try, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, as furnished by the collector of customs at that port, was as follows: Duties ... Tonnage and hospital. Total.. $807, 685 56 23, 661 02 831,346 58 Yarmouth is one of the largest ship building towns in the State of Maine, and a very considerable amount of tonnage hails from that town, as will appear by the accompanying abstract, A, furnished by the collector of customs. I would also respectfully refer to the accompanying paper marked B, as exhibiting a statement of facts tending to show to what extent the commerce of the country will be promoted by the works of improvement contemplated for this river, this statement having been prepared and furnished by some of the leading business men of the place, who are inost familiar with the subject. In consideration of all the facts herein presented, and of the great necessity for the improvement proposed, I would respectfully recommend that attention be given to the matter at as early a day as practi cable. A. Abstract of merchant vessels hailing from Yarmouth, Maine, taken from "List of Merchant Vessels of the United States, belonging to the Customs District of Portland and Falmouth," as returned to the Bureau of Statistics, at Washington, June 30, 1870. The following is a summary of the principal manufactures and products of the town of Yarmouth: 4,000 tons of vessels built yearly, some of which are ships of 1,500 tons each; one of this size now being built. 50 boats being built per year. 3,000 tons of clay shipped per year. 2,000,000 bricks shipped per year. 2,000 tons granite shipped per year. 6,000 bushels potatoes shipped per year. 300,000 cans corn shipped per year. 300 barrels clams shipped per year. 1,000,000 feet southern pine received per year. 250 tons iron and spikes received per year. 2,500 tons coal received per year. 300,000 bushels grain received per year. 500 tons plaster received per year. 2,400 tons paper-stock received, and the product in paper sent to other markets. 1.200 bales cotton consumed in the manufacture of bags, yarn, &c., and the same sent to other markets. The amount of commerce at Yarmouth for the year ending June 30, 1870, was as follows: It is estimated that, by having the obstructions to navigation in the river removed, it will increase ship-building 100 per cent.; it will decrease risk and insurance greatly probably $10,000; it will increase the commerce of the place (it will be safe to say) 50 per cent. in the course of a few years; it will decrease the freight on all cargoes, as vessels now charge from 25 to 30 cents per ton more, on account of these obstructions. V 12. IMPROVEMENT OF PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINĖ. The contemplated works for the improvement of this harbor consist in the completion of the breakwater to an additional extent of about 190 feet, and the excavation of the channel through the Middle Ground Bar to a depth of 20 feet below mean low water, and to an average · width of about 500 feet. Up to June 30, 1870, 90,315 cubic yards had been excavated at the Middle Ground Bar by Messrs. Morris & Cummings, of New York City, under contract of May 21, 1869, whereby a channel was opened for about 2,100 feet in length, averaging about 250 feet in width, with a depth of not less than 20 feet at mean low water. Under the additional appropriation of $10,000 made by act of Congress, of July 11, 1870, this work was continued under the same contract, until the 3d of September, 1870, when the channel was completed to an average width of 300 feet, requiring the excavation of 118,415 cubic yards, whereby this appropriation was nearly exhausted. Amount available for this work, July 1, 1870.. $7,646 37 10, 000 00 40, 000 00 Total.... 57, 646 37 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 17,997 29 Amount available July 1, 1871 39,649 08 Under instructions from the Department, proposals were invited for dredging the channel through the Middle Ground Bar to the increased width contemplated; and on the 24th of May, 1871, a contract was made for the work with Mr. George C. Fobes, of Portland, Maine, (the lowest responsible bidder,) the work to be commenced on or before the first of July, 1871, and to be completed on or before the 30th of June, 1872, for the price of 45 cents per cubic yard. For completing the contemplated improvements of this harbor, the following estimates are submitted, viz: 1. For the completion of the breakwater, as proposed and 2. Increasing the width of the new channel through the Total.... Amount available July 1, 1871, as above Additional amount required for the completion of the improvements contemplated.... $40,000 00 40,000 00 4,649 08 Accompanying this is a map of a recent survey of the Middle Ground Bar, showing the new channel as dredged to date. The papers described as follows are hereto appended, viz: 1. Abstract of proposals for.same. 2. Abstract of contract for same. Abstract of proposals received for the improvement of Portland Harbor, Maine. Nature of work. Name of bidder. Quantity. Price. Abstract of contracts made for the improvement of Portland Harbor, Maine. IMPROVEMENT OF SACO RIVER, MAINE. The progress made in the improvement of this river up to the 30th of June, 1870, consisted in the removal of all the sunken rocks from its channel near Little Islands, (which were the most dangerous obstructions to its navigation,) and in building a stone breakwater at the mouth of the river. This breakwater had then been carried, in partial completion, for a distance of 4,200 feet outward from its shore-end to an average height of about 8 feet above mean low water, with an average thickness of about 16 feet. Amount available for this work July 1, 1870.... Amount appropriated therefor by act of Congress July 11, 1870. Amount appropriated therefor by act of Congress March 3, 1871.... Total.. $736 SO 10, 000 00 15, 000 00 25,736 80 It having been decided that the amount appropriated July 11, 1870, should be applied to increasing the height and thickness of the break water as then constructed, as much as the appropriation would admit of, proposals were invited for the work, and contracts were made with Mr. Hiram Hamilton, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Mr. Ira Andrews, of Biddeford, Maine, for furnishing and depositing the rough stone upon the breakwater. On the 1st of October, 1870, 4,652 tons of stone had been furnished in completion of those contracts, whereby the appropriation was nearly exhausted. The additional sum of $15,000, appropriated March 3, 1871, for this work, it was decided should be applied, so far as might be necessary, to the completion of the breakwater to the requisite height and thickness to its outer end to the extent already built. Proposals were invited for this work, and a contract was made on the 9th of May, 1871, with Messrs. Gooch & Haines, of Biddeford, Maine, for furnishing and depositing the stone required for this work, at $1 10 per ton, the contract to be completed on or before the 21st of August, 1871. On the 30th of June, 3,2641540 tons of stone had been furnished under this contract, having about 4,000 tons yet to be delivered in order to complete the existing work to the extent at present contemplated. Amount of funds available for this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, as above. Amount expended during the year......... Amount available July 1, 1871.. $25,736 SO 13,825 88 11,910 92 The estimated amount required for completing the improvement of this river is as follows, viz: 1. For balance that will be due Messrs. Gooch & Haines on completion of their contract, say . 3. Erecting an iron beacon on the ledge below Cow Island. 4. For completing the piers contemplated for this river.... Add for contingencies, say 2. Dredging channel through the bar below Factory Island wharves, say 5,000 cubic yards, at 50 cents.. $5,100 00 Total... Additional amount required for completing the, proposed improvements of the river.. This amount could be profitably expended upon the work during the next fiscal year. Accompanying this is a map of the mouth of Saco River, showing the position of the breakwater and the present improved condition of the channel, as surveyed in June, 1871. The papers described as follows are hereto appended, viz: 1. Abstract of proposals for 1870. 2. Abstract of proposals for 1871. 3. Abstract of contracts for 1871. Abstract of proposals received for the improvement of Saco River, Maine. Nature of work. Name of bidder. Quantity, large Price per ton of 2.240 pounds. Tons. |