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Under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, amounting to $32,500, proposals were invited and a contract made for repairing the superstructure of the existing breakwater and for prolonging it 300 feet northward.

Operations are in progress, but the contract does not require comple tion until November, 1892.

The total amount expended at this harbor to June 30, 1891, has been $154,559.76, of which amount $66,379.75 was expended since the adop tion of the modified project of 1870.

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, amount covered by uncompleted contracts

July 1, 1891, balance available...

(See Appendix S S 7.)

$2,391. 19 32,500.00

34, 891. 19 3, 770.94

31, 120, 25

$2,892. 20

23, 647.92

26, 540. 12

4, 580. 13

8. Burlington Harbor, Vermont.-This improvement dates from 1836. Modifications of the original plan have been made from time to time so as to afford adequate protection to the increasing commercial and shipping interests of the harbor. The last modification, made in 1886, provides for further extension of the break water, both to the north and to the south, with its gradual withdrawal as it is prolonged into water about 30 feet deep, instead of 38 feet deep, so as to reduce the cost.

Operations during the past year consisted in the completion of the 360 feet northward extension to the breakwater, then under contract, and in some slight repairs.

The appropriation of September 19, 1890, $20,000, will be expended in repairs as needed. The total amount expended to date has been $562,390.58, and under the existing project $55,808.46.

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....

$9,987.41 20,000.00

29, 987.41 10, 455.79

19, 531.62

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 129,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix S S 8.)

9. Otter Creek, Vermont.-The project for this improvement proposes the formation of a channel of navigable width and a least depth of S feet from Vergennes, Vt., to Lake Champlain.

The appropriation of September 19, 1890, $5,000, has been pledged under contract for the removal by dredging of 21,000 cubic yards from such shoals as most require deepening.

Operations are to be commenced and completed this season, and will practically consume the available funds.

There has been expended to June 30, 1891, $36,520.83. The stream

only requires a little more widening and deepening to carry out the original scheme for improvement, but, unfortunately, the channel afforded is not likely to prove permanent.

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.....
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.....

[Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.

$5,000.00

20.83

4,979. 17 4,200.00

779.17

10,000.00

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 S S 9.)

10. Ticonderoga River, New York.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, its object being to afford a channel of navigable width and a least depth of 8 feet at low water from Ticonderoga village to Lake Champlain, a distance of about 2 miles. The original estimated cost of the improvement was $42,516, and the amount expended has resulted in an improved channel.

The appropriation of September 19, 1890, $2,000, has been pledged under contract, and operations are to be commenced and completed this season that will consume the available funds.

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.
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.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix S S 10.)

$2,000.00 22.25

1,977.75

1,785.00

192.75

26,016,00

11. Narrows of Lake Champlain, New York and Vermont.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1885, and has for its object the removal of such obstructions in the channel as will afford a least depth of 12 feet, and a least width of 150 feet from Whitehall to the Elbow, and 12 feet depth and 200 feet width along Cedar Mountain and across Kenyon Bay.

The entire undertaking was estimated to cost $80,000; $45,000 had been appropriated and the original project stood completed a year ago at a little more than half the estimated cost.

The officer in charge recommends the improvement of three locations between the Elbow and Cedar Mountain by dredging, and at an estimated cost of $21,000.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended....

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...............

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix S S 11.)

$2,939.37

270.50

2,668.87

18,500.00

18,500,00

EXAMINATIONS 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, Major M. B. Adams, and reports thereon submitted through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northeast Division. It is the opinion of Major Adams, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, no further surveys were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session.

1. Inner Bay near mouth of Saranac River at Plattsburg, New York, for harbor of refuge.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 22. (See also Appendix SS 12.)

2. Boquet River, New York, from mouth on Lake Champlain to Willsboro.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 30. (See also Appendix S S 13.)

PACIFIC COAST.

IMPROVEMENT OF OAKLAND HARBOR, AND SURVEY OF SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR AND ADJACENT WATERS, CALIFORNIA.

Officer in charge, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. H. C. Newcomer, Corps of Engineers, the entire year, and Lieut. Charles L. Potter, Corps of Engineers, since June 18, 1891.

1. Oakland Harbor, California.-The principal features of this improvement as originally projected are two jetties of rubblestone extended from the shore westward into the Bay of San Francisco to about 14 feet depth at low water, a connection by canal 13 miles in length of the adjoining estuary of San Leandro with the basin of the harbor, dredging of the basins and channels to give 20 feet at mean low water, with the additional depth due to tide. The channel when finished will carry vessels of the largest commercial drafts.

Later modifications of the project consist in increasing width of canal from 300 to 400 feet, in raising the jetties originally for half tide to height of full high water, and in dredging to a greater extent. The depth at beginning of project was about 2 feet at low tide, admitting vessels of 6 to 8 feet draft at high water. The present depth at mean low water is 14 feet, and vessels drawing 18 feet and even more now

can enter.

The channel from the Bay of San Francisco to city of Oakland is for most of its length 300 feet in width and nowhere less than 225 feet, and is in every respect convenient for vessels.

Operations of the past year consisted in excavating a part of the tidal canal 471,155 cubic yards, in dredging channel in front of Oakland 62,048 cubic yards, in beginning the construction of a steel highway bridge at Park street, Alameda, and in stone work on the jetties.

Three-fourths of the excavation for the foundations of bridge piers was executed and a beginning of placing the masonry was made. The bridge is to be opened on November 1. The only work done during the past year which was immediate in increasing commercial facilities was widening the 14-foot channel in front of Oakland from 100 to 225 feet. The increased convenience of this channel is at least in part to be cred

ited with promised extension of traffic due to larger enterprise now in progress, and also with a portion of the increase of trade shown in the table of statistics.

1

The amount expended upon this harbor on June 30, 1891, was $1,287,333.21.

The available balance on hand is to be applied during the present. season to improving the channel in front of Oakland. The next appropriation is to be applied to the tidal canal, to completion of jetties, and improvement of channels.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended....

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.

$115, 912. 31 250,000,00

365, 912. 31 118,645.52

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..

247, 266.79

July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities..

$546.66

July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 181, 133. 72

181, 680.38

65, 586.41

July 1, 1891, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix T T 1.)

991,000,00 500, 000. 00

2. Survey of San Francisco Harbor, San Pablo and Suisun bays, Strait of Carquinez, and mouths of San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, California. Harbor lines for Port Costa, Benicia, and Vallejo were recommended and approved by the War Department. Subsequently a slight modification extending the pier-head line 15 feet in from a wharf at Port Costa was recommended and approved.

The project includes surveys of bays as named. About 110 square miles of San Francisco Bay were included in a hydrographic survey made in 1887-288. Sixteen thousand dollars are required to sound 100 square miles, including the bar and entrance.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..................

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix TT 2.)

$1, 128.39 75.00

1,053.39

16, 000, 00 16,000.00

IMPROVEMENT OF NAPA RIVER, REDWOOD HARBOR AND CREEK, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO, WILMINGTON, AND SAN DIEGO HARBORS, CALIFORNIA.

Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. W. H. H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. James J. Meyler, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders.

1. Napa River, California.-In charge of Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, to November 21, 1890. The project is to clear the river of snags and the banks of overhanging trees interfering with navigation

and to dredge the bars and projecting points of land so as to give a depth of 4 feet at low water.

Work was commenced in 1889. The river was cleared of snags and a gravel bar near the steamboat landing was dredged.

A contract was entered into March 12 last with Thomas H. Williams, jr., to remove certain snags and to dredge about 16,000 cubic yards of material, so as to provide a navigable channel of the desired depth through the worst bars. Work was commenced late in June, and at the close of the year 729 cubic yards of material had been removed from the channel at Carr's Point. The entire work contracted for will be completed by the end of August. This will leave the river in fair boating condition and complete the present project. No additional appropriations are therefore asked. Work will be needed in the future, as the bars will re-form from material brought down during the winter storms. The total amount appropriated for this improvement is $17,500 and the total amount expended is $5,280.80.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..................

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year

$3, 114.55 10,000.00

13, 114.55 895.35

[blocks in formation]

2. Redwood Harbor, California.-This work is now being continued under an appropriation made for improving Redwood Creek. No operations were carried on during the year.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year (See Appendix U U 2.)

$2.30 2.30

3. Redwood Creek, California.-In charge of Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, from September 20 to November 21, 1890. This improvement is a continuance of that heretofore carried on under appropria tions made for Redwood Harbor. The project for this latter work em braced the dredging of the creek so as to give a channel 50 feet wide and 3 feet deep at mean low tide for a stretch of about 6,000 feet in the vicinity of the town of Redwood. The work was completed in 1889. It was considered that the improvement would not be of a permanent character, as there would be a constant tendency to shoaling, due to natural causes. An examination made in 1890 showed that the dredged channel had partially filled up. The appropriation of $8,000 made by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, was for the purpose of redredging the stretch in question and for opening a channel through the middle ground.

The estimates upon which the appropriation was made contemplated using the Government dredge, as heretofore, in carrying on the proposed work. The officer in charge states that the dredge has been in service on the San Joaquin River, to which improvement it belongs, and that he has therefore been unable to work with it at Redwood. It is expected to commence work at the latter place early in the fall and complete the dredging during the winter. As this will complete the present project no additional appropriations are asked.

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