Abstract of proposals for dredging at Hyannis Harbor, Mass., received at Engineer Ofice U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated April 2, 1889, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, on Tuesday, the 23d day of April, 1889. [To be commenced on or before May 15, 1889 and completed on or before July 1, 1899. Į Nantucket Harbor is the only one between the harbors of Martha's Vineyard (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown) and Provincetown, a distance of about 100 miles, except the small harbor of Hyannis, on the other (the north) side of Nantucket Sound. The navigation of this sound is intricate and dangerous by reason of numerous shoals. Nantucket Harbor has deep water inside, and the object of the improvement is to make it a harbor of refuge for vessels plying between ports north and south of Cape Cod, estimated to be 30,000 annually. In the memorial to Congress, on which the first appropriation for this harbor of refuge was based, it was stated that more than 500 vessels had been wrecked in the vicinity of the island. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 3 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before the commencement of the present work there was a shoal about 11⁄2 miles in width outside the entrance, through which shoal the channel or line of best water was only about 6 feet deep and very crooked and subject to changes in location. PLAN OF THE WORKS. 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 channel of 15 feet depth by scour, and at the places where the full depth required will not be reached by this means to complete the work by dredging. A plan of the works may be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, vol. 1, page 578. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1888. The amount expended on this project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, was $118,458.45, and the result was the construction of the west jetty to a point 3,955 feet from the shore, and the east jetty to a distance of 385 feet from the initial point on the shore, which is the outer end of the middle of the three northwest spurs built on Coatue Beach some years ago, and the foundation was laid and the jetty partially completed for an additional distance of 200 feet. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. The contract with John A. Bouker, which was described in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, expired by limitation September 1, 1888, the contractor having failed to resume operations at the beginning of the working season of that year. The amount covered by his contract accordingly became available for further operations. A proj ect for its expenditure, together with the appropriation of $820,000 made by act of August 11, 1888, approved by the Chief of Engineers, contemplates the extension of the eastern jetty as far as the funds will permit. In accordance with this project advertisements for proposals for furnishing riprap granite were issued December 17, 1888, and the proposals opened January 17, 1889. An abstract of the proposals received and the terms of the contract will be found in the appended table. Work under this contract was commenced May 15, 1889, and was in progress at the close of the fiscal year. The amount of stone placed in the eastern jetty under the contract was 673 tons. Until the two jetties are completed and a light-house erected on one of them the end of the west jetty will be a source of danger to vessels entering and leaving the port at night. In order to avoid this danger as far as possible a temporary light has been established at the end of that jetty, which has been faithfully maintained during the year. Mr. C. O. Abell is local inspector of the work of the construction of the east jetty. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to complete the existing project is the completion of the east and west jetties, and the excavation by dredging of so much of the channel as may not be excavated by tidal scour. ENG 89-39 OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1890. It is proposed to continue the construction of the east jetty as far as the available funds will permit. Nantucket is in the Nantucket collection district, and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Nantucket in the last fiscal year is not known. The value of the harbor is mainly as a harbor of refuge. The nearest light-houses are Nantucket Cliff and Brant Point lights. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available 230,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Abstract of proposals for furnishing and placing riprap granite in the eastern jetty at Nantucket, Mass., received at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated December 17, 1888, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, on Thursday, the 17th day of January, 1889. No. [Work to be commenced on or before May 15, 1889, and completed on or before August 15, 1889.] Name and address of bidder. Price per ton of 2,000 pounds. Contract awarded to James Scully, of Groton, Conn., with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, and dated February 8, 1889. Coal. Grain Flour.... Hay COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Furnished by Mr. Joseph W. Clapp, collector of customs, Nantucket, Mass.] Vineyard Haven is a deep indentation in the northern shore of the island of Martha's Vineyard, on the southern side of Vineyard Sound. It is triangular in form and faces the northeast. The width of the mouth of the harbor, or the distance between the points of land on the east and west sides of the entrance known as East Chop and West Chop, is about 1 miles, and from a line connecting the chops to the narrow southerly end of the harbor, at which is situated the town of Vineyard Haven, the distance is about 13 miles. The entire area of the harbor between the shore-lines is about 949 acres, of which some 657 acres have a depth of not less than 15 feet. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 1.7 feet. At the mouth of the harbor the wearing away of the chops by the action of the waves in storms has been noted for many years. The former site of a light-house on West Chop has entirely disappeared. The débris is carried by the current into the harbor, where it forms shoals which are gradually impairing the anchorage capacity, especially in the upper part of the harbor. This is a new work and no appropriation had been made for it until, by act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $25,000 for the protection of the chops. PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT. As preliminary to the preparation of a general plan for the protec tion of the chops, it is proposed to devote a portion of the appropriation to the construction of a series of experimental jetties and other works. These constructions will serve as an immediate protection to the bluffs, and at the same time will furnish a basis for determining the character and extent of the permanent works required. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. During the last fiscal year a survey of the vicinity of the chops was made, and the construction of a temporary wharf for landing material, and of the experimental jetties, was commenced. Mr. W. C. Simmons is local superintendent of the work. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1890. The work will be prosecuted according to the approved project. Vineyard Haven is in the Edgartown collection district. Edgartown is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Edgartown in the last fiscal year was $408.34. The nearest light-houses are those on East and West Chops. The nearest fortification is fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. Amonnt appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $25,000,00 July 1, 1889, outs anding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. $2,737.73 3,922.72 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 21, 077.28 35,000.00 35,0ÇO. 00 Besides the above, 4,500 tons of general merchandise were landed here by the regular steamer lines. The number of vessels which discharged cargoes at Vineyard Haven Harbor, year ending June 1, 1889, was 23. C 4. IMPROVEMENT OF WAREHAM HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. This harbor is an estuary at the head of Buzzard's Bay. The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading from Buzzard's Bay to Wareham, the industries of which, and of several towns in the vicinity with which it is connected by rail, are chiefly the manufactures of iron, and depend largely on transportation by water of the material used therein. The commerce of Wareham is carried on in sailing vessels, and the channel is to be made a beating channel for such vessels. Another object of the improvement is the raising of Long Beach, over which the sands from the bay were washed into the harbor. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 4 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before improvement the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 feet at mean low water, in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beach, a narrow sand-spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abraded by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carried into and shoaled the channel inside. |