only a few projecting points to be reduced. Altogether 834 tons were removed from the ledge. 5. Dredging a channel through the "Upper Middle Bar.”—The projected improvement at this place consists in the excavation of a channel to a width of 1,000 feet, and a depth of 23 feet at mean low water. One "cut" 2,200 feet in length and 45 feet in width was made entirely through the bar during the past season; and some progress made in a second "cut." Under the appropriation of March 3, 1871, proposals have been invited for continuing the sea-walls on Point Allerton and Long Island, as well as for dredging on the "Upper Middle Bar," and in the latter part of July, 1871, contracts were made for these works. For the completion of all these works to the extent contemplated, it is estimated that there will be required the additional sum of $415,000, and that $175,000 could be profitably expended thereon during the next fiscal year. (See Appendix V 20.) A report from Lieutenant Colonel J. G. Foster, January 10, 1871, giving the plans adopted for the preservation and improvement of Boston Harbor, the progress made in their execution, the results expected and ascertained, and the conclusions he draws from them, will be found in Appendix V 21. Amount on hand July 1, 1870... Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870 .Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 ..... $74, 619 32 100, 000 00 100, 000 00 195, 975 15 78, 644 17 175, 000 00 16. Taunton River, Massachusetts.-The navigation of this river is obstructed by several shoals and rocks between Dighton and Taunton, a distance of about five miles, the removal of which has proved to be difficult. It is intended to open a channel through them, which shall have 4 feet of water at mean low water (or 9 feet at high water) for a width of 60 feet. Proposals have been invited several times for this work, and a contract was finally made in March, 1871, for excavating the channel for $5 per cubic yard. Under this contract, work was commenced on the 7th of June, 1871, and it is to be completed on or before the 30th of June, 1872; but it is probable that it will be done before the 1st of December next. Additional amount required to complete the contemplated improvements, $35,000, which amount could be profitably expended thereon during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.. Amount expended for fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873... (See Appendix V 22.) $10,000 10, 000 608 19,392 35,000 17. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-The plan recently adopted for the protection of this harbor consists in the construction of brush bulkheads and jettees, which are built of a frame-work filled with brush and ballasted with stone. This work serves to check the motion of the waves and sand, and to form a new bank, which subsequently becomes enlarged and strengthened by the planting of beach-grass upon it. Thus far it has been attended with very satisfactory results wherever it has been adopted in this harbor. During the past year, ending June 30, 1871, about 1,700 linear feet of bulkhead and jettees have been built, leaving about 600 feet more to be done. Some repairs have also been made on the old work where necessary. Contracts have also been made for completing the remainder of the bulkhead on or before the 30th of September, 1871, and for furnishing all the stone required for riprapping the beach out as far as the beacon, the same to be completed on or before the 10th of November, 1871. Operations were commenced and satisfactory progress was made under these contracts in the month of June. The amount available will be sufficient to complete all the works now required and under contract, together with the probable repairs that may be necessary until the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. But in order to provide for repairing injuries which may at any time be caused by the violent storms to which the work is exposed, and which should be at once repaired, it is recommended by the engineer in charge that there be appropriated for that purpose the sum of $2,500 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. ... Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. (See Appendix V 23.) $10,000 00 10, 000 00 11,093 49. 8, 906 51 2,500 00 18. Hyannis Harbor, Massachusetts.-The work of rebuilding the breakwater has been carried on during the past year. Three hundred linear feet of the breakwater have been rebuilt, and 250 feet more contracted for, of which 175 feet of foundation have been rebuilt ready for the top wall; the whole 250 feet will probably be finished about the 1st of September, 1871, leaving but 225 linear feet yet to be done for the completion of the work. The cost of its completion, as estimated by the engineer in charge, will be $10,000, which amount could be profitably expended during the next fiscal year. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873..... (See Appendix V 24.) $12,000 00 10, 000 00 12, 096 50 9,903 50 10, 000 00 19. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.-The work carried on during the past year consists in the repairs where most needed of the bulkheads and jettees on Beach Point, and in the construction of a dike at Abel Hill, across the head of Lancey's Harbor. The engineer now in charge of this work estimates that the sum of $10,000 will be required for the completion of the dike and for repair of the harbor-works during the next fiscal year. Amount on hand July 1, 1870 ... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 $5,131 57 6,000 00 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. (See Appendix V 25.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Lieutenant Colonel Thom was charged with and completed the following examinations and surveys directed to be made by the second section of act of July 11, 1870: 1. Fifteen Mile Falls, New Hampshire. 2. Cocheco River, at Dover, New Hampshire. 3. Royals River, Maine. 4. Narragangus River, Maine. 5. Sullivan River, Maine. 6. Sullivan's Falls, Maine. The reports of these examinations will be found in Appendix V. The surveys of the following harbors and rivers are completed, and the reports thereon will be submitted at an early day : 1. At Wells Harbor, Maine, (act of March 3, 1871.) 2. Re-survey of Fifteen Mile Falls, New Hampshire, (act of March 3, 1871.) 3. Wellfleet Harbor, Massachusetts, (act of July 11, 1870.) 4. Duxbury Harbor, Massachusetts, (resolution of House of Representatives.) 5. Wareham Harbor, Massachusetts, (resolution of House of Representatives.) HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE PACIFIC COAST: IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS IN OREGON. Officer in charge, Major R. S. Williamson, Corps of Engineers, to April 11, 1871; since that date, Major H. M. Robert, Corps of Engineers. 1. Lower Willamette River, Oregon.-Operations during the past fiscal year have been confined to dredging on Swan Island Bar. The season suitable for dredging is yery short, being limited to the latter part of the summer, a portion of the autumn and of the spring. There remains yet a distance of 2,000 linear feet to be deepened to complete the channel to a depth of 17 feet at low water, which, it is expected, may be completed during the summer of 1872. Access to this river has, within the last year, been rendered very difficult by the filling up of the channel across St. Helen's Bar, in the Columbia River, and of that through the bar at the mouth of the Willamette, which was deepened by dredging two years ago. The increasing. foreign commerce of Portland, Oregon, needs the removal of these obstructions, many vessels grounding in the two rivers during the year, and all over 17 or 18 feet draught having to forward from one-third to one-half their cargoes by lighters for a distance of eighty or one hundred miles before they can ascend the river. The dredge-boat used on the work at present is one loaned to the United States by the city of Portland, and is not well fitted for the work, costing $3,000 for annual repairs. An appropriation of $50,000 for the construction and running expenses during one year of a steam-dredge and two scows for use on these rivers is earnestly recommended by the officer in charge. Amount available July 1, 1870... Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871... Amount available July 1, 1871 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873..... (See Appendixes W 1, 2, and 3.) $11,046 02 31, 000 00 24, 329 48 17, 716 54 50, 000 00 2. Upper Willamette River, Oregon.-A survey of this river above Oregon City was made last autumn by Lieutenant W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers. The work to be done consists in scraping the bars with a Long's scraper, and in removing snags after the high-water season with a suagboat built for the purpose. Wing-dams will also be built in several places. No estimate for funds required for the fiscal year 1872-73 can be rendered until after the close of the present working season. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871, and available on July 1, 1871 .......... (See Appendixes W 1, 2, and 3.) $16,000 00 3. Umpqua River.-An examination of the rapids of this river was made by Major Williamson, Corps of Engineers, in the autumn of 1870. Preparations have been made for blasting a channel through the most dangerous rapids, which will be carried on during the present fiscal year. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871, and available No appropriation asked for the year ending June 30, 1873. (See Appendixes W 1, 2, and 4.) $22,500 00 4. Examination of the bar of the Sacramento River, California, known as the Hog's Back.-This was made under the direction of Major Williamson, by Lieutenant W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers. This bar consists of a number of shoals extending about three and one-half miles, having 7 to 8 feet depth of water, with deep water between them. The average width of the 7-foot channel over them is 200 feet, the narrowest width 75 feet. The least depth of 7 feet is at Eagle Nest Shoal, which is about 400 feet across. Some attempts have been made to improve this navigation by dredg ing, but a rise in the river soon refilled the portion dredged, and it was found of no avail. Wing-dams have also been tried, and although the effect of those built by the California Steam Navigation Company has in some cases been beneficial, in others they have caused the formation of bars injurious to navigation. Major Williamson recommends an appropriation of $7,500 for the purpose of constructing a dam 500 feet long at Eagle Nest, and one of 700 feet near Suterville; and also for repairs of the old dam at Heacock's Shoals. To be effective, such works must be extended wherever the strength of the current is insufficient to prevent deposit. (See Appendix W 5.) 5. Examination and survey at Santa Cruz, California.-Major Williamson reports that by an act of the legislature of California approved February 11, 1870, a commission was appointed "to examine the harbor of Santa Cruz and Salina Slough in the bay of Monterey for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same, or either of them, are or can be made suitable for a harbor of refuge, and whether the same, or either of them, can by artificial means be improved." A copy of the report of this commission is transmitted. He reports "that to improve the harbor of Santa Cruz with a view of making it a harbor of refuge, a breakwater similar to the one described by the commission must be built; and the cost of such a structure will be several millions of dollars." The estimated cost of the breakwater proposed by the commission is $5,702,400. (See Appendix W 6.) 6. Examination and survey for improvement at Eureka Harbor, California. As the officer to whom this survey and examination was intrusted reported that, from an experience of six or eight years and personal knowledge of the locality, he considered it impossible to make any permanent improvement of the bar at the entrance to Humboldt Bay or Eureka Harbor, the whole subject was referred to a board of engineer officers, Lieutenant Colonel B. S. Alexander, Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, and Major R. S. Williamson. The communication of Major Williamson and the report of the board are transmitted herewith. From the latter it will be seen that the board is of opinion, "after mature consideration, that no permanent improvement of the entrance to this harbor is practicable." Attention is invited to the suggestion of the board in reference to furnishing additional aids to navigation, such as buoys and range-lights, to facilitate access to and egress from the harbor. (See Appendixes W 7 and W 8.) REMOVAL OF BLOSSOM ROCK, HARBOR OF SAN FRANCISCO. Officer in charge, Major R. S. Williamson, Corps of Engineers. The act of June 23, 1866, directed a survey in the harbor of San Francisco with the view to the removal of both Blossom and Rincon Rocks. The work of removing the former having been successfully completed, it is recommended that an appropriation be made for the removal of Rincon Rock. This rock is about 400 feet to the eastward of Rincon Point, and is believed to have an area, at a depth of 20 feet below mean low water, of 120 by 80 feet. From the experience gained in the removal of Blossom Rock, the officer in charge believes that the sum of $50,000 will be sufficient for its removal to the depth of 26 feet. For a description of the operations for the removal of Blossom Rock see Appendix W 9. BREAKWATER AT WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Major G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. An examination of this locality was made by Major R. S. Williamson, Corps of Engineers, in 1868, with a view of preparing a project for the improvement of the harbor. (See Annual Report, from this office, of 1869, page 479.) The act of March 3, 1871, appropriated $200,000 for the construction of a breakwater. In the months of April and May a partial survey of Wilmington Harbor was made in order to the final preparation of the project for its improvement. This was submitted on the 15th June, and in part approved. Under subsequent instructions about 1,400,000 feet of timber were purchased in open market. Advertisements have been issued for bids |