LAKE HARBORS.

HARBORS ON LAKES SUPERIOR AND MICHIGAN.

Officer in charge Brevet Colonel J. B. Wheeler, major corps of engineers, who has assigned the officers under his orders to the following duties:

Captain A. MacKenzie, corps of engineers, special superintendent for the harbors of Black Lake, Grand Haven, Muskegon, White River, Pentwater, Pere Marquette, Manistee, and Aux Becs Scies.

Captain D. P. Heap, corps of engineers, special superintendent for the harbors of Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Chicago, Michigan City, New Buffalo, St. Joseph, and South Haven.

Lieutenant J. B. Quinn, corps of engineers, special superintendent for the harbors of Marquette, mouth of Fox river, Green Bay, Manistee, Sheboygan.

Assistant Henry Bacon, special superintendent for the harbors of Superior City, Ontonagon, and Eagle Harbor.

Assistants W. T. Casgrain and W. H. Hearding, engaged in surveys and the preparation of maps.

I-Lake Superior.

1. SUPERIOR CITY HARBOR, WISCONSIN.

The original plan contemplates piers composed of two rows of piles, fifteen feet apart, capped with timber, forming a crib superstructure, and filled with stone; an estimate for which was submitted in the report from this office of January 26, 1867, amounting to $178,000.

After some delay, arising from the failure of bidders to comply with their bids, contracts were finally entered into, and the work is now in progress. Amount appropriated by act of March 2, 1867...

Amount required for the next fiscal year...

(See Appendix A 1.)

2. ONTONAGON HARBOR, LAKE SUPERIOR.

$63,000 00 100,000 00

The plan recommended for this harbor is to extend two parallel piers, composed of cribs ballasted with stone, from the mouth of the river outward into the lake, a distance of 2,160 feet for the west pier, and 2,340 for the east pier. The direction of the piers to be the same as that of the present west pier.

The total estimated cost was...

And there was appropriated in 1867..

Amount required to complete the work...

Amount required for next fiscal year..

Contracts were entered into in the latter part of June, 1867.

(See Appendix A 2.)

3. EAGLE HARBOR, LAKE Superior.

$292, 801 50 97,600 00 195, 201 50 97,600 00

The plan proposed is to remove the rock that forms a bar in the entrance, and to build breakwaters from the eastern and western points, in order to narrow the entrance to the harbor.

There were 1,803 cubic yards of trap rock to be removed in order to attain the depth of 14 feet of water, and 1,290 running feet of pier work to be built in order to improve the harbor.

Advertisements were inserted in the newspapers calling for proposals to do the work.

The proposals were opened on the 20th of June, but the price in the lowest

bid for removing the rock being unreasonably high, all bids were rejected, and proposals were again invited, and this time for removing the rock only. These proposals were opened on the 31st of July, and the contract was awarded, the work to be commenced without delay and prosecuted during the winter.

The contractors have commenced work upon the breakwater, and fair may be expected during this season.

The estimated cost of the improvement is....

The sum appropriated is...

The sum that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year is . . . . .

(See Appendix A 3.)

II.-Lake Michigan.

5. HARBOR OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN.

progress

$385, 129 58 85,000 00

100, 000 00

During the present season more than 30,000 cubic yards of earth and sand have been removed, giving a cut 12 feet deep across Grass island. It is expected that by the close of the working season a channel of this depth, 100 feet wide, will be opened, as well as one of the same depth from 12 feet water on the south to 12 feet water on the north side of the island.

The revetment of the cut will be postponed until the action of the ordinary current and the effect of freshets upon the new cut are ascertained.

The engineer in charge recommends that instead of sheet-piling, as originally proposed, the cut across the island and in shoal water be revetted with close piling, as more durable work; and in deep water on the north side and at both ends of the cut, that pier work composed of cribs ballasted with stone be used. A decision upon this modification is reserved until further information is obtained.

The estimated cost of the present improvement was.

Amount already appropriated...

Amount required for next fiscal year

(See Appendix A 4.)

6. HARBOR OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN.

$155, 416 17

75,500 00 S0,000 00

The plan adopted for the improvement of this harbor is to extend two parallel piers outward into Lake Michigan until a depth of 12 feet is obtained, and to dredge the waterway between the piers to the same depth. The piers to be composed of cribs ballasted with stone.

This work is under contract and progressing well.

At the date of Colonel Wheeler's report there had been expended $40,324 72 for labor and materials, and 576 feet of piers had been constructed. 960 feet in all will be completed during the present season, provided the weather is favorable.

'The estimated cost of the work was..

Amount already appropriated....

Amount necessary to complete, and required for next fiscal year.. (See Appendix A 5.)

$141, 747 82

97, 000 00

45, 000 00

7. HARBOR OF SHEBOYGAN, WISCONSIN.

The plan adopted for this harbor was to extend the north pier 120 feet, the south pier 320 feet, and to dredge the channel between the piers.

For this purpose there was appropriated, in 1866, $47,598 91, and in 1867 an additional appropriation was made of $8,000.

The greater part of this sum has been expended in completing the piers as proposed, and the work will be finished this season.

The engineer in charge recommends, as a further improvement of this harbor, that the piers be extended into the lake across the present outer bar, opposite the entrance of the river. This will require 416 running feet of additional pier work and some dredging, at an estimated cost of $49,000, which can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year. This recommendation is approved. (See Appendix A 6.)

8. HARBOR OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

The only work done at this harbor during the present year was the filling up of the cribs with stone. The stone having settled considerably through the grillage bottoms, or having been taken away, it was considered necessary to replace it.

The general condition of the work, upon close examination, has been found to be good, but there are evidences of decay-a necessary consequence of using timber above the water surface. The portion above the water must be replaced in the course of a few years.

A bar from the northward is encroaching upon the entrance of this harbor and threatening to injure it seriously.

An extension of both piers 300 feet would postpone for many years the injurious results now threatened. This extension is therefore recommended by the engineer in charge, at a cost of $65,872 80. Deducting present balance of appropriation on hand, $38,354 53, would leave, say $28,000, which could be profitably expended during the next fiscal year. The recommendation is approved.

(See Appendix A 7.)

9. HARBOR OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

The plan for this harbor is to extend both piers, composed of cribs ballasted with stone, until a depth of 15 feet of water is reached, and to dredge between the piers until 12 feet is obtained throughout.

Due notice having been given, the bids were opened, and contracts entered into for prolonging the north pier the required distance.

The engineer in charge recommends dredging between the piers to a depth of 14 feet. The estimated cost of this improvement was $84,172 48; the amount appropriated was $15,000; amount required to complete the work, $39,172 48; add for additional dredging, $5,000; amount which can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year, $45,000. The recommendation is approved. (See Appendix A 8.)

10. HARBOR OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

During the present season the contractors have extended the south pier 352 feet, and will complete the extension of the north pier 192 feet.

A depth of 12 feet has been obtained throughout the greater part of the water-way, between the piers, by dredging. The old piers are in bad condition, and require rebuilding from the water surface. The basin inside is very shallow. The engineer in charge does not consider it necessary to extend the piers

further at the present time, but thinks it proper to repair the old work and dredge the basin to the depth of 10 feet; for which he estimates—

For repairs of old pier work...
For dredging required in basin

Total

$20,000 00

35,000 00

55,000 00

He asks an additional appropriation for the next fiscal year of $40,000. (See Appendix A 9.)

11. HARBOR of chicago, ILLINOIS.

In 1865 the plan recommended by Colonel Cram was to extend the north pier 600 feet, and rebuilding the south pier to extend it 610 feet. Under the expectation that 110 feet of the northern extension would be done by the city authorities, his estimates were made for adding 490 feet only to the north pier. The estimated cost for the entire work was $88,704, which sum was appropriated. But, as heretofore reported, this amount was found to be inadequate to the whole work..

The extension of the north pier was contracted for in October, 1866. Before work was commenced this season, the Chicago Canal and Dock Company submitted for approval their project for an entrance to their basin at the end of the present north pier. This application was favorably recommended to the Secretary of War from this office, and the authority asked for was granted. This company have guaranteed to close in the basin extending to the north and east of the present pier before the end of the working season. It is expected that the north pier will be extended 300 feet before the season closes.

The engineer in charge recommends that this pier be extended only 300 feet, and that the balance of the appropriation be expended upon the south pier, the extension of which, as proposed, will require an additional appropriation of $48,000. This amount can be profitably expended in the next fiscal year. The recommendation is approved.

(See Appendix A 10 and A 11.)

12. HARBOR OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA.

It having been satisfactorily shown that the Michigan City Harbor Company had expended $100,000 upon this harbor, as required by Congress before the appropriation of $75,000 could be available, the work was let on the 7th of August, and the contractors are under bonds to furnish materials and build not less than 128 running feet of pier work this year.

The improvement proposed for this harbor is to extend the northeastern pier 288 feet on a line with its present direction, extend the western pier 320 feet on a line with direction of present end crib, and dredge the channel between the piers to a depth of twelve feet. The dredging is done by the steam-dredge belonging to the harbor company, the United States paying all the running expenses.

The materials for the piers, and labor, have been contracted for. (See Appendix A 12, A 13, A 14.)

13. HARBOR OF NEW BUFFALO, MICHIGAN.

The sum of $60,000 was appropriated for the improvement of this harbor. The plan of improvement is that recommended by the late Colonel Graham, United States corps of engineers, the estimated cost of which was $384,020.

Contracts have been entered into, and the contractors are at work excavating the cut. They will remove this year not less than 50,000 cubic yards of sand.

From a recent inspection of this harbor, the engineer in charge reports unfavorably upon the practicability of keeping it open, without a large annual expenditure, after the costly harbor works proposed have been completed. The project will be referred to a board of engineers before the resumption of operations in the spring.

Should the work be continued, the sum required for the next fiscal year will be $110,000.

(See Appendix A 15.)

14. THE HARBOR OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN.

During the present year the old piers have been repaired, and the south pier extended. The extension was 200 feet, using a pile foundation with rib superstructure, and filling the pier with brush and stone. Greater strength has been given to this pier than was originally intended.

The engineer in charge recommends that the south pier be extended 700 feet. The cost of this extension, using the pile structure, would be $49,000; if cribs be used, the cost will be $77,000. This extension is necessary for the preservation of the channel. The project is approved, and it is recommended that there be appropriated, to be expended during the next fiscal year, in extending the south pier, the sum of $77,000.

(See Appendix A 16.)

15. SOUTH HAVEN HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

Contracts have been entered into for material and labor for the construction of two piers, extending into the lake a total distance of 640 feet, and require that not less than 200 feet shall be completed on or before the 31st of October, 1867. Proposals for removal of the old south pier, and for dredging the channel between the piers, have not yet been invited. The work of improvement is progressing in accordance with the plan proposed in the report submitted January 26, 1867, for which an estimate was presented, amounting to $129,000. Amount appropriated. . . .

Amount required next fiscal year..

(See Appendix A 17.)

16. BLACK LAKE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

$43,000 00 43,000 00

The plan of improvement is the extension of the piers, and dredging the channel between the piers. This work has been contracted for, and will be completed in 1868.

(See Appendix A 18.)

17. GRAND HAVEN HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

feet into the The present

During the present year the south pier has been extended 192 lake, and about 500 feet of close piling has been constructed. appropriation will complete the close piling and the present pier. The engineer in charge recommends that the building of the north pier should not be deferred. This recommendatiou is approved. The estimated cost of this pier is

$200,000 00

Amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year 75,000 00 (See Appendix A 19.)

18. MUSKEGON HARBOR, LAKE MICHIGAN.

The plan proposed was to extend the present piers to 17 feet water. The estimated cost was $58,450. This amount was appropriated, and will build the piers.