I have also the honor to report the points called for in circular No. 11 of the engineer department, series 1867, as follows, viz: 1st. The plan adopted for the works of preservation and improvement, under my charge in this harbor, is substantially that of the Boston harbor commissioners, which has met the general approval of the Chief of Engineers. The items of this plan are as follows, viz: For the improvement of the channel across the upper middle bar, For the improvement of the channel at the Narrows, by dredging For the preservation of the north head of Long island, by the con- For the preservation of the north end of Gallup's island, by the $157,085 00 188, 805 00 20,000 00 150, 000 00 103, 585 63 70,991 87 2d. The amounts that are required for the entire and permanent completion of each work of preservation and improvement under my charge is given in the previous paragraph, No 1, with the exception of the removal of Tower Rock and Corwin Rock, the cost of which will be $44,000. 3d. The amount that can be profitably expended upon each work during the next fiscal year is as follows, viz: For the preservation of the north head of Long island For the preservation of Gallup's island....... For the preservation of Point Allerton For dredging the southwest point of Lovell's island and the ex tremity of the Great Brewster spit.. For dredging the upper middle bar For blasting Corwin Rock.... $75, 000 00 54, 000 00 21, 000 00 130, 000 00 Total for the preservation and improvement of Boston harbor for the year ending June 30, 1869.... 110, 000 00 24,000 00 414, 000 00 4th. The above works are located in the collection district of Boston and Charlestown. 5th. The above works are located at the port of Boston, Massachusetts. The improvements at the Narrows are near Fort Warren. Those at the upper middle bar are near Fort Independence; those at Point Allerton, near Boston light, and those on Long island at Long Island light. 6th. The amount of revenue collected at the port of Boston for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, and as communicated to me by the collector, Judge Thomas Russell, as follows, viz: For customs in gold Total revenue.. ... $17, 344, 830 53 202, 084 98 17, 546, 915 51 7th. By information received from the collector of this port, I am enabled to report, in regard to this item, that the number of vessels that will probably be benefited in some degree by the widening of the channel will be about 24,000, which is the aggregate number of vessels estimated to enter and leave this harbor annually by the channel through the Narrows. The amount of tonnage during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1867, was as follows: Tonnage entered from foreign ports Total tonnage entered and cleared...... 731, 930 956, 133 689,822 1, 243, 366 3, 621, 251 This amount of tonnage will no doubt be benefited, more or less, by the widening of the channel. The deepening of the channel to twenty-three feet will, the collector thinks, benefit about 3,000 vessels of an aggregate tonnage of about 1,000,000 tons.' The amount of commerce to be benefited by the proposed improvement it is difficult to estimate, as no approximation can be made of the amount of the coasting trade. The imports and exports, however, are accessible, and amounted during the last fiscal year to the following: 8th. The work being on June 30 at its commencement, no proposal or contracts had at that time been made. Respectfully submitted: J. G. FOSTER, But. Maj. Gen. U. S. A., Lieut. Col. Engineers. Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C. Q. 1. ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 11, 1867. SIR: I respectfully return herewith the letter of Hon. T. D. Eliot, acting chairman of the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives, of the 29th ultimo, with enclosed papers relative to the improvement of Boston harbor, referred to this department for report, and beg leave to submit the following remarks in relation thereto. The preservation of certain of the islands and headlands in Boston bay is essential to the maintenance of the existing channels. So important is this considered in connection with existing and proposed permanent fortifications for the defence of the city of Boston, that the construction of sea-walls for the preservation of Deer and Lovell's and Great Brewster islands has been carried on for some time past under regular appropriations. Estimates for the completion of these walls, amounting to $25,000 for each, are submitted in the last annual report from this office, excepting for that of Deer island, the report upon which did not reach this office in time to be included, but is now presented. The debris from these islands form shoals that are advancing regularly into the channels, have already obstructed them, and threaten to make still more serious changes. The growth of these shoals or spits should be arrested and portions of them removed by dredging. In addition to the islands named, works for the preservation of the north head of Long island and of Gallup's island should be at once commenced as part of the system of defence, as well as for the interests of commerce, as the debris of these islands form shoals that threaten to obstruct seriously the main channels. With reference to the other headlands named in the petition, that of Point Allerton is of the first importance in the interests of navigation, and should be preserved in the manner indicated in the papers accompanying the petition. Of the same general character but of less importance is the preservation of Nantasket bluff. Respecting the south head of Long island, Moore island, and Winthrop's head, I am not prepared to report. Their preservation would prevent the deterioration of subordinate channels, convenient to local and perhaps other trade, but the closure or material shoaling of these channels would aid the defence, and if that shoaling or the process causing it should not in any way impair the main channels, I am not satisfied that the deterioration should be arrested. The question is one that will require careful investigation. The removal of Tower Rock and Corwin Rock, which stand on the sailing line in mid-channel, and the dredging of Great Brewster and Lovell's Island spits, are works of the first importance in rendering the navigation of the main channels leading to Boston harbor secure and commodious. The removal of the upper middle bar, though not so imperatively required for the safety of navigation, would yet be of great advantage to it. There are certain considerations, however, (which may be presented fully at some other time,) as well as those of economy, which may restrict the removal of Lovell's Island spit and the upper middle bar within the limits of the project of the Harbor Commission, (which proposes a channel one thousand feet wide at the upper middle bar, and 685 feet wide at Lovell's island, dimensions well adapted to the great commerce of Boston.) A portion of the amount of the estimate of the commission judiciously expended will be of great advantage. I have had the benefit of a personal conference with the Harbor Commission of Boston, and an examination of their reports, plans and estimates. Under their direction extensive and careful surveys and examinations in Boston bay and harbor have been carried on for several years, and estimates of the extent and cost of the works for the preservation of the headlands and the removal of the obstructions in the channels have been prepared. The amounts required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, for the preservation of headlands and removal of obstructions in the main channels which are deemed essential for the restoration and preservation of those channels, are as follows: $25,000 25, 000 25, 000 75, 000 50,000 For completion of sea-wall on Great Brewster island .... For completion of sea-wall on Lovell's island For the preservation of the north head of Long island For the preservation of Gallup's island... For the removal of Tower Rock and Corwin Rock.. 20, 000 For dredging Great Brewster spit, Lovell's Island spit, and upper middle bar.... 100, 000 For the preservation of Point Allerton.. 50,000 For the completion of these works there will be required in addition for the fiscal year following that ending June 30, 1868— For the preservation of north head Long island... For the preservation of Gallup's island.. $75, OCO 54, 000 For dredging Lovell's spit, if it should be found necessary to carry it to the full width of the project of the Boston Harbor Commission, 685 feet.... For dredging the upper middle bar, if it should be found necessary to carry it to the full width of the project of the Boston Harbor Commission, 1,000 feet..... $130, 000 110, 000 For the preservation of Point Allerton. 21, 000 95, 000 Report on the Saco river improvements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, by Brevet Brigadier General George Thom, lieutenant colonel of engineers. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Portland, Maine, September 10, 1867. By acts of Congres approved June 23, 1866, and March 2, 1867, appropriations were made for improving the navigation of this river. That made in 1866 (to wit, $40,000) was, as I understand, based on the report and estimates of George Davidson, esq., assistant United States Coast Survey, dated May, 1866, and the balance appropriated in March, 1867, was based on the estimates submitted by me in my report to the engineer department, dated January 5, 1867. Accompanying that report were plans and estimates for rebuilding the piers and removing the sunken rocks, amounting to $211,701 05, which included General Alexander's estimate of $192,500 for the breakwater uniting the piers (Nos. 11 and 12) near the mouth of the river. In obedience to instructions from the department, dated March 28, 1867, (a copy of which is hereto appended, marked 3,) I issued a notice dated April 8, 1867, inviting" proposals for furnishing rough stone for a breakwater at the mouth of Saco river, Maine." A copy of the notice is hereto appended, marked 4. Four bids were received for this work, the lowest being that of Messrs. James M. Deering & John W. Deering, of Saco, Maine, for $1 81 per ton of 2,240 pounds, as will be seen in referring to the abstract of proposals hereto appended, and marked 1. Before entering into a contract with these parties for the work, I awaited the determining of the position of the breakwater by a board of engineers to be appointed for that purpose, as instructed by department letter of the 28th of March, 1867. On the 13th of June the report of the board of engineers on this subject was transmitted to the department, a copy of which is hereto appended, marked 5. On the 14th of June I entered into a contract with Messrs. Deering, who were the lowest bidders, for furnishing the stone for the break water. The report of the board of engineers and contract made with Messrs. Deering having both been approved by the department, the contractors commenced the delivery of the stone on the last of June.* In pursuance of instructions from the department, dated March 28, 1867, I advertised for proposals for removing a sunken rock in Saco river, a copy of the notice being hereto appended, marked 6. * Up to the 8th of September, 1867, about 14,000 tons of stone were delivered. Two bids only were received for this work, the lowest being that of Mr. James Andrews, of Biddeford, for six hundred dollars, as will be seen on referring to the abstract of proposals hereto appended, marked 1. A contract was made with Mr. Andrews, and it has been fulfilled by him.* The amount that will be required for the entire permanent completion of the breakwater and other improvements in Saco river, as exhibited in my report dated January 5, 1867, (since printed by Congress,) is. To which add for 105,000 cubic feet additional coping $211, 701 05 $52,500 00 57,750 00 269, 451 05 Say, $270,000. Total amount appropriated by acts of Congress approved March 2, 1867, and June 23, 1866, $80,000; amount required for completion of work, $150,000, of which $75,000 can be profitably expended upon it during the next fiscal year. The works for the improvement of the navigation of Saco river are located in the collection district of Saco and near the ports of Saco and Biddeford, Maine. The nearest light-house is on Wood island, opposite the mouth of Saco river, and the nearest forts are those in Portland harbor. The amount of revenue collected at Saco, (the port of entry,) as furnished by the collector, was for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, 8755 76. As to the amount of commerce and navigation that would be benefited by the completion of these works of improvement I will here repeat the information kindly furnished by Mr. Edward Eastman, then United States deputy collector, contained in my special report of the 5th of January last. to wit: 66 At the inner harbor, which is inside the bar, we have averaged about forty coal vessels and about one hundred and fifty to two hundred vessels in the coasting business, bringing general merchandise for this place and Biddeford and the back country, and carrying out timber, &c., exclusive of what comes by railroad. This port is the entry for the supplies, including the back districts, of a population of about thirty thousand, and is the natural shipping port of the timber interest of nearly the whole of York county, except some towns in the extreme western part which lie near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "In addition to our former business since this appropriation was made an ice company has been formed by persons from Philadelphia in connection with residents of Saco, who are making arrangements for the exportation of ice. They are erecting large store-houses on or near one of our wharves, and say they will employ about one hundred coasting vessels in the ice-carrying trade the coming season. "The Saco Ship-building Company also has just fairly started, and will give a new impetus to our commerce, as they obtain a considerable portion of their timber from the southern markets." The improvements now in progress may be regarded as permanent, and such as after completion will not require further expenditure. The papers described as follows are hereto appended : 1. Abstract of proposals for each work, with name of bidders, &c. * On the 24th of July, 1867, another contract for the entire removal of the sunken rocks at Little islands was made with Mr. James M. Andrews, of Biddeford, Maine, for the sum of $2,000. On the 8th of September, 1867, the contract was fulfilled. |