salinity in the bay are sufficient to warrant the expenditure of Federal funds in undertaking the improvements desired. (f) That, in view of the fact that the benefits to be derived from these improvements are in part of local nature, the following measures of cooperation by local agencies should be provided: (1) To furnish, without cost to the United States, all necessary rights-of-way and to assume any claims for damages resulting from this work. (2) To furnish one-third of the total cost of the improvement, but not to exceed $250,000. RECOMMENDATIONS 71. The district engineer recommends: The adoption of a project for the improvement of Barnegat Inlet, N. J., as shown on map no. 3585, appendix III, consisting of two parallel steel pile and stone jetties extending from the gorge oceanward about 3,750 feet and 1,200 feet apart, the dredging of an inner channel approximately 7,800 feet long, 500 feet wide, and 10 feet deep across the inner bar and a deeper inside approach channel across Sunset Shoals 8,550 feet long, 500 feet wide, and 20 feet deep, the spoil from which is to be placed to the south of the cut to form a dike connecting with the south point of the inlet, where revetment is expected to be necessary, all at an estimated cost of $750,000 for new work and $25,000 annually for maintenance; provided that local interests contribute one-third the first cost, but not to exceed $250,000, and furnish all necessary rights-of-way and spoil areas for initial work and subsequent maintenance without cost to or claim against the United States. JOHN C. H. LEE, Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, 1 Not printed. O REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS ON REVIEW OF REPORTS HERETOFORE SUBMITTED ON MIAMI HARBOR, FLA., WITH ILLUSTRATION Hon. J. J. MANSFIELD, WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, January 13, 1936. Chairman, Committee on Rivers and Harbors, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. MANSFIELD: 1. The Committee on Rivers and Harbors of the House of Representatives, by a resolution adopted June 20, 1935, requested the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors to review the reports on Miami Harbor, Fla., submitted in House Document No. 516, Sixty-seventh Congress, fourth session, and reports subsequently submitted on this harbor, with a view to determining if the turning basin should be extended. Under date of June 20, 1935, the Committee on Commerce of the United States Senate, requested the Chief of Engineers to review the previous reports on Miami Harbor, to wit: The reports submitted in House Document 516, Sixty-seventh Congress, fourth session, and House Rivers and Harbors Committee Document No. 15, Seventy-first Congress, second session, and report of the Chief of Engineers, dated August 30, 1933, and make a reexamination of the project particularly with a view to recommending whether the turning basin should be enlarged and entrance thereto widened. I enclose herewith the report of the Board in response thereto. 2. Miami Harbor is in Biscayne Bay, a shallow sound on the Atlantic coast near the southern end of the Florida Peninsula. The 42085-36-——1 improvement authorized by Congress provides for a channel 30 feet in depth from the Atlantic Ocean through the offshore barrier beach and across Biscayne Bay to a turning basin at the wharves of the city of Miami, with a width of 500 feet on the outer end, and of 300 feet in the entrance and across the bay. Parallel stone jetties, each somewhat over half a mile in length, have been provided at the seaward end of the entrance channel. The project is completed except that the channel across Biscayne Bay has a width of 200 feet only. The total Federal cost of new work of improvement to September 1, 1935, was $5,684,377.95. The estimated annual cost of maintenance is $80,000. Local interests have expended large sums in excavating auxiliary channels and basins for the accommodation of both pleasure boats and commercial traffic. The city of Miami, as a condition precedent to the latest deepening of the channels and basin under the project, has agreed to widen the southerly pier on the harbor frontage, and dredge a new slip adjacent thereto for the accommodation of large seagoing passenger vessels. The city has secured a loan of $880,000 for carrying out this and other terminal improvements. To provide suitable access to this slip, it now requests that the United States widen the turning basin to a line in prolongation of the southerly edge of the proposed new slip. 3. The locality is a winter resort of national importance. Commerce of the harbor has increased steadily during recent years, reaching a total in 1934 of over 900,000 tons, exclusive of general ferry traffic and cargoes in transit. Large numbers of yachts are based at the harbor during winter months, and cruise ships bring large numbers of passengers to the locality. The latter traffic is expected to increase on completion of the facilities being provided for the larger passenger ships. 4. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors concurs in the views of the district and division engineers that the enlargement of the turning basin is advisable to afford suitable approach to the terminal improvements being undertaken by the city of Miami. To accomplish this purpose, it is necessary to extend the turning basin approximately 200 feet to the southward. As a large part of the necessary excavation is in soft rock, the estimated cost is $300,000, but the benefits to present and prospective commerce fully justify the expenditure. The Board, therefore, recommends modification of the existing project for Miami Harbor, Fla., to provide for extending the project turning basin approximately 200 feet to the southward, the new southerly boundary to be in prolongation of the south edge of the 30-foot slip to be dredged by the city of Miami; all as shown on the accompanying map, and at an estimated cost of $300,000, with no increase in the present approved estimate for annual maintenance. 5. After due consideration of these reports, I concur in the views and recommendations of the Board. Very truly yours, E. M. MARKHAM, Major General, |