No. Abstract of contracts for improvement of Wilmington Harbor, Delaware. Name of contractor. Rates. For dredging. For removing rock. REPAIRING THE STONE PIERS BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE HARBOR OF NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE. The repair of one of these piers was commenced on the 19th of April of this year. The decayed and broken wood-work has been removed to the level of 4 feet above low water, at which level the existing timber of the pier was found to be without decay and perfectly sound. A substantial wooden platform, 6 feet wide, has been laid around the pier at that level, on which was placed a facing course of heavy dimension stone of 2 feet rise, of alternate headers and stretchers, with dovetail joints. On the southeast corner, a second course doweled to the first has been commenced, extending 15 feet in one way and 12 in the other. The appropriations being exhausted, operations have ceased. The cost of the work has been as follows: Cutting down old wood-work and clearing away fillingstone and rubbish for platform... Repairing lower outer corner and building platform, materials... Workmanship. $425 20 $439 78 222 62 662 40 488 85 468 73 225 00 148 87 2,449 05 An abstract of proposals received for doing this work is forwarded herewith. Owing to defects and inaccuracies in the bids, they were all rejected, and the work was done by days' labor, and purchase of materials in open market. Estimate of amount necessary to complete repairs of this pier. 2,740 cubic feet stone facing, at $1 25. 2,700 square feet paving, at $1 00 3 mooring-posts. Dowels... Contingencies.. $3,425 00 2,700 00 75.00 10 00 790 00 7,000 00 This harbor is one of the series of ice-harbors of the Delaware, which was established in colonial days for the benefit of commerce. It is of great value to vessels navigating the Delaware in the winter season. It has been injured and its capacity dminished by the extension of walls from the shore, as well as by the shoaling of the water consequent upon the checking of the flow of the currents by various obstructions. The general interests of commerce require that the harbor should be re-established and maintained. To effect this will require the construction of an additional ice-pier at the northern end of the harbor, one at the southern end, and the removal of the unfinished pier situated near the southern line of the works, and eventually a second pier on the southern line. Estimate of amount necessary to construct one new hexagonal ice-pier at New Castle Harbor, length 75 feet, breadth 35 feet, to stand 4 feet 6 inches above high water. Total for Delaware ice-harbor at New Castle...... 67,000 00 Appropriation asked for year ending June 30, 1873....... $67,000 00 New Castle is in the collection district of Wilmington, Delaware. Fort Delaware is the nearest fort, and Christiana Light the nearest light-house. The revenue collected at Wilmington during the years 1870-71 amounted to $33,217 99, and at Philadelphia, $7,196,736 97. Abstract of proposals for repairing the stone piers belonging to the United States in the harbor of New Castle, Delaware. Ꭱ 10. CLEARING AND BUOYING THE CHANNEL OF THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA. The appropriation of $15,000 for this purpose has been applied to the requisite improvement of the river at its entrance into the Delaware, to the removal of a serious obstruction above Penrose Bridge, and to opening a cut through the shoal near Gibson's Point. The entrance to the river has been deepened 3 feet, from 15 to 18 feet at low water, and a cut 1,000 feet long and 150 feet wide has been provided for the use of vessels of large class, which now frequent this river. Just above Penrose Bridge the west shore projected strongly out into the river, making an abrupt turn necessary to vessels coming down in order that they might pass through the draw of the bridge, which was located close to this shore. When the bridge was built the trade of the Schuylkill was trifling, and the draw seems to have been placed with no anticipation of future changes. This projecting point has been materially reduced by dredging, and vessels now reach and pass the draw with comparative ease. The improvement of the river at these two points (the mouth and Penrose) allows vessels of large class convenient access to the petroleum wharves at Point Breeze, two miles above Penrose Bridge. The cut which is in progress near Gibson's will afford better access to the extensive petroleum works there, and will allow a large class of vessels to reach the extensive marble-yards, coal-yards, &c., near Chestnut Street Bridge. The appropriation of $10,000, available for the present year, will be applied to improving the channels at the points already named, to removing a shoal near Point Breeze, and to carry the cut near Gibson's through the channel above. The work has been done by contract, which method is the most suitable and advantageous for the Government in work of this character. Next year it is proposed to open the mouth of the river to a depth of 20 feet, with increased width; to remove more fully the obstacle at Penrose Bridge; to widen and deepen the cut at Gibson's, and to put the navigation of the entire river up to the Market Street Bridge in a condi tion more suitable to the great and increasing commerce for which it has become the medium. The commerce of the Schuylkill has been largely developed within a few years, about ten. The old maps show only a depth of 8 or 9 feet at the mouth of the river at low water. Increasing use, and particularly the employment of propeller steamers, have so improved this, that last year, when the present work was com menced, there were 15 feet of water at this point. Now there are 18 feet, and 20 feet are required. Vessels of the largest class are engaged in this commerce. Ships of 1,000 and 1,500 tons, drawing 16 and 18 feet water, now load in the river, and larger vessels will be employed if they can have the means of entering the river afforded them. Abstract of proposals and of contracts are sent herewith. Available for year ending June 30, 1872. Appropriation asked for year ending June 30, 1873.. 9,903 25 $40, 000 00 No. Abstract of proposals for improvement of Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania. Names of bidders. No. Abstract of proposals for improvement of Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania. Name of bidder. Rates of dredging. 30 cents per cubic yard at the mouth; 40 cents per cubic yard adjacent to Penrose Bridge; 60 cents per cubic yard adjacent to Gibson's Point. Abstract of contracts for improvement of Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania. Name of contractor. F. B. Colton, secretary and treasurer American Dredging Company. Rates. 30 cents per cubic yard at the month; 40 cents per cubic yard adjacent to Penrose Bridge; 60 cents per cubic yard adjacent to Gibson's Point. Ꭱ 11. REPORT AND ESTIMATE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE ICE-HARBOR AT REEDY ISLAND, DELAWARE RIVER. The ice-harbor at Marcus Hook has just been completed, and will be of great service to vessels hereafter, whenever the ice forms in the Dela ware. A small appropriation has been applied to repair, in part, the most important pier of the next harbor below, that at New Castle. My annual report for that harbor shows the importance of completing these repairs and of re-establishing that harbor, as has just been done with the one at Marcus Hook. Further down the Delaware, at the proper interval, comes the iceharbor on the east side of Reedy Island. Vessels coming up the river in the winter had always experienced the need of shelter at this point. Below this the water widens rapidly, and there is room to avoid the running ice. But here the difficulty becomes too great, and an anchorage was consequently availed of on the eastern side of this island. In 1852 an appropriation was made for the formation of an ice-harbor at this position. The means appropriated were insufficient, however, for the work; it was but little more than half completed, and in a temporary way, of wood, which is now decaying. This is the first refuge that vessels obtain coming up from sea, and from here they expect, in going down, to run for the breakwater harbor at the mouth of the bay. The lower line of piers of this harbor will, with moderate repairs, be serviceable for some years yet. The two piers which were placed on the upper line, but were not finished, are going to pieces. They require to be removed and replaced by durable structures, and the upper line should be finished by the addition of three or four |