sive, amounting to $198,000, the channel of the Penobscot at Bangor, and for a distance of 3} miles below, was opened to a width of not less tban 300 feet, and to a depth of 14 feet at low water, in the shoalest part of which there was before not more than 8 feet, and all dangerous rocks removed from the channel; and at Bucksport the middle ground, with but 4 feet at mean low water, was dredged to a depth of 12 feet. This work, completed in 1880, has stood well and proved satisfactory.

The river and barbor act of August 2, 1882, made provision for an examinatiou and survey of “ Penobscot River and Bangor Harbor, Maine.” In compliance therewith, and in consequence of representa

" tions of the want of harbor room at Bangor, a project and estimate was submitted to Congress for widening the channel opposite Bangor, and for widening, straightening, and deepening the channel of the river near Crosby's Narrows, at a total estimated cost of $75,000.

The river and barbor act of July 5, 1884, appropriated $20,000 for this improvement. Proposals received in April, 1885, having been rejecteui as too high, bids were again invited and a contract entered into at reasonable rates for the expenditure of this appropriation, which will be exhausted during the present season. The officer in charge estimates that an additional sum of $10,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, for continuing the work. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884....

$20, 000 00 July 1, 1825, amont expended during tiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 18-4

33 46 July 1, 1885, amount available....

19, 966 54 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....

75, 000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in tiscal year ending June 30, 1887

40,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1807. (See Appendix A 2.)

3. Moose-a bec Bar at Jonesport, Maine. The project for the improvement of this bar adopted in 1881 was the cutting of a safe and direct channel through it, not less than 200 feet wide and 14 feet deep at mean low water, the meau fall of tides being 11} feet. The old channel is narrow and crooked, and obstructed by ledges. The estimated cost of the improvement was $10,000.

Appropriations have been made as follows: By act of March 3, 1881.

$10,000 By act of August 2, 18-2

10,000 By act of July 5, 1884.

10,000 Total ........

30,000 Ten thousand dollars will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to complete the improvement, which is important, this channel being a general thoroughfare for regular lines of coastwise steamers, as well as sailing vessels. July 1, 1884, amount available..

$105 66 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884...

10, 000 00

10, 105 66

July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ..., 10,000 00 Amount that can be protirably expended in fiscal yearending June 30, 1887 10, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and

barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 3.)

4. Belfast Harbor, Maine.—The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1876, the object being to give a depth in front of the wharves sufficient to enable steamers and other vessels to arrive and depart in all stages of the tide. In the upper part of the harbor there was not more than 4 feet at mean low water when surveyed in 1875, and this depth increased downwards to about 12 feet at mean low water.

Under the several appropriations, aggregating $22,000, made in the years 1876, 1878, and 1879, this harbor has been excavated to a depth of 10 to 12 feet at inean low water from the wharf-lines out to deep water, in completion of the project adopted.

In November, 1883, an examination was made of the dredged chan. nel in front of the wharves, which showed that no filling had taken place.

No further expenditures are proposed for the present. July 1, 1884, amount available

$2,843 05 July 1, 1885, amount available

2, 843 05 (See Appendix A 4.)

5. Rockland Harbor, Maine.—The project for the improvement of this harbor, adopted in January, 1881, was the construction of a harbor of refuge by means of two rubble-stone breakwaters, built for the present to a height of 5 feet above mean low water, to be raised to a greater height if found necessary, one extending about southerly from Jameson's Point, 1,900 feet from high-water mark, the other extending about northerly from South Ledge, 2,640 feet; the estimated cost being for the first $135,000, and for the second $415,000; total, $550,000.

The appropriations have been: By act of June 14, 1880.

$20,000 By act of August 2, 1882.

40, 000 By act of July 5, 1884

40,000

100,000 The total expenditure to June 30, 1885, has been $82,687.21. It has been applied in the construction of the Jameson's Point Breakwater, completing it to a length of 1,400 feet, of which 291 feet have been built during the past fiscal year, the work being still in progress.

To complete this breakwater and begin the construction of that on South Ledge will require an appropriation of $75,000.

The original estimate for this work was based upon representations that stone could be delivered from the peighboring quarries at from 60 to 75 cents per cubic yard. The average of the lowest bids so far ac. cepted has been 93 cents, and unless more favorable contracts can be made in future the cost of the work may exceed the estimate. Joly 1, 1884, amount available.......

$2,603 37 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1834.

40,000 00

42, 603 37

July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

outstanding liabilities July 1,1884. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1885, amount available...

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 450,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal yearending June 30,1887 75,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 5.)

6. Portland Harbor, Maine.-The project for the improvement of this harbor, adopted in 1833–'36 and modified in 1866, 1872, and 1881, has now been completed. The last item, the removal of the Middle Ground, was finished January 13, 1885, by the dredging, during the season, of 124,603 cubic yards of material.

A balance of the last appropriation remains on hand, as stated below, available for future contingencies. July 1, 1884, amount available....,

3174 03 Aniount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.

30,000 00

30, 174 03 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884

21,837 74 July 1, 1885, amount available

8,336 29 (See Appendix A 6.)

7. Kennebunk River, Maine.—The improvement of the channel from the mouth of the river to Kennebunkport was completed in 1882, as projected. In September and October, 1883, the Government wharf was repaired, leaving a small balance on hand available for contingencies. Joly 1, 1884, amount available

$336 34 July 1, 1885, amount available

336 34 (See Appendix A 7.)

8. Breakwater at mouth of Saco River, Maine.—This breakwater, built between 1869 and 1873, was found, by a survey made in 1883, to require repairs and raising to enable it to better effect its object of preventing the encroachment of sand on the channel of the Saco River at the mouth. The estimate for this purpose was $70,000, and $15,000 was appropriated in the act of July 5, 1884. This sum is now being expended under contract, and up to June 30, the outer end of the breakwater bad been raised avd repaired for the length of 150 feet. The appropriation will be exhausted in the fall, and $50,000 is asked for continuing the work. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.

$15, 000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.

$3, 837 76 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.

868 64

4,706 40 July 1, 1885, amount available ....

10, 293 60 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project

55, 000 00 Amount that can be protitably expended in fiscal yearending June 30, 1887. 50, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 8.)

9. Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.-The project for the improve ment of this harbor, adopted in 1879, embraced three items, viz:

(1) The closing of the channel between Great and Goat islands, par. allel and close to the " Third Bridge,” stopping a tidal current which was stated to be very inconvenient. This was done in 1880.

(2) The removal to 20 feet low-water depth of Gangway Rock, a lenge in the channel opposite the navy-yard, which had but 12 feet depth at mean low water. This is about one-half done.

(3) The removal of part of the ledge at the southwestern point of Balger's Island, which is in the way of vessels coming down the harbor on the ebb tide. This is about one half done.

The original estimate for these works was $150,000, and the appropriations have beenBy act of March 3, 1879

$10,000 By act of June 14, 18-0.

25,000 By act of March 3, 1881

20,000 By act of August 2, 1882

17,000 By act of July 5, 1854

20,000 Total

92,000 The officer in charge estimates that an additional appropriation of $30,000 will be required to wholly remove Gangway Rock and complete the removal of Badger's Island Ledge.

When these two are removed the project adopted in 1879 for the im. provement of this harbor will be completed. July 1, 1-84, amount available......

$4, 130 05 Amount appropriated by aci approved July 5, 1804.

20,000 00

24, 130 05

July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884

$&, 479 05 July 1, 15-5, outstanding liabilities..

440 00

8,919 05

July 1, 1-23, amount available .....

15, 211 00 Amount (estimated) reqnired for completion of existing project... 30, 000 00 Amount that can be protitably expended in tiscal yearending June 30, 1887 30,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and

barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 9.) 10. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.—The upper part of the channel of this river from the Lower Narrows to the Packet Landing in the city of Dover, a distance of about 1} miles, was in its original condition crooked and shallow, and obstructed by ledges and bowlders, with, at some points, only from 6 inches to 2 feet depih at low water, the mean rise of tides being 64 feet at Packet Landing. No general project embracing the whole of this channel has been adopted, but partial projects for different sections have been made, and executed under appropriations granted from 1836 to 1884 inclusive, amounting in all to $151,000. The work done has resulted in the widening, deepening, aud straightening of a large part of the channel, the total expenditure to June 30, 1885, having been $141,185.59.

The appropriation of $28,000, July 5, 1884, is now being expended in operations similar to preceding ones, in the channel above Clement's wharf. Up to the 30th of June, the contractor had removed, by drilling, blasting, and dredging, about 3,4118 cubic yards of material, a large proportion being solid rock. He will complete his contract this fall, exhausting the appropriation. To carry the work through to Dover, giving an improved channel as far as Packet Landing, will require a further appropriation of $19,000.

July 1, 1884, amount available....
Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.

$14 24 28, 000 00

28,014 24

July 1, 1885, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive

of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1834.. July 1, 1885, ou ostanding liabilities

July 1, 1885, amount available.....

(See Appendix A 10.)

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH

REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884.

The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement:

1. Southern entrance to Owl's Head Harbor, Maine. (See Appendix A 11.)

2. Harbor at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from the sea to the wharf. (See Appendix A 12.)

3. Winnipiseogee Lake, New Hampshire, at a point called “ The Weirs." (See Appendix A 13.)

Reports on the above were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session.

4. Little Harbor at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with a view to its improvement as a harbor of refuge.-The adverse report of the local engineer upon this improvement is not concurred in by the Chief of Engineers. The necessity for a harbor of refuge of moderate size at this locality for the numerous smaller vessels engaged in the commerce and fisheries of this part of the coast having been made apparent from numerous representations of those interested, this harbor is deemed worthy of improvement to a moderate extent at a cost of, say, $33,000. No further survey will be required to prepare plans and estimates for the work. Report printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 91, Forty-eighth Con. gress, second session. (See also Appendix A 14.)

And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engi. neer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Colonel Blunt was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed:

1. York Harbor, Maine.- Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 243, Fortyeighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 15.)

2. Wood Island Harbor, Maine.— Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 134, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix A 16.)

The survey of Suco River, Maine, has been completed, but the report thereon not received. It will be submitted in a future communication.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Officer in charge, Maj. Charles W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers.

1. Neuburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.—The object of the improve. ment is to create a channel through the outer bar 1,000 feet wide, and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 241 feet at mean high water. The project adopted is to build two converging rubblestope jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The project was adopted in 1880 and modified in 1883.