INNER HARBOR. The only work of improvement has been dredging in the channel and upper winding basin, to deepen and extend the harbor in accordance with plans heretofore adopted. (See map in Report of Chief of Engineers, 1882, part 3, opposite page 2270.) The upper winding basin has been entirely completed, and the channel has been extended about 100 feet above. Various points in the harbor which had been more or less filled by drift from above have been deepened to 17 feet. Operations were continued from July 1 to November 17, 1883, and from May 1 to June 28, 1884. There being but a very small amount of funds remaining, the dredge has been laid up to await the necessity for its further use. A total of 116,465 cubic yards of material were removed, 9,975 cubic yards of which were placed upon the wharf for filling, and 106,490 cubic yards were scowed 2 miles and dumped in the lake. The expense of towing, by hiring a tug as required, was $3,883, about 3.65 cents per cubic yard. By charging every other item paid from the appropriation to the dredge the cost of dredging has been but about 4.21 cents per cubic rd. In four years the prices have ranged as follows: ya Cents. The difference in the price has been mainly due to the contingencies of care and repair of plant. The average price is less than one-third the lowest price ever obtained, at Michigan City, by contract, and the above prices include even office and various other expenses, which should be deducted to make the comparison complete. There being no additional funds available for continuing work the ensuing year, the small balance will be expended in care of plant or other contingent requirements. ESTIMATE. To complete the inner harbor according to the project will require $15,000. July 1, 1883, amount available... Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $9,308 55 8,790 70 517 85 15,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 15,000 00 I I 2. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR AT NEW BUFFALO, MICHIGAN. The expenditure of the appropriation of August 2, 1882, for improving this harbor was authorized by the Secretary of War August 2, 1883. A project was submitted to add 100 feet to the end of the pier, east of entrance, and its approval was received August 20, 1883. 5908 EN-124 The plan was for a work of close piling, of square hemlock, cut off below the water surface, surmounted by a superstructure of ordinary crib construction, and the whole to be filled with brush and stone. The timber and iron were purchased from the surplus at Michigan City; the necessary framing was completed in the autumn of 1883, and the timber was transported to New Buffalo and stored on the pier. The foundations could not then be safely undertaken, for the piledriver could not be taken into the harbor, and to leave it outside was extremely hazardous. On the 10th day of May, 1884, the pile-driver pertaining to improvements at Michigan City Harbor was towed to New Buffalo, and the foundations were commenced. The driving of piles was exceedingly difficult, although a heavy steam hammer and a water jet were used; logs, brush, and stone imbedded in the sand and gravel and clay were constantly met, and in one instance a single pile was struck 260 blows. Added to this was much roughness on the lake, compelling frequent suspensions of work and much towing of the pile-driver where the channel was so bad that temporary improvements were required to get in and out. The following statement from Capt. J. A. Manning, who superintended the work, describes the difficulty experienced: We have used all the devices to be thought of which were readily obtainable, such as shoveling out a channel, washing out with water-jet, holding the driver hard against the bar and utilizing the current, which at times is very strong, to cut out a channel. We, however, finally succeeded in getting all the piles driven on the 21st, and towed the pile-driver back to Michigan City. Whenever the weather would permit I have kept the force at work without regard to hours, getting the piles drawn into line, sawing them off to grade, putting on the wale-streaks, and putting on superstructure, filling the pier with brush, and doing such work as can only be done in quiet weather. At the end of the year the construction was so far advanced that its completion would occupy but about two weeks. The improvements thus far made have not been sufficient to make a harbor for any considerable commercial value, and there has never been any commercial statistics of sufficient value to report. For a place like New Buffalo, an annual appropriation of $5,000 is of but little benefit to commerce, and if a work is to be constructed at all, it should be with larger appropriations. A project was submitted in 1882 for work sufficient to make the harbor available for commercial purposes, in accordance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of February 21, 1882. The amount of the estimate was $150,000. (See Annual Reports for 1882 and 1883.) The harbor is in the collection district of Chicago; the nearest light-house is at Michigan City, Indiana. A number of small boats engaged in fishing find a harbor at New Buffalo, but there is no other lake commerce. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $5,000 00 4,270 11 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 729 89 APPENDIX J J. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND OF GRAND RIVER BELOW GRAND RAPIDS. REPORT OF CAPTAIN D. W. LOCKWOOD, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Charlevoix Harbor, Michigan. 4. Manistee Harbor, Michigan. 7. White River Harbor, Michigan. 8. Muskegon Harbor, Michigan. 9. Grand Haven Harbor, Michigan. 10. Grand River, Michigan. 11. Black Lake Harbor, Michigan. 12. Saugatuck Harbor, Michigan. 13. South Haven Harbor, Michigan. 14. Saint Joseph Harbor, Michigan. 15. Removing wrecked schooner from Charlevoix Harbor, Michigan. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS. 16. Harbor at Cross Village, Michigan. 17. For harbor of refuge at Ludington, Michigan. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 31, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith my annual reports for the works of river and harbor improvement under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. W. LOCKWOOD, Captain of Engineers. JJI. IMPROVEMENT OF CHARLEVOIX HARBOR AND ENTRANCE TO PINE LAKE, MICHIGAN. The condition of this harbor at the close of the fiscal year was as follows: Depth of water.-The dredging done near the close of the last fiscal year secured a mid-depth in channel leading into Round Lake of 12 feet. The present depth is about the same. In the upper channel lead ing into Pine Lake the depth is about 12 feet. |