I hope the department will sanction for whatever direction the extension may be made to follow. I take it the object still is to restore the harbors to a condition for refuge. The sooner this is done the better, and the successful bidder should be contracted with immediately to proceed to furnish the piles and timber. If it be put off until the opening of spring we cannot possibly get the materials in time to make but very little of the extension next summer. I believe I have now complied with all the requirements of the order of 19th September, 1866. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel of Engineers, Brevet Brigadier General. Brig. and Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers. DETROIT, January 24, 1867. SIR: I herewith transmit my report of the survey of the harbor of Grand river, Ohio, made in virtue of engineer department instructions of September 19, 1866. Observe: The successful bidder for furnishing the piles, stone, and for doing the work, was the firm J. E. & D. E. Baily; for furnishing the square timber and lumber, N. W. Brooks & Co.; and for furnishing the iron, Cleveland Union Iron Works. Better contractors could not be desired. The Bailys put in, supposing the extension to be a pile pier work, but will hold to their bid, even though a crib work be made. The notice for proposals was duly published when we advertised for other works, and this formality and delay have been complied with. Any direction the department may feel authorized to give, I submit had best be done soon, or we may forfeit the advantage of the bids of the above named contractors. This is the season for cutting and gathering the piles, and for cutting the logs for the square timber and lumber. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. J. CRAM. Col. Corps of Engineers, and Bvt. Brig. Gen'l. Brig. and Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers. B 22. ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 8, 1867. GENERAL: Your report of the 24th ultimo, upon the proposed improvement at the harbor of Grand River, Ohio, accompanied by a map of your survey, made in the month of January, has been carefully considered, but the department does not concur in the proposed bend in the extension of the east pier, for the reason, mainly, that the flow outward would have a tendency to scour the bottom close along that pier only, which vessels entering in stress of weather would, of course, by the narrowing of the channel-way, be compelled to hug, and thus be forced against it, to the injury both of the vessel and the structure. The comparison of your recent survey with that of August, 1865, leads to the conclusion that the extension of the east pier on the present line of direction, would produce a favorable result; the latter channel at the present time being nearly on the prolongation of the east pier, resulting evidently from the repairs of the breaches in the two channel piers, which now restrict the flow of water in a straight course into the lake. (See comparative sketch herewith ) You are authorized to contract for the materials for the east pier extension, with the distinct understanding that if for pile pier, the fact of a clay bottom be established before commencing the structure; but if the bottom be of drifting sands, then the structure shall consist of cribs with stone ballast. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brig. General T. J. CRAM, U. S. A., A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers. Colonel of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan. B 23. UNITED STATES ENGINEER Office, Detroit, June 18, 1867. SIR: I herewith transmit my report upon Dunkirk harbor, New York, the result of my examination of that harbor, and a study of the question. As soon as I receive the approval of the proper authority I will advertise for proposals, with a view of getting the work under contract as soon as possible. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel Corps of Engineers, Brevet Major General. Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers United States Army. Report upon the harbor of Dunkirk, New York, by T. J. Cram, Brevet Major General, Colonel Corps of Engineers, June 20, 1867. The order from the engineer department of 28th of March, assigning this work to my charge, under the appropriation by act of 2d of March, 1867, directs me to follow the plan presented by Major Tardy, late of the corps of engineers, unless I dissent, in which event, by the same order, I am directed to report my views. Having recently made a thorough inspection of the harbor, and having had certain data which I directed to be obtained by my assistant, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel F. Harwood, captain corps of engineers, returned to me in actual measurements by that officer, I am enabled now to report my views as follows: 1. I cheerfully agree with the plan proposed by the late Major Tardy in so far as the extent of the west pier, P, and the breakwater, B, and their locations and heights above water, are concerned, and seen on the accompanying tracing from the map of the survey of 1866, and in reference to which he made the estimate upon which Congress appropriated $100,000. I also concur with him in dissenting from the further attempt to carry out the plan of three detached outer breakwater constructions to be placed in eighteen feet water, and recommended by the "board of engineers lake harbors and western rivers, July 12, 1854." What was executed, about 250 feet, at great cost, has never been of any advantage to this harbor, but of positive disadvantage to vessels in a storm seeking the entrance, nor would it be of half the advantage, if completed in toto, as would be the pier P and breakwater B. I must, however, express my dissent from the plan proposed by Major Tardy in regard to the thickness to be given to P and B, also in respect to building of the superstructure above water, of B, in masonry. Instead of twenty-five feet in thickness for P and B, I would make P sixteen feet and B eighteen feet, and have the superstructure of both of timber and rubble stones, and well planked over. On the lakes we have the experience of two very expensive piers in what is called stone masonry superstructure upon crib foundation. They have not lasted as well as properly constructed timber and rubble-stone work without very expensive repairs, and the interest at six per cent. per annum on the excess of first cost of the masonry over the timber and rubble-stone superstructure is much more than would be sufficient to keep the latter in perfect repair for all time. I shall go more into this comparison in my report upon Buffalo harbor constructions. I think the true policy is to construct P first and completely, and afterwards, when we get an appropriation sufficient in advance for the whole of B, to construct it, but not to begin on B until enough has been appropriated to complete it. These two works, P and B, completed, Dunkirk will have as good a harbor as the case admits; and with only P completed the harbor will be greatly improved, certainly enough to justify the cost. The supposing that P and B will obviate the necessity of dredging occasionally from the railroad piers out to the beaconlight passage into the outer water must not be encouraged. Artificial dredging will have to be resorted to for preserving a twelve-feet channel at low stage. 2. I have all the plans in detail and bills of materials made out for P, and shall be ready, on receiving from the engineer department an approval of my views, to put the work in advertisement for construction. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. J. CRAM, Colonel of Engineers and Brevet Major General. Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers and Major General of Volunteers. B 24. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I send herewith an abstract of bids for Dunkirk harbor, New York, from which it will be seen that for the material and labor the lowest responsible bidders are: For classes A, B and D, Alexander McDonell, amounting to..... $32, 835 69 For class C, R. Nelson Gere..... 2,099 71 Total .... 34,935 40 Both, with the bondsmen named, are responsible. As soon as the preper authority may give me instructions I will draw up the requisite articles of agreoment and bonds of indemnity, and have them duly executed. Respectfully, your obedient servant, T. J. CRAM, Colonel of Engineers and Brevet Major General. Major General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers United States Army. Abstract of bids received for Dunkirk harbor, New York. *Will accept the award of the whole or none bid for. + Bid for whole or none to be awarded. Will accept the award for all classes, or any class proposed for. Icertify the above to be a true copy of the abstract of the original bids. Will accept the award of the whole, or classes A, B, D. Desires the whole, but would take the contract without item 1, class C. In letter of T. J. CRAM, Colonel of Engineers, Brevet Major General. B 25. UNITED STATES ENGINEER Office, Detroit, June 27, 1867. SIR: I herewith forward my report (commenced 20th June, and closed this morning) upon Buffalo harbor, in response to engineer department's letter to me of March 28, 1867, placing the work under my charge. It is an important subject, one which has required much physical and mental labor, patience and perseverance, on my part, to comprehend. I found it necessary to direct borings, soundings, and other measurements to be made, so as to know upon what and in what we have to build. These have not all as yet been returned to me. They are, however, in progress, and as soon as received I shall be able to make out detailed plans of construction and issue proposals. None of these, however, until after the receipt of the approval from proper authority of my views. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. J. CRAM, Colonel Engineers, Brevet Major General. Major General A. A, HUMPHREYS, Report upon the harbor of Buffalo, New York, by T. J. Cram, brevet major general, colonel corps engineers, June 20, 1867. In the orders March 20, 1867, from engineer department, assigning this work to my charge, it is said, in case I dissent from the plan of construction proposed by the late Major Tardy, I am requested to submit my views. I have recently examined this harbor with much care, and in the mean time witnessed the dangers and difficulties of vessels entering it under one of those "three days' storms" which not unfrequently occur there. I have not only witnessed for myself the practical defects and wants of the harbor, but I have consulted with the old and experienced lake navigators who have been familiar with its working since it was first improved, and with all the subsequent changes or modifications in character, kind, and dimensions of lake vessels, sail and steam, and which have been constructed to keep pace with the growth and demands of commerce. My consultations with these men have been of much benefit, begetting a spirit of discussion which has not failed to elicit much practical information that the engineer should by no means neglect, if he wishes to do justice to this highly important harbor in any future work that may be adopted for its improvement and completion. Never before having had any official connection with the work, I had of course no bias or predilection in favor of any particular plan. Nor did I know what plans had been projected by any officer preceding me. It became my duty, however, on receipt of the order placing it in my charge, to study the question in all its bearings, not only in reference to the immediate wants of the commerce now especially tending to Buffalo, but also in reference to the wants of the future of this commerce in its demands for safety for vessels, whether intending to discharge at Buffalo, or seeking refuge there during heavy blows so prevalent at that end of the lake. -HISTORY OF THE HARBOR WORKS AND THE PLANS FOR ITS IMPROVEMENT PRIOR TO THE PRESENT TIME. Sketch A shows the first improvement ever made at the mouth of Buffalo creek. In the summer of 1818, William Peacock made a survey for this harbor. |