which a large portion was submerged at low water, to carry it above. the storm waves and currents and to hold it there, in order to prevent the filling of the improved channel above, by material abraded from the beach. The total amount expended on the improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities at that date, was $83,968.63, and the result was that the channel in the upper part of the harbor in front of the wharves was carried to its full width and completed, and the eastern half of the second and third reaches below the wharves, and about two-thirds of the eastern half of the fourth reach, which extends to Barney Point, were deepened to 10 feet at mean low water. The channel for about one half its width from Barney Point to Wareham has been deepened to 10 feet, and a portion of Reach No. 9, formerly obstructed by the shoal known as the Middle Ground, had been deepened to 10 feet. Long Beach has been raised above high-water storm tides, so that the wash of sand into the improved channel inside the beach has been stopped. The ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham has been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels of larger draft can be carried to Wareham than formerly. The increase in width of channel is a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor. A contract has been made for dredging under the appropriation made by the act of September 19, 1890. The time for commencement of work under this contract has been extended to August 15, 1891. The balance available and the amount asked for, $7,236, will be applied to continuing the work of dredging and to the building up of Long Beach if necessary. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Received by Treasury settlement 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. $145.39 12.42 5,000.00 5, 157.81 903.88 4, 253.93 1,760.00 July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix C 5.) 2,493.93 7, 236.00 7, 236.00 6. New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts.-Before improvement the channel had a depth of about 12 feet at mean low water. The original project for its improvement as modified in 1877 provided for a channel 300 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer Island to the wharves at New Bedford. This project was completed in 1877 at a cost of $20,000. The object of the present improvement is to provide a channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabili ties at that date, was $29,966.02. The result was the excavation of the channel, under the original project and its modifications, to a width of 300 feet and a depth of 15 feet at mean low water, and the excavation of a channel 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep from the 11-foot bank to the vicinity of the wharves of New Bedford. Preparations have been made to do the work by hired labor. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining half of the channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep, extending from the "11-foot bank" to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford, and the removal of a few shoal spots between the "11foot bank" and Butler's Flats, the southern end of the projected channel. The balance available and the amount asked for, $15,000, will be applied to the continuation of this project. 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 C 6.) $57.65 12.03 10,000. 09 10, 070. 22 3,038.55 7,031.67 15,000.00 15,000.00 7. Westport Harbor, Massachusetts.-Westport Harbor is an estuary on the coast of Massachusetts, lying between Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts. The site of the work is on Horse Neck Point (the north side of the entrance to the harbor). Before the commencement of the improvement the site of the present work was a point of sand forming the northern and eastern boundary of the entrance to the harbor, and subject to erosion by the sea and tides. The original project of 1887, with its subsequent modifications, provides for the construction of jetties at the end of Horse Neck Point to stop the wearing of this point. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $1,000, and the result was the construction of one jetty on Horse Neck Point. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. By act of September 19, 1890, Congress appropriated $1,000 for the continuation of the improvement. A project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared, and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. This project provides for extending the present jetty to a point near the low-water line, and a small amount of dredging on the Lion's Tongue Shoal, near the mouth of the west branch of the river. Preparations have been made for carrying on the work by hired labor. The work required to complete the existing project is the extension of the present jetty and the dredging on the Lion's Tongue Shoal. The balance on hand and the amount asked for ($1,977.04), will be applied to the completion of the existing project. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $1,000.00 22.96 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... 977.04 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project .... 1,000.00 1,000.00 (See Appendix C 7.) 8. Taunton River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading to the city of Taunton, at the head of navigation, so that vessels of 11 feet draft can reach the city at high water. In its original condition the channel was narrow and obstructed by bowlders, and from Berkley Bridge to Taunton the depth was not, in places, more than 5 feet at mean high water. A vessel of 30 tons burden was as large as could go up to Taunton. The approved project of 1871 and its subsequent modifications provide for a channel 60 feet wide and 11 feet deep from Weir Bridge to the ship-yard, a channel 80 feet wide (100 feet at the bends) and 11 feet deep from the ship-yard down to and through the Needles and Briggs Shoal; thence to Berkley Bridge a channel of the same width and 12 feet deep, and from Berkley Bridge to the deep water at Dighton the channel was to be 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep. The depths are estimated from high water. The ledge which crossed the bottom of the river at Peter Point and the numerous bowlders which lay on the bottom and sides of the channel from Taunton to Dighton were to be removed. The amount expended on the improvement of the river up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, was $156,987.22. With the exception that but 40 feet of the 60 feet of width could be dredged between the bridge at Weir and the ship-yard, on account of interfering with private property and that on account of the hardness and depth of material at the sides the 80-foot channel was not in all cases dredged to its full width, the channel down to Berkley Bridge had been completed. The channel as proposed between Berkley Bridge and Dighton had been completed, with the exception of removing a small amount of ledge rock uncovered in dredging below Peter Point, and had been cleared of bowlders from Taunton down to Berkley Bridge. The work of removal of the ledge at Peter Point had been completed. The material blasted in the channel had been dredged and deposited in the form of a half-tide dam running from Reuben Island to the west shore of the river, with the view of accelerating the current in the dredged channel off and above Dighton and preventing deposits in this part of the channel. Vessels of 11 feet draft can now reach Taunton, at the head of navigation. The work of dredging was commenced June 18, 1891, with plant belonging to the Government and a hired tug and was in progress at the end of the fiscal year. The dredging was commenced at the first shoal above Berkley Bridge and continued up stream. The first reach and a portion of the second were completed. There remain, to complete the existing project, widening and deepening at a few points above the bridge and the removal of the small amount of ledge rock above referred to. A map of a survey of parts of Taunton River, with report thereon, and project for further improve. ment, were submitted to Congress January 10, 1888, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 86, Fiftieth Congress, first session. The balance available and the amount asked for, $7,000, is to be applied to continuing the improvement. 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.... $27.78 7,000.00 7,027 78 2,682.09 4,345.69 1,597. 19 2,748.50 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix C 8.) $7,000.00 7,000.00 9. Pawtucket River, Rhode Island.-Before improvement the channel in the river had a ruling depth of about 5 feet at mean low water. The project for its improvement, as modified in 1883, provides for the excavation by dredging of a channel 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water above Red Bridge to the ledge opposite Grant & Company's wharf at Pawtucket; thence the deepening by blasting of a channel through the ledge to Pawtucket Bridge, of the same depth and 40 feet wide. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $167,005.96. The channel had been excavated under the original project to a width of 75 feet and a ruling depth of 7 feet at mean low water, and under the project as modified in 1883 a new channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide, with wide enlargements at the bends from the deep water above Red Bridge to within 14 miles of the head of navigation, and 60 feet wide and of the same depth to within three-fourths of a mile of the same point, had been completed. This completed portion of the channel is already a great benefit to the commerce of the river. A ruling depth of about 6 feet can be carried from the upper end of our present work to Pawtucket. Preparations were made for carrying on the work by hired labor. Two Government dredges and five scows will soon be ready for this work. The work yet to be done is to excavate the channel to its full width of 100 feet from Bass Rock to a point opposite Grant & Company's wharf, and thence to Pawtucket Bridge, to deepen the channel through the ledge to the same depth with a width of 40 feet. It is proposed to extend the channel towards Pawtucket by dredging and to commence work on the ledge. The balance available and the amount asked for, $100,000, will be applied to continuing the improvement. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Received by Treasury settlement.... 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...... $656.05 19.95 30,000.00 30,676.00 12, 128.02 18,547.98 307.48 18,240.50 337, 478.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix C 9.) 10. Providence River and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.-The object of this improvement is to furnish a wide and deep channel for foreign and coastwise commerce from the ocean to Providence. Before the improvement of the river was commenced in 1853 many shoals obstructed navigation, and at one point in the channel, a place called "The Crook," the available low-water depth was but 4 feet. There was expended between 1852 and the 30th of June, 1882, $290,459.34 in deepening the channel, first to 9 feet, then to 12 feet, then to 14 feet, and again to 23 feet, as the increasing sizes of vessels and the growing commerce of Providence demanded. Bulkhead Rock was also removed during this period to a depth of 20 feet below mean low water. The approved project of 1878, modified in 1882, under which the work is now in progress, provides for a channel 25 feet deep and 300 feet wide, suitable for large ocean vessels, extending from Fox Point, in the city of Providence, to the deep water of Narragansett Bay, and for an anchorage basin between Fox and Field Points, 300 feet wide, at a depth of 25 feet; 600 feet wide, at a depth of 20 feet; 725 feet wide, at a depth of 18 feet; 940 feet wide, at a depth of 12 feet; 1,060 feet wide, at a depth of 6 feet. The amount expended on the present project up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $283,600.63. At that date the 25-foot channel 300 feet wide had been completed. Bulkhead Rock had been removed. The excavation of the 20-foot anchorage area had been completed in Fox Point Reach, and of the same areas in the Sassafras Point and the Field Point Reaches about three-fourths and one-half respectively had been done, and the 18-foot area on the east side of the Fox Point Reach and about three-fourths of the 18-foot area on the same side of Sassafras Point Reach were finished. A contract was made for the work under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, and the work commenced April 28, 1891, and was in progress at the close of the fiscal year. The 18, 12, and 6 foot areas on the west side of Fox Point Reach have been completed, and the 12-foot area on the east side of the same reach was commenced. The capacity of the Government plant has been increased by the construction of large scows. There is required for the completion of the existing project the excavation of the remainder of the anchorage basin between Fox and Field Points. The balance available and the amount asked for, $115,000, will be applied to the continuation of the work according to the project. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... $-87.56 50,000.00 115, 000. 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix C 10.) 11. Removal of Green Jacket Shoal, Providence River, Rhode Island.This shoal is in that part of Providence River which constitutes the harbor of Providence. It lies off the wharves, on the south front of the city, and occupies a part of the harbor that is required for anchorage purposes, covering an area of about 18 acres between the 15-foot curves. |