R 15. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October, 29, 1870. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the examination and survey of South River, New Jersey, and project for its improvement, made by me in conformity with your instructions of July 23, 1870, and as provided for in section 2 of the act approved July 11, 1870, (Public, No. 152,) "making appropriations for the repairs, preser vation, and completion of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes." South River, from Washington, the head of steamboat navigation, to its discharge into the Raritan, passes through a low and marshy country, which makes its course tortuous, with short and sudden bends and shallow water. To remedy these difficulties a cut about 80 feet wide was made about forty years ago by the New Jersey Transportation Company. This cut substituted a straight and easy artificial navigation of about a mile for a crooked one of four miles. But the proposed depth of 6 feet at low water was not carried through the extent of the cut, the bottom of which was left irregular, affording but little aid to vessels, as they could pass only with the draught allowed by the shoalest portions of the canal. The main improvement required for this river is to complete this arti ficial channel to a uniform depth, corresponding to the water of the Raritan and the requirements of the business of the region dependent upon it. This is 6 feet at low water, as stated above. It will require the removal of 21,233 cubic yards of mud to effect this. The next points needing improvements are two shoals lying between the upper end of the canal and the port of Washington. To deepen these to 6 feet will require the removal of 14,444 cubic yards of soft material. These three excavations will amount to 35,677 cubic yards. The canal opens into the Raritan at right-angles to that river. This opening may be expected always to produce a shoal deposit at the place. of meeting. To remedy this an oblique cut may be made down stream, which will blend the currents at an acute-angle. This cut will involve the removal of 3,333 cubic yards. ESTIMATE OF PROBABLE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS. Deepening the cut to uniform depth of 6 feet, 21,233 cubic yards, at 35 cents.... Opening the channel at the shoals between Washington and $7,431 55 5,055 40 1,166 55 13,653 50 The sum of $13,600 will suffice for all the improvements required by this river, including some minor points above Washington, between that town and Old Bridge, which is the head of navigation. It is recommended that this amount be appropriated for the service of the next fiscal year. The drawing transmitted herewith exhibits the position and extent of the existing obstacles to the navigation of the river. The accompanying statement shows the value and extent of the commerce, navigation, and produce business of the region interested in the proposed improvement. The present farm products amount to $560,506 per annum. The commerce in fire and molding-sand amounts to over 12,000 tons. A very large business is done in the manufacture of bricks, amounting in the immediate vicinity to 72,000,000 yearly. Manufacturers of rubber, flour, snuff, whisky, spices, &c., exceed a million and a quarter of dollars yearly. Large increase in all these particulars is counted upon as consequent to the improvement of the navigation now asked for, and a development of market-gardening for the supply of the New York market is anticipated almost without limit. The soil is peculiarly adapted to this culture, a sure and regular channel of transportation being the one thing required to augment the business many fold.. For the particulars of these statistics, as well as for all assistance required in my examination, and particularly for the careful survey and soundings of the cut and shoals, I am indebted to the Hon. George E. Brown, of South River, New Jersey. South River is in the collection district of Amboy. Fort at Sandy Hook is the nearest fort, and the nearest light-house that at Prince's Bay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. D. KURTZ, Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers. Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, SOUTH RIVER, October 10, 1870. MY DEAR SIR: Your very kind favor of the 27th of September was received in due time. The obtaining of the annexed statistical report, as requested, has required no little amount of exertion and time, hence the delay in replying. I am indebted to Mr. I. G. Snedeker, census-taker for the township of East Brunswick, for the following statistics, viz: Farms that produce over $500, only in East Brunswick Township, are valued at $550,200. Adding value of farms that do not produce $500 per annum, will raise our township farm value to $800,000; and the value of farms in the four adjoining townships to be benefited by the appropriation is nearly four times that of our own, or $3,000,000. Number of bushels of wheat raised in our township for past year, always small 3,226 In adjoining townships 75,000 Total 78,226 In adjoining townships. Number of bushels of corn raised in our township (East Brunswick) during past year 14,945 42,000 Total 56,945 Number of bushels of potatoes raised in East Brunswick past year 17,745 70,000 Total.... 87,745 In adjoining townships .. Number of tons of hay cut in East Brunswick past year.. 1,097 6,000 Total 7,097 Amount or value of production known as market gardening raised on farms $31.893 125,000 Total 156.893 Value of all farm production in adjoining townships.. Value of all farm production raised in East Brunswick Township on farms raising under $500 per annum.. Estimated value of all farm production for the past year, including those only that raise over $500 worth of produce during past year in East Brunswick Township $106,566 50,000 404,000 560.566 Total Number of tons sand-fire and molding-shipped during 1869, by vessels belong- Total 9,320 2,700 12,020 Amount of wood shipped during past year from East Brunswick Township, 4,000 cords. Cannot obtain statistics of cord-wood from adjoining townships; average price per cord, $6. Amount of brick made during past year in the immediate vicinity of South River, 72,000,000; value, $7 50 per thousand. There are forty vessels, light draught, giving a sum total of 4,182 tons burden, that come and go with high water only, that are owned by South River boatmen. There are no means of ascertaining the tonnage of vessels from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia that carried the 9,320 tons of sand, and also those that, as transient vessels in our river, freight not only sand but brick and clay, but such a trade is carried on to quite an extent. An increase of facilities or improvement of our channel will greatly increase business in sand, clay, and brick. The population of East Brunswick in 1865 was 1,832; in 1870 it is. Total..... 2.969 14,7-6 17,655 For the following statistics I am indebted to Hon. Thomas Boovaeue, assessor of internal revenue. They are the returns for the past year of manufactories in these four townships. Value. $195, 241 20 17,302 35 22,000 00 100,000 00 600,000 00 70,000 00 250,000 00 1,254,543 55 The benefits anticipated from this appropriation are as follows, viz: the permanent establishing of a steamboat route from South River village to New York. This may appear to be the grand summum bonum of benefit. While we admit its very great importance, we trust that other considerations mentioned below will not be left unnoticed. By referring to the preceding statistics it will be seen that in the one item of market gardening there is no trifling interest. Our soil is particularly well adapted to "trucking," but in our present condition it is impossible to reach a timely market with perishable truck. The opening of South River will extend the route of an already estab lished steamboat, and will place at command the privilege of the inexhaustible market of New York City. The extent to which this one item of market gardening would be increased, the immense benefit to all this section, or the extent to which the given figures would be augmented, can scarcely be conjectured; the same influence would be realized in general farm production; all could be sold that could be raised; its result will be directly seen in jealous industry, new improvement, and great increase of wealth. The vicinity of South River abounds in valuable sands and clays, and should the channel be made navigable for vessels drawing from six to eight feet of water, the extent to which this trade alone could be opened with the principal port cities of the Atlantic States can hardly be estimated. The brick trade would be benefited and augmented in the same ratio, which is also an item of no small importance. The opening of South River will be the exordium of improvement to all of southern Middlesex. The order only to survey the river has already placed an incentive in the agricultural mind that has proved quite a stimulant, and large and extensive preparations are already begun for an increase of crops during the coming year. The vicinity of South River is admitted by all to be pleasant and attractive, and by the opening of the channel the village will be in easy communication with New York, our property will increase in value, our town will grow in numbers, and will advance and improve. Manufacturing companies have examined our place and pronounced it very desirable as a manufacturing site, but are compelled to locate elsewhere on account of the great inconvenience of our channel. May we not hope to obtain that which will aid us in one of the strides of the progress of civilization? Very respectfully, yours, Lieutenant Colonel. J. D. KURTZ, GE. E. BROWN. IMPROVEMENT OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH BRANCHES OF THE SHREWSBURY RIVER, NEW JERSEY. The sum of $14,000 having been appropriated by Congress at its recent session for the improvement of this river, offers to do the work by contract were called for by public advertisements, and the undertaking was allotted to the lowest bidder. He failed, however, to respond when called upon to execute the necessary papers, and thus a serious loss of time was occasioned before inquiries could be made again in the market and the necessary arrangements perfected for commencing the work. It is now awarded to a responsible undertaker, and there is reason to expect that it will go on steadily to completion. The rate of work is such that the appropriation will suffice to make the necessary cuts to open the channels of both branches of this river at all the shoal places, and it will be seen whether dredging is a sufficient improvement to produce durable benefit to the navigation. The permanent closing of the breaches along the beach is a favorable circumstance, and the steady use of the channels by steamboats, and particularly by propellers, will have a beneficial tendency. Abstract of proposals are sent herewith. STATEMENT OF FUNDS. Appropriation by act of March 3, 1871.. Expended to June 30, 1871, (services, &c.).... Amount available July 1, 1871... No. No further appropriation is now asked for this work. $14,000 00 197 50 13,802 50 Abstract of proposals for improvement of Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. Names of bidders. Rates charged. 29 cents per cubic yard. 26 cents per cubic yard. 40 cents per cubic yard. 193 cents per cubic yard. 24 cents per cubic yard. R 17. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1870. GENERAL: I have the honor to present the following report of the examination made by me of Shrewsbury River, New Jersey, with a view to its improvement, as provided for in section 2 of the act approved July 11, 1870, (Public, No. 152,) making appropriations" for the repair, preservation, and completion of certain public works on rivers and har bors, and for other purposes," and in conformity with your instructions of July 23, 1870, and to submit the accompanying project and estimate for the required improvements. The entrance to Shrewsbury River is from the bottom of Sandy Hook Bay, on the west shore. The channel has usually been found along this shore, following it round under the Navesink Lights, and so up the two rivers. This channel, however, has become obstructed by a bulk-head of sand, which lies about north of the lights, so that now vessels, after entering, bear away to the southeast and northeast until they get close to the ocean beach, which is then followed closely till the vicinity of the light-house or "Highland" wharves is reached, when the course is obliquely across the river into the old channel on the west shore, as stated above. This new channel is every way objectionable, being narrow, circuitous, filled with lumps and ridges, and much of it exposed to the action of the drift-sand of the beach. The remedy will be to dredge through the bulk-head mentioned above and bring the old channel into use again. The difficulties which have affected this navigation heretofore may be expected to cease for the future. The great cause of disturbance, the breaching of the beach by the ocean, will probably be controlled hereafter. This disturbing action was examined and reported on by the late Lieutenant M. Harrison, of the Corps of Engineers, in 1853; and it was explained by him that the navigation must continue liable to great irregularity until the beach could be made permanent. As this beach has now become the site of an important railroad, it may be anticipated that it will be carefully watched for the future, and its condition gradually improved. The great disturbing cause being thus controlled, improvements of the navigation may now be made with a fair anticipation of their being permanent. The tortuous channel now in use athwart Sandy Hook Bay must always be liable to injury from the roll of the sea in northwardly winds. That part of it which hugs the beach shore is particularly exposed to injury from drifting sand. Both these difficulties can be escaped by returning to the old direct channel along the west shore. This will require a cut to be dredged through the bulk-head mentioned above. This cut is the principal and most important improvement to be effected. It will require the removal of about 18,000 cubic yards of sand. The navigation will then be good to the meeting of the two rivers, North and South Shrewsbury. At the entrance to North Shrewsbury (or Navesink) River, large de posits of sand have formed on both shores, making the channel-way nar row and circuitous, not wide enough for vessels to pass each other when the tide is not up. These deposits seem to have been brought up by the flood-tide from the great sand-bank below, the location of which is opposite an old breach, and which is one of the consequences of the inroads of the ocean. This narrow bend by which the North Shrewsbury is entered requires to be widened and made less abrupt. |