The present year the south pier will be extended 50 feet, (1 crib,) and slabs and stone will be added to the filling in the old work, while a por tion of the appropriation will be held over for dredging the channel, should such contingency occur. To carry out the south pier into 163 feet water and the north pier into 11 feet, which is requisite to secure a permanent improvement, will cost $44,525.60, to which should be added $5,000 for dredging. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... (See Appendix C 5.) $7,003 53 1,907 91 10,000 00 4,449 73 10,645 89 49,500 00 6. Muskegon Harbor, Michigan.-No appropriation was made for this harbor last year. The work under a former appropriation, 350 feet of revetment on south side and 250 feet on north side, was completed September 30, 1873. With the $10,000 appropriated by act of June 23, 1874, the south pier will be extended 50 feet, (1 crib,) and about 135 feet of pile-revetment will be added to the north side, eastward of the Government work, where the old slab-pier was burned and where a breach threatened. Forty-six thousand dollars is asked to continue pier-extension, which the large commerce of this place demands. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... (See Appendix C 6.) $9,778 40 10,000 00 9,698 43 10,079 97 46,000 00 7. Grand Haven Harbor, Michigan.-Early in the past year some very needed repairs were put upon the south pier. Two thousand one hundred feet of pile-work for north pier and revetment was put under contract and nearly completed. The present year the north pier will be extended 300 feet, (six cribs)probably as far as it will need to go for some time to come-and 500 feet of pile-revetment will be constructed on the south side eastward of the former work. The harbor is by far the best on this shore. It is 400 feet wide, with 20 feet of water. No appropriation is required for the next fiscal year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check. $75,000 00 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874.. (See Appendix C 7.) 6,305 76 8. Black Lake Harbor, Michigan.-Four hundred feet of pile-revetment have been constructed on the south side during the year, and much of the filling of the old work renewed. During the present season the piers will be extended, the south 100 feet and the north 50 feet, possibly 100 feet. To secure permanency to the present good condition of this harbor, the piers should be extended to 15 feet of water, and $35,000 is asked to continue this work of extension. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check. $12,007 35 1,042 38 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix C 8.) $15,000 00 12,720 76 15,328 97 35,000 00 9. Saugatuck Harbor, Michigan.-The contract made under the last appropriation was annulled for cause, and the work of building 400 feet of north pier is progressing by hired labor. It is about one-half completed. A wing-dam 243 feet long was built in the river to direct the current. It is proving of great benefit, apparently removing the agency which tended to undermine the revetment, and is depositing material where it is so much needed, and where the revetment has almost given way. This year it is intended to build about 400 feet of pile-work, connecting the north pier with the shore. Fifteen thousand dollars is asked to continue the improvements. Bilance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Deduct amount expended last fiscal year Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876..... (See Appendix C 9.) $20,000 00 906 18 10,000 00 13.818 08 15,275 74 15,000 00 10. South Haven Harbor, Michigan.-During the past year there were sunk in extension of the north pier two cribs, (50 feet each,) and in extension of the south pier one crib. The coming season the superstructure will be completed, and about 300 feet of revetment on north side will be built. To continue the improvement will require $40,000. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... $20,000 00 8,280 50 10,000 00 26, 190 52 12.089 98 40,000 00 11. Saint Joseph Harbor, Michigan.-No appropriation was made last year, and, beyond a survey made in June, nothing has been done during the year. The appropriation of June 23, 1874, will be applied to the filling and ballasting of the present piers. No appropriation is asked. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874... (See Appendix C 11.) $155 33 2,000 00 34 76 2, 120 57 ENLARGEMENT OF ST. MARY'S FALLS CANAL, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE ST. MARY'S RIVER-HARBORS ON LAKES HURON AND ST. CLAIRST. CLAIR FLATS CANAL AND DETROIT RIVER. Officer in charge, Maj. G. Weitzel, Corps of Engineers, with Capt. A. N. Lee, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. St. Mary's Falls Canal.-During the year the purchase of land required for the enlargement of the canal has been completed. The winter was very favorable for work, and much has been accomplished. The excavation for the deepening and widening of the greater portion of the old prism and the pier-revetment for the side of the same were nearly completed, as also the lock-pit for the new lock. It is extremely important and pressing that there should be no delay in constructing the new locks, as if anything should happen to prevent the use of the old ones, the effect on commerce would be ruinous. The original estimate of the cost of these locks was $1,159,330. Of this sum there remains $560,000 to be appropriated, and at least $300,000 of this should be made available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 percentage due on contracts not yet completed) Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix D 1.) $524,038 00 118,584 59 200,000 00 261,599 24 534,062 81 300,000 00 2. St. Mary's River, Michigan.—A survey of the Hay Lake Channel has been made, to form an estimate of the cost of its improvement. By this channel the distance to the Sault St. Mary's Canal is shortened eleven miles, and vessels would be enabled to navigate it at all hours, the Lake St. George Channel, now used, being only practicable by day. The opening of this channel, however, involves the serious expense of rock-excavation through West Neebish Rapids. (See Appendix D 2.) 3. Cheboygan Harbor, Michigan.-The operations here have consisted in continuing the dredging of a channel 13 feet deep across the bar, under the appropriation of March 3, 1873. Seventy-six thousand nine hundred and fifty-five cubic yards were dredged during the fiscal year. The work already done has been of much benefit to the general commerce of the lakes. The officer in charge submits an estimate of $60,000 for the next fiscal year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 Amount in bands of officer and subject to his check, (including $773.29 percentage due on contracts not yet completed) Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this Office). (See Appendix D 3.) $15,000 00 6,984 80 15,000 00 21, 211-51 15,000 00 30,000 00 4. Mouth of Au Sable River, Michigan.-The operations during the year consisted in dredging a channel 10 feet in depth across the bar of the river and keeping existing structures in repair. Attention is again called by the officer in charge to the encroachments upon the channel of the river by private parties, which tend to neutralize the good effects of the Government work. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. (See Appendix D 4.) $4,980 50 5,039 40 6,842 25 3,177 65 5. Saginaw River, Michigan.-The main obstruction in this river is the Carrolton Bar, where it is proposed to contine the water by means of a double row of piling, to be driven on the eastern side of the river. The other obstructions are lesser bars, which it is believed may be removed by dredging. The cost of the whole improvement is estimated at $56,000. The appropriation of June 23, 1874, will be applied to the commencement of this work. The location of certain private docks have undoubtedly had an injurious effect upon this stream, and the officer in charge of this improvement calls attention to the necessity of such legislation as will enable those in charge of river-improvements to prevent the injuries compiained of. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendixes D 5 and D 6.) $292 89 15,000 00 15, 292 89 45,000 00 6. Harbor of Refuge, Lake Huron.-During the fiscal year four cribs of the breakwater were placed in position and made secure, and all preliminary arrangements for prosecuting the work vigorously made, and all the necessary boats, derricks, dredges, and machinery furnished. The officer in charge reports the work so far done as good, with fair prospects for good progress in future. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix D 7.) $242,800 00 15,825 02 75,000 00 33,716 26 299,908 76 200,000 00 7. Saint Clair Flats Ship-Canal. The work of deepening this canal to 16 feet, 200 feet wide, is nearly completed; 194,657 cubic yards of material were dredged during the year, and it is expected that the whole amount required will be dredged for less than the estimate. No further appropriation is required. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873..... (See Appendix D 8.) $100,000 00 547 19 45, 153 53 55,393 66 8. Mouth of Black River, St. Clair River, Michigan.-The bar at the mouth of Black River has been dredged to the depth of 13 feet throughout, and two cuts of 15 feet in depth have been completed. The appropriation of June 23, 1874, will be applied to the continuation of this dredging to a depth of 15 feet. Estimate submitted by the officer in charge for continuing the work, $15,000. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 $15,000 00 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $1,377.95 percentage due on contracts not yet completed). 1,377 95 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 15,000 00 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 15,000 00 Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this Office)... 15,000 CO (See Appendix D 9.) 10,000 00 9. Improvement of Detroit River.-The act of June 23, 1874, appropriated $25,000 for removing bowlders and rocks from Detroit River. At the close of the fiscal year instructions had been given for the expendi ture of this appropriation. A resolution of the House of Representatives of December 18, 1873, calling for an approximate estimate of the expense of deepening and widening the navigable channels of the rivers and waters connecting Lake Huron with Lake Erie for practicable navigation for vessels drawing 20 feet of water, was referred to Majors Comstock and Weitzel, Corps of Engineers, for report thereon. Their report will be found in Appendix D 10. HARBORS ON LAKE ERIE. Officer in charge, Maj. Franklin Harwood, Corps of Engineers. 1. Monroe Harbor, Michigan.-The harbor-piers were thoroughly repaired during the year and the bends of the channel protected from abrasion by piling and sheathing. The entire length of the canal-banks needs like protection. This will be applied, during the coming year, as far as practicable, with the appropriation of June 23, 1874. To complete this work, $40,000, in addition, will be needed. A little annual dredg ing at the mouth of the harbor may also prove necessary. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $668 76 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in (See Appendix E 1.) $10,000 00 7,669 20 10,000 00 17,568 54 10, 100 66 20, 000 00 2. Toledo Harbor, Ohio.-The improvement, by dredging, of the approach to Toledo from Lake Erie, over the shoals in Maumee Bay, in accordance with the plan of a board of engineer-officers approved in January, 1873, was continued during the year, and a channel 15 feet deep and 100 feet wide (except for a distance of half a mile, where it is only 80 feet wide) has been opened from Toledo to the lake. appropriations will be applied to the completion of this plan. Future The officer in charge submits an estimate of $325,000 for completing the work during the next fiscal year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount available July 1, 1874 $85,000 00 15,536 34 75,000 00 100,017 57 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this Office).... (See Appendix E 2.) 75,518 77 200,000 00 3. Port Clinton Harbor, Ohio.-The catch-sand fence referred to in my last annual report was built on the north spit at the mouth of Portage River to prevent its encroachment on the channel. It has answered its purpose excellently, but may possibly need extension from time to time. No further improvement can be effected short of the extensive project, referred to in previous annual reports, of a cut through the bar at the river's mouth and the construction of piers to confine the waters of the river to the new opening. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $318.54 percentage due on contracts not yet completed).. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874.. (See Appendix E 3.) $4,674 62 4,420 97 253 65 |