Bridgeport, the port of entry for the collection district of Fairfield, is situated about 2 miles from Long Island Sound, at the head of Bridgeport Harbor. There is a light-house at the entrance to the harbor. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, the nearest work of defense, is 18 miles east. Money statement. 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.. $1, 410. 15 20,000.00 21, 410. 15 20, 221.78 1, 188.37 35,000.00 35,000.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in the harbor of Bridgeport, Conn., opened by Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers, at New York City, September 27, 1892. * Entered into contract October 10, 1892; contract completed May 2, 1893; 190,132 cubic yards dredged. During 1892, 4,520 vessels, carrying 369,350 tons cargo, entered the harbor for refuge. The above report shows a reduction of freight of 11,684 below that reported for 1891. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1892. The severe gale on the 20th of April, 1892, destroyed considerable of the oyster industry, which to some extent diminished the number of vessels arriving and departing. D II. IMPROVEMENT OF BLACK ROCK HARBOR. This harbor, 13 miles long from northeast to southwest, and from 300 to 2,500 feet wide, lies between the mainland on the west and Fayerweather Island on the east, and includes the navigable part of Cedar Creek, a small tidal inlet which extends up into the western part of the city of Bridgeport, and affords water communication of great value to several large manufactories in its immediate neighborhood. It is in the interest of the city of Bridgeport that the improvement of Black Rock Harbor is desired. The depth in the lower part of the harbor is from 6 to 12 feet at mean low water. This part of the harbor was formerly much used as a refuge for vessels overtaken by storms, but it is not deep enough for most vessels now engaged in commerce through the sound. Before work was done in Cedar Creek the depth there was from from 2 to 4 feet, and the channel was narrow and crooked. The head of the harbor was separated from Long Island Sound on the southeast by a broad, flat sand bar, which was bare at about halftide, and which joined Fayerweather Island with the main shore. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Between 1836 and 1838 $21,500 were expended in building a sea wall across a breach in the southern part of Fayerweather Island to preserve the light-house reservation at the south end of the island and to prevent shoaling on the anchorage ground. In 1882 a survey of the harbor was ordered by Congress, which was made in 1883. In his report on this survey, dated December 12, 1883, Col. McFarland, U. S. Engineers, submitted a project providing 1. For protecting the upper part of the harbor from the sea by building a breakwater over the bar northeast of Fayerweather Island, to be about half a mile long and 6 feet wide at the top, which was to be 33 feet above mean high water or 10 feet above low water. 2. For making a channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water, extending up Cedar Creek. The estimated cost was: Breakwater Total....... $58,000 22,000 80,000 Work under this project was begun in 1885, and up to July 1, 1892, the breakwater had been built to its full length, in order to prevent the currents from cutting a channel across the bar, but its cross section was less than designed, both in height and width; also a channel 6 feet deep, or over had been dredged, with width of 80 feet, extending from deep water northward up Cedar Creek to within 500 feet of the head of the creek, being 2,200 feet north of the Forge Company's wharf. This channel was further widened and deepened in places by private parties. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. The river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, appropriated $5,000 for continuing this improvement. Proposals for dredging were received and a contract with Alonzo J. Beardsley, for dredging about 25,000 cubic yards at the rate of 17 cents per yard was entered into under date of October 10, 1892, and approved by the Chief of Engineers October 18, 1892. Work under this contract has not yet been begun. The contract expires December 31, 1893. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. The sea wall built in 1836-1838 across a breach in Fayerweather Island is still effective in preserving the island and preventing the sea from washing over into the harbor. It needs some repair. The breakwater between Fayerweather Island and the mainland is built to its full length, 2,744 feet, with diminished cross section. The 6-foot channel has been dredged to the head of navigation in Cedar Creek, the east branch of the harbor, with full projected width and depth, and is now in good condition. Additional dredging to widen and deepen the channel in places has been done by private parties. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. Under the contract now in force it is proposed to remove shoals from and to widen at its lower end the channel previously dredged. Future appropriations will be needed from time to time to maintain the dredged channel and to enlarge or repair the breakwater. Appropriations for the improvement of Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut, have been made as follows: Black Rock Harbor is in the Fairfield collection district, of which Bridgeport is the port of entry. There is a light-house at the harbor entrance. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, the nearest work of defense, is 20 miles east. Money statement. 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..... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $405.63 5,000.00 5,405, 63 435.97 4, 969. 66 4,250.00 719.66 35,000.00 10, 000. 00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in the harbor of Black Rock, Conn., opened by Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers, at New York City, September 27, 1892. * Entered into contract October 10, 1892, for about 25,000 cubic yards; work not yet begun; contract expires December 31, 1893. In addition to the above 2,100 vessels entered Black Rock Harbor for refuge during 1892. The above figures show a decrease in tonnage of freight below that reported for 1891 of 6,530 tons. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1892. |