from deep water opposite "Sand Point" to the harbor line, and follows in direction very closely the united main ship and Black Rock channels. It is supposed that the inner channel will need occasional dredging to maintain its width and depth. A training-wall is proposed to aid in keeping the lower channel open if it shall be found necessary. This wall is to start from the shore near Little Nahant and is to cross the Black Rock Channe!; its outer portion is to be parallel to the outer improved channel. The cost of this project was originally estimated to be $145,000. In 1885 this estimate was revised and then made $157,000. This excess of $12,000 was caused by an increased amount of dredging found to be necessary during the progress of the work, in rounding off the corners of the natural channel at its junctions with the dredged channel; in providing flatter slopes to the sides of the cut than was originally designed; and also in providing funds for the necessary surveys during the progress of the work, and to note its effects. The total amount appropriated for this work to June 30, 1887, is $66,000. A plan of the harbor showing the projected improvement was published in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1884, Part I, page 532. AMOUNT EXPENDED AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1886. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $50,209.06, by the expenditure of which the following work had been done: The outer channel had been dredged to its full dimensions; the inner channel had been dredged 6,450 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 10 feet deep at mean low water. About 170,500 cubic yards of material were removed in effecting this progress. OPERATIONS DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR. On August 26, 1886, a project was submitted for the expenditure of the appropriation of $6,000, act of August 5, 1886. This project was approved by the Chief of Engineers, August 31, 1886. Specifications and advertisements were prepared and issued, and bids opened October 13, 1886. The proposals received will be found in the annexed table. A contract was executed on October 23, 1886, with Mr. A. R. Wright to dredge 50,000 cubic yards from the inner channel, at 21 cents per cubic yard, scow measurement. AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND RESULTS TO JUNE 30, 1887. During the last fiscal year $12,468.23 were expended. The inner channel was widened on its west side from 100 to 150 feet, 10 feet deep at mean low water; 50,089 cubic yards were removed under the contract, which was satisfactorily completed. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE TO COMPLETE THE EXISTING PROJECT. The inner channel must be widened to 200 feet, and its eastern edge cleaned up; the training-wall must be built, if experience shows it to be necessary to maintain the full dimensions of the outer channel. OPERATIONS CONTEMPLATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. The balance available July 1, 1887, $566.86, will be expended in examinations and surveys necessary to determine the progress and effect of the work. To complete the project, including the training-wall, will require, it is estimated, an appropriation of $91,000. But it seems more desirable to repair and complete the inner channel to its full width and depth, and to wait further developments before building the wall. To effect this will require the removal of about 110,000 cubic yards of material, at an estimated cost of $24,500. This work could be advantageously done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, and for this purpose the following appropriations are recommended, viz: For dredging 110,000 cubic yards from the upper channel, making it 200 feet Total $22,000 2,500 24,500 Lynn is a port of entry in the Marblehead collection district. The nearest lighthouse is Egg Rock (Nahant) Light, 3 miles distant. The accompanying commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, have been furnished by the collector of customs for the port of Marblehead, Mass. 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.. $7,035.09 6,000.00 13, 035. 09 12, 468.23 566.86 91,000.00 24,500.00 Abstract of proposals for dredging_in_Lynn Harbor, Massachusetts, opened October 13, 1886, by Major G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers. [Price bid for dredging per cubic yard, measured in scows.] Contract for dredging was awarded to Mr. Augustus R. Wright, with the approval of the Chief of Engineers. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Commercial statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. The object of this improvement is, first, to preserve the harbor by protecting the islands and headlands; and, second, to improve it by widening, straightening, and deepening the channels. The projects adopted for this propose since 1866 have been mainly in accordance with the recommendations of the United States Commis. sioners, whose labors terminated during that year. The works of preservation consist of sea-walls, aprons, jetties, etc., which protect the shores of the islands and headlands, prevent addi tional wash into the channels, control the tidal scour, and preserve the full height of anchorage shelter for vessels in the roadsteads. The works of improvement have been by dredging and blasting, by which means many dangerous rocks and shoals have been removed. The amount which has been appropriated for this improvement to date is $1,663,750. The total amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $1,659,773.59. WORKS OF PRESERVATION. Point Allerton.-Condition June 30, 1886. This point, at the southeast entrance of the harbor, was protected by a granite sea-wall 1,202 feet in length. It was completed in 1873. Its concrete foundation for a distance of 1,005 feet was protected by an apron and eight jetties of granite rubble-stone. The work was generally in good order. Some of the joints required repointing. During the past fiscal year no work was done on this wall. The destructive efforts of storms, noted in last report, have continued during the year and can best be arrested by extending the sea-wall westward a distance of 150 feet, and covering the beach in front of the foundation with riprap, at a total estimated cost of $15,000. The wall is generally in good repair. Great Brewster Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. This island, on the north side of the entrance to the main ship-channel, was protected by a granite sea-wall 2,840 feet in length, which was completed in 1869. It was in fair order. The repairs to the coping for a running length of 600 feet, mentioned as necessary in last report, should be made as early as practicable. The estimated cost is $3,000. No work of repair or extension was done during the year. George's Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. It was protected by a granite sea-wall, with rip-rap extensions at the south and west ends. The sea-wall is 2,150 feet long, and it and the southern rip-rap, which is 600 feet long, were completed about 1835. The western rip-rap is 450 feet long, and was built in 1884-'85. The sea-wall and rip-raps were in good order June 30, 1886. No work was done on them during the fiscal year. During the winter of 1885-'86 the unprotected western shore-line of this island, in front of the Government buildings, was considerably abraded; the high-water line was moved back in places nearly 20 feet. This shore-line, 1,400 feet long should be protected, if not by a light masonry wall at an estimated cost of $35,000, at least by a stone apron at an estimated cost of $10,000. Lovell's Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The western shore of this island was protected by a rubble-stone apron, built in 1873, repaired and extended in 1884. It is 975 feet long. The northern shore was covered by a granite sea-wall, built in 1843, and repaired in 1878. It is 750 feet long. The eastern shore was protected by a granite sea-wall, 800 feet in length, completed in 1869, and by rubble-stone aprons, between the northern and eastern sea wall, 1,440 feet long; and south of the east sea-wall one, 1,330 feet long. The north sea-walls and all of the rip-raps were in good order. Operations during the past year were confined to the repair of the eastern sea-wall, which had been greatly injured by the storms of the previous year. The western end of the wall, which was originally left incomplete, was raised one course for a length of 205 feet, and backed with concrete, and a shell and cobble-stone pavement was arranged in rear to further protect the wall. The work was completed in December, 1886, at a cost of $3,537.87. No further repairs are now needed. Gallop's Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The western, northern, and eastern shores of this island at the close of 1871 had been protected by a granite sea-wall 1,785 feet long, and by an apron (covering also the foundation of the sea-wall) 3,050 feet long. Both the sea-wall and apron were in good order June 30, 1886. No work was done on them during the fiscal year, and they are now in good order. To more completely protect the northwestern bluff of this island, the sea-wall should be extended about 150 feet to the southward. This, it is estimated, will cost $7,500. Deer Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The three prominent heads of this island had been protected by granite sea-walls originally built about 1827. They are of the following lengths: The north head wall, 1,740 feet; the middle head, S40 feet; and the south head, 380 feet. In 1865 and 1869 these walls were partly rebuilt, and in the weakest places were backed with concrete. All these walls were originally built dry, and they have from time to time required repairs. The north head wall was in fair order; the middle head wall needed repairs to 50 running feet of the paving behind the northern end, and 105 feet of the coping at the southern end; and the south head wall required extensive repairs at the northern end, which the storms had partially demolished. Repairs were made during the year at the south and middle heads. At the south head, seven courses of stone, averaging 70 feet each in length, and 130 feet of coping were reset and backed with concrete, and nearly the whole of the earth filling and the shell-stone paving in rear of the wall was replaced. At the middle head 110 feet of the coping course were reset, and the paving in rear was rearranged. These repairs were made at a cost of $3,451.25. The walls require a little pointing, but otherwise are in good order, and need no further repairs. Long Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The north head of this island was protected by a granite sea-wall 2,0812 feet long, completed in 1874. The foundation of the sea-wall and its southern and western ends are protected by an apron of rubble-stone aggregating 1,375 feet in length. This apron was built in 1874 and extended in 1884. The wall and rip-rap were in fair order. The wall needed repointing in places. No repairs were made during the year. To repoint the wall and extend the rip-rap on the southeastern shore 250 feet will cost $3,000. Rainsford Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The north head of this island had been protected by a dry granite wall 1,500 feet long, origi nally built in 1840, and extensively repaired in 1884-85. No work was done during the year. The wall is in good order and no repairs are recommended. Castle Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. This island had been protected by a dry granite sea-wall 3,300 feet long, built in 1835, and a light rip-rap extension of it to the southwest 300 feet long, built about 1865. The rip-rap protection was in good order and the wall needed only slight repairs. No work was done during the fiscal year. The foundation of the sea-wall on the north shore, a short distance west of the wharf, has become undermined, and has settled in a way to endanger the construction. The injury covers 100 running feet, and can best be repaired by taking the wall down and rebuilding it at an estimated cost of $1,000. Governor's Island.-Condition June 30, 1886. The bluffs and shoreline of this island have never been protected. They stand, however, in very important relations to the main ship-channel at the Upper and Lower Middles. In addition to this, the bluffs are occupied by impor tant heavy batteries for the defense of the inner harbor and the navyyard. Serious abrasions of these bluffs have been in progress for some years. The two main bluffs, the east and south, should at once be protected by light sea-walls. That at the east battery will be 500 feet long, and is estimated to cost $30,000; the south bluff wall should be 1,800 feet long, and is estimated to cost $50,000. WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT. The main ship-channel originally was 100 feet wide, with a depth of 18 feet at mean low water. The project for improvement adopted in 1867 proposed for the upper harbor (through the Upper Middle and Lower Middle bars) a ship-channel 1,000 feet wide and 23 feet deep at mean low water; and for the lower harbor, between Gallop's and Lovell's islands, a channel 685 feet wide and 23 feet deep. This project was modified in 1870 by decreasing the width at the Narrows to 625 feet, and by increasing the width at Anchorage Shoal, off Long Wharf, originally 600 feet, to 1,100 feet. CONDITION JUNE 30, 1886. By the application of previous appropriations the main ship-channel had been widened, straightened, and deepened in the upper and lower harbors by dredging and the removal of sunken rocks, so that it had a width of 1,100 feet at Anchorage Shoal, and elsewhere not less than 600 feet, and a depth of 23 feet at mean low water. In effecting this improvement dredging and blasting were done at the following places (reference being had to the plan of the harbor accompanying Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year 1883): At Nash's Rock Shoal, during the years 1876-78, 365 yards of ledge were removed. 8872 ENG 87- -33 |