In carrying out the original project with modifications there has been expended to June 30, 1890, the sum of $495,046.59. Operations during the past year have consisted in dredging a channel through the bar at the mouth of Nemadji River, beginning the widening and continuing the extension of channel in St. Louis Bay. The entry piers need extensive repairs, particularly the superstructure. The entry and dredged channels have full 16 feet depth. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .......... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... $13,759.54 $16, 050. 54 65,000.00 46, 016. 08 July 1, 1891, balance available... 25, 658.57 226, 736.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K K 4.) Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. 81, 050.54 9,375.89 71, 674.65 5. Minnesota Point at Superior, Wisconsin.-The object of this work is to protect the channel from the old entrance to Superior Bay from drifting sand and to prevent the Lake from cutting through Minnesota Point into the bay at a low place known as "The Opening." The project approved October 23, 1890, is for a double post and board fence of a total length of 1,216 feet filled in with brush and stone to catch the sand. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... (See Appendix K K 5.) The fence was completed May 27, 1891, and is accomplishing the purpose for which it was built. $4,895.00 4,526.59 368.41 6. Harbor at Ashland, Wisconsin.-Ashland Harbor is located at the head of Chequamegon Bay, and originally had no protection from the waves which rolled into the bay or from the waves generated within the bay itself by storms. The approved project is for the construction of a pile, slab, and rock breakwater 8,000 feet long northeast of the town, and for dredging a channel in front of the wharves of the city to accommodate vessels drawing 16 feet of water. During the season of 1889 a portion of the breakwater 4,650 feet in length was completed, but a severe storm in November the same year destroyed the outer 50 feet and the slab filling settled in some places. At the date of the last annual report repairs were under way and were completed early in the season. The contract now in progress will extend the breakwater 1,080 feet and close the breach in Chequamegon Point with a brush and stone dike. No dredg ing has yet been done. The amount expended during the year was $17,451.24. The total amount expended under approved project to June 30, 1890, was $66,398.73. The breakwater, though of insufficient length to give full protection to all the wharves of the city, has nevertheless had a marked influence in improving the tranquillity of the harbor. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... $22, 213.44 60,000.00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... 64,762,20 54, 276.00 July 1, 1891, balance available..... 10,486.20 187,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix K K 6.) 82, 213, 44 17,451.24 7. Harbor at Ontonagon, Michigan.-The entrance to Ontonagon River, which forms the harbor, had but 7 feet depth in 1867, at which time the project for securing 12 feet depth by building parallel piers on either side of the mouth, extending to the 18-foot curve of depth in Lake Superior, and dredging a channel between the piers, was adopted. The west pier has reached a length of 2,675 feet, and is very nearly out to the 18-foot curve of depth, as proposed. But this curve has advanced in the meantime, owing to the very considerable volume of sand carried into the lake by the river, and since it appears probable that the advance of the bar will keep pace with the extension of the piers, unless a very considerable extension is made at once, a consideration scarcely to be expected, it does not appear that economic considerations would justify any further extension of the piers at present. The east pier is 2,315 feet in length. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts For a time it seems that better results will be secured, after the piers are put in repair and the superstructures to outer cribs of west pier are finished, by dredging across the bar after each spring freshet. The channel between the piers has kept a depth of over 12 feet and a dredged channel through the bar has just been completed. The superstructure on the remaining 150 feet of the west pier is in progress and will be completed this season. The amount expended during the fiscal year just closed was $952.17. The total cost of the improvement to June 30, 1890, is $296,157.80. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $5,673.07 $1,942, 11 10,000.00 11, 942. 11 952.17 10,989.94 8,928.07 July 1, 1891, balance available 55,670,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix K K 7.) 2,061.87 8. Eagle Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of Eagle Harbor the entrance was obstructed by a rocky reef, with 8 feet of water over the shoalest part. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1866 and modified in 1868, 1874, and 1878. The plan, as finally carried out, consisted in blasting and dredging through the rocky ledge a channel 130 feet wide and 14 feet deep, and marking it with two guiding cribs, one on each side of the channel, and the removal of a number of bowlders. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $94,513.67, and has resulted in carrying out the above project, the work having been completed in 1879, and meeting the present demands of commerce. No appropriation is asked for this harbor, as the funds available will probably be sufficient to keep the work in good order for several years longer. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. (See Appendix K K 8.) 9. Harbor at Marquette, Michigan.-Originally this harbor afforded no protection to vessels from the easterly or northeasterly storms, and in 1866 a project was approved for the construction of a breakwater composed of cribs filled with rock, and projecting from the shore into the bay a distance of 2,000 feet. This pier was finished practically as projected in 1875, but since its commencement extensive repairs have been made to the superstructure. As the timber composing the superstructure has been in place far longer than supposed probable, it is essential that it be replaced by more durable material. A project for a concrete superstructure was approved in February, 1890. Its estimated cost is $232,936.71. In the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was made for the extension of the breakwater. In 1889 work upon the first 180 feet of this extension was commenced, but owing to the violence of storms towards the end of the season, before the work was finished, a greater portion of the crib substructure was ruined. There was finished but 60 feet of crib work and 180 feet of riprap foundation. The contract now in progress will extend the breakwater 240 feet. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $2,340.96. The total cost of the work to June 30, 1890, was $347,579.62. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $2,486.33 2,486. 33 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..... 28, 180.00 July 1, 1891, balance available...... 16, 279.42 355, 736.71 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K K 9.) 10. Harbor of refuge at Grand Marais, Michigan.-Originally the entrance to this harbor was obstructed by a bar, having but about 6 feet depth of water upon it. The project for its improvement, adopted in 1881, has for its object a deep and safe channel into the harbor, making it a harbor of refuge. This object is to be attained by building parallel piers projecting into the lake, and dredging out a channel between them, connecting the deep water of the lake with that of the harbor. The proposed length of each pier was 1,800 feet. The west pier has now reached a length 1,406 feet, and the east pier 853 feet. A channel 150 feet wide and 17 feet deep was dredged out between the piers. This deep channel has shoaled until it has but from 7 to 9 feet depth. The contracts now in force are for repairing the piers, building new shore end to the east pier, and dredging about 146,000 cubic yards, to be begun by July 1. The amount expended during year ending June 30, 1891, was $1,388.77. The total amount expended under approved project to June 30, 1890, was $179,571.78. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... $1,726.92 50,000,00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... July 1, 1891, balance available....... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 218, 750.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 100, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K K 10.) $19.20 43, 151.00 51,726.92 1, 385.77 50, 341. 15 43, 170.20 7, 170.95 11. Resurvey and relocation of harbor line in Portage Lake, Houghton County, Michigan.-Under the provisions of act of June 20, 1890, a Board of Engineers was constituted to report upon the subject of new harbor lines in Portage Lake, Michigan. A survey for the use of the Board was made in October, November, and December, 1890. The report of the Board was approved by the Secretary of War January 5, 1891 (see Appendix K K 13), and the local engineer in charge was directed to carry out certain recommendations therein for the placing of permanent marks and the preparation of a description of the harbor lines. Twenty stone monuments were set as reference points for the lines, but the description of the harbor lines has not been completed. (See Appendix K K 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEY FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Allonez [Allouez] Bay at the west end of Lake Superior, also the Nemadji River for a distance of 4 miles above its mouth, with a view of determining the best method of improving and making them available as a portion of the harbor system of the city of Superior, Wisconsin, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Quinn, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Quinn, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement; but Colonel Poe considers that Nemadji River is not, at the present time, worthy of improvement to the extent proposed. The views of Colonel Poe being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 40, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix K K 11.) The required preliminary examination of the St. Louis River, Minnesota, from Grassy Point in St. Louis Bay to Fond du Lac, or the State line between Minnesota and Wisconsin, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Quinn, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Quinn, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Major Quinn was charged with its survey, the report on which will be submitted when received. Major Quinn was charged with resurvey and relocation of harbor line in Portage Lake, Houghton County, Michigan, provided for in section 17 of river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890. The report of Board of Engineers constituted under provisions of act approved June 20, 1890, upon harbor lines in Portage Lake, Michigan, was submitted under date of December 11, 1890, and approved by the Secretary of War January 5, 1891. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 200, Fifty-first Congress, second session, and is submitted here with as Appendix K K 13. The annual report of Captain Fisk upon this subject is submitted as Appendix K K 14. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN, NORTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND OF FOX AND WISCONSIN, AND MENOMONEE RIVERS, WISCONSIN. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. H. E. Waterman, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Manistique Harbor, Michigan.-The natural channel of entrance to the mouth of the Manistique River was 7 feet deep. By private enterprise 3,000 feet of slab piers had been built at the mouth of the river, and a channel dredged to 10 feet before any appropriation had been made by the Government. The project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1880, and consisted in dredging between the piers built by the Chicago Lumbering Company, increasing the depth of the channel to 12 feet for a width of 150 feet. By the acts of 1880 and 1881 the sum of $6,000 was appropriated for this harbor in order to dredge a channel between the private piers of the above-mentioned dimensions. Dredging was done to the amount of 11,780 cubic yards at a cost of $2,989.21, and work was then suspended in consequence of the refusal of the company controlling the harbor to rectify their pier lines when rebuilding the same. Nothing has been done since work was suspended in 1881. Soundings taken in May, 1890, showed an available but tortuous channel 13 feet deep and 60 feet wide. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year -July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... (See Appendix IFL 1.) $2,845.76 245.00 2,600.76 |