Manasquan River is in the collection district of Perth Amboy, N. J., which is the nearest port of entry. Nearest light-house is Barnegat light, and nearest fort, fort at Sandy Hook. Amount appropriated from March 3, 1879, to June 14, 1880, both inclusive. $32,000 00 Total amount expended..... 30,481 08 Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available. $28,581 91 July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881..... 27,062 99 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 25,000 00 33,000 00 Abstract of proposals for the construction of a timber jetty at Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey, opened December 27, 1880, by Lieut. Col. N. Michler, Corps of Engineers. Contract awarded to the lowest bidders, H. Du Bois & Sons, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. E 9. IMPROVEMENT OF RARITAN BAY, NEW JERSEY. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1880, and provides for dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 21 feet deep at mean low-water, across the shoal off Seguine Point. This shoal separates the deep water of the main ship-channel in Raritan Bay from the deep water to the west of Seguine Point, Staten Island, and is a serious obstruction to deep draught vessels seeking the harbor of Perth Amboy, N. J. The least depth on the shoal is 14 feet at low-water; the distance between the 21-foot contours on either side of the shoal, measured along the axis of the projected cut, is 8,000 feet. By the river and harbor act of March 3, 1881, an appropriation of $50,000 was made for this improvement. The amount available for the execution of the project on July 1, 1881, was $49,684.32. In answer to public advertisements, sealed proposals for dredging were submitted and opened June 17, 1881, and the contract awarded to the Atlantic Dredging Company, the lowest responsible bidders, at 28 cents per cubic yard. Operations under this contract were commenced October 15, 1881, and continued to December 15, 1881, at which time, owing to continuous stormy weather, the contractor's plant was withdrawn, and work suspended for the winter. Work was resumed on April 14, 1882, and vigorously prosecuted until June 17, at which date the contract was closed and further operations suspended. Under this contract a total of 166,346 cubic yards of mud were removed; a channel 105 feet wide and 21 feet deep at low-water was excavated entirely across the shoal from the 21-foot contour of the main ship channel to the 21-foot contour of channel leading to Perth and South Amboy. Although the channel is at present only excavated to about one-third of its projected width, it is already used by deep draught vessels on their way to and from Perth Amboy. The most notable of the vessels that have thus far passed through the channel was an iron steamer laden with 2,500 tons of iron drawing 20 feet, and said by the pilot who took her through to be the largest vessel that had ever been in the harbor of Perth Amboy. The original estimate places the total amount of material to be removed in excavating the channel to the projected dimensions at 460,000 cubic yards. Up to June 30, 1882, the total amount of material excavated was 166,346 cubic yards, leaving 293,654 cubic yards yet to be removed. On the basis of 28 cents per cubic yard for dredging, the price paid under the contract with the Atlantic Dredging Company, and adding 10 per cent. for superintendence and contingencies, there will be required $90,445.43 to complete the improvement in accordance with the adopted plan. This improvement has an important bearing not only on the commercial interests of Perth and South Amboy, but also on the trade and commerce of other large sections of country that are here brought into direct communication with the seaboard through the extensive chain of railroads already in operation or in course of construction or farther extension, so that the improvement may truly be said to be of nation importance and one justifying liberal expenditures. The shoal off Ward's Point, near the beacon on the approach to Perth Amboy, has in some places only 17 feet water at low-tide, and many vessels have lately been detained there. The channel there should be deepened to 21 feet, so that any vessel which can pass the Seguine Shoal may be able to reach the wharves at Perth Amboy without detention. The appropriation for the year ending June 30, 1883, will be applied in deepening the Seguine Channel, and that of $60,000 recommended for the year ending June 30, 1884, will be applied in continuing existing plans and in deepening the channel off Ward's Point. This work is in the collection district of Perth Amboy. Nearest port of entry, Perth Amboy. Nearest light-house, Prince's Bay, and nearest fort, fort at Sandy Hook. Original estimate, not inclusive of Ward's Point Shoal.... Amount appropriated March 3, 1881.. Total amount expended........ $126,500 00 50,000 00 49,792 47 Money statement. July 1, 1881, amount available July 1, 1882, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1881.. $49,684 32 49,476 79 July 1, 1882, amount available Amount appropriated by act passed August 2, 1882. 207 53 50,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1883.... 50,207 53 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. 26,500 00 26,500 00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in Raritan Bay, New Jersey, off Seguine Point, opened June 17, 1881, by Lieut. Col. N. Michler, Corps of Engineers. Contract awarded Atlantic Dredging Company, the lowest bidder, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. CUSTOM-HOUSE, PERTH AMBOY, N. J., SIR: As requested in your letter of the 26th ultimo, I have the honor to furnish you with the statement of transactions in this district for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882. Number and tonnage of vessels belonging to and documented at port of Perth Amboy, on E 10. IMPROVEMENT OF MATTAWAN, CREEK, NEW JERSEY. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, and provides for dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low-water, through the flat at the mouth of the creek, and for dredging the natu ral channel of the stream to the same depth and to a width of 75 feet from Winkson's Creek to the head of navigation at the crossing of the New York and Long Branch Railroad Bridge. By the river and harbor act of March 3, 1881, an appropriation of $15,000 was made for the execution of the above project, of which there was available at the opening of the year the sum of $14,732.72. In answer to advertisements, proposals for dredging were submitted and opened June 17, 1881, and the contract awarded to John Van Patten, the lowest responsible bidder, at 48 cents per cubic yard. Work under this contract was commenced September 24, 1881, and continued to June 28, 1882, at which time the contract was closed. Under this contract the projected channel, 100 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low-water, was excavated through the flat at the mouth of the creek; from above Winkson's Creek to the brick-works the channel of the creek was dredged to a depth of 4 feet at mean low-water over a width of about 50 feet, and from this point to within a short distance of the steamboat landing at Mattawan one cut about 25 feet wide was excavated to the same depth. The total amount of material removed was 25,630 cubic yards. The original estimate of the amount of material to be removed was 48,000 cubic yards; 22,370 cubic yards yet remain to be excavated to complete the project. On the basis of 48 cents per cubic yard, the price paid under the contract with John Van Patten, increased by 15 per cent. for contingencies and superintendence, there will be required $12,348.24 to complete the improvement in accordance with the adopted plan. The act of June 10, 1872, provided for the survey of Keyport Harbor, and the report submitted in pursuance of the act (Report Chief of Engineers, page 941) by the officer then in charge, January 13, 1873, provided for the opening of a channel 4,700 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 8 feet deep below mean low-water, at an estimated cost of $30,475. This project is entirely distinct from the one now in prosecution, the former extending from Keyport Wharf to Raritan Bay, and the latter from Keyport Wharf to the head of navigation of Mattawan Creek. Boats and vessels frequenting Keyport Harbor, which draw 6 feet or more, cannot reach Keyport Wharf at low-tide, but are required to stop at the railroad wharf, one mile to the northward. It is highly important for the commercial interests of this harbor that the project of 1873 should be carried out. A steamboat now plies regularly between Ellis' Dock and New York City, her general freight being garden produce from the rich farms of Monmouth County, a section deeply interested in the im provement of the creek. The other articles of shipment consist princi pally of brick, from the factories located on and adjacent to the creek, and of assorted merchandise, lumber, coal, lime, iron ore, &c. The pres ent shipping of the creek is valued at about $100,000, annually. The amount asked for the year ending June 30, 1884, will be applied to continue the dredging contemplated by the existing project and to extend the improvement to the deep water of Raritan Bay. The work is in the collection district of Perth Amboy. Nearest port of entry, Perth Amboy; nearest light-house, Princess Bay. Fort at Sandy Hook is the nearest fort. Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1881 Amount expended.. 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, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1882, amount available... Amount appropriated by act passed August 2, 1882 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1883 $15,000 00 12,577 87 $14,732 72 $12, 310 59 2,267 04 14,577 63 155 09 6,000 00 6, 155 09 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 12, 120 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1884.. 12, 100 00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in Mattawan Creek, New Jersey, opened June 17, 1881, by Lieut. Col. N. Michler, Corps of Engineers. Contract awarded John Van Patten, the lowest bidder, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. The following commercial statistics were collected and furnished by a number of prominent business men of Keyport, N. J.: |