FF 18. REMOVING SUNKEN VESSELS OR CRAFT OBSTRUCTING OR ENDANGERING NAVIGATION. In October, 1883, the schooner Petrel, about 150 tons burden, laden with cord-wood, sprung a leak, while already in a water-logged condition, and in endeavoring to make the harbor at Sheboygan, Wis., during a gale, sunk in the channel between the piers at a point about 1,200 feet inside the pier-heads, lying submerged diagonally across the channel, with her bow almost in contact with the south pier. A recommendation that $600 should be granted for the removal of the schooner was approved. The necessary delay required by law between the date of advertising the intention of the Government to remove her and beginning the work of removal rendered it unadvisable to take any active measures until spring. On the 24th of April, 1884, immediately after the opening of navigation, the work of removing the wreck, by the process of blasting with dynamite and towing the débris into the lake, was begun under the direction of Inspector E. A. Cannon. At the end of nine days the last vestige of the wreck had been removed, at a cost of $563.84. In the fall of 1883 three different parties had offered to do this work, at prices ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. Mr. Cannon's detailed report of the process of removal is appended. REPORT OF MR. E. A CANNON, INSPECTOR. SHEBOYGAN, Wis., May 7, 1884. SIR: In compliance with your instructions I have the honor to submit the following detailed report of the removal of the wreck of the schooner Petrel. The schooner Petrel, 150 tons burden, length 110 feet, arrived off Sheboygan about noon October 17, 1883, in a water-logged condition; there was a heavy sea at the time, and while attempting to enter the harbor she listed so as to become unmanageable, and struck the inner side of the north pier at a point about 600 feet from the pier-head; a tug went to her assistance and succeeded in towing her about 600 feet further in, when the line parted; the schooner sunk almost immediately after, with her bow close to the south pier and her stern at an angle of about 45° down-stream, in which position she remained through the winter. On the 24th of April I made an examination of the wreck; the bow and bottom were imbedded nearly 2 feet in the river-bed and covered with about 18 inches of sand; the after part projected about 4 feet above the river bed, the highest part being about 9 feet below the water surface. Work was at once begun by making an effort to find the center-board opening with the aid of a force-pump; intending to fire a blast under the keel. A quantity of sail, rope, timber, &c., lying on the wreck prevented this attempt from succeeding. I then decided to level the wreck even with the river bed by exploding charges of dynamite which had previously been placed by the diver; in some cases the force-pump was used to get the cartridges as far under the wreck as possible. Three difficulties had to be contended with: (1) When the work was begun the water was so muddy that the diver could not see the condition of the wreck; (2) no men accustomed to the use of dynamite could be procured, and those whom I was compelled to hire were afraid to handle it, or even to be near it; (3) the freezing of the dynamite; as it freezes at a temperature of 45°, I had to thaw it out with hot water; steam is preferable for this purpose when it can be had; in using steam, however, it should not be allowed to come in direct contact with the dynamite, nor should the dynamite be subjected to more than 125° of temperature. The method of preparing and placing the charges was as follows: Cylindrical tin cans, 5 inches in diameter and 9 inches high with bail and cover were made, and filled with the contents of the cartridges. A hole in the cover with a half inch flange around it, admitted the exploder wires. The can being filled with dynamite, a soft pine stick is used to make room for the exploder. When this is put in place, the dynamite is carefully pressed around it. The cover of the can is secured with wire and the hole in the cover filled with a composition made of equal parts of beeswax and pitch, so that the exploder may not be withdrawn. The charge having been thus prepared, it is placed by the diver, and exploded in the usual manner by a battery. Work was done in this manner until the upper part of the wreck was broken up. When I was sure that no part of the wreck remained above the river bed, except the broken pieces, a dredge was employed, and after working about an hour and a half brought up a piece of the side which was towed out in the lake. The next day, after six hours' work of dredge and tug, the remaining part of the hull was turned over and swung around parallel to the south pier and only a few feet from it. The dredge then raised one end of the wreck to the surface, and it was secured to a fender pile, then the other end was raised in the same manner and secured to the pier. In this position the wreck was broken up by small charges of dynamite and the pieces were towed out into the lake. A few small pieces were afterwards dredged up and carried out and the work was completed. No trouble was experienced after the wreck was out of the sand. Twenty blasts in all were fired, using 75 pounds of No. 1 dynamite, the charges varying from 2 to 10 pounds. The work was begun on the 24th of April and finished May 2, two days having been 'lost by bad weather. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. J. W. BARLOW, E. A. CANNON, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. APPENDIX G G. CONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR OF REFUGE, MILWAUKEE BAY-IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS OF MILWAUKEE, RACINE, KENOSHA, AND WAUKEGAN, LAKE MICHIGAN-IMPROVEMENT OF FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVERS. REPORT OF CAPTAIN W. L. MARSHALL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WOKKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Harbor of refuge, Milwaukee Bay, Wis- | 4. Kenosha Harbor, Wisconsin. consin. 2. Milwaukee Harbor, Wisconsin. 3. Racine Harbor, Wisconsin. 5. Waukegan Harbor, Illinois. EXAMINATION. 7. Wisconsin River from Portage to Merrill. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith annual reports for the works in my charge for fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. W. L. MARSHALL, Captain of Engineers. GG 1. HARBOR OF REFUGE, MILWAUKEE BAY, WISCONSIN. CONDITION OF THE WORK JUNE 30, 1884. The accompanying report of Assistant Engineer W. H. Hearding gives the history of progress on the work during the fiscal year, and of its condition June 30, 1884. PROPOSED APPLICATION OF FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885. It is proposed to extend the breakwater southward as far as the funds will allow, in order to make the harbor available at the earliest practicable moment. It is intended to do but little, if any, work upon the superstructure until the main arm is extended to shelter an area sufficient for use as safe mooring ground during northeast storms. The appropriation for the fiscal year 1885 will prolong the main arm of the breakwater 600 feet more or less. PROPOSED APPLICATION OF FUNDS ASKED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886. The funds asked for are to be used to extend the main arm of the breakwater southward, and to complete the superstructure over the breakwater as far as it will have been completed. It is expected that the next appropriation will advance the work sufficiently to be available to a practical extent for the purpose intended. The nearest collection district is Milwaukee, Wis. Amount of revenue collected at the nearest port of entry during the last fiscal year was $193,073.40 This harbor will be of benefit to the general commerce of the lakes, including that between Lake Michigan ports and the ports of the other great lakes, and the Saint Lawrence. A statement of the extent of this commerce may be found in Colonel Houston's report published as House Ex. Doc. No. 43, Forty-sixth Congress, third session. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount available .... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 . Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 515,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 300, 000 00 REPORT OF MR. W. H. HEARDING, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to present the following report upon the harbor of refuge, Milwaukee Bay, Wisconsin. At the date of report of June 30, 1883, the length of the substructure of the north arm of the breakwater was 2,150 feet. Subsequent to that date, the work done by Mr. Christopher Starke to complete his contract with the United States Government, of date October 11, 1882, was as follows, viz, six cribs each of dimensions 50 by 24 by 224 feet were sunk upon stone foundations, which finished the substructure of the north arm, making it 2,450 feet in length and superstructure was also built for a length of 850 running feet. The depth of water before the foundation was laid for crib No. 38 (which was the first of the six cribs) was 26 feet; and for No. 43 (the last, or outer crib), 28.7 feet below datum. All of the cribs built under this contract, excepting Nos. 27, 28, and 29, were sunk by the following method: First, a foundation of stone was laid for a crib, as nearly as practicable to the dimensions specified in the contract, its top surface being 16 feet wider than the width of the crib to be sunk upon it, which provided a berm of 10 feet in width on its lakeward side and 6 feet on its landward side, the top of the foundation being laid to within a distance of about 21 feet below datum. The crib was then placed in position, and settled down by loading stone upon a temporary decking of loose planks until the bottom of the crib was brought to a horizontal plane at a distance of 26 feet below datum, at which point it was held securely in its proper position in relation to the preceding crib. Stone ballast of rather small size was then thrown |