The expenditures of the last year have been for advertising and other contingencies preparatory to continuing work under contract. Under the former contract the channel was dredged to full width and depth a distance of 4,950 feet. A contract has been made for continuing the dredging as far as may be done with available funds. Owing to various causes explained by the officer in charge of the work, it has been necessary to increase the estimate for completing the work to $15,000. 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 A 22.) $10,000.00 111.52 9,888.48 9,000.00 888.48 15, 000, 00 15,000.00 23. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-Under provisions of section 13 of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, a survey of the river was made from Dover to the confluence with the Salmon Falls River, where the two form the Piscataqua River. The officer in charge of the work submitted a project for deepening the channel to 7 feet at mean low water and giving a minimum width of 50 feet. The present channel is 5 feet deep and has a minimum width of 40 feet. Congress appropriated $25,000 for the improvement by act of September 19, 1890. A contract has been made for dredging as far as may be done with available funds. It is expected that work under the contract will be completed in the season of 1891. The expenditures have been for contingent preparatory work. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... $25,000.00 215.29 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... July 1, 1891, balance available........... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 23.) 24,784.71 22,500.00 2, 281.71 150,000.00 50,000.00 24. Harbor of refuge at Little Harbor, New Hampshire.-This is a small harbor at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. It is the broad inouth of a small channel of the river itself. There is room for a considerable anchorage, but the water is too shallow save for small vessels. The ebb tides from the main channel are so rapid that in strong northerly winds it is impossible for sailing vessels to reach an anchorage in the river. The object of the improvement is to form a refuge for coasters and fishing vessels in northeasterly storms when they can not get into Portsmouth Harbor. The amount expended upon the improvement to June 30, 1890, was $30,000. Amount expended last fiscal year, $4,639.10. As a result the channel to a width of 100 feet, and the anchorage a width of 300 feet, has been dredged to a depth of 9 feet at low water. The breakwater from Frost Point has been commenced and the beacon on its outer end has been completed. The work is being carried on under a contract with the lowest bidder after public advertisement for proposals. The improvement thus far is of some benefit to a few small vessels, but is too limited to be available for a general refuge. It is proposed to expend available funds and any further appropriation in completing the breakwater, and in deepening the channel and anchorage. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $40,000.00 3, 442. 44 165, 000, 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix A 24.) 25. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. During the last fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880: Schooner Annie J. Russel, from Portland Harbor, Maine; and the schooners Golden Eagle and Cerulius from Pleasant River, Maine. (See Appendix A 25.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and reports thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, no further surveys of these localities were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Harbor of Bluehill, Maine, with especial reference to the removal of the ledges known as Middle Ground, eastern and western.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 19. (See also Appendix A 26.) 2. Pepperell Cove, Maine, forming the eastern boundary of Portsmouth Lower Harbor.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 62. (See also Appendix A 27.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and reports thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. The reports of the preliminary examinations containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further surveys appear to be necessary at this time. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Lubec channel, Maine.-The improvement proposed contemplates the excavation of a channel 500 feet wide at its narrowest place, increased to a width of 650 feet to make room in the bend, and 12 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $231,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 158. (See also Appendix A 28.) 2. Sullivan Falls, Hancock County, Maine, with a view to its improvement for navigation.-The improvement proposed contemplates the removal of rock ledges near the Sullivan shore or Falls Point, so as to produce a clear channel 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $35,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 84. (See also Appendix A 29.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, and reports thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was charged with their survey, the reports on which will be submitted when received. 1. Penobscot River, Maine. 2. Kennebec River, from Waterville to steam-boat wharf at Augusta, Maine. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MASSACHUSETTS. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers. 1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar 1,000 feet wide, and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project, adopted in 1880 and modified in 1883, is to build two converging rubblestone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The estimated cost of the project was $375,000. The original depth of water on the bar was 7 feet at mean low water. To June 30, 1890, $231,101.25 had been expended, and the north jetty was 2,675 feet long, of which 2,200 feet were fully completed and 475 feet additional length were partly completed. The south jetty was 1,300 feet long, of which 1,077 feet were fully completed and 223 feet built up to low water. The Plum Island Dike was 817 feet long, 5 feet high above mean low water, except near the center, where a weir is left temporarily 150 feet long and 2 feet above mean low water. The sand catch in rear of the south jetty was in two branches, one 480 feet long and one 572 feet. All these works were in good order. During the fiscal year 4,279 tons of stone were deposited in the north jetty, at an expense of $7,143.56. It is at the date of this report 2,300 feet long, fully completed, and 375 feet more have been partly completed. ENG 91 On June 30, 1891, the south jetty, the Plum Island Dike, and the sand catch remain in the same condition as at the date of the last report. A survey of the bar was made in May, 1891; it showed that the channel on the bar had straightened, widened, and deepened since the survey of 1890. It is now not less than 12.2 feet deep in a straight channel at least 300 feet wide. The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are the deepening and widening of the channel across the bar, thereby affording a harbor of refuge on the inside of Salisbury Beach, and also affording easy access at high water to the wharves at Newburyport for vessels drawing 17 feet, approximately. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 ́. $1,398.75 25,000.00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. 26, 398.75 3,611.50 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 22, 787.25 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..... $3,532,06 11, 941.93 July 1, 1891, balance available 10,845.32 117,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 117, 500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 1.) 2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to straighten, deepen, and widen the natural channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 21 miles. The channel originally was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals; and below Newburyport by ledges, cribs, piers, and wrecks. At mean low water vessels drawing not to exceed 7 feet could cross the bar and proceed about 6 miles above Newburyport. The mean rise or fall of the tide at the mouth of the river is 7 feet; at Haverhill Bridge, 4 feet. The project, originally adopted in 1870, proposed to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, to remove Gangway Rock, to remove the wreck of the Globe, and to remove the "Boilers." The cost was estimated at $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874 to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and Rock Bridges, and at Little Curriers Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at ordinary highwater stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island Bridge (5 miles), 16 feet; from Deer Island Bridge to Haverhill Bridge (12 miles), 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchell Falls (13 miles), 10 feet; through Mitchell Falls to the head of the Upper Falls (24 miles), not less than 4 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence running. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000. The total expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $170,500, and the river channel had been improved in accordance with the modified project, with the exception of the removal of the "Boilers," upon which no work has been done. No operations were in progress during the year, and the improvement remains in good order. To complete the improvement so that the same depth of water which has been obtained through Mitchell Falls can be carried to Lawrence, additional work will be required at the falls above Haverhill, which is estimated to cost $11,000; and additional improvements could be made in the lower part of the river which are estimated to cost $11,500, or a total of $22,500. The improved channel is in good order. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix B 2.) $10,000.00 10, 000, 00 1,500.00 1,500.00 3. Powow River, Massachusetts.-Powow River is a tributary of the Merrimac River, into which it enters from the north about 3 miles above Newburyport. From the mouth, tide water extends 9,600 feet in a narrow, crooked channel, not navigable at low water. The project proposed for its improvement is to dredge a channel 9,600 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 12 feet deep at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $77,000. The river and harbor acts of 1888 and 1890, appropriated $8,000 for this work, provided a suitable draw was built in the bridge which now crosses the mouth of the river. Action is in progress by the town authorities, having in view compliance with this proviso. No expenditures were made during the year ending June 30, 1891, and the original condition of the river is unaltered. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ............. $3,000.00 Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. 5,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. 8,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 69,000.00 30,000. 00 (See Appendix B 3.) 4. Ipswich River, Massachusetts.-Ipswich River empties into Plum Island Sound about 9 miles south of Newburyport, Mass. It is navigable from its mouth to the wharves at Ipswich, a distance of 3 miles. Before improvement, at low water, not to exceed 12 feet draft could be carried in a narrow channel. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 8.4 feet. The object of the improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river. The original project was submitted in 1875. It proposed a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water. No expenditures were made during the fiscal year. Sealed proposals were invited by circular letter dated September 27, 1889, for the completion of the present partial project. No bids were received in response. On April 10, 1890, bids were again invited by circular letter, and two |