Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-02-15
ENGINEERS REPORT ON I'M.
PROVEMENTS ON KENNEbEC
RIVER FROM AUGUSTA DOWN

The following is from the annual re-
port of the chief of engineers to the
secretary of war, dated Sept. IS, 1915,
on Improvements of rivers and har-
bors in the Portland, Me-, District"
Lieut.. Col. w. E. C1aighill was dis
trict engineer until Nov. 16. 1914, and
Major F. A Pope since that time. The
part concerning the work on the
kennebec river follows:
Kennebec river drains a large num-
Der of lakes and minor streams, and
from Moosehead Lake, in western CEN
tral Maine. flows about $50 miles in a
southerly direction and discharges
into the Atlantic about 25 miles east
OF Portland. Improvement has been
confined to that section of the river
between Augusta, about Al miles
above the mouth, and the foot of
Swan Island, about 23 miles from the
mouth. (See L. S. Coast and Geo.
detic Survey chart No. g.
Original condition-From Augusta
to Gardiner, about 612 miles, the
navigable depth was about 3l2 feet in
at South Gardiner with about S feet
at mean low tide. AT Swan Island
there were dangerous ledges and a
shoal with only 10 feet at mean low
tide. The channel west of Swan Is
land was obstructed at Hatchs Rock
Shoal, over which there was 1l2 feet.
Augusta, "A miles from the mouth, is
at the head of navigation. The river
above Augusta is used for water
power and numbering operations.
Previous projects.-The first project
was adopted by the river and harbor
act of March 2. 1927. Notifications
and additions were authorized by
river and harbor acts of August 80,
1862. June %. 1866, July II, 1870,
March 8. 1871, March 3, 1878. March
3, 1881, August H. 1888, and June 13,
1902. The amount expended was
$590.411.03. For scope of previous
projects see Appendix. page 1875.
Present project.-To secure chan
mel below Gardiner not less than $50
feet wide, with a depth of II feet at
mean low tide at Beef Rock Shoal. at
the foot of Swan Island, and Is feet at
decreasing to 16 feet deep at Gardi-
ner. The work included dredging,
rock excavation, the repair of two re-
tanning walls and the extension of one
of them. The estimated cost was
s275 900, with about $4,000 annually
for maintenance. This project (see
H. Doc. No. 32l, 59th Cong. I'd sess)
was adopted by the river and harbor
act of March .. 1907. The river ana
harbor act of March 4, 1913, adopted
an addition providing for channei
west of Swan Island 100 feet wide
II feet deep at mean low tide except
at the upper shoal. where the depth
was to be l., feet. This project (see
II. Doc No. 10, 62d Cong I'd sess.,
was estimated to cost $4,000 with an
annual maintenance cost OF abou.
$250n
The section OF river included by the
project is about Is miles in lengtn'
The mean tidal range is 60 feet al
Hath. a.l feet ut Gardiner. and 4.3 feet
at Augusta.
Operations and results prior to the
fiscal Wharf.-The channel in the main
pleted, except for two small shoals.
No work had been done on the chan
rel west of Swan Island. EXpendl-
lures amounted to s211,5S9.11 on the
main channel and s131.9l west OF
Swan Island, all for new work, total
Of s271,747.62 AS result or an
Government operations. a fannel 10
feet wide and IL feet deep at mean
low tide had been dredged from Au-
gusta, at the head of navigation.
downstream to Gardiner, a distance OF
about 6.5 miles: from Gardner down
to the foot of Swan Island channel
depth Of from IS to II feet, for q
width of not less than $50 feet, had
been made by dredging and rock eS
cavation.
Operations and results during. the
fiscal year.-Two small shoals IN the
main river were removed during July
and August, 1914, with hired plant.
The channel west of Swan Island was
dredged during July, August and
September 1914. The latter work was
done under contract and amounted to
123,23O cubic yards. place measure
ment. It extended over channel length
of about 5 miles. The contract price
was PIT cents per cubic yard. Ex-
renditures during the year amount to
s3,351.92 for the main river and to
S3O.342O9 for the channel west OF
Swan Island-a total of s33.694.01, all
for new work. The act Of 1907 placed