$14,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 11.) 12. Fairlee Creek, Maryland.-The original depth at the mouth before improvements were begun was 2 feet at low tide. Inside the creek it was about 5 feet. Navigation was and is still carried on by a few flatbottomed so-called lime boats and by one small schooner. The existing project is for a 7-foot low water channel, 100 feet wide across the bar outside the entrance, and within the creek, for a total distance or length of cutting of about 3 miles, the estimated cost being $15,558. An appropriation of $5,000, made by the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, the first made for this work, was expended during the year 1889, and a cut was dredged across the bar outside the entrance 80 feet wide, 900 feet long, and of the required depth. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, the sum of $5,000 had been expended. There was no noticeable increase in the very limited commerce of the creek. The appropriation of $5,000 made September 19, 1890, was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in widening the channel outside the entrance from 80 to 100 feet and in dredging a channel inside the creek about 4,738 feet long, beginning at the mouth, and 50 feet wide, the depth being 7 feet, as projected. The amount expended is $4,884.65. Although the availability of the creek for the purposes of navigation has been greatly increased during the past 2 years there are as yet no signs that indicate any increase in the commerce and navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix H 12.) $5,000.00 4,884.65 115.35 5,558.00 5,558.00 13. Chester River, Maryland, from Crumpton to Jones Landing.-Chester River is a tidal stream 40 miles long, and, following the boundary between Kent and Queen Anne Counties, on the eastern shore of Maryland, flows into Chesapeake Bay. It is navigable for vessels of 6 feet draft for 33 miles. Above that point the minimum depth of water is 3 feet. The tide rises 2.1 feet. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889 and adopted under an appropriation of $5,000 made on September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, and 60 feet wide, from Crumpton to a point 1 mile below Millington, at an estimated cost of $12,750. The length of this section of the river is about 6 miles. A contract for the expenditure of the available funds as proposed has been made and the work is to be completed by May 1, 1892. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1891, balance available.... $5,000.00 7.65 4, 992. 35 4,500.00 492.35 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix H 13.) $7,750.00 7,750.00 14. Choptank River, Maryland.-Before improvements were commenced in 1879, the depth of water between Denton and Greensboro varied from 2 to 8 feet at low water. Navigation carried on by small sailing vessels extended to 3 miles above Denton. Above that point and for a distance of 5 miles lighters were used for transporting freight to and from the lower landings. A project for improvement was made in 1880 for an 8-foot low-water channel, 75 feet wide, at an estimated cost of $79,000. During the 3 years following the projected channel was dredged to a depth of only 6 and 7 feet, on account of the small appropriations and the prevailing high prices for dredging. Since 1885 the originally proposed depth has been made whenever possible and the width restricted to 40 feet. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, the sum of $30,137.62 bad been expended in dredging, the least depth in the channel from Denton to Case's Wharf at Greensboro being then 5 feet. This warranted the establishment of a steamboat line with Baltimore for freight, which now runs regularly. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $7,376.01 was expended. The channel was extended 2,400 feet towards the bridge at Greensboro and was deepened to 8 feet at four other points further down the river. The amount of material removed was 47,077 cubic yards. Preparations have been made to expend the appropriation of $7,500, made September 19, 1890, in continuing dredging where the projected channel has not yet been brought to its full dimensions. The condition of the channel is the same as left at the close of operations in August, 1890, and since it has been deepened there is less detention of vessels by low tides. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... $7,362.38 7,500.00 14, 862.38 7, 376. 01 7,486.37 6,500,00 July 1, 1891, balance available.......... 986.37 23,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 14.) 15. Cambridge Harbor, Maryland.-The entrance to this harbor was originally only 4 feet deep at mean low tide. The average depth in the harbor was about 3 feet; at a few places it was 8 and 9 feet. The bar was impassable during strong northwesterly winds for vessels drawing 3 feet of water. The local commerce was carried on by a limited number of sailing vessels of the smallest class, and by one steamer of light draft. The citizens of Cambridge made an effort previous to 1871 to increase the availability of the harbor, and expended $7,500 in dredging. In that year the General Government commenced the improvement of the harbor under a project which was completed in 1879, a channel 100 feet wide across the bar and portions of the inner harbor having been dredged to a depth of 8 feet below mean low water. During the year 1884 the channel at the bar was slightly widened. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, the sum of $32,500 had been expended by the Government. A new project based upon a survey made in accordance with the requirements of the act of August 5, 1886, was approved in 1887, for a channel 12 feet deep at low water and 150 feet wide from the Choptank River to the railroad wharf, and for dredging the inner barbor below the draw bridge to 10 feet and above the bridge to 8 feet below low water, at an estimated cost of $17,736.60. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, the sum of $4,918.72 had been expended in the execution of this project. The result was a channel 12 feet deep at low water and about 88 feet wide across the bar to a point opposite the Maryland Steamboat Company's Wharf, and thence only 22 feet wide to the railroad wharf, so that vessels drawing 11 feet of water, which formerly could not enter at all, can now go directly to the latter wharf without much difficulty. A project for the application of the appropriation of September 19, 1890, in continuing dredging at the bar and in the harbor below the bridge was approved, but a subsequent request was received from the citizens of Cambridge to have the funds expended above the bridge to give more anchorage ground. The commissioners of Dorchester County have under consideration the subject of widening the draw in the bridge. When this is done, it is proposed to expend the available funds as requested by the citizens of Cambridge. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix H 15.) $100.00 5,000.00 5, 100.00 18.72 5,081.28 7,736.60 7,736.60 16. Wicomico River, Maryland.-Wicomico River flows through Wicomico County, eastern shore of Maryland, and into Tangier Sound, Chesapeake Bay, from the east. Its tidal estuary is navigable for about 23 miles, Salisbury, the county seat, being at the head of navigation. The tide rises on an average 3 feet. The original depth in the river near Salisbury was 18 inches at the time improvements commenced in 1872. Under a project made that year and completed in 1885, a channel 7 feet deep and 75 feet wide, afterwards increased to 100 feet, was dredged at and below Salisbury and $50,000 was expended. The benefits that navigation and commerce derived from the improvement were quite marked. The present project for improvement, proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889, and adopted under an appropriation of $10,000 made September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 9 feet deep at mean low water and 150 feet wide from near Fruitland Wharf to the drawbridge at Salisbury, at an estimased cost of $23,200. The length of the proposed channel is about 3 miles. A contract for the expendi ture of the available funds has been made, but at the close of the fiscal year operations had not been commenced.' July 1, 1891, balance unexpended................. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts .. July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix H 16.) 10,914.63 9,000.00 1,914. 63 13, 200.00 13, 200.00 17. Manokin River, Maryland.-Manokin River is a tidal tributary of Tangier Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and flows through Somerset County, eastern shore of Maryland. Its length is about 18 miles, the lower 10 miles forming a wide estuary. The channel is interrupted for a distance of nearly 3 miles at the head of the estuary by shallow mud flats which made navigation very difficult, and rendered the upper portion of the river almost useless for the purpose of shipping and transportation. The average rise of the tide at the mud flats is 2.6 feet. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889, and adopted under an appropriation of $7,500 made by act of September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, and 100 feet wide from Locust Point to Sharp's Point, embracing the section called "the mud flats," the estimated cost being $30,000. With this first appropriation a cut was made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, at the section indicated, about 13,515 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 3 feet deep at low water, and $7,360.12 was ex pended. Since the opening of this channel the small steamer plying between Princess Anne and Deal's Island has been enabled to make trips at stated hours, which heretofore was impossible, and the reports are that great interest is taken in the new facilities offered to shippers. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890..... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix H 17.) $7,500.00 7,360, 12 139.88 22,500.00 10,000. 00 18. Onancock Harbor, Virginia.-Onancock Harbor or Onancock River is about 5 miles long and flows into Chesapeake Bay in Accomac County, Virginia. The town of Onancock is situated at the head of the river, where the depth of water was originally 4 feet at low tide. The most serious obstruction is at the bar at the mouth, where the depth in the channel was 5 feet before it was improved. The average rise of the tide is about 2 feet. Eight thousand dollars was expended during the years 1880 and ENG 91-9 1881 and the channel across the bar was dredged to a depth of 8 feet below mean low water for a width of 100 feet and inside the river dredging was done to a depth of 7 feet below mean low water at and above Wise's Point and near the steamboat wharf at Onancock. The improvements made were of great benefit to the shipping on the river, but the channel at the bar soon filled up again. The present project for improvement, proposed in a report on a new survey made in 1889 and adopted under an appropriation of $6,000 made September 19, 1890, provides for dredging a channel 300 feet wide at the outer bar and 200 feet wide at the inner bar, also called "middle ground," both to a depth of 8 feet below mean low water, at an estimated cost of $12,511. A contract for the expenditure of the available funds in accordance with this project has been made, but at the close of the fiscal year operations had not yet been commenced. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. July 1, 1891, balance available.............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix H 18.) $6,000.00 29.75 5,970.25 5,250.00 720.25 6, 511. CO 6,511.00 19. Harbor at Cape Charles City, Virginia, and approaches by Chenton (Cherrystone) Inlet.-The harbor of Cape Charles City is an artificial rectangular tidal basin of about 10 acres area, excavated in the shore of the Chesapeake Bay about 12 miles north of the promontory of the peninsula formed by the State of Delaware and the eastern shores of Maryland and Virginia. It is in Northampton County, Va., and forms the shore terminus of the New York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk Railroad, from which transfers of freight and passengers are made to and from Norfolk, Va. The average rise of the tide is 2.6 feet. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey made in 1889 and adopted the past fiscal year under an appropriation of $25,000, made September 19, 1890, provides for dredging the harbor and the entrance to a depth of 14 feet below mean low water and the chaunel in Cherrystone Inlet and across Cherrystone Bar to a depth of 16 feet at mean low tide, the former to be 100 feet and the latter 200 feet wide; and for protective works of stone at the entrance to the harbor. The estimated cost of the project is $142,340. The harbor was originally made and inclosed with bulkhead wharves by the railroad company. It was then dredged, together with the entrance as far as Cherrystone Inlet Channel, to a depth of about 12 feet at low tide. This depth was not sufficient for the very large boats and barges employed in the traffic; the entrance was also too narrow and during prevailing northerly winds and low tides frequent delays occurred by the grounding of vessels at the entrance or within the channel across Cherrystone Bar. This was the condition of the harbor and approaches at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. The appropriation of September 19, 1890, was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in dredging about one-half of the area of the harbor to a depth of 14 feet below mean low water, and dredg |