2. A stone pier, about 290 feet in length, on the western side of the channel, at the mouth of the river, with a wooden catch-sand, about 160 feet in length, leading from the inner end of the pier to the western bank of the river, serving a similar purpose to those on the eastern side. 3. A crib-work wharf, ballasted with stone, about 300 feet in length, built on the eastern side of the river, about one-eighth of a mile above its mouth, for the security of vessels detained by tides and storms. Since the completion of the above works the following additional appropriations have been made by Congress for the improvement of this river, viz: By the river and harbor act of July 11, 1870 Total $5,000 5,000 5,000 2.000 2,000 2,000 21, 000 Under the appropriation of 1870 the catch-sand connecting the inner end of the pier with the eastern bank of the river, having been destroyed by storms, was replaced by a permanent stone work, and some repairs were made where most necessary on the stone piers and on the wharf above. Under the appropriation of 1871 the catch-sand or wing connecting the inner end of the western pier with the western bank of the river, having also been destroyed by storms, was replaced by a permanent stone work, and additional repairs were made on the piers and wharf. Under the appropriation of 1876 the main channel of the river was deepened and widened by dredging at the Wading Place and Mitchell's Point, so as to have a depth of not less than 4 feet at mean low-water or 13 feet at mean high-water, and repairs were made where most necessary on the piers and government wharf. Under the appropriations of $4,000, made by the river and harbor acts of 1879 and 1880, the sunken ledges below Ward's Wharf and those near the mouth of Gooch Creek were broken up and removed from the channel to a depth of 4 feet below the plane of mean low-water, and the channel of the river was straightened and widened by dredging to a depth of not less than 4 feet at mean low-water, (a) below Ward's Wharf, (b) below Lord's Wharf, and (c) at the upper end of Mitchell's Point; some repairs were also made on the government wharf, near the mouth of the river.. " Under the appropriation of $2,000, made by the river and harbor act of March 3, 1881, all the necessary repairs have been made during the past year on the stone piers at the mouth of the river and on the govern ment wharf, near its mouth, the same having been done by hired labor and with materials purchased in open market. This work was completed in September, 1881, leaving an unexpended balance on the 30th of June, 1882, of $1,028.85, which it is proposed to apply to such repairs as may hereafter be found necessary on those works. This river lies in the collection district of Kennebunk, of which Kennebunk is the port of entry. The following information has been furnished by the United States deputy collector of customs of Kennebunk in regard to the revenue and commerce of that port for the year ending December 31, 1881, viz : No revenue collected and no exports or imports. Vessels built, 3, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,956.09, the largest of which measured 1,924.56 tous. Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881.. July 1, 1882, amount available A 12. $1,995 36 966 51 1,028 85 IMPROVEMENT OF WINNIPISEOGEE LAKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Winnipiseogee Lake and its tributaries lie wholly within the State of New Hampshire, their waters forming the chief source of Merrimac River. The lake is about 20 miles in length, and has an average width of about 5 miles. At its southwestern extremity (at Weir's) it has an outlet into Long Bay, which bay is navigable for a distance of 4 miles to its outlet at Lake Village. A dam built at Lake Village forms a reservoir of these waters, which is under the control of an incorporated company, by which water-power is regulated and supplied to factories along the Merrimac River below. These waters are navigated, when not closed by ice, by three or four steamers, drawing from 4 to 5 feet of water, and by seven or eight smaller ones of 1 to 3 feet draught. The largest three of these steamers run in connection with the railroads, which strike the lake at Alton Bay and Wolfborough, at its eastern extremity, and at Weir's at its southwestern extremity, as well as to Center Harbor, at its northwestern extremity; also through Long Bay to Lake Village. They are chiefly intended and used from the middle of May to the latter part of November for the transportation of pleasure travel, whilst the smaller boats are used principally for carrying wood and produce, and occasionally passengers about the shores of the lake. The project adopted for the improvement of this lake consists in widening and deepening the shoal at its outlet into Long Bay, so as to enable steamers to pass through this outlet in all stages of the water, it being the only obstacle to extending navigation to Lake Village. The shoalest water found on this shoal at the time of the survey (in the latter part of August, 1879), when the water was 8 inches below the top of the dam at Lake Village, was 4.5 feet. From information obtained at the office of the Winnipiseogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company, at Lake Village, it appears that the lowest water known in the lake stood at 48 inches below the top of the dam at that place, whilst the highest water known was 18 inches above the top of that dam. From this it is seen that the depths found by the survey were 39 inches (or 3.3 feet) greater than would have obtained in the lowest known stages of the water, and 26 inches (or 2.2 feet) lower than in its highest stages. The depth of water required for such steamers as would be likely to navigate Long Bay in running to Lake Village, as stated to me by parties interested therein, would be about 5 feet, to obtain which depth in the lowest stages of the water would call for a depth of 8.3 feet as measured in the stage which it had in August last, when the survey was made. The estimated cost of the dredging required for this improvement was $7,500, for which the following appropriations have been made by Congress, viz: By the river and harbor act of June 14, 1880 Total ... $5,000 2.500 7,500 Under the appropriation of $5,000 made by the river and harbor act of June 14, 1880, a contract was made November 16, 1880, with the Winnipiseogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company for 4,450 cubic yards more or less of dredging, at $1 per cubic yard, measured in situ. Under this contract dredging was commenced on the 1st of June, and continued up to the latter part of October, 1881, resulting on 3,970 cubic yards under and in completion of that contract. Under the appropriation of March 3, 1881, a contract was made in June 17, 1881, with the same company for completing all the remaining dredging projected for this improvement (viz, about 2,800 cubic yards) at $1 per cubic yard, measured in situ. Dredging was commenced under this contract in the latter part of October, 1881, and continued up to the 9th of November, when, owing to the burning of the dredging machine, it was suspended for the winter. Operations were resumed under this contract on the 28th of April, 1882, and have been carried on to the close of the fiscal year, resulting in about 1,540 cubic yards to date under said contract, with a probability of the completion of the same not later than the 31st of August next. Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available July 1, 1882, amonut expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881 July 1, 1882, amount available.... $7,395 65 4, 129 60 3,266 05 A 3. IMPROVEMENT OF LAMPREY RIVER, BELOW NEW MARKET, NEW HAMP SHIRE. This river empties into Great Bay at a point about 10 miles distant by water from Portsmouth, N. H. From a survey made in 1874, and again in 1881, it was found that this river was navigable at high-water from its mouth up to New Market wharves, at the head of tide-water, a distance of about 2 miles, the mean rise and fall of the tides being about 7 feet at its mouth and about 63 feet at New Market. From its mouth up to the head of the Lower Narrows (a distance of 13 miles) the channel had a navigable depth of 12 feet at mean high-water, but was obstructed in several places by a large number of sunken bowlders, which made navigation difficult and dangerous; and above the Lower Narrows it had a navigable depth of not more than 9 feet at mean high-water in its shoalest places, and was obstructed in several places by numerous bowlders, ledges, and shoals, whilst in front of the wharves at New Market there was a shoal on which the depth varied from 4 to 10 feet at mean high-water. The project now proposed for the improvement of this river consists in making a safe and unobstructed channel not less than 40 feet in width, and to have a depth of not less than 113 feet at mean high-water up to the lower wharf in New Market, and thence a depth of 11 feet up to the upper wharves of that place. The following is a revised estimate of this work, viz: 1. Dredging in front of New Market wharves, 12,000 cubic yards, at 65 cents, measured in situ... $7,800 2. Dredging at the Upper Narrows and below, 5,700 cubic yards, at 65 cents, measured in situ 4. Removal of 300 cubic yards of ledge, bowlders, and hardpan, at $20 Adding for contingencies.... 3. Removal of sunken bowlders from chaunel (completed in 1881 at a cost of about).. 3,705 4,300 6,000 2, 195 Total....... 24,000 By the river and harbor act of March 3, 1881, the sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the improvement of this river. Under that appropri ation operations were commenced early in July, 1881, for the removal of the sunken bowlders from the channel. This work was done by a submarine party and hired labor, and with implements and machinery purchased in open market, and was continued up to the end of October, resulting in the removal of more than 2,000 tons of sunken bowlders, whereby the navigation of this river has been very much improved, both in depth and safety. The funds now available for continuing this work (viz, $5,674.75) it is proposed to apply first to the projected dredging at the Upper Narrows and below, as well as to the removal of some of the sunken ledges and bowlders. The amount appropriated by the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882 (viz, $10,000) it is proposed to apply to the completion of all the dredging in front of the wharves at New Market and to other work projected for the improvement of this river. As to the extent to which the commerce of the country would be benefited by the improvement of this river as projected, it will be seen, on referring to the special report of December 5, 1874, that New Market then had forty stores, four large cotton factories (the largest of which is driven by steam), one iron machine-shop, one steam lumber-mill, and within about 2 miles two large paper-mills which draw their materials and supplies from New Market. New Market and the immediate vicinity consume annually about 5,000 tons of coal, which comes largely by water from Portsmouth, and would entirely if the navigation of the river were improved as projected. In addition to which lime, salt, iron, plaster, cement, fish, and other heavy articles are also brought to New Market by water, while wood, hay, and lumber in large quantities annually are taken back to Portsmouth and other places along the coast. Lamprey River lies within the collection district of Portsmouth, N. H., of which Portsmouth is the port of entry, and the nearest light-houses and forts are at and near the entrance of that harbor. Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available.... July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881.. July 1, 1882, amount available............. Amount appropriated by act passed August 2, 1882 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 18-3.. $9,991 25 4,316 50 5,674 75 10,000 00 15,674 75 4,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1-4. 4, 000 00 A 14. IMPROVEMENT OF EXETER RIVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Exeter River is navigable from its mouth in Great Bay (where it meets Lamprey River, about 10 miles above Portsmouth, N. H.) for a distance of 8.3 miles, up to the wharves of Exeter, the head of naviga tion. The mean rise and fall of the tides at its mouth is about 6 feet, and at Exeter about 6 feet. By the survey of it, made in 1874, it was found that the channel could be much improved in several places by the removal of sunken rocks · and shoals, and by a short cut-off at the Ox-Bow, near Exeter, so as to obtain a depth of not less than 12 feet at mean high-water from its mouth up to the Ox-Bow, and thence up to the wharves in Exeter a depth of not less than 10 feet. For the improvement of this river as above projected the following appropriations have been made by Congress, viz: By the river and harbor act of June 14, 1880. Total $20,000 15,000 35,000 Under the appropriation of June 14, 1880, proposals were invited September 13, 1880, for the dredging above Fernald's Wharf, in Exeter, in response to which only one bid was received, which, being unreasonably high, was not accepted. Under the joint appropriations of June 14, 1880, and March 3, 1881, proposals were again invited May 2, 1881, for all the dredging projected for the improvement of this river (to wit, 47,000 cubic yards, more or less), and three bids were received therefor, of which the lowest was that of Mr. Thomas Symonds, of Everett, Mass., at prices as follows, to wit: Five thousand cubic yards, more or less, above Fernald's Wharf, at $1.06 per cubic yard, measured in situ. Twenty-five thousand cubic yards, more or less, at the Ox-Bow cut-off, at 46 cents per cubic yard, measured in situ. Seventeen thousand cubic yards, more or less, at South New Market and below, at 47 cents per cubic yard, measured in situ, or 41 cents per cubic yard, measured in On the 21st of May a contract was made with Mr. Symonds for the dredging at the prices named, and on the 13th of June dredging was commenced by him under his contract, and was continued up to the end of November, when they were suspended for the winter. They were resumed on the 8th of April, 1882, and completed on the 30th of June, the following work having been done under that contract, viz: 1. The channel completed to a depth of 12 feet at mean high-water up to the "Ox-Bow." 2. The cut-off at the Ox-Bow completed to a depth of 12 feet at mean high-water. 3. The channel above Fernald's Wharf completed to a depth of 10 feet at mean high-water. All the sunken rocks known to be in the channel of the river have also been removed, so that all the work hitherto projected for the im provement of this river has been completed. By the improvement of this river the manufacturing towns of South New Market and Exeter, N. H., will be much benefited. They both lie |