18. Detroit River, Michigan.-Originally the channel at Lime Kiln Crossing, Detroit River, could not be depended upon for more than 13 feet of water, the ordinary depth being much affected by the direction of the wind. As originally projected in 1874, the improvement at this point was to consist of a curved channel 300 feet wide, with a uniform depth of 20 feet, and the original estimate was based upon this project. In 1883 it was wisely determined to so modify the project as to secure a straight channel, the least width of which should be 300 feet, with a somewhat greater width at each end, utilizing the work already done. In 1886 this was further modified to the end that the width of the channel should be increased to 400 feet by removing an additional 100 feet from the western (American) side; and in 1888 a further additional width of 40 feet on the western side was authorized, as the lowest bid under the final appropriation was so low that the money in hand would pay for the increased excavation. Under the contract with Messrs. Dunbar & Sullivan, dated October 30, 1888, work was carried on from the beginning of the fiscal year until October 1, 1890, when the channel was completed to a depth of 20 feet and width of 440 feet, and some shoals in the vicinity were removed to the same depth; 1,213 cubic yards of solid rock and 1,584 cubic yards of loose rock were removed by the contractors during the fiscal year; and range lights have been established by the United States and Canadian governments to mark the completed channel. The extent to which this improvement is used is shown by the fact that in the calendar year 1890 35,640 American vessels, having 21,684,000 tons register passed through Detroit River. If records of the Canadian vessels could be obtained a still larger showing would be made. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 $692,099.48 10, 022. 56 702, 122.04 The project for Lime Kiln Crossing having been completed, no further estimate is submitted for work at that point. Owing to the low water of the last few years, however, vessels have struck on a number of shoals in different parts of the river, and, in view of the magnitude of the commerce affected, all such shoals should be removed as soon as possible. An estimate of $50,000 is therefore made for the removal of the more serious of these shoals between the city of Detroit and Lake Erie. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... Amount (estimated) required for removing shoals..... $27,869.75 26, 881.38 988.37 50,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 50, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O O 18.) 19. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigaton. The coal-laden schooner M. E. Tremble was sunk by collision on September 8, 1890, in the rapids of St. Clair River opposite Fort Gratiot, Mich., and its removal was authorized by the War Department. Before the end of the time set in the 30 days' notice required by law, notification was received from Mr. Thomas Murphy, of Detroit, that he had acquired sole ownership in the wreck, and proposed to remove it himself. The Government was therefore prevented from proceeding ERRATA, Page 363. 3d line, for $2,379,085.16 read $2,416,250.16. "The contractors began work March 26. They used large charges of dynamite placed in position by divers, and finished work June 2, 1891. No points at the site of the wrecks or in the vicinity being found with less than 35 feet of water over them, the contractors were paid in full on June 17, 1891, and the contract was closed. The total cost to the Government, including superintendence, printing, advertising, etc., was $5,241.05. No articles of value were recovered. (See Appendix O O 19.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Colonel Poe, and reports thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Colonel Poe, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, no further surveys were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Sebewaing River, Michigan, with a view of deepening the channel from the mouth to the village of Sebewaing to the depth of 8 feet.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 154. (See also Appendix O O 20.) 2. The American channel of the Detroit River, Michigan, beginning at the western boundary of the city of Detroit, and from thence continuously in American waters to Lake Erie, with a view to deepening said channel to the same depth as has been attained and is contemplated under present plan in the Canadian channel of said river, the said survey to be made in the channel of said river fronting the towns of Springwells, Ecorse, Monqua gon, and Brownstown, and the American shore of said river to such a point in Lake Erie as may be necessary to reach a proper depth of water in said lake to correspond with the increased depth of the river con templated.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 43. (See also Appendix O O 21.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Colonel Poe, and reports thereon were submitted. It is the opinion of Colonel Poe, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. The reports of the preliminary examinations containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further surveys appear to be necessary at this time. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty first Congress, second session. 1. Ship channel 20 feet in depth and of a suitable width in the shallows of the connecting waters of the lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo.Two estimates are submitted, one for obtaining the depth (20 feet) specified by the act, and the other for a depth of 21 feet where necessary in localities subject to heavy seas, as follows: For a 20-foot channel. For a 20 and 21 foot channel $2,379, 085. 16 3, 339, 567.96 Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 207. (See also Appendix O O 22.) 2. Corsica Shoal, Michigan, situated at the lower end of Lake Huron, near the entrance to the St. Claire [Clair] River, with a view to its removal.-The improvement proposed contemplates obtaining a depth of 21 feet by dredging, the cost of which is estimated at $410,666. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 225. (See also Appendix O O 23.) 3. Rouge River, Michigan, with a view of locating and constructing basin in said river, at a point on the same within 4 miles of its junction with the Detroit River, convenient for the turning and anchoring of vessels in the same. The improvement proposed contemplates the excavation of the basin specified, to a length of 500 feet and width of 250 feet, at an estimated cost of $15,611.10. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 115. (See also Appendix O O 24.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON LAKE ERIE, WEST OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA. Officer in charge, Maj. L. Cooper Overman, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. William V. Judson, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since April 5, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, 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 through River Raisin Point between the river and the lake, 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, and protecting the entrance into the lake by parallel piers, 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. Act of Congress approved September 19, 1890, appropriated for this harbor $5,000, all of which sum was expended in repairs in accordance with terms of the appropriation. No other work was done during the fiscal year. The total amount appropriated for this harbor has been $225,515.27, all of which has been expended. At the close of the last fiscal year there was a fair channel with a least depth of 8 feet, up to a point below Monroe where rock bottom exists, which is deemed sufficient for the present commerce of the port, provided an annual expenditure of, say, $1,000 is appropriated for dredging. If the harbor is to be kept up there is need of extensive repairs of piers and canal revetment, in order to prevent their ultimate destruction. These are estimated to cost $20,000, and at least $5,000 will be required annually for preservation of piers and revetment. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $5,000.00 5,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 $26, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P P 1.) 2. Toledo Harbor, Ohio.-The original project provided for making the existing channel 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep through Maumee Bay, and this was amended from time to time, resulting in the present project, which provides for a width of 200 feet at bottom, and a depth of 16 feet at low water between the city of Toledo and deep water in Lake Erie. The total amount appropriated for this harbor for the several proj ects for improving the natural channel, from 1866 to close of fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $723,916.60, of which $719,016.57 has been expended, and has resulted in obtaining a channel with least depth of 15 feet where before there was a narrow intricate channel with but 11 feet depth. Act of September 19, 1890, appropriated for improvement of this harbor for clearing old channel," $5,000. Contract for dredging was entered into and work commenced in May, which was still in progress at close of fiscal year. The estimated cost of the present project for natural channel was $570,000, which will not complete the project as originally estimated, owing to the time consumed in doing the work for want of adequate appropriation; the annual removal of deposits of each winter and spring, repeated for 14 years, and other necessary expenses, having absorbed at least $100,000 of the original estimate. Five hundred and twenty-nine thousand three hundred and forty-six dollars and ninetyone cents of the original estimated cost has been appropriated for this improvement; it will therefore require at least $140,000 to complete the deepening and widening of the natural chanuel between Toledo and 16 feet of water in Lake Erie, after which an annual expenditure of about $20,000 will be needed to maintain the dredged channel through the open bay, or until the "straight channel improvement" is completed. The latest project for the improvement of Toledo Harbor, Ohio, provides for a straight channel through Maumee Bay from the city of Toledo to deep water in the lake. Appropriations of 1884, 1886, and 1888 for the straight channel, amounting to $287,500, have all been expended on this improvement (excepting $9,346.91 transferred to old channel). There was appropriated by act of September 19, 1890, for improvement by straight channel $200,000. Contracts were made with Messrs. L. P. & J. A. Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Mr. James Rooney, of Toledo, Ohio, for dredging 825,000 cubic yards, as follows: 800,000 cubic yards from straight channel and 25,000 cubic yards from old channel. Contract for construction of pile protection around rangelight cribs in Maumee Bay was made with Mr. John Kelly, of Guttenburg, N. J. These contracts provide for the expenditure of entire appropriation of 1890. Work under same commenced in May and was in progress at the close of fiscal year 1891. The total amount appropriated for straight channel improvement has been $487,500, of which sum there has been expended on said im. provement to the close of fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $286,470.55. The amount of work done on the straight channel, as compared with the entire project, can not be of full practical benefit to navigation until completed, nor can any comparisons yet be made as to benefits to be derived. Straight channel. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... $13,704.46 200,000.00 213, 704. 46 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 22, 021.92 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... 191,682.54 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities $1,870. 64 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 173, 943. 51 175, 814. 15 July 1, 1891, balance available...... 15, 868. 39 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 1, 400, 000. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. 600,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Old channel. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... $99.96 Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... 4,500.00 400.03 July 1, 1891, balance available 140,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P P 2.) 3. Port Clinton Harbor, Ohio.-In 1870 the channel at the entrance to this harbor was narrow and intricate, with a depth of only 5 feet. The present project, adopted in 1875, provides for a pile revetment from the north shore of the Portage River, opposite the town, 967 feet into the lake, and two pile-piers, 200 feet apart, of an aggregate length of 4,100 feet, extending to the depth of 10 feet in the lake, with a view of maintaining a depth of 9 feet between them. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $3,000 for this harbor. A contract for dredging for the entire amount has been made, work to 'be done in July, 1891. In addition to the dredging considerable repairs are needed. The total amount appropriated for this harbor to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, has been $56,000, of which there has been expended $53,000, and has resulted in obtaining a depth of 8 feet from the lake to the town. The proposed improvement is only about. one-half finished. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended................... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. July 1, 1891, balance available.... $3,000.00 3,000.00 2,800.00 200.00 |