UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Newport, Rhode Island, January 12, 1871. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report on a survey of Pawcatuck River, Rhode Island and Connecticut, made during the months of November and December, 1870, agreeably to instructions received from you, dated November 15, 1870. The authorization of this survey by Congress was obtained through the representations of the Hon. Nathan M. Dixon, M. C., on the strength of petitions of prominent citizens of Westerly and vicinity, and of other parties interested in navigation.

The object had in view was to improve the navigability of the river by opening a channel at whatever points needed, to allow the passage of vessels trading at Lottery and Westerly to said places, instead of having to be lightered at Stonington and their cargoes transported by scows or rail.

It is impossible for vessels drawing more than 24 feet to get above Lottery at mean low water.

The mean rise and fall of the tides here is about 3 feet. The tide observations are appended to this report.

From a preliminary examination and a conference with those interested in said improvement, it seemed that a channel of 100 feet in width, with a depth, at mean low water, of about 7 feet, would be necessary. Since completion of survey, however, it has been decided that a channel of 75 feet in width, with a depth of 5 feet at mean low water, will answer all requirements.

The present channel was opened by citizens of Westerly about twelve years ago, who expended thereon $4,200. The material removed was deposited alongside the channel, and has been gradually filling it up again. Of the extent of this work I could get no positive information.'

The surveys made were a limited topographical and full hydrographical survey, extending from the bridge over Pawcatuck River, in Westerly, to Little Narraganset Bay, a distance of about six miles; and their progress was submitted to you weekly.

The surveys have been plotted to a scale of . Contours of planes of 2, 4, 6, and 12 feet below mean low water, are shown in black-dotted, green-dotted, full green, and red lines respectively.

The lines of the proposed channel are shown by straight black lines.

A profile of the center-line of the proposed channel is drawn to a scale of ʊʊ horizontally and of vertically.

In order to open the proposed channel, (75 feet wide and 5 feet deep at mean low water, and giving the sides a slope of 45°,) there will have to be removed 69,413 cubic yards; which, at a cost of 30 cents per yard, would amount to $20,824, and allowing 10 per cent. for superintendence, &c., would make a sum total of $22,906.

The material to be removed consists of fine gravel and sand in about equal quantities, and a small proportion of soft mud; and can be deposited in the coves, or on any of the flats on either side of the river, at any time excepting at low water.

The dam at Westerly is about 110 feet long in the clear, being flanked on each end by a large mill. The water used by these mills for power is drawn directly from the dam. The silt brought down by the stream from above passes through the waste-ways of these mills, and is deposited gradually down stream, but is small in quantity, as the stream is generally clear water.

On consideration of facts attending, the channel proposed will keep itself open, or at least will need no attention for the next twenty years.

Westerly is the depot, both by water and rail, for nearly all the supplies consumed in living and manufactures by the residents of a large extent of country, through the valley of which flows the Pawcatuck River and tributaries, on which are a great number of mills engaged in the manufacture of cotton, woolen, and other goods.

It was impossible for me to get the percentage of articles of export and import by water, excepting coal and lumber. Nearly all of these articles are shipped by vessels to Stonington, and thence, by scows, to Westerly; this reshipment at Stonington makes an increase in the cost of coal per ton of 70 cents, and, on an average, yearly total increase in the cost of both coal and lumber of $13,000. Thus it will be seen that the increased cost of two articles alone, for two years, would pay for the proposed improvements.

In addition to this, I beg leave to submit the papers which contain the calculations 'for sectional excavations and total amount, prepared by Mr. George H. Mann, civil engineer.

I also submit a small printed description of Westerly and its manufactures; also, a paper containing information derived from Mr. Segar, relative to the vessels, class, value, tonnage, and draught owned by citizens of Westerly; also, a paper written by Mr. George Hubbard, collector of customs at Stonington, Connecticut, without reference to any data he may have had, and which I do not deem of much value. Also, a paper containing an estimate of imports and exports during one current year, with statistics of all vessels and shipping on Pawcatuck River.

This information was obtained from the following named persons: W. A. Burdick,

agent for granite works; Batterson & Ledward, granite works; Samuel B. Segar, coal dealer; Thomas Segar, coal dealer; Samuel Cross, Rhode Island legislature; Captain Joshua Thompson, merchant; Charles Maxon & Co.; Moss & Babcock, cotton and woolen manufacturers; Cottrell & Babcock, printing-press, &c., manufacturers; Stillman Bros.; Stillman & Clark; Dudley R. Wheeler, and others engaged in the manufacturing business. I was assisted in the survey by Mr. George H. Mann, civil engineer. I also had the services of General H. A. Frink, civil engineer.

In conclusion, I think the business interests of Westerly and vicinity would call for a favorable consideration of the proposed improvements of Pawcatuck River, Rhode Island and Connecticut, by our next Congress.

I am, sir, respectfully yours,

Major General G. K. WARREN,

Major of Engineers, U. S. A.

JOHN H. DAGER,

Civil Engineer.

Extracts taken from Webb's Northeastern Railway and Manufacturers' Statistical Gazeteer

for 1870.

Westerly, eighteen miles from New London, forty-four from Providence, one hundred and forty-four from New York, eighty-eight from Boston, and six from the Atlantic Ocean, at the head of navigation on the Pawcatuck River. The Indian name for this village and town is Misquamicut, located on the Stonington and Providence Railroad. The river is navigable for vessels, to the village, of 40 and 50 tons. A small steamer plies, during the summer months, between this place and Watch Hill, a famous summer resort, where are located several first-class hotels, which are liberally patronized by the citizens of our largest cities.

Westerly is a very wealthy, enterprising, and rapidly growing place, of about 5,000 inhabitants, containing four or five churches, four banks, two weekly newspapers, and one of the most substantially built, elegantly furnished hotels in the United States, erected by Babcock & Moss, a manufacturing firm of this place, and opened to the public in 1868. It is dedicated to the memory of the Dixon family, and called the "Dixon House."

MANUFACTURES.

Cottrell & Babcock, established in 1855, manufacturers of machinery in general, principally woolen machinery and printing-presses. Their machine-shop, 70 by 80, three stories; foundery, 75 by 50, one story; and blacksmith-shop, 30 by 85, one story; pattern-house, 30 by 40 feet, two stories, and store-house, 30 by 50, two stories; employ 150 men; consume 500 tons cast iron, 100 tons wrought iron, and 200,000 feet of lumber annually. This firm produced last year about $150,000 worth of goods, which were shipped to different parts of our country; also to Canada and South America. Their machinery is driven by a 45 horse-power engine.

Stillman, Bros. & Co., succeeded J. P. Stillman & Co. in 1858, who commenced in 1842. They manufacture wood-working machinery, planes, and brass roller shives. They employ 25 persons, and occupy a room 40 by 48, and another 20 by 24. Power furnished by Stillman's turbine water-wheel.

Babcock & Moss occupy two mills at Stillmanville, one-quarter mile north of the depot for the manufacture of cassimers and cottonades; one being of three stories, the other two and a half, running eight sets on cassimeres and eight on cottonades. Employing 350 persons; making 20,000 yards of cottonades and 6,000 yards of cassimeres per week; using 7,500 pounds of wool per week for cassimeres.

The machinery is driven by three of Stillman's turbine wheels, and a 90-horse Corliss engine, patent and make, using five tubular boilers, made by Hicks, of Providence. This company also run another mill in the south part of the village, near the river, formerly occupied by Campbell & Co. It contains nine sets for cassimeres, run by a 90-horse Corliss engine and make, with six tubular boilers, making about 600 yards per week.

O. M. Stillman occupies a four-story brick mill 100 by 48, built in 1848, for the manufacture of cassimeres; employing 100 persons, running six sets of woolen machinery, and thirty-six looms, turning out 6,000 yards per week; using up 5,000 pounds of clean wool per week. The power is furnished by Stillman's turbine wheel, and a 25 horsepower engine, built by the Putnam Machine Company, of Fitchburgh, Massachusetts. The pay-roll amounts to $3,500 per month. The average wages per month for males and females, $35. This manufactory is located about one-quarter of a mile north of the depot, on the Pawcatuck River. There are also, in connection with this manufactory, two wooden buildings, two stories, each 150 by 30 and 40 by 70 feet, used for dye-house,

wool-sorting, and fulling-out. The details of this concern are under the charge of J. R. Scott, superintendent.

E. &. H. Babcock commenced the manufacturing business in 1844. They now occupy two mills at Potter's Hill, built in 1847, four miles north of Westerly, one of them three stories, built of stone, 54 by 108 feet; the other three stories, built of wood, about 40 by 80 feet. They employ 110 persons manufacturing flannels, using eight sets of machinery, 100 looms, and turning out about 15,000 yards per week. The mills are run by water-power, using a United States iron water-wheel. The selling agents are Sutton, Smith & Co., No. 85 Worth street, New York. This company run a small mill at Slocumville.

White Rock Manufacturing Company. This company occupies a mill built in 1849, at White Rock Village, one mile north of the depot, for the manufacture of roll jaconets and fine shirtings; four stories, brick, 180 by 50; employ 150 persons, running 10,000 spindles, 224 looms, using 15 bales of cotton per week, the average production being 2,700 yards per week. The motive power is furnished by a French turbine waterwheel and one United States wheel, the fall being about 8 feet. The mill is located on the Pawcatuck River, with walks tastefully laid out in front of the building; a fine grove on the grounds adds a pleasant aspect to the surroundings. A village of sixteen houses is located directly opposite. This company have taken great pride in making this place the pleasantest and neatest manufacturing village in New England, and we say that they have done so; a striking contrast with some other villages owned by less enterprising proprietors in New England. The rules of the mill are so arranged as to insure neatness and order unexcelled, and we venture to say that the finest-dressed persons can visit this manufactory and not fear of soiling their garments, as the mill is kept in perfect order in every detail. This company also run two woolen-mills in the center of the village of Westerly, one built of stone, 60 by 40 feet, three stories and attic, the other of brick, 60 by 25, five stories. They employ 45 persons in these two mills manufacturing lindseys, the weekly production being 1,680 yards.

There are six sets of cassimere machinery now standing, three of them running for 44 linsey-looms.

A new mill is now in course of erection, to be three stories high, and about 100 by 48, with a dye-house 24 by 48. This new mill is situated adjoining the other, and is designed for six sets of machinery, including 30 cassimere looms that are not now in operation. The new mill will probably be in full operation in the fall of 1869. cock & Moss are agents for the company.

Vessels trading on Pawcatuck River, Connecticut.

Bab

Average draught, loaded. 74 feet.

Forty-four transient vessels, 250 tons each; twenty-one transient vessels, 200 tons each. All were obliged to be lightered.

Tons per

Estimate of freight exported from Westerly, Rhode Island, during one current year.

Estimate of freight received at Westerly, Rhode Island, during one current year.

About 12,000 tons of coal annually on road and river.

About 10,000 tons of coal annually on river.

Increase of cost per ton owing to lighterage, 70 cents per ton.
Average cost of coal for 1870, $8, from Rondout and Philadelphia.
White Bar, comparatively little obstructions.

Depth of 5 feet at low water sufficient.

Statement of vessels belonging to Westerly, Rhode Island.

17 sail-vessels, tonnage.. 2 steamers, tonnage

600 240

840

There is brought to this port for the consumption of Westerly, from one and one-half to two and one-half million feet of lumber, which is discharged at Stonington, and conveyed in lighters up the river. There is also, say, some 3,000 tons or more of coals brought in their own and other vessels, part of which is reshipped here in lighters and by rail. There are also several vessel-loads of brick, molding-sand, &c. There is also a very extensive granite-quarry business done from Westerly, probably $2,000,000 shipped by vessels and rail; also a large business done in manufacturing cotton and woolen goods.

The great reason for these vessels discharging cargoes at Stonington is, in consequence of obstructions in Pawcatuck Bay and River; the first called "White Bar," with, say, from 6 to 7 feet at flood; the other is what is called Kenyan's Bar, above Pawcatuck Rock, near the cemetery. Could these obstructions be removed, it would be a very great convenience to the public of Westerly, thereby saving both in time and money.

At the present time there is probably more business done at Westerly and vicinity than all the balance of the district in manufacture, &c., department. It is a very flourishing and business community.

GEO. HUBBARD,

Collector of Customs at Stonington, Connecticut.

T 7.

Improvement of Thames River, Connecticut.

At the time of my last annual report, September 30, 1870, there was a balance on hand from previous appropriations of $556 08, which, under a wrong impression, I stated would revert to the Treasury under the act approved July 30, 1870. This amount was, however, available at that time. The act approved March 3, 1871, made an additional appropriation of $15,000.

The map of the river, from the survey that was made in June, 1870, was completed last February, on a scale of about 182 feet to the inch. This scale was taken as being an equal multiple of the original map of the river, made by Major Bache, when conducting the first works of improvement, in 1837-38. Captain J. A. Judson, civil engineer, made this map, and he prepared a report, dated March 1, 1870, giving a history of former works of improvement as far as this office furnished records, the present condition of the river, and recommendations for further improvements. This report and the map were sent to the Engineer headquarters on the 22d of last June, but a copy of the report is now annexed to this report.

It appears, from the last survey, that there is a "middle ground" in Norwich Harbor, much in the way of certain interests at that place, but that there is a wide and deep channel on the west side of it; that then, next below, there is a shoal place in the main channel, having but 93 feet on it at mean low tide, thereby separating the deep water opposite the middle ground from that at the "coal-yards" below; that below this there is another shoal in the channel, extending from the upper rolling-mill to and below Bushnell's Reef, that has 8 feet water at mean low tide; and that below this last is another set of shoals, known as the "Haycocks," where there is but 9 feet at mean low water. All these shoals are within two and a half to three miles below Norwich, and below them the channel is deep enough.