No money was appropriated for carrying out this plan, and in 1871 another survey was ordered by Congress, which was made in the same

year.

In his report on the latter survey, dated December 16, 1871, and printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 23, Forty-second Congress, second session; also in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1872, page 900, Gen. Warren, U. S. Engineers, submitted a project for dredg ing a channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide from Long Island Sound up to Norwalk, at an estimated cost of $34,000.

In 1880 the terms of the river and harbor act provided that "so much of said appropriation ($5,000) as shall be necessary therefor shall be so expended as to have a channel 6 feet deep at low water between the steamboat landing in said Norwalk and Long Island Sound." As a channel of the projected width (100 feet) and depth of 6 feet at mean low water existed, this was interpreted as requiring a depth of 6 feet at extreme low water (see Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, Part I, page 609), which would be of 8 feet at mean low water, and the project was accordingly modified to provide for obtaining that depth up to South Norwalk, where the steamboat landing was.

The latest estimate, made to include the cost of this modification and of a large amount of dredging already required to maintain the channel, places the total cost from the time of beginning work at $84,000.

Up to July 1, 1891, the channel below South Norwalk had been dredged 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water, and above South Norwalk it has been made from 60 to 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep. It has shoaled in places, chiefly from subsidence and falling in of the banks.

OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892.

At the beginning of the fiscal year a contract was in force, entered into February 27, 1891, with Mr. George B. Beardsley, for dredging at the rate of 14.6 cents per cubic yard, measured in scows. Work under this contract was begun October 20, and completed December 7, 1891. The total amount dredged was 28,000 cubic yards. The location of work was along the sides of the channel, both above and below South Norwalk, removing shoals that had formed from washing in and subsidence of the banks.

PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT.

The channel below South Norwalk is 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water; from South Norwalk to Norwalk it is from 60 to 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water.

PROPOSED OPERATIONS.

The project is completed, except so far as relates to the full 100 feet width above South Norwalk. It seems inexpedient at present to attempt to maintain a greater width than now exists in this part of the harbor, and therefore no further work upon the project is at present proposed. A small amount of dredging may be needed from time to time to repair and maintain the existing chaunels. No appropriation is needed for the ensuing year.

Part of an appropriation of $28,000, of which $25,000 was required to be expended at Wilson's Point.

Norwalk is in the Fairfield collection district, and is 11 miles west of Bridgeport, the port of entry.

Norwalk light-house is on Sheffield Island, at the harbor entrance,

The nearest work of defense is Fort Schuyler, Throgs Neck, at the head of Long Island Sound, about 29 miles southwest.

Abstract of contract for improring Norwalk 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.

Arrivals and departures of vessels.

[Draft, 7 to 12 feet; tonnage, 100 to 500 tons.]

* I think it would be perfectly fair to add to this report, say, 100 trips each of 10 oyster steamers, with an average cargo of 40 tons each, at an average value of $10 per ton; or 1,000 trips-40,000 tons, at $40,000.

The above figures show an increase in freight tonnage of 56,000 tons over that reported for 1890.

One new line of transportation has been established since July 1, 1891.

D 13.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT WILSONS POINT, CONNECTICUT. Wilsons Point Harbor is a bay on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 14 miles west from the mouth of Norwalk River or Harbor. The lower half of the harbor is about half a mile wide, with depth decreasing from 16 feet gradually to 6 feet at Wilsons Point; the upper half is from 1,000 to 500 feet wide, with depth of 3 feet or less.at low tide. The harbor is sheltered by the mainland and by Sheffield Island (the most westerly of the Norwalk islands), from all quarters except the southwest; it is partly sheltered from the southwest by "Bell Island," an island separated from the mainland by a marsh and narrow creek.

Wilsons Point Harbor has been used to some extent for many years as a harbor of refuge and place to lie up for the night by fishing boats and oyster steamers, and occasionally by barges caught out in storms. There is no settlement upon the shores of the harbor, except a collection of summer cottages on Bell Island.

A few years ago the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad Company (now a branch of the Housatonic Railroad Company) made Wilsons Point their terminus, and subsequently the New England Terminal Company was formed to construct docks, car yards, and coal sheds, and to operate in the interest of the Housatonic Railroad and its connections. A large dock was built, with transfer bridges, by which freight cars were taken on board steamers, and freight carried to New York City without unloading and reloading.

PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

March 3, 1888, a letter was sent by the Hon. William P. Frye, United States Senator, to the Secretary of War, asking that a special examination of Norwalk Harbor be made with reference to a developing business which urgently required further improvements. This letter was referred to me for report. Upon inquiry it was learned that the business referred to was that of the railroad terminus at Wilsons Point, and that it was desired that the United States undertake dredging a channel 15 feet deep and 300 feet wide up the harbor to the vicinity of the railroad wharves. There was no money available for a detailed

examination of the locality, but estimates for dredging based upon recent U. S. Coast Survey charts were made as follows:

The river and harbor act of 1888 made appropriation for Norwalk Harbor, Conn., of $28,000, with provision as follows:

Twenty-five thousand dollars of which shall be expended in dredging and deepening the channel in the lower harbor up to Wilsons Point.

Up to July 1, 1891, the channel had been made 15 feet deep at mean low water, and 480 feet wide from Long Island Sound up nearly to the wharves, with an additional width of 200 feet on the east side near the wharves for a length of 750 feet; close to the wharves the channel dredged by the New England Terminal Company is 12 feet deep.

OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. With the approval of the Chief of Engineers, dated February 14, 1891, dredging was begun February 22, 1892, under open agreement with A. J. Beardsley & Son, the rate being 84 cents per cubic yard, the same as paid under the previous contract.

One hundred and seventy-nine thousand cubic yards of mud and sand have been dredged from the channel, making a depth of 15 feet at mean low water; the west side of the channel to the wharves was widened by about 220 feet, and a channel on the west side of the wharves was dredged 200 feet wide and about 1,300 feet long, parallel to and 75 feet distant from the wharves.

Work under this agreement was completed June 23, 1892.

PRESENT CONDITION OF IMPROVEMENT.

The channel close to the docks dredged by the Terminal Company is 12 feet deep at mean low water; outside of this is a channel 15 feet deep, extending out to deep water in Long Island Sound, about 700 feet wide, with an additional width of 200 feet on the east side for a distance of 750 feet south from the wharves.

The 15-foot channel has been extended northward parallel to the wharves and 75 feet from them, with a width of 200 feet. These channels are all in good condition, and afford easy access to the wharves for vessels of considerable depth.

PROPOSED OPERATIONS.

The improvement of this harbor is completed as far as now designed; no further work is projected and no appropriation is required. Appropriations for improving harbor at Wilsons Point have been made as follows:

*Part of an appropriation of $28,000 for Norwalk Harbor, directed by the appropriation act to be expended at Wilsons Point.

Wilsons Point is in the Fairfield collection district, and is about 14 miles south west from Bridgeport, the port of entry.

Norwalk Lighthouse, on Sheffield Island, is about half a mile south of the harbor. The nearest work of defense is Fort Schuyler, Throgs Neck, at the head of Long Island Sound, about 29 miles southwest.

No commercial statistics for this harbor have yet been received. The amount of commerce reported for 1890 was 221,202 tons; it was probably somewhat greater for 1891.

D 14.

IMPROVEMENT OF FIVE-MILE HARBOR, CONNECTICUT.

This harbor is an inlet on the north shore of Long Island Sound, about 2 miles west of the mouth of Norwalk Harbor, Connecticut. It is about 1 mile long and from 300 to 800 feet wide. About three-quarters of a mile above its mouth it runs bare at low tide. At the mouth the depth is about 3 feet, increasing to 9 feet at a point about 750 feet out into the sound. The mean rise of tide is about 7 feet.

Since 1848 Five Mile River has been largely engaged in oyster-growing, and in this business now employs about 137 vessels.

These vessels can only enter or leave the harbor at high tide, consequently during their busy season they are obliged to lie up for the night at other and less convenient harbors.

PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENT.

By act of Congress approved August 5, 1886, a survey or examination of this harbor was ordered, which was made in the following fall, and reported on under date of December 7, 1886, and printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887, Part I, page 639

In this report a project for improvement was proposed, which consisted in dredging a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, to extend up the harbor, and to be about 6,000 feet long; the estimated cost was $25,000. This project was adopted in 1888, when work under it was ordered by the appropriation of $5,000 made by act of Congress of August 11, 1888.

Up to July 1, 1891, 22,938 cubic yards had been dredged under this project, making the channel about 1,500 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 8 feet deep at mean low water.

OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892.

At the beginning of the fiscal year a contract for dredging was in force, entered into with Mr. George B. Beardsley, under date of February 27, 1891, rate 14.6 cents per cubic yards, measured in scows.