The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-13

Lieutenant colonel George Inom, IN charge
of the river and harbor improvements in New
England, makes the following reports, with
others:
Portland Hdrbor.-All the work projected for
the improvement of this harbor has been COM
pleted. with the exception of the dredging in
front OF the Harbor Commissioners line. This
work has been continued during the past year,
resulting in the com pletion of all the work up
as far as Merrills wharf, leaving about LII, 900
cubic yards yet to be done; but only on the con-
dtion of the removal of the several wharves
above, SO far as they extend beyond the Harbor
Commissioners line. The amount available
July 1, 1875, will be sufficient for this work, SO
that no further appropriation is required for the
harbor.
Richmond Island. The improvement proiec-
ted for this place consists 10 making harbor
of refuge by means of a rubble-stone breakwa-
ter to connect the island with the main land.
The length of the pi opposed breakwater is about
1000 feet, with an average thickness of 25 to 80
feet, and height of feet above ordinary high
water. During the past fiscal year 10,o61 tons
of stone have been added to the work, making
total of $4,000 tons to date, leaving about
5000 tops more to be furnished under existing
contracts, covered by the appropriation of
March 3, 1875 To complete this breakwater
about $1,000 tons more of stone will be ne eded,
for which an appropriation of $4,000 will be
required.
Lieut. Col. j. c. Duane, in charge of the
Notifications in this harbor, reports as follows
Fort GOrges work is one of the series
of forts designed to defend the harbor and
channels leading into the barbor of the impor-
tant strategic position occupied by the city of
Portland.
During the past fiscal year seven heavy
stones for gun-platforms were raised to the
terre-peins. These comprise the operations of
the year.
Fort Preble.-During the past fiscal year six
gun-platformS aud the breast-hight walls aud
parapet OF five bays in the south battery were
completed, and the piutle-stones set for four
additional gun platforms In the north battery
one gun platform was laid and all the embank-
ments completed.
The fort is now in good defensive condition,
all the rraverses. p-rados and about one half of
the gun platforms being finished.
Fort ScdnlnleL-This work occupies very
important position in the harbor aud commands
four of the channels laadirg into il.
During the past fiscal year the parapet and
bomb-proof embankments, one gun.platform,
ana tue servlce-magazine and sta'rw ~ -cOmmu-
nicatiouS were completed at each of the east
and west bastions All the passages about the
great magazine entrance and the entrance to
the long communication with the east bastIon
were completed and covered with earth. The
main body OF the westerly passage to the new
extension of the main work, a covered way to
the magazine and one.half of the eXte nsion of
the sally mort W. re built.
Battery on Portland Head This work COW
ers by Its guns all TIE approaches TO the main
channel leading into the harbor, and will pre-
vent by it. fire an enemy's fleet from taking up
unopposed, position BEHIND Bangs Island
from which to lombard Portland or shell the
shipping in the harbor.
The only work done during the past fiscal
year was preparing Stone tor five gun plat
forms
The appropriations asked for these works, for
the ensuing year, amount to $4,000.