3. Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1880. The object is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels approaching Boston from the eastward. The project consists of building two breakwaters-one from Cedar Point on the north side of the entrance, and the other from the point of the First Cliff on the south side, and deepening by dredging the area inclosed and in front of the entrance. The estimated cost of the improvement was $290,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $27,376.37, resulting in building the north breakwater to a height of 4 feet above mean high water for a length of 720 feet, and in protecting the beach between Cedar Point and the mainland with brush and stone. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, the balance of the available funds ($123.63) was expended in examinations and surveys of the breakwater and the shore protection. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $75,000, which, if appropriated, it is proposed to expend in building the south breakwater and in dredging the channel. July 1, 1883, amount available............. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $123 63 123 63 10,000 00 252,500 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 75,000 00 (See Appendix B 3.) 4. Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.-The improvement of this harbor since 1866 has been in general accordance with the recommendations of the United States Commissioners, whose services terminated in that year. The objects in view have been: 1. To preserve the harbor by protecting its headlands and islands. with sea-walls, aprons, and jetties of stone, &c., and, 2. To improve it by widening and deepening the channels by dredg ing, and by removing rocks and ledges. Under the first head sea-walls, aprons, and jetties have been constructed, or old ones have been repaired at Point Allerton and the islands of Great Brewster, Lovell's, Gallop's, Long Island, Deer, Rainsford, George's, and the Castle. Under the second head, dredging and blasting has been done— 1. In the main ship-channel (originally but 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep), securing a channel at least 600 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water. 2. In Hingham Harbor (where the channel was 30 feet wide and 4 feet deep), resulting in a channel 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. 3. At the mouth of the Mystic River, which has been enlarged from 150 feet wide and 16 feet deep to 400 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water. 4. In the Charles River; its channel originally crooked, and but 50 feet wide and 33 feet, deep, has been improved, so as now to have a least width of 80 feet, and 6 feet deep at mean low water, from its mouth to Arsenal Street Bridge, a distance of 74 miles. While up to Western Avenue Bridge, 7 feet draught can be carried at mean low water in a channel 200 feet wide. 5. Nantasket Beach Channel, originally 50 feet wide and 63 deep, has been enlarged to 100 feet wide and 93 deep at mean low water. 6. The channel between Nick's Mate Shoal and Long Island has been improved from a depth 43 feet to 12 feet at mean low water, and widened to 200 feet from about 50 feet. By far the greater part of the sums appropriated for this harbor since 1866 ($1,602,500) has been expended for its preservation. The total expenditure to June 30, 1883, was $1,483,655.87. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, $87,431.90 were expended in repairing and extending the sea-walls and shore protections of Lovell's, Gallop's, Rainsford, and Deer islands, and in completing the dredging of the Nick's Mate Channel, the Castle Island Shoal, and the channel of Charles River. The amount estimated as required for projected works is as follows: Widening the main ship-channel at the Upper and Lower Middle.... Repair of Great Brewster sea-wall Dredging in Charles River... Total July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1,1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 $128,000 2,000 116,000 246,000 118,844 13 $87,431 90 8,042 12 95,474 02 23,370 11 5,000 00 28,370 11 246,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 180,000 00 (See Appendix B 4.) 5. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement of this harbor is to protect it by the preservation of Long Beach, and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to the city wharves. The preservation of Long Beach is essential to the existence of the harbor, and the natural channels of approach to the wharves were narrow and crooked, with about 6 inches depth of water at mean low tide. In the preservation of Long Beach, from 1824 to 1883, inclusive, $111,846.84 were spent; in the improvement of the channels, $28,419.16 have been spent since the adoption of the project for their improvement, in 1875. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, the balance available July 1, 1883 ($1,121.14), was mainly expended in preserving Long Beach, and in making surveys of the works of improvement. Future appropriations will be expended in repairing Long Beach and in continuing and extending the dredged area. July 1, 1883, amount available $1,121 14 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. 1,070 05 July 1, 1884, amount available. 51 09 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884... 10,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 .... 10,051 09 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 18,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 18,000 00 (See Appendix B 5.) 6. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.-This most important harbor of refuge is situated at the extremity of Cape Cod. The entire commerce and the fishing vessels of New England are directly benefited by its preservation, which depends entirely upon the maintenance of the beaches inclosing it. The project for its improvement was adopted in 1866, and modified in 1869, 1872, and 1873. It consists in constructing bulkheads of wood and stone, brush and wood jetties and dikes, catch-sand fences, planting of beach grass, &c., and it has been remarkably successful. Since the resumption of work in 1866, $113,568.44 have been appropriated and allotted for this harbor, of which, up to June 30, 1883, $108,007.83 had been expended. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, $3,333.91 were expended in extending the stone bulkhead protection of Long Point, thus completing the proposed project. The works of improvement for this harbor are generally in excellent order. Some few repairs or additions are, however, needed, as follows: I. The Long Point Bulkhead should be backed with brush and stone, at a cost as estimated of. $4,400 II. The Abel Hill Dike should be repaired, to cost 500 900 Total....... 5,800 The amount available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ($2,226.70), it is proposed to expend for the second and third of the above items, and in so far advancing the first as the funds will permit. The balance of $3,800 estimated as necessary can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. $3,560 61 3,333 91 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886(See Appendix B 6.) 3,800 00 3,800 00 7. Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is situated about 9 miles northeast of Boston. Its entrance channels are narrow and crooked, with but 6 feet of water at mean low tide, the greater part of the harbor being flats, some of which are bare at low water. The original project for its improvement was proposed in 1881, and modified in 1884, after additional physical facts relating to the locality had been obtained. The approved project consists in dredging a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, through the outer and inner bars from deep water near White Rocks to the harbor line, essentially following the direction of the White Rocks Channel. To aid in keeping this dredged channel open at its outer end, a training-wall is proposed, starting from high-water line near Little Nahant, gradually approaching the dredged channel, to which at its outer end it becomes parallel. The upper part of the dredged channel, it is supposed, will require occasional dredging. The estimated cost of the improvement is $145,000. In furtherance of this improvement there has been appropriated $60,000. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $2,138.07. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, a physical survey of the harbor was completed; the project was prepared and approved, and a contract was made for the expenditure of the amount available July 1, 1884, $57,144.08. For the completion of the improvement under the existing project $85,000 are required, of which $16,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in the completion of the dredging, it being thought best to delay the building of the training-wall until the dredged channel shall have been open at least one year. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, amount available .... $57,861 93 717 85 57,144 08 85,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 16,000 00 (See Appendix B 7.) 8. Malden River, Massachusetts.-The present project was adopted in 1882, its object being to straighten, widen, and deepen the natural channel by dredging from its mouth up to the second draw-bridge, at a cost as originally estimated of $35,000. The natural channel was crooked and narrow, and had barely 7 feet of water, which the adopted project would improve to 12 feet. By act of Congress of August 2, 1882, $10,000 was appropriated. During the present fiscal year $8,689.37 was expended. The natural channel was improved from its mouth to the draw-bridge at Malden, a distance of 1 miles. Its least width is now 50 feet, with 70 feet at turns, with 12 feet depth at mean high water. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $8,689 37 8, 689 37 37,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 37,000 00 (See Appendix B 8.) 9. Removal of sunken vessels obstructing or endangering navigation.-The wreck of the schooner Sunbeam lying in Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts, was, in accordance with the act of 1880, examined, advertised, removed, and sold. The cost of the removal was $971.52; the cost of the sale was $2.50 ; the receipts were $2.50. The work of removal was effected by contract. (See Appendix B 9.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. It appearing, after preliminary examination, that the localities were worthy of improvement and the work a public necessity, Major Raymond was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 74, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 1. The headland in the town of Hull at the entrance to Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, with the view to its protection. (See Appendix B 10.) 2. Ipswich River, Massachusetts. (See Appendix B 11.) 3. Sandy Bay, Rockport, Massachusetts, with the view to the construction of a breakwater for a harbor of refuge. (See Appendix B 12.) 4. Fort Point Channel and the channel leading to the wharves of the New York and New England Railroad, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. This locality having been recently surveyed under authority of the State, and a large part of the improvement completed under the same authority, no action was taken in the matter. (See Appendix B 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. George H. Elliot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor of Refuge at Hyannis, Massachusetts.-This harbor, on the northern shore of Nantucket Sound, is sheltered by a breakwater 1,170 feet long, constructed by means of several small appropriations which were made from time to time in the years 1827 to 1838, amounting to $70,904.82. It was not as strongly built as we would now build a breakwater in a locality of like exposure, and from 1852 to 1882 the sum of $52,452.76 was expended in increasing the width of its base and the size of its facing-stones, and in repairs. It is now in fair condition, and affords effective shelter for the anchorage of about 175 acres, but the depth of water inside is insufficient, and complaint is made that vessels drawing more than 15 feet have to remain outside the breakwater in an exposed position. The anchorage undoubtedly needs deepening to meet the requirements of the great amount of commerce which passes through Nantucket Sound. The facilities for entering the harbor are soon to be increased by the erection of a small light on the shore to range with Hyannis Light and guide through the entrance. This is the only harbor for refuge between Cape Monomoy and Wood's Holl, a distance of 33 miles. A branch of the Old Colony Railroad terminates here, and considerable quantities of coal and lumber are landed at Hyannis. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. $259 88 $261 22 40 12 56 12 96 .248 26 July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix C 1.) 2. Harbor of Refuge, Nantucket, Massachusetts.-Nantucket Harbor is on the north side of the island of Nantucket. It has deep water inside and would form an excellent harbor of refuge for vessels plying between the South and all Atlantic ports north of Cape Cod were it not for the shoal bar which obstructs its entrance. In the memorial to Congress on which the first appropriation was made for the work now in progress it was stated that more than thirty thousand vessels annually pass through Nantucket Sound alone, and that more than five hundred vessels have been wrecked around the island. Before the commencement of the present works there was a shoal 14 miles in width, outside the entrance, through which shoal the channel or line of best water was very crooked and subject to changes in loca |