HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



255 



river. For two miles the}' flow in an easterly direction and Then 

 southerly, for a total distance of about 7 miles. These streams 

 have been canalized by the Federal government and are rapidly 

 becoming an important artery of commerce. They form the 

 northern and, for a portion of the way, the eastern boundary of 

 Manhattan island. The two streams join at Kings Bridge, New 

 York. 



Befo're improvement the Harlem river had an available depth 

 of 10 feet from the East river to Morris dock, except at High- 

 bridge, where it was only 6 feet. From Morris dock to Fordham 

 landing there was a crooked channel 7 feet deep, and above the 

 latter place the river could be used only by the smallest class of 

 vessels. 



Spuyten Duyvil creek from Kings Bridge to the Hudson had a 

 depth of 4 feet. 



The original project for improvement, adopted in 1874, provided 

 for the removal of old bridge piers, Candle factory reef, and 

 boulders at various places near the East river to a depth of 12 

 feet, the cost of the work being estimated at f 167,875. 56. In 

 furtherance of this project f 21,000 was expended. 



The existing project, adopted June 18, 1878, and modified 

 October 7, 18S6, provides for a continuous channel, 400 feet wide 

 and 15 feet deep, from the East river to the Hudson river, except 

 just north of Highbridge, where the width was made 375 feet, and 

 the rock cut through Dyckman's meadow, where the width was 

 reduced to 350 feet and the depth increased to 18 feet. The cost 

 of the work was estimated at |2,700,000. 



The amount expended in carrying on work under the existing 

 project to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, was 

 fl.244,851.90. 



The maximum draft that could be carried June 30, 1903, over 

 the shoalest part of the channel was 12 feet. 



The commerce of this river is very large. In 1895, the tonnage 

 amounted to over 7,500,000 tons. 1 



Report of the Chief of Engineers for the year ending June 30, 1903. 



