mouth and Centerton, a distance of about 71⁄2 miles, and from Center to Mount Holly, a distance of about 5 miles, a ruling depth of ab 21 feet. The original project of 1881 proposed the formation, by a dike Coats Bar and dredging elsewhere, of a channel from 150 to 200 f wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water from the mouth to Centert 'and from thence to Mount Holly a channel 5 feet deep. Operations were carried on under this project from 1881 to 18 under appropriations aggregating $20,000 made in 1881 and 18 To the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $28,702.64 h been expended in the formation of a channel 100 feet wide and 6 f deep at mean low water between the mouth and Centerton, and in t removal of three wrecks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $1,197.27 was expend in the formation of a channel 25 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean 1 water between Centerton and Mount Holly. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G 8.) $1, 197 1, 197 5,000. 46,000. 9. Alloway Creek, New Jersey.-In its original condition Allowa Creek was obstructed between its mouth and Quinton, a distance about 10 miles, by shoal areas in the upper half of the stream, whi reduced the low water depths to about 4 feet. The original project of 1889 proposed the formation, by dredging, a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water and 60 feet wide from Quint to a point about 1,000 feet above the Upper Hancock Bridge; fro thence a channel of the same depth and 75 feet wide to a localit known as the Square, where the work is to be supplemented by a dik At a locality known as the Canal, in addition to a channel of the las named dimensions, the width of the stream was to be increased about 150 feet between its low-water lines. The appropriation of $6,000 by the act of September 19, 1890, wa the first made for this work. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $3,467.88 was expende in deepening to 6 feet at mean low water the channel at the Cana Square, and Upper Hancock Bridge. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $2,131.73 was expende in deepening the channel. There are now channels 75 feet wide and feet deep at mean low water through the worst bars at the Square Canal, and Upper Hancock Bridge. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G 9.) $2,532. 1 2, 131. 400.3 3,000.0 3,400. 3 16,000.0 10. Maurice River, New Jersey.-In its original condition Maurice River had a depth of 5 feet at mean low water over the bar at its mouth and a channel of over 10 feet deep extending from its mouth for a distance of about 20 miles, or to within 4 miles of Millville. For the remaining distance of about 5 miles, to the head of navigation at Millville, there were shoal areas which reduced the low-water depth to about 2 feet. The original project of 1882 proposed the formation, by dredging, of a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water through the 4 miles of river below Millville Bridge, and from thence to the head of navigation a channel of the same width and 4 feet deep. In 1891 the project was modified by extending the 6-foot channel to the head of navigation, and in 1892 by a further extension of 500 feet with a width of 50 feet. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $34,916.34 had been expended in the formation of a 6-foot channel from a point 4 miles below to about 1,400 feet above Millville Bridge. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $8,083.77 was expended in the full completion of the improvement. The river is now navigable at all stages of the tide to a point 1,400 feet above Millville Bridge. The estimated cost of this improvement was $112,000. The conditions having been very favorable, it has been completed at a total cost of $43,000. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. (See Appendix G 10.) $8,083.77 8,083.77 11. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. During the past fiscal year the following wrecks were removed under the provisions of the act of June 14, 1880: The scow Paddy Ryan, from Rancocas River, New Jersey; the iron steamer Nuphar, from the outer bar at Townsend Inlet, New Jersey; the canal boat Agatha Brady, from Delaware River, opposite Fairmount avenue wharf, city of Philadelphia. (See Appendix G 11.) EXAMINATION, BY BOARD OF ENGINEERS, FOR LOCATION AND PLAN FOR HARBOR OF REFUGE FOR DEEP-DRAFT VESSELS NEAR MOUTH OF DELAWARE BAY, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. In compliance with the provisions of the act a Board of Engineers, consisting of Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Maj. C. W. Raymond, and Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, was constituted by the Secretary of War to examine "Delaware Bay, with a view of determining the best site near the mouth of the same for a national harbor of refuge suitable for deep-draft vessels," and submit "report thereon, with a project and estimate of cost of construction of such a harbor of refuge." A preliminary report on the subject, dated December 11, 1890, was printed as Appendix G 22 of the Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, for 1891. The final report, dated January 5, 1892, was submitted, transmitted to Congress, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 112, Fifty-second Congress, first session. The plan and location proposed for the formation of a deep harbor of refuge at this locality contemplate the construction of a stone break water 14 miles long extending in a general northwest and south direction on the east branch of the Shears, off Cape Henlopen, I ware; and construction of a row of ten ice piers across the upper en the harbor, to protect the anchorage against ice descending the The total cost of this work is estimated at $4,665,000. (See Appendix G 12.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN DELAWARE AND EASTERN SHORE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY, MARYLAND AND VIRGI AND OF INLAND WATER WAY FROM CHINCOTEAGUE BAY, VIRGIN TO DELAWARE BAY, DELAWARE. Engineer in charge, William F. Smith, United States agent, Ma of Engineers, U. S. Army, retired; Division Engineer, Col. Willian Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Wilmington Harbor, Delaware.-Previous to 1836, when the fi appropriation for the improvement of Christiana River was made, depth of water at the entrance was about 8 feet. The minimum de in the channel of the portion of the river below Third Street Bridge w 8 feet. This depth was increased by dredging in that year to 10 f Under a project commenced in 1871 and completed in 1881, a 12-f channel from 100 to 200 feet wide was made from the mouth to above t city of Wilmington. The present project was adopted in 1881 and for a 15-foot low-water channel from the mouth of the river to the Pu Works, with a width of 150 feet from the mouth to the Rolling M Wharf; 100 feet to the Delaware and Western Railroad Bridge; and feet to the Pulp Works. The project included further, a channel 12 fe deep and 50 feet wide from the latter works to the Delaware Railroa Bridge and the construction of a jetty on the north side of the mou of the river. Dredging operations and the construction of the jet were begun in the following year. The original estimate was $175,55 which was increased in 1883 to $191,384 by changing the width of tl proposed channel to 150 feet throughout. In 1884 the project wa amended by raising the height of the jetty 4 feet; an extension of 3: feet to the jetty as then built was also proposed and approved, but ha not yet been carried out. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum $188,057.83 had been expended under this project. There was then a improved channel 15 feet deep at low water and 150 feet wide betwee the Delaware River and a point about 600 feet above the Third Stree Bridge of a total length of 5,200 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, dredging operation under a contract previously made were continued. The contract wa completed August 14, 1891, the dredged channel having been extended 1,000 feet since July 1, reaching the Pusey & Jones shipyard. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. $15, 692. 17 13, 346.83 June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 1.) 2,345.34 40,000.00 42, 345.34 47, 634.00 2. Ice harbor at New Castle, Delaware. This ice harbor is one of the oldest in the Delaware River, its construction for the protection of vessels against floating ice having been commenced during colonial times. Since the beginning of the present century its improvement has been carried on by the General Government at various intervals, the total amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, being $223,593.15. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, a new ice-pier was constructed in the harbor under contract with the Delaware Construction Company of Wilmington, Del., at a cost of $9,500. The pier was begun on October 1 and was completed on December 28, 1891. Whilst this work was going on, the contractor also removed, under the same contract, one of the old piers (H), which had been in a dangerous condition. During the past year the harbor lines, approved by the Secre tary of War on June 26, 1891, were permanently located. The existing project as far as it relates to the construction of icepiers is completed. The harbor in its present condition affords the best shelter on the Delaware River for deep-draft vessels in winter, and the necessity for increasing the protected area is already apparent. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended (See Appendix H 2.) $15, 190, 79 11,343.99 3,846.80 3. Appoquinnimink River, Delaware.-This stream is a tidal tributary of Delaware Bay, flowing through New Castle County, Del. It is navigable for vessels of light draft from the mouth to above Odessa. A bar having only 13 feet of water over it at low tide obstructs the mouth of the river. The average rise and fall of the tide at the bar is 6 feet; at Odessa it is 3.2 feet. The project for improvement proposed in a report on a survey of the river made in 1889 and adopted under an appropriation made by the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, provides for dredg ing a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water with a width of 100 feet from the mouth to New Bridge, near Townsend's Wharf, and thence 80 feet wide to the county bridge at Odessa, the estimated cost of the improvement being $39,963. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $4,963.72 has been expended, giving a greatly increased harbor space at the town of Odessa. Nothing was done during the past fiscal year. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended................ July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.......... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 3.) $36.28 36.28 5,000.00 5,036.28 29, 963.00 4. Smyrna River, Delaware.-This river, formerly called Duck Creek, had, before improvements began in 1879, a minimum depth of 25 feet within the river and about 4 feet over the bar at the mouth. Navigation was possible only at high tide, and was carried on by one steamer and seven small schooners. In 1878 a project was made for the improvement of the whole including a plan for deepening the channel across the bar at the m By special direction of Congress the improvement of the bar was menced first, and during the following four years three appropria aggregating $10,000, were expended in dredging a channel across obstruction 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water. dredged channel soon filled up again. A new project was submitted in 1887 for a 7-foot low-water chann feet wide inside the river and 100 feet at the bar, the channel at the point to be protected on each side by stone jetties. The estimated of this project is $90,698.40. The portion of the project relating to d ing has been adopted. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the su $12,536.35 had been expended in dredging inside the river. At date a channel had been dredged 40 feet wide and 64 feet deep at 1 low water from Smyrna Landing to Brick Store Wharf, a distance miles, with the result of opening navigation for vessels drawing 6 to the first-named point, which formerly they were not able to r The main landing on the river was thus brought about 2 miles n the town of Smyrna. At the beginning of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, dred operations under contract with the National Dredging Compan Wilmington, Del., were in progress. The contract was complete August 10, 1891, the proposed channel, 40 feet wide and 6 feet d having been extended farther down the river since July 1, to E Nest Landing, about 2 miles below Brick Store Wharf. The nar channel thus far made has been of great benefit to the existing ping, and has considerably facilitated expeditious and regular ti portation, which heretofore was impossible. It is contemplated by steamboat company to put larger boats on the line after the full jected width and depth in the channel have been made. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ........ Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893....... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................ Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 4.) $4.6 4.60 3,00 3,08 19, 36 5. Mispillion Creek, Delaware.-The entrance to this creek ha mean low-water depth of only 13 feet. Within the stream the orig depth was, before improvements were begun, from 4 to 5 feet. original project for improvement, which was made in 1879, is for a 6-1 low-water channel, 40 feet wide, from Milford, at the head of navi tion, to the mouth. But for a small shoal near the mouth which rema to be dredged, the projected channel is completed, $17,000 having b expended up to June 30, 1889. A report upon a survey of the mo of the creek embodying a new project was submitted during the p fiscal year (see Appendix H 21). Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892....... $12,000 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 14, 000 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H 5.) |