Amount available July 1, 1868... Allotted from appropriation of 1868. Total Amount expended during the fiscal year.. Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. (See Appendix O.) $3,982 84 47, 982 84 $26,056 65 168,900 00 2. Improvement of the Susquehanna below Havre de Grace.-The deflector at the mouth of the river was stiffened and replaced in November, but was broken by a severe storm one week afterwards. The officer in charge renews the recommendation for a permanent structure of detached cribs of timber and stone at an estimated cost of about $40,000, from which might be deducted the available value of the timber now on hand in the deflector, say $8,000. Amount available July 1, 1868 Derived from sales of property during the year.. Total.... Expended during the fiscal year Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 .. (See Appendix O.) $13,500 95 20,038 35 $18, 725 85 CONSTRUCTION OF THE DELAWARE BREAKWATER, DELAWARE; AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT MARCUS HOOK, PENNSYLVANIA. Officer in charge, Lieutenant Colonel C. S. Stewart, corps of engineers. 1. Delaware Breakwater.-From July 1, 1868, to June 30, 1869, labor has been hired by days' work, owing to the failure of the contractor. The first contractors for stone filled their contract on the 6th of October, 1868. Under a new contract, made September 12 of that year, stone was delivered in the following October. During the fiscal year 9,040 tons of stone for the superstructure have been put in place, and 9,271 perches of small stones thrown in to protect the foot of slopes and fill holes in bed, at the extremities of the works; 217 running feet of the superstructure have been completed, at the east end of the breakwater, and 281 at the corresponding end of the ice-breaker. It is expected that, the work will be completed this season. Expended during the year... Available for the year ending June 30, 1870.. (See Appendix P.) $80, 797 57 2. Harbor of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania.-The platforms have been placed on two cribs, completing the wood-work for two piers, and two cribs have been sunk in position. One of these has not yet been entirely filled with rubble stone. It is expected to begin the construction of the stone superstructure for two piers this season, and it is supposed the four piers may be completed during the year. No appropriation is asked. Expended during the year ending June 30, 1869. $9,039 73 59, 021 35 HUDSON RIVER IMPROVEMENTS, AND REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS IN NEW YORK HARBOR. Officer in charge, Brevet Major General John Newton, lieutenant colonel of engineers, assisted by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel John M. Wilson, and First Lieutenants A. M. Miller and A. N. Lee, corps of engineers. Hudson River.-During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, the new dikes at Cedar Hill and Cow Island have been completed, costing, respectively, $49,970 77 and $30,475 13. The former is 5,739 feet long, and the latter 3,960. The effect of these dikes has been to increase the depth of water over Cedar Hill Bar from 7.5 to 9.2 feet. Cedar Hill Bar was formerly a serious obstacle, and it is now supposed that little or no dredging will be required. A contract was made in the spring of 1868 for the removal of the old State dam, located just below Cedar Hill. Owing to failure of contractor, the work was carried on by hired labor. Four thousand cubic yards of stone, sand, and timber have been removed, and the remaining debris so scattered that probably no further removal will be required. The contract for removing the face of Mull's Island has been completed. One hundred and fifty-eight thousand cubic yards were removed during the working season of 1868. The Coeymans dike has been prolonged along the face of Mull's Island for 1,640 feet, and it is expected that this dike will be extended so as to connect with the New Baltimore dike during the present season. Widening the channel between Barren and Mull's Islands has not only increased the flow of water, but has also increased the depth of water in the channel along the upper part of New Baltimore dike. It is expected that still greater improvement will be effected by the projected dredging at the Coeymans Crossover, and in front of the New Baltimore dike. General Newton anticipates the necessity for some changes in the plan of the New Baltimore dike, a strong and substantial structure 5,900 feet long, built by the commissioners of the State of New York; but before indicating any modifications, will observe the effects of the present works and contemplated dredging at Mull's Island and Coeymans Crossover. Cuyler's dike has been prolonged 1,664 feet, to deflect the current and throw it into the proper channel leading towards Overslaugh dike. At Roah Hook a dike has been constructed to deflect the water into the eastern channel at Barren Island. It has a length of 1,814 feet, and cost at the rate of $10 10 per linear foot. At Parda Hook a dike has been commenced to deflect properly the current over Cedar Hill Bar, and protect the shores. The extension of this dike rendered it necessary to dredge a new channel; and a contract for this purpose has been made. An extension of the Castleton dike northward has also been commenced, and will be completed during the present working season. Amount available July 1, 1868, of appropriations of 1866, Amount available July 1, 1869..... $179,395 96 161, 616 59 17,779 37 Amount allotted from general appropriation for improvement, &c., approved April 10, 1869.. Amount allotted from general appropriation for repairs, &c., approved July 25, 1868.. 85,000 00 89, 100 00 Total available July 1, 1869..... 191, 879 37 Amount required to complete the improvement of Hudson 466, 402 11 274, 522 74 Amount necessary to be appropriated. Amount required for next fiscal year, and which can be profitably expended... To dredge and keep open the channel between Albany and Troy will probably require an annual expenditure of about..... $100, 000 00 20, 000 00 The permanent improvement of that section of the river is considered by the engineer officer in charge of doubtful practicability. (See Appendix Q.) Hell Gate, East River, New York.-After the allotment of $85,000 had been made, July 31, 1868, from the general appropriation for river and harbor improvements, approved July 25, 1868, new surveys of Frying Pan and Pot Rock were at once undertaken in order to determine the amount of rock to be removed to give a depth of twenty-five feet at mean low water. Proposals were invited, and a contract for the removal of these rocks was awarded to Mr. Sidney F. Shelburne, the lowest bidder. After many delays, and some modifications in his machinery, the contractor commenced work upon Frying Pan Rock on or about the 15th of January, 1869. Several holes were drilled into the rock, but the machine was finally laid aside by the contractor with a view to constructing another of greater capacity. The time of the contract for the removal of these rocks was extended to August 15, 1869, but up to the close of the fiscal year no real progress had been made in the work. On the 11th May, 1869, an additional allotment of $178,200 was made for the East River from the general appropriation for the improvement of rivers and harbors, approved April 10, 1869. A contract was then made with Maillefert & Co. for the removal of Pot Rock, Way's Reef, and Shelldrake, at the rate of $44 28 per cubic yard. For the further improvement of the navigation at Hell Gate the engineer officer in charge submitted a project for the removal of Hallett's Point, and also one for the removal of the channel rocks. At the close of the fiscal year initiatory steps were accordingly taken towards the prosecution of this portion of the work. Surveys have been made of Pot Rock, Fry. ing Pan, and Way's Reef in Hell Gate, and also of a great part of Diamond Reef. The work now in progress will absorb all the available funds. The amount which can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year is $400,000. (See Appendix Q 1.) Improvement of the harbor of Rondout, Hudson River, New York.-Under a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 28th January, 1869, information was required in reference to the improvement of Roundout Harbor, New York. To comply therewith Brevet Major General Newton was directed to submit a project for this improvement, with an estimate of cost. He recommends a system of dikes to direct the down currents of Rondout Creek and of the Hudson in such a manner as to insure the co-operation of both in the transport of silt away from the mouth of the harbor, and thereby maintain a navigable channel of sufficient width. Some dredging might likewise be necessary. He estimates that to insure the full permanent improvement of which the locality is susceptible, and to secure a depth of water from thirteen to fourteen feet at mean low water, would require an expenditure of $132,665 56. (See Appendix Q 3.) Removal of the wreck of the steamer Scotland in New York Harbor.— An appropriation of $100,000 was made July 25, 1868, for the removal of the wreck of the steamship Scotland, situated in the south channel of New York Harbor, near Sandy Hook. Proposals were advertised for, and a contract awarded September, 1868, to the Neptune Submarine Company, of New York, the lowest bidders, for the sum of $63,300, and all the rights of the United States to the vessel and cargo. The company commenced operations on the 23d September, and in April, 1869, the officer in charge caused a survey to be made of the progress of the work. The results of this survey, although not allowing of the payment to the contractors of any portion due upon the contract, was satisfactory, and showed that real progress had been made upon several portions of the wreck. NOTE.-The first section of the wreck has been removed and paid for since the commencement of the present fiscal year. (See Appendix Q 5.) Bridge proposed to be built between the cities of New York and Brooklyn.-The act of March 3, 1869, establishing a bridge and post route across the East River, made it the duty of the Secretary of War, to determine whether said bridge, when built, will conform to the prescribed conditions of the act, not to obstruct, impair, or injuriously modify the navigation of the river. A commission of three officers of the corps of engineers was constituted by order of the Secretary of War, to report First. Upon the plan and location of the bridge and practicability of the structure. Second. What effect the piers and tower foundations and abutments will have upon the navigation of the river, upon its regimen, and upon the approaches to the harbor of New York. Third. To what extent the bridge will obstruct or interrupt the passage of vessels and the free access to the United States navy yard at Brooklyn. Fourth. And such other facts and views as might be found to have an important bearing upon the question, whether the said bridge when built will conform to the prescribed conditions of the act of Congress relating to it. This commission met in the city of New York and made a report, which was submitted, with recommendations from this office, to the Secretary of War, May 31, 1869, who approved the views and recommendations of the commission, as well as those of the chief of engineers, and the plan of the bridge as proposed by the New York Bridge Company, with the provision that the height of the center of the main span of the bridge shall not be less than one hundred and thirty-five feet in the clear at mean high water of the spring tides; and that, further, the structure shall conform in all other respects to the conditions recommended by the commission. The report of the commission, with the letters from this office upon the subject, will be found in Appendix Q 4. IMPROVEMENT OF PROVIDENCE AND PAWTUCKET RIVERS, RHODE ISLAND, AND THAMES RIVER, CONNECTICUT; REMOVAL OF MIDDLE · ROCK, NEW HAVEN HARBOR AND WESTPORT HARBOR, CONNECTICUT; SURVEYS OF CONNECTICUT RIVER AND BRIDGEPORT HARBOR, CONNECTICUT. Officer in charge, Brevet Colonel D. C. Houston, major corps of engi neers. 1. Improvement of Westport Harbor, Connecticut.-Nothing has been done in this harbor, as the amount of appropriation for the work, $2,500, is entirely inadequate. The recommendation of an appropriation of $10,000 made last year is renewed. (See Appendix R.) 2. Removal of Middle Rock, New Haven, Connecticut.-The work of removing this rock has not been renewed for want of funds. It is estimated that $10,000 will complete the removal to the depth originally intended, seventeen feet at low water. The entire removal of the obstructions at the entrance to this harbor requires not only the removal of Middle Rock, but also that of Southwest Ledge, and of two intermediate rocks. On the Southwest Ledge there are six and a half feet at low water, and on the other rocks thirteen feet and fourteen feet, respectively. To secure a depth of seventeen feet on Middle Rock will re quire... To remove the Southwest Ledge to same depth. To remove the intermediate rocks to same depth.. Total required for "removing rocks in New Haven (Appendix R.) $10,000 00 30, 000 00 25, 000 00 65,000 00 3. Survey of Connecticut River from Hartford to its mouth.-The plan recommended for the improvement of the river between these points is to deepen the water on the bars by dredging or scraping. It is esti |