River and harbor construction program based on approved budget estimate for fiscal year 1949-Continued PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINE Mr. ENGEL. Item 1, Portland Harbor, Maine, the total estimated cost of the project is $4,560,000; allotments to date, $1,832,700; tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949, $1,600,000; additional to complete after fiscal year 1949, $1,127,300. In all these projects, General Wheeler, you have given the information on the project itself in concise language? General WHEELER. Yes, sir. Mr. ENGEL. I think in each case I shall put the justification in the record, and that will save us quite a little time. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 1. Portland Harbor, Maine: Allotments to date... Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $5,000 for planning. Authorization.-1946 River and Harbor Act. $4, 560, 000 1 1, 832, 700 1, 600, 000 1, 127, 300 Location and description.-Deepening to 35 feet and widening to 300-400 feet, the existing 30-foot channel from Maine State pier to Boston & Maine Railroad bridge, providing 35-foot turning basin east of Vaughan Bridge and constructing breakwater at Spring Point at an estimated cost of $1,600,000. Anchorage area 35-feet deep, 170 acres in area, northwest of House Island, and removal of ledge rock 0.5 mile southwest of Portland Harbor. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Detail planning. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Deepening and widening the existing 30-foot channel to 35 feet, dredge 35-foot turning basin, and construct Spring Point breakwater. Justification.-Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the most northerly and easterly port of importance on the Atlantic seaboard. This port serves practically all of northern New England and in winter months portions of the eastern and central Provinces of Canada. Provision of a 35-foot channel and turning basin and the Spring Point breakwater is essential for the proper functioning of this port. Commerce in 1946 amounted to 5,988,900 tons. Dredging House Island anchorage and removal of small amount of ledge rock southwest of the harbor remain to complete the authorized project after 1949. NEW HAVEN HARBOR, CONN. Mr. ENGEL. Item 2, New Haven Harbor, Conn.: Total estimated Federal cost, $4,476,300; allotments to date, $2,716,300; tentative allocation, fiscal year 1949, $1,500,000; additional required to complete after 1949, $260,000. This is another project for the opening of the main channel from 25 to 35 feet. Is there any comment you wish to make on that? General WHEELER. No, sir. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 2. New Haven Harbor, Conn.: Allotments to date... Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949 Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $1,200,000. Authorization.-1945 and 1946 River and Harbor Acts. $4,476, 300 1 2, 716, 300 1, 500, 000 260, 000 Location and description.-Deepening existing 25-foot channel to 35 feet, 16foot anchorage, and 22-foot channel and turning basin in Quinnipiac River. Operations, fiscal year 1948.—Dredging under continuing contract to partially complete deepening of main channel from 25 to 35 feet. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds requested for 1949 will complete 35-foot channel. Justification. The deeper channel now under way by continuing contract is essential for the movement of the prevalent deep draft vessels particularly tankers to this largest port in the State of Connecticut. Commerce for 1946 amounted to 4,324,000 tons. Funds required after 1949 are for dredging 16-foot anchorage near the upper end of the 35-foot channel and the 22-foot channel and turning basin in Quinnipiac River. BRIDGEPORT HARBOR, CONN. Mr. ENGEL. Item 3, Bridgeport Harbor, Conn.: Total estimated Federal cost, $2,387,000; allotments to date, $2,172,000; tentative allocations fiscal year 1949, $100,000; addition to complete, $115,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 3. Bridgeport Harbor, Conn.: Allotments to date__ Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949 Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $855,000. Authorization.-1930, 1945, and 1946 River and Harbor Acts. Location and description.-Deepening existing 25-foot main channel from Long Island Sound to a point 720 feet below Stratford Avenue Bridge over Poquonock River to 30 feet and for increasing present depths of 12 and 9 feet in Johnsons River to 15 feet to a point about 1,700 feet below Hollisters Dam and thence 9 feet deep for a farther distance of 1,100 feet and a 30-foot turning basin near the entrance to Johnsons River Channel, 18-foot channel in Yellow Mill Pond. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Completion of channels in Johnsons River and partial completion of main 30-foot channel under continuing contract. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949.-Funds requested for 1949 will complete 30-foot channel. Justification.-Bridgeport with a population of over 147,000 is the center of an industrial area containing 21 additional towns and having a population of about 300,000. Completion of deepening channel will permit use of deeper draft vessels and eliminate loss of time awaiting high tide. Commerce during the calendar year 1946 amounted to 2,026,680 tons. Work required after 1949 to complete project is removal of some rock in Yellow Mill Pond channel not presently required. Mr. ENGEL. I wonder what you could do with $100,000? Colonel FERINGA. That is a continuation of construction now under way, and will complete the 30-foot channel. The $115,000 which remains to be done after the fiscal year 1949 is for rock removal in Yellow Mill Pond Channel, which as far as we can see now will not be necessary. Mr. ENGEL. It will not be necessary? Colonel FERINGA. It is not necessary now and may not be necessary next year, and we do not ask any funds because we do not think it necessary now. HUDSON RIVER, N. Y. Mr. ENGEL. Item 4, Hudson River: Total estimated Federal cost, $17,484,000; allotments to date, $15,798,000; tentative allocations, 1949. $269,000; additional required to complete, $1,417,000. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 4. Hudson River, N. Y.: Total estimated Federal cost. Allotments to date.... Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. $17, 484, 000 15, 798, 000 269, 000 1, 417, 000 Authorization.-1925, 1930 and 1938 River and Harbor Acts. Location and Description.-Channel 27 feet deep between New York City and Albany, 143.4 miles, and 14-foot channel between Albany and Waterford, Ñ. Y., 11.4 miles. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-None. Proposed operations, fiscal year 1949. Complete remaining 2-mile reach of 11-mile channel between Albany and Waterford from present depth of 12 feet to 14 feet. Justification. Completion of above section of channel will remove last obstacle to 14-foot navigation in Hudson River to traffic from the Great Lakes to Atlantic seaboard and will result in substantial increase in commerce. Commerce on the Hudson River during 1946 amounted to 5,476,608 tons. In addition, cargoes in transit amounted to 1,135,535 tons. Funds required after 1949 are for widening harbors in front of Troy and Albany to 12-foot depth, dike construction, and deepening northerly 1,500 feet of the 27foot channel from New York City to site of former Albany-Greenbush Bridge. Mr. ENGEL. This is for deepening the channel from Albany to Waterford, 14 feet. Colonel FERINGA. Yes, sir. Mr. TIBBOTT. Why is the amount of $269,000 requested for 1949 when you have been getting so much more each year previously? Colonel FERINGA. This 14-foot channel is complete between Albany and Waterford except for 21⁄2 miles. This 2-mile reach will complete the work as far as Albany. The balance, $1,417,000 can be postponed, as the note in the last paragraph explains. NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY CHANNELS Mr. ENGEL. Item 5, New York and New Jersey Channels: Total estimate Federal cost, $37,630,000; allotments to date, $27,308,000; tentative allocation, 1949, $2,200,000; additional to complete after 1949, $8,122,000. This is for dredging, 35 to 37 feet; is that right? Colonel FERINGA. That is right, sir. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 5. New York and New Jersey channels: Allotments to date.......... Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. Authorization.-1935 River and Harbor Act. $37, 630, 000 27, 308, 000 2,200, 000 8, 122, 000 Location and description.—Provides for 35-foot channel (37 feet in rock and 35 feet in other material) through lower New York Bay, Raritan Bay, Arthur Kill, Lower Newark Bay, and Kill Van Kull to Upper New York Bay, except for an inner section about 6.5 miles long where the project provides for only 30-foot depth, total length of project, 30.8 miles. Also anchorages 38 feet deep near Sandy Hook and Perth Amboy. Operations, Fiscal Year 1948.-Dredging in various sections of 35-foot channel under continuing contract. Proposed Operations, Fiscal Year 1949.-Continue dredging operations to 35 and 37 feet in Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill, and Raritan Bay. Justification. Through channels of less than project width have been completed. In recent years there has been a continued increase in the number of deep-draft vessels using Kill Van Kull. In addition to the heavy movement of vessels through Arthur Kill, there is considerable traffic to and from the large oil terminals situated on Newark Bay. The continuation of work leading toward the provision of project depth in the southerly half of Kill Van Kull is necessary to prevent congestion of traffic with resultant danger of collisions and groundings. The extensive use made of the lower entrance to Arthur Kill requires provision of full project width in the channel through Raritan Bay and in Arthur Kill from Ward Point to Sewaren. Vessel traffic in 1946 amounted to 45,109,781 tons exclusive of 11,142,410 tons of cargoes in transit. Work remaining after 1949 consists of continuing the dredging of the channels to project depth for full project width, dredging Sandy Hook Bay anchorage and complete the dredging of Perth Amboy anchorage. DELAWARE RIVER, PA., N. J., AND DEL., PHILADELPHIA, PA., TO THE SEA Mr. ENGEL. Item 6, Delaware River, Pa., N. J., and Del., Philadelphia, Pa., to the sea: Total estimated Federal cost, $34,900,000; allotments to date, $28,161,700; tentative allocation, 1949, $1,051.000; required to complete after 1949, $5,687,300. (The justification is as follows:) Item No. 6. Delaware River, Pa., N. J., and Del., Philadelphia, Pa., to the sea: Total estimated Federal cost Allotments to date.. Tentative allocation fiscal year 1949. Additional to complete after fiscal year 1949. 1 Includes 1948 appropriation of $500,000. Authorization.-1945 River and Harbor Act. $34, 900, 000 1 28, 161, 700 1, 051, 000 5, 687, 300 Location and description.-Extending 37-foot channel from Navy Yard to Allegheny Avenue, enlargement of 37-foot anchorages at Port Richmond, Mantua Creek, and Marcus Hook. Operations, fiscal year 1948.-Dredging a portion of the Mantua Creek anchorage to a depth of 35 feet. Proposed Operations, fiscal year 1949.-Amount requested for 1949 is for completion of Mantua Creek anchorage to 35 feet over full project width and length. Justification. The large commerce on the Delaware River is important to widespread business and industrial activities. Enlargement of anchorage facilities will enable vessels not under way or engaged at terminals to keep clear of the congested navigation channels. Vessel traffic during 1946 amounted to 37,151,175 tons. In addition cargoes in transit amounted to 262,234 tons while car-ferry and cross-river traffic amounted to 2,346,602 tons. Work remaining after 1949 consists of deepening Mantua Creek and Port Richmond anchorages from 35 to 37 feet and deepening channel above Philadelphia Navy Yard from 35 to 37 feet. Mr. ENGEL. This is for an extension of the 37-foot channel. Colonel FERINGA. No, sir; this is for partial deepening of the Mantua Creek anchorage turning basin which is right below Philadelphia. That area has a large volume of oil traffic and it is not practical to move all of the oil tankers into their berths at the same time. The tankers want to use the anchorage basin until they can come in. This work will complete the 35-foot depth, and the remaining work to be done, to 37 feet, can be postponed at this time. Mr. TIBBOTT. When was this project started? General WHEELER. Enlargement of anchorage areas was authorized in the 1945 River and Harbor Act. SCHUYLKILL RIVER, PA. Mr. ENGEL. Item 7, Schuylkill River, Pa.: Total estimated Federal cost, $2,803,000; allotments to date, $1,456,000; tentative allocation, 1949, $1,295,000; additional to complete, $52,000. This is for deepening the channel in the Schuylkill River from 30 to 33 feet. Colonel FERINGA. That is correct. And, the $52,000 probably will not be needed for many years. |