APPENDIX A A A. NSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. NUAL REPORT OF MAJOR CHARLES J. ALLEN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Saint Paul, Minn., July 6, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith my report, in duplicate, on the improvement and construction of roads and bridges in the llowstone National Park for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. J. ALLEN, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. ONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL, PARK. i charge of Capt. Clinton B. Sears, Corps of Engineers, until April 16, 1888. Since that date in charge of Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers.] The beginning of systematic road and bridge construction in the park llowed an appropriation of $40,000 made by act of Congress approved [arch 3, 1883, the portion of the appropriation allotted to construction ork to be expended under the supervision and direction of an engineer icer detailed by the Secretary of War. Capt. D. C. Kingman was the officer so detailed. He continued in harge until April 1, 1887, when he was relieved by Captain Sears. Those officers accomplished a large amount of excellent work in reairing old roads and in opening routes to regions in the park theretoore inaccessible to tourists. The project for this improvement consists in repairing old trails and n the construction of substantial roads, about 18 feet in width, well rowned, ditched and drained, with easy grades, and, where necessary, overed with gravel or broken rock; also, the building of good bridges over the streams. The permanent roads to cover a circuit of about 145 niles, extending from the park line at Gardiner, Mont., to the Mamnoth Hot Springs; thence to Norris Geyser Basin; thence to Upper Geyser Basin; thence to Yellowstone Lake via Shoshone Lake, acros the great continental divide of the Rocky Mountains; thence along the Yellowstone Lake and Yellowstone River via the Falls and the Gran Cañon to Yancy's; thence to the Mammoth Hot Springs. In addition a cross-road from the Firehole Basin to the Falls of the Yellowston a cross-road from the latter to the Norris Basin; a road from the west line of the park to the Firehole Basin; a road from Yancy's to the eas line of the park, and a number of short branch roads and trails from the intersections of the above-named roads to minor objects of interest of the main lines of travel; in all, about 225 miles of new road, abo twenty large and fifty small bridges, and many culverts contemplated in the project. Cost of completion of the project, as estimated in th Annual Report, 1887, $250,000. The condition of the roads and bridges before the adoption of the present project was deplorable. The roads, few in number and short in extent, were mere wagon trails; the grades were frequently excess ively steep, and the roads full of stumps, rocks, boggy places, and da erous side-hill slants. The foregoing is derived from the Annual Report of the Chief of E: gineers for 1887, and from Appendix A A A to the same. Following is a statement of the work accomplished by Captain Sears in the past fiscal year, from memoranda furnished by him: On July 1, 1887, the appropriation for the new fiscal year became available, three working parties, provided with the proper camp outfit, tools, teams, etc., put into the field and began work, which was continued uninterruptedly up to tober 15, 1887, when all parties were withdrawn and discharged, and the plant ston. for the winter in charge of a watchman. One party began at Gibbon Meadow, near the entrance to the cañon, and works north toward Norris Geyser Basin, building a new permanent road, which was ished to the latter point. A considerable portion of the road was through a hear meadow soil, soaked with water, requiring much deep ditching, many culverts numerous drains. The rest was through heavy timber. The total length was about 4 miles. T line adopted was almost entirely new, and but little of the old road was utilized Another party began operations on the road from Norris Basin to the Falls in Grand Cañon, taking up the work where it was left off at the close of the last seast This road was completed to within a mile of the Falls, and partially built to within fourth of a mile of same. The total length of road built on this section was equivale to about 6 miles of new road. The greater portion of this was through heavy timbe and about half a mile in Virginia Cañon required retaining-walls of dry bowe masonry. A third party started at the end of last year's completed road near Beaver Lab and worked toward Swan Lake Meadow on the line of the main road to the Mi moth Hot Springs. The line followed was entirely new and none of the old ra was used. Most of the route lay through quite heavy timber and required me! clearing and grubbing, and, being partly on wet side hill, necessitated deep ditche numerous drains, and many culverts. The length of road built was about 6 miles A king-post truss-bridge of 30 feet span was built over Obsidian Creek. In addition to the above small parties were detached from time to time to cut trails, and to temporarily repair the original improved roads so as to keep them: passable condition, and to clear the improved roads of fallen timber. The princ trail work was the construction of a 4-foot bridle path of easy grade from the old tr a short distance beyond the bridge over Cascade Creek, towards the crest of the lor falls of the Yellowstone. All roads were cleared of timber for a width of 30 feet, and graded, crowned, finished to a width of from 18 to 20 feet, exclusive of side drains. All bridges culverts were covered with 3-inch planks, and the total number built was 43. The total work done during the season from July 1 to October 15 was equivalent the entire construction of about 18 miles of new road cleared, grubbed, plowe graded, and finished. Of this, about 55,000 feet was through heavy timber, and som 10,000 feet through meadow and prairie land; the balance being of varied charac through light timber or on open side hill, etc. The sum turned over to me April 16, 1888, was $835.22. of Vith these funds some necessary repairs were made to the roads, lge-piers, and the retaining-wall in Virgina Cañon. The work was formed by hired labor. Repairs are always necessary more or less in the spring, as rock, viders, and earth are moved from the hill and mountain sides under action of frost and spring thaws and rains, and the storms of winter root trees, many of which fall across the roads. As the mileage of ds increases, the annual outlay necessary for repairs will increase. The principal work performed under the Engineer Department may summarized as follows: es of new road built..... es of roads (original wagon trails) mended es of new roads repaired (about).. mber of large bridges built mber of small bridges built. 1 many culverts. some of the new work was through heavy rock cutting. pended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888.. pended since the adoption of the present project.. der the appropriation of 1883. der the appropriation of 1884. der the appropriation of 1885. *Total to June 30, 1886.. der the appropriation approved August 4, 1886 der the appropriation approved March 3, 1887........... Total to June 30, 1888 ... 581 90 454 6 13 $20,000,00 109, 779. 42 23,570.03 23, 000. 02 23, 209.37 69, 779.42 20,000.00 20,000.00 109, 779.42 The roads and bridges constructed and kept in repair under the presat project are generally in very good condition, but the entire project to extent of roads and bridges must be carried out before the park ill fully attain the object for which it was established by Congress. Il roads in the park should be well constructed, not only with a view permanency, but also to appearance. They should not be behind ose of any public park in the United States. In constructing them favor an increase in width over the present gauge where sharp turns cur, especially on hillsides or where the roads border precipices, and, the latter cases, providing them with substantial parapets. Parapets, 3 mentioned, will add something to the cost of construction, but they e to a certain extent necessary, and, where possible, the construction ork, bridges especially, should be in harmony with the character of untry. These particulars can not, probably, all be attempted for some ears to come, but I believe that they will eventually receive considertion. As the number of tourists in the park increase some extension of ads, bridges, and bridle-paths beyond what the present project conemplates may eventually become necessary, and with that in view furer explorations and reconnaissances in the park by the engineers hould be provided for. I heartily indorse the views of the officers who preceded me in charge f this work, that the National Park should be maintained for the purose for which Congress established it, viz, for a public park for the enefit and enjoyment of the people. Its many objects of interest hould be readily, safely, and cheaply accessible, and this can best be ccomplished by providing liberal and regular appropriations for the work. See page 3135, Appendix A A A, Part 4, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, 857. 1 The last annual report estimated $130,000 as the sum needed for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. I renew that estimate for the yea ending June 30, 1890, and would urge, in connection with the estimate the advantage of an early appropriation. The season for work the park is short, and in case an appropriation for the fiscal year made late in the season, the short time available to the engineer planning his work and organizing for the same places him and the in provement and all concerned at a great disadvantage. On the othe hand, an appropriation made, say, in February or March, affords ti for maturing plans, so as to take the field promptly on the 1st of J and thereby accomplish a good amount of creditable work before e weather sets in. The last annual report states the necessity for the purchase of a por able steam saw-mill and a portable rock-crusher, and for the constr tion of a warehouse, stable, and office; also, for a dwelling-house overseer and watchman. During my visit to the park in June last t necessity for this outlay was apparent. The dwelling-house is need in winter, as well as in summer, by the watchman in charge of the s gineer plant. In fact, it will always be necessary to keep some one a the park to inspect and repair roads and bridges, and that empley should have comfortable quarters for himself and family. The winte in the park are long and severe, and the hotels are then closed, so that the watchman is for months almost shut out from the rest of the word The buildings should be located at Mammoth Hot Springs. It is proposed to expend the $130,000 estimated as needed for: year ending June 30, 1890, so far as it will go, about as follows: In completing the belt road, by continuing the existing road from Upper Geyser Basin to and around Shoshone Lake; thence across t Great Continental Divide to the Yellowstone Lake; thence along th lake to the Yellowstone River; thence along the river to the Gray Cañon; thence to Yancy's; thence to the Mammoth Hot Springs, a proving and completing the old rough road between those points; als in repairing and completing the roads already built or commenced der the present project; in repairing old trails where necessary, and opening and constructing such cross-roads and bridle-paths as may immediately needed; also, in purchasing the plant and constructing t buildings needed for the work. I wish, in conclusion, to acknowledge the valuable assistance r dered me by Mr. E. Lamartine during the portion of the fiscal year which the work has been in my charge. Mr. Lamartine's connecti with work upon roads and bridges in the park extends over six or sev years, and the value of his services has been fully acknowledged by: officers preceding me in charge. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1887. July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1888, outstanding liabilities $20,003 $19, 716. 84 283.16 20.00 230,000 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... APPENDIX B B B. BBB 1. NNUAL WATER-LEVELS OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. Tri-daily observations of water-gauges were made at the following laces from July 1, 1887, to June 30, 1888: Charlotte, N. Y., on Lake Ontario; at Cleveland, Ohio, and Erie, Pa., on Lake Erie; and at Mil. aukee, Wis., and Escanaba, Mich., on Lake Michigan. By reason of e and snow no observations were made at Escanaba during the months f January, February, March, and April of 1888. Observations were Iso made at Sand Beach, Mich., on Lake Huron, and at Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on Lake Superior. At the last-named place the bservations are from June 1, 1887, to May 31, 1888. Tonthly mean of water-levels for the several stations (in feet) below the planes of reference adopted in 1876. Charlotte.. Cleveland Milwaukee. 3.24 2.58 2.88 2.74 2.84 3.33 3.01 2.38 2.41 2.11 2.13 2.00 3. 348 3. 139 2.759 2.490 2. 972 2.776 3.41 3.29 2.85 2.55 3.833 3.833 3.362 2.575 1.34 1.83 2.43 2.91 3.40 3.55 3.67 3.86 3.04 3.14 2.98 1.42 1.90 2.14 2.37 2.75 1.27 1.59 1.82 2.41 2.68 1.919 2.060 2.404 2.855 3. 181 2.074 2.331 2.629 3.006 3.165 1.88 2.09 2.44 2.67 3.11 3.40 3.51 3.60 Marqueste 3.070 2.989 3. 133 3. 204 3.443 3.657 3.773 3. 756 Sault Ste. Marie 3. 317 2.947 3.064 3.205 3.031 3.260 3,665 3.815 4. 166 4.115 4.125 3.524 Escanaba.. Sand Beach.. February. March. April. The practice has obtained of publishing diagrams showing the monthly means of water-levels at the end of each period of five years. Such a diagram was published in the Annual Report for last year. With the Report for this year are presented consolidated tabulated records of mean monthly water-levels for the different lakes for each year for which such records are complete, so far as the files of this department furnish the information. These tabulations show also the yearly mean water-levels for each year therein and the mean levels for the entire periods included in the tabulations. A sheet of diagrams to illustrate the mean yearly oscillations of the different lakes accompanies these tabulations. May. June. |