Proceedings of a board of engineers convened at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in obedience to the following order: [Special Orders No. 38.-Extract.] HEADQUARTERS CORPS OF ENGINEERS, 2. For the consideration of certain structures for harbor improvement upon Lake Michigan, a board of engineers, consisting of Lieutenant Colonel W. F. Raynolds, brevet brigadier general United States Army, Major J. B. Wheeler, brevet colonel United States Army, Major W. McFarland, brevet major United States Army, Captain F. U. Farquhar, brevet lieutenant colonel United States Army, will assemble at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 13th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable. The junior member will act as recorder. By command of Brigadier General Humphreys. THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY, Major of Engineers and Brevet Colonel United States Army. THURSDAY, May 13, 1869-1 o'clock p. m. The board having met in pursuance of the above order-present, Lieutenant Colonel W. F. Raynolds, brevet brigadier general United States Army, Major J. B. Wheeler, brevet colonel United States Army, Captain F. U. Farquhar, brevet lieutenant colonel United States Army; absent, Major W. McFarland, brevet major United States Army-the board was organized by the reading by the senior member, Lieutenant Colonel W. F. Raynolds, brevet brigadier general United States Army, president of the board ex officio, of the order of assembly given above, and at once proceeded to business. The following letter of instructions, from the Chief of Engineers, was laid before the board, and read to it: OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. C., May 7, 1869. GENERAL: The board of engineers convened in pursuance of Special Order No. 38, Office of the Chief of Engineers, May 7, 1869, for the consideration of projects for harbor improvements, will take into consideration the plan of a "pile pier" proposed by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel F. U. Farquhar, for the improvement of the harbors on the eastern coast of Lake Michigan, and also his plans for the repairs and improvement of the harbor of Black Lake on that coast, and will report fully in regard to the same, suggesting such alterations or amendments, if any, as may seem to it to be advantageous and proper, having especially in view the character of the bottom at the various harbors, their situation, and the forces and direction of the currents affecting them, whether caused by storms or otherwise. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Farquhar will furnish the board from the records of his office with such drawings, maps, and other information as may be required for its investigations. He will be instructed to pay the expenses incurred by the board of engineers, including the mileage of the members to Milwaukee and returning to their stations, from the appropriation for examinations and surveys on the northwest lakes. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. A. HUMPHREYS, Brigadier General and Chief of Engineers. Brevet Brig. Gen. W. F. RAYNOLDS, Lieut. Col. of Eng's, President Board of Eng's, &c., Detroit, Mich. The original "plan of a pile pier proposed by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel F. U. Farquhar for the improvement of harbors on the eastern coast of Lake Michigan, and his plans for the repairs and improvement of the harbor of Black Lake on that coast," were then laid before the board and partly discussed; after which the board adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock a. m. on the succeeding day, at the same place, United States Engineer's office, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. FRIDAY, May 14, 1869. The board met pursuant to adjournment, and proceeded to the completion of the business before it. Present all the members. After due deliberation the board submit the following opinions and recommendations in regard to the repairs and improvements of Black Lake Harbor: OPINIONS, ETC. 1st. The board are of the opinion that the repairs and improvements recommended by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Farquhar are necessary. That they approve of items I and II of the repairs recommended by him, which are as follows: "I. Repairing portion of old north brush pier (marked A on sketch) for a distance of 150 feet from repairs made last year, inward. This is rendered necessary to prevent a breach between the repaired pier and shore line." "II. Repairing similar portion of old south brush pier (marked B) for the same reason." "In making these repairs I propose to drive two rows of close piling, put on capping pieces, and build three feet of superstructure of ordinary timber work, and ballast with stone." (The use of the word "sand" instead of "stone," in Colonel Farquhar's recommendation, was a clerical error.) The board also approve item III, which is as follows: "III. Building five hundred feet of pier (marked C) to prevent the current from eating into the sand hill and carrying out the sand to form a sand-bar between the piers, and also from getting behind and destroying the old north brush pier. I would propose to construct this by driving a row of close piles on the channel side of pier, and on the shore side a row of piles eight feet apart, capping these rows, and tying them together by timber ties every eight feet in length of pier. In addition, the board would recommend that the pier be filled with brush to the water's edge, with sufficient stone to ballast it. The board make the following recommendation in regard to item IV, which states: "That part of the south pier built last year is in a very bad condition, owing to the very irregular settling of the cribs which form its foundation." To repair this, and prevent any washing out from under the south edge of this pier, the board think the amount of stone proposed by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Farquhar, used simply as an enrockment along the south side of the pier, will be sufficient without the protecting row of piles. 2d. The board has examined carefully the plan of a pile pier proposed by Colonel Farquhar, and coincides that this structure may be used at the point suggested, and subject to the conditions given by him. They approve of his dividing the pier into compartments, and think it is a source of strength to the structure. In approving this plan, the board wish to state that they do not propose to supersede the crib pier, excepting in the case where the cost is an essential element, and where the pier will not be liable to shocks or blows from passing vessels or floating bodies. As the efficiency of the pile pier will depend upon the proper driving of the piles, and other details of construction, the board would recommend that the work be done by hired labor and not by contract. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. F. RAYNOLDS, Captain U. S. A. and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Recorder. There being no business before it, the board adjourned sine die. W. F. RAYNOLDS, Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers and Brevet Brigadier General. Captain of Engineers and Bvt. Lieut. Col. U. S. A., Recorder. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. C., May 26, 1869. COLONEL: The proceedings and recommendations of the board of engineers convened at Milwaukee by Special Orders No. 38, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, May 7, 1869, of which you were a member, are approved. You will govern yourself accordingly. By command of Brigadier General Humphreys. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. G. PARKE, Major of Engineers, Brevet Major General U. S. A. Capt. and Bvt. Lieut. Col. F. U. FARQUHAR, Corps of Engineers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. APPENDIX C. Brevet Major General Cram's report upon the rivers and harbors in his charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869. 1. IMPROVEMENT OF ST. MARY'S RIVER, MICHIGAN. During this fiscal year the work of improvement has been confined entirely to dredging in Lake George, middle channel, (see Sketch No. 1,) with a view of making it 200 feet wide at bottom throughout, and 14 feet deep in the middle and 13 feet at the sides; and for this purpose the amount of clay and sand removed has been (from 1st of July, 1868, to 30th June, 1869) 76,342 cubic yards. The amount expended and paid for this to the contractors, The amount paid and due for contingencies. Total expended on the work this fiscal year. $36, 644 16 1,408 94 38, 053 10 The progress of the work has been such that at the end of this fiscal year the channel from its upper extremity A down to B, 5,050 feet, has been very nearly completed-leaving only some lumps and ridges, left by the dredge the first time going over, yet to be taken out; and the remainder of the channel, from B down to C, 2,170 feet, has been wrought generally to the full depth, but not as yet the full width intended. It is estimated that the amount measured in the natural bed, and yet to be taken out to bring this part to the full width contemplated, is 17,175 cubic yards, requiring about one month for two dredges, which are now engaged, to accomplish the task. The amount available out of the specific appropriations of 1866 and 1867, and out of the allotments from the general appropriations of 1864 and 1869, on the 1st July, 1869, is $14,799 47. With this sum it is intended to complete, if possible, this important channel during the remainder of the season of 1869, and on its completion the present contract with John Brown & Co. will be closed. The sum allotted out of the last appropriation will not, I fear, be sufficient to make B C to the full width. Other places in this river requiring improvement. These have been surveyed, and the plans and estimates made and reported during this fiscal year. (See my report accompanying my letter to headquarters corps of engineers, 20th January, 1862; also my more specific report upon these places of date 30th June, 1869, accompanying this annual report.) From these special surveys it is estimated that the improvements of the places other than the Lake George Channel and the Saut Ste. Marie Canal will cost as follows: East Neebish, west channel.... Removing boulder rocks above the canal.. Total..... $59, 071 00 56, 380 00 19,570 00 3,000 00 3, 000 00 141, 021 00 The present commerce passing through this river justly demands these improvements. Sault de Ste. Marie Ship Canal. Sketch No. 2. This, it is well known, was built by the State of Michigan from the proceeds of public lands donated by the United States government for the purpose. Since it was built the commerce of Lake Superior has augmented so very much as now to require the capacity of the canal to be proportionably increased. With the view of its being improved by the United States government, the legislature of Michigan, in its last session, resolved by unanimous vote to cede this important work to the United States; and thus it is obvious the first step has been taken in the right direction for its improvement. This work cannot be made to answer the present and fast-growing demands of the Lake Superior commerce short of the following items of improvement: 1. Deepen the existing lakes to a depth of 16 feet on the miter sill. There is now, in the low stage of navigation, only 103 feet. 2. Deepen the canal to 17 feet, and render its sloping, rough, rocky sides vertical, and safe for vessels to pass through. 3. Construct a prolongation of the upper end of the north canal bank, to enable vessels coming down under a strong west wind to more safely enter the canal than they can at present. 4. Construct another lock, overcoming the fall with one lift, alongside the present two locks. The expense of these improvements cannot be given until an examination and survey, which I respectfully recommend, shall be ordered by the proper authority and made for the purpose. The cost of the necessary examination and survey, of the drawing of the plans and the making of the estimates, could be legally defrayed out of existing appropriations, and would be about $1,200. But this much in respect to these improvements I am prepared to say, viz: that all can be done without injury to the present lock walls, and without any destruction of existing works, except the old gates and miter sills, and some of the old grillage works. And that every item can be economically accomplished, without interfering at all with the passage of vessels, by having everything and all materials ready in the summer, and taking advantage of the time to do the work between the closing and opening of the seasons of navigation. The total amount required yet to be appropriated to complete the improvements contemplated in this river, besides for this canal, it has been stated is $141,021. The amount required to be appropriated to economically carry on these improvements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, is $60,000. The amount for dredging, to keep all the improvements, when made, perpetually in good condition, including the Lake George channel, Í think may be safely set down not to exceed annually $10,000. 2. IMPROVING MOUTH OF AU SABLE RIVER, MICHIGAN. This river is long, rapid, and, as its name imports, is full of sand, which, being washed down from all the way for one hundred and twenty miles up, forms an everlasting deposit at its mouth. It debouches at the north part of the base of Saginaw Bay, of Lake Huron, at a point about the middle of its west coast, and, with the exception of the mouth of the Saginaw River, is the only point on Lake Huron where the United States government has expended money for improving the harbors or rivers. It is only the very great value of the pine district bordering upon the Au Sable and its branches that justifies an improvement at its mouth, merely to enable vessels to enter and depart with their cargoes of lumber, without the necessity of lighterage over the bar, and to afford them some shelter while loading. The fishing interest is also benefited by the improvement. For these purposes ten feet depth was adopted for the water-way between the piers, and this, if it can be attained and maintained, will be ample. It was in this depth that all the cribs of the lines of piering shown on Sketch No. 3 have been posed on a sand and gravel bottom, attained by dredging-the cribs having bottoms with spaces for the stones; as many as would fall through to rest on the ground under the cribs; and the cribs were stayed each by four piles driven in the interior corners, to a depth of nine to twelve feet into the ground beneath. The |