gan City, by the dredging and revetting of the creek and the building of piers for the protection of the entrance from the lake. The expenditures prior to 1866 for the purposes indicated amounted to $156,203.92. At this date Congress appropriated $75,000 on condition that it should be shown that the local authorities had themselves expended $100,000, and this having been shown to be the case, the engineer in charge proposed a project to extend the piers in order to open a channel through an outer bar lying across the entrance. This project was later extended, both to include an additional length of piers and a considerable extension landward of the portions of the creek to be dredged and improved. At the present time the dredge maintains a channel through those portions of the creek which are used for business purposes. To June 30, 1888, the expenditure amounted to $93,896.43, and for the past fiscal year $5,305.73, which was expended in taking out 64,085 cubic yards of material from the channel, making depths varying from 15 feet in the lower part to 12 feet in the upper. To continue dredging work during the fiscal year 1891, there will be needed for dredging, $5,000; for a new dump-scow, $2,500, and for contingencies $1,500; making a total estimate of $9,000. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, balance available.. $4,890.73 5, 305.73 2, 672.84 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K K 15.) 9,000.00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEY FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Mansfield, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement. 1. Saugatuck Harbor, Michigan, to obtain channel of navigable width, with a minimum depth of 15 feet and reconstructing piers.-(See Appendix K K 16.) 2. Grand River, Michigan, from Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan ; for channel of navigable width, minimum depth of 10 feet.-(See Appendix K K 17.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer of Petoskey Harbor, Michigan, for breakwater and har bor of refuge, that the locality is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Major Ludlow was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF ST. MARY'S RIVER-ENLARGEMENT OF AND OPERATING ST. MARY'S FALLS CANAL-CONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR OF REFUGE ON LAKE HURON, AND IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN HARBORS ON LAKE HURON AND OF SAGINAW RIVER-PRESERVATION OF AND OPERATING ST. CLAIR FLATS CANAL-IMPROVEMENT OF GROSSE POINT CHANNEL AND OF DETROIT, CLINTON, Rouge, and BLACK RIVERS. Officer in charge, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. H. F. Hodges, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders until August 26, 1888; Lieut. W. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders from January 12 to March 29, 1889, and with Lieut. C. S. Riché, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since April 10, 1889. 1. St. Mary's Falls Canal and River, Michigan.-The project for obtaining a navigable channel of 16 feet depth between Lakes Superior and Huron had been barely completed when the demands of commerce so enormously increased that the work of obtaining a depth of 20 feet throughout was undertaken, with the full sanction of both legislative and executive authority. A necessary part of the project is the construction of a new lock upon the site of the old State locks, to have a length of 800 feet between gates, a width of 100 feet throughout, a depth of 21 feet on the mitersills, and a single lift approximating 18 feet. The canal is to be deepened to correspond. The estimated cost of this enlargement of the canal system is $4,738,865, for the details of which see pages 2220 et seq. of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887. One million dollars has already been appropriated, and contracts have been entered into for the excavation of the lock-pit, and the construction of a pier in front of Fort Brady. The statistics of the commerce using the canal indicate more clearly each succeeding year the urgency for rapid progress in the improvement. It is now so great that an esti mate of $1,236,000 is submitted for the prosecution of the work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in full confidence that the actual conditions now existing will justify so large an appropriation. The aggregate expended on this work to June 30, 1888, was .... The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was. Total expenditures to June 30, 1889. July 1, 1888, amount available (but covered by existing contracts) $134, 625, 93 115,705.59 250, 331.52 90,968. 22 1,000,000,00 1,090, 968. 22 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888...... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts $69, 307, 67 346, 026. 36 744, 941.86 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 3,738, 865.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 1.) 1, 236, 000, 00 2. Operating and care of St. Mary's Falls Canal, Michigan.-During the fiscal year the canal was open to navigation two hundred and thirtytwo days. It was closed for the winter December 2, 1888, and opened April 15 for the season of 1889. Eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-two vessels, etc., representing a registered tonnage of 6,213,494 tons, and carrying 6,932,203 tons of freight and 26,428 passengers, passed through in 4,390 lockages. The staple articles transported were 1,854,527 tons of coal, 30,261 tons of copper, 2,157,973 barrels of flour, 15,202,021 bushels of grain, 3,414,859 tons of iron ore, 59,052 tons of pig and manufactured iron, 206,957 barrels of salt, 3,480 tons of silver ore, 276,181,000 feet, B. M., of lumber, 33,772 tons of building stone, 2,014 tons of wool, 310 tons of hides and 349,345 tons of unclassified freight. The expenditures on account of operating and care for the fiscal year aggregated $30,749.45 and the receipts for dry-docking were $124. The estimated amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, is $43,200, all of which is already provided for by indefinite appropriation. (See Appendix L L 2.) 3. Dry-dock at St. Mary's Falls Canal, Michigan.-Owing to the prog ress made in the excavation for the new lock at St. Mary's Falls Canal, all propositions looking towards the conversion of the old State locks into a dry dock are finally disposed of and need not again be referred to. The proposition to locate a dry-dock in immediate proximity to the lockage system is as objectionable as ever; but if it should be decided to be so, then the location heretofore referred to, at the eastern end of the area transferred from the Fort Brady military reservation to the canal reservation, is the least objectionable. But the construction of a pier in front of the Fort Brady reservation has now advanced beyond the point where a dry-dock should be located, and a portion of this work would have to be removed, thus increasing by $20,000 the probable cost of a dry-dock, and the estimate therefor should be increased accordingly. Amount (estimated) required for the construction of a dry-dock at the point indicated, $343,872. It is understood the State of Michigan holds $65,000 in readiness to transfer to the United States for the purpose of constructing a drydock at St. Mary's Falls Canal. (See Appendix L L 3.) 4. Hay Lake Channel, St. Mary's River, Michigan.-The original estimates for this improvement were based upon a project for a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep, leaving the present navigable channel of St. Mary's River at Sugar Island Rapids (about 2 miles below the canal), through these into Hay Lake, and then, by way of the Middle Neebish, rejoining the present navigable channel at the foot of Sugar Island, thus saving a distance of 11 miles and obtaining a route which can be so marked by lights as to be navigable at night, a condition impracticable with the present channel, except by the use of many lights. The estimated cost of this project was $2,127,292. The project was subsequently modified to increase the depth to 20 feet, the estimated cost being $2,659,115, subject to change, however, in case unexpected difficulties are developed during the progress of the work. The amount thus far appropriated for the work is $975,000, all of which has either been expended or is covered by existing contracts, except $200,000, which is reserved under the proviso of that item of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, by which the appropriation is made for this improvement. The work is progressing well, and with ample appropriations could be pushed with great energy. The length of the route is sufficient to admit of the use of a very extensive plant. An estimate of $500,000 is sufficient, one-half to be applied at Middle Neebish and the other half at Sugar Island Rapids, where right of way has now been obtained. The aggregate expended on this improvement to June 30, 1888, was.... The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was. $394, 596. 44 103, 172. 04 Total expenditure to June 30, 1889.. July 1, 1888, amount available (but covered by existing contracts) July 1, 1889, amount expended during the fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1889, balance available.... 497, 768.48 73, 593.44 500, 000, 00 573, 593.44 ( Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 4.) 1,684, 115. 00 500, 000, 00 5. Harbor at Cheboygan, Michigan.-Prior to undertaking any improvement at this harbor only 63 to 7 feet of water could be carried across the bar at the mouth of Cheboygan River. The original project for the improvement, adopted in 1871, contemplated dredging a channel 200 feet wide and 14 feet deep through the bar, and revetting each side by a pile-pier Experience gained during the progress of the work already done leads to the belief that the piers can be dispensed with, with consequent reduction of cost to the extent of about one-half the original estimate. Subsequent modifications of the project were made until, as it now stands, it provides for a channel of 15 feet in depth, and generally 200 feet in width from the 15-foot curve in the Straits of Mackinac to the State Road Bridge. Five thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars and seven cents have been expended upon the work during the fiscal year, and only about 16,500 cubic yards remain to be excavated to complete the projected channel. It is expected that this will be completed before December 1, 1889, leaving the appropriation of August 11, 1888, untouched. Until the dredged channel begins to silt up, or the revetting piers contemplated in the original project of 1871 are shown to be necessary, no further work is proposed, and therefore no further estimate is submitted at this time. The aggregate expended on this harbor to June 30, 1888, was The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was.. $118, 718. 64 5, 264.07 123, 982. 71 July 1, 1888, amount available (but covered by existing contracts).. July 1, 1889, amount expended during the fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 18 9, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contract. July 1, 1889, balance available.. (See Appendix L L 5). $14,315. 12 15,000.00 29,315. 12 $4,622.40 14,315. 12 15,000.00 6. Harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan.-Prior to the commencement of the improvement there was a navigable channel from the bay into the river of 12 feet depth, and a variable width, at one place only 50 feet. The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1876, the object being to obtain an entrance channel from the bay into the river of navigable width, and of not less than 13 feet in depth. The project was subsequently modified to such an extent as to provide for a depth of 14 feet. This had been practically accomplished at the date of the annual report for 1884. It was then stated that the improvement was of such a character that it would require attention from time to time, and it was recommended that sufficient appropriation be made to render available the sum of $10,000 for use when it should be wanted. This was not done and the matter remained in abeyance. Complaints of insufficiency of water arise from three causes: (1) Deterioration of depth (due to deposit). (2) A low stage of water in Lake Huron. (3) The general use of larger vessels. This was the condition of the improvement up to June 30, 1888, up to which time $15,002.22 had been expended on the work, and $4,510.91 remained available. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, required the expenditure of this balance for dredging, and a contract has been let, and 5,290 cubic yards excavated up to the close of the fiscal year. The commerce of the harbor last season, as reported by the inspector of dredging, amounted to a value of $5,529,651. A demand for a 16foot navigation has arisen in consequence, and is well worthy of consideration. To fully restore the 14-foot channel will require an additional appropriation of $5,500. To increase the channel depth to 16 feet will require an additional appropriation of $30,000. The harbor is well worthy of the latter improvement. The aggregate expended on this harbor to June 30, 1888, was The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was.... $14,434, 38 2,232.72 Total expenditure to June 30, 1889...... July 1, 1888, amount available... 16,667, 10 May 31, 1889, repayment of disallowance of part of voucher 1, June, 1888. 4,510.91 .3.20 4,514. 11 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts... $40.72 2, 192.00 2,281,39 4,514. 11 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 6.) 30, 000-00 |