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COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

Amount of revenue collected 1890, $19,407,928.57; 1891, $18,038,772.34.

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Weymouth (Fore) River, Massachusetts, tributary to Hingham Bay, Boston Harbor, on the southwest, is one of the most important water courses on the south. coast of Massachusetts Bay. It is navigable at low-water mark for vessels not to exceed 18 feet draft 4 miles from its mouth; and for a further distance of 3 miles, to the head of navigation, at least 3 feet depth is found at mean low water.

The original project for its improvement was submitted December 2, 1889. It was based on the survey provided for by the act of August 11, 1888, and proposed to improve the natural channel of the river by dredging, so that 6 feet depth at mean low water can be carried to the head of navigation in a channel 100 feet wide to near the wharves at Weymouth Landing, thence to Braintree Bridge, 80 feet wide, and above the bridge 50 feet wide, with increased width at each turn to facilitate the movement of vessels. The total length of channel to be improved is 7,000 feet approximately, and the cost is estimated to be $40,000.

The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $10,000 for this improvement. A project for the expenditure of this amount was submitted October 1, and approved October 9, 1890. It proposed to dredge a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water, 40 feet wide, to Braintree Bridge, and 25 feet wide above said bridge to the head of navigation.

An advertisement was issued under date of October 15, 1890, calling for bids for the proposed work.

An abstract of the proposals received will be found in the annexed table.

On December 5, 1890, a contract was entered into with Mr. Augustus R. Wright to dredge 24,000 cubic yards, at 373 cents per yard. Operations under this contract were commenced in April, 1891, and at the close of the fiscal year 18,389 cubic yards had been removed and 5,000 feet of the 40-foot wide channel had been completed.

The amount required to complete the improvement is $30,000, all of which could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Weymouth River, Massachusetts, is in the collection district of Boston, Mass., of which Boston is the port of entry. The nearest lighthouse is on Long Island, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. Commercial statistics are included in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts.

Money statement.

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.
June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..

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July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities

5, 531.54

July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..

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July 1, 1891, balance available ....

316.60

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
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.

30,000.00

Abstract of proposals for dredging in Weymouth River, Massachusetts, opened November 21, 1890, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

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Contract awarded to Augustus R. Wright, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers.

B 13.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. Hingham Harbor is situated in the southern part of Hingham, or Hull Basin, which comprises all that part of Boston Lower Harbor south of Nantasket Roads.

A chart of the harbor was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for year 1888, Part 1, page 456.

The harbor covers an area of 1 square mile, and has extensive mud

flats, bare at low tide.

The mean rise or fall of the tide is 9.4 feet.

The channel leading to Hingham, south of Ragged and Sailors Isl ands, was before improvement very narrow and crooked, and obstructed Its least width was 30 feet and least

by sunken rocks and shoals.

depth 4 feet at mean low water.

The object of its improvement is to widen and deepen the natural

channel from deep water near the head of the harbor to the steamboat wharf, a distance of 2,500 feet.

The original project for improvement was submitted December 23, 1874.

It provided for an improved channel on the east side of Sailors Island, past the west side of Beacon to the Hingham Wharf, 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $11,000.

This project was modified January 20, 1885, when it was proposed to deepen the improved channel to 10 feet at mean low water, and to remove a mid-channel ledge lying between Chandler and Ragged Islands, measuring 128 cubic yards, at an estimated cost of $18,700.

The total amount appropriated for this harbor to date is $26,000.
The total expenditures to June 30, 1890, were $20,994.99.

At that date the channel had been improved as proposed by the modified project of 1885, through the ledge at a point about 1,600 feet northeast of the steamboat wharf, where it was 100 feet wide, 10 feet deep at mean low water. The remainder of the improved channel was 100 feet wide, 8 feet deep.

The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $5,000 for the continuation of this improvement. It was recommended that this sum be expended in completing the present approved project, with the exception of the removal of the ledge between Chandler and Ragged Islands. This recommendation was approved, and an advertisement was issued under date of October 15, 1890, calling for bids for the proposed work. An abstract of the proposals received will be found in the annexed table.

On December 5, 1890, a contract was entered into with Mr. Augustus R. Wright to dredge 20,000 cubic yards, at 18 cents per yard.

Operations under this contract were commenced early in May, 1891, and it was satisfactorily completed June 11, 1891, by the removal of 20,400 yards.

The channel is now 100 feet wide, 10 feet deep, at mean low water. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $3,000, all of which could be expended to advantage during the year ending June 30, 1893.

The benefit to be expected by the completion of this improvement is a more convenient and safe navigation of the channel leading to the town wharves.

Hingham Harbor is in the collection district of Boston, Mass.

The nearest light-house is the Narrows light on the main ship channel in Boston Harbor, distant about 5 miles.

Money statement.

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...
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.

ENG 91-42

$5.01 5,000.00

5, 005. 01 4,093.36

911.65

3,000.00

3,000.00

Abstract of proposals for dredging in Hingham Harbor, Massachusetts, opened November 21, 1890, by Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

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Contract awarded to Augustus R. Wright, with the approval of the Chief of Engi

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Scituate Harbor is on the west shore of Massachusetts Bay, 14 miles from either Boston or Plymouth light-house, and just southwest of the direct sailing course of all ocean-going vessels entering Boston Harbor.

Before improvement the harbor had a low-water area of 57 acres approximately, 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 east winds, and the entrance was obstructed by may sunken bowlders. The depth on the bar was about 24 feet at mean low water. The mean rise or fall of the tide is 9.8 feet.

A plan of the harbor, showing the proposed improvement, was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, Part I, page 522.

The object of the improvement is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels bound to Boston that are too far south of their course to clear the dangerous ledges near Minots light-house.

The project for the improvement adopted in 1881 is to build two rubblestone breakwaters converging toward each other from opposite banks, and to dredge an anchorage basin with channels connecting with

the sea and the town wharves.

and

The north breakwater, from Cedar Point, is to be 800 feet long, the south breakwater, from the point of the First Cliff, is to be 730 feet. Both breakwaters are to be 20 feet wide on top and 4 feet above mean high water, except at their outer ends, which are to be built 6 feet higher, to serve as sites for entrance beacons.

The anchorage basin to be 30 acres in area approximately. The entrance channel to be 2,700 feet in length and 300 feet average width. The estimated amount of dredging (including the entrance channel) was 500,000 cubic yards, to give a depth of 15 feet in the entrance chan

nel; 12 to 15 feet between the breakwaters; 12 feet immediately in rear of the south breakwater, and 10 feet for the anchorage basin at mean low water. The estimated cost of the breakwaters was $100,000 and of the dredging $190,000, a total of $290,000.

The total amount appropriated for this work to date is $62,500. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $51,670.20. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1890, was as follows:

The north breakwater was 720 feet long, of full width and height; the entrance channel was 100 feet wide, 1,600 feet long, and 5 feet deep at mean low water. Nothing had been done on the south breakwater.

A portion of the beach between Cedar Point and the mainland was protected by a brush and stone bulkhead 450 feet long, in front of which was a stone apron 10 feet wide, 385 feet long. All known bowlders obstructing the entrance of the harbor were removed.

The channel leading from the anchorage basin to the town wharves was 25 feet wide, 1 foot deep at mean low water.

The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $10,000 for this improvement. A project for the expenditure of this amount was submitted October 1 and approved October 6, 1890. It was to widen and deepen the channel connecting the anchorage basin and the town wharves so that it should be 100 feet wide, 3 feet deep at mean low water.

An advertisement inviting bids for the proposed work was issued under date of October 15, 1890.

An abstract of the proposals received will be found in the annexed table.

On December 5, 1890, a contract was entered into with Mr. Augustus R. Wright to dredge 30,000 cubic yards, at 32 cents per yard. This contract expires December 31, 1891. 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 essentially the same as on June 30, 1890.

The amount required to complete the improvement is $227,500. Of this amount $50,000 could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, in building the south breakwater.

Scituate is in the collection district of Plymouth, Mass. The nearest port of entry is Plymouth, Mass. The nearest light-house is Minot Light, about 5 miles distant. The accompanying commercial statistics have been furnished by the collector of customs at Plymouth, Mass.

Money statement.

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890..

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..

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.

$829.80

10,000.00

10,829.80

68.50

10,761. 27

9,750.00

1,011. 23

227,500.03

50,000. 00

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