APPENDIX No. 3. ENGINEER DEPOT AND POST OF WILLETS POINT. ANNUAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL H. L. ABBOT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BVT. BRIG. GEN., U. S. A., OFFICER IN COMMAND, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884. ENGINEER DEPOT AT WILLETS POINT, July 5, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following as my annual report upon the Engineer Post and Depot of Willets Point for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The only new construction during the past year has been the sapping or molding shed for use in instructing Engineer soldiers in siege operations and field fortification. It is a nearly circular building 110 feet in diameter, having a light iron roof supported in part by a central pier of concrete cased in iron. The building is essentially completed, and will soon be ready for use. Its total cost will be $6,385, of which a large part has been for materials already in depot which could be utilized in its construction. The usual labor of repairing public buildings with materials supplied by the Quartermaster Department has been performed by the Engineer troops. PROPERTY IN STORE. As heretofore, the instruments, tools, bridge equipage, &c., in depot, have been guarded and cared for by the Engineer troops. The costly geodetic, astronomical, and surveying instruments, and the electrical apparatus belonging to the torpedo service, are all stored in two rooms (capacity, 37,000 cubic feet) in a brick fire-proof building. Formerly much trouble was experienced with dampness deposited from the moist air coming from the ocean, but the use of crude calcium chloride, introduced several years ago as an experiment, has proved entirely successful. About 100 gallons of water have been removed from the air of these two rooms by this method during the past year, as appears from the following table. Both rooms are kept carefully closed, and this represents only the moisture which unavoidably enters round the doors and windows. 455 The printing of confidential Engineer documents, and the binding, drafting, photolithographing, and similar work of the depot have been actively prosecuted during the past year. The operators are all Engineer soldiers, of whom six have been employed at a total cost of $593.60 for extra-duty pay. This work is of great utility in connection with the Engineer School of Application, and especially with its submarine mining division. The receipts and issues of instruments for the use of officers of the corps engaged in geodetic, astronomical, surveying, and other work of like nature, are reported in the following table. This labor also is performed entirely by soldiers of the Battalion without extra compensation. Statement of receipts and issues of instruments for the Engineer Depot, Willets Point, New York Harbor, for 1883-'84. Statement of receipts and issues of instruments, &c.-Continued. During the past year, and for the current fiscal year as well, the annual sum of $1,000, estimated for repairing these instruments to fit them for reissue, has been stricken from the usual appropriation ($4,000) of the depot. An accumulation of instruments needing repairs is the result. This action not only obstructs the available space for storage here, but also involves the purchase of new instruments from the several specific appropriations for surveys, thus wasting considerable sums of public money. I would respectfully suggest that this matter be brought to the notice of the appropriation committees of Congress when the next bill is drafted. STATEMENT OF Funds. Congress appropriated the sum of $7,000 for the post and depot during fiscal year. Of this, $3,000 was for the molding shed, $3,000 for current expenses, and $1,000 for the purchase of materials for the instruction of the Engineer troops in their special duties. The following is a summary statement of funds for the depot: Expended in fiscal year 1883–1884. $4,859 87 2, 140 13 5,200 00 17,000 00 In explanation of the last item, I respectfully submit the following: I. For the usual annual appropriation for the purchase of materials for the instruction of the three companies of Engineer troops at Willets Point in their special duties as sappers, miners, and pontoniers, $1,000. II. For the usual annual appropriation for the incidental expenses of depot, such as fuel, forage, chemicals, stationery, extra-duty pay for soldiers employed in wheelwright work, engine-driving, printing, binding, photographing, and lithographing Engineer documents, repairs of public buildings, repairs of instruments in depot to fit them for reissue, &c., $4,000. III. For repair of the surveying and other instruments accumulated in depot in consequence of the reduction of the preceding item in each of the appropriations for the fiscal years 1883-1884 and 1884-1885 from the usual and necessary sum of $4,000 to $3,000, $2,000. IV. For constructing a double house as quarters for the surgeon (a major) and assistant surgeon (a captain). This building is greatly needed. At present, at my urgent request, only one medical officer (a captain) is assigned to duty here, although the Surgeon-General considers that two officers are needed, because there is only one set of quarters available for assignment. Even the quarters now occupied by the In surgeon are wanted every winter for officers ordered here for a six months course in submarine mining at the School of Application. fine, the present buildings are insufficient for the actual needs of the garrison. The cost of the proposed double house will be $10,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, HENRY L. ABBOT, Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers. Chief of Engineers, United States Army. RIVERS AND HARBORS, ETC. APPENDIX A. IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE STATES OF MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES E. BLUNT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith my annual reports of operations for fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, on the several river and harbor improvements, as well as the examinations and surveys of rivers and harbors under my charge in the States of Maine and New Hampshire. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, C. E. BLUNT, Colonel of Engineers. Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. |