Up to the 30th of June, 1871, about 250 boulders (weighing altogether about 550 tons) had been removed from the bed of the river, at and above Small's Point, including one of about 80 tons at Cherryfield, and 30 others weighing from 3 to 15 tons each. The bars referred to have been created, in a great degree, by a depo sition of sawdust which is still being thrown into the river from the saw-mills at Cherryfield and above; and it would seem proper that the bars should not be removed until the throwing in of the sawdust be prevented by suitable State legislation. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. (See Appendixes V 2 and V 3.) $12,000 00 1,904 39 10,095 61 3. Sullivan River and Sullivan Falls, Maine.-This river is navigable up to Franklin, Maine, being a distance of about nine and a half miles from its mouth; and the only obstructions to its navigation are Hatcher's Rock and Ledge in the "Falls," and the old bridge-piers about one mile above the Falls. The estimated cost of its improvement is as follows, viz : 1. Removal of Hatcher's Rock to a depth of 10 feet below mean low water.... 2. Removal of a portion of the ledge.. 3. Removal of three bridge-piers, at $2,000 each 4. Iron spindles on Half Side Ledge and low-water lock, at $1,250 each... Contingencies. Total $30, 450 00 1,500 00 6,000 00 2,500 00 3,550 00 $44,000 00 Appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 10, 000 00 A contract was made for removing 270 cubic yards of Hatcher's Rock. On the 1st of August this contract was completed, and the appropriation was thereby exhausted. This work has already greatly improved the navigation of the "Falls," in giving an increased depth of 4 feet of water over Hatcher's Rock. Amount appropriated March 3, 1871.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 Amount available July 1, 1871, (which will be expended during the present working season)... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. (See Appendixes V 4 and V 5.) $10,000 00 226 97 9,773 03 $34,000 00 4. Union River, Maine.-The proposed works of improvement in this river consist in the removal of slabs, edgings, sawdust, and boulders between Ellsworth and Fullerton's Point, and of several ledges and large boulders at its mouth. A contract was made for the sum of $12,000 for opening a channel 150 feet wide through these obstructions at and below Ellsworth; and on the 30th of June, 1871, it was opened to a width of about 100 feet, with a probability of the work being completed about the 1st of October. Numerous large boulders had also been removed from the channel at and above its mouth. The amount on hand July 1, 1871, is deemed sufficient for completing all the contemplated improvements. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. (See Appendix 6.) 5. Penobscot River, Maine.—This river is obstructed in its navigation by several bars and ledges at Bangor and below. These bars are for the most part composed of slabs, edgings, and sawdust, which have been thrown into the river for the last fifty years from the saw-mills at Bangor and above. The ledges obstructing it are in the channel at Bangor, and are known as "Independence Rock," "Steamboat Ledge," "Gulliver's Rock," &c. In order to render the navigation of this river safe and practicable at all stages of the water, the officer in charge recommends that a channel be excavated down to the natural bed of the river above Low's Ledge, where it ranges in depth from 9 to 12 feet, and below Low's Ledge through the slabs and edgings to a depth of 12 feet, at low water in the lowest stages of the river. The work done up to the 30th of June, 1871, consists in the excavation of portions of "Independence Rock" and "Steamboat Ledge," in all about 480 tons. A contract was made for opening a channel to the contemplated depth and to a width of about 200 feet, through the obstructions in three localities where most necessary at and below Bangor. Work was commenced under this contract on the 19th of June. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873..... (See Appendix 7.) $15,000 00 50,000 00 7,559 37 57,440 63 50, 000 00 6. Kennebec River, Maine.-The plan in progress for the improvement of this river consists in straightening and deepening its channel by dredging through the several shoals and the removal of several ledges, and numerous boulders which obstruct it between Richmond and Augusta, Maine. The width of the channel is to be 100 feet, (the sides having a slope of 2 feet to 1 foot rise,) and a depth of seven feet up to Hallowell, and 63 feet thence to Augusta, at low tide, in its lowest stages. On the 30th of June, 1870, the channel had been opened to the required depth through Shepherd's Point Shoal, Hallowell Shoal, and Britt's Shoal, to a width of not less than 75 feet, and through Gage's Shoal (at Augusta) to an average width of 45 feet, and about 50 large boulders had been removed from the bed of the river. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, the following work has been done in the improvement of this river, viz: the channel through Gage's Shoal and Britt's Shoal has been increased and completed to the required width of 100 feet, and a depth of 63 feet in the lowest stages of the river. A channel has been excavated through Hinckley's Shoal (between Gardiner and Hallowell) to a width of 100 feet and a depth of 7 feet in the lowest stage of the river, and work commenced under a contract for increasing to a width of 100 feet the channel heretofore dredged through Shepherd's Point Shoal and Hallowell Shoal, with a probability of its completion this autumn. About fifty large boulders have also been removed from the bed of the river. This will complete all the contemplated improvements above Gardiner, Maine, and no further appropri ation is required therefor. The appropriation of $5,000 made by act of March 3, 1871, for improving the river between Richmond and Gardiner is to be applied to the removal of the ledge near Nehumkeg Island, and to opening a channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at low water through the upper sand bar, and proposals have been invited for doing the work by contract. Amount on hand July 1, 1871.... Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871, (which includes $668 84 15,000 00 $5,000 for improvement below Richmond and Gardiner).. 15,000 00 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. 15, 928 81 Amount avaliable July 1, 1871 .... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, (for improvement between Gardiner and Richmond) (See Appendix V S.) 14, 740 03 8,000 00 7. “Gut" near Bath, Maine.-The amount expended has been applied to the removal of Boiler Rock to a depth of 10 feet, and Boiler Rock Ledge to a depth of 9 feet at mean low water, the removal of two wrecks (of about 100 and 200 tons respectively) from the main channel above the "Gut," dredging a channel through the bar above the "Gut" to a depth of 10 feet below mean low water and 100 feet in width, and to placing several buoys to mark the channels thus opened and improved. The balance on hand is deemed sufficient to complete all the work contemplated for the improvement of this place. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. 13,562 47 Amount available July 1, 1871.... No further appropriation is required. (See Appendix V 9.) $10,000 00 6,500 00 2,937 53 S. Royals River, Maine.-The navigation of this river is obstructed by bars and rocks between its mouth and Yarmouth. The estimated amount required for making the contemplated improvement is $35,000; amount appropriated therefor by act of March 3, 1871, $10.000. It having been decided to apply the amount appropriated to the opening of a channel through Gravel Point Bar, near Yarmouth, proposals were invited for the work, and a contract was made for commencing the work on or before the 1st of July and completing it on or before the 15th of November, 1871. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 ... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 .... (See Appendix V 10 and V 11.) $10,000 00 181 77 9, 818 23 25, 000 00 9. Portland Harbor, Maine.-The progress made in the improvement of this harbor up to the 30th of June, 1870, consisted in the completion of the breakwater to an extent of 7334 linear feet; the excavation of a channel to a depth of 20 feet at mean low water, through the "spit above and near middle ground," and in excavating a channel through the “Middle Ground Bar" to a depth of not less than 20 feet at mean low water, (or 293 feet at mean high water,) and to an average width of 250 feet. The amount expended during the year has been applied to the excavation of the channel through the "Middle Ground Bar," whereby it was opened to an average width of 300 feet. To complete the contemplated improvements there remains the extension of the breakwater for about 190 linear feet, and the increase of the channel through the "Middle Ground Bar" to a width of 500 feet. The additional amount required for the completion of these improvements is Amount on hand July 1, 1870 Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 (See Appendix V 12.) $45,000 00 7,646 37 10, 000 00 40, 000 00 17,997 29 39, 649 08 45,000 00 10. Saco River, Maine.-The progress made in the improvement of the navigation of this river up to the 30th of June, 1870, consisted in the partial construction of the breakwater at its mouth for an extent of 4,200 feet out from the shore, and in the removal of all the sunken rocks from its channel near Little Islands. The amount expended during the year has been applied to increasing the breakwater in height and thickness, about 8,000 tons having been added to it. About 4,000 tons more will be required to complete this work to its required height and thickness, which will be finished this year. Additional amount required for completing all the proposed improvements in this river, $16,000, which amount could be profitably expended thereon during the next fiscal year. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 13, 825 88 Amount required during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. (See Appendix V 13.) 11, 910 92 16,000 00 11. Kennebunk River, Maine.-The work contemplated for the improvement of this river embraces the extension and repair of the stone piers at its mouth, and the repair of the Government wharf near its mouth. The amount expended during the year has been applied to the completion, by contract, of the extension of the eastern pier for a length of 168 feet, and the partial repair of the wharf and old piers. A contract has also been made for the extension of the western pier, which will be completed this year. The funds now available for the proposed improvements of this river will be sufficient for their completion. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. $5,000 00 5,000 00 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. $4,991 16 Amount available July 1, 1871 (See Appendix V 14.) 5,008 84 12. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-The improvement of the navigation of this river consists in the excavation of a channel through the ledges, boulders, and bars, between the town of Dover and the "Lower Narrows," (which are about one mile below,) so as to have depth enough for vessels drawing 9 feet of water, at ordinary high water. The sum of $10,000 appropriated by act of March 3, 1871, is applied to opening a channel through the "Lower Narrows" to a width of 75 feet, and a depth of 4 feet below mean low water; and to the removal of boulders above and below the "Lower Narrows." A contract has been made for excavating the channel through the "Lower Narrows" for the sum of $7,000, to be completed on or before the 31st of October, 1871, and it is probable that it will be completed about the last of September. Additional amount required for completing the proposed improvements of this river.... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.... Amount available July 1, 1871 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. (See Appendixes V 15 and V 16.) $35,000 00 10, 000 00 125 67 9, 874 33 35,000 00 13. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The improvements originally contemplated for this river are as follows, viz: 1. The removal of obstructions at the Upper and Lower Falls, above Haverhill, Massachusetts; 2. The removal of Gangway Rocks and "The Boilers," in the harbor of Newburyport, Massachusetts; and 3. The removal of the wreck of a coal-vessel sunk at the mouth of the river, near Newburyport light. The amount expended during the year was applied by General Foster to the removal of the wreck and Gangway Rock, and the partial removal of North Gangway Rock, all in Newburyport Harbor; also to the removal of about 475 cubic yards of material from the channel through the Lower Falls, above Haverhill, Massachusetts. By these operations the appropriation of July 11, 1870, was nearly exhausted. Under the appropriation made by act of March 3, 1871, (which by the act is required to be applied to the improvements above Haverhill.) a contract has been made for excavating a channel through the Lower and Upper Falls, to the extent allowed by the appropriation now available. The estimated cost of the work to be done for completing the improvements, as heretofore contemplated, in addition to the amount available July 1, 1871, is as follows, viz: 1st. For the removal of the ledges in the harbor of Newburyport, Massachusetts. 2d. Improving the Upper and Lower Falls, as heretofore contemplated... Total... $20,000 00 120, 000 00 140, 000 00 |