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Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.............
July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

$10,000.00

[blocks in formation]

$4,875.60
4,529.99

9,405, 59

594. 41

July 1, 1889, balance available... (See Appendix H 12.)

Choptank River, Maryland.-At the time the project for the improvement of this river was made, the depth of water between Denton and Greensborough varied from 2 to 8 feet at low water. Navigation by small sailing vessels extended to a landing 3 miles above Denton, called "The Stakes." Lighters were necessary for the transportation of freight beyond that point to Greensborough, a further distance of 5 miles.

A project was made in 1880 for an 8-foot low-water channel, 75 feet wide. at an estimated cost of $79,000. During the three following years the channel was only made 6 and 7 feet deep on account of the smallness of the appropriations and high prices for dredging. Since 1885 the originally proposed depth has been made whenever possible; $30,000 had been expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888.

The result is a channel from 5 to 8 feet deep at low water, and from 25 to 75 feet wide between Denton and Greensborough. A 300-ton steam barge now runs between the latter town and Baltimore, and a small steamer between Denton and Greensborough, connecting at the former place with the larger steamers from Baltimore.

Nothing was done during the fiscal year beyond advertising twice for proposals for dredging. The lowest bid in each case was considered too high and rejected, and the expenditure of the appropriation was postponed until a larger amount becomes available, when it is thought better prices can be obtained.

It is proposed to expend the available funds in widening the channel near Greensborough to 40 feet and increasing the depth to 8 feet, and the amount asked for, if appropriated, will be applied to widening the channel throughout to 75 feet, in accordance with the original project, which, it is believed, will be sufficient to meet all the requirements of the present and future commerce of the river.

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......

$7,500.00

76.26

7,423. 74

30, 500,00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.....
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 H 13.)

14. Cambridge Harbor, Maryland.-The entrance to this harbor origi nally had a depth of only 43 feet at the shoalest place. The average depth in the harbor was about 3 feet; a few deep holes had a depth of 8 and 9 feet. Strong northwesterly winds often made the bar impassable for vessels drawing 3 feet. The local commerce was in consequence limited to a few vessels of the smallest class and one steamer of light draught. Improvement was commenced in 1871 and completed in 1879, resulting in a channel across the bar 100 feet wide and an increase of anchorage ground in the inner harbor, both having been dredged to a depth of 8 feet at mean low water in accordance with the

original project. During the year 1884 the channel at the entrance was slightly widened; $32,500 had been expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888.

A new project was submitted in 1887, based upon a survey made under the requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, for a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water and 150 feet wide from the Choptank River to the railroad wharf, and for dredging the inner harbor below the draw-bridge to 10 feet and above the bridge to 8 feet at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $17,736.60; $5,000 was appropriated by the act of August 11, 1888.

The sum of $4,828.91 was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, and the result is an available channel 12 feet deep at mean low water and 88 feet wide across the bar at the entrance from the Choptank River to a point opposite the Maryland Steamboat Company's wharf and 22 feet wide thence to the railroad wharf. This has already proved a great benefit to the commerce of the harbor. For the first time vessels drawing 114 feet of water have been able to land at the railroad wharf.

The sum of $13,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, and this amount, if appropriated, will be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the adopted 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, 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.

(See Appendix H 14.)

$5,000.00

4,828.91

171, 09

12, 736.60 13,000.00

15. Pocomoke River, Maryland.-The project for this improvement was to make a cut-off 1,100 feet in length, with a channel 80 feet wide and 7 feet deep, through a low neck of land forming four abrupt bends be low Snow Hill, Md., which rendered navigation difficult and dangerous, especially in high winds.

The project was completed in June of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. Up to the close of that year the amount expended on the project was $6,777.51, including outstanding liabilities.

No further funds are needed for this improvement at present. At the close of the last fiscal year there was a good 7-foot low-water channel to the head of navigation at Snow Hill, Md.

July 1, 1888, amount available

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

(See Appendix H 15.)

$1, 222.49

1, 222.49

16. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The wrecks of the pungy Eva Hemingway, sunk in the Choptank River, near the entrance to Cambridge Harbor, Maryland, and the schooner Two Brothers, sunk in Cambridge Harbor, were reported April 26, 1889, as obstructions to navigation.

The usual notice of 30 days to parties interested was published on May 17, 1889, and proposals for their removal were invited, the bids to be opened on July 18, 1889.

(See Appendix H 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, William F. Smith, United States agent, major of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired, 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. Prime Hook Creek, Delaware.--(See Appendix H 17.)

2. Still Pond Harbor, Maryland.-(See Appendix II 18.)

Preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer, William F. Smith, United States agent, major of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired, and reported by him as worthy of improve

ment:

1. Mahon River, Delaware.-(See Appendix II 19.)

2. Wetipkin River, Maryland.-(See Appendix H 20.)
3. South East River, Maryland.-(See Appendix H 21.)
4. Occohannock River, Virginia.-(See Appendix II 22.)
5. Nassawaddox River, Virginia.-(See Appendix H 23.)

6. Nanticoke River, from Seaford to Concord, Delaware.-(See Appendix H 24.)

7. Warwick River, Maryland.--(See Appendix II 25.) 8. La Trappe River, Maryland.-(See Appendix H 26.) 9. Tuckahoe River, Maryland.-(See Appendix II 27.) 10. Sassafras River, Maryland.--(See Appendix F 28.)

The division engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, did not concur in the opinion of Major Smith. I am not satisfied that these localities are worthy of improvement, and for this reason surveys have not been ordered.

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, W. F. Smith, United States agent, major of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired, was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received:

1. Appoquinimink Creek, Delaware.

2. Wicomico River, Maryland.

3. Chester River, between Crumpton and Jones' Landing, Maryland. 4. Onancock Harbor, Virginia.

5 Chincoteague Inlet, Virginia, for purposes of a breakwater.

6. North East River, Maryland.

7. Elk River, Maryland.

8. Harbor of Cape Charles City and approaches by Cheuton Inlet, Vir ginia. 9. Manokin River, Maryland.

IMPROVEMENT OF PATAPSCO RIVER AND CHANNEL TO BALTIMORE, MD., AND OF JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA.

Officer in charge, Col. William P. Craighill, Cerps of Engineers, until March 30, 1889, and after that date Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers. Lieut. G. J. Fiebeger, Corps of Engineers, was under the

immediate orders of the officer in charge from August 30 to November 22, 1888, and Lieut. W. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, temporarily under the immediate orders of the officer in charge from January 12 to March 29, 1889.

1. Channel to Baltimore, Maryland.-The depth of this channel has been by successive steps increased from 17 feet at mean low water to 27 feet, with an average rise of tide of about 18 inches.

The project of improvement first adopted and commenced in October, 1853, had for its object to give a channel 22 feet at mean low water with a width of 150 feet.

Little was done before the late war, but afterwards these dimensions were increased, a depth of 24 feet at mean low water being determined upon with a width of channel ranging from 250 to 400 feet.

This channel was completed in 1874, important changes of position having been given to a portion of it, by which the distance was materially lessened and the expense of maintenance decreased.

The object of the improvement was to permit the approach to Baltimore, at mean low water, of vessels drawing from 224 to 23 feet and at ordinary high water of vessels drawing 24 and 24 feet.

At the close of the last fiscal year operations were suspended from lack of funds. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $300,000, and this amount is now nearly expended, or obligation under contract entered into, and all work contemplated under that appropriation will be completed, probably, by September 1, 1889.

The channel throughout has been excavated to 27 feet at low water. The Craighill Channel below the Cut-off, the Cut-off Channel and the Brewertou above the Cut-off have been excavated to 400 feet width; the Fort McHenry Channel has a least width of 250 feet and there are considerably greater widths at the angles.

Up to June 30, 1889, the United States had expended $2,359,433.27 with the result indicated above. The city of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, chiefly the former, have also contributed to the same object more than $500,000.

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.

$4,025.49 300,000.00

304, 025.49

$155, 831.60
18,500.00
107, 290.93

281, 622.53

22, 402.96

July 1, 1889, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.

700,000.00

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 500, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix I 1.)

2. James River, Virginia.-When the improvement of the James River was regularly undertaken by the Government the navigation was obstructed by sunken vessels, by remains of military bridges, and by other obstructions put into the river during the late war to prevent the national fleets from approaching too close to Richmond.

There were also other natural obstructions. Rockett's Reef and Richmond Bar had only 7 feet of water at mean low tide. From War. wick Bar to Richmond the channel was crooked and obstructed by

ENG 89--8

dangerous rocks and ledges, the Dutch Gap Cut-off was not then open, and the river was in a poor condition as regards its availability for commercial purposes.

The original project of improvement was to secure a depth of 18 feet at full tide (corresponding to about 15 feet at low tide) to Richmond, with a channel width of 180 feet. This project had reached an advanced stage of progress when Congress, by act approved July 5, 1881, adopted the project looking to 22 feet at mean low tide from the sea to Richmond, the width to be 400 feet from the sea to City Point, 300 from thence to Drewry's Bluff, and 200 feet from thence to Richmond.

July 1, 1888, the available balance was $1,047.98. The additional sum of $225,000 was provided by the law of August 11, 1888.

At the commencement of the fiscal year all field operations had ceased on account of funds having been exhausted. As soon as money was available a survey was organized to ascertain what was most necessary and pressing to do.

The brush in places in the training dikes had settled considerably and repairs to such places were made as soon as practicable. Work was continued on the dredging at Stearn's Dike by the dredges rented from the city of Richmond after advertisements had failed to secure satisfactory bids, and upon this work there were removed during the year 7,073.4 cubic yards of sand or gravel, 21,978.6 cubic yards of disintegrated rock, and 4,806.3 cubic yards of solid rock, making a total of 33,858.3 cubic yards of material, together with 205 bowlders.

Operations were resumed in dredging over the reach from Richmond Bar, and by contract to Falling Creek, and 475,020 cubic yards of sand, mud, and gravel, 197 bowlders, and 20 logs were removed from this section.

Another contract was let, under which three old wing-dams were extended a total of 232.3 feet, seven new ones built, aggregating 999.7 feet in length, and the ends of certain others connected by 9,140.6 feet of training-dikes. The work at Goode's Rocks was again taken up, and, under contract, 421 holes, aggregating 3,061 feet in length, were drilled and blasted; 2,059.6 cubic yards of solid rock and 1,918.7 cubic yards of disintegrated rock were removed to June 30; this contract being about 66 per cent. completed.

Four deck-lighters and a combined hoister and pile driver were built under contract.

A land-slide at Dutch Gap demanded that some of the material therefrom should be removed to avoid further movement into the already restricted channel, and informal arrangements were made with the owner of a dredge then in the vicinity to undertake the work, and under this arrangement it is expected to remove about 40,000 cubic yards of material at 16 cents per cubic yard, of which 18,776.3 cubic yards had been removed up to July 1.

A freshet occurred on June 2, only exceeded in height by two freshets in forty-two years, and it is gratifying to note that no damage was done to the works.

The condition of the river at the close of the year may be stated as follows:

The available draught from the sea to City Point at high tide was 193 feet; thence to Kingsland, 18 feet; over Kingsland, 16 feet; thence to Richmond, 16 feet.

When the proposed improvement is completed an annual expenditure of $20,000 will be necessary for the maintenance of the channel. The amount that may be advantageously expended during the fiscal

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