The channel from above Whitehead's Sand Dock to Martin's Dock has been dredged to a depth of 10 feet, mean low water, and width of 100 feet, giving a continuous 10-foot channel, 100 feet wide, to within 1g miles of New Brunswick. The construction of a dike at the "Middle Grounds" with the dredged material, the projected length of which is 3,260 feet, has been begun. The dredging of a chaunel from Acken's Wharf, 575 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, was completed. A dredging plant consisting of one dipper-dredge, three dump-scows, and one tug-boat has been purchased and paid for, and necessary repairs made to the steamer Star. July 1, 1888, amount available.............. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $14,571.86 50,000.00 64,571.86 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... $35, 672. 66 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... 1, 185. 61 36,858.27 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 27,713.59 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,572, 412. 05 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 100,000.00 (See Appendix F 9.) 10. South River, New Jersey, in charge of Capt. George McC. Derby, Corps of Engineers, until December 6, 1888.-Before the improvement of this stream was undertaken by the United States, the navigation of the lower 24 miles of its course had been abandoned and a canal dredged at private expense from a short distance below Washington to Sayreville on the Raritan River. In 1880, when the present project for im proving the river was adopted, the mouth of this canal, on account of its faulty location, had shoaled to a depth of 4.6 feet at mean low water, and the best depth in the canal, some distance above, had decreased to 3.3 feet. Above Washington a depth of 2.7 feet existed to Bissett's, 3g miles, and of 2.5 feet to Old Bridge, the head of navigation, 6 miles above the mouth of the canal at Sayreville. The present project, adopted in 1880, provides for closing the river below the head of the canal, correcting the direction of the mouth of the latter, and obtaining by diking and dredging a depth of 8 feet, mean low water, to Washington, 6 feet to Bissett's, and 4 feet to Old Bridge, straightening the channel at two points by cutting across the meadow; it was estimated to cost $194,695. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1888, was $60,738.40, with which the direction of the mouth of the canal had been changed, the dikes below Washington completed, and a small amount of dredging done on the shoal above Washington. A shoal at the month of Washington Canal has been removed and a channel dredged 60 feet wide through the canal and 50 feet wide across the shoal in the river below Washington. Vessels drawing 6 feet can reach Washington at mean low water. There has been no work done during the fiscal year, the necessary dredging plant for doing the work, purchased in accordance with the approved project for the expenditure of the appropriation of $5,000 in the act of August 11, 1888, not having been delivered until May 13, 1889. The condition of the river remains unchanged. The commerce of the river was valued in 1887 at $872,778. There has been a slight increase in the export of brick during the past year, two new brick-yards being in operation. The expenditures during the fiscal year amounting to $2,759.75 have been for part purchase of dredging plant and office expenses. 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, balance available...... $291.66 5,000.00 5, 291.66 $2,759.75 3,037.41 2,254.25 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix F 10.) 128, 695. 00 10,000. GO 11. Shrewsbury_River, New Jersey, in charge of Capt. George Mc. Derby, Corps of Engineers, until December 6, 1888.-When the present project for this improvement was adopted in 1879, the river was ob structed by a number of shifting sand-bars which had caused the complete suspension of navigation in the South Branch, and only permitted the passage of vessels engaged in commerce up the North Branch at or near high water. A considerable trade was carried on, however, even under these difficult conditions. The originally adopted project for the improvement was to dredge a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, and from 300 to 150 feet in width across the shoals from the mouth to Red Bank, on the North Branch, 8 miles, and Branchport on the South Branch, 9 miles; maintaining these channels by longitudinal dikes. This project has not been modified as to the end sought, but estimates of the diking, dredging, and cost, have been increased from time to time. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1888, was $200,128.58, exclusive of existing contracts, which had resulted in the material improvement of the river, the commerce of which had been more than trebled since the commencement of the improvement. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $10,104.87, with which dike C 4, 1,260 feet long, has been built to the height of extreme low water, and 4 feet wide on top, except for a distance of 30 feet at its junction with dike C, where it was only raised 2 feet below mean low water to permit the passage of row-boats. Dike C 3 has been built to the height of 1 foot above mean low water, and from 4 to 6 feet wide on top, and the cross-over channel at Upper Rocky Point dredged to a depth of 7 feet, mean low water, for a width of 100 feet by the dredging plant purchased by the United States during the fiscal year. The amount paid by this improvement for its pro rata share of the dredging plant was $4,339. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $1,354. 12 10,000.00 11, 354. 12 liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1889, balance available $7,087.57 8,086. 29 3,267.83 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix F 11.) $40, 062, 00 20, C00 00 12. Keyport Harbor, New Jersey, in charge of Capt. George McC. Derby, Corps of Engineers, until December 6, 1888.-Keyport Harbor was origi nally accessible at low water only to vessels drawing less than 4 feet. Before its improvement was undertaken by the United States a 6-foot channel had been dredged at private expense, which had shoaled in 1872 to 5 feet, and in 1882 to 5 feet, the range of the tide being 4.7 feet. A large commerce was carried on, however, valued at $2,932,000. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1873, and provided for dredging a channel 4,700 feet long, 8 feet deep at mean low water, and 200 feet wide from the steam-boat dock to the 8-foot contour in Raritan Bay, at an estimated cost of $30,475. The revised estimate of 1884 was $40,475. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1888, was $30,042.89, with which a channel had been dredged from the 8-foot depth in Raritan Bay to Keyport Wharf, a distance of 5,000 feet, with a width of 200 feet for the first 4,200 feet and 160 feet for the remainder. The river and harbor act of 1888 made no appropriation for this work. The expenditures for the fiscal year amount to $290.83 for office expenses. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1889, balance available $427.11 $285.83 355.43 71.68 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix F 12.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of East Rockaway Creek, New York, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Derby, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix F 13.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that Hackensack River, New Jersey, from the lower bridge at the town of Hackensack to the Erie Railway Bridge, is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Captain Casey was charged with its survey, the results of which will be found in Appendix F 14. IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE AND SCHUYLKILL RIVERS, AND OF RIVERS IN NEW JERSEY-HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY-CONSTRUCTION OF PIER AT LEWES-DELAWARE BREAKWATER. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. Henry M. Roberts, Corps of Engineers. 1. Delaware River, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.-Trenton, the head of natural navigation on the Delaware River, is about 30 miles above the upper part of the port of Philadelphia. In its original condition this part of the river was obstructed by shoals at the following localities: Between Bordentown and Trenton, a distance of about 5 miles, a narrow and circuitous channel existed, which carried from 3 to 6 feet at mean low water; at Kinkora Bar, about 9 miles below Trenton, a shoal carrying from 7 to 8 feet, and at Five Mile Bar, at the upper part of Philadelphia, a shoal across the Pennsylvania channel carrying only 3 or 4 feet at mean low water, there being however 13 feet of water past Five Mile Bar in the New Jersey channel passing south of Petty's Island. Below Philadelphia the river in its original condition presented obstructions at Mifflin Bar which reduced the depth at mean low water to 17 feet, at Schooner Ledge and Cherry Island Flats to 18 feet, at Bulkhead Shoals and Dan Baker Shoal to about 20 feet. The project for the comprehensive improvement of the Delaware River between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia has not yet been considered. Efforts in the past have been directed toward relieving commerce from the obstructions which exist in the upper 9 miles of the river, or that part between Kinkora Bar and Trenton. A detailed survey of the river between Bridesburg and Trenton has been made for the purpose of obtaining the necessary data for determining upon a comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia to meet the requirements of commerce, and also of the plan adopted for the improvement of the river at and below Philadelphia. Previous to 1885 the efforts to improve the river between Philadelphia and the bay have been confined to dredging, except at Schooner Ledge, where solid rock has been removed, under appropriations for special localities, and also under general appropriations for the Delaware River below Bridesburg. A Board of Engineers, convened by direction of the Secretary of War for the purpose of considering the subject of the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay, recommended, under date of January 23, 1885, the formation of a ship-channel from a point opposite Philadelphia, and about midway between the American Shipbuilding Company's yard and the Gas Trust Wharf to deep water in Delaware Bay, having a least width of 600 feet and a depth of 26 feet at mean low water. The formation of such a channel is to be obtained, except at Schooner Ledge, where rock would require to be removed, by regulating the tidal flow by means of dikes, with recourse to dredging where necessary as an aid to such contracting and regulating works. The estimated cost of obtaining a channel of the above dimensions is about $2,425,000, which covers the estimated cost of the permanent improvement of the Delaware River between the upper part of Philadelphia and deep water in the bay. The entire cost of the permanent improvement of the river between Trenton, N. J., and its mouth can not be stated until after the completion of the project and estimate for its improvement between Bridesburg and Trenton. The entire, amount expended on the improvement of the Delaware River from 1836 to June 30, 1888, under appropriations both for special localities and the general river, was $1,691,564.89, of which $103,494.67 was expended on that part of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia. As a result of this expenditure there had been formed at the latter date a channel of navigable width and 73 feet deep at mean low water through the bars between Bridesburg and Bordentown; a channel across Five Mile Bar 7 feet deep, and past the bar, between its south side and Petty's Island, a channel 9 feet deep; a channel 450 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep through the shoal areas at Port Richmond; a channel across Mifflin Bar 250 feet wide and from 22 to 23 feet deep; a channel through Schooner Ledge 330 feet wide and 24 feet deep, except over a small area recently discovered, where the depth is reduced to 23 feet at mean low water; a channel through Cherry Island Flats from 200 to 450 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep, and a channel across Bulkhead Shoal 600 feet wide and from 20 to 21 feet deep. The channel between Philadelphia and Camden, across Smith's Island Bar, had been improved by the formation of a dredged cut protected by revetment, so as to give a channel 150 feet wide with a minimum depth of 62 feet at mean low water. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $134,309.27, which includes the liabilities outstanding June 30, 1888, was expended in surveys, examinations, and tidal observations; in dike construction at Five Mile Bar, Mifflin Bar, and Reedy Island, in dredging at Port Richmond, Mifflin Bar, and Bulkhead Shoal, and rock removal at Schooner Ledge and near Otis Street Wharf, Philadelphia, making a total expenditure since 1836 of $1,825,874.16, of which $473,874.16 has been expended on present project. At Five Mile Bar a channel about 200 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water exists, which is the result of the action of the dike in progress of construction between Fisher's Point and Petty's Island. The extension of the dike both in length and height, which has been in progress during the latter part of the fiscal year, is expected to increase the depth of the present 8-foot channel over Five Mile Bar. At Port Richmond the extension of the 26-foot low-water channel has been in progress by dredging, and at the close of the fiscal year the previonsly dredged channel, 450 feet wide, had been extended for a width of about 75 feet to a point about 1,500 feet above its upper termination in the previous fiscal year. At the foot of Otis street, in the city of Philadelphia, where rock in place occurs, drilling and blasting, in preparation for the removal of the rock, has been in progress. The dike at Mifflin Bar has been completed to the plane of mean low water, except for a gap of 400 feet, which serves as an entrance to the dumping basin, and its action upon the channel dredged through the bar in the fall of 1888, shows that the effect of the dike, though manifest upon the bar, will probably have to be increased by raising the dike in the future to a greater height above the plane of mean low water. The dredged channel across the bar now carries a depth of from 26 to 28 feet at mean low water in a channel from 150 to 100 feet wide. At Schooner Ledge a quantity of detached rock was found, which reduced the low-water depth in the previously excavated channel to about 224 feet. These rocks were removed to a depth of 24 feet, except over a quite limited area, where solid rock exists at a depth of 23 feet. |