4. Harbor at Superior Bay and St. Louis Bay, Wisconsin.-Originally a sand-bar obstructed the natural entrance to Superior Bay, with a narrow and tortuous channel through it having a minimum depth of 9 feet. In Superior Bay a deep natural channel, having a depth of not less than 14 feet and a width of from 100 to 500 feet, extended from the natural entry to Connor's Point. Nine feet was the greatest draught that could reach the docks at Superior one-half mile distant from the natural channel. The original project, adopted in 1867 and modified in 1873, comprised the construction of parallel piers 350 feet apart and dredging between the piers; dredging in Superior Bay from natural channel to Quebec Wharf; maintenance of piers and projecting proportions of Minnesota Point where the sea threatened to break through. The amount expended on the original project was $335,513.26. The present project was adopted in 1881 and modified in 1884, which added improvement of St. Louis River channel within the bay of Superior, the object being to provide channels for vessels drawing 16 feet of water. The act of August 5, 1886, added the improvement of St. Louis Bay. The natural and dredged channels in 1881 were about 100 feet wide, with not more than 11 feet in depth at the shoalest part. The amount expended under present project to June 30, 1889 was $128,371.06, exclusive of amount covered by existing contracts, and has resulted in securing channels having a minimum width of 100 feet and not less than 16 feet in depth. Work during the past year, to June 30, 1889, has been confined to dredging in the channel, between Connor's Point and the entry, straightening and widening the channel at the "middle ground," about onehalf mile north of Safford's Pier. The quantity of material removed to the end of the fiscal year was 75,700 cubic yards. The entry piers are in fair condition, but need extensive repairs, particularly the superstructure, to render them secure. The beach protection is still intact. The following are the ruling depths in the channels dredged by the United States: July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $6,762.97 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.... 6,512. 18 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. 28, 402.00 41, 677. 15 July 1, 1889, balance available 18, 593. 18 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix H H 4.) 291, 736. 00 100, 000. 00 5. Harbor at Ashland, Wisconsin.-In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 4, 1888. The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1887, and had for its object the closing of the breach in Chequamagon Point by a pile revetment about 4,300 feet long, and to dredge a channel 100 feet wide and 18 feet deep in front of and touching the principal wharves of the city. This project was abandoned, and a new one was approved for the construction of about 8,000 feet of breakwater 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. This project was modified in 1889 so as to provide for the construction of 4,650 feet of breakwater extending into the bay about 1,000 feet east of the iron-ore docks, and to be built of piles and slabs with rock ballast. There is sufficient depth of water in the vicinity of the ore docks, but it is too shoal in front of the western part of the city to accommodate shipping. The amount expended under approved project to June 30, 1889, was $9,034.81. At that date 100 feet of breakwater had been completed and piling for 1,100 feet driven. By October 31, 1889, the whole of the 4,650 feet will have been completed, and it is believed that the beneficial effects to commerce resulting from its construction will be considerable. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available... $20,993. 03 60,000.00 80, 993. 03 $1,050.84 6,477.00 47,283.50 54, 816.34 26, 176.69 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix H H 5.) 90,000,00 60,000.00 6. Harbor at Ontonagon, Michigan.-In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 4, 1888. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1867, the object being to afford an entrance to the mouth of the Ontonagon River, not less than 12 feet deep, and of a navigable width. This result was to be accomplished by constructing two parallel piers, 250 feet apart, from the mouth of the river lakeward to the 18-foot contour in Lake Superior, and dredging a channel between them 12 feet deep. The natural channel was but 7 feet in depth, and owing to the shifting nature of the bottom was variable in position. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $284,903.74, and has resulted in the construction of 2,315 feet of east and 2,525 feet of west pier, and the removal of 10,546 cubic yards of material, making a channel 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep between the piers with a depth of 12.1 feet on the outer bar. By September 30, 1889, the west pier will have been extended 150 feet, and superstructure will have been completed on the crib sunk in 1887 on the east pier. July 1, 1888, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $1,541.98 12,500.00 14, 041.98 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... $680.72 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. 165.00 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 10, 640,00 11,485.72 2,556, 26 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix H H 6.) 65, 670.00 25,000.00 7. Eagle Harbor, Michigan.—In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 4, 1888. 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 by 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, 1889, was $91,513.67, and has resulted in carrying out the above project, the work having been completed in 1885 and meeting the present demands of commerce. No appropriation is asked for this harbor, as the funds on hand will probably be sufficient to keep the channel and cribs in good condition for several years. July 1, 1888, amount available. July 1, 1889, balance available (See Appendix H H 7.) $2,486, 33 2,486.33 8. Harbor at Marquette, Michigan.-In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 4, 1888. In its original condition this harbor afforded no protection to vessels during the prevalence of easterly and northeasterly storms. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1866, and consisted in the construction of crib breakwater 2,000 feet long and 25 to 40 feet wide, built to a height of 6 feet above the water surface, the estimated cost being $385,129.58. Previous to the commencement of work these widths were changed to 20, 25, and 30 feet. The structure was completed in 1875, the total length being 2,010 feet. The total amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $321,641.40. Work will be commenced on July 1, 1889, on the extension of 180 feet to the break water, which will be completed by November 15, 1889. The importance of Marquette Harbor both as a shipping port and a harbor of refuge, and the present limited anchorage area, makes it urgently necessary to extend the breakwater at least 1,000 feet, in addition to the 180 feet under contract to be completed by the end of the present working season. The estimated cost of this proposed 1,000 feet extension is placed at $121,000, and when completed would afford ample protection to the commerce of this harbor for some years, as it would increase the safe July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $1,346.77 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... 65.49 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts 19,800.00 21, 212. 26 12,788.60 July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of proposed project 121,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 50,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 8.) 9. Harbor of Refuge at Grand Marais, Michigan.-In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 4, 1888. The original condition of the channal was variable and crooked, with about 6 feet depth of water. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, the object being to provide a harbor of refuge for vessels navi gating Lake Superior, and consists in the formati n of an artificial entrance to the natural harbor, having an available capacity of 160 acres and capable of being increased to 240 acres should the needs of commerce require it. This artificial entrance is to be formed of two parallel crib-piers 500 feet apart, with a dredged channel between, 300 feet wide and from 18 to 20 feet in depth, cut through the sand-spit north of the harbor, connecting the deep water of the lake with that of the harbor. The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $144,059.47, and has resulted in the construction of 1,450 feet of the west pier, including 100 feet of pile dike, and 850 feet of the east pier, including 100 feet of piledike; 1,200 feet of the piers are unprovided with superstructures. The amount expended during year ending June 30, 1889, was $31,908.79, including liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888, and has resulted in the extension of the west pier by four cribs, each 24 feet wide, and the building of 400 feet of superstructure on the cribs of the west pier, 20 feet wide, 6 feet high. By September 30, 1889, the remainder of the piers unprovided with superstructures (1,200 feet) will have been completed, 650 feet on the west pier and 550 feet on the east pier, and a channel 150 feet wide and 17 feet deep will have been dredged between the piers from the 17foot contour of the lake to the deep water of the harbor. The quantity of material excavated to the end of the fiscal year was 27,171.4 cubic yards. July 1, 1888, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available ENG 89-18 $268,750.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 100,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 9.) 10. Establishment and maintenance of harbor lines in Portage Lake, Michigan. In charge of Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, until September 14, 1888. Congress, by act of August 5, 1886, conferred upon the Secretary of War the authority to establish harbor lines where débris of mines or stamp-works were liable to work injury to naviga tion. Harbor lines were accordingly established in Portage Lake, Michigan, to prevent the destruction of through routes of communica tion across Keweenaw Point, and rules and regulations were prescribed for maintaining them. Notwithstanding these regulations the stamp-mills on Portage Lake continue to dump their tailings outside of these lines, and the United States attorney for western Michigan was instructed by the Department of Justice to apply for an injunction restraining the mill-owners from dumping débris into Portage Lake between the harbor lines established by the Secretary of War. (See Appendix H H 11.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Black River, Lake Superior, Michigan, to deepen channel to depth of 16 feet and constructing a breakwater, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Quinn, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix H H 10.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Major Quinn was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. 1. Duluth, Minnesota. 2. Minnesota Point, at Superior, at the west end of Lake Superior, Wisconsin, to ascertain what should be done to preserve the same from the inroads of the lake, and for the protection of the harbor. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS OF THE WEST SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN NORTH OF WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS. IMPROVEMENT OF FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVERS. Officer in charge, Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. G. D. Fitch, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since August 24, 1888. Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Manistique Harbor, Michigan.-The present project for the improvement of this 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. The natural channel of entrance to the mouth of the Manistique River |