July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $1,329.98 15,000.00 16, 329, 98 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... $3, 650.21 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..... 3,519.89 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 8,000.00 15, 170. 10 1, 159.88 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix D 5.) 78.000. CO 30,000.00 6. Breakwater at New Haven, Connecticut.-In 1880 a project was adopted for making a harbor of refuge at the entrance to New Haven Harbor by the construction of two riprap breakwaters, the first to be 3,300 feet long, extending northeasterly from the light-house on Southwest Ledge to Quixes Ledge; the second to be 4,200 feet long, extending northwesterly from Luddington Rock. The estimated cost was $1,311,134. No modification of the project has been adopted, except slight changes of cross section in 1880. The total amount appropriated for this work is $370,000, of which $317,284.69 have been expended. During the past fiscal year, including outstanding liabilities, and excluding existing contracts, $22,374.90 has been expended, and the breakwater has been extended 352 feet. A contract for extension is in progress, under which the east breakwater will be completed. The east breakwater is now 3,170 feet long; the west breakwater is not begun. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provided, "And the Chief of Engineers may, if deemed necessary, relocate the western break water, and the Secretary of War is authorized, in his discretion, to expend any portion of said sum in commencing its construction." An examination in reference to this matter was made in the fall of 1888, and the results reported in a letter dated January 26, 1889 (see Appendix D 6). The estimated cost of a harbor such as would meet the wishes of the harbor commissioners is $5,000,000. So large an expenditure does not seem to be warranted by the present demands of commerce. At the same time, the harbor as designed is not of sufficient capacity and is now exposed to southerly and southwesterly storms. Vessels will not lie at anchor immediately behind the easterly breakwater, owing to the existence of submerged rocks, having over them a minimum depth of 5 feet, so that the anchorage ground which it really protects is that above Five Mile Point, which is limited in area, and its use by vessels seeking refuge interferes with the channel to the wharves at New Haven. What is needed is a harbor easily accessible and the occupation of which will not interfere with the local harbor. They should be two distinct harbors. The entrance to the harbor, according to the present plan, between Luddington Rock and Southwest Ledge, is 3,500 feet wide. This width is unnecessarily great, and might be reduced without interfering with the free passage of vessels, and better protection be afforded the harbor. From an examination made by the officer in charge, it appears that the present and prospective demands of commerce for a long time to come would be met by changing the location of the western breakwater to the southwest about 6,000 feet, and constructing a break water crossing Luddington Rock on a course S. 54° W., commencing at a point on this line 1,000 feet N. 540 E. from Luddington Rock, and extending S. 540 W. 5,000 feet, leaving an opening of 2,000 feet or less between its western end and the southern end of the westerly breakwater, in its proposed change of location. The location of these works is shown on a sketch with Appendix D 6. The cost, in addition to the present estimates of $1,311,134, will be about $750,000. The space behind the breakwater proposed through Luddington Rock is free from obstructions and has a depth of from 15 to 29 feet, with good holding ground; it can be reached at the eastern end with a depth of 17 feet and at the western end with a depth of 29 feet. This plan will not interfere with its extension further to the westward should the necessities of commerce demand it in the future. This work should commence at Luddington Rock and extend in both directions as funds are provided. This rock, which now forms an obstruction, will be covered by the breakwater, and a permanent beacon at the eastern end will, with the light-house on Southwest Ledge, clearly mark the entrance. The entrance between them will be 2,500 feet wide, with a minimum depth of 17 feet and a maximum depth of 25 feet. For the better protection of the harbor, the space between the eastern breakwater and the shore, a distance of 2,000 feet, should be partially closed by a breakwater, extending from the shore towards the east end of the easterly breakwater, leaving an opening in the present eastern channel 13 feet deep, of 800 feet width. The cost of this is estimated at $90,000. It is not as important as the works proposed on the western side of the harbor, and may be deferred until they are completed. Whichever plan be adopted for the westerly breakwaters, during the ensuing fiscal year $250,000 could be profitably expended towards its execution. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $91. 21 75,000.00 75, 091. 21 941, 134.00 Amoun (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix D 6.) 7. Milford Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor consists of a broad, open bay, from the head of which a small tidal stream extends three-quar ters of a mile inland to the upper wharf. Originally the depth on the bar at the mouth of the river was less than 2 feet at mean low tide; the channel in the river ran nearly bare in places. Under the first project of improvement, adopted in 1872, a channel 4 feet deep and 100 feet wide was excavated through the bar, and thence 40 to 60 feet wide to the upper wharf; small jetties were built to pro tect the east bank from erosion and two jetties were built to preserve the channel on the bar, at a total cost of $34,000. In 1881 a project was adopted for making the channel over the bar 8 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, at an estimated cost of $11,000. The total sum appropriated for this harbor is $44,600; of this amount about $8,000 has been expended on the last project, completing the 8-foot channel to 100 feet width. During the past fiscal year the 8-foot channel was completed to the projected width and partial repairs were made to Long Jetty. The project is completed, but $2,500 will be required, for necessary repairs to the jetties. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $241.02 5.000.00 5,241.02 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $2,214.89 3,836.67 1, 404.35 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 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 D 7.) 2,500.00 8. Housatonic River, Connecticut.-The navigable part of this river extends from Derby, Conn., to Long Island Sound, a distance of 13 miles, and was originally obstructed by several bars, upon which the low-water depth was from 3 to 5 feet. In 1871 a project was adopted for making and maintaining a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water throughout this distance. Besides the necessary dredging, it contemplated building a breakwater east of the channel over the bar at the river's mouth. The amount appropriated for this river is $111,242, of which $75,250.82 has been expended, including outstanding liabilities. A channel of required depth has been dredged several times through the worst bars. The present available depth over them is about 5 feet at mean low water. Drew's Rock has been removed to a depth of 7 feet. During the fiscal year contracts have been entered into for dredging and for breakwater construction, but work has not yet been begun. The estimated cost of the breakwater and of the necessary dredging, as revised in 1887, was $202,000, of which $35,000 has been appropriated; $70,000 could be advantageously expended on this work during the next fiscal year. 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.... $1,705. 41 35,000.00 36,705. 41 $614.23 100.00 27,860.00 28,574. 23 8, 131. 18 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......$167,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 70,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix D 8.) 9. Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut.-The available depth in this harbor was originally 5 feet at mean low water. The first project for improvement provided for an 8-foot channel over the outer and inner bars. This was dredged on the outer bar in 1837, and on both bars in 1853. In 1871 a project was adopted for making a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide, subsequently modified to 300 feet, and for building a jetty on the east shore to check the influx of sand. This was accomplished in 1882, and a new project was adopted for widening to 600 feet the channel from the Inner Beacon to the Naugatuck Railroad wharf, to provide for vessels driven in by bad weather, without blocking the main channel. The estimated cost of the latter project was $60,000. It is very nearly completed. A small area remains near the Inner Beacon, which it is considered desirable to dredge. The project was extended in 1888 to include widening the channel above the railroad wharf, in order to relieve the crowding of the channel at that point, and was further extended by act of Congress authorizing the expenditure of the last appropriation towards dredging a 9-foot channel up to the head of the upper harbor, above the bridges, the total estimated cost of which is $35,000. In addition to this, a further extension has been asked by citizens to provide for a break. water from the Tongue to the Inner Beacon, estimated to cost $30,000. The total amount appropriated for this, harbor is $242,485.38, nearly all of which has been expended. During the past fiscal year the 9-foot channel has been extended about three-quarters way up the upper harbor above the bridges. Fifty-five thousand dollars is estimated to be necessary to complete the project, including the breakwater at the Tongue. Twenty-five thousand dollars could be expended to advantage during the next fiscal year. 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. $197.06 10,000.00 10, 197.06 $1,418.41 5, 269.50 1,070. 28 7,758.19 2,438.87 55,000,00 July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix D 9.) 25, 000, 00 10. Black Rock Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor consists of a bay. partly sheltered by Fairweather Island and of two small streams extending inland from the head of the bay. The depth in Cedar Creek, the more important of these streams, was from 2 to 4 feet at mean low water, and the channel was narrow and very crooked. The project for improvement, submitted in 1883, includes dredging a channel 3,300 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, to extend up Cedar Creek, and a breakwater from Fairweather Islaud to the mainland. The estimated cost was $80,000. Thirty-five thousand dollars has been appropriated for and, including a contract now in force, expended under this project, making the proposed channel up as far as the Forge Company's wharf. During the past fiscal year a contract for extending the channel by dredging has been made, but work under it is not yet begun. The breakwater has been built to the full length, but not to the width and height projected; it needs slight repairs. 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.. July 1, 1889, balance available.... $140.30 10,000.00 10, 140. 30 $55.74 8,000.00 8, 055. 74 2, 084.56 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix D 10.) 45, 000, 00 20,000.00 11. Norwalk Harbor, Connecticut.-This harbor consists of the tidal part of Norwalk River, about 3 miles long, and of the harbor between Norwalk Islands and the mainland. South Norwalk, on the river, is about 1 miles below Norwalk. Originally the depth up to South Norwalk was about 5 feet at mean low water; between there and Norwalk the river-bed runs nearly bare. The first project for improvement contemplated a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep to Norwalk. In 1881 the project was modified to provide for a depth of 8 feet below South Norwalk. The last estimate upon this work places the cost from commencement at $84,000. Up to the close of the fiscal year $80,246.66 had been appropriated for this project and nearly all expended. Some parts of the river have required dredging several times. A channel has been dredged 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep up to South Norwalk, and thence to Norwalk from 60 to 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep. This channel is now in good condition. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $28,000 for improvement of the harbor, and provided that $25,000 should be expended in dredging and deepening the lower harbor up to Wilson's Point. The estimated cost of the latter work was $52,900. During the fiscal year the money available for dredging in the river was expended in removing shoals from the sides of the channel, and that required to be applied to the channel at Wilson's Point is partly expended under a contract not yet completed. Owing to the low price obtained for the work at Wilson's Point, and to the fact that a large part of the contemplated work had been done by a railroad company whose terminal docks are there, the work can be completed as desired with the remaining funds, and no further ap propriation is needed at this point. The remainder of the estimate for work in the river, $4,000, could be profitably expended during the next fiscal year. |