uv the local engineer, dated September 4, 1884. (Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1885, Part I, page 538.) It is stated in that report that the Goose Point is not a low-water channel, and that the cost of excavating a channel 5,940 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at mean low water will be $42,000. No appropriation has been made for this improvement. During the fiscal year $4,102.30 were expended. The balance available July 1, 1887, will be expended in completing the existing contract and in making such repairs to Long Beach as may become necessary from storm action. Plymouth Harbor is located in the collection district of Plymouth, Mass., of which Plymouth is the port of entry. The nearest light-honses are the Plymouth (Gurnet) Lights, about 5 miles from Plymouth, and Duxbury Pier Light, about 2 miles distant. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, have been furnished by the collector of customs at Plymouth, Mass. July 1, 1886, amount available. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 $1,059.69 6,000.00 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. 7,059.69 $1,125.22 4, 102.30 July 1, 1887, amount available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Abstract of proposals for dredging in Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts, opened October 12, 1886, by Major G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers. Contract for dredging was awarded to the New England Dredging Company, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS For the FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1887. B 12. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. The object of this improvement is to preserve one of the most valuable harbors of refuge on the Atlantic coast. The entire commerce of New England and a very large local fishing interest are directly benefited by its maintenance. It is situated at the extremity of Cape Cod, and its existence depends entirely on the preservation of the sandy beaches inclosing it. The project for its improvement was adopted in 1866 and modified in 1869, 1872, and 1873. It consists in the construction of detached bulkheads of wood and stone, jetties of wood and brush, dikes, sand-catch fences, and the extensive planting of beach grass-all for the sole purpose of preventing or arresting the movement of the sand by the wind and waves. A full history of these improvements will be found in the annual reports of the Chief of Engineers for the years 1876, 1879, and 1886. From June, 1864, to June 30, 1887, the allotments and appropriations for the improvement of this harbor have amounted to $139,478.44. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $136,473.90. The condition of the improvement June 30, 1886, was as follows: Long Point. This long, narrow, low point forms the southeastern limit of the harbor. It had been protected on the east or outside by bulkheads, groins, and aprons, built of rubble-stone. These were all generally in good order, except that 600 tons of additional large stone were required to level up the bulkhead near the northern end. During the past year this enrockment has settled somewhat into the sand, and parts of it have been so displaced that the sea makes through it, to the injury of the beach behind it. It ought to be repaired and backed, and an appropriation is recommended. Beach Point, High Head Dike, and Cove Section.-All were in good order and no further repairs needed. Abel Hill Dike.-This dike was built to prevent the rush of water from Lancy's Harbor over House Point Island Flats into the main harbor. The dike and the adjacent bulkheads to the southward, which were small and detached, were slightly damaged and required repairs. House Point Island Flats.-The survey of 1886 shows that these flats have increased somewhat to the eastward since the survey of 1835, but that the actual injury of late years to the harbor by shoaling has been less than was feared. House Point Island has diminished to a small snake-like sand spit, visible only at low water. The facts revealed by the survey at this point may be summarized as follows: The low-water line of the flats has moved northward an average distance of 300 feet. The 12-foot curve near Lobster Point has advanced northward 200 feet, approximately, but opposite Union Wharf, in Provincetown, it has receded 100 feet, approximately. On a line joining Union Wharf and Long Point Light, all the deep-water curves on the west side of the harbor have advanced westward towards the town. During the period considered the low-water line at Long Point has remained stationary except at the extreme northern point where it has advanced 300 feet northward. Under water, below the 6-foot contour, the point has widened eastward 200 feet, approximately. At Wood End light-house the beach has increased in width 200 feet, approximately. To the westward of the light the beach has remained comparatively unchanged except at one point 3,000 feet from the light where the beach has decreased in width by sea cutting from the inside. In general terms the beach has grown slightly eastward, and has raised and widened by sand accumulations except at a few points where the dune line has been weakened, and the flats between the beach and the town have advanced slightly to the northward, contracting only in a slight degree the harbor's capacity (less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.) on the south side, and have been partly covered with a dense growth of salt grass. The existing favorable conditions now visible there would seem to render inadvisable the commencement at this time of the dike recommended in the last Annual Report. The future changes will be studied as they occur, and the dike work will be recommended only when its construction becomes imperative. The river and harbor act approved August 5, 1886, appropriated $3,000 for continuing the improvement. The sum of $369.38 was applied in the completion of the hydrographic survey made to determine the amount of shoaling in the southern part of the harbor, and $482.52 in repairing the Abel Hill sand-catches. One hundred and three feet of new work were added, and 84 feet of the old work were repaired. The new work consisted of a double row of 6-inch spruce posts, 8 feet long, set 4 feet into the sand and spaced 5 feet apart. The rows were securely braced and the intervening space filled with brush weighted with a single layer of concrete 4 feet wide and 1 foot thick. Stone could not be procured at reasonable rates for the small quantity needed. This work was completed October 30, 1886, and a late inspection shows that it is in good repair so far as built, but needs extension to make the beach protection complete. The needed extension will take place before the close of the summer. The balance available July 1, 1887, will be expended in extending the beach protections of Long Point, near Abel Hill Dike and Wood End Light, and in planting marsh grass on the bare spots in House Point Island Flats. During the year ending June 30, 1889, the following sums could be expended to advantage in protecting the beach, leveling up, and backing: Long Point Breakwater.... Repairing probable storm damage Total..... $6,000 1,000 7,000 Provincetown is a port of entry in the collection district of Barnstable, Mass. The nearest light-houses are Long Point and Wood End lights. The accompanying statement of the deputy collector at the port of Provincetown, Mass., furnishes the commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. Money statement. July 1, 1886, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.... July 1, 1887, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 8872 ENG 87----34 $4.54 3,000.00 3, 004.54 860.50 2, 144. 04 7,000.00 7,000,00 APPENDIX C. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. REPORT OF MAJOR WILLIAM R. LIVERMORE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS OFFICER IN TEMPORARY CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1887, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Newport, R. I., September 14, 1887. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1887, for river and harbor works temporarily in my charge. These works were in charge of Lieut. Col. George H. Elliot, Corps of Engineers, until April 1, 1887. This office was assisted during the year by Assistant Engineer Norman W. Eayrs, from July 1 to September 30, 1886, and by Assistant Engineer Edward Parrish, from September 6, 1886, to June 30, 1887. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. W. R. LIVERMORE, |