2. Black River, at Port Huron, Michigan, to deepen channel from mouth to Grand Trunk Railroad bridge to depth of eighteen feet. (See Appendix L L 28.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer of Detroit River, at Gross Pointe, Michigan, to dredge channel now in use to depth of twenty feet, that the locality is 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, Colonel Poe was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON LAKE ERIE, WEST OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA-IMPROVEMENT OF SANDUSKY RIVER. Officer in charge, Maj. L. Cooper Overman, Corps of Engineers. Division engineer, Col. H. L. Abbott, 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. At the close of the last fiscal year there was a fair channel with a least depth of 10 feet, up to a point below Monroe where rock bottom exists, which is deemed sufficient for the present commerce of the port. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $5,000 was expended in pressing repairs and dredging in accordance with terms of the last appropriation. No other work was done during the fiscal year. The total amount appropriated for this harbor has been $220,515.27. If the harbor is to be kept up there is need of extensive repairs to piers and canal revetment, in order to prevent their ultimate destruction. These are estimated to cost $20,000, besides about $6,000 needed for immediate repairs. $5,000.00 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. 4,869.97 July 1, 1889, balance available................. 130.03 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 20,000.00 10,000.00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 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 adop tion of 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, 1889, is $719,046.71, all of which, except $5,000, has been expended, and has resulted in obtaining a 15-foot channel where before there was a narrow intricate channel with but 11 feet depth. The estimated cost of the present project for natural channel was $570,000, of which amount there has been appropriated $524,346.91. The balance of $46,000 yet required 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 thirteen years, and other necessary expenses, having absorbed at least $100,000 of the original estimate. It will therefore require at least $100,000 to complete the deepening and widening of the natural channel 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 act of August 11, 1888, appropriated for continuing the improvement of Maumee River by a straight channel $150,000; and for clearing the old channel $5,000, for improving harbor at Toledo, Ohio. A project for the expenditure of the appropriation of 1888, in accordance with the report of The Board of Engineers, was adopted, and a contract was made for dredging about 660,000 cubic yards along the projected straight channel. Work has been carried on under this contract during last month of the fiscal year 1889. About 42,000 cubic yards of material was excavated and removed. The small amount of work done on the straight channel as compared with the entire project is of no avail, nor can any comparisons yet be made. There have been three appropriations for the straight channel, amounting to $287,500, of which $135,177.01 has been expended to June 30, 1889 (on two lines), and $9,632.61 transferred to "old channel." Great difficulty was had in obtaining satisfactory bids for the dredging required, owing to the existence of a combination among dredge men on Lake Erie to secure high prices for the work. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1858... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts $1,022.89 150,000.00 151, 022. 89 $7,562.51 770.00 132,000.00 140, 332.51 10,690.38 1,612, 500.00 250,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... ... .... ... .... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 2.) $45, 000, 00 5,000. CO 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 to maintaining a depth of 9 feet between them. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $5,000 for continuing improvement, and at the close of the fiscal year 1889 all had been expended in making the most urgent of the repairs and in dredging. Considerable repairs are still required and some dredging also is greatly needed. The total amount appropriated for this harbor to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, has been $53,000, all of which has been expended, 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 of August 11, 1888.... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available..... $5,000.00 4,799. 43 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 200.57 37,000.00 10,000. 00 (See Appendix M M 3.) 4. Sandusky City Harbor, Ohio.-The original depth in the channel through the outer bar was 10 feet, and greatest depth in bay about 12 feet. The project adopted in 1880 provides for a channel through the outer bar and through the bay 200 feet wide, and parallel to the city docks 100 wide, the whole to be 15 feet deep. An increased depth of 16 feet at low water in the old channel is recommended for this harbor by the officer in charge, on account of the increased size of vessels navigating the lakes. The estimated cost of this extra depth is $61,000. A project for a "straight channel" for this harbor, extending from the east end of the dock channel to the north end of Cedar Point, has received the sanction of Congress, and the act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $35,000 with which to begin this improvement. This will materially shorten and improve the existing entrance. The estimated cost is $96,712, an increase of only $46,712 over the estimate for the project of 1880 as revised to give 16 feet depth. The balance of the estimated cost, viz., 861,712, should be appropriated in one allotment, and can be profitably and easily expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. Under the appropriation of August 5, 1886, the contract made for dredging to the extent of available funds, and under which work was commenced in November, 1886, was being continued at the beginning of the fiscal year 1889 by the contractor, but with poor progress; it was completed August 12, 1888, and appropriation exhausted; 88,407 cubic yards of material was removed under the contract. An annual removal of at least 10,000 cubic yards is necessary to maintain the unfinished channel, after which the additional dredging can be applied toward the completion of the channel to 200 feet in width and 15 feet in depth, or until new channel is available. For the expenditure of the appropriation of August 11, 1888, for straight channel, a contract was made with Christopher H. Starke, of Milwaukee, Wis., at 17 cents per cubic yard. Work was commenced May 1, 1889, and was being continued at the close of the fiscal year. Good progress has been made and the contract was about one-third finished at end of June. All available funds for the straight channel improvement will be exhausted by end of October, 1889. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $271,989.87 had been expended on old channel for this harbor, resulting in a channel through the outer bar about 150 wide, having a depth of about 15 feet, in which for a width of 50 feet there was a depth of 161 feet, and through the bay up to a point 50 feet from the line of docks a width of 150 feet and depth of about 14 feet. 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.. Jaly 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amounts covered by existing contracts... July 1, 1889, balance available... $649.13 40,000.00 40, 649. 13 7,518.34 728.39 29,032.77 37, 279.50 3,369.63 66,712.00 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 45,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 4.) 5. Sandusky River, Ohio.-The present project, which was based on a survey made in compliance with the river and harbor act of 1880, provides for opening a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep between the town of Fremont and the depth of 9 feet in Sandusky Bay, at an estimated cost of $44,000. During the years 1867 and 1872 the sum of $30,000 was expended in opening a navigable channel with a depth of 8 feet from Sandusky Bay to Fremont, a distance of 17 miles. Since 1872 the cuts then made through the various bars have filled up. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, the sum of $21,500 had been appropriated for the present project, of which the sum of $20,871.53 has been expended; and there was at the close of the season of 1888 a fair channel, with least depth of 8 feet, from Fremont, the head of navigation, to the lake. The last appropriation for this river was that of August 2, 1882. The balance on hand, viz., $628.47, was too small to attempt any further work last season. July 1, 1888, amount available.. $628.47 628.47 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1891 16,500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 5.) 6. Huron Harbor, Ohio.-At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, there was a good channel through the outer bar with a depth of 16 feet, and between the piers with a depth of from 16 to 17 feet. The superstructure of both piers, except where repaired in 1884 and 1886, was in a decayed condition and needed immediate renewal. The heavy gales of the springs of 1885, 1886, 1887, and 1888 did considerable damage to the piers and to the beaches, so that a breach was made at the inner end of east pier near the shore. Immediate repairs were made during the year, but considerable repairs are still needed. Up to the end of the fiscal year 1889 the sum of $123,273.71 had been appropriated for this harbor, all of which has been expended or contracted for. A good channel, with least depth of 14 feet, was maintained until piers became dilapidated, where originally there was a sandbar dry at low water. The estimated cost of renewing the superstructure of the piers is $22,000; $19,500 has been appropriated. Repairs in addition to those contemplated when the estimate was submitted have been made necessary by the storms of 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, and 1888, and the amount asked for to completely renew the piers has been correspondingly increased. 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 6,000.00 $2, 171.43 250. 10 3,516.52 5,938. 05 61.95 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... (See Appendix M M 6.) 6, 000, 00 11,000.00 7. Vermillion Harbor, Ohio.-Before improvement, the mouth of the Vermillion River was closed by a sand-bar, upon which there was a depth of less than 2 feet. The original project consisted of parallel piers running out into the lake from each side of the mouth of the river, in order to secure a depth of 10 feet. This project has been amended from time to time, and now provides for a depth of 14 feet. In 1878 the channel was about 70 feet wide with a depth of about 12 feet, and has since remained nearly permanent. The act of August 11, 1888, made an appropriation of $1,000 for this harbor. Only partial repairs to the piers can be made with the sum available, which repairs will be made during the fall of 1889. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the piers were in only fair condition; the depth in the channel was about the same as at close of the previous fiscal year. The amount appropriated to close of fiscal year 1889 has been $118,942.32, all of which sum will be expended by end of the calendar year 1889. |