The officer in charge estimates the amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year at $167,500, which will complete the proposed improvement. By the expenditure of this sum the channel through the bar will probably be deepened to not less than 17 feet at mean low water, enabling the large iron steamers that frequent the port to cross the bar without regard to the tide. July 1, 1885, amount available.. $9,868 14 July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885.................. 6,625 68 July 1, 1886, amount available..... 3,242 46 Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886... 37,500 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887..... 40,742 46 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project......... (See Appendix B 1.) 167,500 00 50,000 00 2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The original condition of the river channel was very narrow and crooked in several places, and much obstructed by sunken ledges, bowlders, and shoals, especially at the falls, which were more or less bare; while in the lower part of the river below Newburyport there were numerous sunken ledges, crib-works, piers, and wrecks. The object of the improvement is to clear out, deepen, and straighten the channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 214 miles. The project, originally adopted in 1870, was to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, remove Gangway Rock, remove wreck of schooner Globe, and remove the "boilers." The cost was estimated to be $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874, to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and at Rock's bridges, and at Little Currier Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at high water of ordinary stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island Bridge, 163 feet; from Deer Island Bridge up to Haverhill Bridge, 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchell's Falls, 10 feet; thence to the head of the Upper Falls, not less than 43 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence running. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000. The tide at the mouth of the river has a mean rise and fall of 7.7 feet, and its influence is felt up to the foot of the Upper Falls. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, was $169,910.81, and resulted in improving the river channel from its mouth to the lead of the Upper Falls, in accordance with the adopted project. On June 30, 1885, the work done was in good order, and showed no deterioration. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year. To complete the improvement so that the same depth of water which has been obtained through Mitchell's Falls can be carried to Lawrence, additional work will be required at the falls above Haverhill, which is estimated to cost $11,000; and additional improvements are needed in the lower part of the river, which are estimated to cost $11,500, or a total of $22,500; In completing this work this amount could be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. About seven hundred vessels enter the river annually, and the customs collected yearly are about $2,000, It is expected that the completion of the improvement will increase the tonnage of the river, and encourage the erection of new manufac tories. 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...... $589 19 290 15 299 04 22 500 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix B 2.) 3. Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.-Previous to the commencement of the improvement this harbor had a low-water area of about 57 acres, over 6 acres of which there was a depth of at least 3 feet at mean low water. It was open to the action of easterly winds. The object of the improvement is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels approaching Boston from the eastward. The project, adopted in 1880, is to build two breakwaters (one from "Cedar Point" on the north side of the entrance, and the other from the point of the "first cliff" on the south side), and to deepen by dredging the area inclosed and in front of the entrance. The estimated cost of the improvement is $290,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $37,108.54, by which the north breakwater had been completed of its full section for a length of 720 feet; a portion of the beach near the junction of Cedar Point and the mainland had been protected by a brush and stone bulkhead; a channel had been dredged 1,600 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at mean low water and the "deep hole" had been enlarged to a basin 200 by 160 feet, and 7 feet deep at mean low water. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. The work remains in good order, and essentially unchanged. The officer in charge reports that the amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is $100,000, with which it is proposed by him to continue the approved project, as follows: Build the south breakwater; remove Harbor Rocks; and enlarge the basin to 8 acres and the channel to 150 feet wide, both 10 feet deep at mean low water. About one hundred and twenty-five vessels seek this port annually, and the money value of the resultant commerce is estimated to be about $50,000. The benefit to be expected from this improvement cannot be estimated until after its completion. No local improvement of commerce is expected, and the value of such a harbor of refuge is entirely dependent on the accidents of the weather. July 1, 1885, amount available............... July 1, 186, 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..... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887.. $391 46 225 86 165 60 10,000 00 10, 165 60 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B 3.) 242,500 00 50,000 00 4. Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.-The original condition of this harbor was that its bluffs and headlands were exposed to the action of the sea, and its main channel was in places but 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water. The object of the improvement is: First. To preserve the harbor by protecting the islands and headlands; and Second. To improve it by widening, deepening, and straightening the channels. The projects adopted for this purpose since 1866 have been mainly in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Commissioners, whose labors terminated during that year. The works of preservation consist of sea-walls, aprons, jetties, &c., which protect the shores, prevent wash into the channels, control tidal scour, and preserve the full height of anchorage shelter. Such have been built or repaired at Point Allerton and the islands of Great Brewster, Lovell's, Gallop's, Long, Deer, Rainsford, George's, and Castle. The works of improvement have been by dredging and blasting, by which means the main ship-channel is now at least 600 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water; and the following tributary channels have widths and depths as stated: 1. Charles River; its channel originally crooked and but 50 feet wide and 34 feet deep, is now 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water, from its mouth to Arsenal Street Bridge, a distance of 74 miles; while up to Western Avenue Bridge, more than half of this distance, 7 feet draught can be carried at mean low water in a channel 200 feet wide. 2. Hingham Harbor; its channel originally 30 feet wide and 4 feet deep, has been enlarged to 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. 3. Nantasket Beach Channel; originally 50 feet wide and 63 feet deep, is now 100 feet wide and 93 feet deep at mean low water. 4. The channel between Nix's Mate Shoal and Long Island has been deepened from 42 feet to 12 feet at mean low water, and widened from about 50 feet to 200 feet. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 9.8 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, was $1,598,971.01, and at that date all the completed works of preservation or improvement were in good order with the exception of some minor repairs which the sea-walls required. During the fiscal year some immediately necessary repairs were made to the Deer Island sea-walls at a cost of about $150, and a hydrographic survey of a portion of the lower harbor was made, and the notes partly plotted. The river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, appropriates $56,250 for Boston Harbor, and the officer in charge reports that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, $264,000 additional could be spent to advantage in repairing and extending the sea-walls at Point Allerton, Great Brewster, George's, Lovell's, Deer, Long, and Castle islands; in building new sea walls at Deer and Governor's islands; in widening the main ship-channel at the upper and lower middles to 800 feet, and in making surveys on which to base additional improvements. About 2,500 vessels annually enter from, and the same number clear for, foreign ports. The duties collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, were $21,079,311.36. The special benefits to be derived from the proposed expenditure are additional safety and convenience to the commerce of this important port, from which is derived so large a part of the national revenue. 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 $8,528 99 $4,537 58 4,552 58 3,976 41 56, 250 00 60, 226 41 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 263,750 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1888 264, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 4.) 5. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-The original condition of this harbor was that Long Beach was rapidly being worn away by storms, and the main ship-channel to the town wharves had but 6 inches of water at mean low tide. The object of the improvement is to protect and preserve Long Beach and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to the town wharves. The preservation of Long Beach has been carefully attended to for many years, as the existence of the harbor depends on it. From the nature of the work it can at no time be considered completed. The project for the improvement of the channel was originally adopted in 1875. It proposed to straighten, deepen, and widen, the channel, so that it would be 2,286 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. This was estimated to cost $28,000. This project was modified in 1877 so as to include the dredging of a basin 866 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 8 feet deep at mean low water in front of the town wharves. This modified project was estimated to cost $41,500. The project was again modified in 1884, when it was proposed to dredge the channel to 9 feet, widen it to 150 feet, and round off its junctions with the main channel and basin. In 1885 it was proposed to deepen the basin to 9 feet. The project of 1884 was estimated to cost $27,000, and that of 1885 $22,500. The tides rise and fall a mean distance of 9.3 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, was, for beach protection Total...... $70,329 75 35, 152 75 105,482 50 By the expenditure of which the beach was in good order; the channel was 90 feet wide and 9 feet deep, with rounded junctions with the basin and main channel, and the basin was 7 feet deep. During the fiscal year Long Beach was repaired at its southern end. Brush and stone bulkheads were built, which filled breaches made in the beach during the winter of 1885-'86. They aggregated 476 feet long, with 22 jetties each 15 feet long. The beach is now in good order, as is the dredged channel and basin. Twenty-three hundred vessels sought this port during the fiscal year, carrying about 43,000 tons; and some 45,000 passengers were landed from steamers, packets, &c. The benefit to be expected from the completion of this improvement is a more convenient navigation of the improved channel and greater facilities in docking vessels. July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1885, amount available ... 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.. $3,317 50 $1,900 63 2,257 81 1,059 69 6,000 00 7,059 69 15,500 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B 5.) 10,000 00 6. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.-This important harbor of refuge depends for its existence on the preservation of the low sandy beaches inclosing it. The harbor itself is capacious and deep, with convenient approaches and good holding ground, and the expenditures made for it are entirely for its preservation, which from the nature of the work can at no time be considered completed. The projects adopted for the repair and preservation of the beaches consist of detached bulkheads of wood and stone, jetties of wood and brush, dikes, sand-catches, and the extensive planting of beach grass, all for the sole purpose of preventing or arresting the movement of the sand. They have been remarkably successful. The tides have an average rise and fall of 9.2 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, was $135,924.59, and the works of preservation were in good order. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year. During the year ending June 30, 1888, certain additional works of preservation and extensions of the old ones are needed, which it is esti mated will cost $90,000, all of which could be advantageously expended during that year. The most important of these new works are a dike across House Point Island flats, estimated to cost $78,000, and the strengthening of the Long Point breakwater at a cost of $5,600. About seven thousand vessels frequent this harbor annually, carrying cargoes of an estimated value of $18,500,000. The special benefit to be derived from the proposed expenditure is the preservation of an important harbor of refuge. July 1, 1885, amount available.... $553 85 549 31 July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885........... July 1, 1886, amount available...... 4.54 Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886... 3,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. 3,004 54 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 90,000 00 45,000 00 (See Appendix B 6.) 7. Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts.-The entrance channels of this harbor were originally narrow and crooked, with but 6 feet depth at mean low water, the greater part of the harbor was bare at low water. |