The Republican journal., 1910-02-10
MAINE HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
Long Cove, Stockton and Camden Harbors
Included.

Included.
There are six river and harbor projects
in Maine for which the army engineers
have recommended appropriations. These
are Camden harbor, PeppereIs cove,
Rockport harbor, Matinicus harbor, East
Boothbay harbor and Penobscot bay.
Some of these favorable reports are
year or two years old, but have all been
turned in since the last general river and
harbor bill was enacted. An effort will
be made to have these projects cared for
on the bill which is soon to be placed be-
fore the House and if it does not succeed
there, Sen. Frye will seek to have the
items placed upon the bill when it reach
es his committee on commerce.
The Penobscot bay project was favor
ably reported to the House by army engi-
neers December 10, 1908. The project
proposes dredging to a depth Of rs feet
from the southern extremity OF Mack's
Point to the eastern extremity of Cape
Jellison. This area incloses the two arms
of Penobscot bay. which are known as
Long Cove and Stockton harbor. 1t is
recommended that the channel should be
300 feet wide. The dredging is estimat-
ed to cost S3S, 900 and about 81 900 annu-
ally to maintain.
The Camden harbor improvement calls
for an appropriation of $40, 600 to in
crease the depth of the harbor to ten
feet over an additional area of about 31-4
acres. 1t will cost about 81, 900 to main
tain the improvement. The government
has spent $82, 400 since 1870 toward the
dredging of Camden harbor. The i'm
provement is urged both for the benefit
of commerce and for the advantage that
would accrue to the large number of
pleasure crafts which put in there every
summer.
The improvement at Matinicus harbor
proposes the construction of a small rub
ble-mound breakwater, extending from
Young's Point to Indian ledge, at an
estimated cost of $4,000 There is a
considerable loss Of property annually at
Matinicus harbor because of insufficient
protection and the steamer which runs
to Rockland does not remain in the har-
Dor over night because Of the insufficient
protection. The fishermen are in real
need of harbor where their boats can
lie in safety. The arriving and departing
vessels there are about 500 year.
An appropriation Of 1872, 900 is asked
for the removal of ledge in Rockport
harbor. The purpose is to blast the ledge
away to depth Of Is feet at mean low
water. When once removed there will
be no additional charge for maintenance.
1t would mean the removal of a masonry
beacon which now warns mariners of the
existence and location of the ledge. 1t
is not so much an obstacle to the harbor
entrance but it causes the ice to anchor
and jam in that vicinity.
The East Boothbay harbor project cor
templates securing depth of eight feet
at mean low water along the wharf front
by dredging. 1t does not involve the re-
moval of any ledge and is estimated to
cost $4,000 with $500 year for mainten-
ance. This harbor is on the Damariscotta
river and its improvement is calculated
to be of benefit to some of the shipbuild-
ing yards in that vicinity.
The sixth project is partly in Maine
and partly in New Hampshire, as Pep
perel's cove is an arm of Portsmouth
harbor extending into both States. The
project is to dredge an area of al acres
in the cove and to remove Logy ledge at
its entrance to depth of II feet at mean
low water. This would cost, as per en-
gineer's estimate, $15S, 400 The dredg-
ing for maintenance would cost about
81, 600 year There is no commerce in
the cove but it would provide a safe
anchorage for a large number of craft
that ply in that vicinity.