n occasioned, at times, by parties removing sand (for sale) from off narrow sand-beach which separates the river from the lake, at the er end of the west pier. The parties removing the sand have permis a from the owners of the beach. It is respectfully suggested that some action of Congress should be 1 to protect the junction of piers, etc., with the shore or defining the ht of the United States to control said beaches, which, in most innces, are the result of structures built by the United States for the provement of the harbor. * CLEVELAND HARBOR, OHIO. Piers and breakwaters are occupied and used both by individuals nd corporations. East Pier.-Occupied, in part, by the tracks of the Cleveland and Pittsurgh Railway Company, by special act of Congress, approved August , 1876, by which act the railroad company were to have use of and ocapy part of said east pier, provided the railroad company should keep ne pier in good condition. Itis respectfully suggested that the pier is not kept in good condition y the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railway Company. West Pier.-Occupied and used by club-houses of the "Gardner Canoe Club," of Cleveland, Ohio. Permission given by the honorable Secreary of War. Occupied and used by Mr. Samuel Law, of Cleveland, Ohio, with boat-houses, where pleasure boats for fishing and rowing, etc., are kept or hire. Have so occupied and used part of said west pier for a number of years (over eight years). No record of any permission as to a sort of "squatter privilege," or by sufferance at first, which possession has strengthened. The keeper of the "Life-Saving Station," which is located on the west pier, has constructed a dwelling-house and boat-house, where boats may be rented for pleasure. Permission given to erect said extra building by Col. John M. Wilson, Corps of Engineers (the then officer in charge), in October, 1882. Fishing boats land at or near the said boat-houses and give much annoyance at times, with unloading and dressing of fish. Whilst these boat-houses, etc., which occupy and use the said west pier, do not materially injure said pier, their occupancy is a precedent for other parties who desire to get a foothold, and the trespassers already there make every effort to increase their privileges (?). I would respectfully suggest that all parties now occupying this pier be given to understand that they are trespassing, be compelled to obtain permission to occupy and use said pier, and to be subject, in all respects, to the orders of " the engineer in charge" of the harbor. Breakwater-Shore-arm.-On beach, near inner end of shore-arm, a boat-house, for hire of pleasure boats and sale of refreshments, was erected in the spring of 1884. Parties claim to have rented privileges of the owner of the land, but one of the houses is certainly on pile of riprap stone placed by the United States for protection of the junc tion of breakwater and shore. Their occupancy and use do not materially injure the breakwater, but it is an encroachment upon United States property which may become hereafter very objectionable. They should be placed subject to the orders of "the engineers in charge." The lake arm of the breakwater is not used or occupied in any way. It will, perhaps, be attempted by vessel men when the harbor of refuge is completed. In conclusion I would respectfully suggest that it would be advisable if Congress should take some action, in a general act, giving the engineer in charge of any United States improvement some definite and fixed power to regulate the improper use of piers, breakwaters, etc. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. COOPER OVERMAN, Major of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. REPORT OF CAPTAIN F. A. MAHAN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Buffalo, New York, November 1, 1887. SIR: In compliance with General Orders No. 6, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, series of 1887, and with your letter of October 28, 1887,1 have to report that the north pier at the mouth of Buffalo Creek is oc cupied by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway Company. for the use of their coal-pockets and tipples. While the occupancy of the pier in this way does not inflict any di rectly apparent injury on the pier, still these structures are of such a nature as seriously to interfere with repairs that may be needed at any time and will be needed before very long, greatly increasing the cost of and the time required in making such repairs. The occupancy of this pier by the railway also seriously interferes with work going on under the auspices of the United States, as has been very well shown during the present summer and fall with the work going on at the breakwater. The United States does not possess a single square foot of unoccupied ground convenient of access by water, except the banquette of the south pier, in the harbor of Buffalo. During the operations of the pres ent summer and fall, the only place that could be found available for the storage of material was a pier belonging to the State of New York. This pier was used through the courtesy of the officials of the Erie Canal, but with the understanding that it must be vacated on demand The pier was inconvenient of access, and it made necessary a double handling of all material arriving by rail, which would have been avoided had the United States been in possession of its own property. If operations are to be continued on the breakwater during future seasons the use of a landing like this pier will be more and more neces sary. While the occupancy of the pier belonging to the State of New York did answer for the present season (in a certain way), it would not be sufficient for work on a large scale owing to lack of space for storage purposes, and it would be necessary for the United States to obtain, probably at great cost, a place suited to the demands of the work, while having a piece of property easily worth from $20,000 to $25,000 a year, if rented for a term of years, in its possession. While the presentation of the above facts may not be just such as may be required by section 4 of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, it seemed to me proper to show how the interests of the United States ffer from the occupancy of a piece of its own property from which obtains no return or compensation whatever. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. F. A. MAHAN, Captain of Engineers. REPORT OF CAPTAIN CARL F. PALFREY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. Oswego, N. Y., November 11, 1887. GENERAL: In compliance with General Orders No. 6, current series, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, I have the honor to report the folowing occupation and injury of United States harbor works under my harge. December 10, 1886.-Extension of light-house pier was damaged by collision of steamer Baltic under stress of weather; four courses of imber on channel face were broken in, and the deck-plank secured to hem were displaced and broken. Damage was repaired December 12-16, at a cost for material and labor of $92.08. December 12, 1886.-Light-house pier extension damaged by collision of steamer Bell Wilson under stress of weather; three courses of timper on channel face were damaged and deck-plank displaced and broken. Damage was repaired December 13-16, at a cost for material and labor of $100.75. September 12, 1887.-East breakwater damaged by collision with unknown vessel. Timber displaced and split and deck-plank started. Damage was repaired September 13, at a cost for material and labor of $7.60. AT CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK. In 1885 or 1886 the Ontario Beach Improvement Company rebuilt superstructure over about 600 feet of the old west pier within the present shore-line, as a revetment of the river front of lands leased by them, and have since occupied this as a private dock. They have not held this as private property as against the United States, but complaints have been made through this office to the War Department of their so holding it as against private parties.. A chain ferry plying between the east and west piers, within the shore-line, authorized by the honorable the Secretary of War, May 24, 1873, is kept open during the summer. A ferry plying between the east and west piers outside the shore-line was authorized by the honorable the Secretary of War, June 11, 1883. It is understood to be discontinued. No other occupation or injury of United States harbor works under my charge is known to me. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CARL F. PALFREY, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. REPORT OF COLONEL GEORGE H. MENDELL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, San Francisco, Cal., June 14, 1887. SIR: I have to report in regard to works under my charge, that no piers, breakwater, or other structures built by the United States in aid of commerce or navigation are used, occupied, or injured by a corpora tion or by an individual, except that near the in-shore ends of both jetties of Oakland Harbor, California, a little injury has been done by fishermen in removing the top of the stone work so as to enable them to pass small fishing-boats, and save the distance required to pass around the outer ends of the jetties. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. G. H. MENDELL, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. APPENDIX Y Y. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT-INCREASING WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON-ERECTION OF FISHWAYS AT THE GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC. REPORT OF MAJOR G. J. LYDECKER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Washington Aqueduct. 2. Increasing the water supply of the city of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. Erection of fish-ways at the Great Falls of the Potomac. OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, Washington, D. C., July 10, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith reports of operations on the Washington Aqueduct; increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C., and erection of fish-ways at Great Falls of the Potomac, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. G. J. LYDECKER, Major of Engineers. Y Y 1. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT. Operations on this work are, in general, of a routine character, and have for their object the maintenance and repairs of the aqueduct and its accessory structures, the care and repairs of the Government mains by which the water supply is taken from the distributing reservoir to the system of distributing mains of Washington and Georgetown, and the care of the high service reservoir in Georgetown. To this end the gates by which the supply of water to and through the aqueduct is regulated, at the several influent and effluent gate-houses, were regularly worked and oiled, and also the various stops on the Government main; surface drains and culverts along the line of the aqueduct road were |