Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-13
Army Engineers Report to
National House.
No Extensive improvements Are
Likely for Some Time.
narbor Facilities Along the Maine
Coast..0ther Features.

Washington, ID. c.. Sept. 1Z-Spe-
ciaD-As naVigabe water way the
Kennebec river gets a good send-oit
from Army engineers in their recent
report to the House of Representa-
tives about terminal facilities and the
like THE Kennebee river" says
the report which, in this instance
was made up by Col w. +. Graishii'
in charge of river and harbor work
for the district which includes Maine,
lis a remarkably good inland water
way from it's mouth to Augusta" Col
Craighll tells of the 16ia feet depth
of channel 10 Gardiner and of IL feet
from there to Augusta, but he adds,
after saving that there are no me-
chanical appliances at the WharVes
along the river for handling freight.
except at the ice and coal Wharyes.
that taken as a whole and in COM
parison to their capacity. the Kenne-
bee river water terminals are not
used to large extent Col. Craighill
comments about the terminals FOR
special business, such shipping cat
Bath, train ferrying and lumber
manufacturing and says these are
modern and highly efficient, except
that in common with all the other
terminals on the river, the depth of
water at the docks is not equal to
that in the main channel opposite.
The coal terminals" says Col.
Craighill. ARE not as efficient as the
traffic warrants" but he alludes to the
activities of concerns at Gardiner and
Augusta that are planning to install
more efficient appliances. There is
quite a full description in the report
of harbors all the way down the Ken
nebec and mention of the free public
landings at Bath. Richmond. Gardiner.
Hallowell and Augusta Considerable
space is given to the water terminals
for the ice storage houses on the
river.
The report of Col, Craighill deals
with harbor facilities all along the
Maine coast and. in some aspects, Is
critical of old and inefficient wharves,
not we'll calculated To accommodate
modern water transportation. There
is unfavorable mention of the wharves
at Eastern Maine points. including
those on the st. Croix river Rock
land is praised for wharves substaa-
TALLY built. OF Portland Col. Craig
hill writes: Considered as water
way and as a harbor of refuge from
storms, Portland harbor is highly ef-
fficient, except that the deep water
anchorage ground has become some.
what inadequate in extent. This
trouble will he remedied when the
present plans for Improvement have
been executed" but he states that
deeper water will probably be needc1
l,.
The colonel gives considerable atten-
ton to a description of the Grand
Trunk wharves and to other terml-
nails on the harbor
These reports of army engineers on
the harbor facilities of the country are
regarded as of considerable import
ance in connection with future River
and Harbor appropriations. There
is a growing disposition in Congress
not to vote money for the deepening
and dredging of harbors, unless adj
jacent municipalities have done their
share of providing good wharves and
thus making the enlargement of water
borne commerce feasible. 1t has been
so often charged that money for river
and harbor improvements Is wasted
that Congress now seems minded 10
be more careful and to spend govern
ment money only where there is a
prospect that water traffic would be
encouraged materially. The reports,
which army engineers have just
turned in, were called for for just that
purpose. The reports, including
those on Maine Rivers and Harbors,
will be printed. making large vol
ume which will be stored up for ref
erence whenever river and harbor
bills are under consideration. No
River and Harbor appropriations are
contemplated till next winter but the
new text will be carefully studied in
the meantime.
Credit to Senator Burleigh.
1t would seem that the report on
the Kennebec river. is altogether ia
vorable, although it is to be borne III
mind that no very extensive improve
ments in the deepening or dredging
of the channel are likely to be under
taken for some time because of the
adequate condition of the river now
fContipuad on Page Eiypl