G.-Abstracts of contracts made for dredging in Portland Harbor, Maine. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. C., April 3, 1869. GENERAL: Your letter of March 27, in response to letter from this office of the 24th, in reference to the improvement of the harbor of Portland by dredging, has been received. As to the manner in which this work should be done, viz., by contract, or by purchase of machinery, employing hired labor, it has been determined, in view of all the circumstances attending this question, that it would be more advantageous to have the dredging done by contract, provided reasonable prices be offered. There being at present no appropriation available for similar works of improvement within your district, the whole cost of the necessary machinery and apparatus must be paid out of the appropriation for Portland Harbor, and since the amount of the appropriation remaining after the purchase money (including the right to use the machinery) has been paid, is limited, and as there is not much prospect of any money being appropriated for these other works, it is the opinion of the Chief of Engineers that the public interest will be best subserved by advertising anew for proposals, to open a channel of the required depth through the "middle ground" or bar. In your letter of June 30, 1868, you submit two estimates of probable cost of this work, for a channel three hundred feet wide, one with a depth of nineteen feet at mean low water, and the other of twenty feet. These estimates of cost were based upon the rate of forty cents per cubic yard. It is suggested, on account of the increased cost per yard, that in advertising for proposals separate bids will be received for the two depths, nineteen feet, and twenty feet, and that the width of the channel is to be determined by the engineer in charge as the work progresses, to be not less than one hundred and seventy feet, and not more than three hundred feet. By command of Brigadier General Humphreys. JNO, G. PARKE, Maj. of Engineers, Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. S. A. Bvt. Brig. Gen. GEORGE THOM, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Portland III.-Report on the improvement of Kennebec River, between Shepard's Point and Augusta, Maine, for the year ending June, 30, 1869, by Brevet Brigadier General George Thom, lieutenant colonel Corps of Engineers. The plan now in progress for the improvement of the navigation of this river consists in straightening and deepening its channel by dredg ing through the several shoals, and the removal of rocks which obstruct it between Gardiner and Augusta, Maine. This channel was completed on the 29th of September, through Hallowell's Shoal and Shepard's Point Shoal, having a width on its bottom of seventy-five feet and a depth of seven feet at low tide, or twelve feet at high tide, in the lowest stages of the river. A contract was made with Mr. Augustus B. Wright, of Geneva, New York, on the 29th of January, 1868, for dredging a new channel in the river through Britt's Shoal and Gage's Shoal, between Hallowell and Augusta, Maine. This channel is to be seventy-five feet wide on its bottom, with a depth of six and a half feet at low tide in the lowest stage of the river. Under this contract twenty-two thousand and thirty-nine cubic yards have been excavated at Britt's Shoal, leaving about twentythree thousand cubic yards additional to be done for its completion. The channel through Britt's Shoal will probably be completed before the 1st of October, 1869, and that through Gage's Shoal, more than half completed this season, whereby the funds will become exhausted or nearly so. About thirty boulders (many of them weighing from three to five tons) have also been removed from the river at Shepard's Point, Hallowell and Britt's Shoals. The appropriations already made for this work are as follows, viz: By act of Congress approved June 23, 1866.... By act of Congress approved March 2, 1867. Total The available balance of these appropriations on the 1st of $20,000 00 30, 000 00 50, 000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, (including outstanding liabilities.) $36,570 48 33, 420 73 Amount available July 1, 1869. Amount allotted to this work from the appropriation for the improvement of rivers and harbors for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, (approved April 10, 1869.) . . 3,149 75 15,000 00 Total amount available July 1, 1869... 18, 149 75 This amount will be sufficient to complete the channel through Britt's Shoal and partially through Gage's Shoal for a width of seventy-five feet. But in order to render this channel safely navigable for the large side-wheel steamers which run on the river below, it is very important, in my opinion, that its width be increased to not less than one hundred feet. To effect this and the dredging required at Hinkley's Shoal, (between Gardiner and Hallowell,) together with the completion of the channel through Gage's Shoal, will require an additional appropriation *On the 11th of September, 1869, the channel through Britt's Shoal was nearly completed, and 5,590 cubic yards had to be excavated at Gage's Shoal. of $22,500 which amount can be profitably expended upon the work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. The character of the bed of the river is such that it is not probable that any material change will occur to the detriment of its channel when once properly dredged. The following information called for by the acts of Congress making appropriations for this work is supplied, viz: The works of improvement are located in the collection district of Bath, Maine. Bath is the only port of entry in this collection district, and is situated on the right bank of Kennebec River, about thirty miles below Hallowell. Fort Popham is at the mouth of Kennebec River, about fortyfive miles below Augusta, Seguin and Pond Island light-houses are near the mouth of the river. The United States Kenebec Arsenal is located at Augusta, Maine. The amount of revenue collected at Bath, (the port of entry,) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, is $23,897 10. From statements furnished the United States collector of customs at Bath, it appears that, during the year ending the 30th of June, 1869, the number of vessels of all classes, including steamboats, &c., to and from Gardiner, is estimated as follows, viz: Number of arrivals at that port, (Gardiner).. Number of departures at that port, (Gardiner). Total..... 650 650 1,300 That of this estimated number probably one quarter of them go up to Hallowell or Augusta to discharge and receive freight; and, if the depth of the river would admit of it, a much larger proportion would go above there than now go. The number of arrivals the ensuing year will be very much larger, owing to the increase of the ice business located between this place and Hallowell. This business alone this year will give employment to over three hundred vessels of large carrying capacity, to freight away what ice was stored in the houses at Farmingdale and Pittston, last winter, and quite a large portion of this increase of navigation has to go up the rive rwhere government improvements are now being made. Hallowell and Augusta are largely engaged in various kinds of manufactures. At Augusta, lumber constitutes a large item, which has to be floated down in rafts to this city (Gardiner) to reach vessels that cannot go up the river for want of depth of water. This is but one item out of many which the manufacturers of the towns wish to export to market by water, during the navigable season of the year. The work now going on by the government to improve the river channel to Hallowell and Augusta gives the people of these cities faith that they are soon to be opened to a full and complete water communication to the open sea, and hence they feel that the expenditures now being made will result in great benefit to all. Accompanying this (see Appendix) is a letter from some of the leading practical men of Augusta, Maine, giving their views, also, as to the extent in which the commerce and navigation on this river would be benefited by the completion of the improvements as now proposed. GEO. THOM, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. A. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Portland, Maine, July 1, 1869. AUGUSTA, July 19, 1869. You ask for information as to the importance and value of the improvements of the navigation of the Kennebec river now in progress. The undersigned, citizens of Augusta, respectfully bear testimony to the public value of this work, now in progress, and emphatically urge its speedy completion. The navigation of the Kennebec, from Gardiner to the head of tide-water at Augusta, vitally concerns two of the most valuable and prosperous counties of the State, containing about sixty towns and a population of nearly one hundred thousand. Augusta centralizes a valuable section of country, and has the elements of large future prosperity and wealth. It has an immense water-power, which has recently passed to the ownership of one of the leading manufacturing houses of the country. The amount of machinery now in use, or soon to be brought into operation, will require a large use of water-carriage to and from Portland, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other ports. The rapidly increasing use of coal for the various State and United States establishments located in Augusta, for the largely increasing manufactories and for domestic uses, demands water transportation. There are in operation extensive mills for the manufacture of lumber, which is shipped to different Atlantic ports. The aggregate amount of this lumber is very large. The heavy and bulky agricultural products of the rich and extensive country above and adjacent to Augusta, find the cheapest transportation to the market by water. Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner have resources and advantages which cannot fail, at no distant day, to give them a population of fifty or sixty thousand. The removal of the obstructions to the navigation of the river above Gardiner having progressed so far, the undersigned cannot doubt that the work will be continued to a final completion. Not to finish the work, which has already excited high hopes, would be a grave disappointment to a large number of people and prove detrimental to extensive and valuable business interests. Yours, respectfully, SAMUEL TITCOMB, Mayor. JAMES W. NORTH, Ex-Mayor. JOSEPH W. PATTERSON, Ex-Mayor. J. P. WYMAN & SON. C. & E. MILLIKEN. D. WILLIAMS, Ex-Mayor. A. & W. SPRAGUE, Manufacturing Company. H. A. DE WITT, Agent. WM. F. JOHNSON, Ex-Mayor. JAS. W. BRADBURY, Ex-U. S. Senator. J. A. BICKNELL, Postmaster. See Long's Survey and Chart of Kennebec River, in Senate Document of United States, No. 114, twenty-fifth Congress, 2d session, 1837 and 1838. Hon. E. S. J. NEALLY, JOHN L. STEVENS. Collector of Bath. IV.-Report on the improvement of the navigation of the Saint Croix river, above the "ledge," for the year ending June 30, 1869, by Brevet Brigadier General Geo. Thom, lieutenant colonel Corps of Engineers. By an act of Congress, approved March 2, 1867, the sum of $15,000 was appropriated for the improvement of this river: "Provided, The province of New Brunswick shall contribute and pay, to the proper dis. bursing officer, a like sum for said purpose; said payment being made on condition that in no event shall the province of New Brunswick be called upon for more than one-half the sum actually expended for said purpose." As the co-operation of the province is yet to be obtained in this matter, operations have not been commenced. The improvement of its navigation requires its channel to be deepened by the removal of slabs, edgings, and sawdust, which, for thirty years and more, have been accumulating in large quantities from the numerous saw-mills above and near Calais. For an accurate estimate of the "amount that is required for the entire and permanent completion" of this improvement a careful survey will be necessary. An examination, made by me, showed that to open a channel one hundred feet wide, and ten feet deep at low water, would require the removal of not less than one hundred thousand cubic yards of slabs, edgings, and sawdust, which, at ninety cents per cubic yard, would amount to..... $90, 000 00 Adding 10 per cent. for contingencies.. 9, 000 00 Total.... Deducting one-half, if paid by the province of New Brunswick 99, 000 00 49, 500 00 Amount appropriated by act of Congress, approved March 2, 1867... Additional amount required. (say).. Which amount could be profitably expended on the work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. The following information is supplied, in compliance with the requirements of the act of Congress making an appropriation for this work, viz: The contemplated improvements of the "Saint Croix River, above the ledge," are within the collection district of Passamaquoddy, and near the custom-house in Calais. There is no United States light-house now in use near this place, the nearest being in the vicinity of Eastport, Maine, about thirty miles below. There is no fort in the immediate vicinity, Fort Sullivan, also at Eastport, being the nearest. The amount of duties collected at the custom-house in Calais for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, was $27,219 91. The amount of commerce and navigation that would be benefited by these improvements consists of about one thousand vessels, (probably averaging about one hundred tons each,) which arrive at this port annually, being principally engaged in the coasting trade. Hereto is appended a statement, by the deputy collector, showing the amount of "exports and imports at this port during the year ending |