IMPROVEMENT OF HUDSON RIVER-REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN A EAST RIVER, INCLUDING HELL-GATE-IMPROVEMENT OF PASSAIC RIVER, NEW JERSEY, AND OF EAST CHESTER CREEK, AND THE HARBORS OF PORT CHESTER AND RONDOUT, NEW YORK-REMOVAL OF SUNKEN WRECK IN CHANNEL-WAY OFF SANDY HOOK. 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 between Troy and New Baltimore, New York. The operations of the fiscal year have comprised repairs of existing dikes, and the construction of new dikes at Coeyman's and at Cedar Hill, below Albany, of which there were in all 3,047 running feet, completed at an average cost of $7 per foot. Amount available July 1, 1872... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873... Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. Amount available July 1, 1873... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix V 1.) $55,408 16 40,000 00 34,629 27 60,778 89 100,000 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: The number of feet of tunnels and galleries driven during the year was 2,731 linear feet, and the quantity of rock removed 9,554 cubic yards. The drilling has been done principally by the "Burleigh" drill, driven by compressed air. The operations have hitherto been conducted with a view to explore the whole area to be removed, and there remains for the completion of this part of the operations the additional driving of about 1,000 linear feet of tunnels. Operations of the steam drilling-scow.-At Diamond Reef: Twelve holes were drilled and blasted, and three surface-blasts made, and 675 tons of broken rock were taken up by the grappling machine. At Frying Pan : 17 holes were drilled and blasted, and 11 surfaceblasts were made. At Pot Rock: The scow anchored on this reef in August and remained until December, when the running ice made it necessary to move into winter-quarters; 40 holes were drilled and blasted and 60 seamblasts and 24 surface-blasts were made. The scow was collided with sixteen times while on this reef, causing great delay in the operations by making it necessary, in many cases, to send divers down for the ends of the cable-chains, which were broken by the collisions, and to connect them. Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. Amount available July 1, 1873... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. $232,399 53 225,000 00 277,633 48 179,766 05 400, 000 00 The officer in charge reports this as the minimum to work with good effect. If a commencement is made on Flood Rock it would require $600,000. (See Appendix V 2.) 3. Improvement of Passaic River, New Jersey, between Newark and Passaic.-Contract was made in November, 1872, for dredging a cut through the bar at Belleville 2,300 feet long and from 75 to 120 feet wide, the loose stones and bowlders to be deposited so as to form an artificial bank to the channel. At the close of the fiscal year 4,719 cubic yards of material had been dredged and 750 feet of embankment built. Owing to the severity of the winter, which delayed operations, the contract has been extended to December 31, 1873. Contract has also been made for a cut through the bar at Rutherford Park 2,900 feet long and 50 feet wide. Amount available July 1, 1872.... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. Amount available July 1, 1873....... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix V 3.) 4. Improvement of East Chester Creek, New York.-Under the appropriation of $25,000 of March 3, 1873, no work has been done, owing to the somewhat unexpected difficulties in obtaining the right of way across certain lands, without which the amount appropriated could not be judiciously expended until further surveys at other points were made. These surveys are now in progress. (See Appendix V 4.) 5. Improvement of Port Chester Harbor, New York.-During the year contract was made for the removal of a portion of the rock known as "Salt Rock," comprising about 247 cubic yards. The work was completed in June. Amount available July 1, 1872. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.. The estimate for removing sunken rock in continuation of this improvement is $60,000. (See Appendix V 5.) 6. Improvement at Rondout Harbor, New York.-During the year 570 feet of the north dike was built. Proposals have been advertised for an extension of the north dike about 1,400 feet, which will complete it. Amount available July 1, 1872... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix V 6.) $10,000 00 20,000 00 532 69 29,467 31 85, 100 00 7. Removal of sunken wreck in channelway off Sandy Hook.-Operations were commenced on February 1, 1873, for the removal of this wreck under appropriation approved January 8, 1873, and the work was completed on March 6, 1873, the wreck having been entirely removed and a clear draught of 25.5 feet obtained at mean low water. Amount appropriated by act of January 8, 1873... Amount expended ... Balance remaining July 1, 1873.. $15,000 00 7,556 26 7,443 74 (See Appendix V 7.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. In compliance with provisions of the act of June 10, 1872, LieutenantColonel Newton was charged with and has completed the following: 1. At Keyport Harbor, New Jersey. (See Appendix V 8.) 2. Of channel between Staten Island and New Jersey. (See Appendix V 9.) And he is also charged with the following examinations and surveys provided for in the act of March 3, 1873: 1. At Harlem River, near East River, New York, for removal of rocks therefrom. 2. At Raritan River, New Jersey, below New Brunswick, including the shoals called the Middle Ground, which are not yet completed. 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.-A careful survey of the condition of the whole work has been made. It is thought that the work, to be permanent, must be materially strengthened; and it is estimated that for this purpose $25,000, in addition to that on hand, will be required. The capacity of the anchorage-ground for vessels in storms can only be increased by dredging; and this, it is believed, will soon be necessary. The officer in charge is of opinion that a light-house should be built on the east end of the breakwater, to take the place of the existing light. This harbor is one of great importance to the general coasting-trade, and is particularly deserving of public care. A contract has been made for continuing the repair of the breakwater under the last appropriation, and the work is in progress. Amount available July 1, 1872.... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. $10,000 00 591 10 9,408 90 25, 000 00 2. Edgartown Harbor, Massachusetts.-The improvement designed here is to re-open the outlet to the Atlantic Ocean through Cotamy Beach, and restore the former circulation of the tides by which the entrance to this harbor from Nantucket Sound was maintained in good navigable state. During the season of 1872 no work was done, owing to the difficulty of procuring dredges at prices that would bring the work within the limits of the appropriation. In the present year the work has been begun, and is in a fair state of progress, so that the engineer in charge expects to have the opening made before the close of the season. No further appropriation is asked for at present. Amount appropriated by act approved June 10, 1872.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix W 2.) 3. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-The improvement in progress consists in straightening, widening, and deepening the present channel by dredging. The design is to make a channel 250 feet wide at the narrowest parts, and 9 feet deep at mean low water and 12 feet at mean high water, the work being carried on so as to afford the most immediate benefit consistent with a good final result. The appropriation of June 10, 1872, had all been expended by August 31, 1873, and dredging was then commenced under the appropriation. made March 3, 1873, which will probably be expended this season. To complete the work originally estimated for will require an additional appropriation of $25,000, which is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. Amount available July 1, 1872... Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix W 3.) 4. Taunton River, Massachusetts.-With the appropriation of June 10, 1872, a channel giving a draught of 9 feet of water at mean high tide was dredged through "Burt's" and "Pond Rocks" Shoals, and some rocks lying in the channel-way above were removed. Under the appropriation of March 3, 1873, a contract for dredging, at $2 a cubic yard, through the shoals above "Pond Rocks," has been entered into, and a party set to work removing loose rocks, at about $10 a cubic yard. It is estimated that $15,000 additional will complete the improvement of this river up to the head of navigation, at Weir Village. Amount available July 1, 1872..... Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1873.. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. (See Appendix W 4.) 5. Newport Harbor, Rhode Island.-The survey of this harbor was made and a plan for its improvement submitted to Congress at its last session. The engineer officer in charge submits estimates: 1. To increase the depth of the south entrance and cut off a projecting point of a shoal at the south end of Goat Island, thus facilitating the passage of large ves sels to and through the harbor. 2. To increase the depth of water to 12 feet at mean low water up to and along the new harbor line. This will not only increase the business facility and capacity of the harbor, in which the United States is interested on account of the important military and naval works in the vicinity, but it will increase the anchorage-ground for coasters, great numbers of which seek its shelter in storms. By the act approved March 3, 1873, $8,500 was appropriated, of which $2,000 is for a jetty at the south end of Goat Island, and the rest for dredging. Steps have been taken to carry on this work in connection with the public work at Fort Adams, by which means more than the usual amount of work may be accomplished. Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1873. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. (See Appendix W 5.) $8,500 00 8,500 00 24, 000 00 6. Pawtucket, (Seekonk River,) Rhode Island.-This improvement,under the appropriation of June 10, 1872, has been carried on till there is now a channel up to the city of Pawtucket nowhere less than 75 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low-water, giving 12 feet at mean high-water. There being no urgent necessity for immediate further improvement it has been considered most judicious not to apply the appropriation of March 3, 1873, until a plan could be prepared based upon a thorough survey. The survey has been made, including three bridges, two of which are serious obstructions to navigation, and the appropriation will be applied as soon as the project is approved. No further appropriation is asked for at present. Amount available July 1, 1872.... Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. (See Appendix W 6.) 7. Providence River, Rhode Island.-Under the appropriation of June 10, 1872, the channel next below Fox Point was dredged during that year, and there is now a channel there 300 feet wide at the narrowest place, with a depth not less than 12 feet at mean low water; the mean rise of the tide is about 5 feet. A survey was made of the "Point of Long Bed" on the east side of the river, in accordance with the act of June 10, 1872, and the report submitted to Congress at its last session. (See Appendix W 8.) That shoal projected about 400 feet beyond the general line of the east side of the channel, making it troublesome for vessels to beat past, and for steamers to avoid it in thick weather. Its removal was estimated to cost $10,000. The act of March 3, 1873, appropriates $10,000 for continuing the improvement of this river, which will all be used in removing the "Point of Long Bed." The work is in progress and will be finished before the end of the season. In view of the present good condition of the navigation, no further estimate is submitted. Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendixes W 7 and W 8.) $10,000 00 10, 000 00 9,821 76 10, 178 24 8. Wickford Harbor, Rhode Island.-This is an inner harbor in Narragansett Bay, on the west shore and opposite the north end of Conanicut Island. This island is about nine miles long north and south. Its south end is exposed to the heavy ocean waves, and the passage by this route is generally rough. A quiet passage around it from Newport can only be had with certainty at the north end. Wickford is opposite this end, and is, therefore, the nearest point to Newport where a connection can be made at all times with the railroad to New York and the South and West. A route for travel, via Wickford, has been opened since 1871. |