my last annual report, and the present condition of the improvement, together with a statement showing the amount expended during the fiscal year, and the amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year, is submitted herewith. For more detailed information in regard to the improvements, and for the results of the surveys and examinations ordered by Congress, and not found in my last annual report, I beg to invite attention to the sub-reports which may be found in the appendix to this. HARBORS ON LAKE SUPERIOR AND ON THE WEST AND SOUTH SHORES OF LAKE MICHIGAN—IMPROVEMENT OF FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVERS. Officer in charge, Major D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Captains J. W. Cuyler and A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers. 1. Du Luth Harbor, Lake Superior, Minnesota.-The appropriation of. $60,000 by the act of March 3, 1871, has been applied to the extension and repairs of the breakwater built by the railroad company. The total extension is 400 feet, making the total length of the breakwater 950 feet. The appropriation of this year, $50,000, will be applied to its further extension, which will make the breakwater 1,200 or 1,250 feet in length. The canal cut through Minnesota Point by the city of Du Luth has been enlarged and protected by piers extending into the lake, and affords a channel by which vessels of all classes have access to the bay or inner harbor of Du Luth. Extensive wharves have been constructed in the inner harbor by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. A dike has been constructed, connecting Rice's Point with Minnesota Point, in compliance with the requirements of the Government, for the purpose of preventing a divergence of the waters of the Saint Louis River through the canal, by which it was feared that such a diminution of scour at the "natural entry" to the Bay of Superior, as would result in injury to the latter, would take place. This dike has not been completed according to the requirements of the Government. At the same time, in consequence of the prosecution of the works of improvement at the entry, the channel at that point has deepened, the present season. In the opinion of the officer in charge, there does not appear to be any necessity for the further extension of the breakwater in view of the improvements which have been made in the inner harbor and canal, but he thinks the sum of $50,000 can be advantageously expended upon the breakwater. A statement of the action of this office in regard to the canal and dike, constructed by the city of Du Luth through Minnesota Point, was transmitted to Congress April 12, 1872, with copies of the correspondence in relation to it. This statement, omitting the correspondence, will be found in Appendix A 21. Amount available July 1, 1871 0 $60,000 Amount available July 1, 1872 445.23 retained from payments to contractors Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872. 50,000 00 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 50,000 00 (See Appendixes A 1 and 22.) 2. Superior City Harbor, Lake Superior, Wisconsin.-The plan adopted for this harbor was to construct two parallel piers to extend to 18 feet water in the lake. During the year the Minnesota pier has been extended 768 feet, and the Wisconsin pier 1,184 feet, so that the Minnesota pier has entirely crossed the bar, and the Wisconsin pier has passed over its crest. The effect of this extension has been to confine the current and increase its scouring effect upon the bar. The least depth reported (October 4, 1872) was over 12 feet, except for a distance of about 100 feet, where the depth was 11 feet. A scraper has been used to loosen the material composing the bar, (sand and gravel,) so as to give the full effect to the transporting power of the current. The result has been a marked increase in the depth of water on the bar. It is proposed during the year ending June 30, 1872, to extend the Minnesota pier 200 feet and the Wisconsin pier 600 feet, and if it should be found necessary to dredge out the channel. This will complete the pier-extension deemed necessary at present. There will remain, to complete the work, the superstructure over nearly the whole extent of the piers, for which the sum of $40,000 is estimated. Amount available July 1, 1871. Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $4,759.58 retained from payments to contractors Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. (See Appendix A 2.) $89, 208 90 50,000 00 80,822 17 58,386 73 40, 000 00 3. Ontonagon Harbor, Lake Superior, Michigan.-During the past season the west pier has been extended 224 feet, thus exhausting the available funds. No appropriation has been made for this harbor since 1870. Amount available July 1, 1871.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.. Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. (See Appendix A 3.) $14,059 96 13, 506 74 553 22 50,000 00 4. Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior, Michigan.—No work has been done at this harbor during the year; and, as stated in the last annual report, the work has been suspended, it being deemed advisable to await the results of the operations for removing rock obstructions in Hell Gate, East River, New York, before deciding upon a plan for prosecuting this work. Amount available July 1, 1871, reported in last annual report. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872 (See Appendix A 4.) $23,556 57 1,501 11 249 00 24,808 68 5. Marquette Harbor, Lake Superior, Michigan.-During the year the breakwater has been extended 550 feet up to water-surface, and superstructure completed over 300 feet of previous work. It is estimated that with the appropriation of this season the break water can be extended 250 feet, including superstructure over all. This will complete the work as originally designed, except covering the breakwater, putting on a pier-head, &c., requiring the sum of $15,000. It is probable that the future commerce of Marquette may demand an extension of this work. Amount available July 1, 1871.... Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872. $4,036.23 retained from payments to contractors. Amount available July 1, 1872.... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 5.) $85, 017 91 50,000 00 69,704 65 66,313 26 15,000 00 6. Menomonee Harbor, Michigan and Wisconsin.-During the year, 1,150 feet of the south pier have been completed in accordance with the plan adopted for the improvement of this harbor. During the year ending June 30, 1873, and, it is hoped, the present season, the south pier will be further extended 400 feet, and the north pier extended out to the same distance. This will carry both piers over the crest of the bar, and confine the waters of the Menomonee River to a channel 400 feet in width, so that it is probable that the freshets of the coming season will scour out a channel. The completion of the work, as designed, will require the extension of the piers to a depth of 14 feet. Amount available July 1, 1871. Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $1.986.54 retained from payment to contractors Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. (See Appendix A 6.) 7. Green Bay Harbor, Wisconsin.-The work at this harbor has consisted in widening and deepening the channel from the mouth of Fox River to Grassy Island, so that at the close of the season of 1871, there was a channel 14 feet deep at the ordinary stage of water of the season, and 200 feet in width, except for the distance of about one mile, where the channel is but 160 feet in width. Notwithstanding this, the variation in the water-level at this harbor is so great that vessels are reported as occasionally grounding in the channel. The extreme variation in the water-level during the season of 1871 was 5 feet and 5 inches. The importance of this harbor requires a channel of sufficient capacity to admit the passage of vessels drawing 13 feet at all times. To effect this, and to straighten the channel, will require the removal of about 175,000 cubic yards of material, at an estimated cost of $50,000. Amount available July 1, 1871.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.. Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. (See Appendix A 7.) $19,316 79 18,856 02 460 77 25, 000 00 8. Ahnepee Harbor, Lake Michigan, Wisconsin.-During the year two pile-piers have been constructed in the lake, one on the north of the river-mouth, 352 feet in length, and one on the south, about 200 feet in length. It is expected, during the year ending June 30, 1873, to extend these piers out to 12 feet depth of water, requiring the construction of about 300 feet of pier, and to dredge out a channel into the river. Having accomplished this, the harbor will be in a favorable condition for future operations in constructing an outer harbor, as originally contemplated. Amount available July 1, 1871.... Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872... Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $62.2 retained from payments to contractors Amount available July 1, 1872..... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 8.) $24,830 60 25,000 00 13, 028 10 36,802 50 50,000 00 9. Two Rivers Harbor, Wisconsin.-In accordance with the plan determined on for the improvement of this harbor, the first appropriation has been expended in construction of two parallel pile-piers, one on the east, and the other on the west side of the river-mouth. Each pier is 416 feet in length. The present appropriation will be applied to the further extension of the piers. Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Amount available July 1, 1872... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 9.) 10. Manitowoc Harbor, Wisconsin.-During the year an extension has been made to each pier of 96 feet, the cribs being built up to one foot above the water-level, and the superstructure built over work done in 1870. During the season the superstructure will be completed over the work of last season, and guard-piles driven along the face of the piers. No appropriation was made for this harbor at the last session of Congress, and none was asked for, as the amount of the original estimate had been reached. The importance of this harbor, as shown in accompanying report, requires that the piers be extended to a depth of 18 feet of water, at an estimated cost of $80,000. Amount available July 1, 1871 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $836.92 retained from payments to contractors.. Amount available July 1, 1872..... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 10.) $20, 459 04 9,880 08 10,578 96 40,000 00 11. Sheboygan Harbor, Wisconsin.-During the year the north pier has been extended 320 feet and the south pier 128 feet up to water-surface. During the present season a further extension of 50 feet will be made to each pier, completing the pier-extension for the present. The channel between the piers will also be dredged out. It will be necessary, in addition to this work, to thoroughly repair the old piers. An estimate was made for this purpose last year, but a sufficient sum was not appropriated. The sum of $10,000 will be required for this pur pose. Amount available July 1, 1871.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872.. $928. 48, retained from payments to contractors.. $29,086 70 18,000 00 28,856 95 18, 229 75 10,000 00 12. Port Washington Harbor, Wisconsin.-During the year two piers have been constructed in the lake, each 300 feet in length, one on the north and one on the south side of the harbor-mouth. A considerable amount of dredging was done by the town of Port Washington. The work proposed to be done under the appropriation of June 10, 1872, is the extension of each pier 100 feet, and as much excavation in the channel and basin. Owing to the character of the bottom at this locality, a stiff clay, the work done has remained permanent, and the result has been most satisfactory. No further extension of the pier and excavation of the basin is required for the completion of this harbor. Amount available July 1, 1871... Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 12.) $20,542 70 15,000 00 18,978 69 16,564 01 50,000 00 13. Milicaukee Harbor, Wisconsin.-During the year each pier has been extended 350 feet, the heads of the piers being in 17 feet of water at the ordinary stage. During the present season the superstructure will be completed over these extensions, and the necessary repairs be made to old work. An estimate of $10,000 is submitted for dredging the channel between the piers. Amount available July 1, 1871.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $2.470.98 retained from payments to contractors.. Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount required for tiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 13.) $75, 121 79 53, 291 03 21,830 76 10,000 00 14. Racine Harbor, Wisconsin.-During the season of 1871 the south pier was extended 256 feet. The superstructure over this extension was completed this season. It is deemed necessary, for the proper improvement of this harbor, to extend the north pier 150 feet further, as explained in the accompanying report. Amount available July 1, 1871. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $346.25 retained from payments to contractors. Amount available July 1, 1872..... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. (See Appendix A 14.) $17,285 65 13, 120 88 4, 164 77 20,000 00 15. Kenosha Harbor, Lake Michigan, Wisconsin.-During the year the crib at the outer end of the north pier, displaced by a storm in March, 1571, has been protected by close piling, and another crib, 50 feet by 30 feet, placed in extension of the piers. It is proposed to apply the appropriation of June 10, 1872, to extending the north pier 50 feet by a crib 50 feet by 30 feet, to repair the south pier, and protect the heads of the piers by piles. The sum of $15,000 is estimated for dredging out the channel between the piers, there being at present but 94 feet at the ordinary stage of water. Amount available July 1, 1871.. $13,307 79 Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872.. 10,000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, including $4472 retained from payments to contractors. 5,408 79 Amount available July 1, 1872...... 17,899 00 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. 15,000 00 See Appendix A 15.) 16. Chicago Harbor, Illinois.-During the year the breakwater has been extended southward 800 feet, and a return, 300 feet in length, constructed at the north end of the work. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, the breakwater stood 2,250 feet in length, complete, with the exception of the covering and a small quantity of superstructure at the south end. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, it is expected, with the present appropriation of $90,000, to extend the breakwater to the south 800 feet, and to plank over the present work. A modification of the cross-section of this breakwater having been proposed by Major Houston, he was authorized to adopt it in part, and to so far modify the original project as to introduce, in future, stone foundations for the cribs, of such dimensions as his judgment might dictate, but limiting their heights for the present to 12 feet below the |