A 2.

IMPROVEMENT OF SUPERIOR CITY HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

During the year the Minnesota pier has been extended 768 feet, and the Wisconsin pier 96 feet, up to 1 foot above water-level. The Minnesota pier now extends entirely across the old channel, and the effect has been to throw the current over to the line of the Wisconsin pier, where is now the deepest water. Vessels drawing 9 feet can now enter the harbor by the new channel. No dredging has yet been done between the piers, and it is believed that none will be necessary after the piers are extended across the bar, as the current will be sufficiently strong to scour out the channel to the necessary depth. Work is now progressing rapidly at this harbor. Both piers are being extended under separate contracts. It is anticipated that by the close of the season both piers will be extended up to water level over the bar, and to a depth of 12 feet. The current will then be so confined and directed as to force it in the desired channel. It is estimated that the sum of $65,000 will complete the extension of these piers to a depth of 18 feet, in accordance with previous estimates..

A 3.

IMPROVEMENT OF ONTONAGON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, LAKE SUPERIOR. An appropriation of $10,000 having been made for this work by the act of July 11,1870, a contract was made with James Mercer, of Ontonagon, to extend the west pier. At the date of this report the pier has been extended 160 feet. A further extension of 64 feet will exhaust the appropriation. The completion of this improvement, in accordance with plans heretofore submitted, requires a large sum, over $200,000. At the last session of Congress no appropriation was made. The local business of Ontonagan is now so small that additional harbor facilities are not necessary for its accommodation. The harbor is important as a harbor of refuge, though not now available for vessels of the largest class. In view of the increasing commerce of Lake Superior, I would recommend that this work be continued.

A 4.

IMPROVEMENT OF EAGLE HARBOR, MICHIGAN, LAKE SUPERIOR. No work has been done at this harbor during the year. A contract was made with Richard Dunbar, of Washington, D. C., in December, 1870, to remove a portion of the rock now obstructing the entrance to the harbor. Work was to commence on the 1st of May, 1871. The contractor has failed to do anything whatever, and the work has been suspended to await the results of the operations of removing rock obstructions in Hell Gate, East River, New York.

A 5.

IMPROVEMENT OF MARQUETTE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

The work during the year has been the extension of the breakwater. Four cribs-three, 50 feet by 30 feet by 26 feet, and one 50 feet by 30

feet by 27 feet-built up to water surface, have been added, and superstructure complete has been built over four of the six cribs reported in last annual report as sunk in place, but without superstructure, thus making a total of 200 lineal feet of superstructure built, and 200 lineal feet of addition to length of breakwater, which stands 1,210 lineal feet in length, 910 lineal feet of which is covered with superstructure, and complete. The work has progressed without interruptions, and as rapidly as was anticipated. The bottom continues hard and level, and the cribs vary in position but slightly after being sunk in place, a slight riprapping on both sides being found effective in holding them. The whole work stands in excellent condition. It is proposed, under the contract with Mr. James Coldwell, of Fulton, Oswego county, New York, bearing date September 23, 1870, and expiring November 1, 1871, to add an extension of 150 lineal feet, three cribs, building superstructure over the 300 lineal feet now up to water surface only; and, under the contract with Mr. Sidney Adams, of Marquette, bearing date of May 29, 1871, and expiring July 1, 1872, an extension of 500 lineal feet, ten cribs complete.

Both of these extensions will be completed during the year, giving a breakwater 1,860 feet in length, and complete, extending out into 30 feet depth of water. The shelter afforded within by this breakwater is now marked, and the effect of each crib added in extension is decided. The original estimate for this breakwater was $385,129 58, and the length designed was 2,050 feet; $197,000 has been appropriated, leaving $188,129 58 to make up the original estimate.

The funds already appropriated will complete 1,850 feet of the breakwater, leaving only 200 feet to be put in, according to the original plan. This portion of the breakwater being in a depth of about 30 feet, will require to be made wider than the present work, and it is proposed to make the cribs 35 feet wide. I estimate that it will require $45,000 to complete this extension, including the necessary riprapping and covering for the work, pier-head, &c. This would leave $138,129 58 of the original estimate. I would respectfully recommend that the work be extended, in order to afford the necessary protection to the wharves of the city, to the amount of the estimate. The importance of Marquette, as a harbor of refuge and shipping port for iron ore, is constantly increasing, and all expenditures looking to its greater security are well applied. For this reason I have estimated the sum of $100,000 for the year ending June 30, 1872.

A 6.

IMPROVEMENT OF MENOMONEE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

The appropriation of the present year, $25,000, is the first money given for harbor purposes at this point. An examination of the locality was made last March, to ascertain what changes, if any, had taken place since the detailed survey was made, and upon the results of this, a project was framed and approved of, contemplating the building of a pile-pier, extending out in a northeasterly direction, to the waters of Green Bay, reaching 15 feet water, on a line somewhat south of the mid-line of the water way of the mouth of the river, the construction commencing at a point about abreast of the center of the point of sand forming the north shore of the embouchure, this pier to constitute the permanent work of improvement for the harbor, and to be extended.

inwards, or connected with the south bank of the river, subsequently, according as experience or the rights of the mill and property owners of the south shore might call for. To carry out this plan, a contract was made with Abner Kirby, of Chicago, Illinois, on the 19th of June, 1871, to construct, by December 1, 1871, 1,000 feet, or as much more as will exhaust the present appropriation, of such pile-pier 14 feet wide. Work was begun on June 30, and is now being energetically prosecuted. It is expected to have 1,000 feet of pier completed during present working

season.

A 7.

IMPROVEMENT OF GREEN BAY HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

The operations during the year have been those of dredging, constructing a revetment of close-piling work, on west side of channel cut through "Grassy Island;" extending similarly, revetment on east side of same channel 85 feet, to the north, and riprapping the north shore of this Grassy Island on either side of the above revetment.

The dredging last working season consisted in cutting to the projected 200 feet width, and straightening the channel, inside or south of Grassy Island, toward the mouth proper of the Fox River, within the lines originally laid down for this harbor; work being begun on August 9, 1870, dredge and appliances being hired at the same rates as those of last fiscal year, viz, $120 per diem, ten working hours; dredging was also done outside of Grassy Island, for a distance of about 2,000 feet, towards Point au Sable, cutting a channel 14 feet deep by 100 feet wide on east side. During the present working season, the dredging has been that of leveling off and removing lumps from bottom, over area cut last season south of Grassy Island. A channel 200 feet wide by 14 feet deep now exists from the island to the first angle in the channel-line, about three fourths of a mile in length. From this point it is proposed to continue this dredging to the mouth of the river, as far as it was projected to carry it, giving the same width and depth, though with no heavy cutting. A considerable amount of dredging is yet required to accomplish this. It is also proposed to widen the channel north of the island 60 feet on west side, cutting 14 feet depth; this to be dredged during present season.

The revetment to channel through island on west side is 700 feet in length, even with that on east side, which was extended for this purpose 85 feet to the north; these works consist of close-piling back now open, filled in with stone and brush, and answers effectively the end in view; the work is in good condition, save some repairs on back side of east revetment, at its head, due to damage done by ice, which will be made at once. The riprapping extends 450 feet on the east side, and 280 feet on the west side of the island, 18 inches above water, and has been most effective in preventing the water breaking through the island, and filling in with sand the dredged channel inside. Some strengthening of it was found necessary the present spring, which has been done. A careful survey, made from the ice last February, disclosed the same results as the one of the preceding winter, that the channel dredged remained intact.

A 8.

IMPROVEMENT OF AHNEPEE HARROR, WISCONSIN.

The appropriation of the present year, $25,000, is the first allotment of funds for the purpose of harbor improvements at this point. Based upon the survey of 1870, a project was devised and approved of for the construction, as an initiatory measure, of a pile protection-pier. To carry out this project a contract was entered into on May 31, 1871, with Messrs. Roberts and Johnson, of Carlton, Kewanee County, Wisconsin, to construct by December 1 proximo, 600 feet-or as much more as will exhaust the funds now available-of such a pier. Owing to divers delays on the part of the contractors, work was not begun until June 30, two weeks later than was contemplated; it is now in progress and proceeding fairly. It is proposed to construct the 600 feet during the present working season.

A 9.

IMPROVEMENT OF TWO-RIVERS HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

The appropriation of the present year, $25,000, is the first one Congress has made for harbor improvements at this place. An extended survey of the locality having been made last year, and the results reported to the chief engineer, a project was formed and approved of, for constructing at the mouth two parallel pile protection piers, as a preparatory step to further and more extensive improvements, these piers to be 260 feet apart. In accordance with this plan, a contract was entered into on June 15 with R. A. Conolly, of Chicago, Illinois, to construct such a pile-pier, 400 feet in length, on the east side of the mouth, and one of 400 feet, or as much more as will exhaust the present appropriation, on the west side, by December 1 proximo. Both piers will run out and cross the outer bar, the main obstruction to a use of the interior waters, ending in 6 feet of water. As yet the contractor has not begun operations; it is expected and believed, however, that he will have completed piers above estimated for, during the present working season.

A 10.

IMPROVEMENT OF MANITOWOC HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

The money appropriated by Congress in 1869 having been expended, work at this harbor was necessarily suspended until the necessary forms of advertising and awarding contracts had been complied with for the disposal of funds made available under the act of appropriation of date July 11, 1870. On the 2d of September, 1870, a contract was entered into with Mr. David Smoke, of Manitowoc, the former contractor, with the United States Government, for the construction of 224 running feet of pier extension, more or less, and as he had most of the materials on hand which were necessary, he was enabled to fulfill the requirements of his contract before the close of November, 1870. The sinking and filling of seven cribs, four on the north and three on the south side of

the channel, each 32 feet in length by 20 feet in width, to the water-surface, was comprised in this extension. These cribs, together with the crib sunk by Mr. Smoke on the 25th of June, 1870, under a previous contract, and included in report of June 30, 1870, were left during the winter, and to the present time without superstructure.

The alignment of the piers at this harbor is excellent, as far as finished with superstructure, as is also the general character of the work. The cribs sunk last year have settled somewhat out of position, owing to a change in the character of the material forming the lake-bed under this portion of the piers; no serious difficulty, however, is apprehended in overcoming the effect of the tilt given to the cribs from this cause, as the upper timbers at the greatest displacement of the cribs are not thrown more than 23 feet out of alignment. A contract was made with the Government on the 15th day of June, 1871, by Mr. R. A. Conolly, of Chicago, for the construction of an additional extension of 96 running feet of pier-work, both on the north and south sides of the channel, forming together 192 running feet. Under the same contract he is to build the superstructure over the eight cribs above mentioned.

The harbor inside the piers has been greatly improved by the citizens of Manitowoc during the past year. Substantial docks have been built on both sides of the river, in order to meet the requirements of the increasing trade of the place; and further improvements of the same character are being made as fast as the demands of commerce require A dry-dock is in course of construction, and is expected to be finished so as to receive vessels during the present season of navigation. About thirteen miles of the railroad between Manitowoc and Appleton is graded, and the requisite quantity of iron for that length of road has been delivered. A dredge has been kept at work constantly in the river by the city authorities, and a uniform depth of about 11 feet of water attained for a distance of nearly a mile from the extremities (eastern) of the piers.

Two first-class lake steamers, and four schooners, have been built at this harbor, and four steamers and fifteen sailing-vessels have been repaired during the year.

Upon the completion of the present contract, the piers will be extended so as to have 14 feet of water at the entrance to the harbor, and no farther extension is at present required.

A 11.

IMPROVEMENT OF SHEBOYGAN HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

During the month of July, 1870, the superstructure was completed as far as desirable over the four cribs which remained in position, out of the six cribs which were built by S. M. Barrett under contract of date June 23, 1869, the details relating to which were stated in report of June 30, 1870. On the 3d of September, 1870, a contract was made with Mr. F. M. Knapp, of Racine, Wisconsin, for the construction of 192 running feet, more or less, of pier extension. Owing to the difficulty of procuring the necessary materials so late in the season, the work was not commenced until May of this year. The contractor has placed and filled a crib over the original position of crib known as No. 6; and built and placed a super-crib over broken crib No. 5, together forming a length of