vey of part of the channel and for contingent expenses, advertising, etc., preparatory to resuming work under contract. Under previous appropriations the channel has been extended a total distance of 4,050 feet to a depth of 12 feet and a width of 90 feet. A winding basin has also been dredged 400 feet wide. This has resulted in largely increased facilities for business and in a large increase of the navigation. Under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, a contract has been made for widening the channel by dredging. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ............... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $275.60 25,000.00 25, 275.60 659.91 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1891, balance available...... 103,750.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 16.) July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... (See Appendix A 17.) 24, 615. 69 22,500.00 2, 115.69 17. Breakwater at mouth of Saco River, Maine.-This breakwater was partially built in 1869 to 1873. In 1883 it was found necessary to complete the breakwater to the full height of 15 feet and top width of 12 feet, to secure the object of preventing the sand from drifting into the channel and maintaining a bar at the mouth of the Saco River. There had been expended in repairing and raising the breakwater to June 30, 1890, the sum of $37,982.01. The expenditures in the last fiscal year have been $2,017.99. As a result the breakwater has been completed a distance of 2,320 feet from the outer end, and partially repaired a further distance of 28 feet. While the completion of the breakwater is desirable it is at present less important than other improvements on the river. As the act of September 19, 1890, made an appropriation for the Saco River including the breakwater, the balance estimated to complete the breakwater has been included in the estimate for Saco River. $4,872.81 4,872.81 18. Saco River, Maine.-The channel was obstructed by a bar at the mouth, by shoals, and in one place by a ledge, and did not afford a continuous depth exceeding 33 feet at mean low water, though much of the channel is very much deeper. The project for improvement includes the works considered necessary to secure and maintain a channel having not less than 6 feet depth at mean low water to the head of tide water at Saco and Biddeford. It also includes the breakwater in accordance with provision of river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, $20,978.99. Expended in last fiscal year, $10,251.86, As a result a ledge has been removed at Little Islands, a jetty and wall 750 feet long has been constructed above the islands, and part of wing dam has been built at Cow Island. The channel has also been dredged in places, and a jetty has been commenced at the mouth of the river opposite the breakwater. The channel has been much improved in places, but the removal of the bar at the mouth is essential to the use of vessels of greater draft. It is expected that the jetty now commenced will greatly improve the bar. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $2,353.46 65,000.00 67, 353.46 6,683, 18 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 60, 670.28 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. $3,969.51 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 50,652. 72 54, 622. 23 6, 048.05 97,500.00 75,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance available ............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix A 18.) 19. Kennebunk River, Maine.-In compliance with requirements of the river and habor act of August 11, 1888, an examination and survey was made of a part of the river and an estimate of the cost of repairs to old piers and of constructing a small jetty was submitted. (House Ex. Doc. No. 136, Fifty-first Congress, first session. See also report of Chief of Engineers, 1890, pages 471 to 474.) Congress appropriated $20,000 for the improvement by act of September 19, 1890. The work of repair on the piers has been commenced and will be carried on continuously until the project is completed. No further appropriation is required. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available..... (See Appendix A 19.) $20,000.00 667.76 19, 332. 24 922.81 18, 409. 43 20. York Harbor, Maine.-The project for this improvement adopted in 1886 has for its object the widening of the channel in three bends where the low-water depth of 10 feet did not exceed 75 feet wide and where the tidal currents are very rapid. Part of the material to be removed is a ledge of rock, and the remainder is a hard, sandy material united with small bowlders which can be dredged. Expenditures to June 30, 1890, $16,528.90. Expenditures in last fiscal year, $18,305. Work under contract reported last year was completed February 25, 1891. Under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, a contract was made for continuing the removal of ledge from point of Stage Neck. This was completed June 30, 1891. As a result the channel of 10 feet depth has been widened 65 feet, nearly doubling its original capacity. The project contemplates an additional widening of 15 feet. The amount estimated to complete the project will accomplish all that is required. 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 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix A 20.) $10,727.70 10,000.00 20, 727.70 16,700. 28 4,027.42 3,861.32 166. 10 9,000.00 9,000.00 21. Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire.-The project for improving this harbor was adopted in 1879, the object being to check the strong tidal currents in the harbor and to give a navigable depth over the ledge known as Gangway Rock, opposite the navy-yard. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $13,000 for removal of Pier Rock, which is therefore added to the project. Expenditures to June 30, 1890, $110,070.60. Expenditures in last fiscal year, $4,437.78. The results are the completion of the first project save a part of the ledge on point of Badger Island. The work under contract before reported for removing this ledge is not yet completed. The funds for that purpose are sufficient to do all that is contemplated. A contract has been made for removal of Pier Rock and the work is to be commenced in July, 1891. No further appropriation is required. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $12, 114. 20 13,900.00 25, 114.20 3, 965. 14 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 21, 149.06 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities $657.44 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 19, 350, 80 20,008. 24 July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix A 21.) 1, 140. 82 22. Bellamy River, New Hampshire.-This river is a tidal branch of Great Bay, which connects with the Piscataqua River, 4 miles above the bridge at Portsmouth. The upper part was originally too shallow for navigation with any vessels of greater draft than flat boats. The improvement consists in dredging the shallow part of channel to give a mean low-water depth of 5 feet, or about 113 feet at high water, which will permit vessels of about 500 tons to ascend to head of tide water. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, $10,000. Amount expended in last fiscal year, $111.52. 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. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 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 mouth 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 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts $1,196. 66 $40,000.00 3, 442. 44 36,557.56 32, 522, 47 4,035.09 July 1, 1891, balance available 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 |