The raising of Jameson's Point breakwater to high-water level is now in progress under contract with Mr. John F. Hamilton, of Portland, Me. Under this contract all available funds will be expended. It is proposed to expend the next appropriation in extending the Jameson's Point breakwater, or in commencing the second breakwater, as may in future be deemed most advantageous. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1889, balance available $2, 183.40 30,000.00 32, 183.40 $12, 129, 37 1,891.70 15,971.51 29,992.58 2, 190.82 497,500.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ Amount that can profitably be expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 75,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 10.) 11. Kennebec River, Maine.-The navigation of the river is much ob structed by shoals in both channels at Swan Island, and in other places above; by ledge of rock at Lovejoy's Narrows, and in harbor at Bath; also by bridge piers at Hallowell. The project for improving the river consists in removing the shoals by contraction works, and by dredging, and removing rocks by blasting. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $75,000 for commencing the improvement. The work of completing improvement at Hatch's Rock Shoal and commencing work at Beef Rock Shoal has been let, by contract, and active operations are now in progress. The amount expended during the fiscal year in preparatory work and in constructing wing-dams at Hatch's Rock is $6,186.54. The balance of available funds will be expended under the present contract. It is proposed to expend funds which may be appropriated in carrying out the project, as indicated. (See Report of Chief of Engineers, 1888, pages 412 to 425.) Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $75,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of 335,500,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix A 11.) 12. Harbor at Portland, Maine.-Before the adoption of the present project for improving this harbor there was but 21 feet of water to the wharves used by transatlantic steamers. The large steamers frequently draw as much as 27 feet, and a greater depth was needed in the chan nel. The project for improving the channel involves dredging a channel 500 feet wide and 29 feet deep at low water to the wharves used by largest steamers. Previous to June 30, 1888, there had been expended upon the improvement the sum of $29,992.34. As a result an area about 1,600 feet long and 400 feet wide along the wharf front had been dredged to the required depth of 29 feet at mean low water. During the last fiscal year there has been expended the sum of $37,253.29. This has resulted in connecting the area on wharf front with deep water outside, by a channel approximately 2,800 feet long and 227 feet wide. The completion of the channel will be a great benefit to the facilities for receiving and shipping by transatlantic steamers and other large vessels. The funds available and such as may be appropriated will be expended in completing the project described. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1889, balance available.... $7.66 40,000.00 40, 007.66 $26,620.80 10, 632.49 37, 253. 29 2,754.37 65,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix A 12.) 65,000, 00 13. Channel in Back Cove, Portland, Maine.-The project for this improvement, adopted in 1886, consists in widening and deepening the channel to give 12 feet depth at mean low water and a width of 300 feet for a distance of about 5,600 feet, following the harbor commissioners' line. Originally the channel was only navigable at high stages of water. It was but 8 feet deep at low water, and that depth did not extend more than half its length. Amount expended to June 30, 1888, $10,728.39. Amount expended. during the last fiscal year, $22,333.71. As a result the channel previously dredged has been extended so that its total length is 4,030 feet, with a bottom width of 72 feet and a depth of 12 feet at mean low water. Work under the contract previously reported was completed October 30, 1888. A total of 136,496 cubic yards of material measured in situ was removed from the channel, of which 86,894 were removed subsequent to June 30. A contract has been concluded for continuing the dredging, and work under this contract was commenced June 1, 1889, and 27,236 cubic yards, scow measurement, have been removed. Fifty thousand dollars could be profitably expended in each year until the improvement is complete. The amount available, and that asked, are to be applied to extending and widening the channel. The widening the channel as planned will greatly increase the facilities for receiving and shipping numerous freights, such as coal and building materials. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $15, 521, 61 25,000.00 40, 521.61 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $20,796.79 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 16, 343.96 38, 677.67 1, 843. 94 July 1, 1889, balance available ... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 13.) 128,750,00 50,000.00 14. Breakwater at mouth of Saco River, Maine.-This breakwater was partially built in 1869 to 1873. In 1883 it was found necessary to complete the breakwater to the full height of 15 feet and top width of 12 feet to secure the object of preventing the sand from drifting into the channel and maintaining a bar at the mouth of the Saco River. There had been expended upon this work to the 30th of June, 1888, the sum of $27,498.52. As a result the breakwater had been completed from its outer end a distance of 1,310 feet and partially repaired a further distance of 292 feet. The repairing of the breakwater has had no perceptible effect in increasing the depth of water on the bar. At the close of the last fiscal year the available funds had been practically expended. Congress having appropriated $12,500 by act of August 11, 1888, a contract has been awarded for continuing the work as far as available funds permit. Work under the contract will be completed during the ensuing year. July 1, 1888, amount available... $1.48 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. 12,500.00 12,501.48 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. 30,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............ (See Appendix A 14.) 15. Saco River, Maine.-The project for improving the Saco River includes the works considered necessary to give a channel, having not less than 6 feet depth at low water, to the cities of Saco and Biddeford. The channel was obstructed by a bar, by shoals, and in one place by a ledge, and does not afford a continuous depth exceeding 34 feet at low water, though much of the channel is deeper. The revised estimate of the entire expense is $155,000. There has been appropriated $22,500. Expenditures to June 30, 1888, $12,436.32. Expended in last fiscal year, $5,077.11. The results thus far, though improving the depth in the river channel at Little Islands, has not increased the available depth over the bar, nor in the upper part of river, so that no greater draught of vessels can be used until other parts are improved. A contract has been made for expenditure of available funds, completing the training-wall above Little Islands, and in commencing wingdam at Cow Island. It would be economical and advantageous to complete the jetty over the bar at once, and in a single year. The amount asked is for this purpose. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $63.68 10,000.00 10,063. 68 $3,028. 41 9, 760.98 302.70 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 15.) 132,500.00 25,000.00 16. Kennebunk River, Maine.-All the projects for improving this river have been completed. There have been no appropriations since 1881. The works completed consist of stone piers, supplemented by cribwork to keep the channel open at and near the mouth. Total expended to June 30, 1888, $65,075.58. The small amount of $22.80 expended in last fiscal year has been for making charts of the channel and for other contingent expenses. An examination of the river has been made and reports have been submitted by the officer in charge of the work. July 1, 1888, amount available..... $99.42 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... 22.80 July 1, 1889, balance available... 76.62 (See Appendix A 16.) 17. York Harbor, Maine.-The project for this improvement, adopted in 1886, has for its object the widening of the channel in three bends where it did not exceed 75 feet of a navigable depth, and where the tidal currents are very rapid. The channel at the points mentioned is to be widened by dredging and removing such rock as may be found. Expenditures to June 30, 1888, $12,928.11. Expended in last fiscal year $293.72. A contract has been made for expenditure of available funds in removing the ledge at Stage Neck. This will result in greatly improving the entrance and utilizing the work hitherto done, though a part of the ledge will still remain. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $2,071.89 10,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1883. 12,071.89 $293.72 10,800.00 11,093. 72 978. 17 19,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 171.) 19,000.00 18. Harbor at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.-The project for improv ing this harbor was adopted in 1879, the object being to check the strong tidal currents in the harbor, and to give a navigable depth over the ledge known as Gangway Rock, opposite the navy-yard. Expenditures to June 30, 1888, $106,604.94; expenditures in last fiscal year, $1,074.20. The results are the entire removal of Gangway Rock to a depth of 20 feet at mean low water, the completion of the breakwater to stop the cross-currents coming in from between Great and Goat Islands, and a removal of part of the ledge projecting from Badger's Island. There remains to complete the original project only the removal of the remaining ledge on the point projecting from Badger's Island. It has been decided as unadvisable to complete the original project of removing the ledge on Badger's Island to 10 feet. A contract has been made for expenditure of available funds in removing the ledge to a depth of 18 feet. July 1, 1888, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888....... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. $395.06 15,000.00 15, 395.06 $1,074.20 13, 511.06 14,585.26 July 1, 1889, balance available.... (See Appendix A 18.) 809.80 19. Bellamy River, New Hampshire.-The project for this improvement consists in dredging the channel of the river to give a depth of 5 feet at mean low water and a width of 50 feet at the bottom. The river is a tidal arm of Great Bay, which connects with the Piscataqua River at Dover Point, 4 miles above the bridge at Portsmouth, N. H. The object of the improvement is to obtain a channel which will enable vessels of 500 or more tous to ascend to head of navigation at high tide. The improvement was estimated to cost $28,000. Congress having made an appropriation for commencing the work, a contract has been made for dredging the channel as far as available funds permit. |