The above statistics were furnished by the McCullough Iron Company, of North East, Md. H 10. IMPROVEMENT OF ELK RIVER, MARYLAND. At the beginning of the past fiscal year a contract had been made for the expenditure, in dredging, of the appropriation of $10,000 made by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. Operations were begun on August 11 and completed on November 4, 1891, the total amount of material removed under the contract being 56,069 cubic yards, consisting principally of sand and mud occasionally intermixed with fire clay and gravel. About one-half of the material was carried away in scows and dumped in a wide cove of the river, about 5 miles below Elkton; the remainder was deposited upon the adjoining banks along the cut. The channel dredged was made 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep at mean low water for a continuous length of 3,800 feet, from the iron county bridge above Scotts Wharf, at the head of navigation, to Morgans Gut. A small shoal, having less than 8 feet of water over it at low tide and situated about 1,600 feet below the junction of Little Elk River, was also removed to the approved width and depth, as it prevented, in a measure, the immediate use of the improvements in the upper section of the river. The present project for improvement is based upon a survey of the river made in 1889, and provides for an 8-foot channel from the iron county bridge above Scotts Wharf to deep water below Cedar Point. The width of the channel is to be 100 feet except at the wharves, where it may be increased to the existing width between the present wharf lines. This project was adopted in 1890 and during the past fiscal year the first appropriation made for it was expended. The dredged channel was reported to be in fair condition at the end of the fiscal year. Dredging will be continued under the approved project if the amount asked for is appropriated. Elk River is in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $3,178,558.44. AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED. By act approved June 23, 1874. March 3, 1875. June 14, 1880. March 3, 1881 By act passed August 2, 1882 By act approved September 19, 1890. 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 .......... ́Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 9,000.00 The above statistics were furnished by the Scott Fertilizer Company, Elkton, Md. 1182 5 12 3,000 60 3 to 7 During season. 5 H II. IMPROVEMENT OF FAIRLEE CREEK, MARYLAND. There were no operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. The appropriation of $5,000 made September 19, 1890, was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in widening the channel previously made at the mouth of the creek to 100 feet, and in dredging a channel 50 feet wide and 4,738 feet long inside the creek, the depth made in both cases being 7 feet below mean low water. The project adopted in 1888 embraces the dredging of a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water across the bar at the mouth and up the creek for a distance of about 23 miles; also the dredging of a turning basin at the upper end of the proposed channel, if a certain wharf should be built there before the channel is completed. The total estimated cost of the improvement is $15,558. No appreciable increase in the commerce of the creek, which has always been very limited, has been noted since improvements were begun. The amount asked for, if appropriated, will be expended in completing the channel inside the creek. Fairlee Creek is in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $3,178,558.44. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. $115.35 92.88 22.47 5,558.00 5,558.00 The above statistics were furnished by Judge W. S. Walker, of Chestertown, Md. H 12. IMPROVEMENT OF CHESTER RIVER, MARYLAND, FROM CRUMPTON TO JONES LANDING. At the beginning of the past fiscal year a contract had been made for dredging in accordance with the approved project, under the appropriation made September 19, 1890. The work was begun on October 28, 1891, and the contract was completed on February 8, 1892. The total amount of material removed was 20,061 cubic yards, principally sand and mud. The application of the money resulted in improving a section of the river about 4 miles long, from Crumpton, at the lower end, up to Kirby Landing, the dredging being carried on only at points where the existing channel was too shoal or too narrow. The required depth and width of the channel is 6 and 60 feet, respectively. At several sharp turns this width was increased on an average 20 feet, to facilitate navigation by large boats. The material removed was deposited upon the shore along the river. The adopted project for improvement is based upon a survey made in 1889, and is for a 6-foot low-water channel 60 feet wide, from the drawbridge at Crumpton to a point about 1 mile below Millington, supposed to be Jones Landing, à distance of 64 miles, at an estimated cost of $12,750. The work done during the past fiscal year was the first under this project. The amount asked for, if appropriated, will be expended in completing the approved project. This work is in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $3,178,558.44. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $5,000 $4,992.35 3,088.58 1,903. 77 3,000.00 4,903. 77 4,750.00 4,750.00 Garden truck. Grain General merchandise.. Total....... Total receipts and shipments.. 5, 633 113, 096 The above statistics were furnished by the Chester River Steamboat Company. H 13. IMPROVEMENT OF CHOPTANK RIVER, MARYLAND. There were no operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. A contract for dredging has been made with Chester T. Caler, of Norfolk, Va., the work to begin on or before July 10, 1892. The available funds will be expended in widening and deepening to the full proposed width and depth the portions of the channel heretofore improved, and it is expected that the contract will be completed before the end of the present calendar year. The object of this improvement, which has been carried on since 1881, is to make an 8-foot low-water navigation between Denton and Greensboro, Md., a distance of about 8 miles, the width of the channel to be 75 feet. The estimated cost of the improvement is $79,000. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $37,513.63 had been expended, and about 13 miles of the river remained that had only a depth of from 5 to 7 feet at low water. The width of the channel has in no case as yet reached 75 feet where dredging has been done. It is proposed to expend the amount asked for, if appropriated, in dredging the channel to the full width and depth, in accordance with the original project. This work is in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $3,178,558.44. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1892, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 $7,486.37 7, 204.72 704.72 3,000.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.... 3,704.72 JAmount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 20,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 10,000.00 |