APPENDIX C. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GEORGE H. ELLIOT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. the ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Newport, R. I., July 30, 1885. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith annual reports for I year ending June 30, 1885, for river and harbor works in my charge. was assisted during the year by Assistant Engineer Norman W. Ears, by Assistant Engineer John A. Judson from July 1, 1884, to eptember 1, 1884, and by Assistant Engineer George Alexander from September 1, 1884, to June 30, 1885. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers. GEORGE H. ELLIOT, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. C 1. Harbor of refuge at HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS. This harbor, on the northern shore of Nantucket Sound, is sheltered by a breakwater 1,170 feet long, constructed by means of several small ap propriations, which were made from time to time in the years 1827-1838, amounting to $70,904.82. It was not as strongly built as we would now build a breakwater in a locality of like exposure, and from 1852 to 1882 the sum of $52,452.76 was expended in increasing the width of its base and the size of its facing stones, and in repairs. It is now in fair condition, and affords effective shelter for the anchorage of about 175 acres ; but the depth of water inside is insufficient, and complaint is made that vessels drawing more than 15 feet have to remain outside the break-. water in an exposed position. The anchorage undoubtedly needs deepening to meet the requirements of the great amount of commerce which passes through Nantucket Sound. This is the only harbor for refuge between Cape Monomoy and Wood's Holl, a distance of 33 miles. A branch of the Old Colony Railroad terminates here, and considerable quantities of coal and lumber are landed at Hyannis. The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, provided for a preliminary examination and for a survey of Hyannis Harbor, with a view of deepening the harbor, and an estimate of the cost of the improvement proper to be made. Re ports of the preliminary examination and of the survey were transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 96, Forty-eighth Congress, second session (see Appendix C 12); but as Congress has not yet acted on the project submitted, the estimate of its cost is not included in the "amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project" in the following money statement. It will be found in the re port of the survey. A plan of the harbor, showing the position of the breakwater, will be found in the same report. Hyannis Harbor is in the Barnstable collection district, and Barnstable is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was $2,139.69. The nearest light-house is Hyannis Light. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. July 1, 1884, amount available Money statement. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884...... July 1, 1885, amount available ..... $248 26 142 78 105 48 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. HYANNIS, June 22, 1885. SIR: I have to report the receipt of your letter of the 15th, and have gathered the following statistics, in compliance with your request, for the year 1884: |