RIVERS AND HARBORS, ETC. APPENDIX A. MPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE STATES OF MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES E. BLUNT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Portland, Me., July 11, 1885. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith annual reports for e year ending June 30, 1885, for river and harbor works in my charge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. E. BLUNT, A 1. IMPROVEMENT OF LUBEC CHANNEL, MAINE. Lubec Channel forms the eastern boundary of the State of Maine, b tween the town of Lubec and Campobello Island. For a length of ov 2 miles (i. e., from about 850 feet below the "Western Bar Beacon" to t head of "Lubec Narrows") it was obstructed by bars having for t most part only 5 feet at mean low water, or 22 feet at mean high wate the mean rise and fall of the tides being 17 feet, while at extreme le water of spring tides there was but 1 foot over the shoalest parts. 4 and near mean low water, therefore, vessels were unable to pass throu this channel, and were forced to make a detour some 16 miles long through British waters in order to reach Lubec, Eastport, and the por in Maine on the Saint Croix and Pembroke rivers. The same loss time and distance occurred on the return trip; vessels leaving the upp ports, necessarily about high water, reached the channel near low wat A careful and accurate survey was made in 1878, and upon it w based the project of improvement which was fully executed betwe 1879 and 1883. This project was for a depth of 12 feet at mean lo water of spring tides and a minimum width of 200 feet. The northeast point of the town of Lubec, at the Narrows, is a p jecting ledge called Gun Rock, across which run a rapid current at c tain stages of the tide, which was very troublesome to passing vesse A rough stone jetty for stopping this current having been projected a approved was begun under contract in May, 1884, and finished July: 1884, 134 feet of its whole length of 259 feet having been built duri the year. The law of July 5, 1884, directs that so much as might be necessa of the $10,000, therein appropriated for Lubec Channel, shall be pended in removing a rock at Eastport. The rock referred to proved be a ledge, directly in front of Paine's Wharf, Eastport, which is t wharf directly north of and adjoining that used by the steamers of t International Line (first-class vessels plying between Boston and John, N. B., via Portland and Eastport), and to which the ledge h been a great inconvenience in arriving and departing. After a careful survey of the ledge, proposals for removing 104 enl yards, to give 12 feet depth of water over it at low water, were invite and contract made September 24, 1884, with George W. Townsend, Boston, the lowest bidder, at $24.90 per yard. He began work in Oc ber, and after a winter's suspension, completed it May 30, 1885. The remainder of the appropriation of last session is now being pended, and will be exhausted in a very few weeks, in widening the n channel at its southern bend on the east side. Proposals for this w opened August 25, 1884, but the two bids received were rejected as t high. New proposals were invited, and the only one received, Octol 23, 1884, was accepted, contract being made November 10, 1884, w Moore & Wright, of Portland, for about 30,000 cubic yards (scow me ure) of dredging, at 42 cents. Owing to the near approach of wint work under this contract was deferred till the spring of 1885. Beginni early in May, the contractors had removed up to June 30, 23,272 cu yards, increasing the channel width about 60 feet. They will compl this contract by the middle of July. The International Steamship Company has asked for greater depth well as width, in the new channel, and estimates for both were includ in my annual report for 1883, and reported in 1884. It may be doubted whether the advantages to be derived from increased depth will offset the cost of making it. With 12 feet depth at low water, and a tidal rise of 17 or 18 feet, it is thought vessels drawing over 11 feet will be little, if at all, inconvenienced in the use of the channel. Increased width, especially at the bends, will, however, be useful. It is one of the drawbacks of the channel that it is not straight. It could not be made so except by a very large expenditure. A general widening, however, greatest at the bends, will cost but a moderate sum, and make navigation decidedly easier. In view of these considerations, I am disposed to modify my estimates of 1883 and 1884, and to recommend for the present, at least, only so much of them as contemplates widening the channel, so as to give it a general width of 275 feet, increased at the bends to 300 feet, and retaining the present 12 feet low-water depth. For this would be required98,000 cubic yards dredging (scow measure), at 40 cents... Contingencies, 15 per cent., nearly Total of revised estimate..... Instead of $39, 200 5, 800 45,000 113,000 Of this total of 98,000 yards there will remain to be dredged after completion of present contract about 69,000, which will require an expenditure of $32,000, the whole of which could be economically expended during the next working season, and is respectfully asked as the next appropriation. The appropriations for Lubec Channel have been as follows: By act of March 3, 1879. By act of July 5, 1884... Total...... The total expenditures to June 30 are $135,752.96. The following information has been furnished by the United States collector of customs at Eastport, Me., for the year ending December 31, 1884: July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 $16, 121 02 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 1,954 85 18,075 87 July 1, 1885, amount available...... 3,039 29 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 32,000 00 32,000 00 Abstract of proposals received October 23, 1884, for dredging in Lubec Channel, Maine. IMPROVEMENT OF BANGOR HARBOR AND PENOBSCOT RIVER, MAINE. A survey in connection with this locality was ordered by Congress, in the act approved August 2, 1882. It was understood by the engineer officer then in charge of the district that it had special reference to certain obstructions in the river, near Bangor in particular. On examination it was found that these did not exist. Inquiries were then made among the business community of Bangor, and an expression of opinion was asked and obtained as to what sort of improvement was desired. A letter stating the views of the signers was received by the engineer in charge, and printed with his special report of October 31, 1883. (Senate Ex. Doc. No. 44, Forty-eighth Congress, first session.) A widening of the channel opposite Bangor, and widening and deepening at a specified point below, were the improvements stated to be desired. Estimates based upon data in the office of the district engineer, supplemented by some additional examinations of the localities, were accordingly submitted in the report referred to. An appropriation of $20,000 for the locality was made in the act of July 5, 1884. As it was understood that fall freshets would be likely to make it unadvisable to do any work that season, advertisement for proposals was deferred until the spring of 1885. The only bid received on the 28th of April was deemed so unreasonably high that it was rejected. After a considerable but unavoidable delay, advertisement for proposals was again issued, June 20, and such as are received will be opened July 13. Should the lowest prove reasonable, contract will be immediately made, and it is hoped that the work proposed in beginning the widening of the channel opposite the city will be accomplished this fall.* A further appropriation of $40,000 to complete this channel widen. ing opposite the city, and begin the improvement asked for at Crosby's Narrows, is asked for the year ending June 30, 1887. The business of Bangor is set forth in considerable detail in my report of 1883, before referred to. The following for the year ending December 31, 1884, has been received from the collector of customs: A reasonable bid was received July 13, and the appropriation will be expended in 1885. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1834 July 1, 1885, amount available (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project .. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 000 00 33 46 19,966 54 75,000 00 40,000 00 Abstract of proposals received April 28, 1885, for dredging 40,000 cubic yards, improvement of Bangor Harbor, Maine. IMPROVEMENT OF MOOSE-A-BEC BAR AT JONESPORT, MAINE. Moose-a-bec Bar is at the eastern part of Moose-a-bec Reach, about 30 miles east of Mount Desert, Me., and is the only obstruction to the safe navigation of that reach in all stages of the tide. By a survey made in 1879, it was ascertained that this bar had only 54 feet of water on it at mean low water, and 34 feet at low water of spring tides, which compelled the coastwise steamers and other vessels of greater draught to take a very tortuous course among the ledges. Navigation was thereby rendered difficult and dangerous, especially at night and in dense fogs, common on this part of the coast. The improvement proposed, and now partially executed, was to dred through the bar a channel about 1,900 feet long and 200 feet wide, with a mean low-water depth of 14 feet (11 at low water of spring tides). A sunken ledge near its western end was also projected to be removed to a mean low-water depth of 15 feet. The amended estimate was as follows: 3.000 cubic yards dredging (scow measurement), at 35 cents.. Removing 1364 cubic yards sunken ledge, at $40. Engineering expenses and coutingencies.. Total The appropriations have been By act of March 3, 1881. By act of July 5, 1884. Total..... $29,750 5,460 4,790 40,000 $10,000 10,000 10,000 30,000 Under the appropriations of 1881 and 1882 the new channel has been opened to a width of 141 feet, and even with this inadequate width is beginning to be used and is proving its usefulness. It is much to be |