The reason for the last modification, whereby the extension will gradually withdraw the ends of the structure from water 36 and 39 feet deep into water about 30 feet deep, and then prolong it about parallel to the shore and 1,000 feet distant from the outer ends of the docks in shallower water, is that there will be considerable saving in the cost per linear foot of protection afforded by bringing the work nearer shore and adhering to the shallower depths. At the same time it will result in no injurious restriction of the harbor capacity, provided a limit to the extension of docks into the harbor or a commission line is established, which ought to be done, and is looked for, since the attention of the board of trade here has been invited to the subject. A contract was made for 240 feet extension at the southern end of the break water, under date of August 12, 1887, with Luther Whitney, of Keesville, N. Y. Work was commenced August 22, 1887, and there were 2,449.1 cubic yards of rubble-stone placed in the foundation before the close of navigation. Operations were resumed May 16, and there have been 4,209.2 cubic yards of rubble-stone placed in the foundation at the close of the fiscal year, making it about high enough to receive the cribs. It is expected the framing and sinking of the cribs will soon be undertaken, as the timber for them is arriving, and that this contract will be completed November 30, 1888. As additional funds become available for this improvement it is expected they will be applied in further extensions to the breakwater, so as to keep pace with the growth of the commerce and the extensions of the line of docks and wharves of the harbor, and in maintenance. Money statement. July 1, 1887, amount available.. July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887 July 1, 1888, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1888, amount covered by existing contracts. $20, 570. 24 $4,655.39 18, 924. 80 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project .... 1,645. 44 35,000.00 36, 645. 44 149, 250.00 50,000. 00 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Name of harbor, Burlington, Vt.; nearest light-house, Juniper Island; collection district, Vermont. The aforesaid vessels discharged the following at this port: The above was received through the kindness of the collector of customs. N N 8. IMPROVEMENT OF OTTER CREEK, VERMONT. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1872, and, as modified in 1882 and 1884, proposes the formation of a channel from Vergennes, Vt., to Lake Champlain, of a navigable width, and to afford a least depth of 8 feet. (See Reports of Chief of Engineers, 1872, page 273; 1882, page 712; and 1884, page 2159.) The last operations under the above head consisted in the dredging. of some 11,773 cubic yards of obstructing material from Bull Brook Bend and its vicinity in 1884, whereby much benefit was done the general navigation of the channel, and the improvement at this obstruction, which had been the most serious on Otter Creek, was perfected. In order to complete the scheme of improvement, the channels at Sharkee's and Crittenden's bends, at Steam-boat Landing, and at the mouth of the creek should all receive attention, as contemplated in the original and modified projects. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 18×9.. 3,148.34 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 37,248.00 5,000.00 Value of the aforesaid cargoes, $150,000. The above was obtained through the kindness of the collector of customs. NN 9. IMPROVEMENT OF TICONDEROGA RIVER, NEW YORK. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, its object being the formation of a channel of navigable width and a least depth of 8 feet at low water between the falls at Ticonderoga village and Lake Champlain, a distance of about 2 miles. (See Report of Chief of Engineers, 1881, page 726.) The improvement was estimated to cost $42,516, of which amount $12,000 have been appropriated. The amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886, $2,000, was pledged under contract dated March 9, 1887, the work comprehended in the contract being the removal of 10,000 cubic yards from the upper end of the channel. Operations were commenced in the month of July, the water being at a favorable stage for carrying on the work; 10,870 cubic yards were removed, and the contract was completed and closed in the month of August, 1887. In order to fully carry out the scheme of improvement the channel should be widened in places and should be very generally deepened, so as to afford an 8-foot draught instead of a 6-foot draught, the work heretofore carried on having resulted mainly in securing the lesser depth, owing to the friable material of the abrupt banks left by the dredges ultimately reaching the channel. The parties directly interested in the improvement desiring to utilize the dredged material in raising the level of the adjacent ground that is submerged 2 or 3 feet by backwater from the lake at high water, and there being a saving in cost for dredging if scows are not required, the last contract provided that the material should be deposited alongside the cut, but this only increases the danger of the banks caving, unless the material so placed is at once removed to a distance from the edges of the cut. In any view of the case, the permanency of the improvement is decidedly questionable; for, whereas boats formerly reached the foot of the falls without difficulty, where the lake may have been said to receive the river, the lake and falls are now separated by some 2 miles of intervening swamp and lowland that has resulted from deposits, and unless the causes productive of so much filling are removed, accretions may be expected to continue. Doubtless these causes are not quite as active as formerly, there being probably less waste from mills, etc., now, but neither is the area in which the deposits take place as large as it was, the dredged channel merely forming a sort of narrow estuary of the lake, now, up to the falls, into which the river, with its sedimentary material, must pour; therefore a continuation of the deposits must be expected. Since my personal inspection of the locality, and acquaintance with the commerce benefited and other concomitants of the undertaking, it is regarded as questionably worthy of improvement by the Government; and at the rate that operations can be carried on with the small appropriations that are made, it is probable they will not much more than keep pace with the filling of the channel by annual accretions. In view of all of which no further appropriations are asked for this improvement. If, however, it is deemed best to continue the improvement, it would seem to be the part of wisdom to appropriate a sufficient sum to complete the undertaking in one season's operations; since such a course might possibly enhance the commerce sufficiently to justify the maintenance of the improved channel afterwards. July 1, 1887, amount available Money statement. $1,864.60 July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887.... 1,805.89 July 1, 1888, balance available 58.71 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 2,500.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889.... 2,558.71 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. 28,076,00 N N 10. IMPROVEMENT OF NARROWS AT LAKE CHAMPLAIN, NEW YORK AND VERMONT. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1885, and has for its object the removal of such obstructions in the channel between Whitehall, N. Y., and Benson's Landing, Vt., as will afford a least depth of 12 feet and a least width of 150 feet. The entire undertaking was esti mated to cost $86,000. There were $30,000 appropriated for the work by act approved August 5, 1886. The most important portions of the improvement were duly advertised September 21, 1886; and contracts were made with Luther Whitney, of Keeseville, N. Y., for the removal of a rock-reef near the Elbow about a mile below Whitehall, N. Y., under date of October 21, 1886, and with John L. Johnson for dredging 100,000 cubic yards from Kenyon's Bay, under date of October 18, 1886, they having been the lowest bidders for each. The contract for rock excavation was completed and closed in July, 1887. It required the removal of the entire rock reef, estimated to contain 600 cubic yards, so as to afford a 12-foot depth at low water, corresponding to 8.75 feet depth on the lower miter-sill of the lower rock at Whitehall, N. Y. The examination before acceptance was made in a thoroughly searching manner. Instead of trusting to soundings a float was arranged with a 12-foot section of pipe held rigidly in a horizontal position at the required depth beneath it, which was carried back and forth over the excavated area, the motion being at right angles to the direction of the pipe. Nothing was encountered within the area of the excavation to interfere with such motion of the float. Operations under the contract for dredging in Kenyon's Bay were continued through the season of 1887, but it became evident, before the season was far advanced, that work was not progressing fast enough to warrant an expectation that the contract would be completed on time. The attention of the contractor was called to his rate of progress, but only one dredge was placed at work; so that the contractor was obliged to ask for an extension of time for completion of his contract to July 30, 1888. A total of 85,282 cubic yards have been removed, under this contract, leaving 14,718 cubic yards to be removed in order to complete it. There are now two dredges operating, and the contract as extended will doubtless be completed on time. Additional funds would be expended in dredging mainly. Money statement. July 1, 1887, amount available $26,858.94 July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887 $16, 333. 35 July 1, 1888, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1888, amount covered by existing contracts 6, 264.97 2,502.07 25, 100.39 July 1, 1888, balance available 1,758.55 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 ..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project .... COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Number of tows, boats, and tonnage that passed into and out of Whitehall Harbor: Average number of tons carried by each boat gross.. 7,520 160 of 1887 The above was received through the kindness of the collector of customs. 1,203, 200 $2,300,000 2,200,000 |