PROPOSED OPERATIONS. With the available funds and under the existing contract the middle breakwater will be extended northeastward and southwestward of Luddington Rock about 800 feet in each direction. Future appropriations will be applied to completing this breakwater and to carrying out the project as adopted. Appropriations for the New Haven breakwater have been made as Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. New Haven, the port of entry for the collection district of New Haven, is situated at the head of New Haven Harbor, about 4 miles north of the breakwater. There is a light-house on Southwest Ledge, the west terminus of the east breakwater. Fort Hale, 2 miles north of the breakwater, commands the harbor channel. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... $15, 670.48 120,000.00 Money statement. 135, 670. 48 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 14, 756. 42 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... 119, 914. 06 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. $8,508.87 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts .... 99, 722.60 108, 231. 47 July 1, 1891, balance available.... 11, 682.59 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1, 661, 134. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. 500,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Abstract of proposals for constructing a breakwater at New Haven, Conn., opened at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, New York City, December 2, 1890. Abstract of contract for construction of a breakwater at New Haven, Conn., in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. James J. Moran, Brooklyn, Dec. 20, 1890.. Constructing break water cross- ing Luddington Rock, deliver- ite. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1890. Vessels passing New Haven Breakwater. This is 3,000 more vessels than reported for the previous year. In neither case are the records complete, as many vessels pass unobserved in night or in thick weather. The value of this commerce can not be ascertained. D 9. IMPROVEMENT OF MILFORD HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. This harbor is on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 9 miles southwest of New Haven, Conn. It consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which the Wepauwog River, a small tidal stream, extends three-quarters of a mile north to the Milford Wharves, and the Indian River, another small inlet, extends northeasterly. The mouth of the latter stream is partly closed by a dam formerly used to create power for a tide-mill. The original depth on the bar just outside the mouth of the rivers was less than 2 feet at mean low water, and in some places between there and the upper wharves low tide left the channels nearly bare. The mean rise of tide is 6.2 feet. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. A survey of breakwater at Milford, Conn., was ordered by Congress in the river and harbor act of 1872. There being no breakwater, a survey of the harbor was made for a break water, and in his report, dated December 24, 1874 (printed as part of Ex. Doc. No. 107, Forty-second Congress, third session, and also on page 1041 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1873), General Warren, U. S. Engineers, submitted the following plan of improvement: 1. A riprap breakwater from Welch's Point, on the east side of the mouth of the harbor... Superintendence 4. A jetty on the east side of the channel to prevent the dredged area from filling and to confine the action of the tide.. 3. Dredging 4 feet deep and 100 feet wide across the bar at the mouth of the river . 2. Protecting the bluffs on the east shore from erosion by means of small stone jetties... $67,000 5,500 6,250 Total 5,000 1,250 85,000 1 In 1874 $5,000 was appropriated for this harbor and work under the above project was begun, building the small jetties to protect the east shore. Twelve such jetties were built, 100 to 130 feet long, and rising to 9 feet above mean low water. The appropriation of 1875 ($13,000) was applied to the repair of these jetties, to construction of a jetty from the east shore, at the mouth of Indian River (Long Jetty), and to dredging across the bar. In the Annual Report for 1876 (see Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1876, Part I, page 225), Colonel Barlow, U. S. Engineers, recommended that the dredged channel be carried up to Town Wharf, about a half mile farther, at an additional estimated cost of $9,000. This recommendation was renewed in 1877, and was included in the project for expenditure of the appropriation of $10,000 made in 1878. In that and the following year the 4-foot channel across the bar was completed to 100 feet width, as originally projected, and was extended to Town Wharf with width from 60 to 75 feet, and Long Jetty was repaired; also, under the same appropriation, in 1879 and 1880, an additional jetty, authorized by Department letter of October 16, 1889, was built on the west side of the channel, extending southward from Burns Point. This appropriation completed the original project except the breakwater. Sufficient money for beginning that had not been appropriated. June 14, 1880, $5,000 was appropriated, and in accordance with a project for its expenditure submitted and approved, the 4-foot harbor channel was extended from Town Wharf to the Straw Works Wharf, at the upper end of the harbor, with a width of 40 feet. This was completed before the appropriation was exhausted, and "at the earnest solicitation of those most interested in the works of improvement there, an experimental channel, 25 feet wide and 8 feet deep, was cut through the bar at the entrance, lying within and on the west side of the channel already made. This is now of great use to the steam vessels employed in the fish-oil works at that place, and it is claimed that the increase of shipping in the harbor, particularly in the oyster business, for which those waters seem very well adapted, will soon require an 8-foot channel of fully 100 feet width. Such a channel would involve the removal of about 45,000 cubic yards more of material, principally sand and gravel, which, at ruling prices, would cost, including superintendence and incidental expenses, about $11,000." (Extract from Colonel Barlow's annual report for 1881; see Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, Part I, pages 598 and 599.) Under the appropriation of $5,000, made August 2, 1882, the project above suggested was adopted and the 8-foot channel was widened to 65 feet from the bay up to Merwin's Wharf, with 100 feet width around the bend at Burns Point. In 1889 this channel was made fully 100 feet wide, and some needed repairs to Long Jetty were begun. By act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, a survey for a breakwater and harbor of refuge at Milford Harbor was authorized. The survey was made, and a report, with estimates, was submitted January 20, 1882. This report is printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, Part I, page 632. Under date of December 14, 1889, Hon. O. H. Platt, United States Senate, wrote the Chief of Engineers requesting an examination of Milford Harbor and a report upon dredging the channel to the upper wharves. This report was made December 31, 1889. In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of January 18, 1889, a copy of the report was transmitted to the House, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 139, Fifty-first Congress, first session; also in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1890, Part I, page 629. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1891. By act of Congress approved September 19, 1890, $2,500 were appropriated for this improvement. This was the amount estimated in previ ous annual reports as required for repairs of the jetties, and with approval of the Chief of Engineers granite was purchased in open market (that method being most economical and advantageous to the Government) to be used in widening the base of Long Jetty, at the mouth of Indian River; the price is $2.50 per gross ton, delivered and placed. Work was begun June 11, 1890, and is still in progress; up to the close of the fiscal year 170 tons of stone had been delivered and placed, repairing about 160 linear feet of Long Jetty. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. The channel, dredged 4 feet deep, with width of 60 feet for about two-thirds the distance from the mouth of the river to the Straw Works Wharf, and width of 40 feet for the rest of the distance, has shoaled somewhat. The channel across the bar is now 8 feet deep and over 100 feet wide. Repairs of Long Jetty, on the east bank, at the mouth of Indian River, are in progress. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. The project is completed, and nothing further is contemplated under it except what is from time to time necessary for maintenance of the jetties and dredged channels. No appropriation is needed for the ensuing year. Appropriations for Milford Harbor have been made as follows: Dredging to Town Wharf.. Dredging above Town Wharf and (8 feet) below Merwin's Wharf, on bar. Survey for break water... Dredging 8 feet on bar...... Dredging 8 feet on bar and repairing Long Jetty Repairing jetties... Total Milford Harbor is in the collection district of New Haven; it is about 9 miles west from Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor. The nearest light-house is on Stratford Point, 4 miles to the westward. Money statement. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. Oysters received and shipped 150,000 bushels General merchandise, including fish oil and fertilizers from Welch Point 120,000 30,000 Total... 164,000 The above figures amount in aggregate to about 12,000 tons, being an increase of 1,000 tons over amounts reported for 1889. Most of the coal, lumber, and general merchandise are now transported by rail. No new lines of transportation have been established during the year. D 10. IMPROVEMENT OF HOUSATONIC RIVER, CONNECTICUT. The Housatonic is a long shallow river, running southward through Massachusetts and Connecticut, and emptying into Long Island Sound just east of Stratford Point, about 15 miles southwest from New Haven. At Derby, 13 miles above its mouth, it receives the discharge of the Naugatuck, a small rapid river. This point, which has been regarded as the head of navigation, is nearly the head of tide water. About a mile above there is a dam across the Housatonic River furnishing large water-power. For at least 5 miles below Derby the water is always fresh. The original depth on the worst bars in the river (6 in number) was from 3.5 to 4.5 feet at mean low water; there was also a bar across the river's mouth with about 4 feet low-water depth. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. In pursuance of a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated December 20, 1869, authorizing a survey of the Housatonic River below Derby, which resolution was referred by the Secretary of War to the Chief of Engineers for report as to the "necessity for the survey," an examination of the river from Derby to Long Island Sound was made by Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers, who reported January 8, 1870, and recommended a detailed survey of all that part of the river at an estimated cost of $5,000. This report was printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 62, Forty-first Congress, second session. By act of Congress approved July 11, 1870, a survey of Housatonic River below Derby, Conn., was directed, and an allotment of $2,700 |