teriorated in width and depth. The work of dredging will probably be completed before the close of the season of navigation 1891, and will give a channel 250 feet wide, 16 feet deep at low water from Lake Michigan to similar depth of water in Calumet River. The superstructures of parts of the piers to this harbor are in a deplorable state of decay, so reported for several years. The work of time continues, and now there is a length of 2,000 linear feet, more or less, of pier-work superstructure that is worthless, and 800 feet more in bad condition. The 2,000 feet should be immediately renewed, and the estimate herewith is for work of maintenance entirely. The contract for dredging having been made at 50 per cent. less than the estimates, the dredging will be completed under the last appropriation and the present contract. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 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 maintenance.. $4, 182.24 20,000.00 24, 182. 24 3,251.70 20.930.54 9, 691.20 11, 239.34 32,000,00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1833 32,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 2.) 3. Calumet River, Illinois and Indiana.-The object of this improvement, so far as at present projected, is to secure a channel 200 feet in width and 16 feet in depth below low-water plane in Lake Michigan, from the mouth of the Calumet River at Calumet Harbor, Illinois, to one-half mile east of Hammond, Ind., with a view to increasing the facilities for handling the growing commerce of this region and also to aid in providing means for the better accommodation of much of the commerce of Chicago River, which is now very much crowded. The original depth of navigation in this river varied from 6 to 10 feet. The various acts of Congress and the limitations made by law upon the expenditure of the appropriation thereby made are stated in the Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, for the year ending June 30, 1889. At the beginning of the last fiscal year work was in progress under contract with the lowest responsible bidder for dredging between the mouth and One hundred and eighth street-W. A. McGillis & Co., Havana, Ill., now of South Chicago, Ill. During the past fiscal year this contract has been completed. Originally it expired November 30, 1889, but subsequent extensions were granted to November 30, 1890. Under this contract 771,737 cubic yards of material was removed from the channel, of which amount 393,112 cubic yards was removed during the past fiscal year. Under the last river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, and under contract, 72,111 cubic yards of material has been removed from the channel. Theexisting contract will carry the work from One hundred and eighth to near One hundred and thirteenth street. The work has met opposition, as shown by the ejectment suit of A. A. Westengard, who claims to own submerged lots lying within the original 'meandered line of the Calumet River, and part of which lie under the deepest channel of Calumet River. The matter is in the hands of the district attorney for the northern district of Illinois, to protect the interests of the United States. No work has been done during the fiscal year upon the section of the Calumet River between the forks and one-half mile east of Hammond, Ind. The amount expended by the United States to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $135,598.33, of which $109,904.58 has been expended between the mouth of the Calumet River and One hundred and eighth street, including $5,000 paid for legal expenses in securing rights of way and releases from damage claims, required by the act of July 5, 1884, and $25,693.75 for work between the forks of the Calumet and one-half mile east of Hammond, Ind. The funds now on hand will be applied to continuing the work under existing contract and to forwarding towards completion the approved project. The funds asked for are to be applied in the same direction. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. 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..... $51,790.28 50,000.00 101,790. 28 57,388.91 44, 401.37 41, 172.26 3,229.11 820,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 3.) 4. Illinois River, Illinois.-The present project contemplates the extension of the work heretofore done by the State of Illinois from the mouth of Copperas Creek to the Mississippi River, a distance of about 135 miles, which project includes the building of two locks 350 feet long between miter sills, 75 feet in width of lock chamber, with 7 feet of water over the miter sills at low-water level of 1879, and dredging the channel where necessary to attain 7 feet depth at low water in the pools thus created. The sites selected for the two locks are one at Kampsville, 31 miles above the mouth of the Illinois, the other at La Grange, 79 miles above the mouth of the river. The ultimate object of the improvement is the construction of a ship canal from the southern end of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River of sufficient capacity to accommodate large-sized Mississippi River steamboats and for military and naval purposes. The State of Illinois, aided by the United States, has executed part of the project by the construction of two locks of the dimensions above stated, one at Henry and one at Copperas Creek, respectively, completing, except dredging, that part of the improvement between La Salle, Ill., and the mouth of Copperas Creek. The La Grange Lock and Dam are practically completed and in use. The foundation of the Kampsville Lock is completed, and all the stone required for its construction is on hand, piled at the lock site, except a small amount to be delivered during the present calendar year under contract. There is still to be done under this project the following work: At the La Grange Lock, some 2,500 cubic yards of riprap to be placed below the dam to protect the river bottom against scour, a short pile revetment to be built as a guide to vessels at the head of the lock, and the grading and cleaning up around the buildings to be completed. The greater part of this work will be done by the regular lock force. The Kampsville Lock and Dam to be completed, and about 2,000,000 cubic yards of dredging in the pools. In executing this work the United States has expended up to June 30, 1891, including $25,000 expended from the appropriation of August 11, 1888, for surveys, and exclusive of $62,359.80 expended upon the foundation of the Copperas Creek Lock, afterwards completed by the State of Illinois, the sum of $962,919.12. An additional amount of $747,747 was expended by the State of Illinois on Henry and Copperas Creek locks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, the following work was done: a. La Grange Lock.-A pile revetment 307 feet in length was built below the lock along the bank and another revetment 265 feet in length below the abutment of the dam; 275 linear feet of old coffer-dam removed; lock-keeper's house provided with eaves, drain, and cistern; filling behind the land wall of the lock practically completed; valve gearing of the lock overhauled and replaced with more powerful gear. ing for the lower gates; the lock reservation was fenced. b. La Grange Dam.-The part of the dam, 170 linear feet in length, left incomplete the previous season, was filled with stone and coped, and 1,800 cubic yards of stone placed below the dam to prevent scour. The dam was backed with 15,213 cubic yards dredged material. c. Kampsville Lock.-Quarters for laborers in building the lock were built, 25,114 cubic yards of mud dredged off the foundation of the lock, and necessary preparations made to begin the laying up of the masonry of this lock at an early date. No stone has been delivered at Kampsville during the past fiscal year, but it is all under contract. The plant has been repaired and maintained in serviceable condition, but all hulls of floating property have become almost irreparable from decay. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $5,033.25 200,000.00 205,033.25 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 23, 901. 04 26, 401.04 July 1, 1891, balance available 132,903. 39 212,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 4.) 5. Operating and care of La Grange Lock, Illinois River, Illinois.— This lock has been maintained and operated under the general indefinite appropriation for "operating and care of canals and other works of navigation" contained in the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, section 4. The approaches to the lock have been kept dredged and the lock maintained in serviceable condition by necessary changes and repairs to operating machinery, gates, and valves. Twenty one thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine cubic yards of dredging was done, the material being placed behind the lock wall and as backing for the dam. During the year 985 lockages were made, the lockages of steam vessels showing an increase of 44 per cent. over the previous year. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $9,275.03. July 1, 1890, amount available..... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix M M 5.) $10,720.00 9, 275. 03 1, 444. 97 834.47 610.50 6. Illinois and Mississippi Canal.-The object of this improvement is to furnish a link in a navigable water route from Lake Michigan, at or near Chicago, Ill., to the Mississippi River, at the mouth of Rock River. The canal is located upon the route approved by the Secretary of War, October 27, 1888, from the Illinois River, about 13 miles above the town of Hennepin, at the great bend of the Illinois River, thence via Bureau Creek Valley to Rock River at Penney Slough, thence by slackwater and a short canal around the lower rapids in Rock River to its mouth. The canal is to be 80 feet wide at the water surface, 7 feet deep, and with locks 170 feet in length, 35 feet in width of lock chamber. A report upon the detailed location, plans, and estimates for the construction of this canal was submitted June 21, 1890, and published by Congress as House Ex. Doc. No. 429, Fifty-first Congress, first session. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, made the first appropriation for the construction of this canal, and directed work to be begun by the construction of one of the locks and dams in Rock River. During the past fiscal year detailed surveys for the accurate location on the ground for the works for the passage of the lower rapids in Rock River at Milan were inaugurated and completed, legal plats and descriptions of all lands required for the construction of the lower 4 to 5 miles of the canal obtained, voluntary agreements entered into for the purchase of lands as far as practicable, and detailed estimates made for this part of the work. Work will begin as soon as the necessary legal titles to lands and sites have been acquired by the United States. This matter is now in the hands of the Department of Justice. In view of the necessary delay in acquiring rights of way and to the fact that, under present methods of appropriation, titles to land are acquired for only such parts of the work as can be done under the current appropriation, the actual work of construction must lag an indefinite time after money becomes available. It is advisable, if practicable, that provision should be made for the continuous prosecution and completion of the work, or at least that title be acquired for the actual location upon the most favorable ground of the work throughout its length in order that work may be continu ous. Under this view an estimate of $200,000, to be expended, as needed, for the necessary expenses of acquiring title to the right of way of the canal throughout, is submitted, and a further estimate of $1,500,000 for actual work of construction along such right of way. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Balance available, act August 2, 1882. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $152.80 633.66 500,000.00 500, 786.46 11,755.36 489, 031. 10 100.00 488, 931. 10 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 6, 425, 960. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 ... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 6.) 1,700,000.00 EXAMINATION AND SURVEY FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Illinois River, Illinois, from La Salle to the Mississippi River, as recommended by Capt. W. L. Marshall, corps of engineers, in his report dated March 10, 1890, with a view to ascertaining what lands would be subject to overflow by the construction of a navigable water way between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Marshall, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engi neers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Marshall, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this river is worthy of improvement, and that the amount, $25,000, allotted by the act for the purpose should be applied to the survey of the river. This opinion being concurred in by me, Captain Marshall was charged with the survey and submitted report thereon. Captain Marshall states that the damages by flowage under any project by the United States Government for a water way via the Illinois River are already known to be insignificant, and that no further surveys to determine them are needed. The survey referred to in the report cited was recommended in view of the proposed use of the water way under laws of the State of Illinois for an artificial discharge for sewage disposal purposes and in view of the lands that would be subject to overflow by such use of the river. The cost of this survey was estimated at $250,000, and the allotment of $25,000 made by the act of September 19, 1890, for the purpose, is entirely inadequate. This amount ($25,000) can be expended to advantage in carrying a line of precise levels from the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes, to serve as a basis for the survey indicated; also in making a hydrographic survey of the pools of the Illinois River, to ascertain the amount of dredging required to complete the existing project of improvement and to form part of the more extended survey; but, before making such uses of this fund, it is deemed advisable to further submit the matter to Congress, in order that such use may be |