A modified project of 1884 for the expenditure of the funds then available, as continued to date, proposed to widen and deepen Harlowe Creek so as to secure a through canal of 5 feet depth at mean low water, and of 30 feet bottom width from the mouth of Harlowe Creek upwards 3.25 miles to its head, and to use the remaining funds upon similar works upon Clubfoot River. The total final cost of this latter project (including also the continuation of the same work through the canal) was estimated in 1886 at $92,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $6,812.45 had been spent in all upon this improvement, on necessary surveys, in the removal of the worst logs and stumps in the existing channel, and in dredging the creek to 30 feet width and 5 feet depth at low water over a length of 873 feet, and to a width and depth through the entire creek sufficient to allow the passage of small sail-boats. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $17,430, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in opening a channel of 30 feet width and 5 feet depth at low water through 13,000 feet length of the worst portions of Harlowe Creek, securing a far better navigation through Harlowe Creek than exists through the New Berne and Beaufort Canal, to which it leads. Further work is postponed to await action on the part of the owners of the canal as to its cession or sale. After the proposed channel is opened its proper maintenance may cost from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The aggregate amount appropiated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $35,000. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts 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... $13, 187.55 15,000,00 28, 187.55 $15, 365.84 2,064. 16 18, 674.63 9,512.92 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M 6.) 57,000.00 7. Harbor at Beaufort, North Carolina.-This harbor, at the eastern terminus of the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, is the only harbor of any importance between Chesapeake Bay and Wilmington, N. C., a distance of over 300 miles. When placed under improvement in 1880 it possessed a bar entrance of 15.3 feet least depth at mean low water, with an average rise and fall of tide of 8 feet. At this time, however, the northern entrance was rapidly deteriorating; its width, measured from Fort Macon Point to Shackleford Point, having increased 500 feet between the years 1864 and 1880, and 900 feet more between the years 1880 and 1881, and its bar having rapidly and proportionally shoaled. From the bar the harbor possessed a channel of 25 feet depth upwards for 3.7 miles to the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad Wharf at Morehead City, and a Eranch channel of 9 feet depth for six-tenths of a mile up to Bulkhead Channel, and of 2 feet minimum depth for six-tenths of a mile further to the wharves of Beaufort City, where coasting vessels had a good wharfage of 7 feet depth and 1,800 feet length. The project of 1881, 1882, and 1884, as continued to date, proposed to secure this harbor by stopping further erosion of the sand-banks at Shackleford Point and Fort Macon Point, and thus stopping further deterioration of the bar entrance, and proposed to open a 5-foot channel 100 feet wide to Beaufort City. The total final cost of this work was estimated in 1887 at $163,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $88,869.48 had been spent in all upon this improvement, in successfully stopping the erosion of Shackleford Point and Fort Macon Point, in probably arresting the shoaling upon this bar, and in making surveys of the condition of the harbor entrance preparatory to the definite location of work. No special improvement of commerce nor depth of water was thereby expected or obtained, but the retrograde movement has been in general arrested, the old shorelines have commenced to reform as desired, and the former good condition of the harbor is being rapidly re-established. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $13,103.14, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in strengthening existing jetties, and building catch-sand fences at Shackleford Point, and in cutting a channel of from 30 to 50 feet width and 5 feet depth at low water through the shoal in front of Beaufort City and allowing boats of 8 feet draught to reach the city wharves. Work was stopped during a part of the year for want of funds. Such money as is now on hand will be used up before new appropriations can become available. This improvement, once thoroughly finished, should be comparatively permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $125,000. 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... $1,130.52 35,000.00 36, 130.52 $9,388.51 25, 013. 82 11, 116.70 July 1, 1889, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix M 7.) 38,000.00 38,000.00 8. Inland water-way between Beaufort Harbor and New River, North Carolina.-When placed under improvement in 1886 there was a channel 18 inches deep at low water from Beaufort to the town of Swansborough, on White Oak River; thence a 3-foot depth at mid-tide 6 miles further to Bear Inlet and Creek; thence a 6-inch depth at low water 11 miles further to New River, whence boats of 5 feet draught could proceed 14 miles further to the town of Jacksonville. The original project of 1885, as continued to date, recommended the establishment of a channel of at least 3 feet depth at low water from Beaufort to Swansborough. The total final cost of this work was estimated in 1887 at $50,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $6,676.51 had been spent upon this improvement in securing a channel-way of at least 40 feet width and of 3 feet depth at low water across the worst shoal between Beaufort Harbor and Swansborough. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $7,918.55, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in cutting a channel of 40 feet width and at least 3 feet depth at low water across the second and third worst shoals, thus allowing steam-boats of 3 feet draught to pass daily over the entire route. Work was stopped in April, 1889, for want of funds. This improvement, once thoroughly finished, should be comparatively permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $15,000. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1883. $3,323. 49 5,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. 8,323.49 $7,910. 22 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. 8.33 7,918.55 July 1, 1889, balance available..... 404.94 35,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix M 8.) 9. New River, North Carolina.-When placed under improvement in 1882, this river had very poor facilities for transporting goods to market. Its outlet to the ocean was blocked by an oyster-rock barricade, through which there existed only a long and very crooked channel of 50 feet width and 3 feet depth at low water. The original project, as continued to date, proposed to secure a 150foot channel, 5 feet deep at low water, from the upper river to the ocean, by dredging. The total final cost of this work was estimated in 1885 at $40,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $18,183.41 had been spent in all upon this improvement, in replacing the long and crooked channel by a shorter and straighter channel of at least 40 feet bottom width and 3.5 feet depth at low water. The new channel is already in daily use by the craft entering New River from the ocean, and is steadily deepening under the scour of the river and tidal currents. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $349.08, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in office work and in vainly endeavoring to find a contractor willing to enter this river to do the amount of dredging allowed by the existing available funds. This improvement, once thoroughly completed, should be comparatively permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1883, is $23,000. 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, 1883.. July 1, 1889, balance available. $1,816.59 3,000.00 4,816.59 349.08 4, 467.51 $17, C00.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix M 9.) 10. Black River, North Carolina.-When placed under improvement in 1886, this river had a moderately well cleared channel from its mouth (in the Cape Fear River, 14 miles above Wilmington) 22 miles upwards to Point Caswell, with 2.5 feet depth at low water and 4 feet depth at high tide, thence a roughly cleared navigation 48 miles further to near Lisbon, with 2.5 feet depth during nine months per year and with 6 feet depth during six months per year. The original project of 1885, as continued to date, proposed to secure a fairly cleared natural channel over the entire river from its mouth up 70 miles to near Lisbon, then a 4-foot channel below Point Caswell, and then an improved channel through the Narrows. The total final cost of this work was estimatad in 1885 at $33,500. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $2,267.31 had been spent upon this improvement in the removal of the worst obstructions over the entire river. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $109.93, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in office and minor work; no field-work being advantageously possible with the small amount of funds available. After this improvement is finished its proper maintenance may cost from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $3,000. July 1, 1888, amount available $732.69 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... 109.93 July 1, 1889, balance available.................. 622.76 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix M 10.) 30, 500.00 10,000.00 11. Cape Fear River, North Carolina.-Above Wilmington.-When placed under improvement in 1881, the Cape Fear River above Wilming ton was navigable during the nine months of the year from Wilmington 112 miles upwards to Fayetteville, but the channel for the upper 75 miles was badly obstructed by logs, snags, overhanging trees, and shoals, and for the upper 66 miles it was full of shoals on which there was not more than 12 to 14 inches of water during the low-water sea son. At that time the navigation was owned by private parties. The original project of 1881-82, as continued to date, proposed to buy out the private owners of the river for $10,000, then to clear out its natural obstructions and to further provide a continuous channel over its upper 66 miles by dredging and by artificially contracting its waterways through at least thirty-two shoals. The total cost of this work was estimated in 1885 at $480,000 for a 3-foot actual channel depth up to Fayetteville during eleven or twelve months of the year. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $73,887.02 had been spent in all upon this improvement, giving a moderately well cleared channel over the whole length of the river, a moderately good 4-foot continuance channel during the entire year from Wilmington, 44 miles, to Kelly's Cove; thence a similar 2-foot channel 26 miles further to Elizabethtown, and thence a similar 1-foot channel 42 miles further to Fayetteville, increased to 5-foot draught from Wilmington to Fayetteville during seven months of the year. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $9,469.69, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in maintaining the existing channel, in completing surveys of shoals above Elizabethtown, and in quarrying rock to be used during the coming-low water season at the five worst remaining shoals of the river. Work was stopped during a part of the year for want of funds. After this improvement is completed, its proper maintenance may cost from $1,000 to $3,000 per year. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $88,250. July 1, 1888, amount available.... $2,397.38 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. 12,000.00 14,397.38 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities. $8, 192. 26 9,469.69 4,927.69 188,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available....... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix M 11.) 12. Cape Fear River, North Carolina.-At and below Wilmington.When placed under improvement in 1829 the Cape Fear River below Wilmington had three bar entrances with least depths as follows: About 9 feet at the Baldhead Channel, 9 feet at the Rip Channel, and 10 feet at New Inlet Channel, these bars being, respectively, 9, 6, and 2 miles below the point which was then the head of the river's delta. From the head of this delta 20 miles up to Wilmington there were several shoals with a least depth of 7.5 feet at low water. The original projects of 1827 to 1847 proposed to improve the upper 20 miles by dredging and by jetty contraction of the channel. Two hundred and three thousand two hundred and four dollars and fiftynine cents was spent during this time in increasing the depth upon the shoals to 9.5 feet at low water, equal to that at the bar entrances. At or about this time the shore at Fort Caswell, opposite Baldhead Point, was protected by stone jetties, under an appropriation for the preservation of fortifications. The projects of 1852 to 1857 proposed to deepen the water at the main entrance by jetties at Baldhead Point and by jetty and dike obstructions between Zeke's Island and Smith's Island, near New Inlet, and suggested the possible future necessity of closing New Inlet. One hun dred and fifty-six thousand two hundred and ninety-six dollars and twenty-six cents was spent during this time upon these works, never fully completed for want of funds. The project of 1870 proposed a crib closure of the space (4,403 feet long) between Smith's and Zeke's islands (finished in 1873) to prevent further widening of New Inlet. The projects of 1870 to 1872 proposed the complete closure of New Inlet (begun in 1875 and finished in 1881) |