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EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11,

1888.

The required preliminary examination of Little Salem Creek, New Jersey, was made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement.

(See Appendix G 12.)

It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that Alloway Creek, New Jersey, is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS IN THE STATES OF DELAWARE AND MARYLAND, AND OF MAURICE RIVER, NEW JERSEY, AND OF THE INLAND WATER WAY FROM CHINCOTEAGUE BAY, VIRGINIA, TO DELAWARE BAY.

Engineer in charge, William F. Smith, United States Agent, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired; division engineer, Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, since December 3, 1888.

1. Maurice River, New Jersey.-This stream has a natural channel from 10 to 40 feet deep from the mouth to Ferguson's Dock, 4 miles below Millville, a distance of about 20 miles. Near this dock the 6-foot curve disappeared before improvements were commenced, and the river above was quite shoal, with a minimum depth of 2 feet.

The adopted project is to make a 6-foot low-water channel to Millville, and a 4-foot channel in front of the wharves to the head of navigation. Twenty-four thousand nine hundred and eighty-five dollars and sixteen cents have been expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, in dredging this channel, which has attained its full proposed width and depth to a point 1 mile below Millville. The upper portion remains to be dredged to the full dimensions as projected.

It is said that the commerce of the river has more than doubled, since a larger class of vessels has been able to reach without interruption by low tides the wharves at Millville, which is a manufacturing center of considerable importance.

The appropriation of $10,000, made by the act of August 11, 1888, had not been expended at the close of the fiscal year on account of the prevailing high prices for dredging.

The available funds will during the next fiscal year be applied to the improvement of the channel at and near Millville, and the amount asked for, if appropriated, will be expended at the same locality.

July 1, 1888, amount available....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888

July 1, 1889, balance available

$14.84 10,000.00

10, 014. 84

23.77

9,991. 07

$77,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that canbe profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1891 20,000.00
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H 1.)

2. Wilmington Harbor, Delaware.-In 1836, when the first appropriation for the improvement of the Christiana River was made, the depth of water at low tide was between 8 and 9 feet at the entrance and about 8 feet at the shoalest place below Third Street Bridge. The channel depth was that year increased to 10 feet by dredging.

In 1871 a more comprehensive project was made to dredge a channel 12 feet in depth from the mouth to above the city of Wilmington. This project was completed in 1881. A new project was submitted in 1881 and approved by a Board of Engineers for a 15-foot channel as far as the Pulp Works and a 12-foot channel to the Delaware Railroad Bridge, and the construction of a jetty at the mouth to control and direct the ebb tide, at a total estimated cost of $175,551. The details of this project were somewhat changed in 1883 and the cost in a revised estimate increased to $191,384, exclusive of the jetty, which was then nearly finished.

The following year the project was amended to provide for an additional height of 4 feet to the jetty and to extend it 322 feet in length. The total amount appropriated for the improvement of this harbor since 1836 is $289,606.

The total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is $255,028.57.

The result is a channel 15 feet deep at mean low water and from 50 to 75 feet wide between Market Street Bridge and the entrance, with the exception of Four Shoals, where the depth is from 10 to 15 feet, the shoaling having been mainly caused by material running in from the sides of the cut. The channel dredged to the Pulp Works in 1881 to a depth of 12 feet has shoaled to 10 feet. During the fiscal year repairs to the extent of $500 have become necessary on the jetty and will soon be completed. The available funds are to be expended in dredging a channel 15 feet deep at low water, and 150 feet wide from the mouth of the river as far as the funds will permit. Advertisements inviting proposals have been published and it is expected to complete the work of dredging before next winter.

July 1. 1888, amount available.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888....

July 1, 1889, balance available ....

Amonnt (estimated) required for completion of existing project...
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H 2.)

$2, 166. 21 30,000.00

32, 166. 21

2,201. 44

29, 964.77

117, 624.00 50,000. 00

3. Ice-harbor at New Castle, Delaware.-The ice-harbor at New Castle is one of the oldest in the Delaware River, having been constructed in colonial times for the protection of shipping against heavy ice. Since the beginning of the present century its extension and improvement have been carried on by the General Government at intervals, and the

harbor is crowded with vessels of all kinds and dimensions every win

ter.

The existing project is to rebuild one of the eight piers in the harbor. To do this about $15,600 is required. The amount appropriated by the act of August 11, 1888, viz, $7,500, is too small to be now expended with economy and advantage, and the expenditure thereof has therefore been postponed until a further appropriation is made.

It is proposed to expend the amount asked for, if appropriated, together with the available balance, in rebuilding pier H, and in dredging, as far as the funds will permit, the bottom above and below the harbor, to a greater depth.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.
July 1, 1889, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H 3.)

$7,500.00

7,500.00

8,100.00

8, 100.00

4. Duck Creek, Delaware.-In the year 1879, before improvements were commenced, there was a minimum depth of 23 feet in Duck Creek, and over the bar at the entrance a depth of 4 feet. Navigation was possible only at high water and was carried on by one small steamer and about seven small sailing vessels.

A project was submitted in 1878, by Col. J. N. Macomb, Corps of Engineers, for the improvement of the creek, including a plan for deepening the channel at the entrance. This portion of the project was considered paramount to the other by Congress, and a total sum of $10,000 was appropriated during the following four years for dredging a channel across the bar 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water.

During the fiscal year the appropriation of $10,000 made by the act of August 11, 1888, was expended. A channel 40 feet wide and 63 feet deep at low water was dredged from Smyrna Landing to Brick Store Wharf, a distance of 3 miles.

The result has been that all vessels can now navigate the creek 2 miles above the former highest landing, and that the principal shipping point has been brought this distance nearer the center of the rich farming country which surrounds the head waters of Duck Creek.

It is proposed, during the next fiscal year, to expend the amount asked for, if appropriated, in dredging within the creek and to complete the channel therein in accordance with the present project.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888...

July 1, 1889, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H 4.)

$10,000.00

9, 910. 28

89.72

27,365.00 10,000. 00

5. St. Jones River, Delaware.—Before the channel was improved the practicable depth of water to Lebanon, 12 miles above the mouth, was 4 feet; to Dover, 9 miles further up, only 2 feet at mean low water.

The original project was for a 4-foot low-water channel, 100 feet wide across the bar at the mouth, protected by a jetty, at an estimated cost

of $35,000. This project was enlarged in 1884 to include the removal of the shoals in the river to a depth of 6 feet at mean low water.

The total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is $24,999.64.

The original project for the improvement of the entrance was modified in March last, and a new cut-off proposed near Wharton's Fishery near Lebanon. This modification will reduce the original estimate considerably, and the cut-off will shorten the distance between the upper and lower river 1 mile.

The improvements within the river, with the exception of the cut-off above mentioned, are completed, and there is now a clear channel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep from the mouth to Dover.

Proposals for dredging were opened June 21, 1889, and contract will be entered into early in the next fiscal year.

The amount now available is sufficient to complete the improvement, and no further appropriation is recommended.

July 1, 1888, amount available......

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888....

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.

$0.36 15,000.00

15,000, 33

$412.20 11,900.00

12, 312. 20

2,658.16

July 1, 1889, balance available

(See Appendix H 5.)

6. Mispillion Creek, Delaware.-The entrance to this creek from the Delaware Bay has a mean low-water depth of only 15 feet. Within the creek the original least depth of water at several shoals was from 4 to 5 feet.

The original project is based upon an examination made in 1879, and is for a 6-foot channel, 40 feet wide, from Milford, the head of navigation, to the mouth.

A project was submitted in 1881 for either a 4-foot or a 3 foot channel, 150 feet wide, and protected by a jetty across the bar at the mouth. The total amount that has been appropriated for this creek is $17,000, which was nearly all expended within the stream. The result is a 6-foot low-water channel from Milford to Flat Reach Shoal, near the mouth, a distance of 12 miles.

The sum of $3,500 has been expended during the fiscal year in dredging the channel as above; $2,000 is required to complete the present project.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..
July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities
outstanding July 1, 1888.....

$3,500.60

3,500.00

(Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

2,000.00

(See Appendix H 6.)

7. Broadkiln River, Delaware.-In its original condition the depth of water in the river was only from 3 to 4 feet over the mumerous shoals which impeded navigation, then carried on by small vessels. The depth at the entrance is from 1 to 2 feet.

A project for a 6-foot low-water navigation from the mouth to the head of navigation at Milton, and for a new entrance across Lewes

Cape was adopted in 1871, and since that time the execution of the part of the project relating to the river proper has been in progress and is nearly completed. Twenty-five thousand dollars has been expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. The result has been a considerable increase in shipping and commerce and the inaug. uration of steamboat navigation.

No improvements were made in the river during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, as the prevailing prices for dredging were so high, and the condition of the channel is such that there was no urgent necessity for the expenditure of the appropriation of $10,000 of August 11, 1888.

The available funds will be expended as soon as there are more favorable prospects for lower prices for dredging during the next fiscal year. This will complete the improvement within the river.

The sum of $21,500, it is estimated, will be required for the completion of the existing project at the entrance, but it is thought advisable to postpone further action for the present, on account of the possibility of the opening of a new and elaborate outlet not far from the mouth of Broadkiln River, for the inland waterway canal between Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, and Delaware Bay, at or near Lewes, Delaware, which is now in progress of construction.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888...

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888

July 1, 1889, balance available...

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H 7.)

$10,000.00

408.79

9,591. 21

21,500.00

8. Inland water-way from Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, to Delaware Bay, at or near Lewes, Delaware.-This improvement is made with the view of forming an inland water-way between Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, and Delaware Bay, Delaware.

The project contemplates a "dead level" tidal canal 6 feet deep below the mean low-water level in the Delaware Breakwater Harbor and 70 feet wide at the bottom, beginning at the head of Chincoteague Bay, following deep water in Sinepuxent, Isle of Wight, and Assawoman bays, dredged across the high land near Ocean View, Delaware, to Indian River Bay, from thence across that and Rehoboth Bay and the high land intervening between the head of Rehoboth Bay and the Delaware Bay shore, at or near Lewes, Del., into the harbor of the Delaware Breakwater. The estimated cost is $350,000.

Two appropriations have been made for this work: One of $18,750 by act of August 5, 1886, and one of $50,000 by act of August 11, 1888. By direction of Congress both were to be expended upon that section of the line between Chincoteague Bay and Indian River Bay.

A project for the expenditure of this money in excavating a cut 4 miles long and smaller in dimensions than the final profile has been approved.

After the question of payment for land damages by the State of Delaware had been settled and finally approved by the Attorney-General of the United States, the work was advertised in October last and proposals were opened on November 2, following, and the bids being considered too high were rejected.

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