The above figures show an increased tonnage of freights over those reported for last year of about 705,150 tons. No new lines of transportation have been established since the last annual report. D 8. CONSTRUCTION OF BREAKWATER AT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. New Haven Harbor is the only natural harbor of any considerable area and depth in Long Island Sound, between New London Harbor, 45 miles east, and Huntington Bay, 32 miles southwest. At this point Long Island Sound is at its widest, and the broad, open mouth of the harbor left the anchorage ground exposed to storms from a southerly quarter, so that vessels driven in by stress of weather were frequently obliged to cross Fort Hale Bar, going from 2 to 4 miles up the harbor, and to anchor in the dredged channel in order to reach secure shelter. PROJECT. December 15, 1874, the harbor commissioners of New Haven addressed a memorial to the members of Congress from Connecticut ask ing that measures be taken "to procure appropriations by Congress for deepening the main ship-channel of the harbor to 20 feet, and for con structing a breakwater from the light-house (then on Five-Mile Point to Southwest Ledge." The memorial printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 162, Forty-third Congress, second session, stated that the breakwater contemplated would add greatly to the value of the harbor as a harbor of refuge. January 21, 1875, a resolution was passed by the House of Representatives asking "for a report, from surveys already made, in regard to the expediency of widening and deepening the main channel of New Haven Harbor, Connecticut, to a depth not exceeding 20 feet, and also the expediency and estimate of expense of a breakwater between the eastern shore of the entrance of said harbor and Southwest Ledge, so called, or such part of said distance as may be found most expedient or necessary for the protection of said harbor." In reply to this resolution a report was made by Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, dated January 27, 1875, printed in House Ex. Doc., above mentioned, and also in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1875, Part II, page 251, suggesting three locations for a breakwater, viz: (1) That indicated in the resolution and terminating at Southwest Ledge. (2) A line running nearly east and west, its middle point resting upon Adams Fall Rock, about one-half a mile north of Southwest Ledge, (3) A line 400 yards further north, running nearly west from FiveMile Point. Estimates of cost ranging from $248,000 to $465,330 were submitted, and with the report were also presented, letters and commercial statistics bearing upon the subject. The question of a westerly breakwater does not appear to have been considered at that time. This report is referred to by Colonel Barlow in the succeeding annual reports for 1876, 1877, and 1878, and in the latter year additional statistics were submitted, but no action was taken until. 1879, when an appriation of $30,000 was made "for the construction of a breakwater at New Haven, Conn." In August of the same year an examination of part of the mouth of the harbor was made, and a map transmitted to the Chief of Engineers, with several projects for breakwaters, which were referred to the Board of Engineers for report. The report of the Board, dated November 24, 1879, and printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1880, Part I, pages 449 to 452, recommended a breakwater from Southwest Ledge to Quixes Ledge, as contemplated in the resolution of the House of Representatives of January 21, 1875; but as the anchorage ground would still be exposed to southwesterly gales, the Board stated as its opinion that a breakwater extending northwest from Luddington Rock would be necessary. Their plan provided for two riprap breakwaters, 12 feet wide on top, rising 6 feet above high water, with exterior slopes of 1 on 3 and interior slopes of 2 on 3, with estimates as follows: Estimates for breakwater from Light-house Ledge to Quixes Ledge. Estimates for breakwater in the vicinity of Luddington Rock. 1, 100 32 299 $2.00 $657, 800 This plan locates the easterly breakwater so as to lie between Lighthouse Ledge (or Southwest Ledge) and Quixes Ledge, and the westerly one to extend in a northwest and southeast direction, overlying Luddington Rock. The report of the Board was transmitted to the Secretary of War by the Chief of Engineers, with the suggestion that the appropriation ($30,000) be applied toward the construction of the easterly break waker, and was approved by him January 31, 1880. Before work had been begun, the details of cross-section were modified with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, so that the exterior slope should be 1 on 2 and the interior 1 on 1. The first load of stone was delivered April 22, 1880, beginning the east breakwater at the end resting upon Southwest Ledge; under subsequent appropriations it was extended northeasterly, and completed to and across Quixes Ledge on February 22, 1890. The river and harbor act of 1888 provided: And the Chief of Engineers may, if deemed necessary, relocate the western breakwater, and the Secretary of War is authorized, in his discretion, to expend any portion of said sum in its commencement. An examination in reference to this matter was made in the fall of 1888, and the results reported to the Chief of Engineers in a letter dated January 26, 1889, and printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1889, Part I, page 679. In my annual report for 1889 (see Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1889, Part I, page 678) I presented a modification of the project, adapted to the present and prospective requirements of commerce of Long Island Sound; this modification contemplated the relocation of the westerly breakwater, by changing its location about 6,000 feet to the southwestward, and the construction of a middle breakwater, commencing at a point 1,000 feet N. 54° E from Luddington Rock and extending S. 540 W. 5,000 feet, crossing the rock, and also a breakwater about 1,200 feet long to partly close the space between Quixes Ledge and the east shore. The cross section of these breakwaters was intended to be the same as the one from Southwest Ledge to Quixes Ledge, viz, 12 feet wide on top, the top to be 6 feet above mean high water, with outer slope of 1 upon 2 and inner slope of 1 upon 1. It was estimated that this relocation of the western breakwater, including the intermediate breakwater across Luddington Rock, would increase the cost of completion ($941,135 in 1889) by about $750,000, and the construction of the breakwater at the east shore would add about $90,000 more. By act of Congress approved September 19, 1890, $120,000 was appropriated for "constructing breakwater at New Haven, Conn in accordance with the plans submitted by the Chief of Engineers in report for 1889, page 678." The estimated cost of this project from the beginning is therefore ($1,311,134+$750,000+$90,000) $2,151,134, of which, up to July 1, 1891. $490,000 have been appropriated, and the estimated cost of completion of the project is $1,661,134. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1891. The river and harbor act of 1890 appropriated $120,000 for "constructing breakwater at New Haven, Connecticut, in accordance with the plans submitted by the Chief of Engineers in report for 1889, page 678." After duly advertising and receiving proposals, a contract was entered into with James J. Moran, of Brooklyn, N. Y., under date of December 20, 1890, to begin construction of the breakwater crossing Luddington Rock, and to deliver and place in the work about 110.000 tons of riprap granite at the rate of $1.07 per ton. Work under this contract was begun on top of Luddington Rock February 18, 1891, and up to the close of the fiscal year 18,019 tons of riprap had been delivered and placed, building about 350 linear feet of the work, extending N. 54° E. from Luddington Rock. In order to cover more distance and secure available shelter more rapidly, this work was built to a height of only 3 feet above high water, with a top width of 6 feet and side slopes of 1 upon 1. PRESENT CONDITION OF WORK. The east breakwater was completed February 22, 1890; it is 3,450 feet long, extending from the foundation of the light-house on southwest ledge northeasterly to and across Quixes Ledge, terminating in a depth of 16 feet of water at the edge of the east entrance channel. It contains 293,777 tons of riprap, and the average cost (supervision, etc., included) has been $102.50 per linear foot. The whole work is in good condition. The middle breakwater, crossing Luddington Rock, is as described in the preceding section. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. With the available funds and under the existing contract the middle breakwater will be extended northeastward and southwestward of Luddington Rock about 800 feet in each direction. Future appropriations will be applied to completing this breakwater and to carrying out the project as adopted. Appropriations for the New Haven breakwater have been made as follows: New Haven, the port of entry for the collection district of New Haven, is situated at the head of New Haven Harbor, about 4 miles north of the break water. There is a light-house on Southwest Ledge, the west terminus of the east breakwater. Fort Hale, 2 miles north of the breakwater, commands the harbor channel. Money statement. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. 135, 670. 48 14, 756. 42 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. 119, 914. 06 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts . $8,508.87 99,722.60 108, 231. 47 11, 682.59 July 1, 1891, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,661, 134.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 500,000.00 Abstract of proposals for constructing a breakwater at New Haven, Conn., opened at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, New York City, December 2, 1890. Abstract of contract for construction of a breakwater at New Haven, Conn., in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. James J. Moran, Brooklyn, Dec. 20, 1890.. Constructing breakwater cross- COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1890. This is 3,000 more vessels than reported for the previous year. In neither case are the records complete, as many vessels pass unobserved in night or in thick weather. The value of this commerce can not be ascertained. D 9. IMPROVEMENT OF MILFORD HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. This harbor is on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 9 miles southwest of New Haven, Conn. It consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which the Wepauwog River, a small tidal stream. extends three-quarters of a mile north to the Milford Wharves, and the Indian River, another small inlet, extends northeasterly. The mouth of the latter stream is partly closed by a dam formerly used to create power for a tide-mill. The original depth on the bar just outside the mouth of the rivers was less than 2 feet at mean low water, and in some places between there and the upper wharves low tide left the channels nearly bare. The mean rise of tide is 6.2 feet. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. A survey of breakwater at Milford, Conn., was ordered by Congress in the river and harbor act of 1872. There being no breakwater, a survey of the harbor was made for a breakwater, and in his report, dated December 24, 1874 (printed as part of Ex. Doc. No. 107, Forty-second Congress, third session, and also on page 1041 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1873), General Warren, U. S. Engineers, submitted the following plan of improvement: 1. A riprap breakwater from Welch's Point, on the east side of the mouth of the harbor.. 4. A jetty on the east side of the channel to prevent the dredged area from filling and to confine the action of the tide. Superintendence 3. Dredging 4 feet deep and 100 feet wide across the bar at the mouth of the river 2. Protecting the bluffs on the east shore from erosion by means of small stone jetties.. $67,000 5,500 6,250 Total 5,000 1,250 85,000 |