during the present season, and replaced by a construction of the same general character, riprapped as is the repaired portion. A part of the old north pier also is becoming dilapidated, and will require repairing during the present season. The channel across the inner bar has been dredged to the depth of thirteen feet below the ordinary low-water stage, and for a width of one hundred feet. During the present season it will be widened to two hundred feet, and deepened another foot, which will give a little over thirteen feet depth at the lowest stage of water in the fall months. A lump on the outer bar, apparently caused by the motion of a heavily-laden vessel which had grounded there, was also cut away. In these operations over twenty-seven thousand cubic yards of sand were removed. Nothing has been done toward rebuilding the breakwater connecting the south pier with the south shore, because doubts were entertained as to the necessity or expediency of spending money here. I have decided, however, that it will be prudent to repair it to the water level, it being useless, I believe, in its sheltered position in shoal water, to carry it any higher, and, with the consent of the department, that work will be begun, if not completed, this fall. The estimate of $35,000 for dredging the channel over the inner bar, contained in my last annual report, was made for a channel three hundred feet wide and thirteen feet deep, below the stage of water to which was referred the soundings on the chart of Erie Harbor, made in 1865 and 1866 It was discovered in November last, but too late for insertion in the annual report, that this stage of water was at least a foot above the ordinary low-water stage of the fall months, and that consequently, in order to secure thirteen feet depth of water at all seasons, it would be necessary to dredge a foot or more deeper than had been contemplated; at a probable cost, for a channel three hundred feet wide, of $30,750. As it was by all means desirable to secure the required depth, it was decided to make the channel for the present but two hundred feet wide, my estimate being large enough to pay for thirteen feet depth at lowest water for this reduced width. In order, therefore, to make this channel of the width recommended by me in my last annual report, this additional amount of $30,750 would be needed. The present width, however, seems to be highly satisfactory to navigators, although I think it still advisable to give the additional hundred feet of width originally recommended. By my last annual report, there was needed to complete the repairs of the north pier and the improvement of the channels, in addition to the appropriations and allotments previously made, the sum of. For rebuilding breakwater and other repairs $3,650 00 34, 000 00 Of which there has been allotted from the general "appropriation for the improvement of rivers and harbors for the year ending June 30, 1869" 37,650 00 22,500 00 Leaving ... still to be appropriated for the accomplishment of these especial objects; to which must be added, if the channel is to be widened to three hundred feet, with its present depth of thirteen feet below low-water stage... Total to be appropriated.. 15, 150 00 30, 750 00 45, 900 00 If it be decided, however, that the present channel is sufficiently wide, this amount will be ample for carrying out the project mentioned in the letter of the Chief of Engineers to the Hon. Secretary of War, dated Engineer Department, Washington, February 19, 1867, for giving to this harbor, among others, a depth of fifteen feet at the lowest stage known; and thirty thousand dollars more would be required to give this depth over a width of three hundred feet; these estimates being based upon the present rate of dredging at this harbor, which is thirtyseven and a half cents per cubic yard. The amount expended in the prosecution of these labors during the past year is $21,173 76, which includes several payments for retained percentage and advertising due at the time that the charge of the improvement of this harbor devolved upon me. Still available, June 30, of the allotment of $40,000, of which $38,500 00 Allotment from the appropriation approved April 10, 1869.. 22,500 00 Available June 30, 1869.... 56, 000 00 all of which will probably be expended by the close of navigation this fall. The completion of the repairs upon the north pier and the breakwater connecting the south pier and the south shore of the bay, and the deepening and widening of the channel across the inner bar, will complete the improvement of this admirable harbor. There will always be more or less deterioration of the wooden piers, and a gradual re-formation of the outer bar, which will need to be remedied by dredging. I presume that a thousand dollars a year will be more than sufficient to keep both in good order. There is a degree of satisfaction amongst sailors and shipping men concerning the present condition of the harbor, that is very agreeable to witness. The heaviest laden vessels go in and out without difficulty, and nothing goes aground unless it runs out of the channel, which is exceedingly well marked, and with reasonable care need never be missed by day or night. It is not easy to say what amount of commerce is likely to be benefited by the completion of the improvements in progress. Erie is rapidly awakening from the lethargy which for years has bound it, and bids fair to hold the first place in the coal and iron trade of the lakes. During the past year a revenue of $20,670 has been collected from customs, which is nearly double what was collected during the prece ding year. The number of vessels which have entered and cleared during the same period is 2,364, with an aggregate tonnage of 776,298 tons, an increase over last year of twelve per cent. in the number of vessels and forty per cent. in the amount of tonnage. While the average tonnage of the vessels which entered and departed last year was 267 tons, the average tonnage of those which entered and departed this year is 328, an increase in average tonnage of twenty-three per cent. Collector Gaggin, in furnishing me with the information above given, adds: "In connection with this report I would state that the important improvements lately made in the channels of this harbor have very largely increased the commerce of the port; and not only in an augmented trade, but in the heavier draught of vessels now able to do business here." It is certain that the navigators all along the lake where I have been, speak with unmixed satisfaction of the condition of Erie harbor. This harbor is in the collection district of Erie, and Erie is a port of entry. The entire amount of the estimate for the completion of the improvements here may be profitably expended within the next year. No contracts concerning it have been entered into since the date of my last annual report. Two dredges are kept at work in the improvement of the inner channel, night and day, with the expectation of finishing that work by December first of the present year, and it is expected that the repairs mentioned as necessary in an earlier part of this report will be completed at the same time. APPENDIX E. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following annual report of the progress made in the work of harbor improvement in my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869: BUFFALO HARBOR. I.-History and condition of the work during the year. Operations for the fiscal year began with a vigorous prosecution of the work of interior harbor improvement, in the order directed in instructions from the Chief of Engineers dated April 3, 1868, as follows: Repair and protection of existing piers.-The south United States pier was repaired throughout its whole extent, the masonry of the lower or harbor section protected by a row of piling confined by sill and binder work and sheathed to low-water level, and the pier-head was built up and backed with stone according to the plans transferred to me by my predecessor in charge. The completion of this work was delayed until the close of the working season, on account of its connection with the pier extension, likewise retarded from causes hereafter stated. Just subsequent to its being completed and closed, a severe storm arose which damaged the pier-head somewhat, but not to any great extent, by loss of stone, planking, and joists, and developed the necessity of re-enforcement at this point as well as repair. By letters from the Chief of Engineers dated January 6 and April 19, 1869, I was authorized to take the necessary measures for the protection of this part of the work, but as the gale which did the damage also coated the pier-head with ice, nothing could be done until the opening of navigation in 1869. The work was taken up as soon as possible, but owing to its particularly exposed location, has constantly been delayed by the extraordinarily unfavorable working season of the present year. At the close of the fiscal year the work was nearly completed. The repair of the north United States pier has only been undertaken occasionally, when it was too stormy to employ a force outside. The ruin of the old pier head has been dredged out; a new pier head built and protected by piling, sill and binder work, and sheathing similar to that used to protect the masonry of the south United States piers, harbor section. The new pier head was nearly completed at the close of the fiscal year. Nothing was done toward repairing the stonework of the pier, owing to the necessity of using it as a ground for the storage and framing of timber for outer harbor work. Extension of the south pier.-The south United States pier was extended on the line of prolongation of its harbor section for a distance of three hundred and eighteen feet, measured from the axis of the light-house. This work was greatly retarded by the difficulties of the site, (yielding sand continually shifting under the action of a cross current,) and by the repeated collisions of inward-bound vessels with the unfinished work. Early in the season it was found necessary to greatly re-enforce my predecessor's plans of crib building, especially by introducing more iron in the construction, and, notably, screw and washer bolts in the three lower crib courses. Settling in the cribs was also constant throughout the whole working season, necessitating an extra outlay of labor and material, much in excess of the original estimate. These circumstances wilĺ account for the corresponding excess of expenditure upon this portion of the harbor improvement. The work was finally completed only after constant building up of the cribs as they settled, and when the nature of the site had been practically changed from sand to stone, by the constant settling of the crib filling through the grillage intervals of the crib bottoms. The westerly or pier-head crib of the extension settled bodily on its original site, into the sand at least seven feet in the course of the season, besides sifting out through its grillage bottom about half its stone filling. A like action to a lesser extent took place throughout the whole extension. It may therefore now be considered as firmly anchored. Dredging between the south pier extension, and course of north pier prolonged. This dredging I have postponed until work on the south pier shall have permanently closed. Construction of breakwater.-Preparations for this work had been made during the year, and material for it began to arrive in the fall and winter of 1868, and is still being supplied. Framing was carried on during the late fall and winter in anticipation of starting the work upon the ice. The winter was so mild, however, that no ice formed of sufficient thickness to venture to work upon it, excepting at one time when, the ground having been resurveyed and the position of the first crib to be sunk located, a sudden thaw necessitated the speedy withdrawal of material from the site, just as the crib bottom had commenced to be put together. It is true that in the early spring a few bitter cold days again increased the thickness of the ice so that it could be worked upon, but from the lateness of the season and the warning previously received of the unreliability of the weather, it was considered imprudent to again risk the men and material. Nothing, therefore, could be done until the opening of navigation in 1869. This was extraordinarily late in occurring and the season very unfavorable for working, but by dint of energetic prosecution of the work at every favorable occasion, the laying and filling of these cribs (one hundred and fifty feet) had been effected at the closing of the ffscal year. II.-Steps taken for prosecution of work during present working season, and probable progress. What remains to be done of interior harbor work will probably be finished this working season under existing contracts and special authorities. About eight hundred feet of breakwater can be built under existing contracts, and it was expected to finish this by the close of the working season, but the work has already been greatly delayed by continuous stormy weather. Should the weather continue as unfavorable as heretofore throughout the season, the completion of the present contract will be prolonged into the winter or possibly delayed until next spring. On May 5, 1869, I received notification of a special allotment of $90,000 from "appropriation for the improvement of rivers and harbors, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869," "and the year ending June 30, 1870," to be applied to the improvement of Buffalo Harbor. This I propose to devote mainly to the pushing forward of the breakwater, reserving only a small amount for such repairs as may become necessary upon the interior works. I am instructed to apply this money "by contract or otherwise as may in my judgment best subserve the interest of the government, or prove to be most economical." Inasmuch as the work done by the present contractors, Messrs. Bailey & Denney, has been eminently satisfactory, and the material supplied by them of the best quality; as they have the requisite machinery and equipments on hand for the construction of the work, which other parties or the United States would have to supply or purchase from them, I have considered it expedient to invite of them a tender for continuing the supply of labor and material for the work, under the $90,000 allotment, from the conclusion of their present contracts. Should the terms they offer prove just and reasonable, and cheaper than I could undertake the work, by purchasing machinery, hiring labor, and purchasing material in open market, I propose to contract with them for the continuance of the work, allowing them to follow it up from the point they leave off under their existing contracts. It is probable that they will be able to come to terms as to every item, excepting that perhaps of iron material, which Buffalo iron firms may perhaps be able to supply cheaper, and as good as they can procure it. From 1,000 to 1,200 feet breakwater will probably be built from funds at present available. Sections 2 and 3, circular June 10, 1868.-The data required by these sections is herewith respectfully submitted. In estimates for funds I still include the project of opening the south channel from Lake Erie into Buffalo Creek, for the relief of the interior harbor and up-stream commerce. For details of the plan of operations I propose at this point I respectfully refer to a memoir dated November 21, 1868, and submitted to the Chief of Engineers shortly after. Some of the contingencies therein referred to have already occurred. Preparations have already been made by a private corporation to blast out a channel, and build wharves along the creek front for a distance of about one-fourth of a mile above the Ohio street toll bridge. Dredging and blasting to the extent of $100,000 is already under contract and commenced. When these improvements shall have been effected the necessity of a south channel will become still more apparent than at present. BUFFALO SEA WALL. This work remains in same condition as stated in my last annual report, and, for reasons therein given, further work upon it is not recommended at present. DUNKIRK HARBOR. I. History and condition of the work during the year. At the close of the last fiscal year, 454 running feet of this work had been built in accordance with the plans turned over to me by my predecessor in charge. Its construction was continued during the working |