November 28. On metal for hold-down bolts for use in platforms for 12-inch mortars. December 2. On report and estimates of Maj. T. H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, for making surveys and maps of sites for defenses on the Pacific coast. December 15. On an application for a lease of a portion of La Costa Island on the Gulf coast of Florida. December 15. Drawings and estimates of emplacements for two 8 or 10-inch guns for the defense of New Orleans, La. December 17. On paper of Capt. J. G. D. Knight, Corps of Engineers, relative to thickness of cover to resist projectiles. December 30. On modification by Lieut. Col. P. C. Hains, Corps of Engineers, of his project for a breakwater from Mount Desert to Por cupine Island, Maine. 1893, February 27. Recommending localities at which six mining casemates and their cable galleries should be built. March 3. On mining casemates at Great Hog Island, Maine. April 29, May 9. On exact locations for mining casemates at Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla. April 29. On the need of Martello towers at Fort Taylor, Key West, Fla., for defensive purposes. April 29. On the defense of Charleston, S. C. June 3. On sites for an 8-inch gun on a nondisappearing carriage, and for a 12-inch mortar at Fort Monroe, Va. June 22. On sites for fortifications on Cushings Island, Portland Harbor, Maine, and the boundary of land to be acquired for such sites. June 22. On the defense of Pensacola, Fla. In the performance of the duties of the Board the following personal examinations were made: 1. Under the orders of the Chief of Engineers, dated February 7, 1893, the Board made an inspection of the defenses of Pensacola, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., on April 5 and 6, 1893, respectively. 2. In accordance with instructions contained in indorsement of the Chief of Engineers, dated February 25, 1893, a committee of the Board, consisting of Col. Henry L. Abbot and Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, accompanied by Capt. J. G. D. Knight, Corps of Engineers, made an inspection of Cushings Island, Portland, Me., on May 19, 1893, with a view to define the limits of the site to be purchased and the exact location of the proposed batteries. 3. Under the order of the Chief of Engineers, dated March 8, 1893, Cols. Abbot, Craighill, and Comstock, and Lieut. Col. Gillespie made an inspection of the defenses of Baltimore, Md., on June 13, 1893. In addition to their duties with The Board of Engineers, the individual members of the Board have been otherwise engaged as follows: 1. Col. Henry L. Abbot, the president of the Board, concluded his duties in charge of certain experiments with torpedoes; and, as a member of the boards to fix harbor lines for the ports of Boston, Mass., and Oswego, N. Y., and to test the working mechanism of a 12inch gun lift constructed at Sandy Hook, N. J. He has continued as Division Engineer of the Northeast Division; as president of the board to establish harbor lines for the harbor of New York and its adjacent waters, and as a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification. He has also served as president of a board for the examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers, with a view to promotion; and under instructions from the Chief of Engineers, dated July 30, 1892, has inspected the engineering works in charge of Lieut. Cols. Hains, Gillespie, Smith, Mansfield, and King, as well as those of the six district officers of the Northeast Division. 2. Col. C. B. Comstock has served as Division Engineer of the Southwest Division; as member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School; as president of the Mississippi River Commission; as member of the board to establish harbor lines for the harbor of New York and its adjacent waters; as member of the board to establish harbor lines for the port of Philadelphia; as a member of a board for the examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers with a view to promotion, and as member of a board of engineer officers on the improvement of the Ohio River at Logstown Bar. He also represented the War Department at the Fifth International Congress of Internal Navigation at Paris, France. 3. Lieut. Col. Henry M. Robert became a member of The Board of Engineers June 12, 1893, under the provisions of paragraph 8, Special Orders No. 124, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, June 2, 1893, and is the disbursing officer of the Board. He has conducted the various works of river and harbor improvement and of fortifications under his charge, and is a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School, and of the boards to consider and report upon the harbor lines for New York Harbor and its adjacent waters, and Stamford Harbor, Conn. He also served as a member of the board of engineer officers to consider and report upon the proposed deepwater harbor at San Pedro or Santa Monica Bay, and exercised supervision over the construction of bridges across the Tennessee River at or near Knoxville, and at Johnsonville, Tenn. 4. Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, in addition to conducting the various works of river and harbor improvement and of harbor defense, with which he was charged during the year, has continued to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School, and as a member of the harbor line boards for the harbors of New York, and Stamford, Bridgeport, and Norwalk, Conn. He also served as disbursing officer of The Board of Engineers and as a member of the board of engineer officers to test the working mechanism of a 12-inch gun lift constructed at Sandy Hook, N. Y. POST OF WILLETS POINT, N. Y.-UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOLBATTALION OF ENGINEERS-ENGINEER DEPOT. Officer in command, Lieut. Col. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers. POST OF WILLETS POINT, NEW YORK. At the close of the fiscal year, the garrison consisted of 21 commissioned officers and 335 enlisted men, including officers and noncomissioned officers of the general staff, student officers, and enlisted men of the Hospital Corps. This is a loss of 3 officers and 18 enlisted men in strength over last year's report. During the year repairs and improvements have been made to roads, sidewalks, buildings, and sewerage. The new guardhouse and repairs to quartermaster's wharf have been completed, the two barrack buildings are nearing completion, and a third has been authorized. ENG 93-2 The most important improvements still unprovided for are a quartermaster and commissary storehouse near the wharf, the cleaning out of the ditch bounding the Government lands on the southwest, the walling in of the ice pond, and the lighting of the post by electricity. The drill, discipline, instruction, and sanitary condition of the garri son have been satisfactory and compare favorably with the attainments of former years as shown by the comparative statement in Appendix. UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOL. During the year, 4 engineer officers and 7 infantry officers completed the course, and 1 cavalry, 2 artillery, and 1 infantry officer, who have completed the laboratory duty, are still engaged in the practice work of planting and operating torpedoes, which will be completed October 1, 1893. All have manifested intelligence and interest in the work and are entitled to certificates of proficiency in one or more of the branches they have been studying and practicing. BATTALION OF ENGINEERS. The legal strength of the Battalion of Engineers is 5 companies of 150 men each, with a sergeant-major and a quartermaster sergeant, and is officered by details from the commissioned officers of the corps. The present strength is 18 officers and 418 enlisted men. The authorized strength of companies A, B, and C, which are stationed at Willets Point, is 133 men each, and of Company E, stationed at West Point, N. Y., 100 men. The total losses from all causes during the year have been 154, and the total gain 135, making a loss of 19 men. The battalion has been employed during the year at engineer, pontoon and torpedo drills, infantry drills, rifle practice, photography, and Company E, at West Point, has assisted in the instruction of cadets in military engineering and pontoon drill. ENGINEER DEPOT. The fireproof storehouse referred to in last report has been completed and occupied with pontoon, siege, and torpedo materials and appliances. It is recommended that the balance of the appropriation for this building, $2,931.21, be applied to the establishment of an electric-light plant, for lighting the public buildings, using such surplus machinery and materials as are now available and suitable for the purpose. The small steam tug built for planting torpedoes has been completed and fitted out with the necessary hoisting machinery and tackle, and is now in use. An additional concrete tank for storing torpedo cable has been completed, ready for the reception of the new supply of cable recently contracted for. The depot property, such as astronomical and surveying instruments, pontoon, siege, and torpedo materials, has been cared for and the purchases, receipts, and issues have been made in the usual manner. Experiments have been continued with the Sims-Edison torpedo, and tests have been made of explosives, building materials, etc. STATEMENT OF FUNDS. Congress has at various times appropriated as follows: 1. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the amount of.. Expended and pledged. $15,000.00 15,000.00 2. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y. (no limit), for fireproof storehouse, the amount of.. July 1, 1893, balance available. 3. For torpedoes for harbor defense, act September 22, 1888: July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1893, balance available.. 4. For torpedoes for harbor defense, act March 2, 1889: July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. 5. For torpedoes for harbor defense, act of August 18, 1890: July 1, 1893, balance available... 6. For torpedoes for harbor defense, act February 24, 1891: July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, balance available 7. For torpedoes for harbor defense, acts March 2, 1889, and August 18, 1890 (reallotment for purchase of submarine cable): July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1893, balance available 8. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 . . . . 16, 000, 00 2, 931. 21 5,088.33 5,000.00 54,875.45 16, 589.27 26,736.35 24,598.85 833.70 83.70 74, 961. 12 32, 440.52 11,000.00 There will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, for the engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., the following, viz: 1. For incidental expenses of depot 2. For purchase of materials for instruction of battalion. 3. For purchase and repair of instruments... 4. For purchase and binding of professional works for library Total....... (See Appendix No. 7.) RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. $5,000.00 3,500.00 3,000.00 500.00 12,000.00 The funds with which the works for the improvement of rivers and harbors were prosecuted during the last fiscal year were derived from the appropriations by the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, and appropriations in the sundry civil acts approved August 5, 1892, and March 3, 1893, for certain works on account of which contracts were to be made for completion as provided in the acts of September 19, 1890, and July 13, 1892, and such balances of former appropriations as were available. A brief statement derived from the reports of the officers in charge of the several works hereinafter given sets forth the condition of each improvement, the extent of work performed during the last fiscal year, the amount expended, and estimate of amount required for its com pletion. Section 2 of the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1867, requires that the Secretary of War shall annually submit to Congress a full estimate for the entire and permanent completion of each river and harbor work, and of the amonnt that can be profitably expended on each uncompleted work in the next fiscal year. Reports are appended of the work accomplished in the removal of wrecks obstructing or endangering navigation, as provided for in section 4 of the river and harbor act approved June 14, 1880, and enlarged by provision in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, Under the authority given to the Secretary of War in section 12 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, harbor lines have been established at localities indicated further on in this report. Examinations were made, whenever required by the committees of Congress, of proposed bills authorizing the construction of bridges upon which the views of the War Department were desired. Of the bills so examined, 18 originated in the Senate and 32 in the House of Representatives. During the fiscal year examinations were made of such plans and lo cations as were submitted by parties interested of bridges proposed to be built over navigable waters subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, as authorized by acts of Congress. A brief statement is given of the action had in such cases. Under sections 4 and 5 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, persons, corporations, or associations owning or controlling bridges over navigable waterways of the United States, which are unreasonable obstructions to the free navigation of such waters, after being given a reasonable opportunity to be heard, have been notified to so alter the bridges as to render navigation through or under them reasonably free, easy, and unobstructed. In each case the changes required to be made were specified in the notice, and reasonable time was prescribed in which to make them. A detailed statement of the cases is given further on in this report. Reports made in compliance with the requirements of section 2 of the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, and section 4 of that of August 5, 1886, of instances in which piers, breakwaters, or other works built by the United States in aid of commerce or navigation are used, occupied, or injured by a corporation or an individual, will be found in Appendix ААА. The engineering works in the charge of this office are arranged in five divisions, and officers of the corps assigned as division engineers to overlook the works, as follows: West of the Rocky Mountains: Pacific Division, Col. George H. Mendell. East of the Rocky Mountains: Northeast Division, Col. Henry L. Abbot; Southeast Division, Col. Wm. P. Craighill; Southwest Division, Col. Cyrus B. Comstock; Northwest Division, Col. Orlando M. Poe. South Pass of the Mississippi River.-During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the legal channel was maintained through the jetties at the mouth of the Pass; but during a period of twenty-six days (May 27 to June 20, inclusive, and June 30) such channel did not obtain through the Pass itself, and for 14 days (June 5 to June 18, inclusive) such channel did not exist through the shoal at the head of South Pass. Rules and regulations for the use of canals.-The act of Congress approved September 26, 1888, authorized the Secretary of War to prescribe proper rules and regulations for the administration, and use by the public, of the Des Moines Rapids Canal, the St. Marys Falls Canal, the Louisville and Portland Canal, and the St. Clair Flats Canal, and provided penalties for willful violation of such rules. Similar legislation was enacted by acts of August 11, 1888, and September 19, 1890, applying to the South Pass of the Mississippi River and the Des Moines Rapids Dry Dock. It is desirable that similar authority should be granted to the Secretary of War with respect to all the canals owned and operated by the Government, and that the willful violation of such rules as may be prescribed should be declared a misdemeanor, and penalties therefor be provided. The need of rules to govern the use and navigation of these |