The decrease in area indicated by the above table is partly due to reduction of effective width by the extension of piers, and partly also to apparently temporary deposits of material in process of transportation by the currents from the section of river above Castle Point, where, as already stated, marked encroachments on the river have recently been made. Past experience and a due consideration of the foregoing facts and observations seem to indicate, where the river bed consists of material easily transported by the currents, as is found in the section of river under examination, that within certain limits, dependent on the character of the material composing the bottom and on the mean depth, the width of the river may be contracted without permanently reducing the effective area of cross-section. Such being the case, it follows that subsequent to and during the period while the cross-sections above Castle Point are undergoing transformation, consequent to reduction of effective width, great quantities of material scoured from the river bottom will be brought down stream by the ebb current, which predominates over the flood in strength. As shown by the current's chart, the ebb current diminishes gradually in velocity on the Jersey side on its course from Castle Point to Ellis Island, and the stronger currents of the ebb recede from the New Jersey shore. It is probable, therefore, that much of the material brought down by the ebb will be deposited in the slips, and possibly, also, in front of the piers on this side of the river, the amount and extent of the shoaling depending on the rapidity with which the sections of the river above Castle Point are contracted, and on the extent to which the new piers are pushed out into the river. A consideration of the above brief outline of the existing conditions leads to the conclusion that during the immediate future the natural causes operating will, in an exceptional degree, tend rather to decrease than to increase the depth of water in front of the piers of Jersey City and Hoboken. To alter this condition of affairs would require a change in the direction of the ebb current below Castle Point. Such a change, however, cannot be effected without the expenditure of large sums of money, and injury to interests perhaps more important than those to be benefited. As shown by reason, and proven by actual experience, no permanent benefit can be secured by dredging; hence we are forced to the conclusion that no practicable plan of improvement can be devised to permanently deepen the water in front of the piers on the New Jersey side of the river. Partial relief from the existing evil would perhaps be found in a modification of the pier-head line from Castle Point to the New Jersey Central Railroad Docks. It is thought that for the greater portion of this section of the riverfront the pier-heads might be extended out to a depth of 24 to 25 feet, without injury to the general good or permanently reducing the effective area of discharge of the river. Dredging between the piers would, of course, still be necessary from time to time to keep the slips free from deposit; this, however, could be done at comparatively slight cost by the individual owners. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. DOERFLINGER, G 27. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF PASSAIC RIVER, BETWEEN PASSAIC AND PATERSON, NEW JERSEY. The Passaic River from Passaic to Paterson is at present under control of the Dundee Water-Power and Land Company, by charter granted by the council and general assembly of the State of New Jersey, February 20, 1828, and acts supplementary thereto. The object of the company as originally incorporated was to furnish, by the erection of a dam, water-power to grist-mills and other manufacturing establishments located or to be located on the banks of the river. By act of the State legislature, February 12, 1858, the powers of the corporation were extended so that in addition to furnishing waterpower, the company was authorized to improve the navigation of the Passaic River between the mouth of Weasel Brook and some convenient point within the corporate limits of the city of Paterson, by canal or canals, or by creating a slackwater navigation, or by both, as might from time to time be deemed necessary or useful. In effecting the improvement of the navigation of the river in the aforesaid manner the corporation is authorized to— Construct, erect, and execute one or more canal or canals, dam or dams, with the necessary locks and appurtenances; and is empowered, on the payment of proper compensation, to take possession of or overflow all such lands as may be necessary to the proper execution of the plan of improvement. The act provides that the said canal or canals, and the river Passaic, and the works to be erected thereon, shall be esteemed— A public highway, free for the transportation of passengers and freight, on payment of the established tolls, and that the company may use the waters thereof at their mills and works for manufacturing purposes, provided that the navigation of the canal or canals, or of the river, shall not be thereby in any wise hindered or obstructed. The tolls are not to exceed 4 cents per ton per mile for the transportation of every species of property, nor 5 cents per mile for the carrying of each passenger, with the proviso that not more than half of the rates of toll shall be charged to farmers actually residing on the line of the improvements, for transporting lime or other fertilizing materials. Under the charter, the company has erected a stone dam at Dundee, at a point in the river about 3 miles above the mouth of Weasel Brook, measured along the axis of the stream, and has constructed a canal on the west side of the river, connecting with the river above the dam and terminating near the mouth of Weasel Brook. This canal is about 12 miles long, 75 feet and over in width at the water line, and 7 feet deep. Although otherwise well suited for the purposes of navigation, the canal is not provided with locks, the company using it solely for the purpose of furnishing water power to the various manufacturing establishments located near the terminus of the canal at Passaic. The elevation of the top of the dam is 22 feet above mean tide at the terminus of canal at Passaic. The river above the dam is said to be navigable, with 5 feet draught, for a farther distance of 1 to 1 miles, so that by providing the canal with locks navigation would at once be extended towards Paterson, a distance of about 3 miles above the mouth of Weasel Brook. The residents of Paterson, and others residing on the banks of the river above the dam, maintain that the company has not complied with the requirements of its charter, and suit is now pending to compel it to provide suitable locks in the section of canal constructed by it. The distance from Dundee Dam to the foot of Passaic Falls, at Paterson, is about 5 miles; the fall in the river between these points is said to be 18 feet. The river is said to be full of shoals and rocks, and it is probable that the only feasible plan of improvement for the portion above Dundee Dam will be based on slackwater navigation. Should the United States Government undertake to improve the navigation of the river, the right to take possession of and overflow lands would probably have to be acquired from the Dundee Water Power and Land Company, in which corporation this right is at present vested. The river above the dam is crossed by one turnpike bridge, three railroad bridges, and four road bridges within the limits of the city of Paterson. None of these bridges are provided with draws, and would all have to be reconstructed should the river be made navigable beyond them. The city of Paterson has a population of 50,000 inhabitants, approximately. The many valuable manufacturing interests on this river from the source to the mouth, and especially above Newark, justify me in regarding the river from Passaic to Paterson worthy of improvement and the work a public necessity. I would recommend a careful survey of the river from the mouth of the Weasel to Paterson, and estimate that an allotment of $1,500 will be required for this purpose. Allotment asked for, $1,500. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. L. GILLESPIE, Major of Engineers, Brt. Lieut. Col., U. S. A. NEW YORK, N. Y., September 1, 1882. SURVEY OF PASSAIC RIVER BETWEEN PASSAIC AND PATERSON, NEW JERSEY. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, April 10, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith chart* of the survey of the Upper Passaic River, between Passaic and Paterson, N. J., in compliance with the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882. The project for the improvement of the Upper Passaic River, adopted in 1872, provides only for the securing of 6 feet of water, mean low stage, from Newark to the head of navigation at Passaic, N. J. The act of August 2, 1882, extends the examination to Paterson, N. J. The preliminary report, submitted to the Department September 1, 1882, which accompanies this report, shows that on February 20, 1828, the Upper Passaic River, beyond the mouth of Weasel Creek, was placed under the control of the Dundee Water-Power and Land Company by a legislative act of the State of New Jersey, with power to erect a dam near Passaic for the purpose of furnishing water-power to manufactories in the vicinity. In 1858 the authority of the company was extended so as to allow it to improve the navigation of the river to a convenient point within the corporate limits of Paterson, with power to levy tolls under certain restrictions. Under the authority given to it by the State of New Jersey in 1858, the Dundee Company built, in 1860, a stone dam across the Passaic River at Dundee, 3 miles, approximately, above the mouth of Weasel Brook, and excavated a canal on the right bank of the main river 11⁄2 miles long, 75 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, extending from the dam to a point in the city of Passaic a short distance above the mouth of the Weasel. This canal has been used exclusively for providing waterpower for the manufactories in Passaic, and nothing has been done to aid the navigation of the river; in fact, no connection was made with either the Weasel or the lower river. A lock-chamber, without complete gates, was built at the head of the canal, and part of the excavation was made for two locks at the lower end, to extend navigation from the lower river to Dundee Lake, formed by the dam. All work looking to improvement of navigation was suspended after 1860. The citizens interested in the water fronts and manufacturing estab lishments above the Dundee Dam have lately been endeavoring, through the courts, to force the Dundee Company to carry out the obligations it assumed, under the State legislative act of 1858, for extending the navigation of the river up-stream from the mouth of Weasel Brook; but up to the present time no practical results have been reached. Were the canal opened according to the proposed plans of the incor*Omitted; printed in Senate Ex. Doc. 164, 48th Congress, first session. porated company, the navigation of the river, without any further improvement, for a 6-foot draught of boats, at low stage, would be extended to 500 feet above Broadway, in the city of Paterson; for 4-feet draught to near Morlot's Dye Works, and for 23 feet to Fish Dam No. 2, at the foot of Third avenue. There is a marked rise in the river bottom at Fish Dam No. 2, and a rapid evidently existed there before the dam was built. This may be regarded, then, as the head of all navigation under this plan. The improvement contemplated by the Dundee Canal, even if nothing further were attempted, would add greatly to the facilities for the transportation of freight from Paterson by way of the river. The city of Paterson is not satisfied, however, with such a limited navigation; it desires that the 6-foot depth, low stage, be extended up to Straight street, so as to cover the greater part of the water-front of the city. This can be done by placing a movable dam, with lock, at or near Broadway, of such height as to raise the water in the upper reach 4 feet, without injurious overflow of banks, and by removing the projecting masses of rock from the bottom at those points where there is less depth than 6 feet, low stage. The cost of the dam, lock, and rock removal is $611,000, as per estimate No. 1, following. Apart from the river, the city of Paterson has an outlet by water through the Morris and Essex Canal, which traverses the entire valley of the Passaic River, with its eastern terminus in Jersey City. It has a navigable depth of 5 feet and a surface width of 40 feet, and is largely used for the transportation of coal. This outlet, together with the facilities afforded by the many railroads which pass through or near Paterson, gives excellent means of transportation for all the products of the country. It would seem advisable that all projects for the improvement of the river beyond the existing head of navigation be held in abeyance until the State courts decide positively what the Dundee Company shall be required to do under the authority granted by their charter. If it should be decided that the company shall open the canal and provide locks for its navigation as the condition of the retention of its charter, then the citizens of Paterson may, in virtue of the extensive manufacturing interests centered in and near Paterson, ask the General Government to consider the subject of improving the river above Dundee Dam, so as to give the necessary depths for the boats which would probably use the stream along the entire front of the city. No boats navigate the river at present above Dundee Dam. The following estimates are submitted, viz: 1. For improvement extending navigable depth of 6 feet, low water, from Broadway to Straight street, Paterson, distance 4 miles: Dam and lock at Broadway $120,000 Excavating channel through rock, 100 feet wide and giving 6 feet depth, 456,000 Fish-dam removals (bowlders) 10,000 Contingencies, engineering, and superintendence. 25,000 611,000 2. Extending navigable depth of 6 feet from Broadway to foot of Third avenue only (Fish Dam No. 2), without construction of dam and lock, distance 14 miles : Rock removal, 46,000 cubic yards, at $8 368,000 Contingencies, engineering, and superintendence 12,000 380,000 3. Extending navigable depth of 3 feet from Third avenue to foot of East Contingencies, engineering, and superintendence. $400,000 15,000 12,000 427,000 I respectfully invite attention to the careful report of Mr. Doerflinger, assistant engineer, herewith submitted, for the details of this survey. The Passaic River is in the collection district of Newark, N. J., which is the nearest port of entry. The nearest light-house is Passaic Light, at the entrance. The nearest fort is Fort Tompkins, New York Harbor. Amount of revenue collected in the collection district of Newark, N. J., during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, was $12,082.15. The amount of commerce interested in this improvement cannot be stated definitely. The value of the manufacturing interests of Paterson, N. J., is estimated at $50,000,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. L. GILLESPIE, Major of Engineers, Bvt. Lieut. Col., U. S. A. Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. REPORT OF MR. A. DOERFLINGER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER Office, COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report on the survey of Passaic River from Passaic to Paterson, made in accordance with your instructions, together with two charts resulting therefrom, and such data relating to the subject as I have been able to collect. The Passaic River at present affords a navigable channel of 6 feet depth at mean low water, and of limited width, as far as the mouth of Weasel Brook, which enters the river at the city of Passaic. Above this point the river shoals up rapidly and is navigable only for very light draught vessels. About 3 miles above the mouth of Weasel Brook the river is crossed by a stone dam, built in 1860, which diverts nearly the whole flow during average low stage into the canal of the Dundee Water-Power and Land Company. The relation of the Dundee Company to the navigation of the river from Passaic to Paterson is explained in your preliminary report on the present survey, from which the following extract is taken: "Under their charter the company has erected a stone dam at Dundee, at a point in the river about 3 miles above the mouth of Weasel Brook, measured along the axis of the stream, and has constructed a canal on the west side of the river, connecting with the river above the dam and 'erminating near the mouth of Weasel Brook. This canal is about 13 miles long, 75 feet and over in width at the water-line, and 7 feet deep. Although otherwise well suited for the purposes of navigation, the canal is not provided with locks, the company using it solely for the purpose of furnishing water-power to the various manufacturing establishments located near the terminus of the canal at Passaic." The present survey had for its object to determine what is necessary to establish a continuous navigation between the mouth of Weasel Brook and the city of Paterson. The field-work, which embraced a careful survey of the river from Dundee Dam to Passaic Falls, was made principally during the months of October and November, by the party in charge of Mr. M. A. Lacy, assistant engineer. From Dundee Dam to the month of Weasel Brook the shore-lines of the river and the canal were obtained from the map of the Dundee Company. The street-lines of the city of Paterson are from the map of Messrs. Hilton and Menger, city engineers. Owing to the narrowness of the valley of the river and the thickly wooded banks, considerable difficulty and delay were occasioned in selecting suitable points for the triangulation, and the number of triangles necessary to cover the 8 miles of river embraced by the survey was thereby greatly increased. One hundred and twelve points were trigonometrically located |