inner beacon and the Naugatuck Railroad Wharf was reported completed in 1887; the inner beacon has since been rebuilt, and its location slightly changed, which makes it desirable to cut off a short point outside the new position of that beacon; this was partly done in 1888. The breakwater from the Tongue to the inner beacon has been built to full length, but not to the cross-sections necessary for permanence. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. With future appropriations it is proposed to complete the channel above the bridges, to remove the shoal places above the Naugatuck Railroad Wharf, and to widen the channel eastward to the harbor line an additional width of about 200 feet; also to complete the breakwater from the Tongue to the inner beacon. The estimated cost of the above work is $35,000; it could be done to advantage in a single year. The annual cost of maintaining the dredged channels in this harbor is estimated at $3,000. Appropriations for the improvement of Bridgeport Harbor have been made as follows: Bridgeport, the port of entry for the collection district of Fairfield, is situated about 2 miles from Long Island Sound, at the head of Bridgeport Harbor. There is a light-house at the entrance to the harbor. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, the nearest work of defense, is 18 miles east. Money statement. 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 $19,901.35 18, 491.20 1, 410. 15 20,000.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...... 21.410.15 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 35,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and 35,000.00 Abstract of contracts for improving Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. Part of a contract for dredging in the harbors of Bridgeport, Black Rock, Five Mile River, and Norwalk. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1891. The above statement of freight tonnage shows an increase of 21,717 tons over that reported for 1890. During 1891 4,960 vessels, carrying 371,250 tons of cargoes, entered this harbor for refuge. Custom-house receipts for year ending June 30, 1892, $195,240. The shipment of oysters from this harbor for the year ending June 30, 1892, to domestic and foreign ports, amounted to 682,275 bushels, valued at $407,138. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891. D II. IMPROVEMENT OF BLACK ROCK HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. This harbor, 13 miles long from northeast to southwest and from 300 to 2,500 feet wide, lies between the mainland on the west and Fayerweather Island on the east, and includes the navigable part of Cedar Creek, a small tidal inlet which extends up into the western part of ENG 9244 the city of Bridgeport, and affords water communication of great value to several large manufactories in its immediate neighborhood. It is in the interest of the city of Bridgeport that the improvement of Black Rock Harbor is desired. The depth in the lower part of the harbor is from 6 to 12 feet at mean low water; this part of the harbor was formerly much used as a refuge for vessels overtaken by storms, but is not deep enough for most vessels now engaged in commerce through the Sound. Before work was done in Cedar Creek the depth there was from 2 to 4 feet, and the channel was narrow and crooked. The head of the harbor was separated from Long Island Sound on the southeast by a broad, flat sand bar, which was bare at about half tide, and which joined Fayerweather Island with the main shore. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Between 1836 and 1838 $21,500 was expended in building a sea wall across a breach in the southern part of Fayerweather Island to preserve the light-house reservation at the south end of the island and to prevent shoaling on the anchorage ground. In 1882 a survey of the harbor was ordered by Congress, which was made in 1883. In his report on this survey, dated December 12, 1883, Col. McFarland, U. S. Engineers, submitted a project providing 1. For protecting the upper part of the harbor from the sea by building a breakwater over the bar northeast of Fayerweather Island, to be about half a mile long and 6 feet wide at the top, which was to be 34 feet above mean high water or 10 feet above low water. 2. For making a channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water, extending up Cedar Creek. Work under this project was begun in 1885, and up to July 1, 1891, the breakwater had been built to its full length, in order to prevent the currents from cutting a channel across the bar, but its cross-section was less than designed, both in height and width; also a channel 6 feet deep or over, had been dredged with width of 80 feet extending from deep water northward up Cedar Creek to within 500 feet of the head of the creek, being 2,200 feet north of the Forge Company's wharf. This channel was further widened and deepened in places by private parties. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. At the beginning of the fiscal year a contract with Mr. George B. Beardsley, dated February 27, 1891, was in force, for dredging about 26,000 cubic yards at the rate of 14.6 cents per cubic yard, but work had not been begun. Under this contract dredging was begun December 15, 1891, and the contract was completed February 27, 1892. The total amount dredged under this contract was 28,000 cubic yards; the channel from Fanchers Dock upstream for about 2,000 feet was widened by 40 feet, making its present width from 90 to 100 feet with a depth of 6 feet at mean low water; the bends at either end of the new channel were cut off, and a small shoal nearly in front of Fanchers Dock was removed. PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT. The sea wall built in 1836-1838 across a breach in Fayerweather Island is still effective in preserving the island and preventing the sea from washing over into the harbor. It needs some repair. The breakwater between Fayerweather Island and the mainland is built to its full length, 2,744 feet, with diminished cross-section. The 6-foot channel has been dredged to the head of navigation in Cedar Creek, the east branch of the harbor, with full projected width and depth, and is now in good condition. Additional dredging to widen and deepen the channel in places has been done by private parties. PROPOSED OPERATIONS. With future appropriations it is proposed to build up the breakwater to the dimensions projected, and to maintain the present channel. Appropriations for the improvement of Black Rock Harbor have been made as follows: Black Rock Harbor is in the Fairfield collection district, of which Bridgeport is the port of entry. There is a light-house at the harbor entrance. Fort Hale, New Haven Harbor, the nearest work of defense, is 20 miles east. Money statement. 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 ..... $5,117.38 4, 711.75 405, 63 5,000.00 5,405.63 35,000.00 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 20, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Abstract of contract for improving harbor at Black Rock, Conn., in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. * Part of a contract for dredging in the harbors of Bridgeport, Black Rock, Five Mile River, and Norwalk. In addition to above, 2.800 vessels anchored for refuge in Black Rock Harbor during 1891. The above figures show an increase in tonnage of freight over that reported for 1890 of 16,915 tons. No new lines of transportation have been established since July 1, 1891. D 12. IMPROVEMENT OF NORWALK HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. Norwalk Harbor or River is a tidal estury, with a narrow channel extending about 3 miles north from Long Island Sound to the town of Norwalk. Above Norwalk the river is a small fresh-water stream. South Norwalk is on the west bank of the river, 13 miles below Norwalk. At this point the river is crossed by two drawbridges, the lower one a highway bridge, and the other (450 feet above) the bridge of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. In 1867 a company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut for the improvement of the river. Little work was done, and when improvement was begun by the United States the low-water depth to South Norwalk was 5 feet, and to Norwalk but 1 foot. PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT. By act of March 2, 1829, Congress appropriated $80 "for making a survey of the harbor of Norwalk, Connecticut, with a view to its im provement." The survey was made by Capt. Hartman Bache, U. S. Engineers, who, in his report on the same, dated May 10, 1830, recommended excavating the channel, proposing to build a steam dredge for the purpose. The cost was estimated as follows: For a channel 12 feet deep at ordinary high water. $15, 668.95 12, 286.45 |