Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G 6.) $15,000,00 6,000.00 7. Delaware Breakwater Harbor, Delaware.-Under act of Congress, May 7, 1822, $22,700 was appropriated for a survey of Delaware Bay, near Cape Henlopen, for the purpose of determining upon the site for a harbor of shelter. In 1828 an appropriation of $250,000 was made for commencing the work under a plan submitted by a Board of Commissioners appointed by Congress. The project of the Board contemplated the construction in the concavity of the bay, just inside Cape Henlopen, of two massive works on the pierres perdues or riprap system, separated by an interval or gap of 1,390 feet-the greater, called the breakwater, to afford safe anchorage during gales from the north and east; the other, called the ice-breaker, to protect shipping against northwesterly gales and the heavy drifting ice of the bay. This project was completed in 1869, under aggregate appropriations, including the first for survey, of $2,192,103.70. The stone used in the work amounted to 892,528 gross tons, and varied from one-quarter of a ton to 7 tous in weight, the smaller constituting the bulk of the mass, the larger used to cover the exterior slopes. As completed in 1869 the break water is 2,558 feet long, and the icebreaker 1,359 feet long on top. The average width on top is 22 feet, and at base 160 feet. The top is from 12 to 14 feet above mean low water. In 1882 a project was adopted for closing the gap between the breakwater and the ice-breaker by means of a random stone foundation with a concrete superstructure. The random stone foundation is to be brought to a height of 12 feet below low water, with a width on top of 48 feet. The concrete superstructure is to have a width on bottom of 24 feet, rising to a height of 12 feet above mean low water, with a width ou top of 12 feet. The estimated cost of this project was $675,000. In 1883 and 1884 the project was modified by providing a foundation of brush mattresses for the random stone superstructure, and omitting the construction of a pile bridge across the gap, which formed part of the project of 1882 for closing the gap. From the beginning of the work in 1822 to June 30, 1888, the total amount expended was $2,447,823.61, of which $255,719.91 was expended on the project of 1882 for closing the gap. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $50,576.74 was expended in the formation of the random stone substructure for the work, which is intended to close the gap between the breakwater and ice breaker. The total expenditure to June 30, 1889, has been $2,498,400.35, of which $306,296.65 has been under present project. 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, 188.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1889, balance available... $318,750,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix G 7.) S. Mantua Creek, New Jersey.-The original project for this improve ment contemplates the construction of a low-water channel 10 feet deep and 80 feet wide at the mouth of the creek, which is to diminish to 4 feet in depth and 40 feet in width at the town of Mantua, situated some 11 miles from the mouth, at an estimated cost of $35,000. The stream in its natural condition, as shown by the survey of 1881, had at its mouth (one-fourth mile outside the high-water line) 8 feet at mean low water and nearly that depth at a second bar one-half mile up the stream. If these two bars had been improved, there would have been a 9-foot channel up to a bar 11⁄2 miles from the mouth, where there was a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lower 11⁄2 miles of the stream can not safely be said to have had in its natural condition in 1881 a navi. gable channel with a greater depth than 71⁄2 feet, while there was a navigable channel with 6 feet for 4 miles farther, and thence to Mantua, 11 miles from the mouth, a channel gradually diminishing to 2 feet. At the request of parties interested in the lower part of the river the lower one-half mile has been resurveyed, showing a shoaling of from 1 to 2 feet during the last eight years. At one point in the channel of navigable width there is only 5 feet of water. The officer in charge bas recommended the expenditure of the $3,000 appropriated August 2, 1882, in dredging a channel with a least width of 60 feet and a least depth of 8 feet at mean low water from the mouth up to the Phosphate Works, a distance of about one-half mile. Up to the present time nothing has been expended in improving this stream. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available... (See Appendix G 8.) $3,000.00 84.34 2,915. 66 9. Removal of wrecks from Delaware Bay and River.-During the past fiscal year no wrecks have been removed under this appropriation. July 1, 1888, amount available (See Appendix G 9.) $758.62 758.62 10. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. During the past fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880: The schooner Sallie C. Morton from the Cape May channel into Delaware Bay, and the schooner Lizzie from the mouth of English Creek, New Jersey. (See Appendix G 10.) 11. United States Commission Advisory to the Board of Harbor Commissioners of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-This Commission, which was created May 25, 1880, was dissolved by order of the President of the United States under date of February 25, 1889. (See Appendix G 11.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Little Salem Creek, New Jersey, was made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix G 12.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that Alloway Creek, New Jersey, is 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 Robert was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS IN THE STATES OF DELAWARE AND MARYLAND, AND OF MAURICE RIVER, NEW JERSEY, AND OF THE INLAND WATER WAY FROM CHINCOTEAGUE BAY, VIRGINIA, TO DELAWARE BAY. Engineer in charge, William F. Smith, United States Agent, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired; division engineer, Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, since December 3, 1888. 1. Maurice River, New Jersey. This stream has a natural channel from 10 to 40 feet deep from the mouth to Ferguson's Dock, 4 miles below Millville, a distance of about 20 miles. Near this dock the 6-foot curve disappeared before improvements were commenced, and the river above was quite shoal, with a minimum depth of 2 feet. The adopted project is to make a 6 foot low-water channel to Millville, and a 4-foot channel in front of the wharves to the head of navigation. Twenty-four thousand nine hundred and eighty-five dollars and sixteen cents have been expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, in dredging this channel, which has attained its full proposed width and depth to a point 1 mile below Millville. The upper portion remains to be dredged to the full dimensions as projected. It is said that the commerce of the river has more than doubled, since a larger class of vessels has been able to reach without interruption by low tides the wharves at Millville, which is a manufacturing center of considerable importance. The appropriation of $10,000, made by the act of August 11, 1888, had not been expended at the close of the fiscal year on account of the prevailing high prices for dredging. The available funds will during the next fiscal year be applied to the improvement of the channel at and near Millville, and the amount asked for, if appropriated, will be expended at the same locality. 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 $14.84 10,000.00 10, 014. 84 23.77 9,991. 07 $77,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix H 1.) 2. Wilmington Harbor, Delaware.-In 1836, when the first appropria tion for the improvement of the Christiana River was made, the depth of water at low tide was between 8 and 9 feet at the entrance and about 8 feet at the shoalest place below Third Street Bridge. The channel depth was that year increased to 10 feet by dredging. In 1871 a more comprehensive project was made to dredge a channel 12 feet in depth from the mouth to above the city of Wilmington. This project was completed in 1881. A new project was submitted in 1881 and approved by a Board of Engineers for a 15-foot channel as far as the Pulp Works and a 12-foot channel to the Delaware Railroad Bridge, and the construction of a jetty at the mouth to control and direct the ebb tide, at a total estimated cost of $175,551. The details of this project were somewhat changed in 1883 and the cost in a revised estimate increased to $191,384, exclusive of the jetty, which was then nearly finished. The following year the project was amended to provide for an additional height of 4 feet to the jetty and to extend it 322 feet in length. The total amount appropriated for the improvement of this harbor since 1836 is $289,606. The total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is $255,028.57. The result is a channel 15 feet deep at mean low water and from 50 to 75 feet wide between Market Street Bridge and the entrance, with the exception of Four Shoals, where the depth is from 10 to 15 feet, the shoaling having been mainly caused by material running in from the sides of the cut. The channel dredged to the Pulp Works in 1881 to a depth of 12 feet has shoaled to 10 feet. During the fiscal year repairs to the extent of $500 have become necessary on the jetty and will soon be completed. The available funds are to be expended in dredging a channel 15 feet deep at low water, and 150 feet wide from the mouth of the river as far as the funds will permit. Advertisements inviting proposals have been published and it is expected to complete the work of dredging before next winter. 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 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix H 2.) $2,166.21 30,000.00 32, 166. 21 2, 201.44 29,964.77 117, 624.00 50,000.00 3. Ice-harbor at New Castle, Delaware.-The ice-harbor at New Castle is one of the oldest in the Delaware River, having been constructed in colonial times for the protection of shipping against heavy ice. Since the beginning of the present century its extension and improvement have been carried on by the General Government at intervals, and the harbor is crowded with vessels of all kinds and dimensions every winter. The existing project is to rebuild one of the eight piers in the harbor. To do this about $15,600 is required. The amount appropriated by the act of August 11, 1888, viz, $7,500, is too small to be now expended with economy and advantage, and the expenditure thereof has therefore been postponed until a further appropriation is made. It is proposed to expend the amount asked for, if appropriated, together with the available balance, in rebuilding pier II, and in dredg ing, as far as the funds will permit, the bottom above and below the harbor, to a greater depth. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 3.) $7,500.00 7,500.00 8, 100.00 8,100.00 4. Duck Creek, Delaware.-In the year 1879, before improvements were commenced, there was a minimum depth of 24 feet in Duck Creek, and over the bar at the entrance a depth of 4 feet. Navigation was possible only at high water and was carried on by one small steamer and about seven small sailing vessels. A project was submitted in 1878, by Col. J. N. Macomb, Corps of Engineers, for the improvement of the creek, including a plan for deepening the channel at the entrance. This portion of the project was considered paramount to the other by Congress, and a total sum of $10,000 was appropriated during the following four years for dredging a channel across the bar 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. During the fiscal year the appropriation of $10,000 made by the act of August 11, 1888, was expended. A channel 40 feet wide and 63 feet deep at low water was dredged from Smyrna Landing to Brick Store Wharf, a distance of 3 miles. The result has been that all vessels can now navigate the creek 2 miles above the former highest landing, and that the principal shipping point has been brought this distance nearer the center of the rich farming country which surrounds the head waters of Duck Creek. It is proposed, during the next fiscal year, to expend the amount asked for, if appropriated, in dredging within the creek and to complete the channel therein in accordance with the present project. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, ainount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available... $10,000.00 9, 910. 28 89.72 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix II 4.) 27,365.00 10,000.00 5. St. Jones River, Delaware.-Before the channel was improved the practicable depth of water to Lebanon, 12 miles above the mouth, was 4 feet; to Dover, 9 miles further up, only 2 feet at mean low water. The original project was for a 4-foot low-water channel, 100 feet wide across the bar at the mouth, protected by a jetty, at an estimated cost |