APPENDIX F. IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY-DEEPENING GEDNEY'S CHANNEL THROUGH SANDY HOOK BAR, NEW YORK. REPORT OF MAJOR GEORGE L. GILLESPIE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BVT. LIEUT. COL. U. S. A., OFFICER IN CHARGE FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. East Chester Creek, New York. 2. Canarsie Bay, New York. 3. Sheepshead Bay, New York. 4. Sumpawanus Inlet, New York. 5. Cheesequakes Creek, New Jersey. 6. Passaic River above Newark, N. J. 7. Passaic River below Newark, and removing shoals in Newark Bay, N. J. 8. Channel between Staten Island and New Jersey. 9. Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. 10. Rahway River, New Jersey. 11. Elizabeth River, New Jersey. 12. Woodbridge Creek, New Jersey. 13. Manasquan River, New Jersey. 14. Raritan Bay, New Jersey. 15. Raritan River, New Jersey. 16. Mattawan Creek, New Jersey. 17. Keyport Harbor, New Jersey. 18. South River, New Jersey. 19. Gedney's Channel, New York Harbor. 20. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS. 21. Baldwin River, New York, at Bald- 22. Hudson River on the New Jersey win Station to connect with Long Branch. side, from Weehawken to Bergen Point, Hudson County, N. J., with a view to deepening the water at the wharf on that side. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, July 31, 1885. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, of the improvements of rivers and harbors and for surveys which have been in my charge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. L. GILLESPIE, Major of Engineers, Bvt. Lieut. Col., U. S. A. 737 F 1. IMPROVEMENT OF EAST CHESTER CREEK, NEW YORK. The original condition of navigation was, between Town Dock and Lock woods, a draught of less than 7 feet at high-water, through an intricate, crooked, and narrow channel; a draught in the channel south of Goose Island rather more than 7 feet at high water, and a dangerous reef of bowlders in close proximity to the course of vessels in passing the draw at Pelham Bridge near the entrance. The project originally adopted in 1872 and modified in 1873 included the improvement of the river extending from Pelham Bridge to Lockwoods a distance of 2 miles, so as to provide 9 feet at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $136,500. It provided for the removal of bowlders and gravel from the draw of Pelham Bridge, for the making of a channel of 9 to 10 feet depth at high water on the west side of Goose Island 1,500 feet long and 125 feet wide, the dredging of a channel from Town Dock to the first bend in the river about 1,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 9 feet deep, high water, and its extension up stream as far as Lockwoods by the excavation of a cut through marsh meadow and rock 2,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 9 feet deep, and the excavation of a cut and tidal basin above Lockwoods 3,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 9 feet deep. The modification of 1873 consisted of proposed timber dikes to confine the channel on both banks from above Town Dock to near Pelham Bridge, of which the aggregate length was 5,800 feet. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $53,918.50. The first appropriation was made by act of March 3, 1873. Work was suspended June, 1884, owing to an exhaustion of funds, at which date the bowlders had been removed from the channel near Pelham Bridge, the channel on west side of Goose Island had been completed, the channel between Goose Island and Town Dock had been opened 2,000 feet long, minimum width 40 to 45 feet, widening to 90 feet at Town Dock, and the cut through the meadow and rock had been excavated to Lockwoods, reducing the distance between the docks from 5,500 feet to 3,200 feet. No work has been done on the formation of the tidal basin projected above Lockwoods, on improvement of channel above Town Dock, nor on the dikes to confine channel from the Town Dock to the entrance. The general level of the banks is that of high water, the currents are sluggish, and the channel is subject to deposits which cause shoals. The portion of the river almost exclusively used by shipping is from Town Dock to the mouth. The channel opened immediately below the dock, which was excavated in 1883-'84, has a minimum improved width of only 40 to 45 feet. This is scarcely sufficient for vessels, and should be widened everywhere to a least width of 80 feet, and for its better maintenance training-dikes are considered necessary, as the modified project provides. The appropriation of $20,000, which is recommended for continuing the improvement, will be applied, if appropriated, in widening the channel below Town Dock to 80 feet, by the excavation of 10,000 cubic yards of material, and in building 1,500 feet of diking, partly on both banks for maintaining the improved channel. This work is in the collection district of New York. Nearest port of entry, New York. Nearest light-house, Stepping Stones. Fort Schuyler is the nearest fort. Amount of revenue collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $126,183,873.57. The amount of commerce benefited by the improvement does not differ from the estimate of $5,500,000 appearing in last year's report. Original estimate. Amount appropriated from March 3, 1873, to June 14, 1884 Amount expended to June 30, 1885 Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available. July 1, 1885, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $136,500 00 54,000 00 53,918 50 $81 50 81 50 82,500 00 20,000 00 F 2. IMPROVEMENT OF CANARSIE BAY, NEW YORK. The object of this improvement is to connect Canarsie Landing with the deep water of Jamaica Bay by a channel having a depth of 6 feet at mean low water, the original depth across the flats being only 44 feet. The project for the improvement, which contemplated the formation of a tidal basin by a system of dikes, was adopted in 1879, at an estimated cost of $88,000. The range of tides is 4.6 feet. The amount available July 1, 1884, was nothing. At that date there was an improved channel across the flats separating Canarsie Landing from the main channel through Jamaica Bay 3,000 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, mean low water, which was protected on the north side by a timber dike 1,000 feet long. The dike, 3,350 feet long, projected for the south side of the channel, has never been commenced, for want of the necessary means. Sealed proposals were invited July 29, 1884, by public advertisement in the usual way, for dredging and diking the channel from Canarsie Landing to Jamaica Bay, and on the 17th of September, 1884, the contract was awarded to Henry Du Bois' Sons for dredging at 35 cents per cubic yard and at $29.37 per linear foot for the diking. Work under this contract commenced October 9, and was completed November 6; 7,535 cubic yards of material were removed and 50 feet added to the dike on the east end. At the close of the contract the channel was 125 feet wide at the entrance, diminishing to 50 feet wide at Canarsie Landing, and had every where a minimum depth of 6 feet at mean low water. When the ice which had formed in the harbor during the winter, began to flow out in the spring, large masses were carried over the dike, and several of the piles were displaced, and the waling timbers crushed. These damages will be repaired during the the coming season, at a cost not exceeding $100. The sum of $25,000 is recommended for continuing the improvement during the year ending June 30, 1887, and, if appropriated, will be applied towards the construction of 300 feet of the dike projected for the south side of channel, the extension eastward of the north dike 250 feet, and the widening to 100 feet of the western end of the channel near Canarsie Landing. Canarsie is essentially a fishing harbor, but is also used as a resort by numerous yachts, schooners, and sloops engaged in other enterprises. Oysters, clams, codfish, and bluefish to the value of $1,500,000 annually are shipped from the harbor to the New York mar |