The Portland daily press., 1884-07-24
RIVERs AND HARBORs,
Col. Blunts Report of the Work Accom-
c. mplished i'm Maine.

Colonel Blunt engineer officer in charge Of the
river and harbor improvements of the State Of
Maine and New Hampshire, has submitted his re-
port OF operations during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1884 OF the work of improvement Of
Lubec Channel he says A jetty upon Gun Rock, a
ledge projecting into Lubec Narrows at the north
east point Of the town of Lubec, was begun May
%, and at the close of the scalyear 125 feat had
been completed. its total length will be 259 feet
Its object is to stop the rapid tidal current which
sweeps across this ledge to the great Inconvenience
of passing vessels The total appropriations for the
improvement of this channel since 1879 are $780,
900, including $4,000 appropriated by the last
River and Harbor bill, July l. 1888. The amount
available SIT, 178, of which 81 O63 was expend-
ed during the year, leaving total available apprc-
priatio9 Of 81 116 for the current year. 1t is
100000.
Mooseabec Bar-The work of Improvement at
Mooseabec Bar during the year consisted in widen
ing the channel 56 feet by dredging out 20, 983
cubic yards of mud, sand, etc. Col. Blunt reports
upward of $500 vessels, which are frequently put
to great inconvenience by the low water on the
bar. He estimates that $4,000 besides the
amount recently appropriated $50 00O), will COM
plete the work. At the beginning Of tho fiscal year
just closed sic, 324 YVES available all of which,
with the exception of $105. has been expended.
ROckland Hsrbor-The Improvements proposed for
the harbor of Roekland was the CONSTRUCTION Of a
hsrbor of refuge by means Of two rubblestone break
waters, one extending southerly from high water
mark on Jameson Point 1900 feet; the other isoat-
ed on South Ledge and 2640 feet long in q nearly
above mean low water and 10 feet deep on TOP The
revised estimate of east is $3.50 ,O00 The appro-
priations made since 1880 have been 100000.
The total expenditure to June 3d. 1874, was $751;
396 and 1I09 feet of Jame.on Point Breakwa
have bsen built. No work done during the year;
amount asked for the new year 5000.
ROYal RlVor-'Nh0 work tf imOrOvamQnf AZ
River Maine) consisted of building dam to defect
the current from dangerous bank which had caved
In TO the detrlment OF navigation. The work was
completed in September Of last year The total
amount expended on this river since 1871 is $780,
900. Nothing more Is recommended.
Belfast River-S25 900 has been appropriated at
various times for the improvement OF Belfast
River. The last appropriation was made by the
River and Harbor act of 1880. The work projected
under the appropriations was to secure depth Of
ten feet at mean low water in that portion Of the
river bed where the traffic is greatest by the removal
OF distractions Daring the fiscal year Sl56 has
been expended, and S2,543 remains available. NO
further work is considered necessary present.
Cathance River-The work Of dredging the chan
mel at Shoal No. 4, Cathance river was completed
early in the year, and the available balance 81 645
expended. No additional improvements are con-
templated. The entire amount expended on this
river was 81 900 since June, 1880.
Portland Harbor-There was available for the
Engagement Uq Of the Portland harbor, July 1,
partial removal of the Middle Ground in the lower
part OF the harbor, to a depth of 81 feet at
was completed in September, with the $4,000
appropriated July 8, 1884. The dredging OF the
Middle Ground will be finished and the work under
the existing project completed. July l. 1888 the
amount available was S10,694; expended during
the year ending July /, 1884, SI052o; appro-
priated July 8, 1884, $4,000; amount now avail
able, $50, TIA.
Kennebunk RiYer-In September and October
1883, the government wharf was repaired. During
the year $692 YVES expended, leaving an unexpend-
ed balance Of 1886 available for minor repairs
which may be necessary.
Portsmouth, N. H.-The original plan of improve
ment at Portsmouth harbor comprised the building
Of breakwater at a cost of $4,000, removal OF
2840 cubic yards of Gangway Rock at cost of
$50, 200, and the removal of 119O yards Of the
ledge at the southeast point of Badgers Island at
cost OF S30,7OO. Thee improvements with ex.
penses of superintendence, engineering etc. swell
ed the estimate cost to $3.50 900. Ofthis estimate
$4,000 hes been appropriate /, and up to July I
sos 284 has been expended The break water has
been completed and 1900 yards of rock removed
oOOo which were taken out during the past fiscal
year. The engineer recommends that no other
work should bs attempted in the harbor until Gang
way Rock Is removed. This will probably require
Two or three seasons more. He thinks that BadR-
ers Island ledge should then be removed and after
these works are completed there will be time
enough, he says, to look after other work. During
the year S24,O71 was expended and S24 $50 is at
present available. Fifty thousand dollars is asked
for next season.