OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1890. The work will be prosecuted according to the approved project. Vineyard Haven is in the Edgartown collection district. Edgartown is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Edgartown in the last fiscal year was $408.34. The nearest light-houses are those on East and West Chops. The nearest fortification is fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, outs.anding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. $25,000.00 $2,737.73 3,922.72 21, 077.28 July 1, 1889, balance available (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. 35,000.00 35, 0CO. 00 Besides the above, 4,500 tons of general merchandise were landed here by the regular steamer lines. The number of vessels which discharged cargoes at Vineyard Haven Harbor, year ending June 1, 1889, was 23. C 4. IMPROVEMENT OF WAREHAM HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. This harbor is an estuary at the head of Buzzard's Bay. The object of the improvement is to deepen and widen the channel leading from Buzzard's Bay to Wareham, the industries of which, and of several towns in the vicinity with which it is connected by rail, are chiefly the manufactures of iron, and depend largely on transportation by water of the material used therein. The commerce of Wareham is carried on in sailing vessels, and the channel is to be made a beating channel for such vessels. Another object of the improvement is the raising of Long Beach, over which the sands from the bay were washed into the harbor. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 4 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before improvement the ruling depth in the harbor was about 7 feet at mean low water, in a narrow and very crooked channel. Long Beach, a narrow sand spit at the mouth of the harbor, was washed and abraded by the waves and currents at high water, and the material was carried into and shoaled the channel inside. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. The original approved project of 1871, for the improvement, and its subsequent modifications, provide for a channel 250 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water from Barney's Point down to the entrance to the harbor. Above Barney's Point the width of the channel is to be 350 feet, with the same depth, 10 feet, as below that point. The plan includes, also, the raising and strengthening of Long Beach, of which a large portion was submerged at low water, to carry it above the storm waves and currents and to hold it there in order to prevent the filling of the improved channel above by material abraded from the beach. A plat of Wareham Harbor, showing the lines of the channel now being excavated, may be found in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, vol. 1, page 586. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1888. The total amount expended on the improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, including liabilities outstanding at that date, was $71,520.64, and the result was that the channel in the upper part of the harbor in front of the wharves was carried to its full width and completed, and the eastern half of the second and third reaches below the wharves and about two-thirds of the eastern half of the fourth reach, which extends to Barney's Point, were excavated to the full depth of 10 feet below mean low water. Long Beach had been raised above high-water storm tides, so that the wash of sand into the improved channel inside the beach had been stopped. The channel for about one half its width from Barney's Point to Wareham had been deepened to 10 feet, and a ruling depth of the approaches to Wareham had been increased from 7 to 9 feet, and the channel greatly widened in all the reaches. Vessels of larger draught can be carried to Wareham than formerly. The increase in width of channel was a great help to all vessels in beating in and out of the harbor. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. At the beginning of the last fiscal year no work was in progress. The contract with the Frank Pidgeon Dredging Company which was described in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, expired by limitation June 15, 1888, the contractor having failed to complete the work. The amount covered by this contract accordingly became available for further operations. A project for the expenditure of this sum, together with the appropriation of $4,000 made by act of August 11, 1888, was prepared and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. This project contemplates, first, the completion of the eastern part of the channel to a width of 175 feet from the end of the present dredged channel to the deep water of Long Beach, and the further building up of Long Beach (which requires the expenditure of a few hundred dollars); and, second, if funds remain, widening the upper reaches of the channel to 250 feet, and the formation of an anchorage basin by dredging one or more of these reaches to its full width of 350 feet. In accordance with this project advertisements for proposals for dredging were issued December 8, 1888, and proposals opened January 8, 1889. None of the proposals were made in conformity to the specifications, and the prices bid were excessive. All the proposals were rejected, and the work was re-advertised April 2, 1889. Under this advertisement one proposal was received. It was opened April 23, 1889, and was rejected as excessive. Abstracts of proposals received under both the above advertisements will be found in the appended tables. Arrangements for continuing the work by hire of labor and purchase or hire of plant in open market were in progress at the close of the fiscal year. WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the channel to its full width and depth down to the deep water above Long Beach, and the further building up of Long Beach by the construction of sand fences. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1890. It is proposed to devote the funds on hand July 1, 1889, to the completion of the eastern part of the channel to a width of 175 feet from the end of the present dredged channel to the deep water of Long Beach, and widening one or more of the upper reaches of the river, and to the further building up of Long Beach. Wareham is in the New Bedford collection district. New Bedford is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at New Bedford in the last fiscal year was $90,239.63. The nearest light-houses are Bird's Island and Wing's Neck lights. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, Mass. July 1, 1888, amount available. Money statement. 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..... *$8, 479. 46 4,000.00 12, 479. 46 $1,248.22 1,526.56 10,952.90 12, 236.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 12, 236.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging at Wareham Harbor, Mass., received at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated December 8, 1888, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, on Tuesday, the 8th day of January, 1889. No. [To be commenced on or before March 15, 1889, and completed on or before August 15, 1889.] Name and address of bidder. Removing Removing bowlders other bowlexceeding 1 ders and dredging, per cubic yard.t cubic yard, Abstract of proposals for dredging at Wareham Harbor, Mass., received at Engineer Office, U. S. Army, Newport, R. I., in response to advertisement dated April 2, 1889, and opened at 12 o'clock noon, on Tuesday, the 23d day of April, 1889. [Work to be commenced on or before May 15, 1889, and completed on or before July 1, 1890.] IMPROVEMENT OF NEW BEDFORD HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. New Bedford Harbor is an estuary of Buzzard's Bay, and is the port of the cities of New Bedford and Fairhaven, Mass. New Bedford is an important port of entry. It is largely interested in manufactures, those of cotton predominating, and has an extensive commerce in addition to its whale fisheries. The population of New Bedford and Fairhaven in 1888 was about 38,000. The object of the improvement is to provide a channel 18 feet deep at mean low water. The mean rise and fall of the tide is about 3 feet. ORIGINAL CONDITION. Before improvement, the channel had a ruling depth of about 121 feet at mean low water. PLANS OF IMPROVEMENT. As early as 1839 some little dredging was done for the improvement of the harbor. The increase of depth obtained, however, was only 2 feet, and the cut but 30 feet wide. A survey of the harbor was made in 1852, but a definite project for its improvement was not made until 1874. The project provided for a channel 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep at mean low water from the deep water just above Palmer's Island to the wharves at New Bedford. This project was modified in 1877, increasing the width of channel to 300 feet, and by means of appropriations made in 1875-'76, amounting to $20,000, the project was completed in 1877. Since that time vessels of larger draught have been employed in the harbor, and vessels of 15 feet draught not only now touch the bottom in this channel, but in the channel below Palmer's Island, which was not included in the former improvement. There is not sufficient water for the commerce of the port. The project under which work is now carried on was adopted in 1888. It provides for the excavation of a channel 200 feet wide and 18 feet deep at mean low water extending from Butler's Flat to the vicinity of the wharves at New Bedford. A plat of the proposed improvement was published in House Ex. Doc. No. 86, Fiftieth Congress, first session. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1888.. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $20,000. The result was the excavation of the channel, under the original project and its modification, to a width of 300 feet, and a depth of 15 feet at mean low water. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. By act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $10,000 for continuing the improvement, and a project for the expenditure of this sum was prepared and was approved by the Chief of Engineers. The project contemplates the commencement of the work near the lower end of Palmer's Island, at a point known as the "11-foot bank," and dredging to a depth of 18 feet at mean low water, and a width of 100 feet, along the westerly and southerly sides of the proposed channel, carrying it as far towards the wharves of the city as the available funds will permit. Advertisements for proposals for dredging were issued December 8, 1888, and the proposals opened January 8, 1889. None of the proposals were made in accordance with the specifications and the prices bid were excessive. All of the proposals were rejected and the work was re-advertised April 2. Proposals under this advertisement were opened April 23, 1889. These were also rejected. Abstracts of proposals received under both the above advertisements will be found in the appended tables. Arrangements for continuing the work by hire of labor and purchase or hire of plant in open market were in progress at the close of the fiscal year. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1890. The balance available and the appropriation asked will be applied to the continuation of the work under the approved project. New Bedford Harbor is in the New Bedford collection district, which is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected in the last fiscal year was $90,239.63. The nearest light-houses are Clark's Point Light and the lights in New Bedford Harbor. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark's Point, Mass. Money statement. 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.... $10,000.00 $814.33 991.00 9, 009.00 25,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. |