, will require a further appropriation of $19,000. July 1, 1884, amount available.... $14 24 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 28,000 00 28,014 24 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $14,745 43 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities 3,464 40 18,209 83 9,804 41 July 1, 1885, amount available.... (See Appendix A 10.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement: 1. Southern entrance to Owl's Head Harbor, Maine. (See Appendix A 11.) 2. Harbor at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from the sea to the wharf. (See Appendix A 12.) 3. Winnipiseogee Lake, New Hampshire, at a point called "The Weirs." (See Appendix A 13.) Reports on the above were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. 4. Little Harbor at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a view to its improvement as a harbor of refuge.-The adverse report of the local engineer upon this improvement is not concurred in by the Chief of Engineers. The necessity for a harbor of refuge of moderate size at this locality for the numerous smaller vessels engaged in the commerce and fisheries of this part of the coast having been made apparent from numerous representations of those interested, this harbor is deemed worthy of improvement to a moderate extent at a cost of, say, $33,000. No further survey will be required to prepare plans and estimates for the work. Report printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 91, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 14.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engi neer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Colonel Blunt was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed: 1. York Harbor, Maine.-Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 243, Fortyeighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 15.) 2. Wood Island Harbor, Maine.-Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 134, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 16) The survey of Saco River, Maine, has been completed, but the report thereon not received. It will be submitted in a future communication. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers. 1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar 1,000 feet wide, and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project adopted is to build two converging rubblestone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The project was adopted in 1880 and modified in 1883. |