Newburyport is situated on the south bank, 24 miles, approximately. from the mouth of the Merrimac River. The river empties into the At lantic Ocean midway between Cape Ann and Portsmouth, or about 30 miles a little east of north from Boston in a direct line.

The outlet of the river between Plum Island and Salisbury Point is 1,000 feet wide and 30 feet deep at mean low water. At a distance of nearly a mile outside lies a sandy bar, thrown up by wave action, through which, previous to the improvement, a channel, variable in position, direction, and depth, was maintained by the current of the river, increased by the tidal prism in a large interior basin due to a range of tides equaling 74 feet. For 1,000 feet outward from the gorge towards the crest of the bar the current was able to maintain a chan nel of navigable width and 18 feet deep at mean low water, and for a further distance of 1,500 feet a channel 12 feet deep. From the 18-foot contour on the inside to the same on the outside the distance was 4,000 feet, and between the 12-foot contours the distance was 3,000 feet. The depth on the crest of the Iar was generally less than 7 feet at mean low water.

The object of the improvement is to create through the outer bar a channel 1,000 feet wide and at least 17 feet deep at mean low water, so that vessels may cross the bar and find a harbor, at any stage of the tide, with as great draught as can reach Newburyport by the river at high tide.

The project submitted September 16, 1880, proposed two converging rubble-stone jetties, their outer ends parallel for 1,000 feet, and about the same distance apart, and the protection of the beach in their vicinity. This was modified in 1882 so as to provide for the partial closing of Plum Island Basin with a timber dike about 800 feet long and 5 feet above mean low water.

The direction of the south jetty and the character of the shore protection were modified in 1883. The north jetty from Salisbury Beach is to be 4,000 feet long, approximately, and the south jetty from Plum Island is to be 2,400 feet long, approximately. Both are 15 feet wide on top, which is in a plane 12 feet above mean low water. The two jetties have slopes of 1 on 2 on the sea side, and of 1 on 1 on the barbor

side.

A map showing the location of the jetties is published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885. Their form and dimensions are shown in the Report for 1881. The location and details of construc tion of the dike are given in the Report for 1883. The estimated cost of the improvement was $375,000.

The total appropriations for this work to date have been $232,500. The amount expended to June 30, 1838, was $207,498.27.

On June 30, 1888, the condition of the improvement was as follows: The north jetty had been completed for a length of 1,930 feet, and in addition 745 feet were partly completed; the south jetty had been completed 1,077 feet, and partly completed for an additional distance of 223 feet, and its shore end strengthened by a durable sand catch.

The dike was completed as far as was prudent at that time for its safety. It was 817 feet long and 5 feet high above mean low water, except that near its center a weir was left 150 feet long and 2 feet deep at mean low water.

The channel through the bar was at least 200 feet wide and 10.7 feet at mean low water.

On August 24, 1888, a project was submitted for the expenditure of $25,000 made available for this improvement by the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888. This project proposed to extend the full section of the north jetty 300 feet, approximately, and to refill the sand catch in rear of the south jetty with brush and stone. This project was approved September 7, 1888.

Specifications and advertisement were prepared and issued for the proposed jetty extension, and the bids received were opened October 31, 1888. A copy of the proposals will be found in the annexed table. On November 20, 1888, a contract was entered into with the Rockport and Pigeon Hill Granite companies for the delivery, in place in the north jetty, of 10,000 tons, more or less, of rubble-stone, at $1.97 per ton of 2,000 pounds. This contract expires December 31, 1889.

Operations under this contract were commenced during the latter part of January, 1889, but unfavorable weather prevented any material progress until early in May, 1889, after which the progress of the work was satisfactory, and to the close of the year ending June 30, 1889, 5,185 tons had been deposited, thus extending the full section of the north jetty 150 feet, approximately.

At the date of this report the condition of the south jetty, the sand catch, and the dike across Plum Island Basin remains the same as on June 30, 1888.

A survey of the bar and mouth of the river was made in June, 1889; the notes have been plotted, and show that the channel, inside of the outer ends of the jetties, has moved slightly northward, with no material change in its width and depth.

Outside of the ends of the jetties the channel has straightened, moved to the southward, and between the 9 foot contours has decreased in width from 750 feet in 1888 to an average of about 500 feet in 1889. The depth of water on the crest of the bar has lessened since 1888 to 9.2 feet. This narrowing of the channel and decrease in depth is due to the character of the spring freshet. From notes furnished by Mr. Hiram F. Mills, engineer of the Essex Company at Lawrence, Mass., it is known that in 1888, during the months of March, April, and May, 22,588 cubic feet per second of water passed the dam at Lawrence; in 1883, a "dry" year, for the same period, 10,461 cubic feet passed; in 1889 the discharge was 11,588 cubic feet per second.

To complete the improvement an appropriation of $142,500 will be required, all of which could be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in the extension of both jetties to their full projected lengths.

The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are the deepening and widening of the channel across the bar, thereby af fording a harbor of refuge on the inside of Salisbury Beach, and giving casy access at high tide to the wharves at Newburyport for vessels drawing 17 feet, approximately.

This work is located in the collection district of Newburyport, Mass., of which Newburyport is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is on Plum Island, at the entrance of the harbor.

The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, have been furnished by the collector of customs for Newburyport, Mass.

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 Jaly 1, 1888 ..

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities....

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.

July 1, 1889, balance available......

$3,946.68

7,847.11

9,485.55

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.

Abstract of proposals for the delivery of rubble-stone for extension of North trance of Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts, opened October 31, 1888, by G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers.

*1 Rockport Granite Company, by Charles S. Rogers, treasurer, and Pigeon Hill Granite Company, by Frank Scripture, treasurer

2

Edwin Canney.

3

Charles H. Edwards..

P

Contract awarded to the Rockport and Pigeon Hill Granite companies approval of the Chief of Engineers.

The vessels frequenting the port are steamers and schooners, from 9 to 14 fee In addition to the foreign coal, there has been received by coastwise arri 175,000 tons.

B 2.

IMPROVEMENT OF MERRIMAC RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

The mouth of the Merrimac River is 15 miles northwest fr Ann, Mass. Tide-water extends up it a distance of 19 miles, foot of the "Upper Falls," 13 miles above Haverhill, Mass.

Seven incorporated cities and the largest mills in New Eng directly interested in its improvement. Before improvement th