Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-06
Statement as To Plans and
What Has Been Accomplished.
Large Amount Of Work Between
Augusta and Gardiner.


joy Narrows. by a shoal below South
Gardner, with only eight feet on it at
ll"an low tide. and by ledge at Ne
humbcG island. The Steamboat channel
4" tn" west Of Swan island Cat Hatch'Y
r""R WIS obstructed by shcal over
Which there was only ~ feet Of water
ana the channel between Gardiner and
augusta, Il distance of 6io miles was
"hstructcl by shoals which gave Il nav
lGabl" depth Of only 81 feet in low
summer tides.
Apl rupriatiunS for minor improve
incnt& Worr made ut various times be-
tween lS-I ana l>.3,..
In 1866 project Was begun for inn
rroVin" the upper part of tn" river.
with a view to obtaining 4 channel :
feet deep ana leo feet wild" at low wat
er This project. with moiitiCa tionS, was
ccm;,lctcd in 1877. and resulted in OBJ
tanning q channel 10 feet deep at moan
low tide and not less than 100 feet
wide in its lowest summer stages Il far
up a Gardiner. and depth Of 81. feet
1t low It'd" ana width OF Zoe feet from
Gardiner to Augusta.
The channel west Of swan island, be-
at moan low til.) and Il too narrow
channel at the head Of the island, by
shoal water at Hatch's rock. below
Richmond. and by q very narrow cham
nnl 30 feet wide at the foot Of the is
land. was improved hy dredging in
1S3I-1SS3. 50 as to give q channel Ia
feet wide and II feet deep ut the foot
Of the island and 4 channel Of about
SO feet width and 10 feet depth at
Hatchs rock and the head of the is
land.
The river and harbor act of 1856 pro-
vilCd for 4 new survey of the river
from Faith 10 Augusta. This survey was
made in 1887, and a project embracing
dredging. rock excavation and con-
contraction works was submitted Tor
the further Improvement of the river.
IN $50. this project WIS revised to Sc
cure depths as follows: Thirteen feet
at ryroan low tide as far IN as Sands
island. /. feet thence to Hincklcy 5
shoni, above Gardiner. and 10 feet
thence to Augusta. ut an estimated cost
of $3SS. 200 This project was approved
Aucust ~. 1892. and was essentially
completed in 1898.
The total expenditures upon th" riv-
Il to juno 90. 1906, upon tn" projects
above enumerated. were $iS. GS".62
T. The improved channel obtained under
| thc above projects has suffered some
| loss of available depth by the deposits
hroII;cht down by fr"shetS. This Shoal-
| ing he's been most marked IN III"
ls,re,ch of 81, miles of river between
Gardiner and Augusta the further inn
| ,.rayrrnont of which is provided Tor by
tn" river ami harhOr act approved
June II. 1902 which appropriated Sio'-
OGn ana authorized q continuous CON
tract for the completion of the project
| ,ri,,, Il,t project IL published at page
| ,1ot or the Annual Report Of IN" 'hi'l
nr t,uriurtr1 for 1900. and proposes Il
| il.,iu.r Cf the channel FROM Gardner
f., ,,,.,uSta to l25 feet and cleaning
ont uf :hr Old drcdE"d channel ana us
frr,bn, dcrpcning to 1G feet ut mean
lb;nh water. OF II feet at mean low wat
-.
The expenditures under the rr"'rc'
| Of 1an2 have, been Sl9I.21. \ CONTRACT l"'
|, IN tlc work has been mad" AMI drcdG'
iur v.o; commenced IN June, 100.
rhn mean rise and fall of tides ~
,.,th is 50 feet. at Gardiner 81 feet ~
Augusta AZ feet. Augusta is the hea'
of navigation and is about Al milcS
arryc IN, mouth of the river. Pr"naplS
not more than feet at mean low tid'
,orld be carried up from Gardner u
| Augusta. which is the shoalcSt part al
the stream.
IT is proposed to apply the rev ar
i rropriation asked for in continuing 'h'
i work If dredging between Gardner ah'
Il Augusta under the existing contract
For rcports on examinations ana sur
ycvs sec Annual Reports OF the o"ic
If Engineers for 1861. page iHs' Noi
nora 4-9: 1855, page ~; 1892. page Oh
ana 1860. page 1921.
4 The commerce for eight years is sly
,n as follows in tons: 1898. 1,2ll,sos
\ 800 7l41s9: 1900. 1880; 1901. 1885
l9o, 4;1liS: 1905 1889, 1904. 46S.9Su
4 and 1905. 400. 17@$5.
= The principal commodities are ice
coal and lumber.
: GENERAL IMPROVEMENT.
J,IIv !. 100. balance ureXpcndcd. .$lG,t1o.b
June so. 1M6, amount cNrendrd
| during fiscal year. tor WORKS cl .o,o 4
Improvement NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 4'o"-
IuIy / 1905. balance uneXpPndcd. 1865 )
July j. i90c. outstanding liabilities .
Guly /. 1906. balance avaiiable..--. ls.Col6
TETWEEN GARDNER AND Az
GCSTA.
Jul, /. 1907. halanc" uncxpended 50. G"lO
Amount aprropri1t"G ny sundry
civil act approved June 80 1906 l''"o'o
$1,000
juno %. los. amount expended
,ur.nG fiscal year. for works OF
Improvement .....-...-.........'. l''.-
Iulv !. iao6 balance jn"xrended.. q So.
july l. 1896 outstanding Liabilities zoe
JULY l. 1aj6. balance avalable...... 81. 30
! July /. 1905 amount covered by
uncomrlcttd contracts ......-.... $50
! Amount (estimatcO required for
completion Of existing PROJECT. h.HN.'
u | ACCOUNT ,bot can 10 nr0fitably eN-