A 15. IMPROVEMENT OF SACO RIVER, MAINE. The first appropriation made for the improvement of the Saco River was in 1827, when $7,000 was appropriated for the erection of piers, placing beacons and buoys, and removing obstructions at and near the entrance to the harbor. With the expenditure of these funds it appears that twelve piers were constructed within the river, the object of which was to keep vessels from drifting on to the rocks and ledges, and two outside piers which were evidently intended for breakwaters. No further appropriations were made until 1866, when an appropriation of $40,000 was made for continuing the repairs of piers in the Saco River. In 1866 a plan was proposed by Mr. George Davidson, of the Coast Survey, for the construction of two stone piers conducting the river to the sea in a northeasterly direction, at an estimated cost of $40,000. In the same year Maj. B. S. Alexander, of the Corps of Engineers, submitted a plan for the construction of a breakwater between the two outside piers, 2,915 feet in length, 12 feet above low tide, the outer face to be of cut granite and the inner of rubblestone, the estimated cost of which was $192,500. The project of Maj. Alexander was modified, at the sug gestion of Col. George Thom, Corps of Engineers, by adding to it the repairing and rebuilding of the inside piers, the total cost of the entire project being estimated at $211,701. The latter project was approved March 28, 1867, with the condition that the position of the breakwater should first be determined by a board of engineers. Such a board, consisting of Maj. Casey, Lieut. Col. Thom, and Col. H. Bache, approved the location proposed by Maj. Alexander, Corps of Engineers. The estimated cost was subsequently increased to $270,000, and in 1868 to $320,000. The project in 1868 was the construction of the breakwater at the mouth of the river, the removal of sunken rocks, and the rebuilding of some of the most important piers in the river. The coping or paving of the outer slopes of the breakwater was afterwards dispensed with, and some of the other work was apparently done at a lower cost than the estimates, so that the entire project was completed in 1873 at a total cost of $169,275. This Nothing more was done from 1873 to 1882. In the latter year a resurvey of the breakwater was ordered by act of Congress. survey was made in 1883 under direction of Col. Blunt, Corps of Engineers, and an estimate submitted for extending the breakwater out to Sharps Ledge, raising and repairing the one in existence, constructing another of less height on the south side of the entrance, and for dredging. The total estimated cost of the improvement was $356,000. The resurvey showed that the breakwater did not prevent the accumulation of sand on the south side of it, so that the bar had again become an obstruction. In 1884 an appropriation of $15,000 was made for improving breakwater at mouth of Saco River and repairs to same. This was a single item in the foregoing estimate, and the improvements and repairs suggested were estimated to cost $70,000, so that the project for improvement at the mouth of the river became repairing and raising the existing breakwater to a height of 15 feet above mean low tide, and a width of 12 feet on top. The same act of Congress that made an appropriation for the breakwater ordered a preliminary examination and survey of Saco River. A report of this survey was submitted October 16, 1885, and a project for improving the navigation of the river proper from its mouth to the towns of Saco and Biddeford was suggested, at an estimated cost of $50,000. This amount was expected to give a continuous channel of 6 feet at mean low tide to the head of navigation from the bar. In 1886 two appropriations were made, one for the river proper and the other for the repair and completion of the breakwater. The same was done in 1888. In 1889 the engineer recommended that the two projects be combined in one. The revised estimate of the cost of the two was then put at $185,000-$30,000 to complete the breakwater and $155,000 to give 6 feet at mean low tide from the sea to Biddeford and Saco at the head of navigation. This estimate included the construction of a jetty on the south side of the mouth of the river. The appropriation made in 1890 was understood to be for continuing work on the combined project. The following appropriations have been made: March 2, 1827, for piers, buoys, and removing obstructions at and near entrance June 23, 1866, for repairing piers.. $7,000 40,000 August 11, 1888, for breakwater ... 12,500 August 11, 1888, for improving river.. 12,500 September 19, 1890, for improving river, including breakwater and jetty.. 10,000 65,000 25,000 Total 321, 775 The total expenditures on both river and breakwater up to June 30, 1892, have been $256,937.22. The river before the improvement was begun was obstructed at its mouth by a bar on which there was only about 2 feet of water at low tide, though much of the river was deeper, and by ledges and bowlders. The swift currents also tended to sweep vessels on the rocks and ledges. The expenditures up to June 30, 1892, have resulted in removing the dangerous ledges, constructing piers against which vessels could touch without danger of damage, the construction of a substantial breakwater on the north side of the entrance, and the partial construction of a jetty to contract the channel way on the south side. The breakwater on the north side has made navigation at the entrance easier, but the deepening of the water, which it was expected its construction would cause, has not yet been accomplished. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, have been $34,760.07. At the date of my last annual report the construction of a riprap jetty on the south side of the mouth of the river was in progress under a contract with George Willett Andrews. The work was continued until the last of November, 1892, when the contract was completed. The total quantity of stone deposited under this contract was 47,271 tons, constructing 3,250 feet of jetty. Proposals were invited for extending the south jetty about 1,000 feet, and also for dredging through the bar at the mouth of the river, the bids to be opened July 13, 1892. No bids were received for the dredg ing, but a contract was made July 25, 1892, with Joseph F. Curit, of Chebeague, Me., for extending the south jetty, at 90 cents per ton. The contractor began work early in August, 1892, and when operations were suspended, about the middle of the following November, he had put in place 10,816 tons of stone, nearly completing his contract. The dredging of the bar at the mouth of the river was, in combination with dredging at Cow Island, again offered, and the bids opened November 16, 1892. The bids were regarded as high and were all rejected. December 3, 1892, proposals were opened for construction of a jetty at the head of Cow Island, and one just below the island. A contract was made December 17, 1892, with John F. Hamilton, of Portland, Me., at 93 cents per ton for stone and 75 cents each for fascines. Work on the jetty at the head of Cow Island was commenced during the latter part of January, 1893, and continued until early in March, the contractor working on the ice. The jetty was practically completed for about three-fourths of its length, when the ice became unsafe and the contractor had to withdraw. Work was resumed with vessels on the 14th of April, and by the close of the year about two-thirds of the work covered by the contract had been completed. The construction of the jetty on the south side of the entrance has given an increased depth between it and the breakwater, and the construction of the extension is with a view to securing the full projected depth through the bar. The improvements already made have been of material aid to commerce, but it is impracticable as yet to state the effect of the contraction works, comprising the operations during the past year. Saco River is in the collection district of Saco, Me., of which Saco is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is Wood Island. July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. 30, 077.71 $1, 898. 23 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 7, 942. 77 9,841.00 20, 236. 71 July 1, 1893, balance available....... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 72,500.00 50, 000. 00 Abstract of proposals for construction of riprap jetty at mouth of Saco River, Maine, July 13, 1892. Contract made with Joseph F. Curit, July 25, 1892. Proposals were invited at the same time for dredging Outer Bar, but none were received. Abstract of proposals for dredging at mouth of Saco River, Maine, November 16, 1892. Abstract of proposals for construction of riprap jetties in Saco River, Maine, December 3, Contract made with John F. Hamilton, December 17, 1892. · Abstract of contracts for improving Saco River, Maine, in force during the fiscal year end ing June 30, 1893. The Kennebunk River is a small stream that empties into the Atlantic about 30 miles south of Portland. Formerly the shipbuilding industry on this river was very great, though the river itself was small. Of late years this industry has fallen off to almost nothing. The first appropriation for the improvement of the river by the National Government was made in 1829. This was for repairing the pier on the east side of the channel at the entrance to the river, which had been constructed by private enterprise many years before. Appropriations were made between 1829 and 1852 for piers at the mouth of the river. These were designed to improve the course and depth of the channel entrance, and a wharf built a short distance upstream was for the security of vessels when they were detained by the tide and storms. With the appropriations made in 1870 and 1871 the piers were extended and repaired and the wharf was also repaired. This work was completed in 1872. In 1876 a project was adopted, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width from the mouth of the river up to Kennebunkport, a distance of about 13 miles, and of a depth of not less than 4 feet at mean low tide, or 13 feet at high tide. This work was accomplished by dredging at the Wading Place and at Mitchells Point, and removing sunken ledges below Wards Wharf and others near the mouth of Gooch Creek, so as to give a depth of 4 feet at mean low tide. The project was completed in 1882, but the dredged channels subsequently filled up again. The river and harbor act of 1888 directed a survey of the Kennebunk River, which was made in 1889, and a new project submitted, the estimated cost of which was $20,000. The object of the work proposed was the repair of the jetties or piers at the mouth of the river, the repair of the wharf above, at which vessels tied up when detained by tides and storms and the contraction of the stream at Wading Place by a small stone jetty. The project was approved December 19, 1890, and its execution was commenced in 1891. The following appropriations have been made: |