2. Moose-a-bec Bar, Maine.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, and modified in 1888, the object being to give a direct channel 300 feet wide, and a depth of 14 feet at mean low water over the bar, and to remove ledges near and in the channel to a depth of 16 feet. The entire amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $31,841.77. The dredged channel was made 200 feet wide in 1885. To complete the present project there remains the widening of channel to 300 feet, and removal of ledges. Under the appropriation of August 11, 1888, a contract has been let to widen the channel by dredging. During the last fiscal year there has been expended $791.87. Fifty cubic yards of rock were removed from Steamboat Ledge, but no benefit will result until its entire removal is completed. The appropriation asked is to be applied to the removal of ledges and completing small jetty to check the currents. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing con tracts. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $8, 158. 23 15,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 2.) 95,000.00 25,000.00 3. Narraguagus River, Maine.-The obstruction to navigation consisted in a bar extending from the anchorage known as "Deep Hole," near Fickett's Point, to deep water, the shoalest part having only 4 feet at extreme low water, and only 5 feet at mean low water. The project for improvement adopted in 1886 consists in dredging a channel 11 feet deep at low water to the steam-boat landing at Loug Point, and thence 9 feet deep to the deep hole, or anchorage; the width of the channel to be 200 feet throughout, except in the reach by the steam-boat wharf, where it is to be increased to 300 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $10,000. As a result a channel 11 feet deep was dredged to the lower steam-boat wharf, a distance of 5,000 feet, of which 3,500 feet was 50 feet wide, and the remaining distance 75 feet wide. The lower wharf can now be reached at all ordinary low stages; but this is of little value, as steamers must wait for high water before they can turn around to return. During the last fiscal year no work has been carried on. Under the appropriation of August 11, 1888, a contract has been let to continue the dredging in the channel. The contractor is required to commence work early in July, and to complete it on or before December 31, 1889. The appropriation asked is to be expended in completing the project. The improvement being at a point distant from commercial centers, and the amount for its completion being small, the sum should be provided in a single appropriation. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $10,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. $259.58 9,000.00 9, 259.58 740.42 30,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix A 3.) 15,000.00 4. Breakwater from Mount Desert to Porcupine Island, Maine.—The anchorage and landing at Bar Harbor is entirely exposed to storms and seas setting in from southerly directions. Under requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, an examination of the harbor was made, and a report, with plan and estimate for a breakwater from Mount Desert to Porcupine Island, was submitted by the engineer officer in charge. (Page 483. Report of Chief of Engineers, 1887.) Congress having appropriated $50,000 for commencing the work, the plan submitted has been adopted. A contract has been entered into for the delivery of stone in the breakwater. The contractors have been making active preparations for carrying on the work, opening a quarry and obtaining vessels. The delivery of stone will be commenced in July and will be continued under the contract as far as available funds permit. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $50,000,00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $992.84 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts... 45,000.00 45, 992. 84 July 1, 1889, balance available 4,007. 16 750,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A 4.) 5. Bagaduce River, Maine.-The river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, required an examination or survey of the Bagaduce River, Maine. A report, with estimate of cost of works considered necessary, was submitted by the engineer officer in charge, February 2, 1888. (See Report of Chief of Engineers for 1888, page 401.) The project adopted for the improvement consists of deepening the channel to give a width of 100 feet and a low-water depth of 6 feet from South Penobscot to Bridge's Point. This includes dredging and removing rocks. The project also includes removing a small amount of rock in Johnson's Narrows. By act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $3,000 for the improvement. As this small sum could not be judiciously expended in a way to accomplish any beneficial, result, work on the improvement has been suspended to await the further appropriations. An expenditure of $100 from the appropriation has been incurred in the necessary office work, preparing plans, estimates, etc. To effect any valuable improvement of the channel all the rock must be first removed; but little result can come from the removal of a portion only. The estimate of $24,427.90 for removing all the rock will probably not cover the expense if it can not be done under one contract. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..... $3,000,00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... 100.00 2,900.00 July 1, 1889, balance available.. 43,875.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 5.) 6. Penobscot River, Maine.-Bangor to Crosby's Narrows.-The present project for this improvement consists in widening the channel to 300 feet by dredging opposite Bangor to a depth of 11 feet at extreme low water; also to widen the channel and remove obstructions in Crosby's Narrows. The estimated cost of the entire improvement was $75,000. The former channel at Bangor was too narrow to accommodate the numerous vessels, in connection with the lumber rafts, which often require much space. There was expended upon the work to June 30, 1888, the sum of $24,795.07. The result was the required increase of width for more than half a mile, and a partial widening for most of the remaining distance required opposite Bangor. Work under the contract mentioned in last annual report was com. pleted September 24, 1888. The amount expended during the year has been $10,144.76. This has resulted in completing the widening of channel at Bangor as heretofore planned. A contract has been completed for expenditure of funds now available in widening the channel by dredging at Crosby's Narrows. Under the requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, a preliminary examination and survey were made of the Penobscot River, from Bangor to Bucksport, Me. A report of the results of the survey was transmitted to Congress February 8, 1888. (See Report of Chief of Engineers for 1888, pages 425 to 431). The officer in charge estimates the cost of the improvement at $365,000. The act of August 11, 1888, having apportioned a portion of the appropriation to this part of the river improvement, plans have been completed and advertisements issued inviting proposals for dredging to deepen the channel. If suitable prices are obtained the work will be done by contract during the ensuing year. The amount of $821.73 expended during the fiscal year has been for making a complete examination of the character of the material in the channel, and for the necessary preparatory work in office. The appropriation for year ending June 30, 1891, will be expended in completing the work at Crosby's Narrows, and in continuing the improvement between Bucksport and Winterport. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts.. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $10, 204.93 50,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts 60, 204.93 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... $10, 966. 49 18,000.00 28, 966. 49 31, 238. 44 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix A 6.) 355, 000, 00 50,000.00 7. Belfast Harbor, Maine.-The harbor was originally shallow along the wharf-fronts east side, so that vessels could only land on high stages of water. A project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1876, the object being to enable vessels drawing 10 to 12 feet of water to reach the wharves at all stages of the tide. Up to June 30, 1887, there had been expended the sum of $22,213.84. The west side of the harbor has been improved so that there is 10 feet at mean low water in the upper part and 11 to 12 feet in the lower part. In January, 1888, a special examination was made of the harbor, and the report dated February 2, 1888, recommended that the area of the harbor be increased by dredging on the northeast side. (See Report Chief of Engineers, 1888, pages 381 and 382.) The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, required an examination or survey of the harbor. A report of a preliminary examination was submitted by the officer in charge. The harbor having been reported worthy of improvement, he has been directed to make a survey of the harbor and to submit a plan of improvement with estimate of cost. The survey will be made during the ensuing summer. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 1889, balance available... (See Appendix A 7.) $2,786. 16 2,786.16 8. Camden Harbor, Maine.-Under the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, an examination and survey were made of Camden Harbor. The preliminary report and report of survey are included in Report of Chief of Engineers for 1888, pages 403 to 407. The harbor is so shoal that at mean low water vessels drawing more than 6 feet can not reach the wharves. The following is the project adopted for its improvement: First. Dredging approaches to depth of 12 feet. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, having appropriated $5,000 for commencing the improvement, plans have been perfected and a contract has been made for dreding as far as funds permit. The expenditures during the fiscal year have been $94.86. It is proposed to spend the funds available, and for which estimates. are submitted, in carrying on the improvement in the order named. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $5,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $94.86 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts 4,500.00 4, 594.86 405. 14 July 1, 1889, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 8.) 54, 930. 00 12,000.00 9. Rockport Harbor, Maine.-This harbor is upon the west side of Penobscot Bay, about 6 miles north of Rockland. The upper portion of the harbor is shallow, so that vessels of any size can not reach the upper wharves save in high stages of the tide. In the winter the harbor is much obstructed by ice. The project for improving the harbor consists in dredging the upper part to a depth of 12 feet at mean low water. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888 appropriated $10,000 for the work. Plans have therefore been perfected and a contract has been let for dredging as far as funds permit. The original estimate for the entire improvement was but $14,000, and was based upon the presumption that it could be done in a single season under one appropriation. As prices for such work are greatly increased when work is done in small amounts it is not probable that the project can be completed without exceeding the original estimated cost, which is therefore amended. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. $10,000.00 $178.68 9,000.00 9, 178.68 821.32 5,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix A 9.) 5,000.00 10. Rockland Harbor, Maine.-The project for improving this harbor adopted in 1881, consists in the construction of two breakwaters to protect the shipping in the harbor and to make it a harbor of refuge. The harbor was open to all easterly winds and seas, and the breakwaters, when completed, will afford still water and good anchorage. There had been expended on the improvement to June 30, 1888, the sum of $120,316.40. As a result, the breakwater from Jameson's Point had been completed its full length of 1,900 feet from high-water mark on shore, and to a height of 5 feet above mean low water. It has been found necessary to raise the top to mean high-water level, and this work has been commenced at the outer extremity. During the year ending June 30, 1889, there has been expended the sum of $12,129.37. As a result, 13,599 tons of stone have been placed upon the breakwater. The distance from outer end, completed to full dimensions, is 642 feet. |