this is favorable for vessels entering in very heavy weather, but the sea, as well, will roll in, and on account of the contraction of the channelway, will be much heavier 1,000 feet inside the piers than at the entrance. The bottom is said to be a hard clay, under the sand. To dredge for the piers would increase the cost of the improvement very considerably. It might perhaps be avoided by changing the direction of the piers slightly, as indicated in the partial tracing inclosed. This would increase the cost of the piers very little, if any; they can be placed on the natural bottom of the lake, and a channel 200 feet wide dredged between them. The sea rolling in from the west will be spread out and lose its force. The direction of the shore is nearly north and south. Even where the shore is east and west, and the piers run north and south, the sea from the west, although the west pier tends to shelter the channel, often draws around and causes damage to vessels entering. It seems to me that in this case, two oblique piers might answer the purpose better than two parallel ones. The following statistics exhibit the commerce of Port Ontario for the calender year of 1870: Clearances.-Foreign, 76; coastwise, 12. Value of imports, $15,800; revenues collected, $1,346. As the present prices reduce Colonel Blunt's estimate considerably, I submit a new one for the piers. The cost of excavation would be now about as stated in Colonel Blunt's estimate. Estimate of cost of dredging and pier-work, for improvement of mouth of Salmon River, New York. Cut through spit above low water at narrowest point, Channel through spit 200 feet wide, with 12 feet water, Retaining-piers to protect sides of cut, 820 linear feet, at Two wings connected with outer piers, 325 linear feet, at North pier, 625 linear feet, at $30 per linear foot... Total cost of improvement... $3,513 90 6,955 25 694 75 14, 442 50 18, 860 00 2,275 00 18, 750 00. 47, 250 00 112, 741 40 Respectfully submitted. BENJ. D. GREENE, Lieutenant United States Engineers. Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Washington, D. C. APPENDIX G 1. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, HOUSTON AND GREENE STREETS, GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations on the improvement of Plattsburgh harbor, New York, and Burlington Harbor, Vermont, during the year ending June 30, 1871. On September 23, 1870, advertisements were issued for proposals for extending the breakwater in a northeasterly direction for a distance of about 90 feet. Abstract of bids received is transmitted herewith. The extension, which is in one crib 94 feet in length and 25 feet in width, was commenced in January, and in February was sunk in its proper position and filled with stone; the work on the superstructure is to be completed during the present season. Under the appropriation for this harbor passed March 3, 1871, advertisements were issued for a still further extension of the breakwater in a northeasterly direction for a distance of about 140 feet. Abstract of bids received is transmitted herewith. The extension, which is in one crib 150 feet in length and 25 feet in width, was commenced in June and carried up to a height of about 7 feet. This crib is to be completed, sunk, and filled with stone by December 30, 1871, and left to settle until the following season, when the superstructure is to be constructed and filled with stone to a height of 9 feet above the level of average low water. To complete the improvements at this harbor the following work should be undertaken: I respectfully recommend that an appropriation of $23,000, necessary to complete the breakwater and build a revetment of the beach and for contingencies belonging to the same, be made at the next session of Congress. The completion of the breakwater should not be delayed, while the protection of the beach is immediately necessary to prevent the erosion of the beach, and a call for additional amounts to dredge the harbor. Abstract of bids received in answer to advertisement of September 23, 1870, for extension of breakwater at Plattsburgh, New York. Abstract of bids received in answer to advertisement of April 17, 1871, for extension of the breakwater at Plattsburgh, New York. REPORT OF OPERATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF BURLINGTON HARBOR, VERMONT. On August 18, 1870, advertisements were issued for proposals for extending the breakwater in a northerly direction for a distance of 175 feet. Abstract of bids received is transmitted herewith. The extension is in two cribs, one 80 feet in length and one 91 feet in length, each 30 feet in width; these cribs were both completed, sunk, and filled with stone by December 31, 1870; the work on the superstructure is to be completed during the present season. Under appropriation for this harbor, passed March 3, 1871, advertisements were issued for an extension of the breakwater in a southerly direction for a distance of about 200 feet. Abstract of bids received is transmitted herewith. The extension, which is to be in two cribs, will be 217 feet in length, and 30 feet in width, and was commenced in the month of June, but at the close of the year no definite progress had been made. These cribs are to be completed and filled with stone by December 30, 1871, and left 'to settle until the following season, when the superstructure is to be constructed and filled with stone to a height of 9 feet above the level of average low water. Of the extension of the breakwater in a northerly direction, as recommended by a special board of engineers, June, 1867, there remains to be constructed a length of 669 feet. In the mean time, however, the wharves have developed so far to the southward that the call for an extension of breakwater in that direction appears to be more urgent than in the other-though both are necessary. I cannot transmit with this report the map of Burlington Harbor, made by the lake survey under Major Comstock, having sent my copy to the superintendent at Burlington to have certain lines concerning this breakwater marked thereon. The question as to the application of succeeding appropriations to the extension in either direction will be submitted in time to the Chief of Engineers for his action. In view of the large extension of breakwater needed in both directions, I respectfully recommend an appropriation of $60,000 for this work. This amount would suffice for the construction of about 450 feet of breakwater. Abstract of bids received in answer to advertisements of April 17, 1871, for extension of the breakwater at Burlington, Vermont. Abstract of proposals received in answer to advertisement of August 18, 1870, for the extension of the breakwater at Burlington, Vermont, opened at 12 o'clock, noon, on September 5, 1870. GENERAL: In submitting to you the annual reports of my assistants, in local charge of the several works intrusted to my general supervision, I beg leave to offer the following remarks: ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE. By the joint resolution in relation to the Rock Island bridge, approved on 20th July, 1868, it was provided that the expenditure (for said bridge) on the part of the United States should not exceed the sum of $1,000,000, and by several acts appropriating and re-appropriating money, the sum named in this limitation has been granted for this great work. Of this fund there was in my hands on 1st July, 1870..... $26,026 SS During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, I received.. 302,500 00 Making in all .......... Of which I have expended during the fiscal year, chiefly for the substructure 328,526 SS 169, 748 60 Leaving on hand 1st July, 1871 ... In addition to which I believe that there is available in the 158,778 28 577,500 00 736, 278 28 In all ... the larger portion of which has been pledged in contracts for the work, or authorized to be so pledged. There can be no doubt of its sufficiency for the completion of the bridge. The accompanying report, (marked A,) from Captain A. Stickney, in charge of the substructure, shows the state of the work at the end of the fiscal year. The only unfinished pier will be completed in ample time for the superstructure. The contractors for the superstructure, having met with unexpected delays in the manufacture of the iron-work, applied for and received an extension of time for the completion of their contract for the first three spans of the bridge until 15th October, 1871. It is supposed that this will not materially delay the completion of the entire work, which they promise shall be done in the current fiscal year. The report (marked A 1) of Captain W. H. H. Benyaurd, herewith submitted, gives a concise statement of the progress of the superstructure, of which he is the engineer in local charge. While the work during the fiscal year would seem to have been chiefly of a preparatory character, there will be but a short time required to set up the iron, which has been fabricated at different shops at a distance, and is now in course of delivery here, when the importance of this preparatory work will be manifest to all. When this work shall have been completed, and all claims connected with it adjusted, it is proposed to give an exact statement, in minute detail, of its cost, and a full history of the bridge, from its inception. PRESERVATION OF THE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY. Funds received during last fiscal year. On hand 1st July, 1871 ... Remaining in the Treasury on 1st July. Total available in current fiscal year $70,000 00 61, 425 83 8, 574 17 30,000 00 38, 574 17 This, at the end of June, was thought to be sufficient for carrying out the plan of permanently closing the tunnel as far as the foot of Nicollet Island, as by report (marked B) of Mr. F. Cook, my assistant in local charge; but certain newly-discovered weak points were developed a few days after the close of the fiscal year, which caused a diversion of the labors of the working party, as set forth in the supplementary report, (marked C.) It is a fortunate circumstance that we had an organized force at hand to go to the rescue in the case of this new and unexpected irruption of the waters, and my assistant, Mr. Cook, deserves great credit for the promptness with which he put forth his well-directed efforts, and arrested the havoc arising from this new danger. At the same time this evidence of a widely extending weakness in the natural barrier, (forming the falls,) demonstrates the insufficiency of former estimates for "the preservation of the Falls of St. Anthony," and it is only on getting the results of the survey, now in progress there, that new estimates can be presented. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MINNESOTA RIVER. This work was carried on under an agreement with Mr. Sanford A. Hooper, upon the terms of his contract of a former year, because there was not time for advertising anew without the risk of losing the favorable season for work; moreover, General Warren, my predecessor in charge of this work, pronounced this "a contract at very reasonable rates." It will be seen by the accompanying report (marked D) from Captain Edwin Bell, the United States inspector of this work, that during the year there were removed 743 snags and 848 cubic yards of boulders. |