Estimate of cost of locks, dams, and canals for improvement of the Des Plaines and Illinois rivers, from Joliet to La Salle, to give a minimum depth of 7 feet in navigable channel. APPENDIX II. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS AT MICHIGAN CITY AND NEW BUFFALO, LAKE MICHIGAN. REPORT OF MAJOR JARED A. SMITH, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 2. Harbor at New Buffalo, Michigan. 1. Harbor at Michigan City, Indiana. (For letter of transmittal see Appendix CC.) I I I. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA. The improvements at this place have been continued under the able supervision of Capt. J. A. Manning. OUTER HARBOR. At the begining of the year a contract with A. H. Petrie & Co., of Muskegon, Mich., for delivery of timber was still incomplete. The contract was satisfactorily completed July 15, in accordance with terms as extended. The last annual report fully set forth the situation and the reason for the small balance remaining unexpended July 1, 1883. The project for the expenditure of the balance was to add two cribs of 50 feet each, with superstructure, to the pier east of entrance, and with the remaining funds to care for property and make needed repairs to break water and piers. The timber and iron had already been purchased, as indicated in last annual report; other materials were procured by open purchases, in accordance with existing regulations, and the work was done by hired labor, that being the only method practicable. For the foundations of the cribs it was found advisable to drive the piles close together under the outer walls, thus forming a sheet-piling of square hemlock timber in addition to the usual bearing piles under the middle walls. This was accomplished under great difficulty, for the lake was almost constantly disturbed, so that the pile-driver would both roll and pitch, and as fast as the piling was completed the currents of water would wash away the sand, leaving the piles from 4 to 6 feet high, although they had been cut off even with the bottom. Only one day in July was sufficiently smooth for this work, and not a day in August until after the 16th. Most of the work was done at intervals of a few hours each, thus unavoidably adding largely to the expense and difficulty. Several accidents occurred to machinery from attempting to drive when the lake was too rough. The washing out of sand and stone made close piling also necessary across the end of each crib. The piles for No. 4 crib were cut off 193 feet, and for No. 5 21 feet, below the mean lake level. About the piling considerable stone was placed before the cribs were sunk. In crib No. 4 25 cords of stone were used for this purpose. The stone washed from other parts of the work interfered with the piles, so that they were separated in many places. It was October 9 before No. 5, the second of the cribs, was sunk. The extension of 100 feet of pier was completed in November. REPAIRS TO BREAKWATER. The superstructure and planking have been considerably injured by heavy seas, and it is found that these injuries increase rapidly with the age of the work. The best pine loses its strength even before it shows evidences of decay. If it be found impracticable to build a stone superstructure, the officer in charge believes that the necessity for timber of greater strength than pine and the preservation from decay should receive attention. In the past year the following materials have been used in repairs: Pine plank.... Pine timber Drift-bolts Spikes .feet, B. M.. 57,877 ..do... .pounds.. .do.... 1,870 360 209 The expense of labor and superintendence has exceeded $800. EFFECTS OF GALE, APRIL 2, 1884. April 2, 1884, a gale, unsurpassed in violence by any ever known, blew from northeast, north, northwest, and west, producing effects which have never before been experienced at this place. All such winds cause strong currents to pass from west to east at Michigan City. The entrance pier is constructed to intercept this flow, in order that vessels may not be drifted past the entrance; when, in addition to the current, heavy seas are rolling, the strain upon the pier and scour about the foundations are extreme. The exterior foundations were of close piling, as already described, and the pier was further secured by an anchor-pile driven in an angle next the sea-wall in each exterior compartment. A design showing the method of constructing the pier is forwarded as part of this report. The angle between the pier and the breakwater so stopped and pent up the seas as to cause a violent reaction around the end of the pier. Piles which had been driven under the northeast corner a depth of 8 to 12 feet in the substratum of clay were scoured and torn from their places for a distance of 15 feet at the side and 8 feet at the end of pier; the remaining piles were forced downward by the weight and vibration of pier until the northeast corner of superstructure had settled 2 feet and 3 inches, the northwest corner 6 inches, and other points amounts decreasing in extent until no settlement was found at a distance of 100 feet from end of pier; the top of pier at the end was thus thrown 201 inches to the east of its alignment, while the line at bottom remained unchanged. The sand and clay were scoured away so that the depth of water around the end of pier was increased about 10 feet, although on both sides, save for about 30 feet from the end, the depth of water was decreased by accretions of sand. REPAIRS OF PIER. The lower bearing timber on east side was cut away opposite the two end compartments in order to permit piles to be driven close to the pier in a vertical position. Fifteen heavy oak piles, 45 feet long, were obtained, eleven of which were driven on the side and four on the end of pier next,the northeast corner. The piles were driven from 9 to 13 feet into the hard clay bottom, and each one was secured to the wall of superstructure by six heavy screw bolts. No movement of the crib has been apparent since the repair was made. Several of the open-bottomed compartments of cribs numbered 1, 2, and 3, had been entirely emptied of their stone which was left in a ridge 5 or 6 feet outside the base of cribs; the stone thus lost has been replaced. LIGHTING PIER. During the entire season of navigation a light has been maintained on the end of pier; this has been necessary for the safety of the work as well as of passing vessels. CARE OF PROPERTY. During the winter and when work was suspended, one or more men have been required to care for the various scows, machinery, and other public property. TIMBER. A sufficient quantity of timber is now on hand for the construction of 150 feet of breakwater or pier. CONDITION OF THE WORK. The breakwater and entrance pier, as far as completed, are now in good condition. The old west pier is in very bad condition, and were it in a position much exposed to direct seas it could not stand through an ordinary gale. In order to secure the end on which the range beacon stands, some repairs must be made immediately. If the breakwater be extended in accordance with the project, the rebuilding of this pier will be unnecessary, though it is now so far gone that some repairs must be made to insure the channel from temporary destruction. All classes of vessels on the lakes can enter the harbor at all times, but the narrow entrance makes it hazardous in heavy gales; vessels are liable to be driven against the piers. The extension of east pier has greatly reduced this difficulty, though it will continue to exist until the breakwater is extended as proposed. FUTURE REQUIREMENTS. The following statement from last annual report relates the situation so exactly that it is repeated here: The outer harbor is much too small, even when complete, to serve the purpose for which it was designed, and to remedy its defects designs were made and received the approval of a Board of Engineers. (See plan opposite page 2270, Report of Chief of Engineers, 1880; also pages 2263 to 2270, inclusive.) The new breakwater should be commenced at an early day. The situation cannot be too strongly urged. The west pier cannot possibly protect the entrance to the business portion of the harbor but a few years longer unless essentially rebuilt; such a rebuilding would permanently cramp the outer harbor, and maintain the present narrow and dangerous entrance which has caused many vessels to be wrecked. (See list of wrecks, page 2269, Report of Chief of Engineers, 1882, Appendix G G.) The new breakwater, if built soon enough, will remedy these evils, and will largely increase the usefulness of the harbor by making it a safe refuge, the only one at the southern extremity of the lake. With neither of these works the usefulness of the harbor must be entirely destroyed in a very few years. (See map opposite page 2270, Report of Chief of Engineers, 1882.) PROJECT FOR ENSUING YEAR. It is proposed to apply the funds made available for the ensuing year in completing the old line of break water, and in extending the entrance pier or commencing the new breakwater, as may be found most expedient. Sufficient repairs must be made to west pier to keep the channel and lighted beacon from injury. ESTIMATES. The estimates heretofore submitted have been made on the basis of large appropriations exclusive of amounts required for repairs of the old work. The last annual report estimated the additional amount required to complete the project at $475,000, but the diversion of funds to repairs and other contingencies, with the probable rise in price of timber, should have placed the estimate at $500,000; of this amount $50,000 has been appropriated, leaving a balance of $450,000 still required. Of this amount $250,000 can be profitably expended in a single year. July 1, 1883, amount available Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. $19, 467 45 14,838 98 July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884......... 4,628 47 50,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... 54,628 47 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 250,000 00 450,000 00 |