64 running feet built to the water-surface in extension of the south pier. This has been done under contract of September 3, 1870, and Mr. Knapp will also extend the north pier 192 running feet under the same contract. Bids were received and opened on the 1st day of June, 1871, for a further extension of the piers; 128 running feet is to be constructed on the north side of the channel in extension of the pier, and the same length to be built in addition to the south pier, forming together, under this contract, 256 running feet of pier work. Mr. F. M. Knapp was again the successful bidder, and a contract was entered into by him to do this additional work on the 17th day of June, 1871. It is expected that the whole of the work under these contracts, equal in length to 448 running feet of pier extension, will be completed to the water-surface before the 1st day of December of the present year. The loose character of the sand forming the lake bed at this point renders the sinking, settling, and retaining of cribs in their proper positions extremely difficult. The piers at this harbor should each be finished by placing a crib at each extremity of dimensious 50 feet in length by 30 feet in width. The stone has settled to a serious extent for the whole length of the piers, and the cribs should be refilled. It would take about five hundred cords of this material to fill them up to a proper height. The pier work which was built by the county and Government prior to 1860 is in a dilapidated condition. The channel also between the piers is not as deep as it should be to meet the requirements of the increasing trade of the place. The cost of these additional improvements would be approximately as follows: For 2 cribs, each 50 feet long, by 30 feet wide, at $5,000.. For 500 cords of stone ballast, at $8... For 5,000 cubic yards of dredging, at 30 cents, (to make channel a uniform depth of 14 feet water)... For repairing 600 running feet of old pier, at $16. $10,000 4,000 1,500 A 12. IMPROVEMENT OF PORT WASHINGTON HARBOR, WISCONSIN. In the bill passed by Congress July 11, 1870, appropriating funds for the improvements of harbors, an allotment of $15, 000 was made to the harbor of Port Washington for that purpose. As an inducement to the Government to make such an appropriation it was stated that an equal sum would be raised by the town of Port Washington, to assist the Government in the enterprise. In order to assess the people legally, it was necessary to obtain authority through action of the State legislature. That body not being in session at the time the funds w required, the sum of $4,000 was raised by a subscription of the citizens of the town. Work was commenced on the 5th day of September, by dredging a channel from the navigable waters of Lake Michigan to the shore, and across the bar into the channel bed of Sauk River. A portion of the proposed inside basin, 600 feet in length, 50 feet in width, and of an average depth of 6 feet, was excavated by the dredge. A part of the material excavated was thrown out on the bank, the SE remainder was carried by scows to the deep water of the lake and there deposited. The character of the material forming the lake and river bed at this point is excessively hard, being an indurated clay of a reddish gray color, mixed with gravel and small boulder deposit. Such a foundation for crib piers is much more suitable than the loose sand which is the general character of the deposit at the mouths of the rivers discharging into Lake Michigan. The bank which was thrown out by the dredge when working from the navigable water to the shore retained its form for some time after the excavation, notwithstanding it experienced quite heavy weather, and advantage was taken by the merchants of the place to ship grain and receive supplies by means of small craft as long as the channel thus dredged remained open, thereby effecting quite a saving of the heavy expense for dockage and warehouse charges to which they have heretofore been subjected. The money raised by the citizens of Port Washington was devoted last fall to the purchase and driving of piles and leveling off the material which was thrown out on the north side of the basin. The number of piles thus purchased and driven by them was four hundred and thirty, forming a length of 460 running feet of dock front; $10,000, minus the sum paid for piling, &c., last year, has been legally voted by the county for the improvement of the harbor this season to be appropriated to dredging. The dredging above described was done under an agreement made by the Government with Albert Conro, of date September 1, 1870, in accordance with which he was paid at the rate of $150 per diem; ten hours of actual work of the dredgingmachine, tug-boat, and two dump-scows to constitute one day's labor. For the dredging-machine and scows payment was made at the rate of $125 per diem of ten hours' work; for the use of tug-boat $25 per diem of ten hours' work. The following is an account of the expenditure made by the Govern ment for dredge, tug, and scow hire, with the materials purchased for the protection of the basin from freshets during the winter and spring months: For 48 days' work of tug-boat, at $25 per diem... scows, at $125 per diem... For 12 cords of stone, at $3 50 per cord.. $1,200 00 7,083 75 Total expenditure by the Government for labor and materials.. 42.00 149 00 8,474 75 It is proposed to construct crib-piers from the shore running outward into the lake, as far as the funds available will admit during the present season. An agreement was made with Mr. Albert Conro, of Milwaukee, on the 12th day of June, 1871, under which he is to build, place, sink, and fill with stone ten cribs each 64 feet in length by 14 feet in width; five of which are to be placed on the north side, and five on the south side of the proposed channel leading to the basin. The extremities of these piers will reach the curve-line of 6 feet of water. Mr. Conro has made an agreement with the citizens of Port Washington to do the necessary dredging for setting the cribs in a depth of not less than 9 feet of water, and to the clay bed; $50, 000 additional to the funds available will be required to carry out the piers to the required distance in the lake, as follows, viz: For 14 cribs, each 64 feet by 20 feet by 174 feet, at $3,000 each.... For 2 cribs, each 30 feet by 30 feet by 18 feet, at $2,500 each.... For contingencies.. $42, 000 00 5,000 00 3,000 00 50,000 00 A 13. IMPROVEMENT OF MILWAUKEE HARBOR, WISCONSIN. With the exception of a few repairs, no work has been done at this harbor during the past fiscal year. On the 21st day of September, 1870, a contract was let to Messrs. Hasbrouck & Conro of this city, to construct 400 running feet, more or less, of pier extension, to consist of eight cribs, each 50 feet in length, and 26 feet in width. The price of materials and labor under this contract is so favorable for the Government that, if it is found to be practicable, the contractors will build and place in extension of the piers ten cribs of the dimensions specified, five of which to be placed on the north, and five on the south side of the channel. I have been disappointed at the delay which has been occasioned to the work through a lack of suitable timber. The timber necessary for the construction of the work was cut during last winter and rafted. A heavy freshet which occurred in the spring broke everything loose in the Père Marquette River, from which point the timber is obtained, and jammed the logs so that it has been impossible to extricate the greater part of the long timbers. One of the cribs is, however, in readiness for sinking, and a large quantity of timber of short lengths is framed for use as soon as the complement of long timber arrives ;❤ this timber is expected daily. As soon as it arrives the work will be pushed vigorously. About four hundred cords of stone are on the ground in readiness for crib sinking. On the 17th day of June, 1871, a contract was made with Mr. Henry Starke, of this city, to construct an additional extension of 150 running feet to each of the piers, to consist of two cribs, each 50 feet by 26 feet, and one crib of dimensions 50 feet in length by 30 feet in width on either side of the channel. The whole of the work under these contracts, equal in length to SCO running feet of pier extension, is expected to be built to the water-surface by the 1st of December of the present year. On the 29th of August, 1870, the outer crib of the south pier was run into by some unknown vessel, which damaged it seriously, fairly splitting open the erib. The stone filling was saved and deposited in the pier; on the 17th day of last month the same crib was struck by the bark Lottie Wolf, inflicting more damage to the crib and sinking the vessel. Repairs will be made to this crib at an early date. There is a beacon-light on the north pier at a distance of 280 feet, from its present easterly or outward extremity, the height of which is 48 feet above the water-surface, visible about eight and one half miles. The completion of the work now in progress at this harbor will, it is believed, render any future appropriations unnecessary, at least for some years. It is to be remarked, however, that these works are of a tem porary character, especially above water, and periodical expenditures will be necessary to maintain them in good condition. These periodical expenditures are a much less tax upon the Treasury than permanent structures, which would involve an enormous cost and require a long time for completion, while the interests of commerce would suffer. A 14. IMPROVEMENT OF RACINE HARBOR, WISCONSIN. During the working season of 1870 the outer portion of the north pier was planked over, and the compartments on the south side of the end crib of the north pier were raised 2 feet and filled with stone, the crib having seriously settled, and the crib was decked with plank. Sixty feet of the south pier was repaired near its intersection with the shore, and the pier extension of 1867 and 1868 was ballasted with stone. On the 30th of September, 1870, a contract was made by the Govern ment with Mr. F. M. Knapp, under which he will construct 256 running feet of crib pier-work to the water-surface, 20 feet in width in extension of the south pier; of this he has built, and placed in accordance with specifications, 256 running feet. On the 17th day of June, 1871, a further contract was made with Mr. Knapp for building superstructure over the four cribs, or 256 feet of pier, above specified, including also repairs to be made to a portion of the old work on the north pier. The depth of water in this harbor channel is sufficient for the requirements of the commerce of the place. A 15. IMPROVEMENT OF KENOSHA HARBOR, WISCONSIN. The work at this harbor in 1870 was the taking off the old superstructure for a length of 552 running feet of the south pier, and rebuilding it 12 feet in width; also closing apertures between cribs with plank and filling intervals or boxes with stone. During the month of March, 1871, the outer crib of the north pier, sunk in 1867, was removed to a distance of 9 feet east, and the same distance northward of the pier alignment at its southeast corner, and seven courses of the upper timters were also torn off of the crib. A contract was made with Mr. R. A. Conolly, of Chicago, on the 15th day of June, 1870, for extending the north pier, which will consist of close-piling around the displaced crib, and constructing and placing one crib 50 feet in length, by 30 feet in width, in extension of and upon alignment with the south face of the north pier. This contract also covers repairs to be made to the south pier. The work required at this harbor in addition to that now in progress, is the repair of the old superstructure of the north pier. Some dredging is also necessary between the piers. It is estimated that the sum of $10,000 will put this harbor in condition to meet all the requirements of commerce for some years to come. A 16. IMPROVEMENT OF CHICAGO HARBOR, ILLINOIS. An appropriation of $100,000 having been made for the enlargement of harbor facilities at Chicago, Illinois, by the act of Congress approved July 11, 1870, a contract was made, after due advertising, for the construction of a breakwater, or so much of it as the funds available would admit, with Fox & Howard, of Chicago. The location of the breakwater is in accordance with the plans of Major J. B. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, which were duly approved by the Department. Work was commenced at the north end of the breakwater. During the year, twenty-nine cribs 50 by 30 feet have been sunk, making 1,450 feet of breakwater. Three hundred feet of this is a return of the north end of the breakwater running west. At the writing of this report the superstructure, 6 feet high, has been completed over 1,000 feet of the work done last fall. On the 30th of May, 1871, a contract was made with the Illinois Central Railroad Company for continuing the work, Congress having appropriated an additional $100,000, March 3, 1871. The work is now progressing rapidly, and it is estimated that the breakwater will be extended 900 feet up to water-surface the present season, and the superstructure be put on all by June 30, 1872. This will make about 2,000 feet of breakwater complete. The first crib was placed in 24 feet of water; no cribs have been placed in less than 18 feet, and, when necessary to obtain that depth, dredging has been resorted to. The cribs have stood remarkably well, though in a very exposed condition. The sum of $200,000 can be advantageously expended on this work during one season. A 17. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR OF REFUGE AT THE MOUTH OF THE CALUMET RIVER, ILLINOIS. By the act of Congress dated July 11, 1870, an appropriation was made for "enlargement of harbor facilities at Chicago, Illinois, according to the plans of the Engineer Department, $100,000; and for a harbor of refuge, $50,000." By letter of the Chief of Engineers, dated July 18, 1870, I was informed that this $50,000 was intended for the improvement of the mouth of the Calumet, and in pursuance of instructions I proceeded to carry out the plan of improvement recommended by Major J. B. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, and approved by the Chief of Engineers. The improvement consists in cutting a channel from the Calumet River to Lake Michigan, and protecting the cut by piers and revetment. The improvement had already been commenced by the Calumet and Chicago Canal and Dock Company. The old mouth of the Calumet River had been closed by a dam, in the expectation that the river would raise and the channel could be made at the desired point by the aid of the current. In this expectation they were disappointed, as the dam was put in too late in the season, and the surplus water of the river was drained by a feeder to the Illinois and Michigan Canal. At the time I commenced work a dredge had commenced the work of cutting a channel from the lake to the river. A contract had been made by the company with Mr. Charles Mears, of Chicago, to cut a channel |