Abstract of proposals for dredging and removing ledge in York Harbor, Maine, opened March 19, 1889. A contract was entered into with Thomas Symonds, of Leominster, Mass., April 22, 1889. A 18. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. The project for improving this harbor was fully described in last Annual Report. The only part remaining to complete the work as designed is the removal of part of the point of Badger's Island to a depth of 10 feet at mean low water. Later observations have led to the conclusion that it is not advisable to remove the ledge to so small a depth. The expense of removing this rock to a greater depth is considered to be entirely incommensurate with the benefits to be received. The project is therefore considered as completed. A contract has been made for the expenditure of available funds in removing the point of the ledge to 18 feet for reasons quite fully set forth in the last Annual Report. The original estimated cost of the entire improvement was $150,000. The following appropriations have been made for this work, viz: July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $10,000.00 25,000.00 20,000.00 17,000,00 20, 000, 00 15,000.00 15,000.00 122,000,00 107, 679. 14 $395.06 15,000.00 15, 395. 06 $1,074.20 13, 511.06 14,585. 26 809.80 Abstract of proposals for removing ledge in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, received February 12, 1889. A contract was entered into with O. J. Jennings, of Fulton, N. Y., March 25, 1889. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Number of arrivals of sailing vessels, exclusive of fishing vessels, pleasure crafts or vessels which put in for refuge. 871 Number of arrivals of steamers, exclusive of tow-boats and excursion steamers.. 39 50 Number of irregular tow-boats arriving for tows.. The above statistics have been courteously furnished by Col. William H. Sise, pres ident of the Portsmouth Board of Trade, IMPROVEMENT OF BELLAMY RIVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. This is a new work, the project for which is based upon a survey made in compliance with requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886. The river to the head of navigation is a tidal branch of Great Bay, which opens into the Piscataqua River at Dover Point, 4 miles above the bridge at Portsmouth, N. H. At low water the channel of the river was too shallow for any navigation, save for a short distance. The entire distance over which improvements are required is 13,300 feet, a little more than 2 miles. The project of improvement consists simply in dredging the present natural channel sufficiently to give a mean low-water depth of 5 feet, and a width of 50 feet on the bottom. The depth at mean high water will be nearly 12 feet. The improvement commences at a point about 2 miles from the Piscataqua River. In December, 1888, proposals for dredging were invited by public advertisement. Bids were opened January 10, 1889. The only proposal received was rejected as too high. In March, 1889, proposals for thedredging were similarly invited, and a contract for dredging, as far as available funds permit, has been made with Mr. Thomas Symonds, of Leominster, Mass., who was the lowest bidder. Dredging was commenced May 1, 1889, and on the 30th of June the dredging had been completed for a distance somewhat more than 3,500 feet. To do this required the removal of 22,700 cubic yards of material. The benefits to be derived from this small improvement are mainly in the shipment of bricks, of which a large amount of the finest quality in New England are manufactured on and near the banks of this water. An increased manufacture is expected to result, and the expense of shipment will be decreased by about 50 cents per 1,000 bricks. A few other shipments will result from the improvement, and coal and other supplies will be brought in at a considerable saving of expense. It is proposed to expend the appropriation for which an estimate is submitted in continuing the improvement by dredging. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888........ July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities ontstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts... July 1, 1889, balance available...... $10,000.00 $4, 757.01 9,722.08 277.92 (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. 18,000. CO 18,000.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in Bellamy River, New Hampshire, received January No. 11, 1889. Name and address of bidder. Price per cubic yard measured in scow. Cents. 35 1 Thomas Symonds, Leominster, Mass Rejected, being deemed too high. Abstract of proposals for dredging in Bellamy River, New Hampshire, received March 19, No. 1889. Contract awarded to Thomas Symonds, of Leominster, Mass. Date of contract, April 22, 1888. A 20. IMPROVEMENT OF COCHECO RIVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. A description of this river was given in annual report for 1887, and a map showed its connections with the Piscataqua River (Report Chief of Engineers 1887, page 548.) The project for improving the river, to give a mean low-water depth of 5 feet or nearly 12 feet at mean high water, has been completed. The channel in the portions which were improved is 50 feet wide on the bottom. The estimated cost of the improvement was $47,000. At the date of last annual report work was suspended for lack of funds. The amount required to complete the improvement being small, and it being urgent that the dredging should be completed before winter, which could not be done if a contract were awarded after the delay of advertising, etc., Mr. Thomas Symonds, of Leominster, was employed to do the work under a contract without a public competition, at 45 cents per cubic yard for sand and logs, and $2.50 per cubic yard for hard pan. The autumn rains caused a land-slide to fill the channel at Alley's Point to such an extent that vessels could not pass. A dredge was therefore employed three days to clear the channel. In this work 672 cubic yards of clay were dredged at a cost of a little less than 45 cents per yard. The bank was in such condition that unless the top were removed it would slide and again fill the channel. A small party was therefore employed from December 20 until April 15 in cutting away the bank and removing 4,780 cubic yards of clay in carts. In this manner a slope was cut in the bank leaving a broad berme at a level of 5 feet above high water. The improvements thus far have been a vast benefit to the naviga. tion. In fact, all the commerce by water, which is still increasing, has been a result of the improvement to the river channel. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, required a survey or examination of the Cocheco River. The preliminary examination was made in November, 1888, and a report was submitted to the Chief of Engineers January 3, 1889. A survey of the river will be made during the ensuing summer, and a plan of necessary improvements, and estimate of cost will then be submitted. It is proposed to expend the small available balance of funds in making the survey. July 1, 1888, amount available.. Money statement. 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. $317.89 9,000.00 9, 317.89 9, 027.61 290.28 A 21. HARBOR OF REFUGE AT LITTLE HARBOR, NEW HAMPSHIRE. The original project for this improvement consisted in dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water across the bar, widening the anchorage, and constructing a small breakwater on the ledge at Jerry's Point. The enlarged plan indicated in river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, consists of two small breakwaters at the entrance to the harbor, and dredging the channel and enlarged anchorage to a depth of 12 feet at low water. The breakwaters are estimated to require 56,000 tons of stone; the total of dredging was estimated to be 572,000 cubic yards in situ. By an oversight, a portion of the project previously approved was not included in the estimate for the amount of dredging on enlarged plan. This increases the total situ measurement to 620,000 cubic yards. The prices thus far received in proposals for dredging have been considerably in excess of the estimated cost. It is, however, probable that after the breakwaters have been constructed the cost of dredging the remaining part of the basin will be reduced. For this reason no revision of the estimate will now be made other than to include the small area which had been omitted. It is probable that sand will be found to wash into the basin somewhat from the adjacent flats, so as to ultimately cause a small percentage of increase to the amount of dredging. Such a sliding in has already been found in the narrow channel dredged near the end of the Frost Point breakwater. It is probable, however, that the contraction of the entrance will cause an increased tidal current sufficient to maintain the required depth at that point. |