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The ebb-tidal current from above Call 'em Point strikes directly upon the ledge at that point, and thence is deflected upon "Big Rocks," lying nearly in the middle of the river, and thence again upon "Little Rocks," nearly opposite to Brown's wharf. The current is here very strong, and the difficulties of navigation are great, which makes it very necessary that these ledges should be, to some extent, improved. The ledge at Call 'em Point requires about 300 cubic yards of excavation, and a portion of "Big Rocks" about 400 cubic yards, to obtain 5 feet of water thereon at mean low water; and at "Little Rocks" about 600 cubic yards, in order to bring the ledge down even with the river bottom at this place; in all, 1,300 cubic yards of rock excavation.

2. Kelly's Rock, next above Call 'em Point, lies near the channel on the south shore, in a dangerous position, but requires only a buoy or iron spindle to mark its locality.

3. Wolfe's Point is a shoal making out from the north shore, and extending nearly across the river, which is here very wide, leaving but a very narrow and crooked channel for navigation near the south shore. It would not, in my opinion, be advisable to attempt to improve this place permanently, by dredging or otherwise, as it is more than probable that the shoal would soon fill and form again.

4. Gravel Point.-Vessels can ascend the river with 7 feet of water at average low water, or 16 at high water, up to East Yarmouth wharf, and even 100 yards above it; but here the river begins to shoal, and so continues up to Gravel Point, a distance of one hundred yards, with but 1 foot of water at mean low water.

This is the most serious obstacle to the navigation of this river, and should be improved so as to give a channel 100 feet in width, with 5 feet of water at mean low water, to do which would require about 25,000 cubic yards of dredging.

With these improvements, comparatively safe navigation would be obtained up to the wharves at Yarmouth, with 5 feet of water at mean low water, or 14 feet at high water.

The estimated cost of these improvements is as follows, viz:

1. Excavation of the ledges at Call 'em Point, "Big Rocks," and "Little Rocks," 1,300 cubic yards, at $15 per cubic yard... $19,500 2. Dredging the shoal near Gravel Point, 25,000 cubic yards, at 50 cents per cubic yard...

Add for contingencies..

Total....

12,500 3,000

35,000

This amount, it is believed, will be sufficient for the entire completion of the improvements contemplated, as well as for their permanent com pletion, unless it may perhaps be necessary to again excavate the shoal at Gravel Point. Of this amount, $20, 000 could be profitably expended upon these improvements during the next fiscal year.

The following additional information is furnished, in compliance with the law providing for the survey of this river.

Yarmouth is in the collection district of Portland and Falmouth, and its port of entry is at Portland, Maine.

The nearest light-houses are those in Portland Harbor and one on Half-way Rock, all distant from ten to twelve miles.

The nearest forts are those in Portland Harbor.

The amount of revenue collected at Portland, the nearest port of en

try, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, as furnished by the collector of customs at that port, was as follows:

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Yarmouth is one of the largest ship building towns in the State of Maine, and a very considerable amount of tonnage hails from that town, as will appear by the accompanying abstract, A, furnished by the collector of customs. I would also respectfully refer to the accompanying paper marked B, as exhibiting a statement of facts tending to show to what extent the commerce of the country will be promoted by the works of improvement contemplated for this river, this statement having been prepared and furnished by some of the leading business men of the place, who are most familiar with the subject.

In consideration of all the facts herein presented, and of the great necessity for the improvement proposed, I would respectfully recommend that attention be given to the matter at as early a day as practicable.

A.

Abstract of merchant vessels hailing from Yarmouth, Maine, taken from "List of Merchant Vessels of the United States, belonging to the Customs District of Portland and Falmouth," as returned to the Bureau of Statistics, at Washington, June 30, 1870.

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The following is a summary of the principal manufactures and products of the town of Yarmouth:

4,000 tons of vessels built yearly, some of which are ships of 1,800 tons each; one of this size now being built.

50 boats being built per year.

3,000 tons of clay shipped per year.

2,000,000 bricks shipped per year.

2,000 tons granite shipped per year.

6,000 bushels potatoes shipped per year.

300,000 cans corn shipped per year.

300 barrels clams shipped per year.

1,000,000 feet southern pine received per year.

250 tons iron and spikes received per year.

2,500 tons coal received per year.

300,000 bushels grain received per year.

500 tons plaster received per year.

2,400 tons paper-stock received, and the product in paper sent to other markets. 1,200 bales cotton consumed in the manufacture of bags, yarn, &c., and the same sent to other markets.

The amount of commerce at Yarmouth for the year ending June 30, 1870, was as follows:

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It is estimated that, by having the obstructions to navigation in the river removed, it will increase ship-building 100 per cent.; it will decrease risk and insurance greatly probably $10,000; it will increase the commerce of the place (it will be safe to say) 50 per cent. in the course of a few years; it will decrease the freight on all cargoes, as vessels now charge from 25 to 30 cents per ton more, on account of these obstructions.

V 12.

IMPROVEMENT OF PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINE.

The contemplated works for the improvement of this harbor consist in the completion of the breakwater to an additional extent of about 190 feet, and the excavation of the channel through the Middle Ground Bar to a depth of 20 feet below mean low water, and to an average width of about 500 feet.

Up to June 30, 1870, 90,315 cubic yards had been excavated at the Middle Ground Bar by Messrs. Morris & Cummings, of New York City, under contract of May 21, 1869, whereby a channel was opened for about 2,100 feet in length, averaging about 250 feet in width, with a depth of not less than 20 feet at mean low water. Under the additional appropriation of $10,000 made by act of Congress, of July 11, 1870, this work was continued under the same contract, until the 3d of September, 1870, when the channel was completed to an average width of 300 feet, requiring the excavation of 118,415 cubic yards, whereby this appropriation was nearly exhausted.

Amount available for this work, July 1, 1870..
Amount appropriated by act of Congress July 11, 1870....
Amount appropriated by act of Congress March 3, 1871 ...

$7,646 37 10, 000 00

40,000 00

Total.....

57, 646 37

Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30,

1871...

17,997 29

Amount available July 1, 1871..

39, 649 08

Under instructions from the Department, proposals were invited for dredging the channel through the Middle Ground Bar to the increased width contemplated; and on the 24th of May, 1871, a contract was made for the work with Mr. George C. Fobes, of Portland, Maine, (the lowest responsible bidder,) the work to be commenced on or before the first of July, 1871, and to be completed on or before the 30th of June, 1872, for the price of 45 cents per cubic yard.

For completing the contemplated improvements of this harbor, the following estimates are submitted, viz:

1. For the completion of the breakwater, as proposed and
heretofore estimated for

2. Increasing the width of the new channel through the
Middle Ground Bar, to an average width of 500 feet, (tak-
ing the cost of the work already done as a basis).
Add for contingencies, say..

Total...

Amount available July 1, 1871, as above.

Additional amount required for the completion of the improvements contemplated..

$40,000 00

40, 000 00 4,649 08

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Accompanying this is a map of a recent survey of the Middle Ground

Bar, showing the new channel as dredged to date.

The papers described as follows are hereto appended, viz:

1. Abstract of proposals for same.

2. Abstract of contract for same.

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Abstract of proposals received for the improvement of Portland Harbor, Maine.

Nature of work.

Name of bidder.

Quantity.

Price.

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Abstract of contracts made for the improvement of Portland Harbor, Maine.

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IMPROVEMENT OF SACO RIVER, MAINE.

The progress made in the improvement of this river up to the 30th of June, 1870, consisted in the removal of all the sunken rocks from its channel near Little Islands, (which were the most dangerous obstructions to its navigation,) and in building a stone breakwater at the mouth of the river. This breakwater had then been carried, in partial completion, for a distance of 4,200 feet outward from its shore-end to an average height of about 83 feet above mean low water, with an average thickness of about 16 feet.

Amount available for this work July 1, 1870.............

Amount appropriated therefor by act of Congress July 11, 1870...

$736 80

Amount appropriated therefor by act of Congress March 3,

10, 000 00

15,000 00

Total

25, 736 80

1871....

It having been decided that the amount appropriated July 11, 1870, should be applied to increasing the height and thickness of the breakwater as then constructed, as much as the appropriation would admit of, proposals were invited for the work, and contracts were made with Mr. Hiram Hamilton, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Mr. Ira Andrews, of Biddeford, Maine, for furnishing and depositing the rough stone upon the breakwater. On the 1st of October, 1870, 4,652 tons of stone had been furnished in completion of those contracts, whereby the appropriation was nearly exhausted.

The additional sum of $15,000, appropriated March 3, 1871, for this work, it was decided should be applied, so far as might be necessary, to the completion of the breakwater to the requisite height and thickness to its outer end to the extent already built. Proposals were invited for this work, and a contract was made on the 9th of May, 1871, with Messrs. Gooch & Haines, of Biddeford, Maine, for furnishing and depositing the stone required for this work, at $1 10 per ton, the contract to be completed on or before the 21st of August, 1871. On the 30th of June, 3,264124 tons of stone had been furnished under this contract, having about 4,000 tons yet to be delivered in order to complete the existing work to the extent at present contemplated.

Amount of funds available for this work during the fiscal

year ending June 30, 1871, as above...

Amount expended during the year.

Amount available July 1, 1871

$25,736 80

13, 825 88

11, 910 92

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