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remainder was carried by scows to the deep water of the lake and there deposited. The character of the material forming the lake and river bed at this point is excessively hard, being an indurated clay of a reddish gray color, mixed with gravel and small boulder deposit. Such a foundation for crib piers is much more suitable than the loose sand which is the general character of the deposit at the mouths of the rivers discharging into Lake Michigan. The bank which was thrown out by the dredge when working from the navigable water to the shore retained its form for some time after the excavation, notwithstanding it experienced quite heavy weather, and advantage was taken by the merchants of the place to ship grain and receive supplies by means of small craft as long as the channel thus dredged remained open, thereby effecting quite a saving of the heavy expense for dockage and warehouse charges to which they have heretofore been subjected. The money raised by the citizens of Port Washington was devoted last fall to the purchase and driving of piles and leveling off the material which was thrown out on the north side of the basin. The number of piles thus purchased and driven by them was four hundred and thirty, forming a length of 460 running feet of dock front; $10,000, minus the sum paid for piling, &c., last year, has been legally voted by the county for the improvement of the harbor this season to be appropriated to dredging. The dredging above described was done under an agreement made by the Government with Albert Conro, of date September 1, 1870, in accordance with which he was paid at the rate of $150 per diem; ten hours of actual work of the dredgingmachine, tug-boat, and two dump-scows to constitute one day's labor. For the dredging-machine and scows payment was made at the rate of $125 per diem of ten hours' work; for the use of tug-boat $25 per diem of ten hours' work.

The following is an account of the expenditure made by the Government for dredge, tug, and scow hire, with the materials purchased for the protection of the basin from freshets during the winter and spring months:

For 48 days' work of tug-boat, at $25 per diem
For 57.67 days' work of dredging-machine, and 2 dump-

scows, at $125 per diem..

For 12 cords of stone, at $3 50 per cord.
For 74 cords of brush, at $2 per cord..

Total expenditure by the Government for labor and mate-
rials..

$1,200 00

7,083 75 42 00 149 00

8,474 75

It is proposed to construct crib-piers from the shore running outward into the lake, as far as the funds available will admit during the present season.

An agreement was made with Mr. Albert Conro, of Milwaukee, on the 12th day of June, 1871, under which he is to build, place, sink, and fill with stone ten cribs each 64 feet in length by 14 feet in width; five of which are to be placed on the north side, and five on the south side of the proposed channel leading to the basin. The extremities of these piers will reach the curve-line of 6 feet of water.

Mr. Conro has made an agreement with the citizens of Port Washington to do the necessary dredging for setting the cribs in a depth of not less than 9 feet of water, and to the clay bed; $50, 000 additional to

the funds available will be required to carry out the piers to the required distance in the lake, as follows, viz:

For 14 cribs, each 64 feet by 20 feet by 173 feet, at $3,000 each....

For 2 cribs, each 30 feet by 30 feet by 18 feet, at $2, 500 each...

For contingencies...

$12,000 00

5,000 00

3,000 00

50,000 00

A 13.

IMPROVEMENT OF MILWAUKEE HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

With the exception of a few repairs, no work has been done at this harbor during the past fiscal year. On the 21st day of September, 1870, a contract was let to Messrs. Hasbrouck & Conro of this city, to construct 400 running feet, more or less, of pier extension, to consist of eight cribs, each 50 feet in length, and 26 feet in width. The price of materials and labor under this contract is so favorable for the Government that, if it is found to be practicable, the contractors will build and place in extension of the piers ten cribs of the dimensions specified, five of which to be placed on the north, and five on the south side of the channel. I have been disappointed at the delay which has been occasioned to the work through a lack of suitable timber. The timber necessary for the construction of the work was cut during last winter and rafted. A heavy freshet which occurred in the spring broke everything loose in the Père Marquette River, from which point the timber is obtained, and jammed the logs so that it has been impossible to extricate the greater part of the long timbers. One of the cribs is, however, in readiness for sinking, and a large quantity of timber of short lengths is framed for use as soon as the complement of long timber arrives; this timber is expected daily. As soon as it arrives the work will be pushed vigorously. About four hundred cords of stone are on the ground in readiness for crib sinking.

On the 17th day of June, 1871, a contract was made with Mr. Henry Starke, of this city, to construct an additional extension of 150 running feet to each of the piers, to consist of two cribs, each 50 feet by 26 feet, and one crib of dimensions 50 feet in length by 30 feet in width on either side of the channel.

The whole of the work under these contracts, equal in length to 800 running feet of pier extension, is expected to be built to the water-surface by the 1st of December of the present year. On the 29th of August, 1870, the outer crib of the south pier was run into by some unknown vessel, which damaged it seriously, fairly splitting open the erib. The stone filling was saved and deposited in the pier; on the 17th day of last month the same crib was struck by the bark Lottie Wolf, inflicting more damage to the crib and sinking the vessel. pairs will be made to this crib at an early date.

There is a beacon-light on the north pier at a distance of 280 feet, from its present easterly or outward extremity, the height of which is 48 feet above the water-surface, visible about eight and one half miles. The completion of the work now in progress at this harbor will, it is

believed, render any future appropriations unnecessary, at least for some years. It is to be remarked, however, that these works are of a temporary character, especially above water, and periodical expenditures will be necessary to maintain them in good condition. These periodical expenditures are a much less tax upon the Treasury than permanent structures, which would involve an enormous cost and require a long time for completion, while the interests of commerce would suffer.

A 14.

IMPROVEMENT OF RACINE HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

During the working season of 1870 the outer portion of the north pier was planked over, and the compartments on the south side of the end crib of the north pier were raised 2 feet and filled with stone, the crib having seriously settled, and the crib was decked with plank. Sixty feet of the south pier was repaired near its intersection with the shore, and the pier extension of 1867 and 1868 was ballasted with stone.

On the 30th of September, 1870, a contract was made by the Government with Mr. F. M. Knapp, under which he will construct 256 running feet of crib pier-work to the water-surface, 20 feet in width in extension of the south pier; of this he has built, and placed in accordance with specifications, 256 running feet.

On the 17th day of June, 1871, a further contract was made with Mr. Knapp for building superstructure over the four cribs, or 256 feet of pier, above specified, including also repairs to be made to a portion of the old work on the north pier.

The depth of water in this harbor channel is sufficient for the requirements of the commerce of the place.

A 15.

IMPROVEMENT OF KENOSHA HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

The work at this harbor in 1870 was the taking off the old superstructure for a length of 552 running feet of the south pier, and rebuilding it 12 feet in width; also closing apertures between cribs with plank and filling intervals or boxes with stone. During the month of March, 1871, the outer crib of the north pier, sunk in 1867, was removed to a distance of 9 feet east, and the same distance northward of the pier alignment at its southeast corner, and seven courses of the upper timters were also torn off of the crib.

A contract was made with Mr. R. A. Conolly, of Chicago, on the 15th day of June, 1870, for extending the north pier, which will consist of close-piling around the displaced crib, and constructing and placing one crib 50 feet in length, by 30 feet in width, in extension of and upon alignment with the south face of the north pier. This contract also covers repairs to be made to the south pier. The work required at this harbor in addition to that now in progress, is the repair of the old superstructure of the north pier. Some dredging is also necessary between the piers. It is estimated that the sum of $10,000 will put this harbor in condition to meet all the requirements of commerce for some years to come.

A 16.

IMPROVEMENT OF CHICAGO HARBOR, ILLINOIS.

An appropriation of $100,000 having been made for the enlargement of harbor facilities at Chicago, Illinois, by the act of Congress approved July 11, 1870, a contract was made, after due advertising, for the construction of a breakwater, or so much of it as the funds available would admit, with Fox & Howard, of Chicago. The location of the breakwater is in accordance with the plans of Major J. B. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, which were duly approved by the Department.

Work was commenced at the north end of the breakwater. During the year, twenty-nine cribs 50 by 30 feet have been sunk, making 1,450 feet of breakwater. Three hundred feet of this is a return of the north end of the breakwater running west. At the writing of this report the superstructure, 6 feet high, has been completed over 1,000 feet of the work done last fall. On the 30th of May, 1871, a contract was made with the Illinois Central Railroad Company for continuing the work, Congress having appropriated an additional $100,000, March 3, 1871. The work is now progressing rapidly, and it is estimated that the breakwater will be extended 900 feet up to water-surface the present season, and the superstructure be put on all by June 30, 1872. This will make about 2,000 feet of breakwater complete. The first crib was placed in 24 feet of water; no cribs have been placed in less than 18 feet, and, when necessary to obtain that depth, dredging has been resorted to. The cribs have stood remarkably well, though in a very exposed condition.

The sum of $200,000 can be advantageously expended on this work during one season.

A 17.

IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR OF REFUGE AT THE MOUTH OF THE CALUMET RIVER, ILLINOIS.

By the act of Congress dated July 11, 1870, an appropriation was made for "enlargement of harbor facilities at Chicago, Illinois, according to the plans of the Engineer Department, $100,000; and for a harbor of refuge, $50,000." By letter of the Chief of Engineers, dated July 18, 1870, I was informed that this $50,000 was intended for the improvement of the mouth of the Calumet, and in pursuance of instructions I proceeded to carry out the plan of improvement recommended by Major J. B. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, and approved by the Chief of Engi neers. The improvement consists in cutting a channel from the Calumet River to Lake Michigan, and protecting the cut by piers and revetment. The improvement had already been commenced by the Calumet and Chicago Canal and Dock Company. The old mouth of the Calumet River had been closed by a dam, in the expectation that the river would raise and the channel could be made at the desired point by the aid of the current. In this expectation they were disappointed, as the dam was put in too late in the season, and the surplus water of the river was drained by a feeder to the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

At the time I commenced work a dredge had commenced the work of entting a channel from the lake to the river. A contract had been made by the company with Mr. Charles Mears, of Chicago, to cut a channel

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200 feet wide and 8 feet deep, from the river to the lake, and to build close dock or revetment on each side of the cut. Mr. Mears seemed confident of doing this by the time agreed upon, the 1st day of Decem ber, 1870. The first work I proposed to do was the construction of the north pier. This was necessary in order to stop the drift of sand along the shore, caused by northeasterly gales, which would otherwise fill up the channel faster than it could be excavated. Owing to the absence of any secure place at Calumet for constructing cribs, and the want of accommodation for workmen, I commenced the construction of cribs at Chicago, Illinois. Five cribs, each 64 feet long and 20 feet wide, were built in Chicago and towed to Calumet, a distance of about thirteen' miles, and placed in the line of the north pier, the inner crib being 300, feet from the shore-line. I intended to close up this gap with a pilepier, consisting of two rows of piles driven close and placed 14 feet apart, to be filled with slabs and capped by a superstructure of timber. Owing to the lateness of the season, and the constant interruptions from the weather, only the outer row of piles were driven, and an opening was left next to the cribs of 69 feet. In the mean time Mr. Means had completed a cut through the sand-bar, between the lake and the river, of about 50 feet in width and 7 feet deep. The dredge was constantly employed in maintaining this channel, which was neces sary to secure a place of refuge for the pile-driver during storms. Had it not been that Mr. Mears had agreed to open this channel not at the expense of the Government, I should not have used a dredge until the gap in the north pier had been closed up, temporarily at least. As was, I found it necessary to construct a temporary slab-pier to stop the sand from interrupting the work. The accretion of sand above the slab-pier was very rapid. The condition of the work at the close of operations last season was as described above. In the spring of 1871, about the 1st of March, there occurred a heavy freshet, which caused a rapid current in the river, cutting a channel 150 feet wide in the narrowest part, and from 8 to 10 feet deep.

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At my first visit to the harbor last spring I directed the gap in the pier to be temporarily closed up to prevent any sand from getting into the channel; this done, operations were commenced looking to the extensions of the piers and improvement of the channel. The accretion of sand in the north side of the north pier now extends out to the cribs 300 feet from the original shore-line. This renders a less expensive revetment necessary than was designed. It is expected to extend the north pier 672 feet the present season, which will bring it to 12 feet of water in the lake. Four cribs, each 64 by 20 feet, have been placed in the south pier, and these connected with the shore by a pile-pier 184 feet in length. One dredge is employed in dredging for sinking cribs, and in good weather in widening and deepening the channel between the piers. When the dredge cannot work outside, it is employed by the canal company, at their expense, in the river. The work is now in fair progress. Vessels drawing 9 feet can make the harbor, and if wanted any required depth can soon be obtained. All the timber used for the work this spring has been brought by vessels across the lake and delivered on the river-bank. The work up to this time has been done by hired labor. The materials are furnished by contract. Owing to the risks and drawbacks attending the preliminary operations at this harbor, it would have been impracticable to have accomplished so much at the same cost by contract, and the work would have been greatly delayed. Hereafter I propose to do the work at this harbor entirely by contract, as all the facilities for doing the work are now to be had. Extensive

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