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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

July 1, 1882, amount available....

1,518 92

Amount appropriated by act passed August 2, 1882 ...

7,000 00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1883......

8,518 92

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.........
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1884.

25,000 00

33,000 00

No. Names of bidders.

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.

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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 143 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

Total.

to continuous stormy weather, the contractor's plant was withdrawn, and work suspended for the winter.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 201 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 174 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.

$126,500.00 50,000 00

Total amount expended....

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, 18-4. 26,500 00

=

26,50)(0)

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.

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Contract awarded Atlantic Dredging Company, the lowest bidder, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, PERTH AMBOY, N. J.,
Collector's Office, July 26, 1882.

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.

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Number and tonnage of vessels belonging to and documented at port of Perth Amboy, on

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June 30, 1882.

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Very respectfully,

G. L. GILLESPIE,

CHARLES H. HOUGHTON, Collector.

Major of Engineers, Bvt. Lieut. Col., U. S. A.

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