Abstract of proposals for the deposit of rubblestone in the breakwater at Sandy Bay, Massachusetts, opened September 9, 1892, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

Contract was awarded to the Rockport and Pigeon Hill Granite Companies, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT GLOUCESTER, MASS.

This is the most important harbor between Boston and Portland, and is the principal resort for all New England fishing vessels. It is situated at the southeastern extremity of Cape Ann, 20 miles northeast from Boston. It is easily entered when the dangerous storms of this coast occur, and provides a secure, ample shelter for all classes of vessels, except from south winds, and from these a moderate extent of protected anchorage is afforded in the inner harbor.

It contains in the outer roadstead, the inner harbor, and in the channel connecting them sufficient deep water for the most liberal demands of commerce, but the inner harbor and channel are obstructed by bowlders, ledges, and shoals dangerous and inconvenient to shipping, and the outer harbor or roadstead is open to the action of all southerly winds.

A plan of the harbor was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, p. 506.

The first project formed for improvement was submitted January 20, 1871, and was based on the survey provided for by act of July 11, 1870. (Report of Chief of Engineers, 1871, p. 869.) This project proposed the removal of certain bowlders from the inner harbor at a cost of $10,606.20, and the construction of a breakwater from Eastern Point

over Dog Bar to Round Rock Shoal, at an estimated cost of $494,148.65. On November 10, 1884, Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, by order of the Special Board of Engineers that was considering the subject of the Sandy Bay Breakwater, submitted a project for two breakwaters at the entrance of Gloucester Harbor, one to cost $752,000 on essentially the same site as that proposed in 1871, and a supplementary one through Normans Woe Rock, to cost $607,000.

This project and estimate are published in the Chief of Engineers' Report for 1885, p. 534.

On January 20, 1885, it was recommended, in accordance with act of July 5, 1884, that a survery of the inner harbor and of the reef off Muscle Point be made, and that Babson Ledge be removed to 21 feet at mean low water (Report of Chief of Engineers, 1885, p. 541.) In the annual report for this harbor for 1887, a general project for its improvement was submitted, based on the survey provided for by act approved August 5, 1886. (Chief of Engineers' Report, 1887, p. 500.) This project proposed to remove from the inner harbor 101 cubic yards of rock known to exist, and to dredge 216,000 cubic yards, scow measurement, at an estimated cost of $65,000; and to construct the breakwater recommended in the project of 1884, that extends from Eastern Point to Round Rock Shoal, at an estimated cost of $752,000.

The total appropriations to date are $80,000.

The expenditures to June 30, 1892, were $36,692.37.

The condition of the improvement June 30, 1892, was as follows: Clam Rock had been reduced from 1 foot to 93 feet at mean low water; Pinnacle Rock from 8 to 16 feet, mean low water; rock off Pew's Wharf from 2 to 5 feet, mean low water; rocks off J. Friend's Wharf from 13 to 17 feet, mean low water. All of the above rocks were reduced to the level of the surrounding bottom. Babson Ledge had been reduced from 11 to 14 feet, mean low water.

No work had been done on the break water. Two channels had been dredged in Harbor Cove, approximately parallel to the heads of the wharves; the east channel was 550 feet long; the west, 1,000 feet long; both were 140 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water, except over a small ledge uncovered by the dredging off Parmenter's Wharf. The main harbor had been improved as projected from its entrance near Fort Point to the steamboat wharf, so that 15 feet depth at mean low water can be carried, except over 4 small ledges uncovered by the dredging near the Halibut Company Wharf.

On July 18, 1892, it was recommended that the available funds be expended in completing the proposed dredging. This recommendation was approved July 22, 1892.

On August 6, 1892, an advertisement was issued calling for proposals for the proposed dredging. The bids received were opened September 7, 1892, and an abstract of them will be found in the annexed table.

On September 16, 1892, a contract was entered into with the National Dredging Company, of Wilmington, Del., to dredge 150,000 cubic yards from Harbor Cove and the main harbor, thus completing the proposed dredging.

Operations under this contract were commenced during the last week of June, 1893, but as no actual dredging was done the condition of the improvement is the same as on June 30, 1892.

To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $752,000, of which $250,000 could be expended to advantage during the year ending June 30, 1895, in commencing the breakwater.

The prospective advantages to commerce by the completion of the improvement are greater facilities and safety in the movement of vessels in the harbor, and a more safe anchorage for vessels seeking protection from southerly gales.

Gloucester Harbor is in the collection district of Gloucester, Mass., of which Gloucester is the port of entry. The nearest light-houses are Ten Pound Island Light, in the harbor, and Eastern Point Light, at its entrance.

The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, have been furnished by the collector of customs at Gloucester, Mass.

The dates and amounts of appropriations for this work are as follows:

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.........

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..

July 1, 1893, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

$3,307.63

40, 000. 00

43, 307.63 29.13

43, 278.50 34, 500.00

8,778.50

752, 000.00

250, 000. 00

Abstract of proposals for dredging in Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts, opened September 7, 1892, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

The contract was awarded to the National Dredging Company, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers.

ENG 9348

All classes of vessels frequent the harbor, from 5 to 1,500 tons. Greatest draft, 24 feet. Total number of vessels boarded during the year was 3,312, not including fishing vessels and boats.

B 8.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT MANCHESTER, MASS.

Manchester Harbor is situated about 54 miles northeastward from the entrance of Salem Harbor, Massachusetts.

A chart of the harbor was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1888, Part I, p. 466.

The outer sheltered roadstead contains, approximately, 300 acres, with 5 fathoms of water.

The entrance channel from the roadstead to Proctors Point is everywhere at least 100 feet wide, at least 64 feet deep at mean low water, and is unobstructed.

At the "Narrows," distant 1,400 feet inside of Proctors Point, the depth in the channel is reduced to 14 feet at mean low water; thence, to the town wharves, a further distance of 2,500 feet, no low-water channel exists. Near the town wharves the channel is crossed by the Boston and Maine Railroad (eastern division), on a bridge which has a draw opening 28 feet wide.

The original project for the improvement of this harbor was submitted November 28, 1887. It was based on a survey provided for in the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886. It proposed to dredge a channel 60 feet wide, 4,000 feet long, and 4 feet deep at mean low water from Proctors Point to the town wharves, at an estimated cost of $14,300.

The total appropriations for this improvement to date have been:

The expenditures to June 30, 1892, were $7,122.09. On June 30, 1892, the improved channel was 35 feet wide, 4 feet deep at mean low water from Proctors Point to the railroad bridge, a distance of 2,900 feet. On July 18, 1892, it was recommended that the available funds be expended in completing the proposed improvement. This was ap proved July 22, 1892.

On August 6, 1892, an advertisement was issued calling for proposals for the proposed work. The bids received were opened September 7, 1892, and an abstract of them will be found in the annexed table.

On September 17, 1892, a contract was entered into with Mr. Edgar P. Lovering, of South Boston, Mass., to dredge 22,222 cubic yards. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year under this contract, and at the date of this report the condition of the improvement is the same as on June 30, 1892.

It is estimated that the available funds will complete the improvement.

Manchester Harbor is in the collection district of Gloucester, Mass., of which Gloucester is the port of entry; the nearest light-house is on Bakers Island, 24 miles from Proctors Point.

The existing commerce is nominal and commercial statistics are included in the statement for Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts.

Abstract of proposals for dredging from Manchester Harbor, Massachusetts, opened September 7, 1892, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

The contract was awarded to Mr. Edgar P. Lovering, with the approval of the

Chief of Engineers.