St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Rather New England Week at the
Nations Capital.
Drydocks at Boston and Portsmouth, N. H.
Our Rivers and Harbors-The Tarlff-Ap-
pointments, Etc.
Especial to the CALEDoNIAN.)

Especial to the CALEDoNIAN.)
This has been rather New England
week in Washington. Secretary Of the
Navy Long started the ball a-rolling by
opening up again the question Of dry
docks in that section of the country.
Replying to letter from the committee
on naval affairs Of the senate, Mr.. Long
has Informed Senator Hale, chairman
OF the committee, as to his views on the
bills providing for the construction Of
drydocks at Boston and Portsmouth, N.
H.
The secretary endorses both PROPOSE
lions. "The growing commercial inter-
ests of the country, as well as the very
large increase Of the navy" he says,
render 1t evident that additional pro-
vision should be made in their behalf.
There appears no reason why the navy
yards at Boston and Portsmouth should
not be utilized to much larger extent
than of late years, and every reason why,
with the growth of the country, they
should not be dispensed with. 1t seems
to be the universal opinion Of the various
bureaus Of this department that there
should be one or more large drydocks in
New England.
THAT portion Of our country Is more
exposed than any other to foreign in
vasion. In case of war, the naval and
commercial interests of that region
should not be dependent upon one great
dock at New York. Indeed, just at this
time of peace, the accident which has
befallen the New York drydock shows
how very valuable another would be,
inasmuch as one or two of our large bat
tleships are now waiting, and important
work delayed, for want Of dock sufti-
GENTLY large for their accommodation"
The Boston dock should be the first
built, In Governor Longs opinion, and
ne recommends that it should be 700
feet in length. This New England dry
dock matter came to head much more
quickly because Of Congressman Bar
retts efforts in behalf of a drydock at
Boston, in the second session of the last
congress. Governor Long appreciates
the situation, and the matter has there
fore taken shape much more quickly
than would otherwise have been the
case.
Reports lave been made by the en-
gineer corps of surveys, authorized in
the river and harbor BILL upon the fol-
lowing projects of Improvements in New
England waters:
Union river, near Ellsworth, Me. The
channel opened in 1S71-72 has been Sc
riously interfered with by deposit of
mill waste. To put the channel in good
order would cost $225, 900. 1t was orig
inally opened at cost of $29, 300
A survey of Chambers river, Maine,
from Jonesboro to it's mouth, is recon-
mended.
To deepen the 6-foot channel of Royal
$4,000, but 1t is not justified by the COM
merce of the stream.
The 15-foot area of Boothbay harbor,
Maine, should be extended to the
wharves. 1t would cost $4,000.
There is no need of the proposed cut
in the channel of Harrasecket river
Maine, 40 feet wide and II feet deep, so
the engineers report finds.
Machias river, Maine, should have a
channel 125 feet wide and feet deep, to
cost $4,000, and the mill waste should be
kept out of the stream.
Exeter river, New Hampshire, should
be further improved by restoring the
channel depths and widths up to OK
bow, and then to Exeter, deepen the
channel to II feet, with turning basin
200x1O0 feet, estimated to cost So, 000
4 survey of Oyster river should be
made.
The improvements of Lynn harbor,
Massachusetts, contemplates a channel
300 feet wide, Is feet deep, and channel
20Ox10 feet now being dredged out The
extended improvement will cost SAL, S1S
The project to straighten the channel
between Manchester harbor and Proc
tors point, Mass. including a turning
basin anchorage for boats, involves an
expenditure of $4,000.
1t Is recommended, to accommodate
the transportation of coal and building
materials to Mann's wharf, on Wey-
mouth (Baci) river, that
a channel, 60 feet wide and feet deep, be
dredged, at an expense Of $49,S43.
To protect Provincetown harbor, Mas
sachusetts, 1t Is proposed to riprap the
narrowest part of the neck of sand con-
Meeting the mainland and Long point, at
a cost of $4,000.
A channel through Conanicut island,
Narragansett bay, R. l., the engineers
say, would be in no sense of national i'm
portance, and ought not to be made.
The survey Of Housatonic river, Con-
necticut, is made the basis OF project
to dredge and maintain channel Of 100
feet wide and feet deep, from the head
of navigation to the outer bar in the
sound at the mouth; the channel
through the bar to be 200 feet wide and
feet deep. This will cost $40, OOO and a
continuing annual appropriation Of $4,000
Appropriations of money for these con-
templated improvements will doubtless
be provided in the next river and har-
Dor appropriation bill, although some Of
them already have money with which to
carry on the work.
The Massachusetts and Connecticut
delegations in congress have taken steps
toward securing concerted action upon
tariff matters, and particularly upon
schedules affecting the two states. The
plan is to have the two delegations COM
bine and act as unit, and such COM
bination, IL affected, will, it is believed,
have great influence in the senate and
house.
The idea started at meeting not long
| since of the representatives who are in