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, 24 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 ... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year...... $27,747.84 145,000.00 172, 747.84 15, 921. 72 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 156, 826. 12 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $6,621.53 43, 644.93 July 1, 1891, balance available.... 113, 181. 19 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project -$390,000.00 (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 4, 468.46 30,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... (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 expenditures 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. 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 B 13.) $5.01 5,000.00 5, 005.01 4,093.36 911.65 3,000.00 3,000.00 14. Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is on the west shore of Massachusetts Bay, about 14 miles south of Boston light. The object of the improvement is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels bound to Boston from the eastward which are too far south of their true course to clear the dangerous ledges near Minot's Ledge light. Originally the harbor had a low-water area of about 57 acres, more than 6 acres of which had a depth of at least 3 feet at mean low water. It was entirely open to the action of easterly gales, and its entrance was obstructed by sunken bowlders. The project adopted in 1880 is to build two breakwaters, one from Cedar Point, on the north side of the entrance, and the other from the First Cliff, on the south side, and to dredge the area inclosed and in front of the entrance. The estimated cost of the improvement is $290,000. The expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $51,670.20. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1890, was as follows: The north breakwater was essentially completed. Nothing had been done on the south breakwater. The anchorage basin was 350 by 450 in area, 7 feet deep at mean low water. The entrance channel was 1,600 feet long, 100 feet wide, 5 feet deep at mean low water. The channel connecting the basin with the town wharves was 2,100 feet long, 25 feet wide, 1 foot deep at mean low water. During the fiscal year a contract, which expires December 31, 1891, was entered into to dredge 30,000 cubic yards from the channel leading from the basin to the town wharves. No operations were in progress under this contract during the fiscal year and the condition of the improvement at the date of this report is the same as on June 30, 1890. The prospective benefits to commerce by the completion of this improvement are the creation of an additional harbor of refuge on this much-frequented dangerous coast. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. $829.80 10,000.00 10,829.80 68.57 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... 10,761. 23 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 9,750.00 July 1, 1891, balance available................... 1,011. 23 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 227,500.00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 50,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and (See Appendix B 14.) 15. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-Plymouth Harbor is 30 miles south of Boston. The object of its improvement is to perpetuate the harbor by the preservation of Long Beach which forms it, and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to an enlarged anchorage basin in front of the town wharves. The various devices employed for the preservation of Long Beach are described in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1877. The original project for improvement was adopted in 1875 and modified in 1877 and 1884. The modified project proposed an improved channel 2,286 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at mean low water, leading to an anchorage basin 866 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at mean low water. From 1866 to date, $128,800 has been appropriated for this harbor. The expenditures to June 30, 1890, were: For beach protection... Total $76, 915. 48 42, 556.84 119, 472.32 At that date the entrance channel was 115 feet wide and 9 feet deep at mean low water. The basin was 800 feet long, averaged 150 feet wide and 9 feet deep at mean low water. The works protecting Long Beach were in fair order. During the fiscal year a contract, which expires December 31, 1891, was entered into, to dredge 18,000 cubic yards from the channel and basin. Operations under this contract were commenced during the latter part of June, 1891, and during the fiscal year 6,918 cubic yards was removed. At the date of this report the improved channel is 130 feet wide, and the basin is essentially the same as on June 30, 1890. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $1,327.68 8,000.00 9, 327. 68 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. 156.29 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. 9, 171.39 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. 1,867.86 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 2,992. 14 4,860.00 July 1, 1891, balance available 4,311.39 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 9,500.00 9,500.00 (See Appendix B 15.) 16. Wellfleet Harbor, Massachusetts.-Wellfleet Harbor is 12 miles southeast of Provincetown, on Cape Cod Bay. The object of its improvement is to provide a navigable channel from the inner anchorage, the "Deep Hole," to the town wharves. The project originally proposed in 1871 was to dredge two channels of approach to the town wharves and to remove several dangerous sunken rocks. The removal of the sunken rocks was effected by an appropriation provided by the act of June 10, 1872. The present project is to dredge a channel from the "Deep Hole" to the town wharves 4,200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. The expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $11,339.79. The condition of the improvement on that date was as follows: Two hundred and four cubic yards of rocks had been removed from the harbor, and the channel connecting the "Deep Hole" with the town wharves was 25 feet wide, 4 feet deep at mean low water. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year, as the funds available were considered not sufficient to give any appreciable benefit to commerce. The condition of the improvement at the date of this report is the same as on June 30, 1890. 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 B 16.) $660. 21 4,000.00 4,660. 21 10.5 4, 649. 63 22,000.00 22, 000.00 17. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.-Provincetown Harbor is situated at the extremity of Cape Cod, about 40 miles southeast from Boston Light. It is one of the most valuable harbors of refuge on the Atlantic coast. The entire commerce of New England, and a very large local fishing interest are directly benefited by its maintenance, which depends entirely on the preservation of the sandy beaches which inclose it. Since 1826 the project has been a general one, and provides for the preservation of the harbor by building dikes, bulkheads, and sand catches, and extensive planting of beach grass to repair and prevent storm damages to the beaches. From the nature of the work it can at no time be considered completed. A special dike across Howse Point Island Flats to be built contingently, was recommended in the annual report for 1886. A plan of the harbor was published in the annual report of the Chief of Engineers for 1886. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $143,063.66 and the sev eral works for protection were in good order, but an additional bulkhead was required to strengthen the weak central portion of Long Point. During the fiscal year materials were collected and the construction of a bulkhead 2,000 feet long was commenced to protect Long Point, about 2,000 feet west of Wood End Light. At the date of this report the works of preservation are in good order. But additional protection is required at the east end of Long Point, to secure the light-house tract. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... $3,414.78 7,500.00 10,914.78 2,081.81 8,832.97 3.00 8,829.97 |