The amount available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, will be expended in dredging an 8-foot channel from the mouth of the canal to Washington. Original estimate, $194,695; amount appropriated, $61,000; amount expended, including outstanding liabilities, $55,918.31. July 1, 1836, amount available.... Sale of fuel to officers 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, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1887, amount available.... $361.27 30.06 5,000.00 5, 391.33 $194.52 249.52 5, 141.81 133,695.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix F 6.) 7. Cheesequakes Creek, New Jersey.-In its original condition this stream was obstructed at its mouth by a sand-bar on which the best depth was 1 foot at mean low water; for about 1 mile of its length the channel had a depth of 6 feet, but the remainder had generally a depth of 3 feet and less. The range of the tide is 5.1 feet. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1879, and provides for obtaining by dredging and diking a channel 5 feet deep at mean low water, and 200 feet wide at the mouth of the creek, and 4 feet deep with a width of from 100 to 50 feet to the head of navigation at Whitehead's Dock, 3 miles from the mouth. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1886, was $40,000, the least depth in the improved channel at the mouth was 4.5 feet at mean low water; no work had been done on the shoals above, and no increase in the commerce of the creek had been observed. There have been no funds available during the year ending June 30, 1887, and no expenditures. The condition of the creek and its traffic remains substantially unchanged. Original estimate, revised 1885, $90,000; amount appropriated, $10,000; amount expended, $40,000. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... $50,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix F 7.) 8. Keyport Harbor, New Jersey.-Keyport Harbor was originally accessible at low water only to vessels drawing less than 4 feet. Before its improvement was undertaken by the United States, a 6-foot channel had been dredged at private expense, which had shoaled in 1872 to 5 feet, and in 1882 to 5 feet; the range of the tide being 4.7 feet. large commerce was carried on, however, valued at $2,932,000. A The project for the improvement was adopted in 1873, and provided for dredging a channel 4,700 long, 8 feet deep at mean low water, and 200 feet wide, from the steamboat dock to the 8-foot contour in Raritan Bay, at an estimated cost of $30,475. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1886, was $29,523.01, with which a channel had been dredged from the 8-foot depth in Raritan Bay to Keyport Wharf a distance of 5,000 feet, with a width of 200 feet for the first 4,200 feet, and 160 feet for the remainder. The commerce of the harbor had increased greatly, being estimated at $5,000,000, besides 150,000 passengers carried annually. There has been no appropriation for this work since 1882; the expenditures for the last fiscal year were for an examination of the harbor. The dredged channel is stated to have shoaled in places to about 6 feet mean low water. Original estimate, 1873, $30,475; revised estimate, 1884, $40,475; amount appropriated, $30,475; amount expended, $30,020.51. July 1, 1886, amount available.. $951.99 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 497.50 July 1, 1887, amount available.... 454.49 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 10,000.00 (See Appendix F 8.) 9. Mattawan Creek, New Jersey.-Before its improvement by the Government this small stream was obstructed at its entrance into Keyport Harbor by a mud flat, on which the best depth at the worst section was 3.1 feet at mean low water, though the 3-foot channel was too narrow and tortuous for use. Above this flat a good 4-foot channel existed to 13 miles above the mouth, and thence to the steamboat dock at Mattawan 3.5 feet, shoaling to 1.8 feet at the freight dock 600 feet above, and 17 miles from the mouth. The range of the tide is 4.7 feet. Notwithstanding the above difficulties, it carried commerce valued in 1880 at $800,000. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1881, and provides for dredging a channel 4 feet deep at mean low water, and 100 feet wide from the mouth to Winskon Creek, and thence 75 feet wide to the railroad bridge at Mattawan, 250 feet above the freight dock, at an estimated cost of $33,120. To June 30, 1886, the amount expended under this project was $21,000, with which a channel had been dredged, giving the required depth from the mouth to the freight dock at Mattawan, with widths varying from 100 to 30 feet. The estimated value of the commerce of the creek had increased to over $2,000,000 in 1885, amounting to 130,000 tons. There has been no appropriation for this stream since 1882; there were no funds available for the past fiscal year, and there have been no expenditures. The condition of the stream has deteriorated since work was suspended, and complaints are made of shoaling at the mouth of the river. Original estimate, $33,120; amount appropriated, $21,000; amount expended, $21,000. $12, 120.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix F 9.) 10. Shrewsbury River, New Jersey.-When the present project for this improvement was adopted in 1879, the river was obstructed by a number of shifting sand-bars which had caused the complete suspension of navigation in the South Branch, and only permitted the passage of vessels engaged in commerce up the North Branch at or near high water. A considerable trade was carried on, however, even under these difficult conditions. The originally adopted project for the improvement was to dredge a channel 6 feet deep at mean low water and from 300 feet to 150 in width, across the shoals from the mouth to Red Bank, on the North Branch, 8 miles, and Branchport, on the South Branch, 9 miles, and the maintenance of these channels by longitudinal dikes. This project has not been modified as to the end sought, but the estimates of the diking, dredging, and cost have been increased from time to time. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1886, was $194,278.30, which had resulted in the material improvement of the river, the commerce of which had been more than trebled since the commencement of the improvement. During the last fiscal year $2,616.50 have been expended this spring in surveying the river, extending and making repairs to dikes, and office expenses, leaving a balance of $7,456.50, which will be expended before winter in building dikes and dredging. The condition of the river is about the same as last year, and is still far from being satisfactory or adequate; its commerce has increased, however, a sixth steamboat making two trips daily to New York having been added. The officer in charge reports that the balance of the estimate, $50,062, can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, and if appropriated will be expended in completing the dikes and dredging which will permit all the vessels on the river to make their trips with regularity instead of being frequently detained to wait for the rising tide, which will result as heretofore in the material increase of the active trade carried on on this river. July 1, 1886, amount available................ Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.. $221.70 10,000.00 10, 221.70 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities... $2,655. 20 2,765, 20 July 1, 1887, amount available...... 7,456,50 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix F 10.) 50,062.00 20,000 00 11. Manasquan River, New Jersey.-In its original condition this stream had a depth of from 6 to 4 feet at mean low water for several miles above its mouth; but was obstructed at its outlet into the ocean by a sandspit, which had deflected the stream into a channel parallel with the beach communicating with the ocean across shifting sand-bars on which the best depth did not exceed 14 feet at mean low water; mean range of tide 2.4 feet. In severe storms this channel was sometimes entirely closed by the sand, remaining so until the fresh water in the river had accumulated sufficiently to force a new outlet. Under these conditions the river could not be used by commerce. The project for its improvement was adopted in 1879, and contemplated dredging the lower river, and obtaining by means of jetties a permanent outlet nearly at right angles to the beach, with a depth of 6 feet at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $52,120. The amount expended under this project to June 30, 1886, was $39,000, with which two jetties had been constructed, but neither to its full length, appropriations having ceased in 1882. No permanent improvement had been effected. There were no expenditures on account of this work during the year ending June 30, 1887, there being no funds available. Original estimate, 1879, $52,120; revised estimate, 1882, $72,000; amount appropriated, $39,000; amount expended, $39,000. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix F 11.) $33,000.00 IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE AND SCHUYKILL RIVERS, AND OF RIVERS IN NEW JERSEY, HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY, CONSTRUCTION OF PIER AT LEWES, DELAWARE BREAKWATER. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers. 1. Delaware River, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.-Trenton, the head of natural navigation on the Delaware River, is about 30 miles above the upper part of the port of Philadelphia. In its original condition this part of the river was obstructed by shoals at the following localities: Between Bordentown and Trenton, a distance of about 5 miles, a narrow and circuitous channel existed which carried from 3 to 6 feet at mean low water; at Kinkora Bar, about 9 miles below Trenton, a shoal carrying from 7 to 8 feet, and at Five Mile Bar, at the upper part of Philadelphia, a shoal carrying only 3 or 4 feet at mean low water. Below Philadelphia the river in its original condition presented obstructions at Mifflin Bar which reduced the depth at mean low water to 17 feet, at Schooner Ledge and Cherry Island Flats to 18 feet, at Bulkhead Shoals and Dan Baker Shoal to about 20 feet. The project for the comprehensive improvement of the Delaware River between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia has not yet been considered. Efforts in the past have been directed toward relieving commerce from the obstructions which exist in the upper 9 miles of the river, or that part between Kinkora Bar and Trenton. A detailed survey of the river between Bridesburg and Trenton has been made for the purpose of obtaining the necessary data for determining upon a comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia to meet the requirements of commerce, and also of the plan adopted for the improvement of the river at and below Philadelphia. Previous to 1885, the efforts to improve the river between Philadelphia and the bay have been confined to dredging, except at Schooner Ledge, where solid rock has been removed, under appropriations for special localities and also under general appropriations for the Delaware River below Bridesburg. A Board of Engineers, convened by direction of the Secretary of War for the purpose of considering the subject of the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay, recommended, under date of January 23, 1885, the formation of a ship-channel from a point opposite Philadelphia, and about midway between the American Shipbuilding Company's yard and the Gas Trust Wharf to deep water in Delaware Bay, having a least width of 600 feet, and a depth of 26 feet at mean low water. The formation of such a channel is to be obtained, except at Schooner Ledge, where rock would require to be removed, by regulating the tidal flow by means of dikes, with recourse to dredging where necessary as an aid to such contracting and regulating works. The estimated cost of obtaining a channel of the above dimensions is about $2,425,000, which covers the estimated cost of the permanent improvement of the Delaware River between the upper part of Philadelphia and deep water in the bay. The entire cost of the permanent improvement of the river between Trenton, N. J., and its mouth can not be stated until after the completion of the project and estimate for its improvement between Bridesburg and Trenton. The entire amount expended on the improvement of the Delaware River from 1836 to June 30, 1886, under appropriations both for special localities and the general river was $1,499,717.92, of which $100,847.37 was expended on that part of the river between Trenton and the upper part of Philadelphia. As a result of this expenditure there had been formed at the latter date a channel of navigable width and 74 feet deep at mean low water through the bars between Bridesburg and Bordentown; 125 feet wide and 10 feet deep through Five Mile Bar; 400 feet wide and from 24 to 26 feet deep through a part of the shoal areas at Port Richmond; 300 feet wide and 23 feet deep through Mifflin Bar; 330 feet wide and 24 feet deep through Schooner Ledge; 470 feet wide and 24 feet deep through Cherry Island Flats; and 385 feet wide and 22 feet deep through Bulkhead Shoals. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, the sum of $113,320.35, which includes the liabilities outstanding June 30, 1886, was expended in surveys, examinations, and tidal observations; in dredging through Five Mile Bar just above Petty's Island; in dredging in the Main Ship Channel at Port Richmond; in dike construction at Mifflin Bar; and in the formation of a channel between Philadelphia and Camden. The dredged channel through Five Mile Bar has nearly disappeared since its completion in July, 1886, while the bar for a width of 3,000 feet has been lowered to a least depth of 6 feet. The dredging at Port Richmond has widened the main ship-channel to a width of about 450 feet, with a depth of from 24 to 26 feet at mean low water, and extended northward the previous channel for a distance of about 400 feet. The dike at Mifflin Bar is yet incomplete, and the consequent extent of its action on the bar quite limited; a recent examination shows that a least depth of 22 feet is obtained over the bar in a channel 200 feet wide. The channel between Philadelphia and Camden, across Smith's Island Bar, has been improved by the formation of a dredged cut protected by revetment, so as to give a channel 150 feet wide with a minimum depth of 6 feet at mean low water. An appropriation of $500,000 is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, which would be applied in accordance with the approved project. 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, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1887, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1887, amount available...... |