Number. the lower portion of the river; of shifting bars at several points between Weldon and the mouth, and of snags and overhanging trees at many places. It was determined to use the appropriation in removing the most troublesome wrecks and other obstructions, which were placed in the stream during the late war; in taking out some of the worst rocks near Weldon, and to apply the balance of the money to cutting off snags and overhanging trees. Proposals were received May 18, of which an abstract is appended. They were all rejected, as the prices were deemed too high. A contract on reasonable terms was, however, made, under date of June 21, 1871, for removing a number of the most troublesome wrecks. Arrangements will be made for taking out, during the coming winter, some of the dangerous rocks near Weldon, and cutting off some of the snags, &c. A special report on the Roanoke River will be soon submitted. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871..... Available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.. Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873... $220 75 19, 779 25 25,000 00 Abstract of proposals for removing obstructions in the Roanoake River, as per advertisement of April 18, 1871. Annual report for fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, for improving mouth of Cape Fear River, North Carolina. An appropriation of $100,000 was made for this river by the act approved July 11, 1870. Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, immediately thereafter made a personal examination of the river below Wilmington, and recommended that "the first important step in any further attempt to improve the entrance of Cape Fear River is to renew the works for the closing of the small inlets in Zeke's Island, and the jettees for the preservation of the outer beach of that island." This recommendation having been approved, work was begun in Sep tember, 1870, and has been vigorously continued under the personal supervision of Mr. Walter Griswold, assistant engineer. The responsibility of this work passed into my hands November 7, 1870. A special report concerning it was made January 23, 1871, which was printed in Ex. Doc. No. 27, Senate, Forty-first Congress, third session. An additional appropriation of $75,000 was made March 3, 1871. This work is of a class where true economy requires the availability of a large sum of money, and very active expenditure of it. It is a breakwater, intended to close breaches between Smith's and Zeke's Islands, through which a large volume of water passes in and out, with the flooding and the ebbing tide. As the breakwater is extended, the space still remaining for the passage of the water is diminished, but the velocity of the water through the opening still left is greatly increased, and with this, its scouring power. The depth of the open channels are thus increased, and the expense of filling them proportionally. The estimate of my predecessor for the breakwater was $257,000. This amount would probably have finished the work, if at once appropriated and rapidly expended. That policy not having been pursued, more money will be required for the completion of the breakwater. A special communication will be shortly made on this subject, as also concerning the steps necessary for the further protection of Smith's Island, especially at its lower point, called the "Baldhead," and at other points where the island is very low and narrow, and in constant danger of breaches, under the joint agency of the sea and the winds. During the year just ended the breakwater and its superstructure have been extended a length of 607 feet, which includes the most difficult and tedious portion, owing to the great depth and velocity of the A much more rapid progress of the work, longitudinally, may now be expected. By the end of June, 1872, it will probably be more than 2,000 feet in length. Besides the construction of the breakwater, attention has been given. to the maintenance of existing sand-hills and beaches, and the formation of new ones by the use of cheap catch-sand fences, which have succeeded well. Shrubbery and other vegetation suited to the locality has also been planted and cultivated to advantage with the same object. This work of improvement is in the collection district of Wilmington, North Carolina. The information given below is reliable, and pertains to the fiscal year just ended. COIN. Duties on imports in American vessels. $8, 419 95 97,349 68 23, 635 08 129, 404 71 4,080 71 133, 485 42 The foregoing statements include nothing but direct foreign exports; the larger portion of cotton, naval stores, &c., which ultimately are shipped to foreign ports, are carried by coasting-vessels to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, &c., and are credited to those cities. That portion of these articles not intended for home consumption could be shipped direct to their destination if deeper water existed on the bars at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, so as to enable large vessels of greater draught to enter. Below is a statement of the exports from this district to all parts of the world during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. This statement is compiled from the records of the Chamber of Commerce of Wilming ton. The principal articles only are given: Below is a comparative statement of foreign and coastwise shipments from this port for the past fiscal year, compiled from the two statements above: Large quantities of iron, copper, and other metals, and coal, are found in the valley of the Deep River, and Upper Cape Fear River. These are of excellent quality, and are easily procured. Three important railroads converge at Wilmington. An appropriation of $150,000 is requested for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 .. Q 9, (1.) $102, 514 18 72, 485 82 150, 000 00 Annual report upon the improvement of Queenstown Harbor, Maryland, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. A survey of the harbor was made in November, 1870, the results of which were submitted in my report of January 2, 1871. The improvement needed was the dredging of a channel in Queenstown Creek, 100 feet wide at bottom and 8 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $9,500. An appropriation of $5,000 was made by the act approved March 3, 1871. It was determined to expend this appropriation in making a channel 8 feet deep, and as of great width as the funds would allow. Proposals were called for by advertisement of March 20, 1871. An abstract of those received is appended. A contract was made with Mr. John W. Parks, dated April 26, 1871. Work under the contract is now progressing favorably, and will be completed this season. If the amount of the original estimate had been appropriated in one sum, the work would have been thereby completed. To commence an improvement of this kind, and then suspend it for many months until a new appropriation becomes available, adds greatly to the total cost. Queenstown is situated in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The report of January 2, 1871, which is printed in Ex. Doc. No. 60, Forty-first Congress, third session, (H. R.,) indicates the present and prospective commercial importance of this harbor. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870 ..... $2, 635 20 2,364 80 6,000 00 Abstract of bids for excavating channel at Queenstown, Maryland, as per advertisement of March 20, 1871.; opened at 12.10 p. m., April 22, 1871. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, January 2, 1871. GENERAL: A survey of the harbor of Queenstown was made under the direction of my predecessor, Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, by Mr. William Popp. I transmit a copy of the map of his survey and of his report, dated December 29, 1870. Reference is requested to the Coast Survey chart, transmitted with my report of this date on the improvement of the harbor of Cambridge. Reference is also requested to Martenet's map of Maryland. Arrangements are in progress for connecting Queenstown, by rail, with existing lines in its vicinity. When these are completed its commercial importance will be doubtless much increased. Mr. Popp estimates that to give a channel-way of 100 feet i width and 8 feet in depth at mean low water would cost about $9,500. I approve his report and estimate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Major of Engineers. Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. BALTIMORE, December 29, 1870. MAJOR: In compliance with your verbal order, I have the honor to submit the following report on the survey of the harbor of Queenstown, Maryland, made by me, assisted by Mr. Charles J. Bates, from November 2 to November 9, 1870, inclusive: The operations at this place were carried on in a manner so similar to that observed at Cambridge, that I can confine myself to merely stating that all the data furnished by this survey and mapped in the accompanying plat, possess equal claims to correctness and reliability as those of Cambridge. Moreover, the geological character of the vicinity of Queenstown, the nature of the bottom of the creek and river, &c., are such that à description of them would simply be a repetition of what has been said about Cambridge. Queenstown is situated on Queenstown Creek, an estuary of the Chester River, about ten miles from the mouth of the latter. The distance from Baltimore to Queenstown is about thirty-six miles. The town belongs to Queen Anne's County, and is said to be the most important mail station of the county. The mail is brought from and carried to Baltimore by a line of steamers, which arrive from Baltimore every other week-day, and return the following day. These steamers carry also a considerable number of passengers and some freight. The freight consists principally of oysters, fish, fowl, cattle, and country produce generally. Peaches and grain are said to form another considerable item of export. In ordinary cases the steamers land at the wharf marked Mitchell's wharf on the sketch, but in cases of rather low tide the passengers, &c., have to be brought ashore in a small boat. |