2. For removing 320 cubic yards, more or less, of bowlders from Babson's Ledge, in completion of the original project, at $15 per cubic yard............ Add for contingencies... Total..... 4,800 700 7,500 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. F. BOTHFELD, Maj. CHARLES W. RAYMOND, Corps of Engineers, Ú. S. A. B 14. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF FORT POINT CHANNEL, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. BOSTON, MASS., October 4, 1884. GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in your letter of July 31, 1884, I have the honor to submit the following report of a preliminary examination of the Fort Point Channel in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, provided for in the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. The Fort Point Channel is situated between the eastern shore of Boston proper on the one side and the reclaimed and improved South Boston flats and South Boston on the other side; it connects the tidal basin of the South Bay, which covers an area of about 250 acres, with Boston Upper Harbor. The total length of the channel is about 14 miles; its width varies between a maximum of about 1,100 feet and a minimum of 260 feet; its depth between a few feet at the head of the channel and 23 feet at mean low water at its mouth. Both sides of the channel are lined with numerous wharves and docks, some of recent and most improved construction, on which immense business is transacted. During the year ending June 30, 1884, draw-tender's reports state that nearly 19.000 vessels, steamers, sailing vessels, and tugs, passed through the draw of the Congress Street Bridge, and about 12,000 vessels through the draw of the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge. As the vessels are counted twice, when entering and when returning, the true number of vessels which passed through these draws would be, respectively, for the Congress Street Bridge about 9,500, and for the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge nearly 6,000. Besides these vessels, about 3,000 vessels entered the Fort Point Channel, but remained below the draw-bridges. Many of these vessels are of large size, in particular those loaded with cotton, sugar, molasses, spices, and other merchandise; they generally draw between 18 and 22 feet of water. Besides the staple articles above referred to, which principally are carried in foreign bottoms, large quantities of coal, lumber, brick, lime, cement, &c., are carried up the Fort Point Channel, and mostly landed at the wharves of Boston proper, on the west side of the channel, between Congress Street Bridge and Federal Street Bridge. Much delay is incurred by vessels in reaching the wharves, as the deep water part of the channel is less than 16 feet deep at low water, only from 50 to 60 feet wide, and quite crooked in its course towards the draws of the bridges. The desired improvement consists in excavating a channel of such width and depth that vessels of a draught of 22 feet may enter it and go 1 up to the wharves between Congress Street Bridge and Federal Street Bridge at any stage of the tide. From statements rendered by some of the parties transacting business on the Fort Point Channel the following information has been ob tained in relation to heavy freight delivered at some of the leading wharves, viz: (1) On the wharves of the Standard Sugar Refinery, during the year ending June 30, 1884, in 130 vessels 77,670 tons of sugar, in 34 vessels 22,113 tons of coal. (2) On the wharves of the Continental Sugar Refinery, during the year ending June 30, 1884, 13,826 tons of sugar and 12,597 tons of coal. NOTE.-All the business carried on by this company on wharves at East Boston is shortly to be transferred to the wharves on the Fort Point Channel, whereby the amount of sugar landed there will be increased to thirty and odd thousands tons yearly. (3) On the wharves of the Boston Wharf Company, whereon the United States bonded warehouses are located, in the year ending October 1, 1884, as follows: In 148 vessels, of which 22 were steamers of a draught of 18 to 22 feet of water, 51,300 hogsheads sugar and 26,800 hogsheads molasses. (4) On Nickerson's Wharf. a. By Boston and Savannah Steamship Company, in the year 1883, viz : b. By Boston, Halifax, and Prince Edward Island Steamship Line, freight carried to and from Boston, viz, 443,420 barrels, estimated to be worth $4,522,884. Passengers carried to and from Boston, 8,097. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF Business DONE AT NICKERSON'S WHARF. By Boston and Savannah Steamship Company. Total (besides carrying 12,620 passengers and United States mails). $11,892, 974 4,522, 884 1,000,000 17,415,858 (5) On wharf leased by James & Abbot, of the Boston Wharf Company. In vessels of 400 to 900 tons burden, 10,000 tons, amounting to about 8,000,000 feet of lumber, mostly from the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coast ports. (6) On wharves not previously named, on the west (Boston proper) side of the channel, many thousand barrels of lime and cement, millions of feet of lumber and millions of brick are landed, and about 300,000 tons of coal. The duties paid yearly to the United States on sugar, molasses, spices, &c., principally arriving in foreign bottoms, at the wharves of the Fort Point Channel, are estimated to amount to more than $8,000,000. In view of the facts above stated I am of the opinion that the Fort Point Channel is worthy of improvement. Elaborate and reliable surveys have quite recently been made for the board of land and harbor commissioners of Massachusetts of the part of the Fort Point Channel the improvement of which is desired. But little additional information remains to be obtained by a survey, mainly in relation to the character of the bottom. Estimated cost of running check lines of soundings, borings, preparing drawings and report, $200. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. CHAS. W. RAYMOND, SURVEY OF FORT POINT CHANNEL, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Boston, Mass., January 27, 1885. GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in your letter of November 21, 1884, I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of Mr. H. F. Bothfeld, assistant engineer, on the survey of Fort Point Channel, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, with a project for the improvement thereof. A tracing showing the limits of the proposed improvement is also respectfully transmitted herewith. The project submitted by Mr. Bothfeld contemplates the excavation of a channel 175 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water from a point opposite Rowe's Wharf to a point near the draw pier of the Federal Street Bridge. The object of the proposed improvement is to accommodate vessels drawing from 18 to 22 feet at all stages of the tide in accordance with the urgent needs of the enormous commerce of this part of Boston Harbor. It is convenient to consider this project in the four parts into which Mr. Bothfeld divides it, which are clearly indicated on the tracing. Part A.-This part extends from the mouth to the lower side of the Congress Street Bridge, a distance of 1,760 feet. The excavation proposed is estimated to cost $28,950. Part B.-This part extends from the lower side of the Congress Street Bridge to the lower side of the New York and New England Railroad Bridge, a distance of 500 feet. The excavation is estimated to cost $10,650. The excavation through the draw of the Congress Street Bridge would probably make it necessary to strengthen the draw-pier; this the city will doubtless undertake to do. The width of the draw is sufficient for the proposed depth of channel. Part C.-This part extends from the lower side of the New York and New England Railroad Bridge to the lower side of the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge, a distance of 1,100 feet. The excavation is estimated to cost $22,935. With the The excavation through the draw of the New York and New England Railroad Bridge would require the reconstruction of the draw-pier and the widening of the draw opening to a least width of 42 feet. present depth of channel this draw is too narrow for the purposes of commerce, and will have to be widened without regard to the improvement of the channel. Part D-This part extends from the lower side of the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge to a point near the draw-pier of the Federal Street Bridge, a distance of 830 feet. The excavation is estimated to cost $28,175. This part extends the benefit of the improvement to the par ties most requiring it, from whom the Government receives about onefifth of the duties collected in Boston Harbor. The excavation through the draw of the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge will simply make it necessary for the city to strengthen the pier as in the case of the Congress Street Bridge, the width of the opening being sufficient. The whole improvement is estimated, with contingencies, to cost $100,000. This is less than 1 per cent. on the net yearly revenue which the Government derives from the foreign commerce of this channel. It seems to me very desirable that the proposed improvement should be carried out. Fort Point Channel is located in the collection district of Boston, of which Boston is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is the Long Island Head Light. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. CHAS. W. RAYMOND, REPORT OF MR. F. H. BothFELD, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, MAJOR: I have the honor to report that, agreeably with verbal instructions received from you on the 25th of November, 1884, in relation to the survey of the Fort Point Channel, in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, and the preparation of a project for its improvement, I have compiled a map, drawn to a scale of 1:1,000, from the several surveys of parts of the Fort Point Channel made in 1883 and 1884, for the board of harbor and land commissioners of Massachusetts, by H. Hodgdon, assistant engineer to this board, and entered thereon all additional information derived from my own survey made in December, 1884. A tracing of this map is submitted herewith, with the following explanations and project for the improvement of this channel, to wit: LOCATION OF FORT POINT CHANNEL. This channel is situated in Upper Boston Harbor, between the eastern shore of Boston proper, on the one side, and the reclaimed and improved South Boston flats and south Boston on the other side. It connects the tidal basin of the South Bay, which covers an area of more than 200 acres, with Upper Boston Harbor. HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF CHANNEL. In 1863, three years before the adoption of the plan for inclosing and filling the South Boston flats, and ten years previous to the commencement of work in connection with reclaiming the part of the flats represented in small sketch on drawing accompanying this report, the high water was where shown on sketch (subplan). At present about 100 acres of the flats have been inclosed with sea-walls and filled in and 20 more acres partly filled in, and several substantially constructed piers and docks turned over for use to shipping and commerce. By the construction of about 1,000 linear feet of heavy sea-wall, and 11,000 feet of light sea-wall along the edge of the flats on the eastern side of the Fort Point Channel and across the flats, about parallel with the axis of the main ship channel, in connection with the filling in of the above mentioned 120 acres of reclaimed and improved flats, and by dredging to a depth of 23 feet a large part of the shoal ground in front of these walls and at the mouth of the Fort Point Channel, this channel has been very materially improved, and in consequence commercial business all along its wharves and docks has taken great strides and is rapidly expanding with every year. The flood and ebb currents are less obstructed in ascending and descending the channel, and the junction of the ebb current with that of the main ship-channel is now made under much more favorable angles than formerly, so that the current of the main ship-channel is re-enforced instead of being disturbed and decreased in velocity as in former times. This advantage already obtained by the construction of walls and filling in of the flats, and by dredging, will become much more pronounced after the removal of the remainder of the shoal at the mouth of the Fort Point Channel. The total length of the channel, from its mouth up to the entrance into the South Bay, is about 1 miles; its width varies between a maximum of about 1,100 feet and 200 feet; its depth between a few feet at the head of the channel and 23 feet at mean low water at its mouth, abreast of Rowe's Wharf. Seven draw-bridges cross Fort Point Channel at distances from its mouth, approximately given below, to wit: Congress Street Bridge, about one-third of 1 mile above the mouth; New York and New England Railroad Bridge, about one-half mile above the mouth; Mount Washington Avenue Bridge, Federal Street Bridge, Old Colony Railroad Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Dover Street Bridge, from five-eighths of 1 mile to 1 miles distant from its mouth. No desire has been expressed, nor seems to be any needed, for improving by dredging the part of the Fort Point Channel above Federal Street Bridge, but some action may have to be taken for enabling vessels to pass more readily, without serious loss of time, through the draws of the Old Colony Railroad Bridge. SURVEY. The survey has been limited to the lower part of the Fort Point Channel, which extends from a point abreast of Rowe's Wharf to a point abreast of Federal Street Bridge, a distance of about four-fifths of 1 mile. It was known to me that very reliable surveys had been made, at various times during the years of 1883 and 1884, for the board of harbor and land commissioners of Massachusetts, of areas dredged in front of wharves and about midway of the channel, in the line of the draws of several bridges, by private parties, and indirectly also by the State, as an equivalent for tide-water displaced elsewhere. All the soundings of these surveys were located in correctly-established ranges by means of the transit. I availed myself, therefore, of the results of these surveys, with the kind permission of the board of harbor and land commissioners, and compiled from them the map on a scale of 1:1,000 submitted herewith. A number of check lines of soundings were run by a surveying party, under my direction, during the period extending from December 9 to December 19, 1884, about 75 borings made in various parts of the channel above, below, and between, and in the draws of the several bridges, the widths of the draws carefully measured, and a close inquiry made in reference to the depths to which piles had been driven at and near the draws and in the draw-piers of the several bridges. RESULTS OF SURVEY. From the many soundings plotted on the drawing, all of which are referred to the plane of mean low water, it will be seen that no vessel of a greater draught than 12 feet can enter at mean low water the mouth of the channel and move up in a direct straight course to the draws of the bridges. By hugging the wall of the improved flats owned by the New York and New England Railroad and shaping thence a course inside the light broken lines representing the 16-foot contours on drawing for the western (Boston side) draw of the Congress Street Bridge, a vessel drawing from 12 to 14 feet may manage to move up the channel and pass through the several drawbridges, but often such a course cannot be taken on account of vessels being in the way, and certainly is connected with considerable risk and trouble. Vessels of larger draught, and in particular those drawing from 18 to 22 feet, have to wait for the tide to be well up before they can safely shape their course through the bridges. At a low course of tides a vessel of 22-feet draught is not able, even at high-water time, to sail up the channel. The depth in the part of the channel now generally used by vessels in making their way up the channel through the several draws varies between 12 feet and 23 feet. No channel of a depth of 16 feet at mean low water of any practicable width, such as was reported to me to have been made by dredging during the last years, could be traced by me, but the light broken lines (16-feet contour) indicate where an attempt has been made for obtaining such a channel. From the soundings taken in December last inside the draws of the three lower bridges, it will be seen that the greatest depth in the draws is found at the Congress Street Bridge and New York and New England Railroad Bridge in the western (Boston side) draws, when at the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge it is in the eastern (South Boston flats side) draw. This corresponds with the course vessels generally shape through the bridges, aud is accounted for by the fact that much of the dredging in the channel, and in the draws of the bridges, and in front of wharves, has been done at the expense of the Standard Sugar Refinery, whose property is located on the South Boston flats side, above the Mount Washington Avenue Bridge. |