IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT DULUTH, MINNESOTA, AND OF THE ENTRANCE TO SUPERIOR BAY-IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor at Duluth, Minnesota.-The original project for improvement at Duluth, adopted in 1871, consisted of a breakwater in Lake Superior, outside of Minnesota Point, it being a continuation of a breakwater commenced by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. The city of Duluth in 1870 commenced a canal through Minnesota Point to connect the Bay of Superior with the lake. This proceeding was resisted by Superior City on the ground that the canal would divert the waters of the Saint Louis River from the natural entrance and thus deprive it of the current necessary to its maintenance. In 1871 an injunction was issued at the instance of the War Department restraining further operations at the canal, but it was subsequently dissolved upon the execution by the city of Duluth of a bond for $100,000 to secure the construction of a dike to extend from Minnesota Point to Rice's Point, thus isolating the harbor of Duluth from the rest of the Bay of Superior. The dike was completed in 1872, but at present only traces of it are visible. The act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, appropriated $100,000 for the purpose of dredging out the Bay of Superior from the natural entrance to the docks of Superior and Duluth and preserving both entrances from the lake thereto. This was regarded as legalizing the canal. The outer breakwater was abandoned; the canal and inner harbor rendered it unnecessary. Expended upon original project, $110,000. Under an allotment of $36,049.20 from the appropriation of 1873, work of improvement commenced upon the inner harbor and canal, the project providing for dredging the harbor, extending and completing the piers bordering the canal, and in making an opening through the dike to provide for the passage of boats from Duluth to Superior, the Government assuming charge of the canal and its piers-work originally undertaken by the city of Duluth. Work under this project continued until 1881, the piers having been kept in repair, the south pier extended, the main harbor area in front of the docks having been enlarged and deepened in part to 16 feet, and a narrow channel dredged along the east side of Rice's Point leading to intersection with the channel of the Saint Louis River. Expended under this project, about $160,651.81 The present project, adopted in 1881, provides for maintaining depths over existing dredged areas, and enlargement of the harbor by dredging to a line joining Rice's and Minnesota points and about 600 feet easterly from the canal, and on lines parallel to Minnesota and Rice's points, the dredging to provide for vessels drawing 16 feet. Estimated cost, as revised in 1884, $305,424. Work of improvement during the past fiscal year consisted in deepening and enlarging the main harbor in front of the docks, the followingnamed quantities of material having been dredged: From the old basin of main harbor. Cubic yards. 41, 476.2 21, 709.9 Fifty-one and two-tenths cords of stone riprap were placed in the canal at the inner face of south pier to guard against further settling of the substructure of that part of the pier. This part of the pier-work was built by the city prior to the Government assuming charge of the canal. Expended on the present project to June 30, 1886, including outstanding liabilities, $143,648.67. The piers are in good condition, a slight settling of the portion of south pier excepted. The ruling depths in the portions of the harbor dredged by the United States are: In canal In main harbor or basin... In Rice's Point Channel to a point opposite Elevator E.. Feet. 17 16 16 12 From point opposite Elevator E, through dredged channel along Rice's Point, to the Saint Louis River The portion of main harbor dredged by the United States has an area of 74 acres. All the areas and channels above mentioned, canal excepted, require widening. Before dredging commenced, in 1873, the depth in front of the docks in what is now the main harbor averaged 9 feet; and before adoption of the present project the harbor area was restricted, and there was no channel of consequence along Rice's Point. The sum asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is to be expended in dredging and especially in enlarging the harbor, and in maintenance of the piers. July 1, 1885, amount available July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885.. July 1, 1886, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1886, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886. $12,836 80 $11,064 70 11,088 08 1,748 72 56, 250 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 ...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix E E 1.) 57,998 72 119, 174 00 60,000 00 2. Dredging Superior Bay, Wisconsin.-The original project for improvement, adopted in 1867, consisted in construction of two nearly parallel piers at the entry to connect the deep water of the bay and lake, the piers crossing and bordering a narrow tortuous channel of 8 to 9 feet depth. Work under this project, including scraping between the piers, which increased the depth between them to 10 feet, continued until 1873, at which time the total length of piers was 5,218 feet. Expended under this project, $258,000. In 1873 the project adopted consisted in extension of pier-work and in dredging between the piers and to the wharves of Superior City, the dredging to afford 13 feet of water. The piers were completed in 1874, total length 5,512 feet, the lake ends resting in 16 feet of water and depth of water between the piers not less than 12 feet. From this time until 1881 the work for improvement was almost entirely confined to maintenance of the piers and of portions of Minnesota Point through which waves threatened irruption. A small amount of dredging was done in 1879 near Connor's Point to facilitate passage of light-draught boats between that point and Duluth. Expended under the second project, $77,513.26, the piers having been extended and kept in repair and Minnesota Point protected. By 1881 the ruling depth from the lake to the wharves was 11 feet. The present project, adopted in 1881 and modified in 1884, provides for maintenance of piers and beach protection, and for dredging to afford depths of 16 feet, as follows: Between the piers at the entry. From the entry along and parallel to the front of Superior City. The preservation of the Quebec Wharf Channel was added in 1881, and dredging the channel of the Saint Louis River within the Bay of Superior was added in 1884 by the act of July 5 of that year. This last addition increased the estimate of cost of the project $33,000, thus making it $345,080. During the past fiscal year dredging was done between the piers in the Saint Louis River Channel and in the Quebec Wharf and Northern Pacific Railroad Dock channels, and necessary repairs made to the north pier at the entry. Expended under the present project to June 30, 1886, including outstanding liabilities, $99,716.20. The piers and beach protection are in generally good condition, some slight repairs and extension of beach protection being needed. The improved channels have the following-named ruling depths: From Connor's Point to the entry.. From the Northern Pacific Railroad Dock to the entry. In front of Quebec Wharf ... In the entry between lake ends of piers, the storm of November 6, 1885, having caused some shoaling In remainder of entry Channel at mouth of Nemadji River, narrow with 8 feet depth of water. Feet. 15 15 12 16 16 All of these channels require widening, and such as do not admit vessels drawing 16 feet of water should be deepened accordingly. The sum of $40,000 asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, to be expended in maintaining piers and beach protection, in extending the latter, and in widening and deepening the channels between the piers from the entry to Connor's Point, and from the Saint Louis River Channel, within the Bay of Superior, to the Northern Pacific Railroad and Quebec docks. July 1, 1885, amount available July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885 July 1, 1886, outstanding liabilities.. $13,010 07 $9,660 96 9,855 73 3,154 34 22,500 00 25, 654 34 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix E E 2.) 227,580 00 40,000 00 NOTE. The river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, directs that the sum of $9,000 of the above appropriation of $22,500 be applied to dredg ing in Saint Louis Bay. 3. Harbor at Grand Marais, Minnesota.-The project for improvement of this harbor, adopted in 1879 and continued since that time, provided for a breakwater to narrow the entrance and thus to increase the area of shelter for vessels occupying the harbor, and for dredging to enlarge the anchorage area and to afford depth of 16 feet of water. Estimated cost, $139,669.40. The breakwater was completed in 1883, and dredg ing was done as appropriations were made for the work. Grand Marais is on the north shore of Lake Superior, about 110 miles from Duluth, and is the only harbor of refuge for vessels on that rocky coast. It lies within a few miles of the course of American steamers from Duluth to Port Arthur, Ontario, and of the Canadian steamers from Duluth to points beyond Saint Mary's Falls. American tugs are also engaged in the fishing business along the north shore. Before the work of improvement was begun there was but a narrow space under the lee of Mayhew's Point accessible to vessels drawing 10 feet of water, and the approach to this sheltered space was narrow. Consequently navigators of small vessels had not always confidence in their ability to make the harbor during storms. There is now a sheltered area behind the point, due to dredging operations and to the breakwater, of 8 acres, with least depth of 16 feet. During the past two seasons many vessels have sought shelter in the improved harbor. But in order to bring this harbor up to its maximum usefulness its anchorage area should be enlarged and deepened. Some slight repairs were made to the breakwater during the past fiscal year. Total expended on the project to June 30, 1886, $68,045.42. The sum asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is to be expended in dredging and maintenance of breakwater. July 1, 1885, amount available... July 1, 1886, amount expended during fical year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885..... $2,493 87 July 1, 1886, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1896.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887..... 539 29 1,954 58 10,000 00 11,954 58 59,669 40 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can profitably be expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1888 30,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix E E 3.) HARBORS ON LAKE SUPERIOR (EAST OF SUPERIOR CITY), ON GREEN BAY, AND ON THE WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN, NORTH OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, to March 10, 1886; Capt. W. L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers, from March 10 to May 24, 1886; and Capt. Charles E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, since that date. 1. Ontonagon Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of this harbor the channel of the river's mouth was but 7 feet deep at the shoalest place, and the shifting nature of the lake-bottom caused frequent 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. The total expenditure, amounting to $270,374.70, of which $70.40 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, 1888, is for further pier extension and possibly repairs. July 1, 1885, amount available.... July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885 .... July 1, 1886, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887.... $2,295 70 70 40 2,225 30 13, 000 00 15, 225 30 78,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix F F 1.) 25, 000 00 2. Eagle Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of this barbor 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 and dredging 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. As stated in the last annual report, the channel was obstructed by a number of bowlders, which reduced its available depth in places to 12 and 13 feet, and their removal was in progress at the beginning of the fiscal year. The work was completed July 11, 1885. The total expenditure to June 30, 1886, is $94,113.67. 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 several years. July 1, 1885, amount available .... July 1, 1386, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885.... July 1, 1886, amount available.... (See Appendix F F 2.) $3,213 84 327 51 2,886 33 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-breakwater 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, 1886, were $308,166.48. No work was done during the year, but arrangements were made for |