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(This does not include the semi-weekly line of steam-boats from Boston, nor the several daily lines to the islands, nor the sixteen tug-boats which are constantly plying the river.)

The following articles were shipped from Richmond, Me., during the year 1888:

Hay

Eggs

By steamers.

...tons.. 700 | Apples
....................dozen.. 60,000 Fresh shad....

Besides large quantities of veal, mutton, and poultry.

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The following articles were shipped from Augusta, Me., during the year 1888:

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(This does not include the small class of pleasure boats.)

The class of vessels employed in carrying freight are schooners of from 90 to 300 tons, with a draught of from 6 to 10 feet.

A 12.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT PORTLAND, MAINE.

The project for this improvement consists in dredging a channel 500 feet wide and 29 feet deep at mean low water from deep water of the outer channel to the front where the largest steamers receive and discharge their cargoes.

The entire cost of this improvement was estimated at $135,000.

ENG 89- 34

The following appropriations have been made for this work, viz:

By act of August 5, 1886..

By act of August 11, 1888..

$30,000 40,000

Under the first appropriation a part of the channel lying along the frout of the wharves was dredged, giving an area of 1,600 feet in length and 400 feet wide, having the full depth of 29 feet.

In the last fiscal year the amount of material measured in situ which has been dredged from the channel and dumped outside is 77,792.4 cubic yards soft material, and 61,265.5 cubic yards of hard pan and hard sand.

This has connected the area first dredged with deep water of the an chorage by a dredged cut 227 feet wide, 2,800 feet long, and 29 feet deep.

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The entire expenditures on the work have been $67,245.63.
The amount expended in last fiscal year is $37,253.29.

In September, 1888, proposals for dredging were invited by public advertisement.

The lowest bid was from Messrs. Moore & Wright, of Portland, Me, and the contract was awarded to them.

Dredging under the contract was commenced late in October and con tinued until December, when operations were suspended for the winter. Active operations were resumed April 3, and continued to the close of the fiscal year, at which time dredging under the contract was practi cally completed, though there still remained a few shoal places to be dredged.

By exercising some care the largest steamers can now enter and leave the harbor or lie alongside the Atlantic wharves at any ordinary low stage of the tide.

During the last year a small shoal was removed from the harbor near the wharf used by International Steamship Company. The shoal inter fered with landings of the steamers at low water.

The completion of the project will cause a great improvement to the harbor as a terminal point for transatlantic steamers and large vessels. It is proposed to apply funds which may be appropriated to the com pletion of the project.

Portland is an important point both from the commercial and military point of view.

The barbor is defended by Forts Preble, Gorges, Scammel, and a battery at Portland Head.

There is a light-house on the breakwater, and a second at Portland Head, 3 miles distant from the city.

The harbor is in the collection district of Portland and Falmouth, Me., of which Portland is the port of entry.

Money statement.

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, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1889, balance available....

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65,000,00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 65,000.00
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

Abstract of proposals for dredging in Portland Harbor, Maine, received October 1, 1888.

Price per cubic yard measured in situ.

No.

Name and address of bidder.

123

Area No. 1. Area No. 2.

Robert Hamilton, Chebeague, Me., and Solomon Sawyer, Yarmouth, Me.
Moore & Wright, Portland, Mo

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National Dredging Company, Wilmington, Del

Abstract of contracts made during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, for improvement of Portland Harbor, Maine.

Date of contracts.

Contractors.

Nature of work.

Price per cubie yard measured in situ.

Oct. 31, 1888

Me.

Moore & Wright, Portland, Dredging channel 2,950 feet long, 29 feet
deep at mean low water.

feet {

*$0.34 t. 17

*Hard dredging.

+ Soft dredging.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

Arrivals and departures of steam-vessels during the year 1888
Arrivals and departures of sailing vessels during the year 1888..
Vessels owned at Portland

Tonnage.....

A 13.

727 2,812

337

70, 414.24

IMPROVEMENT OF CHANNEL IN BACK COVE, PORTLAND, MAINE. The project for this improvement adopted in 1886 consists in deepening and straightening the channel, so that it shall have a depth of not less than 12 feet at mean low water, and a width of 300 feet following the harbor commissioners' line.

The total estimated cost of the improvement is $180,000.
The following appropriations have been made for the work, viz:

By act of August 5, 1886.

By act of August 11, 1888

The total expenditures to June 30, 1889 have been

$26, 250.00 25,000.00 33,062.10

At the beginning of the fiscal year a contract for dredging the channel was outstanding. Work under the contract was continued until October 30, 1888, when it was completed, by the expenditure of all the funds to which the contract applied.

The total amount of material, measured in situ, removed under this contract was 136,496 cubic yards, of which 86,894 cubic yards were removed subsequent to June 30.

In December, 1888, proposals for continuing the dredging were invited by public advertisement. Only one proposal was received, and it was rejected as too high.

On the 1st of March, 1889, proposals for the dredging were again similarly invited.

On the second opening of proposals somewhat better prices were received and a contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, Mr. Edward Moore, of Portland, Me.

Dredging under this contract commenced June 1, 1889, and at the end of the fiscal year 27,236 cubic yards, measured in scows, had been removed.

The channel thus far dredged is 4,030 feet long, 72 feet wide on the bottom, and 12 feet deep at low water, in addition to the amount removed in June from the upper basin under the latest contract.

All the available funds are to be expended under the present contract.

It would be a very great economy in the ultimate cost of this work to make the appropriations in sums not less than $50,000.

Small amounts attract little or no competition, so that prices by con tract and the contingent expenses are necessarily increased.

The completion of the channel is expected to add to the convenience of receiving and shipping large amounts of coal, lumber, potter's clay, and miscellaneous articles, and it will cause greatly reduced freights, especially in the interest of suburban villages, towards which the growth of the city is tending.

With the appropriations which may be made available for the pur pose it is proposed to continue the improvement by completing the first cuts the entire length, and then to widen the channel by successive cuts until the entire width is obtained.

Back Cove is a part of Portland Harbor and is therefore in the same collection district, and is defended by the same forts, and is near the same light-houses as are given for Portland Harbor.

The commercial statistics can not at present be separated from those of the principal harbor, with which they are therefore included.

Money statement.

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, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts..

July 1, 1889, balance available....

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Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 128,750.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 50,000. VU Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

Abstract of proposals for dredging in channel in Back Cove, Portland, Me., received January 10, 1889.

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Abstract of proposals for dredging in channel in Back Core, Portland, Me., received March

No.

19, 1889.

Name and address of bidder.

Price per cubic yard measured in scow.

Cents.

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Contract awarded to Edward Moore, of Portland, Me. Date of contract, April 8, 1889.

A 14.

BREAKWATER AT MOUTH OF SACO RIVER, MAINE.

The present project for this improvement consists in repairing and completing the old breakwater so that it shali have a heighth of 15 feet above low water, and a width of 12 feet on top.

The original estimated cost of the entire work was $72,000.

The following appropriations have been made for this improvement:

By act of July 5, 1884

By act of August 5, 1886.

By act of August 11, 1888

Total.

Total expenditure to June 30, 1889.

$15,000.00 12, 500.00 12,500.00

40,000.00 27,856. 14

At the beginning of the last fiscal year no funds were available for prosecuting the work. The appropriation of August 11 became available so late in the season that all the formalities of a contract could not be concluded in time to resume work upon the break water before the spring of 1889.

In January, 1889, proposals for placing stone upon the breakwater were invited by public advertisement. The lowest bidder was Mr. George Willett Andrews, of Biddeford, Me., and to him the contract was awarded.

But little progress has been made thus far, the amount placed upon the breakwater being but 104 tons.

All the available funds will be expended upon this contract during the ensuing year.

The repair of the breakwater does not in any way affect the currents over the bar, and it has not thus far caused any appreciable benefit to the channel. The channel over the bar varies in depth from time to time, but there is no reliable depth exceeding 3 feet at mean low water.

To cause and maintain any greater depth a jetty is required on the opposite side of the channel as shown on map opposite page 458, Report of Chief of Engineers for 1887. Funds available for the breakwater are not available for the jetty.

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