The cost of this improvement is estimated as follows: redging 80,000 cubic yards, at 28 cents.. ontingencies Total...... $22, 400.00 2,600.00 25,000.00 I respectfully invite attention to the report of Mr. Harwood for the etails of the survey and a description of the river and its approaches. Mystic River is in the collection district of Boston, Mass., of which oston is the port of entry; the nearest light-house is on Long Island, oston Harbor, Mass. Very repectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, Ú. S. A. S. M. MANSFIELD, REPORT OF MR. T. T. HUNTER HARWOOD, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Boston, Mass., April 3, 1891. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the survey of Mystic River, Massachusetts, from the bridge of the Boston and Maine Railroad astern division) to the head of navigation on said river," made in November, 1890, accordance with your instructions, and therewith a map of the survey drawn to scale of 1:3000. TOPOGRAPHY. A base line 2,400 feet in length was measured along the track of the Boston and aine Railroad over the Mystic River Bridge, of the western division. Thirty-two triangulation stations were located and occupied, all important angles ing repeated at least three times. From these points a system of ranges was ranged on which the soundings were taken. The high-water and low-water lines are from this survey. The shore line shown is the approximate mean high-water line of the river banks in e marsh through which it flows, for the greater part of its length covered by the rvey; large areas outside of these lines being overflowed by more than ordinary igh tides. HYDROGRAPHY. The survey covers that section of the river extending from the Boston and Maine ailroad Bridge (eastern division) to the head of navigation, at a stone bridge known Cradock Bridge, in the town of Medford, a distance of about 3 miles. One hunred and forty-nine lines of soundings were run, at an average distance of 120 feet part, on which 6,836 soundings were taken, 908 of which were intersected with a ansit from favorable triangulation stations, and 66 taken on a marked line. Two tide gauges were established from the bench mark at the United States navyard in Charlestown, by observations at high-water slack, one on the Boston and aine Bridge, of the western division, the other at Dunning's coal wharf, about half ay up the river. The soundings are expressed in feet and tenths, and refer to the plane of mean low ater at the navy-yard in Boston Harbor. They are selected from the number taken the survey. DESCRIPTION OF CHANNEL AS DEVELOPED BY THE SURVEY. The Mystic River empties into Boston Harbor from the north, and extends from its outh to the head of navigation, in the town of Medford, in a generally northwest rection. The distance from its mouth to the bridge of the Boston and Maine Railroad astern division), where the survey commences, is about 2 miles, up to which point clear 6-foot channel exists, passing two bridges known, respectively, as Chelsea Bridge, with a draw opening of 44 feet 7 inches, and Malden Bridge, with a draw opening of 43 feet 4 inches. Passing the draw of the Boston and Main (eastern division) Bridge, which is 44 feet in the clear, the channel extends northwest to the bridge of the Boston and Maine Railroad (western division), with a draw opening of 43 feet, and in this direction for about 1,000 feet beyond; thence it turns in a curve of about 700 feet radius, and runs west to about 400 feet from Middlesex Bridge, where the continuous 6-foot channel terminates. From this point the channel follows a tortuous course, with a greatest continuous depth of 2 feet, through the Middlesex Bridge, which has a draw opening of 53 feet, to within 1,500 feet of the head of navigation at Cradock Bridge, in the town of Medford. The total length of the channel covered by the survey, from the bridge of the Boston and Maine Railroad (eastern ivision) to Cradock Bridge, following the windings of the river, is 34 miles; in a direct line the distance between the two bridges is 24 miles. BORINGS. The character of the material composing the bed of the river is shown to be generally of a mixture of soft mud and sand. Twelve borings were made at different stations in the river, and the results are recorded in the table of borings annexed to this report and placed upon the map. The depths stated are below the same plane of reference to which the soundings were reduced. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. S. M. MANSFIELD, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. * T. T. HUNTER HARWOOD, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF ESSEX RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Boston, Mass., November 13, 1890. GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in letter from your office, dated September 20, 1890, I have the honor to submit the following report of a preliminary examination of Essex River, Mass chusetts, provided for in the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890. Essex River winds between marshy banks for 34 miles from the head of navigation at the village of Essex, to its mouth, which forms a har bor of refuge for light-draft vessels on the Atlantic, about 3 miles to the southeastward of the entrance to Ipswich Harbor. The channel is very crooked and difficult to navigate by reason of sandbars and bowlders These obstructions are said to be of a limited extent and easily removed, and if accomplished would result in giving a high-water navigation of 2 feet greater depth than the present 7 to 8 feet. The commercial importance of this stream is almost entirely in its ship-yards, where it is said nineteen-twentieths of all the fishing vessels of Gloucester and Provincetown are built. At the time of my visit I saw 9 schooners on the stocks, of an average of 200 tons each. During this year 22 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 4,477 tons, have been built in the village of Essex, by 5 distinct firms, and this business has been carried on here for the past 50 years, rendering the river famous. This industry should be encouraged to the fullest extent; the improvement of the river will add greatly to its prosperity, and as the cost of the work is believed to be light I am of opinion the river is worthy of improvement. An allotment of $750 is recommended for a survey to enable me to make a plan and estimate therefor. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. M. MANSFIELD, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. Lieut. Col. of Engineers. SURVEY OF ESSEX RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith a report of Mr. T. T. Hunter Harwood, assistant engineer, on the survey of Essex River, Massachusetts, made in accordance with Department instructions dated September 20, 1890, and to comply with the provisions of the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. A tracing of the survey is also submitted. The report of the preliminary examination is dated November 13, 1890, and I respectfully invite attention to it for a general description of the river, for its commercial importance, and the reasons for making the survey. The survey shows that at least 4 feet depth can be carried in a sufficiently capacious channel, from the mouth of the river to a point about 12,000 feet from the head of navigation; and the improvement which I have the honor to recommend is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river, so that 4 feet at mean low water can be carried to the head of navigation, in a channel 60 feet wide, and as indicated on the accompanying tracing. The estimated cost of this improvement is as follows: Dredging 70,000 cubic yards, at 30 cents. Removal of bowlders, 109 cubic yards, at $10 Total.... $21,000 1,090 600 2,310 25,000 I respectfully invite attention to the accompanying report of Mr. Harwood for the details of the survey and a general description of the river and its approaches. Essex River, Massachusetts, is in the collection district of Gloucester, |