The Republican journal., 1910-12-15
ON PENOBSCOT RIVER.
What the Government is Doing in Improv-
ing the Waterway.

what the Government is Doing in lmprov-
ing the Waterway.
The annual report upon the improve
ment of rivers and harbors in the Port
land, Me-, district, made by George A.
linn, Lieut.. Col, Corps of Engineers,
U. S. A., in charge of the work, con-
tains considerable data in relation to the
improvements made on the Penobscot
river, including the work that is being
done in the harbor at Bangor. The re-
port follows:
Except the dredging of sawdust
bar opposite High Head, near Bucksport,
Me-, the improvements have been con-
fined to a stretch Of about three and one
half miles of the river at and below
Bangor. Before improvement this part
of the river was obstructed by ledge,
powders, and mill waste to such extent
as to afford safe available depth of
only about six feet at extreme low tide.
THE first project was approved Au-
gust %, 1870, and called for a depth
$50 feet over three and one-half miles of
expended $198, 300.
''In 1884 project was adopted for
widening the channel at Bangor and for
certain improvements in the river below,
near Crosby's Narrows. An addition
was afterwards made providing for a
22-foot depth between Bucksport and
Winterport. After survey, ordered by
the act of September 10, 1890, the project
was modified and extended, so that it in
cluded a depth of II feet at extreme low
tide for width of 800 feet in Bangor
harbor; to widen, straighten and deepen
the channel near Crosby's Narrows and
near Stems mill to depth of IL feet at
extreme low tide; and to secure chan
mel depth of % feet at mean low tide be-
tween Bucksport and Winterport. The
estimated cost of the entire work was
placed at $40, O00 March 3, 1899, the
project was again extended by providing
for removal of ledge in front of the Bos-
ton and Bangor Steamship Co.'S wharf
at Bangor and for deepening the basin
of kenduskeag stream at the junction
with the Penobscot and $28, 900 was ap-
propriated for the work. The results
aimed at by the project of 1884 and the
subsequent additions are regarded as
practically accomplished and the cost has
been $3.50, 500, total expenditure down
to this time of $367,800.
''By the act of March 2, 1907, Con-
gress adopted further project for an
additional width at Bangor, varying from
100 to 300 feet, for length of nearly
1000 feet, the depth to be II feet at ex-
IRENE low tide IA feet at mean low
water). The estimated cost of this work
is $13O, 900. The'amount expended on the
work of the existing project to June 80,
1910, is So, 552.38, all for new work. Ex-
cept when suspended during winter, work
has been in progress throughout the year
just ended, under contract covering all
the work included within the project. A
considerable area was worked over and
about 1000 cubic yards, scow measure
ment, of loosened material removed, but
no considerable area has been completed
to the full depth, so that it is impracti-
cable to give a definite statement of the
work accomplished.
Up to June 80, 1910, about 81 per cent
and some of the material taken up, but
Trade had not been secured. During
gune, 1910, the contractors added to the
working plant in the expectation of Sc
curing more rapid progress.
The least depth over the area now be-
ing excavated is about 9 feet at mean
low tide, but the prevailing channel
depth at Bangor is IA feet. Elsewhere
in the river the depth is greater. While
Bangor, where there is a dam within a
lock, is the head of navigation, the river
above is extensively used for floating
logs down from the upper waters.
"The mean range Of tide is 1871 feet.
The head of navigation is at Ranoor
from thence to the head of the bay is ri
miles.
1.-THE tonnage for calendar year 1909
is given as $50, 497 short tons, of which
281, l91 tons were coal, and 241, 900 tons
lumber and cooperage. The value of re-
ceipts and shipments is estimated at
about Sc, 9l4, 610.
cit is said that no reduction in water
rates has resulted from the present inn
provement, which provides for an en-
largement of the harbor space, but Ban
gor secures the usual advantage in rail
rates due to its being water point"