3 C. SEWERAGE SYSTEM. No work has been done on the new sewerage system during the fiscal year 1891. Congress, by act approved March 2, 1889, made an appropriation of $25,000 for a sewerage system, complete, but, as stated in my report for 1890, that amount was insufficient for the work. A considerable portion of the reservation is occupied by hotels and private buildings for which no satisfactory sewerage system exists, and the owners of these buildings have now been directed by the Secretary of War to submit plans for a system of sewers for that part of the reservation outside the fort, and with which the post sewers could be connected. Such plans were submitted in February, 1891, and, with a few exceptions, were unobjectionable. No progress has yet been made toward carrying the plans into execution. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Money statement. $24, 902. 10 24, 902. 10 24, 902. 10 APPENDIX NO. 4. REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF FORT MARION, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. REPORT OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM M. BLACK, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDİNG JUNE 30, 1891. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, St. Augustine, Fla., July 10, 1891. GENERAL : I have the honor to transmit herewith my annual report for 1891, on the defenses of St. Augustine, Florida. Very respectfully your obedient servant, W.M. BLACK, Captain, Corps of Engineers. REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF FORT MARION. Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Fla., was built during the Spanish pospossion. It was at first named Fort San Augustin, and later Fort San Marcos. In the act approved July 5, 1884, $5,000 was appropriated for the preservation of the fort and the inclosure of its grounds. With this appropriation a picket fence was built along a portion of the reservation boundary line; the sea wall and covered way breast-height walls repaired; two bastion towers renewed; the interior walls refaced where necessary; the ramp rebuilt, and a portion of the terreplein covered with a waterproof pavement for the protection of the casemates. In all of the repairs the original designs were followed as closely as possible. Under allotments from the appropriation for "preservation and repair of fortifications," the following repairs to the permanent work were made, viz: A short length of the sea wall at the north end of the fort and the north end of the water battery, which had been partly undermined by wave and current action, were protected; the sally port, the terreplein of the southwest bastion, and about two-thirds of the terreplein of the south curtain were covered with a waterproof pavement; a concrete drain was constructed under the sally port; the two sentry towers on the south face were repaired; a portion of the inner parapet wall of the east curtain was rebuilt; the two bridges leading to the fort were rebuilt, and a new floor was laid in casemate No. 4. In the act of August 18, 1890, $15,000 was appropriated for this fort. Work under this appropriation was done by hired labor, using materials purchased by contract. It was begun on October 20, 1890, and continued to the close of the fiscal year, when the following work had been accomplished: An accurate topographical survey of the reservation was made and the notes plotted. One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four and four-tenths square yards of 24-inch waterproof concrete pavement was laid, completing the covering of the terreplein. One hundred and forty-six and seven-tenths squares of brick pavement on the terreplein was repointed, numerous broken portions having been previously relaid. Fifty linear feet of the banquette tread and four embrasures were repaired. Twenty-nine concrete spouts, 2 feet in length, were put in to carry off rain water from the terreplein. The staircase on the outside of the northeast watchtower was removed and set up inside the tower. Ten wooden benches for the use of visitors were placed on the terreplein. Window frames and sashes were removed from forty-four casemate windows and their places supplied by iron gratings. Five door facings and forty-four window facings were repaired with concrete, and one new door was put in. The ditch around the fort was cleaned out and graded. Three short retaining walls of concrete, containing 28 cubic yards, were built near the entrance. The quarters occupied by the ordnance sergeant were removed from the covered way of the ravelin to a vacant Government lot on the west side of the reservation. Five flights of concrete steps, containing 7.1 cubic yards, were made. The glacis planes were restored to their original condition, and all low places on the reservation were filled and graded. To make this fill 11,517 cubic yards of material (measured in place) was moved an average distance of 1,032 feet, at a cost per cubic yard of 25 cents. The covered way, the slopes of the glacis planes, and all portions of the reservation which had been graded (8.8 acres in all) were plowed, fertilized, harrowed, and planted out in grass. One thousand one hundred and forty-seven linear feet of new picket fence was built along the south and west portions of the reservation, and 1,930 linear feet of picket fencing was painted. A concrete sea wall 292.5 feet long, with a return wall of concrete 50 feet long, containing in all 353.5 cubic yards of concrete, 314.8 cubic yards en masse and 38.7 cubic yards in blocks, was built along the north boundary of the reservation, at an average cost for concrete en masse of $6.82 per cubic yard, including superintendence and tools. Two concrete drains, each 20 feet long and 8 inches by 8 inches in the clear, were made. Two hundred square yards of concrete paths, 4 feet wide and 4 inches thick, and 1,269 square yards of concrete paths, 3 feet wide and 3 inches thick, were laid. Twenty-one cedar and 14 myrtle trees were planted out by hired labor, and 55 palmettos, 40 cedars, 24 oleanders, 15 myrtles, 103 casinos, and 470 Spanish bayonets by contract. The building of the new sea wall and the filling of the low space behind it has reclaimed a piece of land 62 by 268 feet, worth at least, at current prices here, $4,000, while the total cost of the wall and filling was about $2,700. In order to complete the work of restoration of the fort and of improve. ment of the grounds, the flimsy modern doors of the casemates should be replaced by doors similar to that in casemate No. 7; a neat spiral iron staircase should be placed in the watchtower; the restoration of the chapel doorway should be completed; the drawbridge at the entrance should be restored; the wooden picket fence around the reservation should be replaced by a concrete wall; 2,460 linear feet additional of concrete walks should be built; neat iron benches should be placed at intervals on the grounds, and additional shrubbery should be set out. If the trespassers on the north boundary of the reservation are removed, the sea wall will have to be extended and a slight additional fill made. The total estimated cost of these improvements is $6,500. None of these items, excepting the restoration of the chapel doorway, was included in former estimates. The desirability of these improvements developed as the work first laid out progressed. It is proposed to make a partial restoration of the chapel door with the funds now available, but the design as shown on the blue print of the original drawing, dated 1785, is too elaborate to be reproduced entirely. Popular interest in this work continues unabated as is shown by the number of visitors during the past year, estimated at 40,000. The work of the past year has been under the immediate direction of Lieut. D. D. Gaillard, Corps of Engineers, and it is largely due to his energy and good management that the amount of work done with the appropriation has been so great. The remainder in hand will be expended in accordance with the approved project. Money statement. Amount appropriated by act approved August 18, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $15,000.00 13, 782.00 1, 218.00 575.84 642.16 6,500.00 6,500.00 |