dredging is much greater than originally estimated, and to the cost of surveys necessary for investigation of the changes in progress and the probable permanency of the projected work. The total amount appropriated in furtherance of this improvement is $60,000. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $2,855.92. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, 170,445 cubic yards (scow measurement) were removed by dredging, resulting in the excavation of a lower channel 200 feet wide and 3,610 feet long, and of an upper channel 100 feet wide and 6,450 feet long to a depth of 10 feet each at mean low water. Two close surveys of the dredged area were made, one after completion of dredging and another this spring, for the purpose of investigating the changes in progress. The balance available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $9,790.94. The sum of $25,000, in addition to the balance now on hand, can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, in continuing the improvement by dredging under the existing project. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B 7.) $57,144 08 47,353 14 9,790 94 97,000 00 25,000.00 8. Malden River, Massachusetts.-The present project was adopted in 1882, its object being to straighten, widen, and deepen the natural channel by dredging from its mouth up to the second draw-bridge, at a cost, as originally estimated, of $40,000. Previous to improvement the natural channel was crooked and narrow, and had barely 7 feet of water, which the adopted project would improve to 12 feet at mean high water. In addition to the amount originally estimated, at least $7,000 will be required to complete the work at present rates. By act of Congress of August 2, 1882, $10,000 was appropriated. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $10,000. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. The channel has been improved from its mouth to the draw-bridge at Malden, a distance of 14 miles. Its least width is now 50 feet, with 70 feet at turns, with 12 feet depth at mean high water. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix B 8.) $37,000 00 37,000 00 9. Harbor of Refuge at Cape Ann, Massachusetts.-This bay is situated at the northeastern extremity of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The projected improvement contemplates the construction of a great breakwater for the foundation of a "national harbor of refuge of the first class." No project for this improvement has yet been adopted. The estimated cost, determined on the basis of a preliminary project, is $4,000,000. The Board of Engineers constituted July 28, 1884, under the provisions of the act of July 5, 1884, places the estimate at not less than $5,000,000, in view of the probable insufficiency and irregularity of the appropriations, and adds to this a further expenditure of not less than $2,500,000, for buoyage, lighting, and defense. In the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, the sum of $100,000 was appropriated for this work, with the proviso That a Board of three engineers, to be appointed by the Secretary of War, shall decide that this point is the best location on the coast between Boston and Portland for such a harbor that shall serve all the uses for which it may be needed. No expenditures were made prior to June 30, 1884. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, investigations have been made and information collected concerning this and neighboring harbors, under the instructions of the Board of Engineers, and a project for the construction of a "pier on Avery's Ledge, the said pier to form the beginning of a breakwater at Sandy Bay, should additional appropriations be made by Congress for continuing its progress in the future," has been prepared and submitted to the Department by the officer in charge, and is now under consideration, together with the proper application of the money available. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount available........ -$100,000 00 4,340 03 95,659 97 (See Appendix B 9.) 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. Harbor at Marblehead, Massachusetts, for repair of sea-wall. (See Appendix B 10.) 2. Harbor at Salem, Massachusetts, with a view to building a jetty running out from the mainland to deep water. (See Appendix B 11.) 3. A channel from Goose Point, in Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts, to the wharf of the Cordage Company. (See Appendix B 12.) Reports on the above were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Major Raymond was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Forty-eighth Congress, second session: 1. Harbor at Gloucester, Massachusetts, with a view to the removal of rock obstructions. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 169. (See also Ap pendix B 13.) 2. Fort Point Channel, Massachusetts. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 206. (See also Appendix B 14.) 3. Parow River, Massachusetts. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 179. See also Appendix B 15.) 4. Harbor at Hingham, Massachusetts. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 137. (See also Appendix B 16.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. George H. Elliot, Corps of Engineers. 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 appropriations, which were made from time to time in the years 1827 to 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 breakwater 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. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 185, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. . July 1, 1885, amount available..... (See Appendix C 1.) $248 26 142 78 105 48 2. Harbor of Refuge at Nantucket, Massachusetts.-Nantucket Harbor is on the north side of the island of Nantucket. It has deep water inside, and would form an excellent harbor of refuge for vessels plying between the South and all Atlantic ports north of Cape Cod were it not for the shoal bar which obstructs its entrance. In the distance between the harbors of Martha's Vineyard (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown) and Provincetown, about 100 miles, the only harbor for refuge at present is the small harbor of Hyannis, on the north shore of Nantucket Sound. Before the commencement of the present works there was a shoal 14 miles in width outside the entrance, through which shoal the channel or line of best water was very crooked and subject to changes in location. The ruling depth in the channel was about 6 feet at mean low water. and it has been about the same as far back as we have any record of it. The present approved project is to construct jetties of riprap stone projecting from either side of the present entrance to the harbor, for the purpose of concentrating the strength of the tidal currents and excavating a deep channel by scour, and, at the places where the full depth required will not be reached by this means, to complete the work by dredging. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1885, was $12,030.14. The western jetty was extended 440 feet, making a total distance of 3,955 feet from the shore. A project was submitted by the engineer officer in charge for the commencement, with the amount appropriated by the act of July 5, 1884, of the construction of the eastern jetty, which was referred to the Board of Engineers for Fortifications and for River and Harbor Improvements, and the eastern jetty will be commenced on the location decided upon, and will be carried as far during the current fiscal year as the funds will permit. The appropriation will be entirely exhausted before June 30, 1886. The work required to be done to complete the existing project is the construction of the eastern jetty, the completion of the western jetty, and the excavation, by dredging, of so much of the channel as is not excavated by tidal scour. July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1834.. $11,818 89 10,000 00 21,818 89 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of Revised amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 265, 000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 18 7 100,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix C 2.) 3. Wood's Holl and Harbor of Refuge at Wood's Holl, Massachusetts.— Before the commencement of the improvement, the channel of this strait, which was obstructed by bowlders that covered the bottom, was very narrow and crooked, and the tidal currents were from 4 to 5 miles an hour. Even with steam, only small vessels of about 8 tons draught could pass it at all times, and for them it was dangerous. In Little Harbor there was a bar which obstructed the approach to the wharf of the United States Light-House establishment, and on which there was but 7 feet at mean low water, or 54 feet at extreme low water. In 1853 and 1854 $2,482.76 was expended in the construction of a breakwater on the northern side of Great Harbor to close a passage through which water passed in storms between it and Buzzard's Bay. The amount was insufficient for the work, and the remainder of the cost was borne by private parties. In the years 1879 to 1881 there was expended $14,094.26 in cutting a channel through the bar into Little Harbor 130 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, and in widening and deepening the strait into Buzzard's Bay. The present approved project consists in the construction of retainingwalls, a hollow pier and wharves for the use of the United States Fish Commission, and to serve also as a coaling station for the Revenue Marine and other branches of the public service, and as a harbor of refuge. No appropriation having been made at the last session of Congress the work is suspended. The amount expended on this project at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $36,817.82, and the result was the completion of all the retaining-walls and the excavatious of the trenches for the pier-walls. The riprap foundation of the east pier-wall had been wholly, and that of the south pier-wall nearly, completed. About one-fourth of the masonry of the east pier-wall had been completed and the masonry of the south pierwall had been commenced. The amount expended during the last fiscal year, including liabilities outstanding June 30, 1885, was $41,023.92. The masonry walls of the pier basin were completed. The interior of the pier-basin and the berths for public vessels at the wharves were dredged to the required depths. and the coal, the west, and the cross wharves were essentially completed. The cost of the dredging required for foundations and to provide berths for vessels at the wharves exceeded what was anticipated, and for this reason the wharfing necessary for the public vessels has not been fully completed. There yet remains to be constructed the south and east wharves. In addition to the above there should be removed a large rock (esti mated at 22 tons) from the strait of Wood's Holl, which is extremely dangerous to the steamers which in summer especially carry immense numbers of passengers daily to and from Nantucket and Martha's Vine yard. The channel is very narrow and the tidal currents are very rapi and irregular, and in foggy and thick weather there is always dange of an accident, which may involve great loss of life. The cost of re moval of the rock will not exceed $500. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of 14,000 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 500 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 14,500 0 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix C 3.) 4. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is an estuary at th head of Buzzard's Bay. Its commerce is chiefly connected with th manufacture of iron, and depends largely on the transportation of m terial used therein. Before improvement the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 fe at mean low water in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beac a narrow sand-spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abrade by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carrie into and shoaled the channel inside. The original and adopted project of 1871 for the improvement, an its subsequent modification, was to straighten the channel and widen to 100 feet in the upper and 300 feet in the lower part. The depth the upper part was to be 9 feet, and in the lower part 10 feet at mea low water. Work under this project was finished in 1876 by the completion of channel from 250 to 300 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low wat in the lower part of the harbor, and a channel from 100 to 300 feet wi and 9 feet deep through and above the upper bar. The cost including the cost of some work at Long Beach, was $40,00 The present enlarged plan, the one now in progress, provides for ma ing a channel 250 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water fro Barney's Point down to the entrance to the harbor. Above Barney Point the width of the channel is to be 350 feet, with the same depth |