The bridge across the Piscataqua river near Portmouth Harbor has its draw very narrow and badly arranged, so that it is generally a very inconvenient, slow, and tedious process to pass vessels through. In passing through the draw with the tide it is, in general, necessary to moor the vessel and allow it to drop through the narrow space stern foremost, requiring great pains to accomplish it without injury. Although not on the Cocheco River, the bridge is so intimately related to that branch that it is here mentioned as one of the serious obstructions to that navigation. Vessels of the largest draught now have to be lightered a short distance in order to reach the wharves in the city of Dover. I am informed by a committee of the Board of Trade that Dover is becoming a city of extensive manufactures-it is already larger than Portsmouth in population and assessed valuation; that in the last year nearly one hundred vessels arrived at its wharves; that cargoes of coal, or other heavy. freights arriving in vessels, have to be in part lightered to the wharves at an expense of 35 cents per ton; that two vessels have arrived with cotton from the South; and that it would be greatly to the interest of the extensive cotton and woolen mills to obtain all their raw materials by water, were the facilities sufficient to enable them to do so; that, owing to the expense of delays and lightering, a considerable part of the coal and other heavy freights now arrives by rail at an increased expense over rates by water with a good channel; that, owing to the facilities already created, new vessels are being yearly built for that traffic. The following extract from Report No. 1994, House of Representatives, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, gives so complete a statement of the business interests involved that it is quoted in this connection: The city of Dover is situated at the head of tide-water and navigation on the Cocheco River. It is the largest and most important place between Haverhill on the south, Portland on the northeast, and Manchester on the northwest. It is the county seat of the county of Strafford, and contains the various county buildings and the county offices. The population of the city is now nearly 15,000, and the valuation for taxable purposes is between $10,000,000 and $11,000,000, exclusive of the public property. The city has public property in real estate of the value of $250,000. The Cocheco River is navigable for vessels of 600 tons burden and drawing 10 to 12 feet of water, and a large commerce is carried on in coal, grain, lime, cement, and other heavy merchandise. There are 100 arrivals per annum, at the wharves, of vessels from the British provinces and all along the Atlantic coast. When the projected improvements of the channel are completed there can be no doubt the river business will be of such dimensions as to require custom-house accommodations. In postal rank and business the city ranks as second in the State. The Cocheco Manufacturing Company has a capital of $1,500,000. It has five mills, from five to seven stories high, engaged in the manufacture of cotton cloths, of which it turns out 32,000,000 yards per annum. It is connected with the Cocheco Print Works, which prints 40,000,000 yards per annum. Together they use 12,000 bales of cotton per annum, employ 2,000 hands, and have a monthly pay-roll of $50,000. The Sawyer Woolen Mills consume 2,600,000 pounds of wool each year, employ 450 to 500 hands, and produce goods annually of the value of $1,200,000. The shoe manufacturing industry of the city is larger than in any other city of the State, employing 1,300 hands, with a monthly pay-roll of some $40,000. There are also numerous small industries of great importance and magnitude in the aggregate. The interests involved indicate the necessity of increasing the width and depth of the channel at least to such an extent that any vessel which may pass over the Piscataqua River to the Cocheco may continue on to Dover without obstruction or necessity for lightering. One foot added to the depth of the channel adds two hours for each tide to the time in which a vessel of any draught greater than 5 feet may be taken up or down the river. The improvement required to complete the present project is to deepen the channel from Collins' Steam mill Wharf to the Packet Landing, so as to give a depth of 5 feet at mean low water. The widths of the channel cuts are, in general, about 60 feet, though in places they are but 50 feet. While these widths form a navigable channel, they are not sufficient to permit vessels of any size to pass each other safely, nor to permit of convenient handling. The total amount appropriated from 1836 to 1886 has been $151,000. Of this amount there was expended previous to June 30, 1886, $150,973.64. It is believed that in future it will be found necessary to increase the depth of channel and to make the widths of cuts as great as 75 feet. No estimate for this work is, however, here submitted, as it is considered better to complete the work heretofore outlined before undertaking new projects. (See map with last Annual Report.) Portsmouth is the nearest port of entry to the city of Dover. Money statement. July 1, 1885, amount available.. $9,804 41 July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885..... 9,792 23 July 1, 1886, amount available..... 12 12 Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 ... 10,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 ........... 10,012 12 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 9,000 00 9,000 00 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. The following commercial statistics for the city of Dover have been received: Number of vessels arrived and cleared.. 100 25,000 7,700 .casks.. 12,000 .feet.. 2,500, 000 8,000,000 750,000 The other articles received and shipped in the last year, for which water transportation would have been largely used with a good channel, are the following: A 12. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SACO RIVER, MAINE. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Portland, Me., September 1, 1884. GENERAL: The act of Congress approved July 5, 1884, for the improvement of rivers and harbors, &c., provided for a survey of Saco River, Maine, and the preliminary examination required by the law having been assigned to me, I have the honor to submit the following report: Expenditures have already been made at this locality by the United States for piers at various points of the channel and a breakwater at the mouth. Certain sunken rocks and ledges have also been removed. A survey at the entrance of the river, including the breakwater, was made in 1883, having been provided for in the river and harbor act passed August 2, 1882. A project and estimate based upon this survey were made and submitted to Congress January 8, 1884. (See Senate Ex. Doc. No. 44, Forty-eighth Congress, first session.) An appropria tion of $15,000, for improving the breakwater, was made by the river and harbor act approved July 5, 1884. This survey developed the fact that dredging was required at the mouth of the river, and estimate therefor was made. Although it was then known that improvement above the mouth was desired, no survey or estimate was then made therefor, as it could not be properly done under the law. Undoubtedly the survey now called for is intended to cover the upper part of the river. Mr. Carl Berrer, draughtsman and acting assistant engineer, has examined the river under my instructions and obtained from sundry par ties their views of what is wanted. Mr. Berrer's report is submitted herewith. I also transmit a copy of a tabular statement handed me by Mr. Thomas Quinby, of Biddeford, giving certain commercial and manufacturing statistics. Saco and Biddeford (the latter an important manufacturing town) lie at the head of navigation of the Saco River. I consider the river worthy of additional improvement in the interest of the business of these towns, and respectfully recommend that a survey be made as a basis for a project and estimates for the improvement desired. This survey will probably cost $200. The drawing referred to by Mr. Berrer is transmitted to-day in a separate roll. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. CHAS. E. BLUNT, Colonel of Engineers. REPORT OF MR. CARL BERRER, ACTING ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Saco River, Maine, made August 11, in pursuance to your instructions: The head of tide-water of Saco River is at the adjoining towns of Saco and Biddeford, and the improvements asked for are below these places. From the entrance to Saco River, near the shore-end of Saco River Breakwater, up to the wharves at Saco and Biddeford, there is a channel of 6 feet depth at mean low water, or about 14 feet at mean high water, and of sufficient width, except at the following places, marked with corresponding letters on the accompanying sketch. At "a" the 6-foot channel is closed by a sand bar of a length of about 500 feet, with a depth of only 4 feet at mean low water. At "b" (between Little Islands) the channel, which is very narrow at this place, is obstructed by a ledge in mid-channel with less than 4 feet at mean low water on its shoalest point; between "c" and "d" (from the head of Thunder Island to the foot of Cow Island) the channel for a distance of about 1,800 feet is irregular, with a least depth of 4 feet at mean low water; between "e" and "f" (at the head of Cow Island) the channel is narrow, and has a least depth of only 34 feet at mean low water; at "g," below the principal wharves, a part of the shoal, consisting of sand and sawdust, is desired to be removed, so as to give a width of 200 feet, in order to allow vessels to turn. A depth of not less than 6 feet at mean low water is to be obtained over all the above-named shoal places. To insure the permanency of the channel at the head and north of Cow Island the channel south of this island might be advantageously closed by a dam, as shown at "h." The pier (No. 2) at the head of Thunder Island needs repairing, and its top should be raised above extreme high water. The principal imports are coal and cotton. Full statistics will be furnished by Mr. Thomas Quinby, agent of Pepperell Manufacturing Company, the largest cotton-mill at Biddeford. The places where improvements are desired were pointed out to me by steamer and tow-boat captains. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. C. E. BLUNT, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. CARL BERRER. RIVER COMMERCE OF SACO AND BIDDEFORD, MAINE, FOR THE SEASON OF 1883 (APRIL 15 TO DECEMBER 1). [Received from Mr. Thomas Quinby, agent of Saco Water Power Company, August 30, 1884.] The following articles were received by sundry manufacturing companies and other consignees during the season: Mr. Quinby also gives the names of forty or fifty schooners engaged in the trade, and states that there are quite a number of others. SURVEY OF SACO RIVER, MAINE. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith report of the survey of Saco River, Maine, made under instructions of the Department and in compliance with the act of Congress approved July 5, 1884, for the improvement of rivers and harbors, &c., it being accompanied by a tracing* "Omitted. (sent separately by to day's mail) on a large scale, showing the results of the work, and indicating the improvement suggested; a small sketch* of the river is also sent. It can advantageously be printed with the report. Mr. C. Berrer, acting assistant engineer, has executed the work under my direction. His report to me, which is approved, is submitted herewith as part of my own. The shoal ground at the river entrance is not included in the estimate now given, as that was made and submitted with my report relating to the repairs of the breakwater in 1883. With regard to the importance of the improvements now proposed in comparison with that on the breakwater, which has already been be gun, I am constrained to say that it seems to me that the latter should take precedence. I do not think that it would be advisable to make two separate appropriations for this river or divide the expenditure of one into two parts. Any sum likely to be appropriated next session for the Saco River should, in my judgment, be expended exclusively for the breakwater. I accordingly do not recommend the appropriation or expenditure of any money for next year for the improvements suggested in this report. (My annual report for the breakwater asks for $50,000 for the continuation of that work.) I have not succeeded in obtaining any special statistics of the commerce of Saco and Biddeford. They are important manufacturing towns, but a large proportion of all goods needed there have come, and will continue to come, by railroad entirely, irrespective of any river im provements. Respectfully submitted. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. C. E. BLUNT, Colonel of Engineers. REPORT OF MR. CARL BERRER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the survey of Saco River, Maine, made in pursuance of verbal orders received from you: The field work was commenced December 16, 1884, but had to be suspended Decem ber 18, on account of ice; it was again commenced May 27, and completed June 10, 1885. The result of the survey is embodied in the maps (scale 1: 2,000), also here with submitted, together with a sketch of the navigable part of the river (scale 1: 15,000). The soundings, numbering 6,300, were taken on ranges established on shore, each sounding being located by a transit angle from a fixed line. The triangulation stations were marked, where possible, by holes drilled in ledges. The soundings are referred to a plane of mean low water, determined by tide observations taken during the survey, but I was told that at the time the river was above its usual summer level. Two permanent bench-marks (positions shown on map) were established, 8.917 feet and 6.40 feet, respectively, above the plane of low water of this survey. The character of the material forming the several shoals to be excavated was ascertained in many places. It consists, at or near Little Islands, of sand and gravel, rocks and some logs; above pier 2, of sand and gravel, slabs, logs, and sawdust. Saco River is navigable for a distance of 5 miles from its mouth to the adjoining towns of Saco and Biddeford, at the head of tide-water. A continuous channel with not less than 6 feet of water at mean low tide is asked for. At present the only serious obstructions in the channel are at and near Little Islands and from the head of Thunder Island to the town wharves. The survey was, therefore, confined to those two localities. # Omitted; printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 37, Forty-ninth Congress, first session. |