9. Improvement of Broadkiln River, Delaware.-A channel of 5 feet depth at low water, with a minimum width of 35 feet, has been made through the shoals from Milton to Oyster-Rock Shoals, near the mouth of the river. The appropriation having been exhausted the work has been suspended, to be resumed should Congress make a further appropriation. Amount required to complete the work, $70,500. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873....... (See Appendix V 9. $10,000 00 10,000 00 30,000 00 10. Improvement of South River, New Jersey.-The appropriation made for this place was expended in removing the shoals existing in the canal joining the South and Raritan Rivers. Balance in Treasury of the United States July 1, 1873.......... (See Appendix V 10.) $5,000 00 5,000 00 11. Improvement of the north and south branches of Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. The appropriation made for this work was expended at the upper end of the Rocky-Point Channel and at other points where shoaling had occurred. A careful survey is required before further work upon the improvement of this river. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. $5,000 00 5,000 00 12. Improvement of Cohansey Creek, New Jersey.-The appropriation for this work has been expended in opening a channel of 75 to 80 feet in width and 3 feet in depth at low water along the wharves of the city of Bridgeton, and for a distance of half a mile below Broad street to deeper water. No appropriation was made for the year ending 30th June, 1875. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. (See Appendix V 12.) $10,000 00 10,000 00 20,000 00 13. Port Warden's Line, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-In view of the conclusions of a board of engineer officers, constituted to examine into the subject, that the convenience of commerce as well as the improvement and maintenance of navigation imperiously demand a thorough examination of the questions involved, the report of the board was sent to the mayor of Philadelphia, with the view of inviting the attention of the government of the State to the destrableness of suitable legislation for determining these lines, and by him laid before the city councils. No action is known to have been as yet taken by them. (See Appendix V 13.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. In compliance with provisions of the act of March 3, 1873, Lieut. Col. Kurtz was charged with and has completed the survey of “Crow Shoals, near Cape May light, for an artificial harbor or breakwater." His report thereon was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 174. (See Appendix V 14.) IMPROVEMENT OF HUDSON RIVER-REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN EAST RIVER, INCLUDING HELL-GATE-IMPROVEMENT OF EAST CHESTER CREEK AND HARLEM RIVER, AND THE HARBORS OF PORT CHESTER AND RONDOUT, NEW YORK-PASSAIC RIVER AND THE CHANNEL BETWEEN STATEN ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. John Newton, Corps of Engineers, who has under his immediate orders Capt. W. H. Heuer and Lieut. J. H. Willard, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of Hudson River, New York.-The operations during the fiscal year have comprised repairs of existing dikes and the construction of new dikes near Albany, of which there were in all 5,028 feet in process of construction and nearly completed at the close of the year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix W 1.) $49,500 00 11,278 89 40,000 00 29,634 63 40, 134 87 102,000 00 2. Removing obstructions in East River, including Hell Gate.-The tunnels and galleries at Hallett's Point have been extended to the lengths given in the following table: From July 1, 1873, to the middle of November, when work was suspended for want of funds, the following work was done : Lineal feet of tunnels and galleries driven....... Cubic yards of rock removed.. 896.35 4, 648.00 43, 742.00 618.00 4,850,00 5063 1,406,00 Operations of the steam-drilling scow, Coenties' Reef.-Work was commenced at the first of the fiscal year and continued until December 15, 1873; during this time 307 holes, amounting to 2,629 linear feet, were drilled and blasted, and 39 surface-blasts were made, 17,127 pounds of nitro-glycerine having been used. The amount of stone grappled and removed was 2,805 cubic yards. This does not include the amount (which is unknown) raked from the surface into the deeper water on the sides of the reef. Balance in Treasury of United States, July 1, 1873 Less amount expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.... (See Appendix W 2.) $180,000 00 233 95 225,000 00 175,843 77 228,922 28 600,000 00 3. Improvement of Harlem River, New York.-The appropriation of June 23, 1874, will be applied during the present fiscal year to the removal of the piers of the old bridge, and of the rock off East One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, New York. (See Appendix W 3.) 4. Improvement of Passaic River, New Jersey.-Belleville Bar: The contract for this work was extended from December 31, 1873, to June 30, 1874, but owing to the many difficulties met with the work had not been completed at the close of the fiscal year. Up to that date 9,627 cubic yards of material had been removed. A great deal of bed-rock having been encountered by the contractors, a scow with machinery suitable for drilling was put to work, and the rock broken up so as to be removed by the dredging-machine. Rutherford Park Bar: The contract for a cut through this bar 2,900 feet long and 50 feet wide on the bottom was not entirely completed at the close of the year, some little inequalities having been found which required removal. Bed-rock was also found in this section of the river, and some surface-blasts were made, and the rock broken for removal. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix W 4.) $45,000 00 20,000 00 21,231 70 23,609 68 54, 000 00 5. Improvement of East Chester Creek, New York.-No work has been done during the year, except some surveys made at the entrance to the creek. A commission appointed by the State legislature to condemn and purchase certain lands, through which there was some difficulty in obtaining a right of way for the improvement of this creek, now have the matter in hand and expect shortly to report the result of their labors; until then no work can, with advantage, be undertaken. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873..... Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874.... $25,000 00 4,461 60 20,538 40 35,000 00 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix W 5.) 6. Improvement of Port Chester Harbor, New York.-No work was done, except the finishing of some drawings of surveys. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. $2,200 00 Amount in bands of officer and subject to his check.. 852 69 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. 815 99 Amount available July 1, 1874 2,236 70 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, to complete the removal of sunken rocks... 60,000 00 (See Appendix W 6.) 7. Improvement of Rondout Harbor, New York.-During the year an extension of 1,282 feet has been added to the north dike, and on the extremity of this extension a crib 100 feet long was sunk. Repairs were also made to that portion of the dike built the season previous, considerable damage having been occasioned by ice during the winter. It is necessary for the success of the improvement commenced at this place that the south dike and dredging of channel-way between the dikes should be undertaken with the least possible delay. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. $22,500 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix W 7.) 6,967 31 15, 675 13 839 71 60,000 00 8. Improvement of channel between Staten Island and New Jersey. Under appropriation of June 23, 1874, it is proposed to commence the construction of the south dike. 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 W S.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $50,000 00 In compliance with provisions of the act of March 3, 1873, Lieutenant Colonel Newton was charged with and has completed the following. His reports thereon were transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in Ex. Doc. H. R. No. 174: 1. At Harlem River, near East River, New York, for removal of rocks therefrom. (See Appendix W 9.) 2. At Raritan River, New Jersey. (See Appendix W 10.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND, AND PART OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND SOUND. Officer in charge, Maj. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers. 1. Hyannis Harbor, Massachusetts.-During the past fiscal year 220 feet of the parapet at the west end, all that required rebuilding, was completed, and the slopes under water in this portion strengthened by riprap. The under-water slopes of the other parts of the breakwater need strengthening with riprap to prevent the parapet from being undermined by storms. It is estimated that $10,000, in addition to the amount on hand, will do this and render the work secure. From a survey made of the anchorage protected by the breakwater, it is found that this space is not filling up, and that no dredging is required. When the riprap slopes are strengthened, as recommended, it is believed that this valuable work will long remain intact. The light-house should be removed to the east end of the breakwater. Balance in Treasury of United States, July 1, 1873.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix X 1.) $10,000 00 5,000 00 9,885 16 5,114 84 10,000 00 2. Edgartown Harbor, Massachusetts.-The attempt to make an artificial opening through Cotamy Beach to unite Cotamy Bay directly with the ocean was in progress at the time of the last annual report. During the season of 1873 a cut at least 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water was carried entirely through the beach and the shoals in the bay. The work was done at periods when winds from the north and east mostly prevailed, it being deemed the most favorable time to the success of the work. Adverse winds and tides, however, caused the ocean tide to break through the barrier into the cut. The sea rushed in as long as the tide rose, but when it fell the ocean waves closed the entrance to the cut. Two attempts were afterwards made to re-open the cut, but the waves closed it again on the ocean side. The work, therefore, has failed of its object. It was carried on with energy and hopefulness, and, perhaps, with very favorable conditions of the tides and waves, might have proved successful. The report of the engineer officer in charge of the work, here appended, treats of the questions upon which this engineering experiment arose and depends, and his experience and views regarding it. There are reasons for doubting whether the depth on the bar at the northern entrance to Edgartown Harbor was ever dependent upon the southern one for any favorable influence, and it is proposed, with the unexpended balance of the appropriation, to determine by survey what the effect of this closure of the beach from 1869 till 1874 has been upon the northern entrance. Such injuries as may have resulted to the inner harbor of Edgartown may possibly be more easily remedied by dredg ing than by opening the Cotamy Beach. No appropriation for this work was made by Congress at its last session, and none is asked till the result of the new survey is known. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 Amount available July 1, 1874 (See Appendix X 2.) $15,000 00 4,364 81 17,989 33 1,375 48 3. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-The dredging for straightening, widening, and deepening this port and its entrance was carried on during the working season of 1873 as long as funds would admit. It is designed to deepen the channel to 9 feet at mean low water. It has been made 200 feet wide at Quahang Bar; 120 feet wide at the upper bar, and widened thence upward to the wharves so as to be nowhere less than 60 feet wide. The further improvement of this harbor will require an expenditure of about $20,000 to make it commensurate with the interests involved; of this $10,000 were appropriated by the act of June 23, 1874, leaving $10,000 to be provided by future appropriation. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $152.09 per centage due on contracts not yet completed). 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 X 3.) $15,000 00 2,251 03 10,000 00 17, 157 11 10,093 92 10, 000 00 4. Taunton River, Massachusetts.-Under the appropriation of March 3, 1873, 224 cubic yards of rocks and stones have been taken from the river, and 3,443 cubic yards of material dredged from the shoals. A channel 9 feet deep at mean high water has been made through Blake's, Table Rock, and Sheep-Pen Shoals, and one cut, about 25 feet wide and 600 feet long, has been made through Chabbot Rock Shoal. A survey has been made of the obstructions near Dighton. The cost |