Some idea of the value of the foreign trade and the property invested and hazarded on a foreign coast, and for the protection and safe guidance into port our pilots are relied upon wholly, may be obtained from a copy of the report of the board of pilot commissioners of Rhode Island, showing the number of foreign vessels, for the last five years, that have passed Block Island and entered at the pilot commissioners' office in Providence, which is herewith submitted. (See Appendix K.) The amount of the actual receipts to the Government for the entry of the foreign trade at the port of Providence for the years 1871 to 1885, inclusive, is $3,422,464.24, or an average annual receipt of $244,461.73, as appears by the Rhode Island State census of 1885, page 80. The location of a harbor of refuge at this point, being at the extreme eastern end of the greatest marine highway in the United States, 12 miles at sea in mid-ocean, a point exposed and dangerous to the foreign trade, and the first land made by the foreign Providence-bound merchantmen, affording the coast protection by revenue cutters, a commanding position (in the fiercest easterly gale) of the entire coast of southern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and a key to Long Island Sound, the great marine highway to the metropolis, together with the great advantages to the new cruisers and navy in case of foreign war in our coast defense, will, I trust, after the lapse of a quarter of a century of national prosperity since this movement was first before Congress, commend itself to you as a project worthy of improvement, practicable, and one that will warrant and justify the expenditure necessary for its construction. I respectfully remain, your most obedient servant, Hon. W. H. BIXBY, Captain of Engineers. CHRISTOPHER E. CHAMPLIN, APPENDIX B.-PETITION OF CITIZENS OF NEW SHOREHAM, BLOCK ISLAND. To Christopher E. Champlin, senator, and George W. Conley, representative, of the town of New Shoreham, in the general assembly of the State of Rhode Island. We, the subscribers, citizens of the town of New Shoreham, do most respectfully represent that the Great Salt Pond in New Shoreham contains about 800 acres of tide water available and suitable for the anchorage of ships and vessels; that the commercial interests of the town, the State, the United States would be greatly improved and benefited by causing the channel connecting this natural harbor with the ocean to be widened and deepened with a view of making a permanent harbor of refuge therein. That we firmly believe that such a project is practicable and that an appropriation from the General Government for such purpose is necessary for the development and proper protection of the commercial interests of the United States. We would, therefore, most urgently request you, as the representatives of the people of New Shoreham, to use your influence with the Senators and Representatives of the State and Congress to procure an appropriation for such purpose. LORENZO LITTLEFIELD, Ex-Senator. And 149 others. APPENDIX C.-PETITION OF CITIZENS OF NEw Shoreham, BLOCK ISLAND. To the honorable general assembly of the State of Rhode Island at its January session, 1893: We, the undersigned citizens of the town of New Shoreham, island of Block Island, would respectfully represent that by an act of Congress passed in July, 1867, a survey was ordered to be made here in reference to the building of the harbor of refuge at this island. A thorough and favorable survey having been made in the Salt Pond under that act, we believe that the interest of the large coasting trade between Boston and New York and the general marine interest of the United States demand such, and would be vastly benefited if a harbor of refuge could be made in the said Salt Pond, as also great advantages would result to our Navy by giving our vessels a harbor for refuge and supplies, especially in time of a foreign war. We would, therefore, respectfully ask your honorable body to take such action upon the subject as will call the attention of Congress to this matter of national importance, and, as in duty bound, will ever pray. NICHOLAS BALL. APPENDIX D.-RESOLUTION OF BOARD OF TRADE, PROVIDENCE, R. I. To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: Whereas the Great Salt Pond in New Shoreham on Block Island, in the State of Rhode Island, contains about 800 acres of tide water available and suitable for the safe anchorage of ships and vessels during storms; and Whereas, believing that the commercial interests of this State and the United States demand the protection of its shipping by making an harbor of refuge at Block Island: It is therefore Resolved, That the board of trade urgently requests the United States Government to take such action as is necessary to make this pond an arm of the sea and to appropriate a sufficient amount to make a permanent harbor of refuge therein. Resolved, That the Representatives in Congress from this State be requested to use their efforts to aid in forwarding this matter. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from Rhode Island. Passed by the board of trade of Providence, December 13, 1892. APPENDIX E.-STATEMENT OF KEEPER OF NEW SHOREHAM LIFE-SAVING STATION. THIRD U.S. LIFE-SAVING DISTRICT, New Shoreham Station, Block Island, R. I., December 12, 1892. I would respectfully say that the number of vessels wrecked within the patrol limits of New Shoreham Life-Saving Station from January 10, 1883, to November 29, 1892, and valuation of same will be as follows: Date. Jan. 10, 1883. Do.. Do.. Do.. Apr. 14, 1883 May 22, 1887 APPENDIX F.-STATEMENT OF KEEPER OF BLOCK ISLAND LIFE-SAVING STATION. THIRD U. S. LIFE-SAVING DISTRICT, Block Island Station, November 15, 1892. DEAR SIR: By your request I have made a note from my journal of all the vessels that have passed in sight of this station in the two years of 1890 and 1891. APPENDIX G.-STATEMENT OF KEEPER OF NEW SHOREHAM LIFE-SAVING STATION. THIRD U. S. LIFE-SAVING DISTRICT, New Shoreham Station, Block Island, R. I., November 22, 1892. During the years of 1890 and 1891 I would respectfully say the number of vessels passed in sight of this station as follows: APPENDIX H.-STATEMENT OF KEEPER OF NEW SHOREHAM LIFE-SAVING STATION.* THIRD U. S. LIFE-SAVING DISTRICT, New Shoreham Station, Block Island, R. I., December 12, 1892. I would respectfully say the number of vessels passed this station during the last twelve years are as follows: 709,116. A. N. LITTLEFIELD, Keeper. APPENDIX K.-NUMBER OF VESSELS ENTERED PORT OF PROVIDENCE, PASSING BLOCK ISLAND, FROM FOREIGN PORTS. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF STONINGTON HARBOR AND ITS ENTRANCE, CONNECTICUT. UNITED STATES ENGINEER'S OFFICE. Newport, R. I., June 12, 1893. GENERAL: In accordance with the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, and orders from your office dated July 14, 1892, I have the honor to submit the following report upon a preliminary examination of Stonington Harbor, Connecticut, and the entrance thereto: This examination was made by Lieut. W. W. Harts, Corps of Engineers, under my orders. His full report is appended. My opinions, as below stated, are based partly on his report and partly upon my own personal knowledge, inspection, and careful study of this special locality. The statements as to the present and prospective demands of commerce are compiled mainly from replies to numerous letters addressed by me to the chairman of the United States Senate Committee of Commerce and of the United States House Committee of Rivers and Harbors, to the United States Senators and Representatives, in whose State and district the improvement lies, and to postmasters, collectors of customs, and to such other prominent persons of the neighborhood as were supposed to be interested therein, all of whom were requested to give addresses of other interested parties and to contribute such information and assistance as was at their disposal. Stonington Harbor (see Coast Survey Chart No. 358) is one of the important harbors of eastern Connecticut. It derives its importance to-day, first, as a harbor of refuge (being the harbor nearest to the ocean end of Long Island Sound), and next as a place of trans-shipment of passengers and freight from boat to rail on a through route (the Stonington Line) from New York and the west to Boston and the east. As a harbor it has a good protection on three sides by the mainland and on the fourth side by a couple of breakwaters built by the General Government between 1872 and the present date; but its wharfage depth is limited to only about 12 feet at mean low water, although vessels of 18 feet draft can find shelter behind its breakwaters. The present water commerce of the harbor is reported as about 70,000 passengers and 200,000 tons freight ($83,000,000) per year; almost all of this being a through travel over the combined steamboat and railroad line. This commerce is estimated at having developed nearly 80 per cent in the last thirteen years, or about 6 per cent per year. This harbor has been since 1828, and is now, under improvement by the General Government; during which time $338,000 have been spent in obtaining its present good harbor protection and its present 12 to 18 feet depth of harbor and anchorage. (Some work still remains to be done upon its breakwaters to complete the already approved projects for the improvement of this harbor; but such work is already provided for by such past projects.) During the interval from 1828 up to the present time the size of vessels and steamboats has steadily increased and the needs of increased facilities of navigation have increased in equal ratio. To-day it appears desirable to straighten the entrance to the harbor by a cutting across Noyes Shoal, and to dredge a channel of at least 200 feet width and 17 feet depth up to opposite the city docks. The practicability of the cut across Noyes Shoal will depend upon the nature of the bottom (easy dredging on its surface, but untested below), only to be determined by a special survey. This cut, if made deep enough to allow of use during heavy swells and rough weather will probably require the excavation of from 200,000 up to 800,000 yards of material. The steady increase in the use of this harbor during past years, combined with the present large amount of commerce, and the fact that this commerce is mainly a through traffic between different States, all these are regarded by me as excellent and strong reasons for additional improvement by the General Government. I have therefore to state my opinion that for the reasons above given, this harbor is worthy of further improvement by the General Government and to submit my estimate of $1,200 as an amount that will enable me to make a survey and report, including a project, with estimate of the cost of the improvement proposed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOS. L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. W. H. BIXBY, Captain, Corps of Engineers. (Through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engi neer, Northeast Division.) [First indorsement.] NORTHEAST DIVISION ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, June 15, 1893. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. For the reasons stated by the local officers I regard Stonington Har |