of Marietta Island and Carpenter's Bar, I recommend that such discretionary power be given as you may think proper to confer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. MILNOR ROBERTS, U. S. Civil Engineer, in charge Ohio River Improvement. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers United States Army, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, Washington, D. C. APPENDIX 0. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of operations on the river improvements under my charge for the year ending June 30, 1869. PATAPSCO RIVER IMPROVEMENT. The three dredging machines, the Patapsco, Potomac, and Chesapeake, with their scows, three to each machine, with the steam-tug Robert Leslie to convey the scows to the places of deposit, were engaged from the 1st of July to the 1st of November, 1868, in deepening and widening the new or Craighill channel, principally at its lower end. At this date, on account of rough weather, the dredges were removed to upper entrance of Brewerton, where they were efficiently engaged till the 10th of December, when, on account of the severity of the weather precluding an economical prosecution of the work, they were withdrawn, and, with the scows and tug, placed in a place of security for the winter, and all hands discharged except the master of the tug, retained as superintendent of watchmen, and one watchman for each of the four dredges, including the Susquehanna. Material removed from the Craighill channel from July 1, cubic yards. Material removed from Brewerton channel, cubic yards.. 76,000 15,000 Preparatory to the commencement of operations during the present season of 1869, the steam-tug Robert Leslie was repaired in the month of March, and in the month of May the three dredges, the Patapsco, Potomac, and Chesapeake, on account of its decayed, worn-out condition, required its complete removal, and the substitution of the crane of the dredge Susquehanna. On the 4th of June, dredging of the Craighill channel was resumed and operations prosecuted vigorously, the tug Leslie, three dredges, and nine scows all being engaged. At the end of August the dredge Patapsco was removed to the bar of the Brewerton channel, just to the eastward of a line connecting North Point upper light and Seven-foot Knoll light. On the 17th of September the dredge Chesapeake was removed to a bar in the Brewerton channel, about one-quarter of a mile above the Patapsco, and on the 30th of the same month the Potomac was removed to the same bar. This season's work, since June 4 to 30th of September ultimo, has been the removal of 63,635 cubic yards of material from the Craighill channel, and of 7,680 cubic yards from the Brewerton channel. The Craighill channel has been thoroughly examined from its point of divergence from the Brewerton channel to its lower end, a distance of six miles, and for a width of two hundred feet, and it is believed there is not the slightest obstruction to vessels passing through it drawing less than twenty-one feet, there being this depth of water at mean low tide. The mode of searching for the lumps and little hillocks was novel, and it is believed to have been more effectual than by the ordinary use of the lead. It consisted of two poles loaded at bottom and provided with an iron shoe turned up at the ends so as to slide over the bottom of the channel. One of these poles was placed vertically on either side of the tug, a little in advance of midship, and held in position by guy ropes attached near the lower end of the poles and made fast to the steamer in front, and abaft the poles. The poles being marked in feet, were set to the proposed depth of the channel, (twenty-two feet,) and then the search was made by the tugs moving slowly ten times up and down the channel, at the proper distance each time from the edge of the channel. Of course by this arrangement the channel was quite thoroughly swept, and every lump or knoll would be indicated by the rising of the pole, and the exact depth shown on the pole to which the channel at those points should still be dredged. This test having been applied and showing no lumps or other obsturctions to a depth of twenty-one feet below mean water, it is believed, as before stated, that this depth may now be safely assumed as being available in every portion of the channel. Before, however, advertising the channel as open for vessels drawing less than twenty-one feet, I propose to examine still more thoroughly the bay just below the mouth of the channel to see that there are no oyster banks in that vicinity on which vessels might ground. It is believed that none exist, but still prudence dictates that this course should be observed. Amount available July 1, 1868. Amount expended from July 1, 1868, to June 30, 1869... Amount available for expenditure during the year ending Amount required to widen the Brewerton channel from Fort McHenry to its intersection with the Craighill channel to a width of two hundred feet and a depth of twenty-two feet, as estimated for by Colonel Craighill in his report of January 15, 1867. Appropriation required for the year ending June 30, 1871. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IMPROVEMENT. $3,982 84 17,000 00 27,000 00 47,982 84 26, 056 65 21,926 19 $168,900 00 75,000 00 Since the date of last annual report, the temporary structure or "deflector" was strengthened and stiffened, as suggested in that report, and the line was again occupied by the deflector early in November. It remained in action for about one week, when a violent wind storm, combined with a rise in the river, again disrupted it in several places. During the short time in which it remained uninjured, however, a marked effect was produced on the "upper cut," (or dredged channel,) and the direction of the current leaving the deflector, was in the line required, and expected to produce a proper effect below. As this structure was originally intended only to demonstrate the effect of an obstruction at the point selected, and the correctness of alignment, and as these objects were effected, (at least partially,) the material of the deflector was withdrawn to a sheltered position near the river bank, and has since remained in that condition under proper care and guardianship. In view of the commercial importance of this harbor, I would suggest, in the event of any permanent works being contemplated for its improvement, that the object be effected by a line of submerged cribs of timber and stone placed along or near the line occupied by the deflector last season. These cribs would be located at intervals of about two or three times their breadth; their tops always submerged would avoid all danger of injury by ice or logs during freshets, and the retardation of the current produced by them would cause, I think, such a deposit of sediment as would in a few years produce a continuous bar along the line, which would effect the change of flow as desired. It is estimated that the cost of these cribs would be about.. $40,000 00 From which deduct the available value of timber now on hand in deflector, say. The total cost for completed work would be.. Amount available July 1, 1868 Amount of appropriation of July 25, 1868, appropriated to this work by Engineer Department October 13, 1868.. Amount of appropriation of April 10, 1869, appropriated to this work by Engineer Department May 28, 1869. Amount derived from sales of property during the year... Amount expended from July 1, 1868, to June 30, 1869.... Amount available for expenditure during the year ending Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 8,000 00 32, 000 00 $13,500 95 5,000 00 1,000 00 534 40 20,038 35 18,725 85 1,312 50 J. H. SIMPSON, Col. Engineers and Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. A. Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers U. S. A., Washington, D. U. APPENDIX P. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: In accordance with the requirements of circular of the 12th of June, 1869, from the office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C., I have the honor to transmit herewith annual reports for the following works of river and harbor improvement under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, viz: Delaware breakwater, Delaware; improving harbor at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. It will be seen the amount of revenue collected at the port of Wilmington, Delaware, is not given as required. On the 6th instant, letters of inquiry on that point were sent to the collectors of the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington. On the 7th instant the desired information was received from the former official, by letter, dated the 6th instant. No answer having been received from the collector of Wilmington, on the 19th instant a second letter of inquiry was sent him. Thus far he has not replied to either communication. Should he send the desired information, it will be forwarded for insertion in the two reports at the earliest moment practicable. An abstract of proposals for stone and of contract for same, for Delaware breakwater, is transmitted also-in all three papers. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. SEAFORTH STEWART, Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. Chief of Engineers U. S. A., Washington, D. C. Report of progress made in the repair and construction of the Delaware breakwater during the year ending June 30, 1869. From July 1, 1868, operations were carried on with a moderate force, the labor of receiving and placing in position the large stones of the superstructure being performed by days' work, the contractor for such labor having failed to comply with his contract. The stone was furnished by Messrs. Barker & Bodwell, from their quarries in Delaware, Maine, and Massachusetts, up to the 6th of October, when their contract was fulfilled. Proposals for stone for the completion of the works having been invited and received, previous to that day, a contract, which was duly approved, was entered into on the 12th of September, 1868, with the lowest bidders, Messrs. A. O. & J. O. Deshong, jr., and John C. Leiper, to furnish all the stone that should be required, from the old breakwater quarries under their control near Chester, Pennsylvania. They were to begin shipping stone early in October, and sent during that month some 242 perches of small stones, but, as they stated they were unable so late in the season to procure proper vessels, it became necessary to suspend operations by the end of that month. Work was resumed in the latter part of April, 1869, but no large stones were received under the new contract until the 10th of May, since which day, up to the 30th of June, 1869, steady and satisfactory progress has been made. During the fiscal year, 9,040 tons of large stone for the superstructure were received and put in position on the breakwater and ice-breaker, completing 217 running feet at the east end of the former work, and 281 at the east end of the latter. Some 5,263 perches of small stones were thrown overboard at the extremities of the breakwater proper, to protect the foot of the slopes, and, in part, fill holes excavated there by the action of the water, and 3,766 perches at the ends of the ice-breaker for the same object. In all, about 2,430 running feet of the superstructure of the breakwater are now finished on the old base, leaving 120 feet to be raised to the full height to complete that work. On the ice-breaker, about 646 running feet of the superstructure have been raised to the full height, leaving at the east end 240 feet still unfinished, and between the middle of the work and the west end (which is finished) about 475 feet, to be raised yet about 3 feet. To complete this work on the old base, therefore, about 715 running feet of the superstructure are to be constructed. Two new surf boats have been built for the works, also a new crane and portable steam hoisting engine, which are just ready for use, on the ice-breaker; with these, if the contractors can be made to supply the stone rapidly enough, and political partisans do not succeed in getting control of the work, to the utter demoralization of the employés and the detriment of the funds of the United States, it is hoped both the breakwater and ice-breaker may be completed this season, or, at the latest, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870, with the funds still available. EXPENDITURES TO JUNE 30, 1869. Paid for stone, to Barker & Bodwell Paid for stone, to A. O. & J. O. Deshong, jr., and John C. $26,747 55 34, 825 54 Total paid for stone during the year Total paid for machinery, cranes, engines, blocks, rope, chains, boats, buoys, &c .... 61,573 09 5,277 81 Total paid for services of mechanics and laborers 7,273 24 Contingent expenses, superintendent, inspector's office, &c.. 6,673 43 Total expended during the year... 80, 797 57 Expended years ending June 30, 1867, and 1868.. 62, 943 35 Total expended from appropriations to June 30, 1869 .... 143, 740 92 Amount that can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1870 ... $62, 901 70 No appropriation is asked for. The breakwater is located in the collection district of Delaware. The nearest port of entry is Wilmington, Delaware. There is a light-house upon the breakwater and others on Cape Henlopen. Fort Delaware is the nearest fort. The amount of revenue collected at Wilmington during the fiscal year is reported as $. The following table, taken from such imperfect records as have been kept from time to time, gives the number of vessels of each class avail |