tion to the channels through such canals or similar works and any injury to the bed and banks thereof, and to the works constructed for the improvement or in connection with them. SEC. 2. That any willful violation of any rule or regulation made by the Secretary of War in pursuance of this act shall be deemed a misdemeanor, for which the owner or owners, agent or agents, master or pilot of the vessel offending shall be separately and collectively responsible, and on conviction thereof, in any district court in the United States within whose territorial jurisdiction such offense may have been committed, shall be liable to punishment by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, at the discretion of the court, for each offense. SEC. 3. That it shall be the duty of all persons using or navigating such canals or similar works, their channels and approaches, or using any of the piers, breakwaters, docks, wharves, or other improvements belonging to the United States, to observe the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War as aforesaid; and any person who shall willfully or negligently strand or sink any steam vessel, boat, or craft in such canals or similar works, or in the channels or approaches, or who shall willfully or negligently, or by failure or neglect to observe the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of War for the use thereof, obstruct or impair such canals or similar works, or cause any impediment, injury, filling up, or shoaling therein, or in the approaches thereto, tending to obstruct or impair the navigation thereof, or who shall willfully damage or injure the piers, breakwaters, wharves, docks, or other improvements of such canals or similar works belonging to the United States, or who shall fail to obey or observe any of said prescribed regulations, shall be liable to the penalty prescribed by section two of this act, and shall, in addition thereto, be liable to the United States, or to any person aggrieved by such obstructions, or injuries, or unlawful acts, or omissions, in a civil action for all damages occasioned thereby, or by any of said unlawful acts, to said United States or such aggrieved person. ATLANTIC COAST AND GULF OF MEXICO. IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. Jared A. Smith, Corps of Engineers, to December 3, 1891, and Lieut. Col. Peter C. Hains, Corps of Engineers, since that date. 1. St. Croix River, Maine.—An examination and survey of the St. Croix River were made under the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, and the reports on same were published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1890 (page 463). The available depth, at mean low water, over the shoals, was found to be from 6.5 to 9.5 feet, and in the upper part of the harbor at Calais but 1.5 feet. The channel was also narrow. In the report on the survey it was proposed to obtain a channel 12 feet deep at mean low water, with a general width of 200 feet, but narrowed to 150 and 100 feet at the upper end. Such an improvement would enable steamboats to reach landings at the upper end of the harbor, and would allow large lumber vessels to fully load at the wharves instead of having to drop down stream about 4 miles to complete their cargoes. An appropriation of $35,000 was made by act approved September 19, 1890, coupled with the proviso "that the Government of the Dominion of Canada shall expend a like sum in the improvement of said river." No work has yet been done, pending action by the Dominion Government, and none of the appropriation has been expended. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance unexpended $35,000,00 35,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 245,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A 1.) 2. Lubec Channel, Maine.-This channel lies between the eas tremity of the State of Maine and Campobello Island, Dom Canada. Originally the channel was but 5 feet in depth at mean lov and but 2 feet at low water of spring tides. The project, adopted in 1879, and subsequently modified, wa channel 275 feet wide, 300 feet wide in the bends, and 12 feet mean low water. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, amounted to $168,929.42. The expenditures during the past year were $25. At the close of the fiscal year 1891 the project had been pra completed, and no work has been done since. Under the provisions of the river and harbor act of Septem 1890, an examination of Lubec Channel was made, and the rep published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers t (page 616). July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended..... (See Appendix A 2.) 3. Moosabec Bar, Maine.-Before the improvement was comm the entrance at the eastern end of Moosabec Reach was difficu channel being crooked, with ledges on either hand. The direct en was obstructed by a bar on which the depth was only about 6 mean low water. The project, adopted in 1881, provided for a channel 14 feet d mean low water, and not less than 200 feet wide, through the the eastern entrance to the reach. In 1888 the project was ext to provide for widening the 14-foot channel to 300 feet, for remo ledges obstructing the channel, and for the construction of a breakwater to divert cross currents. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $53,888.29. At the date the 300-foot channel had been completed to the full projected and depth, the construction of the breakwater had been comm and a small quantity of ledge had been removed. The expenditures during the past year amount to $6,530.48, was applied to the completion of the small breakwater included project. The work remaining to be done consists of the remo ledges obstructing the channel at its west end. The benefits derived from the improvement are not local, the thor fare being extensively used by coastwise vessels, both as a harl refuge and as a sheltered route. 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 A 3.) $16, 6, 9.5 15, 24,5 65,0 4. Pleasant River, Maine.-Originally the channel above Add Point was obstructed by bowlders, while below navigation was rend dangerous by two rocks and a shoal of ledge and gravel in mid-river. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $3,500 for completing the improvement. The project was to mark the rocks by a beacon and the shoal by a spindle, the remainder of the appropriation to be expended in removing bowlders from the channel above Addison Point, the work to be done by hired labor and purchase of materials in open market. The work was commenced in June, 1891, and completed during the following August. A stone beacon was built on "Channel Rocks" and an iron spindle was established on the shoal known as "Coffins Rocks." Seventy large bowlders, weighing in the aggregate about 55 tons, besides about 100 smaller ones, were removed from the river above Addison Point. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. (See Appendix A 4.) $3,500,00 3,500.00 5. Narraguagus River, Maine.-The obstruction to navigation consisted in a bar at the mouth of the river, over which there was a navigable depth of less than 6 feet at mean low water, and less than 4 feet at extreme low water. The project for improvement is to dredge a channel not less than 200 feet wide, having 11 feet depth at mean low water, from the deep water of the bay to Long Point, and a depth of 9 feet from thence to the anchorage. The expenditures to June 30, 1891, amounted to $22,341.57. At the latter date the following work had been accomplished: At the lower steamboat wharf, and at the new steamboat wharf, about 1,800 feet further down stream, the channel had been dredged to a width of about 300 feet. Between these points the channel was about 100 feet wide. From the new steamboat wharf to the deep water of the bay the dredged channel had widths of 90 and 55 feet. All dredging was to the full depth of 11 feet at mean low water. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, amounted to $5,121.85, chiefly for liabilities incurred during the previ ous fiscal year. The contract for dredging which was in progress at the date of the last annual report, was completed July 11, 1891, and no work has been done since, so that practically no work has been in progress during the year just ended. By the dredging done during July, 1891, a least channel width of 90 feet was obtained from the new steamboat wharf to the deep water of the bay. Amount available for tiscal 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 A 5.) $5, 158 43 5, 121.85 36.58 7,500.00 7, 536.58 15,000.00 6. Breakwater from Mount Desert to Porcupine Island, Maine.-The anchorage in front of the town of Bar Harbor, as well as the wharves at which steamers land, is exposed to storms and seas from southerly directions, at times rendering the anchorage insecure, and the landing of passengers and freight at the wharves difficult. The original project was to construct a riprap breakwater i line from Porcupine Island to Dry Ledge, and thence to with: distance of Mount Desert Island. The direction of that por of Dry Ledge was afterward slightly changed, so that the wes of the breakwater will be somewhat further to the southward The expenditures up to the close of the fiscal year ending 1891, amounted to $19,144.53. Up to the latter date operat been confined to that part of the work between Porcupine Is Dry Ledge, and 17,520 tons of stone had been placed in po rather more than one-fourth of the entire quantity (66,000 t mated for that portion of the breakwater. The work had not a stage to be of much benefit to the harbor. The expenditures during the last fiscal year were $15,060.84 the total expenditures under the project $34,205.37. At th the last annual report work was in progress, under contract. the middle of November, 1891, after 19,080 tons of stone had livered, the contractor stopped work. Subsequently, in Mar the contract was annulled, on the ground that it had been ass The entire quantity of stone placed in the work is 30,473 ton was all deposited in that part between Porcupine Island Ledge. During June, 1892, new contracts were let for contin work, operations to be commenced by July 1, 1892. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $50.00 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 64, 585.00 July 1, 1892, balance available.. 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 A 6.) 6 7. Bagaduce River, Maine-When the project for improving cality was adopted the channel near South Penobscot was crook obstructed by ledges of rock, and the least depth at low tide exceed 2 feet. The approved project is to obtain, by dredging and rock exca a channel 100 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at low tide, from Bridge to Bowden's Wharf, South Penobscot, a distance of about 4,000 f cost being estimated at $45,000. It was also intended to remove quantity of rock obstructing the southern channel at Johnson rows, at an estimated cost of $1,875. The expenditures to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30 amounted to $100, which were for preparation of plans, etc. N had been done. The first appropriation, $3,000, was too small judiciously expended. Enough rock excavation to be of any pr benefit could not be accomplished with that amount, and the sit was such that without the removal of rock no practical benefits be acquired by dredging. There were no expenditures during the fiscal year ending Ju 1892, and no work was done. 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 A 7.) 34,875.00 8. Penobscot River, Maine.-The improvement of the Penobscot River was first undertaken in 1870, the project being for a channel not less than 150 feet wide, 12 feet deep at low tide, as far up as Bangor. At that time the channel was shoal and dangerous. At Bangor the depth did not exceed about 6 feet at lowest stages, and navigation was obstructed by numerous rocks and ledges. The work was continued until 1880, and included also the removal of obstructions in the harbor at Bangor, and at Bucksport, the expenditures aggregating $198,000. No further work was done until 1884, when a project was adopted for widening the channel at Bangor, and for certain improvements in the river below, near Crosbys Narrows, at an estimated cost of $75,000. While this work was in progress a survey was made, under the river and harbor act of 1886, from Bangor to Bucksport Narrows, and a project was submitted for securing a 22-foot depth between Bucksport and Winterport, at an estimated cost of $365,000, making the combined cost of the two projects $440,000. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $25,000, and provided for dredging near Stern's Mill. Another survey was ordered by the act of September 19, 1890, which has been made, and the report published as House Ex. Doc. No. 37, Fifty-second Congress, first session. (See also Appendix A 25.) The appropriations up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, aggregated $308,300, and the expenditures under the various projects to the same date amounted to $278,746.02. The results were the widening and deepening of the channel at Bangor from a depth of 6 feet at extreme low tide, to 14 feet, the removal of rocks, ledges, and other obstructions, the removal of a shoal near Bucksport, and a general increase in depth and width of channels from the mouth up to Bangor. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, amounted to $5,586.85. The contract for dredging at the shoal above Crosbys Narrows, which was in progress at the close of the fiscal year 1891, was completed in November last, the total quantity of material dredged under the contract being 60,004 cubic yards. Under the appropriation of September 19, 1890, a contract was made, under date of November 14, 1891, for dredging near Stern's Mill. Work was commenced about the middle of May, 1892, and at the close of the fiscal year about 12,000 cubic yards of material had been excavated. |