The expenditures, under the existing project, to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, amounted to $51,691.61. At that date the channel had been extended for a distance of 4,050 feet, 12 feet deep at low tide, and 90 feet wide, and a turning basin 400 feet wide excavated. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $24,638.60. This amount was applied to widening the channel, under contract. The 12-foot channel is now 160 feet wide for a length of about 1,400 feet, 265 feet wide for a distance of about 1,400 feet more, and 90 feet wide the remaining length. Proposals for dredging, involving the expenditure of the appropriation of July 13, 1892, were twice invited, but each time the prices were high, and the bids were all rejected. 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................ 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. (See Appendix A 14.) $24, 558. 39 20,000.00 44, 558, 39 21, 638.60 19, 919. 79 83,750.00 50,000.00 15. Saco River, Maine.-The first work done on the Saco River was in 1827, when an appropriation was made for the erection of piers, placing beacons or buoys, and removing obstructions. Prior to this the depth of water on the bar was only about 2 feet at mean low tide, while much of the river was deeper. The entrance was also dangerous in rough weather, and the numerous projecting rocks and ledges in the river proper, in connection with the swift currents, made its navigation dangerous. In 1866 a plan was proposed for the improvement of the mouth of the river, and a project adopted in 1867. The project was for the construction of a breakwater at the mouth of the river, the removal of sunken rocks, and the rebuilding of some of the most important piers, against which vessels might drift without damage. The project was completed in 1873 at a cost of $169,275. Nothing more was done on the Saco until 1883, when a resurvey of the breakwater was made and a new project submitted for raising and repairing it and extending it out to Sharps Ledge. The river and harbor act of 1884 directed a survey to be made of the river. This was done in 1885, and a project submitted for the improvement of the river proper from its mouth to the head of navigation. In 1886 and 1888 appropriations were made for repairing and raising the breakwater and for improving the river. In 1890 the two projects were combined, so that the one now in process of execution is for improving the Saco River, including the breakwater and the construction of a proposed jetty opposite the same. The total expenditures on both river and breakwater up to June 30, 1892, were $256,937.22, and resulted in removing the dangerous ledges, in constructing piers to prevent vessels from being swept on the rocks, in constructing a substantial breakwater on the north side of the entrance, and the partial construction of a jetty on the south side of the entrance to contract the channelway with a view to obtaining a greater depth over the bar. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $34,760.07, which have been applied to extending the jetty on the south side of the entrance and to the construction of two small jetties at Cow Island. About 3,250 feet of the jetty at the entrance has been built, and an extension of about 1,000 feet farther is nearly finished. At the close of the year about two-thirds of the work of building the two small jetties at Cow Island had been accomplished. 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. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... $1, 898. 23 9, 841.00 20, 236. 71 72,500.00 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 river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix A 15.) 50,000.00 16. Kennebunk River, Maine.-The first appropriation for the improvement of the Kennebunk River was made in 1829, and was for repairing the piers at the entrance to the river, which were designed to improve the course and depth of the channel. Subsequent appropriations were made for the repair and extension of the piers and a wharf that had been built near the mouth of the river, at which vessels could tie up when the tides and storms detained them. In 1876 a project was adopted the object of which was to secure a channel 4 feet deep at low tide (the rise and fall of tide being about 9 feet) up to Kennebunkport, a distance of about 1 miles. The project was completed in 1882. In 1888 a survey was ordered in the river and harbor act of that year. This was made in 1889, and a project submitted for the repair of the piers and wharf, the latter of which had fallen into decay, and the deepening of the river at Wading Place by the construction of a jetty. The expenditures to June 30, 1892, were $79,911.71. These expenditures have accomplished the construction of two piers or jetties at the mouth of the river and kept them in repair for many years, the construction and repair of the wharf, the construction of a jetty or dike at Wading Place, and some dredging which was done years ago. The expenditures during the year ending June 30, 1893, have been $3,672.30. These were applied to completing the permanent repairs to the wharf, and to repairing or strengthening the jetty on the north side of the mouth of the river. The work was finished during the season of 1892, completing the project, ENG 93-3 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended (See Appendix A 16.) $5, 179.80 3, 672.30 1,507.50 17. York Harbor, Maine.-A survey of York Harbor was made in August, 1884, in compliance with the requirements of the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, and a project suggested having for its object the widening of the channel in three bends where the width did not exceed 75 feet and where the tidal currents are very strong. At the points referred to the channel was to be widened by dredging to 10 feet at mean low tide, that being about the ruling depth in the river. The estimated cost of the improvement was $25,000. It was found that the prices on which the estimate was based were too low, so that in 1887 the estimate was increased to $30,000. In 1888 the estimate was again revised, as it was found that some of the material to be removed, which was supposed to be gravel and bowlders, proved to be solid ledge. The estimate that year was given as $44,000. The total expenditures up to June 30, 1892, were $35,000. These expenditures resulted in widening and straightening the channel at the bends, giving much better facilities to navigation and rendering it more safe. Before the improvements were begun the channel was very crooked and difficult to navigate on account of the swift currents. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $23.94. A contract was made in December, 1892, for dredging at the entrance and in the harbor basin, the work to be done during the present season, which will complete the project. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. $9,000.00 23.94 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended 8,976.06 July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. $50.00 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..... 8, 100.00 8, 150.00 826.06 July 1, 1893, balance available..... (See Appendix A 17.) 18. Bellamy River, New Hampshire.-A survey was made of the Bellamy River in 1887, and a project of improvement suggested, at an estimated cost of $28,000. The project is to secure a channel 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep, at mean low tide, from the mouth of the river up to Sawyer's Mill, at Dover. The rise and fall of the tide being about 7 feet, a high-water navigation of 12 feet will be secured. The above project was adopted in 1888, and its execution is now in progress. The expenditures up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, have been $10,120.34. These expenditures have resulted in giving a channel from the mouth of the river up to about 1 mile above Robert's brickyard, 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low tide. In other words, about 1 mile was added to the navigable part of the river. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $9,561.27. The operations during the year consisted in dredging 35,997 cubic yards, under contract, thereby adding about three-fourths of a mile to the navigable part of the river. Proposals were opened in November, 1892, for dredging, involving the expenditure of the appropriation of 1892, but the prices being high, all the bids were rejected. The work will be readvertised. 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............... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal yearending 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. (See Appendix A 18.) $9,879.66 7,500.00 17, 379.66 9, 561.27 7,818.39 7,500.00 7,500.00 19. Cocheco River, New Hampshire.-Before the improvement was begun the river from Dover to the Lower Narrows was much obstructed by bowlders, ledges, and shoals, the depth being in some places as little as 6 inches at mean low tide. The tide here rises and falls about 6.75 feet. The first regular project for improvement was adopted in 1871, and looked to the forming of a channel 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep from the Lower Narrows up to Collin's Wharf. The estimated cost was $45,000. Subsequently more accurate and extended surveys have shown the practicability and importance of extending the improvement up to the head of navigation, and the project was extended and the estimate increased to $85,000. The project was completed by 1879. The improvements made had opened up a large commerce, employing large vessels where formerly only flatboats had been used, in consequence of which the project was still further extended by providing for a "cut-off" through Alleys Point, widening to 60 feet and deepening to 5 feet the existing channels through Trickeys and Clements shoals, and blasting and removing other obstructions. The extended project was completed in 1888. In 1889 a new survey was made, in compliance with the requirements of the river and harbor act of August, 1888, and as the large increase of trade seemed to justify still further improvement of the river a new project was submitted, looking to obtaining a depth of 7 feet, increased to 7 in rock, and a minimum width of 50 feet in rock and 60 to 75 where the material is less expensive to remove. This project was adopted in 1890. The expenditures up to June 30, 1892, have been $194,404.12. These have resulted in giving a channel through the rocky bed of the river 5 feet deep at low tide, and 40 feet wide in the narrowest parts. The upper end of the channel in front of the wharves at Dover has been deepened to 7 feet at mean low tide, for a length of 1,200 feet, with widths varying from 100 to 140 feet. Portions of the channel above and below Clement's Wharf, of a total length of 600 feet, have also been dredged to the same depth. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $29.88. No work was done. Proposals for dredging, under the appropriation of July 13, 1892, were twice opened, but were each time rejected, the prices being regarded as high. The improvements in the navigation of the Cocheco have been of great benefit to the people of Dover and the vicinity. In the item of coal alone it is reported that not less than 35,000 tons are supplied annually at a saving of 50 cents per ton, which could not have been done had no improvements been made. 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, 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. (See Appendix A 19.) $595.88 15, 000. 00 15,595.88 29.88 15, 566.00 25.00 15, 541.00 135, 000. 00 50,000. 00 20. Harbor of refuge at Little Harbor, New Hampshire.-A survey was made of Little Harbor in 1882, and a plan of improvement proposed, which looked to the opening of a channel of entrance to a depth of 9 feet at low tide, and a width of 100 feet, together with a basin 300 feet by 700 feet, which was to be protected by a rubble-stone breakwater. The estimated cost was $33,000. This project was approved in 1886, and its execution entered upon. In 1887 the project was enlarged, as the old one did not seem to meet the requirements of those interested. The enlarged project provided for the construction of two breakwaters, one on the north, the other on the south side of the entrance to the harbor, and the dredging of an anchorage about 49 acres in extent, in the protected area, to a depth of 12 feet at mean low tide. The estimated cost of the enlarged project was $235,000. The project was adopted by Congress in 1888. Before the improvement was begun the harbor was exposed to the full force of the sea in northeast gales, and the depth of water at the entrance and within the harbor was not sufficient to accommodate even small craft at low tide. The total expenditures up to June 30, 1892, have been $42,422.83. These expenditures have been applied to dredging part of the area for an anchorage, and to the partial construction of the breakwater on the south side of the harbor. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, were $3,068.03. The operations consisted in work on the partially completed breakwater at south side of the entrance to the harbor, and in dredging the anchorage. The breakwater is not yet finished, though it affords some protection. The dredging of the anchorage was commenced during the latter part of May, 1893, and by the close of the year about 47,500 cubic yards had been dredged. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. July 1, 1893, balance available $662.67 52, 963. 29 57, 577.17 3,068.03 54, 509. 14 53, 625.96 883.18 |