of the proposed extension inside of the old pier, and have a track laid down parallel to and only 50 feet from it. The chances are strongly in favor of the railroad company's seizing and using this pier-work as a wharf, as soon as built, and as it will extend far inside the shore-line proper it would hardly seem to be the province of the Government to build more than is actually necessary to make a good connection between the west pier proper and the shore, and to secure beyond all possibility any scour around the shore end of the former; 150 feet would be ample for such purposes. Before excavating the trench for this pierwork, the experience of this year has shown that it will be necessary to construct a shore protection to the westward in order to prevent the seas from washing through. The estimated amounts required for this harbor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, are, therefore: Prolonging the east pier 250 feet, at $70 per foot. Dredging for 1,100 linear feet, 25,000 cubic yards, at 25 cents per cubic yard. Total..... This estimate is about $11,000 in excess of the estimate submitted by Major Adams, and is owing mainly to the fact that I have increased the estimated cost of drilling, blasting, and removing rock from $2 to $3 per cubic yard. I am of the opinion that the latter estimate is more nearly correct. Ashtabula Harbor is in the collection district of Cuyahoga, Ohio. There is a fixed white light of the fifth order, varied by flashes, on the west pier. Fort Porter, N. Y., 120 miles distant, is the nearest work of defense. The receipts of the custom-house for the year ending December 31, 1883, amounted to $778.75. No duties received during the year. The value of exports was $32,483; there were 633, vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 400,168 tons, entered, and 599 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 398,500 tons, cleared. The total amount appropriated for this harbor up to the present time is $349,901.21, of which sum $344,082.17 have been expended. Attached to this report is a detailed statement of expenditures. July 1, 1883, amount available Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.......... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 102,750 00 77,555 00 Statement in detail of annual appropriations, expenditures, customs collected, entrances and clearances, with their tonnage, for Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio. No work was done at this harbor during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, nor during that ending June 30, 1884. None is contemplated this season, as there are no funds available. The annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, of my predecessor on this work, Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, whom I relieved November 27, 1883, is so much in accordance with my own views that I can but quote from it. He reported as follows: The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1829, and the bar at the mouth of Conneaut Creek was dry at low stages of water, when the original improvements were commenced. Operations were carried on during the years of 1829 to 1832, and from 1836 to 1838, inclusive, which comprised the construction of piers, 125 feet apart, running out from shore to a depth of 12 feet of water in the lake, and dredging; the design was to afford a depth of 12 feet of water through the bar and into Conneaut Creek-the harbor of Conneaut. Works of improvement have progressed with more or less of interruptions and suspensions, no work having been done from 1832 to 1836; from 1839 to 1844; from 1845 to 1852; from 1852 to 1866, and none last year or this. The best channel depth ever obtained at the entrance was only 11 feet, the more usual depth being from 8 to 9 feet, and the commerce of the port has always been trifling; we may therefore say the hopes entertained for this harbor, when its improvement was undertaken, have never been realized. It has been recommended that improvements should be made at this harbor as follows: Renewing 800 feet of old east pier, at $30 per foot Total I have nothing to add to this recommendation; indeed, it seems to me that unless the facilities for transportation by land to and from this harbor should be materially augmented, any outlay for the improvement of the harbor is injudicious; considerable sums have been expended during the last fifty years in preserving the harbor and its improvements without drawing private or incorporate enterprise in its direction; therefore the harbor must be regarded as of questionable advantage as a commercial outlet to and from the lake. The total amount appropriated for this harbor up to the close of the present fiscal year was $112,629.39, of which amount $112,609.71 have been expended. The estimated cost of completing the existing project is $35,090, which amount could be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for objects in accordance with the estimate quoted above. Conneaut is in the collection district of Cuyahoga, Ohio; there is a fixed white light of the sixth order at the end of the west pier. Fort Porter, N. Y., 105 miles distant, is the nearest work of defense. The amount of revenue collected during the year ending December 31, 1883, was $93.70. There were 22 vessels, with au aggregate tonnage of 599 tons, entered, and 22, with an aggregate tonnage of 599 tons, cleared, during the year. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available $53 18 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 33 50 July 1, 1884, amount available...... 19 68 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 35,090 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 35,090 00 Statement in detail of annual appropriations, expenditures, customs collected, entrances and clearances, with their tonnage, for Conneaut Harbor, Ohio. The harbor of Erie is formed by the peninsula of Presque Isle, which almost entirely incloses an area of fine anchorage with a sheltered outlet and offing to the eastward. The area inclosed, the bay of Presque Isle, measured some 44 miles in length by 13 miles in width, of which perfectly land-locked area about 2 miles by 14 miles affords water 18 feet and over in depth. The attention of the Government was first directed to this harbor in 1819, when a survey was made of it. The original plan having in view the improvement of the harbor was not adopted, however, until 1823, but that plan, with some minor modifications to adapt the channel to the increased draught of vessels, &c., as executed, results in the pres ent entrance. When operations were commenced in 1823, the channel was narrow 19.68 |