Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix G G 3.) $69,669 40 40,000 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement: Big Stone Lake and Lake Traverse, Minnesota, with a view to connecting them.-Report transmitted to Congress, and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G G 4.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Major Allen was charged with and reported upon the following, which reports were transmitted to Congress: 1. Agate and Burlington bays, Minnesota.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 94, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G G 5.) 2. Saint Louis Bay and Saint Louis River, from Connor's Point, Wis consin, and Rice's Point, Minnesota, to foot of first falls.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 204, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix G G 6.) HARBORS ON LAKE SUPERIOR, EAST OF SUPERIOR CITY, ON GREEN BAY, AND ON THE WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN, NORTH OF MILWAUKEE. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers. 1. Ontonagon Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of this harbor the channel at the river's mouth was but 7 feet deep at the shoalest point, and the shifting nature of the lake bottom caused fre quent changes in its position. The project of constructing piers, extending from each bank of the river's mouth lakeward to the 18-foot curve, and dredging a channel not less than 12 feet deep between them, was adopted in 1867. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, two cribs were added to the west pier, increasing its length by 100 feet, and 950 linear feet of superstructure were completed over the two piers. The total expenditure, amounting to $270,304.30, of which $12,848.49 was expended during the past fiscal year, has resulted in the construction of an east pier 2,265 feet in length and a west pier 2,375 feet in length and the removal by dredging of 10,546 cubic yards of sand from the outer bar, forming a channel 100 feet wide at its narrowest point, with a depth of about 12 feet at low water. This is an important harbor, especially for refuge, affording the only shelter obtainable between the Apostle Islands and the Portage Lake Canal entrance, and the latter is difficult of access in bad weather. The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is for further pier extension. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... July 1, 1855, amount available...... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 1.) $144 19 15,000 00 15, 144 19 12,848 49 2,295 70 91, 170 00 60,000 00 2. Eagle Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of this harbor the entrance was obstructed by a rocky reef, having about 9 feet of water over the shoalest point. The project of improvement was adopted in 1866, and modified in 1868, 1874, and 1877, and consisted in blasting a channel 130 feet wide and 14 feet deep through the reef. The work was completed in 1879. The channel is now marked by a guiding-crib on each side, and meets the present demands of commerce. Last summer it was ascertained that the channel was obstructed by a number of bowlders, which reduced its available depth in places to 12 and 13 feet. Some of these obstructions were removed last fall, but before the channel could be cleared freezing weather set in, making it necessary to suspend operations. A diver is now engaged on this work, and the obstructions will all be removed early in July. The total expenditure to June 30, 1885, is $93,786.16. No appropriation is asked for this harbor, as the funds on hand will probably be sufficient to cover the expenses of keeping the channel and piers in good condition for some years to come. July 1, 1884, amount available... July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.................. July 1, 1885, amount available...... (See Appendix H H 2.) $3,788 93 575 09 3,213 84 3. Marquette Harbor, Michigan.-In its original condition no protection was afforded to vessels at this harbor during the prevalence of easterly and northerly gales. In 1866 a project of improvement was adopted, which consisted in the construction of a crib break water, 2,000 feet in length and 25 and 40 feet in width, built to a height of 6 feet above water at an estimated cost of $385,129.58. Under a modification of this project the width was reduced to 20, 25, and 30 feet, and the structure was completed in accordance therewith in 1875, the total length being 2,010 feet, and the total cost $290,646.55. The total expenditures to June 30, 1885, were $307,613.98. The breakwater now affords an excellent protection for a limited number of vessels during bad weather; but further protection should be af forded to provide the necessary anchorage room for the largely increased business now being carried on at this port. An extension of the breakwater 400 feet has been recommended at an estimated cost of $68,000; but this is now deemed to be insufficient for the prospective needs of this harbor, a much greater extension than this, or an additional detached work, being required. It is proposed to retain the funds now on hand, except such as may be needed for repairs, until a sufficient amount shall have been appropriated with which to build either an extension to the present breakwater, or a new structure, as may then be considered most expedient. The amount asked for can be beneficially expended during the next fiscal year in carrying on this work. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... July 1, 1885, amount available............... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 100, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 3.) 4. Harbor of Refuge, Grand Marais, Michigan.-The object of this improvement is to provide a harbor of refuge for vessels navigating Lake Superior. The project was adopted in 1881, on the recommendation of a Board of Engineer Officers, and consisted in the formation of an artificial entrance to the harbor by the construction of two parallel cribpiers, 500 feet apart, and dredging a cut through the sand spit north of the harbor and between the piers, making a channel 300 feet wide and 18 to 20 feet deep, connecting the deep water of the lake with the deep water of the natural harbor. Originally the channel was variable, with a depth of not more than 6 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, superstructure was built over 10 cribs, a length of 500 feet, and one crib was sunk in extension of the west pier; 8 cribs are yet to be sunk, under the existing contract. The expenditure was $8,239.61. The total expenditures since the beginning of the improvement amount to $73,234.67, and have resulted in the construction of a west pier 750 feet in length, of an east pier 600 feet in length, and in the removal of over 32,000 cubic yards of sand by dredging. The importance of completing this work at an early day can hardly be overestimated; and the interests of the lake marine representing, as it does, millions of dollars, would seem to justify large appropriations annually until the harbor is completed. Two hundred thousand dollars could be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887; with this amount it is believed that the work can be sufficiently advanced to permit the use of the harbor for refuge; and until this result is obtained no benefit will be derived from previous expenditures. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884....... July 1, 1885, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 345,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 200,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 4.) 5. Manistique Harbor, Michigan.-Manistique Harbor is at the mouth of Manistique River. The natural channel of entrance to the mouth of the river was 7 feet deep. No work has been done during the year. By private enterprise 3,000 linear feet of slab-pier was built at the river mouth, and the channel was dredged to a depth of 10 feet previous to any appropriation having been made by the Government. By the acts of 1880 and 1881 the sum of $6,000 was appropriated for this harbor in order to dredge a channel 150 feet wide and 12 feet deep between the piers built by a local lumbering company. Dredging was done to the amount of 11,780 cubic yards, and the work was then suspended in consequence of the refusal of the company controlling the harbor to rectify their pier lines when rebuilding the same. No appropriation is asked for this harbor. July 1, 1884, amount available.. (See Appendix H H 5.) $3.501 79 3,501 79 6. Harbor at mouth of Cedar River, Michigan.-The project of improvement at the mouth of Cedar River consists in the construction of two parallel piers, 200 feet apart, extending from the mouth of Cedar River to the 16-foot curve in Green Bay, with dredging outside the shore lines between the piers sufficient to make a channel not less than 12 feet deep at low water, extending to the deep water in Green Bay. Fifteen thousand dollars was appropriated by act of Congress, passed August 2, 1882, toward carrying out this project, and a second appropriation of $15,000 was made July 5, 1884. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $2,932.74. The total amount expended is $16,812.92, of which sum about one-seventh has been expended in dredging, and the remainder in pier extension. When work under the present contract is completed, the east pier will be 753 feet long, and the west pier 300 feet. The channel between has been dredged 14 feet deep for a width of 120 feet. The interests at this harbor are of a local character, the business, which consists in the manufacture and shipment of lumber, being confined at present to a single saw-mill. It is not important that the improvement of this harbor be continued at present, and no appropriation is asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884...... July 1, 1885, amount available...... $1,119 82 15,000 00 16, 119 82 2,932 74 13,187 08 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 108, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 6.) 7. Menomonee Harbor, Michigan and Wisconsin.-Previous to the improvement of this harbor the natural channel was obstructed by a bar opposite the mouth of the Menomonee River, over which there was a depth of only 6 feet of water. The project of improvement was adopted in 1871 and modified in 1874, its object being to afford a channel of navigable width and not less than 14 feet deep, by pier extension and dredging. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, superstructure was completed over 350 feet of the north pier and 700 feet of the south pier. The expenditures during the year have amounted to $7,267.39, and the total expenditure, $196,345.78. The north pier is completed in accordance with the existing project, having a length of 1,854 feet, and terminating in 16 feet depth of water, and the south pier is 2,710 feet in length and extends 100 feet beyond the outer terminus of the north pier, but must be continued 350 feet further to attain the same depth of water. There is a 12-foot channel between the piers, not less than 150 feet wide. A shoal spit of about 11 feet depth has been forming in advance of the south pier and now extends 280 feet beyond it. The appropriation asked for the year ending June 30, 1887, is for further pier extension. The piers are extensively used by a lumber company for storing and handling lumber and for mooring vessels. Such use is injurious and should be discontinued. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1884, amount available............. $921 61 10,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... 10,921 61 7,267 39 July 1, 1885, amount available...... 3,654 22 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 12,000.00 12,000 00 (See Appendix H H 7.) 8. Oconto Harbor, Wisconsin.—In its natural condition the channel at the entrance to Oconto River was obstructed by a bar with less than 2 feet of water over it. Previous to 1881, when the first appropriation was made for its improvement, the citizens had, by the construction of a small amount of slab-pier and by dredging, increased this depth to 3 feet. The project of improvement proposes to secure an 8-foot channel from deep water in Green Bay to the city of Oconto by dredging and the construction of piers, at an estimated cost of $150,000. During the year ending June 30, 1885, a pile protection 1,000 feet long for the south pier was built nearly to completion, and work on extending the piers was begun; also 56,671 cubic yards of material were dredged, straightening the channel of the river by cutting off a bend and widening the channel, the depth. made being 10 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $28,831.57, of which $4,026.72 was expended during the last fiscal year. These expenditures have resulted in the construction of two slab-piers, one north of the harbor entrance 1,100 feet long, and one south of the entrance, built 1,900 feet long, but now 1,850 feet, a section 50 feet long having been carried away by the ice; in the strengthening of the south pier by a line of protection piling 1,000 feet long; in dredging 111,451 cubic yards of material, to make and maintain a navigable channel of 8 to 10 feet depth up to the city of Oconto, and in general repairs. With the funds now available it is expected that the north pier will be extended to a length of 1,600 feet and the south pier to a length of 2,150 feet. |