$200,000 could be used with advantage during the fiscal year 1885 and 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available.... Error in vouchers redeposited to credit of appropriation. .$116, 294 19 2.00 116, 296 19 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. .$112,967 56 July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.............. 114,689 56 1,606 63 50,000 00 51, 606 63 371,000 CO Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 200,000 CO (See Appendix K K 8.) 9. Harbor of Refuge, Sand Beach, Lake Huron, Michigan.-The present project for the construction of this harbor was adopted in 1873. Its object is to afford a harbor of refuge to the vessels engaged in the navigation of the northern and northwestern lakes when caught by heavy weather near the dangerous Point Aux Barques. Previous to 1876 vessels so caught were compelled to run a distance of 60 miles and find refuge in the Saint Clair River. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $899,139.42, and has resulted in completing the substructure for 8,130 linear feet of breakwater and the superstructure for 5,205 linear feet, leaving 2,925 linear feet of superstructure yet to be built. From inside the harbor 49,039 cubic yards of material were removed last season by dredging. The amount of dredging remaining to be done to meet early requirements of the harbor is estimated at 200,000 cubic yards. The expenditures during the fiscal year were $45,526.75, and resulted in building 1,235 linear feet of substructure, together with the dredging reported above and the necessary repairs, as well as the management of the harbor and all incidental expenses. The amount required to complete the work according to the present project is as follows: With sufficient funds the work can all be put under contract and completed by the 30th June, 1886. It is therefore recommended that the entire amount be appropriated in one sum. July 1, 1883, amount available $46,561 70 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $45,526 75 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities. 3 87 45,530 62 100,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 100,000 00 (See Appendix K K 9.) 10. Ice Harbor of Refuge at Belle River, Michigan.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1880, the object being to make a channel 50 feet wide, 13 feet deep to the first bridge, and 12 feet deep from there to the second bridge, affording a safe harbor against running ice. Twenty-eight thousand two hundred and thirty-five cubic yards of material have been removed by dredging. The project is completed, except one cut for about half the distance between the first and second bridges, and such other work as may be found necessary upon resuming operations. The estimated cost of the part of the project remaining is $2,000. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix K K 10.) $120 76 120 76 2,000 00 2,000 00 11. General repairs and renewals at Saint Clair Flats Canal, Michigan. The canal was projected in 1866, with a view to obtaining a straight channel 13 feet deep and 300 feet wide across Saint Clair Flats. This project was modified in 1873 so as to secure a channel of 16 feet in depth and 200 feet in width lying half on each side of the axis of the canal. On either side of the canal is a dike of nearly 7,300 feet in length, an aggregate of nearly 14,600 feet. These dikes consist of timber cribs resting upon piles driven into the original bottom of the shoal and filled with the material dredged from the channel to maintain a channel bank; a single row of sheet-piling was driven along the channel face of the cribs, previous to dredging. The lake sides of the dikes were protected by shorter sheet-piling. The superstructure is now much decayed and ought to be renewed. The single row of sheet-piling proves to be insufficient for the increased depth of the channel, and requires to be re-enforced. The estimated cost of these is $132,908. The channel lakeward is gradually shoaling and ought to be improved by dredging. The estimated cost of this is $10,000. (See Appendix K K 11.) 12. Operating and care of Saint Clair Flats Canal, Michigan.-This improvement gives a straight channel 300 feet wide and varying from 16 feet deep along the middle to 13 feet at the sides, and is in charge of a custodian who lives at the work. The necessity for repairs is constant, but their extent cannot be foreseen, consequently they must be attended to as occasion arises. The cost during the fiscal year 1883 and 1884 was as follows: All of which, under the law, was defrayed by requisition upon the Treasury, it being provided for as an indefinite appropriation. (See Appendix K K 12.) 13. Clinton River, Michigan.-In 1870 the channel over the bar at the entrance to this river afforded a depth of only 34 feet, whilst the depth in the river above was 10 feet. The present project for this improvement was adopted in 1870 and modified in 1880. It aims at obtaining a channel of entrance of 60 feet in width and 8 feet in depth. This was practically accomplished in 1882, since which time no examination of the work has been made. No reports have been received of insufficiency of water in the channel, which indicates that it still proves to be satisfactory, but experience teaches that it cannot long remain so. July 1, 1883, amount available Credit to appropriation by Treasury Department in statement of accounts of late Maj. F. U. Farquhar $422 29 13 12 435 41 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities... $422 29 435 41 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix K K 13.) 25,000 00 10,000 00 14. Detroit River, Michigan.-Originally the channel at this point could be depended upon for only 13 feet of water. The original project for its improvement was adopted in 1874 providing for a curved channel of 300 feet in width and 20 feet in depth across the limestone ridge which forms the obstruction. This project was modified in 1883 with a view to obtaining a straight channel of the same depth. This modification will increase the cost of the completed work, but it will still be less than one-half the amount of the original estimate. Amount of original estimate... Estimate addition on account of modification of the project. Total estimate.. Amount appropriated to include July 5, 1884. Amount (estimated) required to complete the project $535,000 Total cost (actual and estimated)....... 562,700 Actual cost less than estimate.. 643,800 The work will be of but little, if any, benefit until the whole is completed. July 1, 1883, amount available $7,517 56 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.... 7,403 77 July 1, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884...... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 113 79 200,000 00 200, 113 79 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year endingJune 30, 1886. 27,700 00 (See Appendix K K 14.) 27,700 00 `EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, reported as not worthy of improvement and the work not a public necessity: 1. Harbor at Caseville, Michigan. (See Appendix K K 15.) 2. Sebewaing Harbor, Michigan, resurvey to obtain 12 feet water in channel from Saginaw Bay. (See Appendix K K 16.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON LAKE ERIE WEST OF ASHTABULA, OHIO-IMPROVEMENT OF SANDUSKY RIVER. Officer in charge, Maj. L. Cooper Overman, Corps of Engineers. 1. Monroe Harbor, Michigan.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1835, when Monroe was a town of considerable importance, and when the navigable waters of the river Raisin were separated from the waters of Lake Erie by extensive shoals. It provided for cutting a canal between the river and the lake, 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, through the peninsula called "River Raisin Point," and protecting the entrance into the lake by parallel piers running out to a depth of 10 feet, the object being to afford a channel of entrance of navigable width with a depth of 10 feet. Work was commenced in 1835, and has been continued from time to time since that date. At the close of the present fiscal year there was a good channel, with a least depth of 10 feet up to a point below Monroe, which is deemed sufficient for the present commerce of the port. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, repairs have been made to the United States canal and minor repairs to piers. The total amount appropriated for this harbor has been $213,515.27, which has resulted in securing a navigable channel, with a least depth of 10 feet, up to a point just below the docks at Monroe, where rock bottom occurs. If this harbor is to be kept up, there is need of extensive repairs to piers and revetment, in order to prevent their ultimate destruction or more expensive renewals in later years. These are estimated to cost $20,000. The present commerce of Monroe is not sufficient, in the opinion of the officer in charge, to justify such a large expenditure. Hence, he considers a small annual appropriation for repairs sufficient until an increase of commerce demands the extensive renewals. July 1, 1883, amount available. $494 39 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. 494 39 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix L L 1.) 20,000 00 3,000 00 2. Toledo Harbor, Ohio.-When operations were commenced at this harbor in 1866, the channel through the bay was narrow and intricate, presenting a depth of only 11 feet. The original project provided for cutting a channel 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep through Maumee Bay, and this was amended from time to time until the present project provides for a channel 200 feet wide at bottom and 16 feet deep at low water between the city of Toledo and deep water in Lake Erie. In 1868 there was a channel 100 feet wide and 12 feet keep; in 1875, the depth had been increased to 14 feet, and at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, there was a good channel 200 feet wide at bottom on the ranges and from 260 to 350 feet wide at the angles, with a depth of from 15 to 17 feet at low water between Toledo and deep water in the lake. The total amount appropriated for this harbor since 1866 to close of fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, has been $684,700, of which sum $676,356.91 has been expended. This expenditure has resulted in obtaining a good 15-foot channel where before there was a narrow, intricate channel with but 11 teet for vessels. During the fiscal year the sum of $35,176.09 has been expended in maintaining the channel and in deepening and widening same at various places by the removal of 78,355 cubic yards of mud, clay, sand, &c. Operations will be resumed during the season of 1884 as soon as new contracts can be made for the expenditure of the $20,000 appropriated by act of July 5, 1884. The sum of $60,000 is required to complete the existing project, the whole of which can be expended during the period ending June 30, 1886, in deepening and widening the channel between Toledo and 16 feet of water in Lake Erie; after which an annual expenditure of about $30,000 will be needed to maintain the dredged channel through the open bay. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates $25,000 to commence the work of making a straight channel for the Maumee River from its mouth to Lake Erie, in accordance with the second plan recommended by Major Wilson in report dated November 19, 1881. This plan is estimated to cost $2,363,923, which amount includes item for contingent expenses amounting to $214,902. Assuming a definite, reasonable, and liberal length of time for doing this work, say eight years, we should have the average contingent expenses at $26,862.75 per year, or $1,862.75 more than the amount allotted by act of July 5, 1884, to commence the work. A work of such magnitude should not be commenced unless with a sum bearing due proportion to the ultimate cost, else the annual loss would largely increase the estimated cost, and, in the present case, the conditions are such that the amount of work practicable with $25,000 would be obliterated by the elements before another appropriation becomes available. It has therefore been deemed advisable to await until further appropriations make a sum large enough to commence the work with advantage. The act of July 5, 1884, also appropriates the sum of $20,000 for Toledo Harbor, continuing the improvement, which sum will be expended during the fiscal year in dredging the natural channel through Maumee Bay, in accordance with existing project; but judging from experience of previous years this amount will hardly be sufficient to remove the deposits of the last winter and spring in said channel, so that the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, will not mark any progress towards completion of the old project |