project the channel was 10 feet deep at mean low water in a cut through the ledge 50 feet wide. During the year ending June 30, 1889, a contract was entered into with Mr. G. W. Townsend to remove 200 cubic yards of ledge from the channel. This contract expires December 31, 1889. Operations under it were commenced in May, 1889, and are still in progress. To complete the present project will require an appropriation of $8,000, all of which could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 8,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix B 11.) 8,000.00 12. Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts.-This harbor is on the west shore of Massachusetts Bay, about 14 miles south of Boston Light. The object of the improvement is to create a harbor of refuge for vessels bound to Boston from the eastward, which are too far south of their true course to clear the dangerous ledges near Minot's Ledge Light. Originally the harbor had a low-water area of about 57 acres, more than 6 acres of which had a depth of at least 3 feet at mean low water. It was entirely open to the action of easterly gales, and its entrance was obstructed by sunken bowlders. The project adopted in 1880, is to build two breakwaters, one from "Cedar Point" on the north side of the entrance, and the other from the "First Cliff" on the south side; and to dredge the area inclosed and in front of the entrance. The estimated cost of the improvement is $290,000. The total appropriations to date are $52,500. The expenditures to June 30, 1888, were $47,500. The condition of the improvement June 30, 1888, was as follows: The north breakwater was essentially completed. Nothing had been done on the south breakwater. The entrance channel was 1,600 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at mean low water. The anchorage basin was 350 by 450 feet in area, 7 feet deep at mean low water. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provided $5,000 for this improvement, and a contract was executed November 26, 1888, to dredge 9,000 cubic yards from a channel leading from the anchorage basin to the town wharf, 2,100 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 1 foot deep at mean low water. No operations have been in progress under this contract during the fiscal year, and the condition of the improvement remains the same as on June 30, 1888. To complete the improvement will require an appropriation of $237,500. During the year ending June 30, 1891, $25,000 could be expended to advantage, in commencing the south breakwater, and in enlarging the anchorage basin and the channel to the town wharves. The prospective benefits to commerce by the completion of this improvement are the creation of an additional harbor of refuge on this much frequented dangerous coast. 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... July 1, 1889, balance available................. $5,000.00 $46.08 4,050.00 4,096.08 903.92 237,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix B 12.) 13. Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts.-Plymouth Harbor is 30 miles south of Boston. The object of its improvement is to perpetuate the harbor by the preservation of Long Beach, which forms it; and to deepen and widen the channels of approach to an enlarged anchorage basin in front of the town wharves. The various devices employed for the preservation of Long Beach are described in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1877. The original project for improvement was adopted in 1875, and modified in 1877 and 1884. The modified project proposed an improved channel 2,286 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at mean low water. From 1866 to date, $120,800 have been appropriated for this harbor. The expenditures to June 30, 1888, were, for beach protection, $72,587.56; for dredging, etc., $42,212.44; total, $114,800. The channel was 115 feet wide, 9 feet deep at mean low water; the basin was 800 feet long, 9 feet deep for 90 feet of its width nearest the town wharves, and averaged 5 feet deep for the remainder of its width. During the fiscal year a contract was entered into to dredge 13,000 cubic yards from the basin; the contract expires December 31, 1889. No operations under it have been in progress during the fiscal year. Four breaches in Long Beach, aggregating 370 feet in length, were closed with bulkheads of plank by hired labor, at a cost of $444.17. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1889, is essentially the same as at the close of the last year. To complete the present project, and to provide funds for necessary and probable repairs to Long Beach, will require an appropriation of $17,500. The prospective benefits to commerce are increased facilities and safety to navigation. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $6,000.00 July 1, 1889. amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. $502.75 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 3, 883.75 4,386,50 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 1,613.50 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 17,500.00 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 13.) 14. Wellfleet Harbor, Massachusetts.-Wellfleet Harbor is 12 miles southeast of Provincetown, on Cape Cod Bay. The object of its improvement is to the provide a navigable channel from the inner anchorage, the "Deep Hole," to the town wharves. The project originally proposed in 1871 was to dredge two channels of approach to the town wharves and to remove several dangerous sunken rocks. The removal of the sunken rocks was effected by an appropriation provided by the act of June 10, 1872. The present project is to dredge a channel from the "Deep Hole" to the town wharves, 4,200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water. To date, $12,000 have been appropriated for this improvement. The expenditures to June 30, 1888, were $5,000, by which 204 cubic yards of sunken rocks had been removed. No low-water channel existed to the wharves. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, a contract was entered into to dredge a channel 2,500 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, extending from the "Deep Hole" to the town wharves. No operations have been in progress under this contract, and the condition of the improvement remains the same as on June 30, 1888. To complete the improvement will require, at the present prices for dredging, an appropriation of $26,000. 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.. Jule 1, 1889, balance available..... $7,000.00 $43.54 6, 210.00 6, 253. 54 746.46 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B 14.) 26,000.00 10,000.00 15. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts.—Provincetown Harbor is situated at the extremity of Cape Cod, about 40 miles southeast from Boston Light. It is one of the most valuable harbors of refuge on the Atlantic coast. The entire commerce of New England and a very large local fishing interest are directly benefited by its maintenance, which depends entirely on the preservation of the sandy beaches which inclose it. Since 1826 the project has been a general one, and provides for the preservation of the harbor by building dikes, bulk-heads, and sandcatches, and extensive planting of beach-grass to repair and prevent storm damages to the beaches. From the nature of the work it can at no time be considered completed. A special dike across House Point Island Flats, to be built contingently, was recommended in the annual report for 1886. A plan of the harbor was published in the Annual Report, of the Chief of Engineers for 1886. The total appropriations or allotments for this work up to date have been $146,478.44. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $139,328.09, and the several works of preservation were in good order, although Long Point Breakwater needed additions. During the fiscal year 769 tons of stone and 135 cords of brush were added to the Long Point break water, completing 300 feet of its length. At the date of this report all the works of preservation are in good order, but the central part of Long Point needs a new bulk-head 2,000 feet long, to cost $6,000. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $7,500 could be expended in the repair of probable storm damage, and in building a new bulkhead at Long Point. The prospective benefit to commerce is the preservation of an important harbor of refuge. 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...... $150.35 7,000.00 7, 150.35 $1,715. 18 788.78 3, 158.88 3,991. 47 7.500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix B 15.) 7,500.00 16. Removal of sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The wrecks of the schooners Mary and Goldsmith Maid lying in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, were, in accordance with the act of 1880, examined, advertised, and removed by contract. The Goldsmith Maid was sunk in deep water outside the harbor; the wreck of the Mary was advertised and sold. The cost of removal was $1,925. The proceeds of the sale, $251. (See Appendix B 16.) 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 Gillespie, 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. Malden River, Massachusetts, as to straightening, widening, and deepening the channel.―(See Appendix B 17.) 2. Cohasset Harbor, Massachusetts.-(See Appendix B 18.) 3. Goose Point Channel, Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts, to public wharf at Kingston.-(See Appendix B 19.) At the following localities, reported by the local engineer 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: 1. Weir River, Massachusetts.-Estimated cost of improvement, $7,000.-(See Appendix B 20.) 2. Stage Harbor at Chatham, Massachusetts.-Estimated cost of improvement, $15,000.-(See Appendix B 21.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel Mansfield was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received: 1. Weymouth River, Massachusetts. 2. Salem Harbor, including South River, Massachusetts. 3. Beverly Harbor, Massachusetts. 4. Crane and Waters Rivers of Essex Branch, Massachusetts. (For Crane River only.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Maj. W. R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers, with Capt. T. L. Casey, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders until November 21, 1888. Division engineer, Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor of Refuge at Hyannis, Massachusetts.-This harbor, before improvement, was an open roadstead exposed to southerly storms. In the years 1827-1838 a breakwater of riprap granite 1,170 feet long was constructed, covering an anchorage of about 175 acres, the entrance to which has a depth of about 15 feet. Between the years 1852 and 1882 extensive repairs were made in increasing the width of its base and the size of the stone forming its sides and top. The depth of water immediately inside the breakwater being insuf ficient for many vessels that seek the harbor for refuge, the present project for the improvement of the harbor contemplates dredging the area protected by the breakwater to a depth of 15 feet at mean low water. The amount expended on this work up to June 30, 1888, was $127,532.29. The breakwater had been completed according to the original project and subsequent plans for strengthening it, and the 15-foot anchorage area had been increased by about 6 acres. Nothing has been done during the past fiscal year owing to the impossibility of obtaining satisfactory prices for the work. The amount available and the appropriation of $20,000 asked for is to be applied to extending the 15-foot anchorage area. 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 .... $5,825.29 10,000.00 15,825. 29 $1,539.33 1,863.52 13, 961. 77 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix C 1.) *Includes $5,804.47 from lapsed contract. 25,662, 00 20,000.00 |