The above merchandise was received chiefly by barges and sailing vessels carrying from 150 to 600 tons each, and drawing from 7 to 11 feet of water. The number of water-craft passed through the draw-bridges for the year 1882 was as follows: We would call attention to the fact that the commerce upon the river is steadily increasing; also that extensive manufacturing establishments are now being erected upon the banks of the river, which will greatly increase the commerce upon the same, and in order to meet the demand for transportation in large barges and sailing vessels increased facilities to navigate the Pawtucket River should be made by widening and deepening the channel and removing the obstructions. We wish especially to call attention to an obstruction known as Seal Rock, lying nearly in the middle of the channel of the river at the head of navigation, and we hope that such recommendation will be made as will cause its removal. All of which is most respectfully submitted. GEORGE H. ELLIOT, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, U. S. A. 2. GEO. F. NEWELL, GEO. P. GRANT, HENRY E. JENKS, Committee. PAWTUCKET, August 2, 1883. DEAR SIR: We, the undersigned committee, beg leave to submit the following supplemental report in accordance with your request to furnish additional information respecting the commerce and manufactures that would be benefited by further improvement of the Pawtucket River. Pawtucket, situated at the head of navigation, 4 miles above Providence, becomes s distributing point for merchandise to supply an extensive inland trade. Among the towns which draw more or or less of their supplies from Pawtucket may be mentioned East Providence, Seekonk, Rehoboth, Attleboro', Mansfield, Wrentham, Frank lin, Cumberland, Lincoln, Smithfield, and North Providence. Pawtucket naturally commands the trade of the territory for half the distance to Boston and entire valley of the Blackstone River. One hundred and thirty trains over Boston and Providence, the Providence and Worcester, and the New York and New England railroads pass through this place daily. Its convenience for transportation by rail, the facility with which its citizens can reach all the large centers of business, together with its manufacturing and mechanical industries, have attracted people from various parts of the world to settle here. The growth of Pawtucket has been rapidly increasing. In 1865 there were 5,000 inhabitants; at the present time, 1883, there are between 23,000 and 25,000. If we include the immediate villages of Central Falls, Valley Falls, Lonsdale, and Saylesville, we may safely say we have a population of upward of 35,000. Within these limits there is a great variety and a vast amount of manufacturing and mechanical industries carried on, and from which the General Government has in years past received large revenues. They paid during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1866, $636,691.98 into the office of the assessors for internal revenue for the first district of Rhode Island. The revenue from the Pawtucket post-office for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1882, was $12,298.28, which will give you some idea of the business which is transacted here at the present time. Pawtucket is largely a manufacturing community, and in the extent and variety of its manufactures is not surpassed by any place of equal size in the United States. It contains some of the largest establishments of their kind which are to be found in the country, among which may be mentioned the Conant Thread Company, manufacturers of the J. & P. Coats spool cotton, with a capital of $3,000,000, and employing over 2,000 operatives, and consuming in the single item of coal 20,000 tons annually. The W. F. & F. C. Sayles bleacheries, with their manufacturing establishments, employ over 1,500 hands, and their consumption of coal per annum is 15,000 tons. The Rhode Island Horseshoe Company, situated in Valley Falls, in the immediate vicinity of this place, is the largest of its kind in the world, and calls for a transpor tation of 150 tons per day, with a consumption of 12,000 tons of coal per annum. Without entering further into detail, we would add that not less than $25,000,000 are invested in the different manufacturing industries, all of which could not fail of being benefited by the removal of the obstructions and the improvement of the channel of the Pawtucket River. The specific improvements needed to put the river in proper condition are the removal of the obstructions at the Railroad and Washington bridges, the straightening, widening, and deepening of the channel, so that when completed it shall have a width of 150 to 200 feet and a depth of 12 feet at low water; also the removal of Seal Rock, near the head of navigation. Provision has been made by the State government for the removal of the present Washington Bridge and the obstructions under the same, making a depth of water of not less than 15 feet at low water; also providing for five commissioners, to be ap pointed by the State, the town of East Providence, and the city of Providence, to execute the foregoing provision, build a bridge in place of the present Washington Bridge, with a draw having two openings of 80 feet in width, and two years' time has been allowed the commissioners for the completion of the work. Commissioners have already been appointed by the State and the town of East Providence. All of which is most respectfully submitted. GEO. E. NEWELL, Committee of Pawtucket Business Men's Association. GEORGE H. ELLIOT, Lieut. Col. U. S. Engineers. C 7. IMPROVEMENT OF PROVIDENCE RIVER AND NARRAGANSETT BAY, RHODE ISLAND. Providence River is an estuary of Narragansett Bay, extending from Nayat Point to the city of Providence. Its length is about 7 miles and its width varies from 1,000 feet to 2 miles. At its head it is joined by the Pawtucket River, extending 5 miles farther, to the town of Pawtucket. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 4.7 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before the improvement of the river was commenced, in 1853, at one point in the channel-a place called "The Crook," at the junction of Providence River with the Pawtucket-the available low water depth was but 4 feet, and Bulkhead Rock, with but 7 to 8 feet of water upon it at low water, with deep water around it, was a dangerous obstruction between Pawtuxet Shoal and Field's Point. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. There was expended between 1852 and the 30th of June, 1882, $290,459.34 in deepening the channel, first to 9 feet, then to 12 feet, then to 14 feet, and again to 23 feet, as the increasing sizes of vessels and the growing commerce of Providence demanded. Bulkhead Rock was also removed, during this period, to a depth of 20 feet below mean low water. The approved project of 1878, modified in 1882, under which we are. now working, provides for a channel 25 feet deep and 300 feet wide, suitable for large ocean vessels, extending from Fox Point, in the city of Providence, to the deep water of Narragansett Bay, and for an anchorage-basin between Fox and Field's points of the following dimensions in cross-section, viz: The 25-foot channel has been laid out in straight reaches (with enlargements at the angles), with a view to lighting them by range or leading lights, such as are in use in similar cases in Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, and other localities, if it should be found necessary. A plat of Providence River, showing the improved channel, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, page 622. A plat of that part of the river which forms the harbor of Providence accompanies my special report on the removal of Green Jacket Shoal, which is appended to this report. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1884. The amount expended on the present project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $125,846.49. At that date about one-half of the excavation required for the anchorage-basin above Field's Point had been done. Bulkhead Rock had been removed, and the condition of the six straight reaches into which the 25-foot channel, 300 feet wide, is divided, was as follows: The Fox Point Reach had been completed; the Sassafras Point Reach had been completed; the Field's Point Reach had been completed; the Pomham Reach had just been commenced; the Pawtuxet Reach had been excavated to a width of 200 feet; the Gaspee Reach had been excavated to a width of 200 feet. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. In July, 1884, a survey was made by Assistant Engineer Judson, assisted by a party in the United States schooner Surveyor of a portion of the bottom of the harbor between Fox and Field's points, and of Green Jacket Shoal, and numerous borings were made to discover the character of the material of the bottom. On the 28th August, 1884, advertisements were issued for dredging, under the provisions of the act of Congress of July 5, 1884, appropriat ing $85,000 for continuing the improvement. The following proposals were received and were opened September 23, 1884: The lowest price having been named by two responsible bidders, the Atlantic Dredging Company and Henry DuBois' Sons, by an agreement between themselves and with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, the contract was awarded to the Atlantic Dredging Company; contract dated October 17, 1884, to be commenced within thirty days from date of contract, unless otherwise agreed, and completed October 1, 1885. 300 Work under the above contract was commenced October 23, 1884, and was finished June 6, 1885, during which time there were removed to the dumping-ground below Prudence Island 625,073 cubic yards of material in continuing the excavation of that part of the 25-foot channel, feet wide, which is below Field's Point. Mr. W. C. Simmons, jr., was local inspector of the work. Mr. C. O. Abell and Mr. Thomas A. Churbuck were also employed as local inspectors during a part of the season of operations. A provision of the act of July 5, 1884, authorized the removal of obstructions at the mouth of the Pawtuxet River, at an expense not exceeding $1,000, to be paid for from the appropriation for Providence River. A vessel with steam-hoisting apparatus and a submarine diver having been employed for this purpose, there were removed from the mouth of the Pawtuxet in September, 1884, forty-nine bowlders of all sizes up to about 40 tons weight each, making a good and safe channel 60 feet wide, with not less than 4 feet of water at mean low water. H. Dickens was local inspector of this work. Mr. A. On the 20th December, 1884, the following resolution was passed by the Senate of the United States: IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Resolved, That the Secretary of War is hereby directed to transmit to the Senate an estimate of the cost of the proposed improvement of the harbor of Providence, Rhode Island, by the removal of Green Jacket Shoal to the depth of 25 feet at mean low water. Attest: ANSON G. McCook, Secretary. In compliance with this resolution I was directed to make report. My report and estimate, dated January 10, 1885, were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 42, Forty-eighth Congress, second session, and a copy will be found appended hereto. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND PROGRESS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1885, was $84,334.47. The Pomham Reach and |