The Portland daily press., 1880-08-02
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Official Report Of Gen. George Thorn.

Gen. George Thorn, whose district includes
Maine, New Hampshire and Massachu sets,
has forwarded reports of progress made last
year on all the improvements in his district.
His reports for Maine are as follows:
Lubec channel-Money appropriated pre-
vious to 1880, $4,000; amount appropriated
June IA, 1880, $4,000, project, widening and
deepening by dredging so that it will have
depth OF II feet at mean low water for width
OF 200 feet, and for distance of about two
and half miles. After several attempts to
secure contractors to commence work, all bids
being unreasonably high, work was given to a
New York dredging company last September.
After completing some 1000 cubic yards of
dredging, the company threw up the contract
in March last. Since then no reasonable bids
for the work have been received. From the
bias offered in June it is thought that the cost
OF the work will be double what it has been.
That channel, 200 feet wide, will cost $130,0O0.
But $50, S72.65 are now available.
Penobscot river-Up to 1879 $19S, 600 were
appropriated for the improvement of this river.
vi this amount $174,544 were devoted to i'm
provements at Bangor, and $16,5OO at Bucks
port, leaving $685. available for Bangor. The
project comtemplates the dredging of chan
nel so that there shall be depth of IL feet at
mean low water with width of 200 feet for
three and a half miles, and the removal of
sunken lodges and rocks. With the applca-
ton OF the sc, $50 available, the work planned
will be completed. No futher appropriation is
asked for.
Belfast harbor-The original project of 1875
contemplated the removal of an obstructing
shoal in front of the wharves. This was COM
pleted Sept. 30, 1879, at cost of $4,000. 1t
may be necessary to protect this work with q
stone Jetty, built ont from the northern shore
OF the harbor. 1t would cost $4,000 II is
not recommended, but it is suggested that the
$4,000 appropriated this year be held for ietty
purposes until further legislation is had
respecting it.
Rockland harbor-This is a new work for
which $4,000 was appropriated June IA, 1885,
AS well as can be ascertained, the object of
this appropriation is the construction of a
Dreakwater for protection of the harbor from
easterly storms to which it is exposed The
location, extent and cost of this work have
not been determined.
Cathance river-Surveyed last August. M
der an act of the previous March. Estimated
cost OF improvements projected, $25, 900: pro-
Ieect' deepening the water over the bar where
the Cathance enters the Kennebec at two
points, and removing some shoals. OF the
$4,000 appropriated in the act of June a.
1850, $500 will be applied to the bar and the
balance to shoal No. 3.
The Inc gut Commonly called Upper He'll Gate)
opposite Bath-The appropriations for its i'm
provement up to 1870 aggregated $16,5OO.
Since then 1924, 900 have been appropriated
The project contemplated, first, dredging the
shoal within Upper He'll Gate to depth of II
feet at mean low water; second, widening a
passage through the gut; third, deepening
channel north of March Island to u feet at
mean low water. The first item was COM
pleted in August, 1879, and about half of the
third item was finished in December, 1879. In
addition rubblestone jetty, containing 1900
IONS OF stone, take from the excavations,
rs feet long and feet above the water, ex-
tending out into II feet of water, was built for
the protection of the work. The $3.50 now
available will be devoted to removing sunken
docks in the channel near Marsh island; Sill
600 will be required to carry out the original
project
Kennebunk river-The original project pro-
vlded for the construction of a stone pier 600
feet in length on the eastern side of the mouth
OF the river, with wooden catch sand ON its
length on its western side, also with catch sand
Tor the protection of the channel also the
deepening of the latter. Appropriations since
1879, 700, 175. Stone piers have been construct
ed, and with the last appropriation wooden
catch sands within them were replaced with
applied in part to the removal of .sunken
Lodges in the channel. This work was COM
pleted July Z, 1880. The balance available
will be devoted to widening and deepening the
channel.
Richmond Island harbor-Proiect, rubble-
stone breakwater connecting the island and
main land, and affording harbor of refuge.
1t is now about 1000 feet long. average thick
ness 30 feet, height 16 feet above mean low
water. There were 400 tons of granite added
to it last year; $4,000 appropriated this year
will build as much more.
Portland harbor-The work originally pro-
jected for its improvement has been completed
with the exception of about 1901 900 cubic yards
OF dredging in front of the harbor lines, for
which the appropriation available is amply
sufficient. Work ceased on this improvement
in 1875, until certain whaves should be moved
back from the harbor lines. They have now
been removed and work will be RECOMMENDED
A survey of the work shows it is in GOOD con-
dition. The project contemplates deepening
OF the harbor along the wharves 16 feet at
mean low water, and of the araa in front of
Atlantic wharf, 20 feet Forty thousand dol
lars are now available for the work remaining
to be done, which will cost $15. 800.