APPENDIX G.

IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON WESTERN LONG ISLAND, IN THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY, AND IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.

REPORT OF MAJOR GEORGE L. GILLESPIE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BVT. LIEUT. COL., U. S. A., OFFICER IN CHARGE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
New York, July 28, 1884.

GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit here with the annual reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, for the works of improvement of rivers and harbors and of surveys which have been in my charge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. L. GILLESPIE,
Major of Engineers,

Brt. Lieut. Col., U. S. A.

Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON,

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

G 1.

IMPROVEMENT OF FLUSHING BAY, NEW YORK.

The project for this improvement was adopted in 1879, and has for its object the formation of a tidal basin, by. means of dikes, which, by its filling and emptying through one channel, will maintain a depth of 6 feet at mean low water, after that depth had been once obtained by dredging.

The amount available July 1, 1883, for continuing the improvement was $8.63.

No work was done during the year.

The improved channel from the entrance to Flushing River to the 6foot curve, mean low water, of the outer bay is 6,000 feet long, 80 to 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, mean low water, with a branch to Hill's Dock on the west side of the main channel.

One thousand feet from the east shore there is a training dike of timber, forming the east side of the proposed tidal basin, 3,075 feet long. The channel adjacent to the dike is well maintained in depth by the concentrated flow of the currents, but beyond the dike in the direction of the outer bay the dredged channel is not so well maintained.

The branch channel to Hill's Dock, being opposed in direction to that of the flow of the currents, has likewise gradually shoaled since it was opened.

On the completion of the project for the continuation of the tidal basin in the bay both channels will be better maintained.

The range of tides being 7 feet approximately, the improved channel can now be used at high tide by vessels drawing 12 feet.

About 600 sailing vessels do business in the harbor, some of them drawing 10 to 11 feet of water.

One steamboat runs regularly from New York City to Flushing and the tonnage carried during the year is estimated at 600,000 tons.

The town of Flushing has a population of 15,000 to 20,000; it has many manufactories, and is the point from which Jamaica and several other towns in the interior of Long Island draw a part of their supplies of coal, lumber, merchandise, &c.

The principal towns immediately tributary to Flushing Bay are Stratton Port or College Point, Flushing, Jamaica, and Newtown, the combined population being 35,000 souls approximately.

It is essential to the growing commerce of the bay that the improved channel should be made everywhere 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep, mean low water, and that the training-dike now uncompleted be extended outward 2,700 feet to the 6-foot curve of the bay.

The amount required to make these improvements is estimated at $45,000.

The construction of the dike forming the north side of the proposed tidal basin may be deferred until the improvements herein recommended have been made.

The amount of commerce to be benefited by the improvement is esti mated at $5,000,000 annually. By act of July 5, 1884, $10,000 were appropriated for continuing the improvement, and will be applied in widening and deepening the improved channel, and in building a short length of the projected diking.

An appropriation of $35,000 is asked for to continue the construction of the dikes and to maintain the improved channel.

Flushing Bay is in the collection district of New York, which is the nearest port of entry. Nearest light-house, North Brother Island. Nearest fort, Fort Schuyler, New York Harbor.

Amount of revenue collected during the past fiscal year, $135,093,152.62.
Amount of commerce to be benefited by this improvement, $5,000,000 annually.

Original estimate for dikes and dredging.
Amount appropriated to July 5, 1884..
Amount expended to June 30, 1884..

$173,500

60,000

50,000

Money statement.

July 1, 1883, amount available

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1866. 35,000 00

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

The following statement relative to the commerce of Flushing Bay was kindly furnished by Mr. H. Hill and other residents of Flushing, Long Island:

Flushing is a city of 15,919 inhabitants (census of 1880). One steamboat carrying general merchandise and passengers makes daily trips between Flushing, College Point, and New York.

Five steam-tngs are employed in towing vessels in and out of the bay and creek. Sixteen schooners and sloops and ten barges are engaged in carrying sand, and five schooners and sloops in transporting manure. The sand industry is rapidly increasing, two large pits having been opened during the past year at Newtown, on the west side of the bay, near the mouth of Flushing Creek. The product of these pits is shipped principally from the Newtown dock."

For the following information in reference to the commercial statistics of the port of New York I am indebted to Hon. W. H. Robertson, collector of the port.

Exports.-Cotton, and manufactures of; breadstuffs; provisions; mineral oils; wood, and manufactures of; tobacco; irou, and manufactures of; leather. Imports.-Sugar; silk, &c.; wool, and manufactures of; coffee; iron and steel, and manufactures of; cotton, and manufactures of; hides; India rubber, &c.

G 2.

IMPROVEMENT OF NEWTOWN CREEK, NEW YORK.

The original project, approved in 1880, was to dredge a channel 200 feet wide, with 18 to 21 feet, mean low water, from the entrance to Vernon Avenue Bridge.

Before the improvement was begun the depth was 123 feet approximately, mean low water, over a width of 240 feet.

At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, the amount which had been expended upon the project was $24,053.13, and the improved channel was then 75 feet wide and 18 feet deep, mean low water, for a distance of 1,100 feet westward of Vernon Avenue draw, and thence 1,200 feet to East River it was 150 feet wide with same depth.

The current of the creek is sluggish, and deposits are made unceasingly below Vernon Avenue Bridge in the eddies formed at the entrance by the East River tides.

These deposits must be removed annually, just as in the slips along the New York wharves.

The amount available for continuing the improvement July 1, 1883, was $946.87.

No work was done during the year.

An examination was made at the entrance in August, but no deterioration since the close of the previous contract.

The commerce of the creek is exceedingly large, of the most substautial character, and daily increasing.

Extreme activity is visible in the channel every hour in the day, and the bridge-tender at Vernon Avenue Bridge says that the draw is opened 50,000 times a year.

Oil refineries, lumber and coal yards, and manufacturing establishments line the banks from the entrance to 4 miles inland.

The estimated value of the money invested exceeds $20,000,000, and the demand for greater depths, in the reach above Vernon avenue, is persistently made for the preservation and encouragement of all these valuable commercial interests.

On the 25th January a report on the survey of the creek was made to comply with the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, which recommended the deepening of the channel to the Central Oil Works to