The steamers of Providence and Stonington Steamship Company carry 80,000 passengers annually. C 19. REMOVING SUNKEN VESSELS OR CRAFT OBSTRUCTING OR ENDANGERING NAVIGATION. WRECK OF SCHOONER BENJAMIN GARTSIDE. At the beginning of the last fiscal year the work of removing the wreck of the schooner Benjamin Gartside was in progress under a contract described in the Annual Report for 1890. The work was completed September 15, 1890. The following property was recovered from the wreck and was sold at auction October 2 and 3, 1890: 1 anchor, 1,262 pounds; about 80 fathoms anchor chain; 1 lot scrap iron; 1 topmast, and about 375 tons stove coal. The proceeds of the sale, amounting to $801.10, were covered into the Treasury, to the credit of the appropriation for removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation, indefinite, in accordance with the provisions of section 4 of the river and harbor appropriation act of June 14, 1880. WRECK OF SCHOONER WEYBOSSET. The schooner Weybosset was loaded with paving stone, and was bound from Portland, Me., to Philadelphia, Pa. Her dimensions were approximately as follows: Gross tonnage, 629.6; length, 167.9 feet; breadth, 31.5 feet; depth, 16.3 feet. She was built in 1864 at Mystic, Conn., and was owned by William F. Green & Son, of Boston, Mass. On August 13, 1890, she struck on the broken ground of Pollock Rip, and sank in 25 feet of water about 700 feet SSW. of the bell buoy north of Pollock Rip light-ship. The notice required by section 4 of the river and harbor appropriation act of June 14, 1880, to all persons interested in the vessel, etc., was given by advertisement in newspapers, and proposals for removing the wreck were invited. No action having been taken by the owners, the proposals were opened September 26, 1890. An abstract of the proposals received and the terms of the contract will be found in the appended table. The removal of the wreck was completed June 6, 1891. Mr. George F. Rostock was local inspector until January 11, 1891, and Andrew R. Elliot after that date. The work was greatly delayed by unfavorable weather and the exposed situation of the wreck. Abstract of proposals for removing wreck of schooner Weybosset, received at Engineer f U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated August 27, 185), opened at 12 o'clock noon on Friday, the 26th day of September, 1890. Contract awarded to James Baker, with approval of the Chief of Engineers, ul dated October 7, 1890. To be commenced within 10 days after approval of com by the Chief of Engineers, and completed within 60 days after commencement WRECK OF SCHOONER JOSIAH WHITEHOUSE. The schooner Josiah Whitehouse was in collision with an unkn schooner October 12, 1890, 34 miles N. by W. W. from Gay B Light, and sank in 13 fathoms of water. The vessel was loaded coal, and her dimensions were approximately as follows: Gross tonnas 276.33; length, 118 feet; breadth, 29 feet; depth, 10 feet. She was in 1864 at Waldoboro, Me. The notice required by section 4 of the river and harbor act of J 14, 1880, to all persons interested in the vessel, etc., was given by adve tisements in newspapers, and proposals for the removal of the w were invited. No action having been taken by the owners the proposs were opened December 1, 1890. The specifications required the removal of all parts of the wreck t depth of 50 feet at mean low water. This necessitated only the rem of masts and rigging. An abstract of the proposals received and the terms of the contr will be found in the appended table. The work of the removal of the wreck was completed December & 1891. Mr. W. C. Simmons, assistant engineer, was in local charge of t work. Abstract of proposals for removing wreck of schooner Josiah Whitehouse, received & I neer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated Note 1890, and opened at 12 o'clock noon on Monday, the 1st day of December, 1890. Contract awarded to Charles E. Davis, of Woods Holl, Mass., with approval Chief of Engineers, and dated December 18, 1891, to be commenced within 10 after the approval of the Chief of Engineers, and completed within 10 days commencement. WRECK OF SCHOONER S. S. BICKMORE. The schooner S. S. Bickmore was loaded with lime, and was be from Thomaston, Me., to New York. On or about October 20, 180 caught fire and sank in 15 feet of water in Hyannis Harbor, direct the anchorage area, about half way between the wharf and the west end of the breakwater. Her dimensions were approximately as follows: Gross tonnage, 224.88; length, 110 feet; breadth, 29.1 feet; depth, 9.1 feet. She was built in 1867 at St. George, Me. The notice required by river and harbor appropriation act of June 14, 1880, to all persons interested in the vessel, etc., was given by advertisenent in newspapers, and proposals for removing the wreck were invited. No action having been taken by the owners the proposals were opened December 27, 1890. An abstract of the proposals received and the terms of the contract will be found in the appended table. The work of the removal of the wreck was finished June 6, 1891, having been delayed by inclement weather and a serious accident to the contractor's plant. Mr. George F. Rostock was the local inspector. Abstract of proposals for removing wreck of schooner S. S. Bickmore, received at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated November 26, 1890, and opened at 12 o'clock noon on Saturday, the 27th day of December, 1890. Contract awarded to Hiram W. Phillips, with approval of the Chief of Engineers, and dated January 22, 1891, to be commenced within 10 days of approval of contract, and completed within 60 days of time of commencement. C 20. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF NARRAGANSETT BAY CHANNEL, RHODE ISLAND, BETWEEN STARVE GOAT ISLAND AND THE MAIN LAND, WITH A VIEW OF DEEPENING THE SAME. [Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 173, Fifty-first Congress, second session.] OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: I have the honor to submit the accompanying copy of report, dated December 19, 1890, from Maj. W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers, giving results of preliminary examination of Narragansett Bay Channel, Rhode Island, "between Starve Goat Island and the mainland, with a view of deepening the same," made to comply with provisions of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890. Major Livermore reports that this improvement can not be regarded as of great benefit to the general commerce of the country, and, therefore, not worthy of being made by the General Government. Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, division engineer, northeast division, concurs in this opinion, and the views of these officers meet with my approval. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. REDFIELD PROCTOR, THOS. LINCOLN CASEY, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. Secretary of War. REPORT OF MAJOR W. R. LIVERMORE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in Department letter of September 20, 1890, I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Narragansett Bay Chane between Starve Goat Island and the mainland, provided for in river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, and made by me from time to time. especially in July and August, 1890. The improvement desired is the dredging of a channel about one-ha mile long, 200 feet wide, and 10 feet deep at mean low water, from the wharves of Pawtuxet to the deep water of Narragansett Bay. The town of Pawtuxet is about 4 miles south of Providence, on the west shore of Narragansett Bay. Those who ask for this improvement are Providence business men, residing at Pawtuxet and along the shore north of the town, who desire a better means of communication betwee their homes and offices than is afforded by the street cars. Such a meats of communication would be furnished by the river steamers, should thi project be carried out. This improvement can not be regarded as of great benefit to the g eral commerce of the country, and for this reason, in my opinion, Na ragansett Bay Channel between Starve Goat Island and the mainla si is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. Narragansett Bay Channel is in the collection district of Provider. which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Prov dence during the last fiscal year was $269,858. The nearest light-houses are the six light-houses in Providence River. The nearest fortification are fort on Dutch Island and Fort Adams, R. I. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. W. R. LIVERMORE, Major of Engineers. (Through Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer. Northeast Division.) [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION, ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, January 8, 1891. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. I concur with Major Livermore in considering that Narragansett Bay Channel between Starve Goat Island and the mainland is not worthy of improvement. HENRY L. ABBOT, Colonel of Engineers, C 21. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF WATCH HILL COVE, RHODE ISLAND, IN LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY. [Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 174. Fifty-first Congress, second session.] OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., January 14, 1891. SIR: I have the honor to submit the accompanying copy of report dated December 19, 1890, from Maj. W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers, giving results of preliminary examination of Watch Hill Cove, in Little Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, made to comply with provisions of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890. Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, division engineer, northeast division, in forwarding this report concurs in the opinion of Major Livermore that this locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government, and I approve of the views of these officers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. LINCOLN CASEY, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. REPORT OF MAJOR W. R. LIVERMORE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Newport, R. I., December 19, 1890. GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in Department letter of September 20, 1890, I have the honor to submit the following report upon the preliminary examination of Watch Hill Cove, in Little Narragansett Bay, provided for in river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, and made by me on the 5th of November last: Watch Hill is at the southeast corner of Little Narragansett Bay; and the cove, in which are situated the small wharves belonging to the settlement at Watch Hill, is separated from Block Island Sound by a narrow sand beach. At Watch Hill is a light-house, a life-saving station, several large hotels, and cottages. The only business is that of a summer watering place, and as such Watch Hill is yearly increasing in importance. No boats touch at this point except excursion steamers and other light-draft vessels during the summer months. The improvement desired is the dredging of a channel of sufficient depth to accommodate such vessels as touch at Watch Hill to a point in the southeastern part of the cove; there is now enough water for steamers to land a short distance north of this point. This improvement is asked for the benefit of steamers running to Watch Hill from Westerly, Stonington, Norwich, and New London, for the accommodation of summer visitors, which can not be regarded as in the interest of general commerce. For this reason, in my opinion, Watch Hill Cove, in Little Narragansett Bay, is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. Watch Hill Cove is in the collection district of Stonington, which is |