The project for its improvement is based on the survey provided for in the act of August 5, 1886. It proposes to dredge a channel from Proctor Point to the town wharves, 4,000 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 4 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $14,300. The total appropriations for this improvement to date have been $7,500. The expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $109.07 and the original condition of the harbor was unchanged. During the fiscal year a contract, which expires December 31, 1891, was entered into to dredge 22,000 cubic yards, making a channel 35 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water from Proctor Point to the railroad bridge. Operations under this contract were commenced early in June, 1891, and at the close of the fiscal year 7,316 cubic yards had been dredged. The condition of the improvement is essentially the same as on June 30, 1890. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $2, 121.64 July 1, 1891, balance available ... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix B 7.) $2,390.93 5,000.00 7,390.93 212.40 7, 178.53 6,380 00 798.53 6,800.00 6,800.00 8. Salem Harbor, Massachusetts. -Salem Harbor is 12 miles northward of Boston, Mass. It contains a well-sheltered, entirely unobstructed anchorage of about 110 acres, more than 18 feet deep at mean low water. The principal city wharves are located on South River, a small stream entering the harbor. This river is 3,000 feet long, from 150 to 300 feet wide and not navigable at low tide. The original project for the improvement of this harbor was submitted December 16, 1872. It proposed to dredge a channel of approach to the mouth of South River, 1,730 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 8 feet deep at mean low water. This project was essentially completed in 1873-75. The present project was submitted December 2, 1889. It proposed to clear out the channel as originally dredged, and to extend it to the head of navigation, gradually reducing its width from 150 feet, at the mouth of the river, to 100 feet near the inner end of Derby Wharf, and above this to excavate a channel 50 feet wide. To the inner end of Derby Wharf the improved channel to be 8 feet deep at mean low water and above this point 6 feet deep. The total length of the improved channel to be 5,100 feet approximately. The total appropriations to date have been $39,000. The expenditures to June 30, 1890 were $25,000. At that date the entrance channel dredged in 1873-1875 had essentially preserved its original dimensions. During the fiscal year a contract which expires December 31, 1891, was entered into to dredge 50,000 cubic yards. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year under this contract and the condition of the improvement at the date of this report is the same as on June 30, 1890. 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 13, 926. 35 11,000.00 2,926. 35 14,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix B 8.) $14,000.00 73.65 9. Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of this improvement is to obtain a more direct, wider, and deeper channel of approach to the city wharves. The original channels were narrow and crooked and had but 6 feet depth at mean low water, and the greater part of the harbor was bare at low water. The project was adopted in 1884. It proposed a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water through the outer and inner bars. The outer channel is 3,610 feet long, the inner one 6,450 feet. It is supposed that the inner channel will need occasional dredging. To aid in keeping the outer channel open a training wall is proposed, if experience shall show it to be necessary. On September 24,, 1888, it was proposed to extend the inner channel 400 feet within the harbor line and to excavate at its inner end an anchorage basin 500 by 300 feet in area, 10 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $25,000. The cost of the original project was estimated to be $157,000. The total expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $75,415.32, of which $66,000 had been expended on the original project. The condition of the improvement June 30, 1890, was as follows: The outer channel is 3,610 feet long, 200 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water; the inner channel is 6,450 feet long, 150 feet wide, 10 feet deep; the anchorage basin is 125 feet wide, 500 feet long, 10 feet deep, connected with the inner channel by a cut 400 feet long, 100 feet wide, 10 feet deep. Nothing has been done on the training wall. During the fiscal year a contract which expires December 31, 1891, was entered into to dredge 40,000 cubic yards from the interior basin, thus completing it. No operations were in progress under this contract during the fiscal year, and the condition of the improvement remains as on June 30, 1890. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... $584.68 15,000.00 15,584.68 197.04 15,387.64 7,200.00 8, 187.64 $91,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix B 9.) 10. Winthrop Harbor, Massachusetts.-Winthrop Harbor is situated in the northeastern part of Boston Harbor. It contains 350 acres, approximately, all of which is essentially dry at low tide. The mean range of tides is 9.4 feet. The original project for its improvement was based on the survey provided for in the act of August 5, 1886. It proposed to dredge a straight channel 3,900 feet long, 50 feet wide, 6 feet deep at mean low water, from the "Back" channel of Boston Harbor to Rice's Wharf. The total appropriations to date for this improvement have been $6,000. No expenditures were made previous to June 30, 1890, and the original condition of the harbor then remained unaltered. During the fiscal year a contract, which expired June 30, 1891, was entered into to dredge 20,000 cubic yards. Operations under this contract were commenced early in May, 1891, and it was satisfactorily completed during the latter part of June, 1891, by the removal of 20,060 cubic yards. At the date of this report the improved channel is 35 feet wide, 3 feet deep at mean low water, 3,900 feet long. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.............. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available.... $1,000.00 5,000.00 6,000.00 2, 381.18 3,618.82 2,944.82 674.00 11,600.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 11,600.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 10.) 11. Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of this improvement is, first, to preserve the harbor by protecting the islands and head lands and, second, to improve it by widening, straightening, and deepening the channels. The projects adopted for this purpose since 1866 have been mainly in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Commissioners, whose labors terminated during that year. The works of preservation consist of sea-walls, aprons, jetties, etc., which protect the shores of the islands and headlands, prevent additional wash into the channels, control the tidal scour, and preserve the full height of anchorage shelter for vessels in the roadsteads. Such have been built or repaired at Point Allerton and the islands of Great Brewster, Lovell, Gallop, Long, Deer, Rainsford, George, and Castle. The works of improvement have been by dredging and blasting, by which means many dangerous rocks and shoals have been removed and the main ship chanuel enlarged from 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water so that it is now at least 625 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water, except off the west end of Brewster Spit, which has grown westward so that on July 1, 1890, the channel was but 475 feet wide. The following tributary channels have also been improved: (a) Charles River.-The natural channel of this river has been widened, straightened, and deepened, so that from its mouth up to Western Avenue Bridge, a distance of 43 miles, the channel has a width of 200 feet and a depth of 7 feet at mean low water; thence to Arsenal Street Bridge, 2 miles, the channel has a least width of 80 feet and a least depth of 6 feet. (b) Fort Point Channel.-This important branch of the main shipchannel had a least depth of 12 feet at its entrance, and the channel was narrow and crooked. It has been widened to 175 feet and deepened to 23 feet at mean low water from its mouth to Congress Street Bridge, a distance of 1,900 feet. (c) Hingham Harbor.-(See separate report.) (d) Nantasket Beach Channel. The project adopted in 1880 was to widen and deepen the channel so that it would be at least 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at mean low water. The project was completed in 1881 and 1883. (e) Channel between Nix's Mate and Long Island.-This channel had originally 4 feet depth at mean low water. A cut has been made through the bar 200 feet wide, 550 feet long, and 12 feet deep at mean low water. (f) Broad Sound.-An obstruction called Barrel Rock was removed in 1869. The total expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $1,728,360.66. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, contracts were entered into for dredging from the channel leading to Nantasket Beach; from the channel between Nix's Mate and Long Island; from Brewster Spit; and from the main ship channel leading to Jeffrey Point. The extension of Gallop Island sea-wall and the repairs of the Great Brewster Island sea-wall were commenced. The contract for dredging from Nantasket Beach was completed during the fiscal year, and that for dredging at Brewster Spit well advanced towards completion. At the date of this report the several works of preservation are in fair order; the main ship channel is 23 feet deep at mean low water, 1,100 feet wide west of the Upper Middle, 750 feet wide at the Upper Middle, 1,000 feet wide at the Lower Middle, and at least 625 feet elsewhere, except off Brewster Spit, where it is 550 feet approximately. The subsidiary channels are in the same condition as at date of the last report, with the exception of the one leading to Nantasket Beach where it is now at least 150 feet wide, 9 feet deep at mean low water, except over a small ledge uncovered by the dredging of the year, near the steamboat wharf. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1891, balance available..... $6,621.53 $27,747.84 145, 000, 00 172, 747.84 15,921. 72 156, 826. 12 43, 644.93 113, 181. 19 -$390,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix B 11.) 12. Weymouth River, Massachusetts.-Weymouth (Fore) River empties into the southwestern part of Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. For 4 miles it is navigable at low water for vessels drawing 18 feet, and to the head of navigation, an additional 3 miles, at least 3 feet depth is to be found. The original project for its improvement was submitted December 2, 1889. It proposed to improve the natural channel, so that 6 feet at mean low water could be carried to the head of navigation in a channel 100 feet wide to near Weymouth Landing, thence to Braintree Bridge, 80 feet wide, and above the bridge 50 feet wide. The total length of improved channel to be 7,000 feet, and to cost $40,000. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated for this work $10,000. During the fiscal year 18,389 cubic yards were dredged, and the improved channel at the date of this report is 5,000 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $10,000.00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 4, 468.46 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 30,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 30,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B 12.) 13. Hingham Harbor, Massachusetts. - The object of this improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel, which was 30 feet wide and 4 feet deep, so that it will be 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water. The project was originally proposed in 1874 and was modified in 1885. The original project was estimated to cost $11,000. The project of 1885 was to cost an additional sum of $18,750. The total appropriations to date have been $26,000, and the expendi tures to June 30, 1890, were $20,944.99. On June 30, 1890, the improved channel through the ledge northeast of steamboat wharf was 100 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water, and the remainder of its length was 8 feet deep. During the fiscal year a contract was entered into to dredge 20,000 cubic yards. Operations were commenced under this contract early in May, 1891, and was satisfactorily completed in June, 1891, by the removal of 20,400 cubic yards. At the date of this report the improved channel is 100 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. |