fort, where the Government dredge was at work, and, passing the dredge, notified the engineer that if he were not out of the steamer's way when it returned he would be run into. Accordingly, on passing out the Petoskey struck the dump scow lying alongside the dredge, although there was ample room to pass, inflicting damages to the amount of $150. The facts in the case were notified to the United States district attorney. May 5, 1892, the Government dredge Saginaw, while at work in the Muskegon entrance, was struck a glancing blow by the steamer City of Racine, breaking two spuds and disabling the dredge for four days. The damage, including loss of time, amounted to $290; but full inquiry showed that the steamer had made endeavor to avoid collision, and the damage was rather due to faulty handling than to carelesness or willfulness, for which reason the district attorney was not notified. In addition to these particular cases, there are the frequent cases of injury from the throwing of fire into the works from excessive speed in the narrow fairways, which interferes at times seriously with the Government work, and always has a destructive action on the piers and revetments due to wave action and suction. There are also the numerous cases of injury due to tying up to the piers and revetments, the lines being made fast to the legs of the elevated walk to the light-houses, and even the deck of the pier has been cut open to put a line on the cross-tie. To meet these abuses in the absence of any local authority or control a draft of regulations was submitted, under date of February 22, 1892, pursuant to instructions of February 2 from the Chief of Engineers. A copy of these regulations is herewith.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, WILLIAM LUDLOW, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. (5.) REPORT OF COL. O. M. POE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, Mich., July 20, 1892. GENERAL: In accordance with section 4 of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, and General Orders No. 9, Headquarters, Corps of Engineers, June 26, 1888, I have the honor to report the following cases where "piers, breakwaters, etc.," under my charge "have been used, occupied, or injured by a corporation or individual" during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. OCCUPANCY OF PUBLIC LANDS, ETC., BELONGING TO THE RESERVATION OF ST. MARYS FALLS CANAL, MICHIGAN. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the reservation has been occupied as reported in my last annual report, printed on page 3868 et. seq. of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1891. No new cases of occupancy have occurred. LANDS OCCUPIED BY UNITED STATES LIGHT-HOUSE ESTABLISHMENT. Same as reported last year, see page 3871 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1891. No new cases of occupancy have occurred. INJURIES TO PIERS, ETC., OF ST. MARYS FALLS CANAL, MICHIGAN. On August 21, 1891, the steamer A. D. Thomson, bound down, ran into and crushed the southeast pier below the lock. Actual cost of repair, $41.44. On June 30, 1892, the steamer Pueblo, bound up, ran into the northeast pier just below the lock, slightly damaging the pier and tearing off some of the sheet-piling. Estimated cost of repair, $33.64. INJURIES TO PIERS, ETC., OF ST. CLAIR FLATS CANAL, MICHIGAN. On August 5, 1891, the steamer H. Chisholm, of Cleveland, bound down, parted her wheel chains and ran into west pier, doing $47.14 damage. On August 31, 1891, the barge John Shaw, of Hampton, bound down, in tow of steamer J. F. Eddy, of Hampton, had just entered the upper end of the canal, when the steam barge A. Everett, of Cleveland, tried to pass the John Shaw, causing her to sheer and strike the east pier, doing $56.84 damage. On September 6, 1891, the steamer City of Cleveland, bound down, came into the canal when blocked at lower end by steamer New Orleans and barge Light Guard, which had been run into and sunk by the Fontana. The City of Cleveland stopped alongside of east pier and when she started out ran into the west pier, doing $47.98 damage. On October 21, 1891, the steam barge John E. Hall, of Detroit, bound down, sheered and ran into the west pier, doing $23.26 damage. On November 23, 1891, the steamer James Pickands, of Cleveland, bound down, tried to round to in the canal because the barge John Shaw had run into dredge Ravenna and blocked the canal at the lower end. The Pickands ran into the west pier, doing $40.97 damage. On November 23, 1891, the steamer Briton, of Cleveland, came into the canal in face of the blockade made by dredge Ravenna and barge John Shaw, and had to stop alongside of the east pier, doing $55.83 damage. On November 23, 1891, the barge Harold, of Hampton, in tow of steamer Oneida, bound down, came into the canal in the face of the Shaw and Ravenna blockade, and had to stop alongside of the east pier, doing $16.98 damage. On June 2, 1892, the steamer R. P. Ranney, of Cleveland, passed the schooner H. D. Root, of Cleveland, just after entering the upper end of the canal, both boats being bound down. The suction from the Ranney drew the H. D. Root alongside of her and then caused the Ranney to run into the east pier, doing $93.20 damage. No further use, occupation, or injury to works in my charge than those above reported are known to have occurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. M. POE, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, (6.) REPORT OF CAPTAIN DAN C. KINGMAN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Oswego, N. Y., August 26, 1892. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith annual report upon the occupancy of and injury to public works in my charge by corporations or individuals during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAN C. KINGMAN, Captain of Engineers. Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, HARBOR AT CHARLOTTE, NEW YORK. There has been no new case of occupancy of the public works by corporations or individuals. The public works at Charlotte, N. Y., have been twice injured by individuals during the past year as follows: On or about the 13th day of October, 1891, the barge W. Wheeler, of Ogdensburg, in tow of the steamer W. L. Proctor, of the same place, struck against the west pier at Charlotte, N. Y., cutting through a number of timbers and damaging the pier to the extent of $73.26; also on or about the 20th day of October, 1891, the Canadian barge Hiawatha, of Kingston, in tow of the steamer Chieftain, of the same place, struck against the east pier and damaged it to the extent of $71.64. These injuries were promptly repaired by the United States; accurate account was kept of the cost of making the repairs, and this cost was taken as the measure of the damage done. On the 14th day of December, 1891, by direction of the Chief of Engineers, the matter was placed in the hands of the United States attorney for the northern district of New York, and he was able, without suit, to collect from the parties full payment for the damage done. The total amount, $144.90, was remitted to me by the United States attorney, and was deposited to my official credit on the 26th day of February, 1892, APPENDIX A A A. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT—WATER SUPPLY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-INCREASING THE WATER SUPPLY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-ERECTION OF FISHWAYS AT GREAT FALLS. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GEORGE H. ELLIOT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1892. 1. Washington Aqueduct. 2. Water supply, District of Columbia. 3. Increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C. 4. Erection of fishways at Great Falls. OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith report of operations for the following works in my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, viz: Washington Aqueduct. Water supply, District of Columbia. Increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C. Erection of fish ways at Great Falls. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. GEORGE H. ELLIOT, Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers. A A A I. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT. Appropriations for the Washington Aqueduct are applied to the improvement, the maintenance, and repair of those portions of the Washington water supply, other than the tunnel, that have been placed under the supervision of the Chief of Engineers. The works include the masonry dam, 2,877 feet long, extending from the Maryland to the Virginia shore at Great Falls of the Potomac, 14 miles west of Washington; the works at Great Falls for regulating the supply of the con. |