By the act of Congress approved by the President August 5, 1892, an appropriation of $15,000 was made for this work. Proposals were advertised for October 17, and the contract, which was awarded to Mr. Isaac H. Hathaway, of Philadelphia, Pa., the lowest bidder, was entered into November 23. During August and September a surveyor and three men were employed on a survey for the purpose of enabling the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries to make the construction plans for sections 1, 2, and 3, and also for an additional work desired by him, viz, a permanent dam between sections 1 and 2. Upon application by the contractor, and with my authority, the time for the completion of the contract was extended one month. Sections 2 and 3 of the fish ways and part of the permanent deflecting dam have been completed, but there remains to be done the completion of this dam and the construction of section 1. The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries is of the opinion that an additional sum of $7,890 will be required to complete the work, and requests that an estimate for it be submitted. Amount deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries for the completion of the work.... 7,890.00 (See Appendix B B B 3.) IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, AND CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Col. O. H. Ernst, Major, Corps of Engineers, until March 31, 1893, and since that date, Col. John M. Wilson, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. The Executive Mansion has received the usual care, and such improvements have been made as the funds available would admit. Neufchatel mastic has been laid upon the area pavements and in a portion of the basement of the building. The heating apparatus was remodelled and improved. Some of the interior walls have been redecorated and rooms refurnished. Those portions of the stone balustrade, coping, cornice, etc., of the building which were torn away and seriously damaged during the severe storm in November, 1891, were repaired. New furniture, matting, carpets, etc., have been supplied from time to time when necessary. The conservatory and greenhouses were all overhauled and repairs of various kinds made. Every effort has been made to maintain the Washington Monument and its machinery in good condition, and to continue the improvement and ornamentation of the adjacent grounds. All boilers and machinery have been carefully overhauled and cleaned, and the work of repainting the iron work of the interior of the monument has been commenced. The elevator receives the most careful attention, being constantly inspected by experts, and it is believed to be as safe as it is in the power of man to make it. There were 186,327 visitors to the top of the shaft during the year, making a total of 799,502 persons who have made the ascent since the monument was opened to the public in October, 1888. The improvement of the monument grounds has been continued, plank walks constructed, new water pipe introduced, flower beds planted, etc. At the propagating gardens and nurseries extensive repairs were made to the various greenhouses, about a half million plants propagated for use in the public parks, shops and storehouses repaired, and a large number of cuttings of flowering shrubs planted. In addition to the general work performed for maintaining in good condition the improved public reservations, four small triangular spaces have been highly improved and one partially improved. The asphalt roads and walks in Smithsonian and Judiciary parks have been extended, and repairs made to the asphalt walks in Lafayette, Franklin, Farragut, and Mount Vernon parks. The officer in charge invites attention to the propriety of separating the office rooms of the president from those of his home and submits suggestions for consideration. He also recommends the extension of the electric light system to include the Monument grounds, Lafayette, and Franklin squares. Attention is invited to the detailed report of the officer in charge, and to his estimates and recommendations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895. His estimates are as follows: For improvement and care of public buildings and grounds in charge of the Chief of Engineers.... For compensation of persons employed on public buildings and grounds For contingent and incidental expenses of public buildings and grounds Salaries of employés .... One new engine complete in position, to replace the old engine which runs the dynamo for the electric lights..... Fuel, lights, contingencies, etc $206, 821.40 61, 420.00 32,500.00 500.00 $9,060.00 650.00 3,600.00 13, 310.00 314, 551. 40 (See Appendix C C C.) NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES-SURVEYS-CORRECTING ENGRAVED PLATES-PRINTING AND ISSUING OF CHARTS. Surveys on the Great Lakes by engineer officers were made more than two generations ago. There are upon the files of this office maps of localities made by such officers in the years 1817, 1819, 1824, 1826, 1827, and many of later dates up to the present time. Up to 1841 these surveys were in connection with improvement of the various harbors, and of rivers tributary to the lakes. The needs of navigation demanding more than surveys of disconnected localities, ENG 9331 By the act of Congress approved by During August and September a si Upon application by the conti... The Commissioner of Fish a additional sum of $7,890 will '. requests that an estimate for July 1, 1892, balance unexpended! Amount appropriated by act appr 1 Tr. 2,939,53 the survey this office. er, 1882 arts still mentioned, Carigation 值 weed one set to each vessel; charts to other parties to be sold 4 cents each. From and after that date no more free issue was charts were sold at 30 cents each, this price continuing until 1890, since which date the price has been 20 cents. use of the phenomenal increase of commerce on the lakes, and le stimulus of the increased depth made practicable through Marys River by the completion of the new lock and the increase a obtained by the improvements made in the channels of the and in the harbors of the lakes, the draft of lake vessels has dily increased, and therefore the interests of navigation have reexamination of certain shoaler areas sufficiently surveyed chaited for the older conditions of a 12-foot navigation. 1887 a vessel struck on a shoal and in 14 feet of water where 22 as shown. This obstruction was found to have been a detached wider about 6 by 4 feet on top, and this occurrence suggested the rability of having funds available for limited surveys in such cases this and for keeping the charts in all respects up to date. Accordly an estimate of $10,000 was submitted with the Annual Report of 7, which estimate was repeated for the Annual Report of 1888. An propriation of $5,000 was made March 2, 1889, for "surveys, additions and correcting engraved plates." This and succeeding appropriaIs for the same purpose to date are as follows: Under these appropriations reëxaminations have been made of vaious localities, as shown by the annual reports, and quite extensive examinations are now under way on the St. Marys and St. Lawrence :ivers. Under the supervision of this office and during the fiscal year additions have been made to the engraved copperplates of charts of Lake Superior, Nos. 1 and 2. le Royale, Lake Superior. North end of Lake Michigan. Beaver Island Group, Lake Michigan. Coast chart No. 8, Lake Michigan. de and Middle Island, Lake Thunder Bay, Lake Huron. Tawas Harbor, Lake Huron. Sand Beach, harbor of refuge, Lake South end of Lake Huron. Coast chart No. 1, Lake Erie. Coast chart No. 6, Lake Erie. Lake Ontario. Coast chart No. 1, Lake Ontario. Coast chart No. 3, Lake Ontario. rotypes of the following plates have been made: kinac. Lake Michigan. Beaver Island group, Lake Michigan. he year 6,757 charts were distributed under the supervision M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, at Detroit, Mich. Of these 6,347 at 20 cents each, 18 at 10 cents each, 5 at 5 cents each, and sts each. In addition 12 charts were sold from this office at the "Survey of the Northern and Northwestern Lakes" as a connected whole was commenced under an appropriation made March 3, 1841, of $15,000 for a "hydrographic survey of the coasts of the Northern and Northwestern Lakes of the United States." This work was naturally assigned to the War Department, as its officers had theretofore been engaged in making local surveys and had charge of the works of improvement then in progress, and had been so engaged for a number of years; and Capt. W. G. Williams, then in charge of harbor improvements on Lake Erie, with station at Buffalo, was directed by a letter of May 17, 1841, to take charge of the survey and under the appropriation made March 3, previously. A few years thereafter the office was removed to Detroit, Mich., where it remained until the field work of the survey was completed in 1882, and that place has since remained the point for the distribution of the charts of the lakes. From 1841 the survey of the lakes was carried on under the following appropriations: The field work of the survey being completed, the office of the survey was closed in August, 1882, and the records transferred to this office. The printing of the final report was completed in November, 1882. Work in connection with the engraving and printing of the charts still remained, but of the appropriation of $12,000 last above mentioned, $2,382.32 was returned to the surplus fund of the Treasury. At that time the charts were perfected to the full needs of navigation under the then existing conditions. From the completion of the field work to the present time the following appropriations have been made, which have been applied to printing, electrotyping and issuing charts for the use of navigators: To June 30, 1893, the aggregate of $7,797.80 has been turned into the Treasury from the sale of charts. Up to February 20, 1890, charts to vessels navigating the Great Lakes were, by regulation, issued free, |