A 13. IMPROVEMENT OF KENNEBEC RIVER, MAINE. Congress recognized the importance of improving the Kennebec River as early as 1827, when an appropriation was first made. Appropriations aggregating $18,500 were made between 1827 and 1852. From 1852 to 1866 no work was done by the General Government, but the citizens of Augusta within this period undertook to dredge out a channel above Sheppard's Point, and they improved it in some localities, but the material was not removed a sufficient distance from the channel, and from that and other causes it filled up again. The act of June 23, 1866, appropriated $20,000 for the improvement of the upper part of the river, between Sheppard's Point and Augusta, a length of about 3 miles. The project for this improvement consisted in removing rocks and straightening and deepening the channel, which was obstructed by several shoals, to a depth of 8 feet up to Hallowell and 7 feet from thence to Augusta. The estimated cost was $50,000. The projected width of channel was fixed at first at 75 feet. In 1868, after a survey of the river had been made from Augusta to Gardiner, the project was amended so as to include all that part of the river from Gardiner to Augusta, and the width fixed at 100 feet. The amended project was estimated to cost $80,000. In 1871 the project was again extended by act of Congress, which appropriated $5,000 for improving the river between Gardiner and Richmond. This part of the river it was proposed to improve so as to give 10 feet at low tide up to Gardiner. This necessitated the removal of a ledge near Nehumkeg Island, of ledges and bowlders at other points, the dredging of a channel through the Upper Sands Bar and one near the head of Swan Island. The estimated cost of this additional project was about $13,000. By July 1, 1872, all the work contemplated in the various projects for improving the Kennebec from Richmond up to Gardiner had been completed. There were, however, several rocks in the main channel of the river at Lovejoy Narrows, on the east side of Swan Island, which were a source of danger to shipping. One of them, known as "Halftide Rock" had been excavated to a depth of 8 feet at low tide, but as this gave only about 13 to 14 feet at high tide it was not sufficient to accommodate commerce. In the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1872 the removal of some of these rocks to a depth of 12 feet at mean low tide was suggested, at an estimated cost of $13,500. A survey of two of the ledges was made in 1872, when it was found they were larger than was expected, so that the estimate was increased to $30,603.61. A more accurate survey was made in 1874, and other small sunken ledges were found. In that year the adopted project consisted in removing Ledges III, IV, V, and Dry Rock, all to a depth of 12 feet at mean low tide. Ledge I (Half-tide Rock) had been completed to 12 feet in November, 1873, and Ledge II was omitted from the project, as the removal of Dry Rock seemed to render the removal of Ledge II unnecessary. In 1877 all the dangerous rocks in Lovejoy Narrows had been removed to a depth of 12 feet at mean low tide, which completed all projected improvements in the Kennebec River. No further work was done on the river until 1880, when a survey was made in obedience to the requirement of the harbor and river act of June 14, 1880, of Richmond Harbor, at the head of Swan Island, with a view to its improvement. The project suggested for this improvement, which was adopted in 1881, was to give a navigable channel not less ENG 92- -33 than 10 feet deep at mean low water on the shoals at the upper end of Swan Island and at Hatchs Rock, about 2 miles below, and 11 feet at the lower end of Swan Island, about 5 miles below the town of Richmond. The estimated cost of the project was $20,500. This project was completed in 1883. In the harbor and river act of 1886 a new survey of the Kennebec River was ordered at Bath, and from Augusta to the lower end of Perkins Island. This survey was made in 1887, and a new project for the improvement of the river from Bath to Augusta was submitted. The project submitted consists in removing the shoals at Beef Rock, at Hatchs Rock, and near South Gardiner by means of wing dams and training walls, and dredging, the removal of rocks at Bath and at Lovejoy Narrows by blasting, and the dredging of a channel through the shoals between Augusta and Gardiner, and the removal of the old piers of the bridge at Hallowell. The depths were to be as follows: At Beef Rock Shoal 12 feet, at Hatchs Rock 9 feet, at Lovejoy Narrows 18 feet, at Upper Sands Bar 12 feet, at Hallowell Shoal 10 feet, and from thence to Augusta, 8 feet-all at low tide. The estimated cost of the entire project was $410,500. In 1888, an appropriation of $75,000 having been made for the improvement of the Kennebec River, a project for the expenditure of the appropriation in improving Hatchs Rock and Beef Rock Shoals was approved. Subsequently owing to dredging which had to be done, and which was not contemplated in the original project, the estimated cost of the entire improvement was increased to $428,500. All of the appropriation made by act of September 19, 1890, was also expended on Beef Rock and Hatchs Rock Shoals and the removal of the piers of the old bridge at Hallowell. The following appropriations have been made: The total expenditures on the river up to June 30, 1891, were $280,381.43. The results accomplished may be stated thus: Before the improvements were commenced the main channel between the foot of Swan Island and Gardiner (15 miles) was obstructed by a shoal at the foot of Swan Island with only 10 feet on it at mean low tide, by dangerous ledges in Lovejoy Narrows, by a shoal below South Gardiner with only 8 feet of water on it at mean low tide, and by a ledge in the channel at Nehumkeg Island. This part of the river has been improved by dredging, contraction works, and removal of ledge, so as to give a good channel 12 feet deep at mean low tide as far up as Gardiner, except over the shoal below South Gardiner. A channel was dredged through this shoal to a depth of 10 feet at mean low tide, but gradual filling has since reduced this depth to 9 feet. The steamboat channel to the westward of Swan Island has been improved by dredging and contraction works so as to give a depth of 9 feet at mean low tide. The former depth over the shoals was but 7 feet. The channel between Gardiner and Augusta (63 miles) was obstructed by shoals with a depth of water on them of only 3 feet at low summer tide. This depth was increased by dredging to 7 feet between Gardi ner and Hallowell, and 63 feet between Hallowell and Augusta. Gradnal shoaling has since reduced the available channel depth to 6 feet between Gardiner and Hallowell, and to 5 feet between Hallowell and Augusta. Three old bridge piers were also removed from the channel of the river at Hallowell. The expenditures during the year ending June 30, 1892, have been $8,411.39, which were applied to the payment of liabilities incurred during the previous fiscal year, and to the redredging of the channel at Beef Rock, which had filled up since the last dredging was done. This was to have been expected, as the jetty in its unfinished condition could hardly be expected to keep the channel open. There have been about 30,000 cubic yards of sand taken from this channel during the fiscal year. The work was done by contract, at a cost of 173 cents per cubic yard. The improvement is in the collection district of Bath, of which Bath is the port of entry. Fort Popham and the light-house on Pond Island are near the mouth of the river. Money statement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities $14,968. 57 8, 411.39 6, 557. 18 $314.89 3,665.96 2, 891.22 100,000.00 July 1, 1892, amounted covered by uncompleted contracts...... 3, 351.07 July 1, 1892, balance available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... 102, 891. 22 [ Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project......... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.. No. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 203, 500.00 100,000.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging in Kennebec River, Maine, April 13, 1892. Name and address of bidder. Price, per cubic yard, measured in scow (30,000 cubic Amount. Abstract of contracts for improving Kennebec River, Maine, in force during the fiscal year No. Name and address of contractor. Samuel S. Jordan, Bath, Me. F. W. Carlton, Woolwich, Me 2 Moore & Wright, Portland, Me.. Number of vessels arriving and departing during the calendar year 1891. The act approved March 3, 1881, provided that a survey be made of this river. The survey was made in July of that year, and a report was submitted in December by the engineer of the district. The river empties into Casco Bay at Stocksbridges Point, about 12 miles northeast of Portland. From Stocksbridges Point up to Westons Point the depth of water is no less than 10 feet at mean low tide, with no obstructions to navigation. From Westons Point up to Freeport Landing, a distance of 4,500 feet, the depth diminishes so that for the greater part of the distance the bottom of the river is 3 feet out of water at mean low tide. The rise and fall of tides here is 9 feet. The project recommended in 1881 was the dredging of a channel not less than 60 feet wide and 3 feet deep at mean low tide up to Freeport, and a turning basin 180 feet wide at the head of the channel. The esti mated cost of the improvement recommended was $13,000. No appropriation was made for the work, however, and a new survey was ordered in the harbor and river act of 1888. A project for the improvement was submitted January 4, 1889. This project was on a somewhat larger scale than the one previously suggested, and contemplated a depth of channel of 5 feet at mean low tide, which would give about 14 feet at high tide. The estimated cost of the project was $36,000. The following appropriation has been made: September 19, 1890, $10,000. No work had been done up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, as it was not deemed expedient to expend any money on Η it until sufficient funds had been appropriated to accomplish some good results, which could not be done with the amount of the first appropriation alone. There were no expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, and no work was done. The river is in the collection district of Portland and Falmouth. The nearest light-house is on Halfway Rock. Money statement. 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... $10,000.00 10,000.00 16,000.00 26,000.00 10,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. A 15. IMPROVEMENT OF PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINE. The commercial importance of Portland was recognized in the early days when Congress began a system of internal improvements for the country. The first appropriations were made for the construction of a breakwater on Stamford Ledgé in Portland Harbor, according to the plan of John Anderson, of the Corps of Engineers, in 1836. Subsequent appropriations ran the aggregate up to about $166,000. The breakwater was completed in 1875, according to the plans of Col. B. S. Alexander, which plans had been submitted to and approved by a Board of Engineers, consisting of Col. H. Bache, Lieut. Col. George Thom, and Maj. T. L. Casey, in 1867. The first regular appropriation for deepening the waters of the harbor was made in 1870, though by joint resolution of Congress, approved June 5, 1868, the Chief of Engineers was authorized to expend so much of the unexpended balance of the appropriation of 1866 for the breakwater as he might deem proper in excavating the middle ground near said breakwater and in otherwise protecting and improving the channel, so that the appropriation of 1866 for the breakwater and subsequent appropriations for improving Portland Harbor were expended partly on the breakwater and partly in dredging. The first regular project for dredging the harbor was submitted by Col. George Thom, June 30, 1868, in which he recommended the excavation of a channel 300 feet wide through the southern slope of the middle ground to a depth of 20 feet at mean low tide and the removal of the bar off Grand Trunk Wharves to the same depth. The project was approved. The estimated cost was $28,600. The estimated cost of completing the breakwater at the time this report was made was $59,984, and as $92,000 of the appropriation of 1866 was at that time available, no additional funds were needed over what had already been appropriated. In 1869 an extension of the breakwater 190 feet was added to the project, and subsequently a further extension of 200 feet was ordered, |