Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix T 2.) 3. Improvement of the bar at the mouth of the St. John's River, Florida.— The operations here consist in dredging upon a bar which is constantly changing in its location and maguitude, as well as in the position, direc tion, and depth of the chaunel over it. The dredging is carried on with a centrifugal pump and suitable suction-hose, placed on board an ordinary side-wheel steamer. The improvement has always been regarded as temporary in character. During the past fiscal year dredging was carried on between the 29th of September, 1873, and the 10th of January, 1874, resulting in the removal of 14,649 cubic yards from the bar, at an average cost of 265 cents per cubic yard. Work was confined to the channel north of Pelican Bank, it having been found that the channel previously dredged south of that bank had shoaled to such a degree, and had become so long and crooked, that the north channel offered the best promise of useful results with the small sum available for the purpose. The work done did not result in any material improvement of the channel, the weather having been so exceptionally stormy that the increased depth attained from time to time was always filled in again by succeeding storms. The engineer in charge doubts the wisdom of expending any more. money in dredging upon this bar, and as the act approved June 23, 1874, appropriated $10,000 for the improvement of the bar, with a distinct. proviso that the money may be used in dredging out the inside passage between the St. John's River and Nassau Inlet, it is proposed to make no definite project for expending this money until the survey of this inside passage, also provided for in the same act, shall have been made. The object in either case is to improve the entrance into St. John's River. The improvement of the inside passage, if carried far enough, will result in making Fernandina, where an excellent harbor exists, the seaport for the St. John's River. It is not now contemplated to render this passage accessible to ocean-going vessels. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. 9,922 37 10,000 00 15,000 00 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendixes T 3 and T 4.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUSQUEHANNA, NORTHEAST, ELK, CHESTER, PATAPSCO, AND WICOMICO RIVERS, AND THE HARBORS OF WORTON, QUEENSTOWN, AND CAMBRIDGE, IN MARYLAND; `OF THE HARBORS OF WASHINGTON AND GEORgetown, d. C.; OF THE OCCOQUAN, RAPPAHANNOCK, JAMES, APPOMATTOX, ELIZABETH, AND NANSEMOND RIVERS, AND OF ACCOTINK, AQUIA, AND NOMINI CREEKS, VIRGINIA, AND OF THE ROANOKE AND CAPE FEAR RIVERS, IN NORTH CAROLINA. Officer in charge, Maj. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, who has under his immediate orders Capt. C. B. Phillips, Corps of Engineers, and Lieut. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of Susquehanna River, near Havre de Grace, Maryland.— The old wooden deflector has continued to stand as well as could be ex pected, and, according to the testimony of persons navigating the river, has been fulfilling its object of concentrating the flow of the water below the bridge and maintaining a better depth in the channel over the shoals below Havre de Grace. It has not been possible, for want of funds, to make a survey of the locality. The deflector was seriously injured and breached by the extraordinary ice-gorge of March, 1873. A small amount of money, as much as was available, has been expended in closing the breach, as far as practicable, by sinking old hulks, (canal-boats,) twelve in number, filled with stone. This expedient, which has proved successful, has been found cheap, owing to the nearness of the canal debouching near that point, as well as of the quarries at Port Deposit. It is believed there can be no reasonable doubt of the advantageous infinence of the work already built there, and the opinion is still held that it should be replaced by a permanent structure, which might be built for $50,000. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix U 1.) $50,000 2. Improvement of Northeast River, Maryland.-Nothing has been done at this place since April, 1873, when Morris and Cumings completed their dredging. The results of their operations were the following: a chaunel 60 feet wide at the bottom, with a ruling depth of 5 feet at mean low water, leading from the 5-foot curve in the Northeast River to the wharf at Northeast; a basin about 120 feet long and 120 feet wide in front of the wharf; and a channel 25 feet wide, and 3 feet deep at low water, leading from the wharf to Alexander's mill. A special report was made May 28, 1873, by the officer in charge, accompanied by a sketch which showed the condition of the channels at that time. No money has been since available for an examination of the channels. The effect of the improvement has been to increase the trade of the town and enable a steamer to run regularly between it and Baltimore, as well as sailing-vessels to aid in the trade. It was estimated this improvement would cost $10,000, the whole of which was appropriated in one sum and the work done for it. No more money is now required. It is not improbable some filling may hereafter gradually take place. where Stony Run empties into the channel. In time of freshets more or less sediment will be necessarily deposited from that stream. Amonnt in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix U 2.) $2.74 2.74 3. Improvement of Elk River, below Elkton, Maryland.-An examination of this river was made in January, 1873, and a preliminary report by the officer in charge, with an approximate estimate of the cost of the improvement, was submitted in reply to a call for information from the Senate Committee on Commerce, which was printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 124, March 24, 1873. See, also, pages 77 and 815 of Report of Chief of Engineers for 1873. The estimates of the cost of the improvement now presented are based upon a more minute survey of the locality made in October, 1873. See pages 4 and 63 of House Ex. Doc. No. 84, Forty-third Congress, first session. The improvement proposed by the officer in charge was to make, by dredging, a channel 6 feet in depth at low water, or 8 feet at high water, from Cedar Point to Elkton, and in the Little Elk as far as Bennett's wharf. Such a channel, in both branches of the river, if 75 feet wide, will cost about $36,000, and if but 50 feet in width, $25,000. Cheap dikes will be required for regulating the banks, and to provide a place behind which to deposit the material dredged. An appropriation of $5,000 was made by the act of June 23, 1874, which will be expended at the worst place, viz, near Elkton, between the first and second guts, where the bar is nearly dry at low water. A cheap dike will be built, about 900 feet long, on the right bank of the river, opposite the mouth of the first and second guts, above and below them, at a cost, it is estimated, of about $2,000. The remainder of the small appropriation will be spent in dredging and depositing the material behind the dike. The channel can be probably made 50 feet wide. The depth will depend on the price per cubic yard at which the work can be done. It is deemed proper here to call special attention to the following quotation from the report of November 18, 1873: "Should it be decided by Congress to appropriate for this work, it is a case where true economy requires the whole amount to be available in one sum for continuous and prompt expenditure. It would not be expedient to commence the improvement unless at least $20,000 were available. To this it may be added, that if the work is to be carried through with inadequate appropriations, the cost will unquestionably be more than the amount of the original estimate. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix U 3.) $5,000 5,000 20,000 4. Improvement of Worton Harbor, Maryland.-Nothing was done in the year past, except in July, 1873, to drive a few piles to aid in the navigation of the channel, the dredging of which was completed the previous months. A channel 100 feet wide at bottom was made, connecting the wharves in use with deep water of the creek. A basin was also excavated at the head of navigation, about 150 feet long and of the same width. The estimate for this improvement was $12,000, which was appropriated in one sum, and the work was finished in one season. money is required. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. (See Appendix U 4.) No more $222 85 222 85 5. Improvement of Queenstown Harbor, Maryland.-Nothing has been done at this place since December, 1872, when work ceased, upon the exhaustion of the appropriation, and the excavation of a channel from the town to Chester River, at the mouth of the creek. This channel was 100 feet wide at the bottom, and about 8 feet deep at low water. The work is stated by those interested to have been of great value to the trade of the place. The estimated cost of this work was $9,500. The appropriations were-March 3, 1871, $5,000; June 10, 1872, $6,000; total, $11,000.. If the whole amount of the estimate had been given in one sum, and the operations not interrupted between the expenditure of one appropriation and the grant of another, the cost would not have exceeded the estimate. No further appropriation required. (See Appendix U 5.) 6. Improvement of Chester River at Kent Island Narrows, Maryland.A survey of this locality was made in October, 1872, and a report submitted. It was estimated that to excavate a channel from Eastern Bay to Chester River, 100 feet in width, would cost $23,000, if 7 feet deep at mean low water. An appropriation of $15,000 was made March 3, 1873. Some legal questions having arisen as to the right of the United States, in the progress of the work, to remove a causeway which has been standing under the authority of the State of Maryland for more than fifty years, across the channel separating Kent Island from the mainland, it was decided by the Secretary of War, after consulting the Attorney-General of the United States, to defer operations until the laws of the State relating to the subject should be repealed or properly modified. By an act approved April 11, 1874, the State of Maryland consented to the removal of the causeway, but with the provision that "before said causeway shall be cut or opened, there shall be built a bridge" with a draw of not less than 60 feet in width. In consideration of this provision, the Secretary of War decided further that the improvement would not be begun until the bridge was built, when the causeway could be removed, and the dredging of the channel may be done at the same time. The money available may thus be most advantageously and economically expended. A further appropriation of $5,000 was contained in the act of June 23, 1874; making a total of $20,000. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix U 6.) $15,000 5,000 20,000 5,000 7. Improvement of the entrance to the City of Baltimore.-The object of this work has been to make a channel 24 feet deep at mean low water, for the approach to the city of Baltimore, at any ordinary stage of the tide, of vessels drawing 224 or 23 feet, a great step forward, as twenty years ago vessels could not enter drawing more than 16 or 17 feet. Dredging has continued during much of the year, funds being supplied partly by the United States and partly by the city of Baltimore. The contracts were completed about May 1, 1874. During June, 1874, a thorough resurvey showed the channels to be generally in excellent condition, though requiring widening in some parts in order to completion as the necessities of the increasing commerce of this important port demand, and to give the dimensions contemplated by the present project. The officer in charge again calls attention to the necessity for fixing and maintaining a proper port-warden's line, beyond which the building of wharves and other structures should not be permitted. This channel, like other artificial highways, requires an annual expenditure to keep it in proper condition. For the fulfillment of the estimate of $760,000 for the completion of the work, and to provide for the expense of annual reparations, including 1876, the sum of $235,000 is required for year ending June 30, 1876. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1-73.... Acount in bands of officer and subject to his cheek. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, is74. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amonat required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 $200,000 00 6,913 58 75,000 00 206,306 07 75,607 51 235,000 00 (See Appendix U 7.) S. Improvement of Cambridge Harbor, Maryland.-On the 30th of June. 1873, Mr. Dodge, the contractor, was dredging at this place. By his operations, which were brought to a close in August, 1873, the entrance to the inner harbor was widened to 125 feet, and the sharp curve at the turn into the outer channel was eased by cutting off the projecting point on the convex side. Some of the commercial interests are desirous to have the channel widened to an extent not contemplated by the original project, which was for a minimum improvement. The widening would doubtless be advantageous. The estimate for this improvement was $21,600 for a channel and basin of 8 feet depth, and $36,000 for a depth of 10 feet at low water. Congress appropriated $10,000 March 3, 1871, $10,000 June 10, 1872, and $5,000 March 3, 1873; total, $25,000. If the whole of the estimate, $21,600, had been appropriated in one sum, the work which cost $25,000 would have been done for $21,600. No further appropriation is asked unless Congress should feel inclined to make the addition to the channel referred to above. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.... (See Appendix U S.) $5,000 00 4,874 11 9. Improvement of the Wicomico River, near Salisbury, Maryland.-A survey of a portion of this river was made in 1871 and a report submitted. It was found that the improvement needed was the opening of a channel by dredging from the existing 7-foot water to the bridge, about 75 feet in width and 7 feet in depth at mean low water, at a cost of about $20,000. The inhabitants offered and agreed to construct such bulkheads as might be necessary to receive the material excavated from the river and give proper banks to the stream, which it was altogether proper they should do, as they would thereby be greatly improving their own property. Congress appropriated $5,000 June 10, 1872, which was expended in 1872 in making a channel of reduced dimensions, the width being about 25 feet. The channel thus excavated was in length about four-fifths of a mile, extending from the bridge at Salisbury through the shoalest part of the river. About one-fifth of a mile of this channel had a depth of 5 feet at mean low water, the remainder a depth of 7 feet. This was in itself a valuable improvement. The dikes, however, were not built when the dredging began, and it was promised they should be placed as soon as the dredging was completed, before the ice of winter and the freshets of spring should have degraded the banks of dredged material. The consequence (as developed by a survey made in March, 1873) was what might have been expected-a considerable filling of the dredged channel, due, in great part, to the causes mentioned above. A new appropriation of $5,000 was made March 3, 1873. The understanding with which the appropriations were made being that the community interested were to construct the necessary bulk-heads, it has been thought proper to defer further attempts at improvement until these structures shall have been placed. There is now a fair prospect of their being shortly built. An additional appropriation of $5,000 was made by the act of June 23, 1874. This channel should receive annual repairs to keep it in proper condition. For that purpose the sum of $2,500 should be provided. The original estimate was for completion $17,000, which was based upon the expectation of continuous and rapid work. |