channel through the bar and the remaining 150 feet of superstructure on the west pier were completed in 1891. At the close of work in 1891 the channel was left with 16 feet of water in it, but the river has partially filled this up during last season's freshets, and an examination made in June, 1893, shows an available depth of only 13.5 feet clear through, and along the inner half of over 16 feet. Under existing contract repairs to piers will be made during this season amounting to about $5,000. Some dredging will be done after the spring freshets. The amount expended during the fiscal year just closed was $1,237.14. The total cost of the improvement to June 30, 1892, was $306,643.08. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix J J 7.) $1, 456.92 20,000.00 21, 456.92 1, 237. 14 20, 219. 78 4,499. 60 15, 720. 18 33,000.00 33,000.00 8. Eagle Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to the improvement of Eagle Harbor the entrance was obstructed by a rocky reef, with 8 feet of water over the shoalest part. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1866 and modified in 1868, 1874, and 1878. The plan as finally carried out consisted in blasting and dredging through the rocky ledge a channel 130 feet wide and 14 feet deep, marking it with two guiding cribs, one on each side of the channel, and the removal of a number of bowlders. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $94,713.67, and has resulted in carrying out the above project, the work having been completed in 1879 and meeting the present demands of commerce. No appropriation is asked for this harbor, as the funds available will probably be sufficient to keep the work in good order for several years longer. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. (See Appendix J J 8.) $2,286.33 2, 286. 33 9. Waterway from Keweenaw Bay to Lake Superior, via Portage Lake and River, Michigan.-The work was in the charge of Maj. James F. Gregory, Corps of Engineers, to October 15, 1892. It has heretofore been reported on as the Portage Lake and Lake Superior canals, across Keweenaw Point, Michigan. In accordance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, the United States purchased and assumed the charge and care of these canals on August 3, 1891. The improvements consist of entrance piers at the harbor entrances on Lake Superior and Keweenaw Bay, canals and canal revetments, dredged cuts and channel ways, lights and buoys. There are no locks. When the United States assumed charge the piers and revetments were, and are now, in a dilapidated condition, bars had formed at the harbor entrances, and many places in the channel ways had shoals by deposition of material. As the waterway is intended for the use of all vessels that navigate Lake Superior, and is actually used by a large proportion of them, it is necessary that the depth and width of the channels shall at least be equal to that of the St. Marys Falls Canal, which now limits the maximum draft and dimensions of the largest vessels which run to Lake Superior. The last river and harbor act appropriated $50,000 for improvement, which is being expended in dredging the existing channels to a 16-foot depth and in repairing some of the worst portions of the canal revetments. The condition of the waterway has been greatly bettered since the United States acquired ownership, and no complaints from vessel men have been received this year. A least depth of 14 feet exists throughout the waterway. A legislative enactment imposing severe penalties for a violation of the established rules and regulations for the use of the canals is urgently needed. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1893, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix J J 9.) $50,000.00 11, 834. 48 38, 165.52 2, 511.82 35, 653.70 1, 245, 000. 00 800,000.00 10. Operating and care of waterway from Keweenaw Bay to Lake Superior, via Portage Lake and River, Michigan.-The expenses of operating and care of this waterway for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, during which it was acquired by the United States, were paid by an appropriation of $10,000 made for the purpose by act of September 19, 1890. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $30,910.64 (including $19.85 liabilities outstanding July 1, 1893) from the permanent indefinite appropriation of July 5, 1884, was expended in maintaining, by dredg ing, a practicable 14-foot stage of water, in buoying and lighting the channels, in superintendence and general operation of the canals, and in guarding against encroachments on the legally established harbor lines. (See Appendix J J 9.) 11. Harbor at Marquette, Mich.-Originally this harbor afforded no protection to vessels from easterly or northeasterly storms, and in 1866 a project was approved for the construction of a breakwater composed of cribs filled with rock and projecting from the shore into the bay a distance of 2,000 feet. This pier was finished practically as projected in 1875, but since its commencement extensive repairs have been made to the superstructure. As the timber composing the superstructure has been in place longer than its durability justifies, it is essential that it be replaced by more durable material. A project for a concrete superstructure was approved in February, 1890. Its estimated cost is $232,936.71. In the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was made for the extension of the breakwater. There was finished 60 feet of crib work and 180 feet of riprap foundation. The contract of 1890 extended the breakwater 240 feet, leaving 700 feet to be built to complete it. Under the existing contract, which is to be completed by October 15, 1893, 600 feet of the extension will be built, making 900 feet of the extension and total length of breakwater 2,900 feet. The breakwater in its present condition gives much protection to the harbor. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $22,884.95. The total cost of the work to June 30, 1892, was $379,569.18. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ............. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. $14,660.82 80,000.00 94, 660.82 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.... 22, 884.95 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. 71, 775.87 $14,927.95 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 30, 852.00 45, 779.95 July 1, 1893, balance available... 25,995.92 257, 936. 71 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix J J 10.) 12. Harbor of refuge at Grand Marais, Mich.-Originally the entrance to this harbor was obstructed by a bar having but about 6 feet depth of water upon it. The project for its improvement, adopted in 1881, has for its object a deep and safe channel into the harbor, making it a harbor of refuge. This object is to be attained by building parallel piers projecting into the lake and dredging out a channel between them, connecting the deep water of the lake with that of the harbor. The proposed length of each pier was 1,800 feet. The west pier has now reached a length of 1,406 feet and the east pier 853 feet. A channel 150 feet wide and 17 feet deep was dredged out between the piers in 1889, but it shoaled, and in 1891 it was again dredged, this time to a width of 175 feet and a least depth of over 17 feet, the outer ends of canal piers repaired, new shore ends and spurs put in, and the old shore ends remodeled. A partial survey in June, 1893, shows a shoaling to 14 feet. Under existing contract, to be completed October 15, 1893, the east pier will be extended 300 feet and have a total length of 1,153 feet, including 100 feet of pile dike. The total amount expended under approved project to June 30, 1892, was $226,608.06. The amount expended during the year ending June 30, 1893, was $966.87. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended ... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... July 1, 1893, balance available $4,641.94 30,000.00 34, 641.94 966.87 33, 675. 07 27,000.00 6, 675. 07 188, 750.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 100, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix JJ 11.) EXAMINATION MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examination of Allouez Bay and Nemadji River, at Superior, Wisconsin, required by act of July 13, 1892, was made by the local engineer, Maj. Clinton B. Sears, Corps of Engineers, and his report thereon, dated November 10, 1892, was submitted through the division engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. It is the opinion of Maj. Sears and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, (1) that Nemadji River is not worthy of improvement by the General Government at the present time, and (2) that Allouez Bay is worthy of improvement. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement of Allouez Bay is estimated at $1,200. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 49, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix J J 12.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. This district was in the charge of Maj. James F. Gregory, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. H. E. Waterman, Corps of Engineers, to April 29, 1893, and Lieut. Charles H. McKinstry, Corps of Engineers, since June 12, 1893; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Manistique Harbor, Michigan.-The natural channel of entrance to the mouth of the Manistique River was 7 feet deep. By private enterprise 3,000 feet of slab piers had been built at the mouth of the river and a channel dredged to 10 feet before any appropriation had been made by the Government. The project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1880, and consisted in dredging between the piers built by the Chicago Lumbering Company, increasing the depth of the channel to 12 feet for a width of 150 feet. By the acts of 1880 and 1881 the sum of $6,000 was appropriated for this harbor in order to dredge a channel between the private piers of the above-mentioned dimensions. Dredging was done to the amount of 11,780 cubic yards at a cost of $2,989.21, and work was then suspended in consequence of the refusal of the company controlling the harbor to rectify their pier lines when rebuilding the same. Nothing has been done since work was suspended in 1881. Soundings taken in May, 1892, show a navigable channel between the piers with a depth of 13 feet, but with a governing depth over the bar of about 11 feet. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended..... (See Appendix K K 1.) $2,569. 40 70.00 2,499.40 2. Cedar River Harbor, Michigan.-Previous to improvement the mouth of Cedar River was 175 feet wide and 8 to 10 feet deep, with a 3-foot bar in front. Improvements had been made by private parties prior to the commencement of Government work. The project of improvement was adopted in 1883, with a modification in the direction of the piers in 1884, the object being to afford an entrance channel of navigable width and 14 feet in depth. Up to June 30, 1892, there had been expended $27,857.93, resulting in the construction of two pile piers 754 and 301 feet long, respectively, in continuation of the slab docks built by private enterprise, and a channel that in October, 1885, was 50 feet wide and 13 feet deep and 100 feet wide for a depth of 11 feet. Soundings taken in May, 1892, showed a channel 20 feet wide and 12 feet deep; also a channel 10 feet deep with a least width of 40 feet. Dredging by private enterprise was in progress. Work was suspended in November, 1885, and has not been resumed by the United States since that date. It is reported that some dredging was done by private parties in 1891 and 1892. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended............... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1893, balance unexpended Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K K 2.) $2, 142. 07 247.00 1,895. 07 108,000.00 3. Menominee Harbor, Michigan and Wisconsin.-Previous to the improvement of this harbor the depth of water at the mouth of the Menominee River was about 4 feet, and the river was navigable for boats of that draft for some 2 miles above its mouth. The project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1871 and modified in 1874, the object being to afford a channel of entrance of navigable width and not less than 14 feet depth. The amount expended up to June 30, 1892, was $211,653.27, resulting in the construction of two piers, 400 feet apart, the north pier 1,854 feet long and the south pier 2,710 feet long, with a dredged channel 3,000 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 16 feet deep, from the 16-foot contour in Green Bay to the lower end of the channel of the Menominee River, of the same depth and width. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.. Amount (estimated) required for repairs to piers............ $378.32 246.00 132.32 15,000.00 15,000.00 |