Expediency of removing light-house at entrance to New Haven Harbor. ENGINEER OFFICE UNITED STATES ARMY, I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to the expediency of removing the light-house at the entrance to New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, from its present position to Southwest Ledge. I would recommend that the change be made, for the following reasons: 1st. In approaching the harbor from the eastward the light is not visible until nearly abreast of it, being shut out by woods. In coming from the westward the light is so situated as to render its position very deceptive, making it appear nearer than it actually is; many vessels ground on the west-shore flats from this cause. 2d. If the light-house was on the ledge, vessels could run for it until it was close aboard, then haul to the northward, pass to the westward of the light, and head up the harbor directly for the fixed red light on Long Wharf, thus following the line of best water up the harbor, avoiding all rocks and shoals. The light-house would also serve as an excellent channel-mark by day as well as by night. In consequence of the present position of the light, it is necessary to run by bearings and estimated distances, thus rendering dangerous the entrance to the harbor. 3d. The woods in the vicinity of the present light-house so deaden the sound of the fog-bell that in fogs accompanied by a southerly breeze it is impossible to hear the bell more than six hundred or seven hundred feet, except when directly abreast to the westward of the light. This would be obviated by placing the light-house upon the ledge. Besides thus greatly improving the entrance to the harbor itself, the position of the light on Southwest Ledge would be about one mile farther out in the sound, and would furnish an excellent object for vessels passing along the sound to steer by and correct their positions from in thick weather. New Haven Harbor is much used as a harbor of refuge, and should the light-house be placed on Southwest Ledge, vessels whose captains are not acquainted with the harbor could readily find refuge. The nearest lights are the Falkland Island light, twelve miles to the eastward, and Stratford light, twelve miles to the westward. Every reason that occurs to me justifies the removal of the light to Southwest Ledge. Five-Mile Point should be reserved as a site for a fort. Southwest Ledge has now over it, at mean low water, 7.5 feet, and is composed of granitic rock. The contours of the rock, on a scale of 10 feet to the inch. are shown on a tracing I sent you with my report of December 23, 1871, (H. Ex. Doc., No. 137.) I return herewith the copy of the resolution sent me. Yours, respectfully, Brigadier-General A. A. HUMPHREYS, G. K. WARREN, Major Engineers, Brevet Major-General, U. 8. A. Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Washington, D. C. T 9. IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSATONIC RIVER, CONNECTICUT. My report dated January 20, 1872, along with the report of Mr. Henry Harding, civil engineer, made to me, both printed as part of House Ex. Doc., No. 137, second session forty second Congress, gave an account of the condition of this work down to this period. At that time there was an unexpended balance from former appropriations of $3,168.21. The work done in 1871 was not injured by the spring freshets, and the dredging at Mill Bar was resumed in June, during which month 9,008 cubic yards were excavated and removed. A survey of the bar at the mouth of the river was begun in July, and is nearly completed in the field. Advertisements for proposals to do the work under the appropriation of $15,000, appropriated June 10, 1872, were made on the 28th of June. The design of this improvement is to give a low-water chaunel 7 feet deep. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 4 feet. (1.) DREDGING BETWEEN DERBY AND HUNTINGTON LANDING. There is required here an excavation of about 2,500 cubic yards from a bar having now 3 feet at mean low water. The depth required is 6 feet at mean low water. The material is chiefly sand. (2.) TWO-MILE ISLAND BAR, ONE MILE BELOW DERBY. There is required here an excavation of about 16,000 cubic yards of sand. The depth of the water is from 4 to 7 feet at low water. (3.) CROFUT'S BAR, NEAR WOOSTER ISLAND, TWO AND A HALF MILES BELOW DERBY. There is required here an excavation of 6,000 cubic yards of sand. The depth at low-water is from 4 to 7 feet. (4.) DREDGING ON THE BAR AT THE MOUTH. It may be desirable to remove about 15,000 cubic yards of sand from this place, and proposals are invited. There is about 4 feet at low-water at this place, and it is exposed to the waves of the sound. (5.) EMBANKMENT AT DREW'S ROCK. This is to connect this rock with the west shore, and will take about 600 cubic yards of stone, which must be blasted or quarried out, and must be of sizes between a cubic foot and 10 cubic feet thrown in to take their own bed. A layer of small regular stones or quarry-waste, of at least 6 inches in thickness, must be put on the upstream side, so that it will arrest the sand and gravel. The side slopes are to be 1 to 1, and the top of the embankment is to be 10 feet wide and on a level with high tides. The lowest bidder for the dredging, Mr. R. M. Jones, of New York, is probably what is called a "straw-man," as, after due search, neither he nor his guarantors could be found. The dredging was, therefore, awarded to Francis H. Smith, of New York, the next lowest bidder, at 23.95 cents per cubic yard. The lowest proposal for building the embankment at Drew's Rock, was Mr. A. A. Bouker, of New York, at $1.70 per cubic yard, and the contract was made with him. Work under it has already begun. The following is an abstract of the proposals received: Name and address of bidder. Abstract of proposals for the improvement of the Housatonic River. Contracts received at the Engineer Office, United States Army, Newport, Rhode Island, Tuesday, July 30, 1872. R. M. Jones, New York City. 21.37 21.37 21.37 21.37 Sept. 1, 1872 June 30, 1873 $8,441 15 Remarks. No certificate that guarantors are There is some dredging to be done above Derby not estimated in the original survey, the exact amount of which is not yet ascertained, and considerable is required at the bar at the mouth of the river, to be determined by the survey now making, in addition to what has been heretofore estimated for. I therefore recommend an appropriation of $20,000 for the work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. The very large water-power now available at the new dam across the Housatonic River promises a great increase in the freighting on the river and renders it a navigable stream of importance. The New York and New Haven Railroad Company have constructed an excellent drawbridge across it; but the wagon-road bridge put below it is an unnecessary obstruction, and something must be done to abate it. The Housatonic River is the boundary between the New Haven and Fairfield collection districts, and Bridgeport is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, at Bridgeport was $4,616.50, and at New Haven $222,065.36. For the details of last season's work I refer to the annexed reports by myself and Mr. Harding: Statement of funds. Amount available July 1, 1871... Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872.... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of improving the Housatonic River, Connecticut, during the past season: The condition of this work at the date of my last annual report, August 31, is given in your printed annual report for 1871, (pp. 777, 778, 779.) The work continued in progress till the autumn weather compelled us to desist. The improvement, consisting of a riprap embankment at Sow and Pigs Rocks, was completed. A channel 80 feet wide and 7 feet deep was dredged through Drew's Bar, and a channel 42 feet wide and 7 feet deep was excavated through Mill Bar. These depths are at mean low water. Surveys were also made in addition to the previous ones. The expenditures have been as follows: 5, 206 03 1,700 61 For riprap embankment at Sow and Pigs Rocks, 778.34 cubic yards, at $1 90.. $1,478 84 Balance on hand December 31.......... 3,446 31 3, 168 21 15,000 00 An additional appropriation of $15,000 has been asked for. Along with this report I transmit the report of Mr. Henry Harding, civil engineer, who superintended the execution of the work, which gives all the details deemed desirable. Mr. Harding's report is accompanied by four maps, one being of the work at Sow and Pigs Rocks, another of the dredging at Drew's Bar, another of the detailed survey of Drew's Rock, and the other of the dredging done at Mill Bar. These maps of the bars where dredging was done are colored, so as to show the monthly progress of the work. The original survey was made by Captain W. S. Edwards, civil engineer, but the locations of the improvements were made by General T. G. Ellis, civil engineer. Yours, respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major Engineers and Brevet Major-General, U. S. A. Brigadier-General A. A. HUMPHREYS, |