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Dredging was commenced May 1, 1889. June 30, 22,700 cubic yards of material had been removed, resulting in an improved channel for a distance of 3,500 feet.

Total expenditures, $5,205.33.

It is proposed to expend available funds, and the appropriation asked, in dredging to complete the project.

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,

$10,000. 00

$4, 757.01
448.32
4,516.75

9,722.03

277.92

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing projects.

18,000.00

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 191 18,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix A 19.)

20. Cocheco River, New Hampshire. The project for improving the Cocheco River to give a channel 50 feet wide on the bottom and depth of 5 feet at mean low water, has been completed. The channel was obstructed by a ledge of rock, and by sand, gravel, and bowlders, giving a channel depth of less than 3 feet at low water.

The original estimate for cost of the work was

Expenditures to June 30, 1888

Expenditures in last fiscal year

Total......

$47,000.00

37, 682. 11 9,027.61

46,709.72

In addition to completion of project, the channel at Alley's Point has been further improved by removing the filling from a land slide, and making excavations to prevent a recurrence.

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, required an examination or survey of this river. The preliminary report having indicated that the river is worthy of improvement, the officer in charge of the improvement has been instructed to make a survey and submit a plan of the further improvements considered necessary.

The small balance of available funds will be expended in making the

survey.

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, balance available

(See Appendix A 20.)

$317.89

9,000.00

9,317.89

9,027.61

290.28

21. Harbor of Refuge at Little Harbor, New Hampshire.-The project for this improvement upon the "enlarged plan," as indicated in river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, consists of two small breakwaters at the mouth of the harbor, and of dredging the channel and anchorage to a depth of 12 feet at low water. The object of the improvement is to form a refuge for vessels in the very frequent times when the adverse winds and strong tidal currents are such that they can not get into Portsmouth Harbor. The harbor had a small anchorage, 9

feet deep at low water, but the channel leading to it had an average depth of less than 6 feet. Amount expended to June 30, 1888, 89,907.76; expended during last fiscal year, $11,418.23. As a result, a channel of 9 feet depth and 75 wide has been dredged entirely to the anchorage, and several cuts have been made to enlarge the anchorage.

Work is now in progress under a contract for expending available funds in dredging to a depth of 9 feet.

It is proposed to expend funds which may be appropriated in constructing one or both breakwaters, and, subsequently, in dredging to a depth of 12 feet at low water.

July 1, 1888, amount available

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

$92.24

20,000.00

20,092.24

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..

$3,893.68

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities...

7,524.55

July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts

7,505.88

18, 924, 11

1, 168, 13

July 1, 1889, balance available.....

205,000.00

(Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 50,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix A 21.)

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11.

1888.

The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement:

1. Harbor and channel at Pembroke, Maine.-(See Appendix A 22.) 2. Monhegan Island Harbor, Maine.-(See Appendix A 23.)

3. Medomac River, Maine.-(See Appendix A 24.)

4. Hampton River, New Hampshire. (See Appendix A 25.)

A preliminary examination of Harrissecket [Harraseeket] River, Maine, was made by the local engineer, and reported by him as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, the result of the preliminary examination containing information sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary. Estimated cost of improvement, $36,000. (See Appendix A 26.)

It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of improve ment, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received.

1. Belfast Harbor, Maine.

2. Union River and Union River Bay, Maine. 3. St. Croix River, Maine.

4. Pleasant River, from Columbia Falls to its mouth, Maine. 5. Kennebunk River, Maine.

6. Cacheco River, from Dover to its mouth, New Hampshire.

IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, until December 20, 1888, since which date Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers.

1. Newburyport Harbor, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to create a channel through the outer bar, 1,000 feet wide and with a least depth of 17 feet at mean low water, or 24 feet at mean high water. The project adopted in 1880, and modified in 1883, is to build two converging rubble-stone jetties, so located as to give a proper direction to the current, and thereby produce and maintain the desired result. The estimated cost of the project was $375,000, and the amount appropriated to date is $232,500.

To June 30, 1888, $207,498.27 had been expended, and the north jetty was 2,675 feet long, of which 1,930 feet are fully completed, and the residue, 745 feet, was a core of stone built up to low water. The south jetty was 1,300 feet long, of which 1,077 feet were fully completed, and the residue, 223 feet, was a core of stone built up to low water.

The Plum Island Dike was 817 feet long, 5 feet high above mean low water, except near the center, where a weir is left temporarily, 150 feet long, and 2 feet deep at mean low water.

The sand-catch in rear of the south jetty was in two branches, one 480 feet long, and one 572 feet.

All these works were in good order.

During the fiscal year, 5,185 tons of rubble-stone were deposited in the north jetty. It is now 2,675 feet long, of which 2,080 feet are completed, and the residue, 595 feet, is a core of stone built up to low water. On June 30, 1889, the south jetty, the Plum Island Dike, and the sand-catch remain in the same condition as at the date of the last report.

A survey of the bar was made in June, 1889. It showed that the channel had straightened, but narrowed slightly, and the depth on the crest of the bar was less than last year, owing to the slight spring freshet in the river.

The advantages to be derived from the completion of the project are the deepening and widening of the channel across the bar, thereby atfording a harbor of refuge on the inside of Salisbury Point, and also affording easy access at high water to the wharves at Newburyport for vessels drawing 17 feet approximately.

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....

$1.73

25,000.00

25,001. 73

$3,946. 68

7,847.11 9,485.55

21, 279.34

3,722.39

142,500.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.....
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 1.)

50,000.00

2. Merrimac River, Massachusetts.-The object of the improvement is to straighten, deepen, and widen the natural channel of the river from its mouth to the Upper Falls, a distance of 211⁄2 miles.

The channel originally was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by ledges, bowlders, and shoals; and below Newburyport by ledges, cribs, piers, and wrecks.

At mean low water vessels drawing not to exceed 7 feet could cross the bar and proceed about 6 miles above Newburyport.

The mean rise or fall of the tide at the mouth of the river is 71⁄2 feet, at Haverhill Bridge, 4 feet.

The project originally adopted, in 1870, proposed to remove obstructions from the Upper and Lower Falls, to remove Gangway Rock, to remove the wreck of the schooner Globe, and to remove the "Boilers." The cost was estimated at $69,025. This project was revised and extended in 1874 to include the removal of rocks at Deer Island and Rock Bridges, and at Little Currier's Shoal, so that the channel should have the following depths at ordinary high-water stages of the river: From the mouth to Deer Island Bridge (5 miles), 163 feet; from Deer Island Bridge to Haverhill Bridge (12 miles) 12 feet; thence to the foot of Mitchell's Falls (14 miles), 10 feet; through Mitchell's Falls to the head of the Upper Falls (2 miles) not less than 44 feet, with the mill water at Lawrence runuing. This revised project was estimated to cost $147,000.

The total appropriations to date have been $170,500. The total expenditures to June 30, 1888, were $170,498.43, and the river channel had been improved in accordance with the modified project, with the exception of the removal of the "Boilers," upon which no work has been done.

No operations were in progress during the year, and the improvement remains in good order.

To complete the improvement so that the same depth of water which has been obtained through Mitchell's Falls can be carried to Lawrence, additional work will be required at the falls above Haverhill, which is estimated to cost $11,000; and additional improvements could be made. in the lower part of the river, which are estimated to cost $11,500, or a total of $22,500.

The improved channel is in good order and meets all existing demands of commerce.

No appropriation is recommended for the year ending June 30, 1891. July 1, 1888, amount available

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities, outstanding July 1, 1888 ...

(See Appendix B 2.)

$1.57

1.57

3. Powow River, Massachusetts.-Powow River is a tributary of the Merrimac River, into which it enters from the north, about 3 miles above Newburyport. From the mouth, tide water extends 9,600 feet in a narrow crooked channel not navigable at low water.

The project proposed for its improvement is to dredge a channel 9,600 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 12 feet deep, at mean high water, at an estimated cost of $77,000.

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $3,000 for this work, provided a suitable draw was built in the bridge which now crosses the mouth of the river.

Action is in progress by the town authorities having in view compli ance with this proviso.

ENG 89-3

No expenditures were made during the year ending June 30, 1889, and the original condition of the river is unaltered.

To complete the proposed improvement will cost $74,000, of which amount $10,000 could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

July 1, 1889, balance available...

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...

$3,000,00

3,000.00

74,000,00

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B 3.)

4. Ipswich River, Massachusetts.-Ipswich River empties into Plum Island Sound about 9 miles south of Newburyport, Mass. It is navigable from its mouth to the wharves at Ipswich, a distance of 3 miles. Before improvement, at low water not to exceed 13 feet draught could be carried in a narrow channel.

The mean rise or fall of the tide is 8.4 feet.

The object of the improvement is to widen and deepen the natural channel of the river.

The original project was submitted in 1875. It proposed a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $25,000.

The total amount appropriated for this improvement to date is $5,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $2,500. At that date a navigable channel existed at least 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water

The expenditures during the fiscal year were $32.08.

Proposals were invited by public advertisement for the completion of the improvement, and but one bid was received. It was rejected as excessive. The work will be re-advertised.

The condition of the improvement June 30, 1889, is the same as on June 30, 1888. It is believed that the funds available will suffice to complete the present partial project, or all that the present commerce justifies.

The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation.

$2,500.00

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888....

32.08

July 1, 1889, balance available

2,467.92

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

20,000.00

(See Appendix B 4.)

5. Harbor of Refuge, Sandy Bay, Cape Ann, Massachusetts.-This bay is situated at the northeastern extremity of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. It is open to the full effect of easterly and northeasterly gales.

The proposed improvement contemplates the construction of a National harbor of refuge of the first class. The anchorage covered by the proposed breakwater will contain 1,377 acres.

No definite project for the masonry construction of the breakwater above the rubble mound has been adopted. To the level of 22 feet be

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