During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the sum of $50,823.39 was expended in raising the substructure to low water over its full length. The gap is now completely closed to the level of mean low water. Should funds become available, it is proposed to apply them to the construction of the superstructure, and the strengthening of the slopes if necessary. The increase in the dimensions of vessels since the present harbor was designed in 1822, and the shoaling which has ensued behind the breakwater, render the harbor in its present condition inadequate to the requirements of commerce. Upon the completion of the present project of closing the gap, additional anchorage area will be added to the harbor, and it is probable that the shoaling will cease and the anchorage be deepened. Under favorable conditions the work can be completed in a single working season. Its immediate completion is urgently necessary, since the substructure in its present condition is a serious danger to navigation, being invisible at the higher stages of the tide. One vessel has been totally wrecked upon it, and several others have been severely injured. It has been found impossible to mark it in such a way as to insure the safety of coasting vessels. The appropriation of the whole amount necessary for the completion of the work is therefore recommended. 270,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix G 7.) 8. Rancocas River, New Jersey.-In its original condition Rancocas River carried a minimum low-water depth of 44 feet between the mouth and Centerton, a distance of about 7 miles, and from Centerton to Mount Holly, a distance of about 5 miles, a ruling depth of about 24 feet. The original project of 1881 proposed the formation, by a dike at Coat's Bar and dredging elsewhere, of a channel from 150 to 200 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water from the mouth to Centerton, and from thence to Mount Holly a channel 5 feet deep. Operations were carried on under this project from 1881 to 1892, under appropriations aggregating $30,000, made in 1881, 1882, and 1890. To the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $29,899.91 had been expended in the formation of a low-water channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep from the mouth to Centerton, and 25 feet wide and 4 feet deep from Centerton to Mount Holly, and in the removal of three wrecks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $4,845.22 was expended in the formation of a low-water channel 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep above Centerton for a distance of about three-fourths of a mile, Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $5,000.00 4,845. 22 154.78 46,000.00 12,000.00 9. Alloway Creek, New Jersey.-In its original condition Alloway Creek was obstructed between its mouth and Quinton, a distance of about 10 miles, by shoal areas in the upper half of the stream, which reduced the low-water depths to about 4 feet. The original project of 1889 proposed the formation, by dredging, of a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water and 60 feet wide from Quinton to a point about 1,000 feet above the Upper Hancock Bridge; from thence a channel of the same depth and 75 feet wide to a locality known as the Square, where the work is to be supplemented by a dike. At a locality known as the Canal, in addition to a channel of the last-named dimensions, the width of the stream was to be increased to about 150 feet between its low-water lines. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $5,599.61 had been expended in dredging at the Canal, Square, and Upper Hancock Bridge, whereby channels from 40 to 75 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water were formed through the worst bars. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $3,221.39 was expended in dredging the channels. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year...... July 1, 1893, balance unexpended............... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix G 9.) $400.39 3,000.00 3,400.39 3, 221.39 179.00 16,000.00 16,000.00 10. Salem River, New Jersey.-In 1872 the upper part of this river was separated from the lower part by a dam and connected with the Delaware River by a canal. Thus two independent streams were formed. In its original condition the channel of the Upper Salem River carried about 3 feet at mean low water over the bar, from 5 to 11 feet through the canal, and about 3 feet to Hoxie's Bridge. The original project for its improvement was adopted in 1881. It provided for the removal of a shoal near Biddle's Landing at an esti mated cost of $4,500. The work done in 1881 and 1882 resulted in the formation of a channel 60 feet wide and from 6 to 7 feet deep at mean low water from the head of the canal to a point about 200 feet above Biddle's Landing, leaving about 700 feet to be improved. On account of shoaling, it was then estimated that the completion of the improvement would cost from $4,000 to $6,000. No work has been in progress since 1882, until the past fiscal year. The amount expended upon this project to June 30, 1892, was $3,009.34. During the fiscal year a survey was made which shows that there has been extensive shoaling in the channel since 1882. Work has not yet been commenced under the existing contract for dredging in the channel between the head of the canal and Hoxie's Landing. It is believed that the improvement will be temporary. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended........ July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... July 1, 1893, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project . Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sectious 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix G 10.) $2,500.00 103.59 2,396.41 1,950.00 446. 41 1,700.00 1,700.00 11. Goshen Creek, New Jersey.-In its original condition, Goshen Creek carried a low-water depth of from 2 to 4 feet, with a least lowwater width of 20 feet and a high-water width of 36 feet from Goshen to a point about 4,000 feet below; and from thence to the mouth, a distance of about 2,500 feet, a low-water depth of from 3 to 5 feet with a least width of 30 feet. The project for its improvement, adopted in 1891, proposed the deepening and widening by dredging of the 4,000 feet of the creek below Goshen Landing to a low-water depth of 3 feet and a width of 30 feet; the formation of a dredged channel 3 feet deep and about 50 feet wide through the bar at the mouth to the limit of the sand beyond the lowwater line, and the protection of the channel by a sheet-pile jetty. The improvement was commenced during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, and $2,770.16 was expended in widening and deepening the channel to the proposed dimensions over a distance of about 3,975 feet below Goshen Landing. By this work about one-fourth of the projected improvement has been completed, and the navigable conditions have been proportionately improved. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended ......... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix G 11.) $3,000.00 2, 770. 16 12. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navi gation. During the past fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of July 14, 1880: The iron steamship Gaudaloup, and the tug Starlight, from the channel at Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey; the side-wheel steamship Florida, from off the coast of New Jersey, about 13 miles from the excursion house at Atlantic City; the sailing ship Geestemunde, from off the coast of New Jersey, about 3 miles south of Absecon Inlet; the schooner Marcia S. Lewis, from thẹ entrance to Great Egg Harbor Inlet, New Jersey; the schooner Annie 8. Gaskill and barge McClellan, from off the entrance to Delaware Bay. (See Appendix G 12.) EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Barnegat Inlet, entrance and harbor, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of August 13, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 16, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 13.) 2. Dennis Creek, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of July 29, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the creek is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $250. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 46, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 14.) 3. Cooper Creek, New Jersey.-Maj. Raymond submitted report of examination under date of August 13, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the creek is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $300. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 81, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G 15.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN DELAWARE AND IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA EAST OF CHESAPEAKE BAY. This district was in the charge of William F. Smith, United States agent, major of engineers, U. S. Army, retired; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Wilmington Harbor, Delaware.-Previous to 1836, when the first appropriation for the improvement of Christiana River was made, the depth of water at the entrance was about 8 feet. The minimum depth in the channel of the portion of the river below Third Street Bridge was 8 feet. This depth was increased by dredging in that year to 10 feet. Under a project commenced in 1871 and completed in 1881, a 12foot channel from 100 to 200 feet wide was made from the mouth to above the city of Wilmington. The present project was adopted in 1881 and is for a 15-foot low-water channel from the mouth of the river to the Pulp Works, with a width of 150 feet from the mouth to the Rolling Mill Wharf; 100 feet to the Delaware and Western Railroad Bridge; and 75 feet to the Pulp Works. The project included further, a channel 12 feet deep and 50 feet wide from the latter works to the Delaware Railroad Bridge and construction of a jetty on the north side of the mouth of the river. Dredging operations and the conENG 93- -9 struction of the jetty were begun in the following year. The original estimate was $175,551 which was increased in 1883 to $191,384 by changing the width of the proposed channel to 150 feet throughout. In 1884 the project was amended by raising the height of the jetty 4 feet; an extension of 322 feet to the jetty as then built was also proposed and approved, but has not yet been carried out. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the sum of $201,404.66 had been expended under this project. There was then an improved channel 15 feet deep at low water and 150 feet wide between the mouth and the ship railway at the Pusey & Jones shipyard. During the past fiscal year operations were carried on under the appropriation made July 13, 1892, and the channel, as approved, was extended from the Pusey & Jones shipyard to within 75 feet of Market Street Bridge, and one of the ledges of rock near Third Street Bridge was removed to the required depth. Under a supplementary contract the bar at the mouth of the river was also dredged, having shoaled considerably during the past four years. The total number of cubic yards of material removed under the dredging contracts was 72,986, and under the contract for removal of rock, 467. With exception of a ledge of rock just below Third Street Bridge, over which there is 12 feet of water, and for the removal of which to 15 feet a contract has been made, the channel in the river is now completed in accordance with the project from the Delaware River to Market Street Bridge. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 $2,345. 34 40,000.00 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix H 1.) 42, 345. 34 14, 435. 55 27, 909. 79 27, 909.79 47, 634.00 47, 634.00 2. Ice harbor at New Castle, Del.-This ice harbor is one of the oldest in the Delaware River, its construction for the protection of vessels against floating ice having been commenced during colonial times. Since the beginning of the present century, its improvement has been carried on by the General Government at various intervals, the total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, being $234,937.14. Nothing was done during the past fiscal year. The existing project, as far as it relates to the construction of ice piers, is completed. The harbor in its present condition affords the best shelter on the Delaware River for deep-draft vessels in winter, and the necessity for increasing the protected area is already apparent. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ..... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended (See Appendix H 2.) $3,846.80 263.80 3, 583,00 |