purpose of concentrating the strength of the tidal currents and excavating a channel of 15 feet depth by scour, and, at the places where the full depth required will not be reached by this means, to complete the work by dredging. A plan of the works may be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, Vol. I, page 578. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1885. The amount expended on this project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $100,211.25, and the result was the construction of the west jetty to a point 3,955 feet from the shore. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. My project for the location of the east jetty and the completion of the works required for making Nantucket Harbor a harbor of refuge for vessels of 15 feet draught and less, with certain modifications proposed by the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and River and Harbor Improvements, having been approved by the Chief of Engineers, advertisements were issued for proposals for furnishing riprap granite for commencing the construction of the east jetty and placing the same in the jetty. The proposals received and the terms of the contract will be found in the appended table. In September, 1885, the right of way to and from the east jetty by land, the right to connect it with the shore, and to erect temporary buildings for public purposes at the root of the jetty 'were obtained and placed on record in the office of the register of deeds at Nantucket. Work on the jetty commenced April 29, and continued until the end of the fiscal year, when it was still in progress. The amount of stone delivered during the fiscal year was 2,000 tons. Careful surveys were made in June last of the bottom of the entrance to the harbor to determine what effect, if any, the west jetty alone had produced on the bar, reports having been received that the water had deepened and that vessels experienced much less difficulty last spring than formerly in crossing the bar at low tide. Our survey fully confirmed these reports. The lighting of the end of the west jetty, which, until the two jetties are completed and a lighthouse is erected on one of them, will be a source of danger to vessels entering and leaving the port at night, was faithfully attended to during the year. Mr. Thomas A. Churbuck was local inspector of the work of construction of the east jetty. AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1886. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1886, was $5,620.87. The east jetty was commenced and fully completed to a distance of 120 feet from the initial point on the shore, which is the outer end of the middle of the three northwest spurs built on Coatue Beach some years ago, and the foundation was laid and the jetty partially completed for an additional distance of 100 feet. The crossing of the deep flood-tide channel, which ran near and parallel to the shore of Coatue, made the construction of this part of the jetty comparatively slow. Although but little, if any, effect had been expected before the two jetties should have been extended until they should become parallel and contract the channel to the width contemplated, viz, 1,000 feet, it was found in the survey just referred to that on a line from Braut Point to the present end of the west jetty the least depth of water was nearly 13 feet greater than at the time of our previous survey, and vessels had less difficulty in entering and leaving the harbor. It is believed that the channel depth would already be much greater except for the "Hog Backs," or slight elevations of the bottom, covered with strong sea weed which protects the sand from scour. When the channel has become somewhat more contracted by the extension of the east jetty, I design to harrow the bottom in the line of deepest water by the aid of a steamer, for the purpose of breaking up the roots of this sea-weed and stirring up the sand in order to facilitate the action of the strengthened tidal current upon it. The indications are that in this way a considerable deepening of the water in the channel will be produced long before the final contraction of the channel to the width contemplated for it. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to be done to complete the existing project is the completion of the east and west jetties, and the excavation by dredging of so much of the channel as will not be excavated by tidal scour. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1887. It is proposed to devote the small remainder on hand July 1, 1886, and the appropriation made by the act of August 5, 1886, to the extension, as far as possible, of the east jetty. Nantucket is in the Nantucket collection district, and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was $185.02. The value of the harbor is mainly as a harbor of refuge. The nearest light-houses are Nantucket Cliff and Brant Point lights. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. July 1, 1885, amount available July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885.. July 1, 1886, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1886, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 $9,788 75 $3,048 81 5,620 87 4,167 88 15, 000 00 19, 167 88 250,000 00 100, 000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Abstract of proposals for furnishing riprap granite for the east jetty at Nantucket, Mass., and placing the same in the jetty, received at Engineer Office, United States Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated September 26, 1885, and opened at 12 o'clock, noon, on the 17th October, 1885. Contract awarded to C. H. Edwards, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, and dated October 26, 1885. Time of commencement extended to April 1, 1886, and time of completion to August 31, 1886. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. CUSTOM-HOUSE, Nantucket, Mass., SIR: In compliance with your letter of June 17, 1886, I inclose you herewith a statement of imports into this port during the last fiscal year; also a statement of tonnage. The amount of revenue collected at this office during the past year aggregates the sum $185.02. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. GEORGE H. ELLIOT. ALBERT A. GARDNER, Collector. Aggregate amount of imports for the year ending June 30, 1886. About 218 vessels entered our harbor during the past year of the following classification: C 3. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR OF WOOD'S HOLL, MASSACHUSETTS. This harbor is on the north side of Vineyard Sound, and is divided into Great Harbor and Little Harbor. The name "Wood's Holl" is also applied to the adjoining strait which connects Vineyard Sound with Buzzard's Bay. The site of the works now under construction is Great Harbor, Wood's Holl. The rise and fall of the tide is about 2 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before improvement, the site of the present works was a submerged point of land extending from the shore of the harbor. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. The adopted project for the improvement of Great Harbor, Wood's Holl, was for the construction of retaining-walls on the shore, a hollow pier and wharves for the use of the United States Fish Commission, and to serve also as a coaling station for vessels of the Revenue Marine and other branches of the public service, and as a harbor of refuge. A plan of the works may be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, Vol. I, page 598. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1885. The amount expended on these works to June 30, 1885, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $77,842.66 The retaining and pier walls and the dredging of the interior of the hollow pier and the berths for public vessels had been completed, and the coal, the west, and the cross wharves had been essentially completed. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. For want of funds no work has been in progress during the last fiscal year. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required for the completion of the project for the improvement of Great Harbor, Wood's Holl, is the construction of the south and east wharves. In the strait of Wood's Holl there is a large and dangerous rock which is to be removed. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1887. It is proposed to devote the small remainder on hand July 1, 1886, and the appropriation made by the act of August 5, 1886, to the construction of the south and east wharves, and the removal of the dangerous rock in the strait of Wood's Holl, just referred to. Wood's Holl is in the Barnstable collection district. New Bedford is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was at Barnstable $1,670.92, and at New Bedford $48,381.08. The nearest light-house is Nobsa Light; the nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. July 1, 1885, amount available July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885 July 1, 1886, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. $64.00 17 05 46.95 14,500 00 14,546 95 PACIFIC GUANO COMPANY, Wood's Holl, Mass, June 30, 1886. DEAR SIR: In reply to your favor of the 17th instant, we send the following statement in regard to the commerce and navigation of this place. There have been received during the past year and there have been received and shipped 128 cargoes phosphate rock, brimstone, nitrate of soda, fish scrap, and other fertilizing materials and completed fertilizers, aggregating 49,000 tons, in sailing vessels of from 100 to 1,200 tous, and one foreign steamer of 2,600 tons. There have also been shipped 3,000 barrels of fish and other general merchandise and produce by lines of steamers to New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket besides all the materials and supplies which Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket receive from the interior via the Old Colony Railroad. Our harbors are in constant use throughout the year by fishing vessels, yachts, coasters, and wrecking steamers as a harbor of refuge. Yours, truly, Lieut. Col. George ELLIOT. ASA SHIVERICK. C 4. IMPROVEMENT OF WESTPORT HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. Westport Harbor is an estuary of a bay lying between Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts. This is a new work, and no appropriation had been made for it until, by act approved August 5, 1886, Congress appropriated $1,000 "for sand-fence." The late General Warren, then in charge of this district, in reporting, December 12, 1878, on the survey which he had made in accordance with section 2 of the act of June 18, 1878, stated that "the wearing of Horse Neck Point (on the north side of the entrance) could be prevented by small sand-catch jetties, and these could be gradually prolonged so as to narrow the space opposite and increase the average depth" (of the channel); and named $1,000 as the amount that could reasonably be expended in this way. It is supposed, therefore, that the $1,000 appropriated by the act of August 5, 1886, are intended for the construction of the sand-catch jetties recommended by the late General Warren, and the funds will be expended accordingly. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 $1,000 00 |