C 3.

IMPROVEMENT OF MARTHAS VINEYARD INNER HARBOR AT EDGARTOWN, MASS.

The inner harbor at Edgartown lies in the northern part of the waterway or strait that separates Chappaquiddick Island from the east end of Marthas Vineyard. It extends southward about 1 miles from Chappaquiddick Point, opposite Edgartown, and averages about one-fifth of a mile in width.

This harbor is so completely landlocked as to form a safe harbor of refuge for small vessels, but the contracted width of the entrance and the resulting velocity of the tidal currents make it difficult to pass through. (For map of this harbor see House Ex. Doc. No. 59, of Fiftyfirst Congress, first session.)

Original condition.-At the adoption of the present project the middle-ground shoal carried only about 6 feet depth of water and was a very troublesome obstruction.

Plan of improvement.-The present approved project, that of 1889, provides for the removal to 10 feet depth at low water of a "middle ground" shoal in the central part of the inner harbor; all at a total cost estimated in 1889 of $4,500.

A description of the works may be found at p. 588, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1890, and a plan of the same in House Ex. Doc. No. 59, of the Fifty-first Congress, first session.

Appropriations.-Under the present project appropriations have been made as follows: 1890, $2,000; 1892, $2,500. Total up to June 30, 1893, $4,500.

Amount expended and results to June 30, 1892.-The total amount expended on the present project (including $11.39 outstanding liabilities) up to June 30, 1892, was $1,945.40, by which about half of the shoal had been dredged to full depth.

Operations during the past fiscal year.-Value of United States plant, $200. Including $126.54 of outstanding liabilities, the expenses of the year were $2,448.75.

During the year a project has been submitted and approved for work under the new appropriations, allowing all work to be done by hired labor and the use of the Government plant. A minor survey has been made to serve as a basis for the coming season's work. The dredging (commenced April 21, stopped May 9) has been completed as far as funds would allow; and 9,494 cubic yards of hard sand have been removed from 2,035 feet length and 33 feet width of cutting, and to a depth of at least 10.5 feet at low water, leaving about one-quarter of the original shoal still unremoved.

This work was in the local charge of Mr. J. H. Rostock as assistant engineer.

Work required to complete the existing project. The work required to complete the existing project is the excavation of the remaining quarter of the Middle Ground to a depth of 10 feet at mean low water.

The original estimates of Maj. Livermore (p. 588, Annual Report of 1890) placed the cost of work at $4,500, to be expended in one year. The funds, however, were divided between two small appropriations of $2,000 in 1890 and $2,500 in 1892. Had the whole $4,500 been available in 1890 the work would undoubtedly have been completed in 1891 and within the original estimates. Nearly half of each appropriation has had to be spent in putting the dredging plant in repair, moving it

a long distance to the place of work, and (after the field work is ended) moving the plant back to its place of storage and wharfage, and paying for its care during a year of idleness while waiting for the next appropriation. Were plant to have been hired from private parties they would have made the United States pay these expenses either directly or under the guise of rent or contract price. Actual dredging in the field in this particular case cost only about 10 cents per yard under the last appropriation for hard-sand excavation and dumpage; but the rest of the funds have been eaten up by the other matters above alluded to, which would all have been avoided had the total of appropriations been made by Congress in a single lump sum.

In order to complete the unfinished work it will cost about $300 for office work of the next two years; about $1,000 to store, repair, move, and return plant, and about $1,200 to do the remaining dredging, making a total of $2,500 in addition to the small balance still remaining on hand.

Operations contemplated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.-It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and further appropriations to the completion of the project.

Edgartown is in the Edgartown collection district and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the last calendar year was $383.98; the nearest light-house is the Edgartown Light; the nearest fortification is the fort at Clark Point, New Bedford, Mass.

Money statement.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended .......
Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year....

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1893, balance available.......

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

$65.99 2,500.00

2,565.99

2,333. 60

-232.39

126.54

105.85

2,500.00

2,500.00

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

The commerce arriving and leaving Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard, by water during calendar year ending December 31, 1892, is estimated as follows (based mainly upon reports received from Mr. C. H. Marchant, collector of customs, Edgartown, Mass.):

MIDDLE GROUND SHOAL

Gain over last year, about 4,000 tons, or $160,000; transportation lines established during the year, none.

The passage of vessels through this waterway is estimated as follows (each entrance and departure together being counted as one passage):

IMPROVEMENT OF VINEYARD HAVEN HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS.

Vineyard Haven is a deep indentation in the northern shore of the island of Marthas Vineyard, on the southern side of Vineyard Sound. It is triangular in form and faces the northeast. The width of the mouth of the harbor, or the distance between the points of land on the east and west sides of the entrance known as East Chop and West Chop, is about 14 miles; and from a line connecting the chops to the narrow southerly end of the harbor, at which is situated the town of Vineyard Haven, the distance is about 13 miles. The entire area of the harbor between the shore lines is about 949 acres, of which some 657 acres have a depth of not less than 15 feet. The mean rise and fall of the tide is 1.7 feet.

Original condition.-At the mouth of the harbor the wearing away of the chops by the action of the waves in storms had been noted for many years. The former site of a light-house on West Chop had entirely disappeared. The débris was carried by the current into the harbor, where it formed shoals, which were gradually impairing the anchorage capacity, especially in the upper part or the harbor. (For map of harbor see p. 580 of Annual Report of 1887.)

Plan of improvement.-The present approved project, that of 1887, as modified in 1889, provides for the protection of the "chops" (or headlands) from erosion, and the intervening harbor from being filled by the eroded material; the whole to be done by means of stone sea walls and jetties, to be built along the beach in front of the bluffs at both headlands, all at a total cost estimated in 1882 at $60,000.

A description of the work may be found at p. 594, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, p. 577 of 1887, and p. 612 of 1889.

Appropriations.-Upon the present project appropriations have been made as follows: 1888, $25,000; 1890, $10,000; 1892, $7,500. Total up to June 30, 1893, $42,500.

Amount expended and results to June 30, 1892.-The total amount expended on the present project (including $44.69 outstanding liabilities) up to June 30, 1892, was $34,948.72, by which there had been built a sea wall of 450 feet length, and a jetty of 50 feet length, at the East Chop; and a sea wall of 400 feet length, 3 jetties of from 80 to 296 feet length, a wharf, and a short breakwater of 60 feet length, at the West Chop; completing about half the needed work.