in 1883 and 1884. In 1886 $47,000 was estimated as the cost of a masonry wall about 980 feet long, with embankment behind, the wall to be placed near low-water line, and to rise 12 feet above mean lowwater level. Under the appropriation of September 22, 1888, $47,000 was allotted for this sea wall and embankment. Recent stringent regulations prevent the deposit of garbage in this vicinity; therefore a riprap wall with dimension-stone capping was substituted for the masonry wall originally designed, the cost being less and the wall equally effective. The sea wall was completed in April, 1890. The wall and embankment are in good condition; slight repair to the embankment is needed where heavy storms have washed away part of the earth. A survey of the shores of the island, made in June, 1891, to prepare estimates of cost of other needed sea walls upon this island, shows that protection is needed at the west shore, north of the coal dock; a suitable sea wall, with embankment, at this place is estimated, to cost $30,000. Estimates for other sea walls were also presented, but they are not deemed of as pressing importance as this one. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended Amount transferred to allotment for sea wall, Governors Island.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ............ Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 30, 000, 00 (See Appendix 2 A.) SEA WALLS AT GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. Officer in charge, Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. The project adopted in 1865 provided for inclosing the entire island by a sea wall. Under an allotment made in 1865 and other subsequent allotments and appropriations, walls were built on the south, southeast, east, and northwest sides of the island, and under an appropriation of $50,000, made by act of Congress approved August 18, 1890, at the beginning of the fiscal year work had been commenced on a contract for construction of sea wall on the west side of the island. During the past fiscal year this contract was completed; the wall is 1,499.14 feet long, resting on a concrete foundation (containing 659.24 rabic yards of concrete); 39,544 cubic yards of filling were placed in the embankment behind the wall and 1,856 cubic yards were used to complete the embankment behind the north wall. With the balance of the available funds a wall about 212 feet long is to be built under a contract recently entered into, extending north from he wall on the east side of the island to and under the quartermaster's wharf. The existing walls are in good condition, but for preservation they hould be repointed in places and parts of the foundation should be protected with riprap. To complete the wall around the entire island, after the existing confract is finished, there will remain about 185 feet distance, to the shore end of the stone wharf. The estimated cost of building a wall over this distance is $8,000, and of repointing and riprapping the other walls where $5,717; total, $13,717. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... $53, 740 6, 597. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....... July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities. $180. July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 4,956. July 1, 1892, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 189 (See Appendix 2 B.) BEACH PROTECTION, WATER SUPPLY, AND SEWERAGE SY FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA. Officers of the Corps of Engineers in charge: Lieut. Col Hains, to November 31, 1891; Maj. L. Cooper Overman, from ber 23 to December 7, 1891; Capt. Thomas Turtle, from De 1891, to January 25, 1892; and Maj. Charles E. L. B. Davis, si ary 25, 1892, with Lieut. George A. Zinn, Corps of Enginee their immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Corps of Engineers. Beach protection. The erosion of the beach on the side of and to the northeastward of the fort had progressed so as to the integrity of the sand-spit connecting the fort with the m The approved project consisted of jetties or groins built at intervals along the beach, at an estimated cost of $37,000 jetties have been built, of an aggregate length of 927 feet. T been some fill on the east side of all the jetties, and between th scour. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during the fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available. (See Appendix 3 A.) Water supply. The supply of water is dependent upon ra stored in cisterns and water of inferior quality brought acre Creek in iron pipes. The importance of an adequate supply of some water within the limits of the fortification can hardly be timated. Six thousand dollars was appropriated by the act of ary 24, 1891, but this amount was not deemed sufficient to sink to the depth which it is already shown must be exceeded to si supply of good water. A brief account of previous attemps at s wells at this post is given in the report of the local officer, who mends that $4,000 additional appropriation be made. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. (See Appendix 3 B). $ Sewerage system. Twenty-five thousand dollars was appropriated by the act of March 2, 1889, for a complete system of sewerage inside and outside of the fort. Bids received for this work showed that the appropriation was insufficient for the purpose. October 29, 1891, the Secretary of War decided that two separate systems must be constructed, one by the United States and the other by the hotel proprietors and others enjoying the privilege of residing on the reservation. Estimates in accordance with this decision of the Secretary of War were submitted March 12, 1892, amounting to $45,000, and it was recommended that an appropriation of that sum be made for the sewerage system, in lieu of the amount appropriated by the act of March 2, 1889. The numerous reports of the local officer in charge and of the commanding officers and post surgeons show the great and urgent need of this improvement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... (See Appendix 3 C.) $24, 902. 10 24, 902. 10 REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF FORT MARION, FLORIDA. Officers in charge, Capt. W. M. Black, Corps of Engineers, to November 20, 1891, aud Maj. John C. Mallery, Corps of Engineers, since that date, with Lieut. David DuB. Gaillard, Corps of Engineers, under the immediate orders of the former until November 6, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. The work of restoration of Fort Marion and the improvement of its grounds were begun with an appropriation of $5,000, made in the act approved July 5, 1884. A further appropriation of $15,000 for the restoration of this fort was made in the act approved August 18, 1890. Work under this last appropriation was begun October 20, 1890, and was continued to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, as set forth in detail in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for that year. During the past fiscal year the entire terreplein was coated with a mixture of paraffin and petroleum; drawings for the restoration of the chapel door were made; a covered drain laid for a distance of 260 feet; 60 feet of payement that had settled was brought up to its proper level, and a number of trees and plants were put out. Additional and final work of restoration and improvement of fort and grounds remains, as set forth in the report of the officer in charge of the work, which it is estimated will cost $6,500. For purchase of land for fortifications... For protection, preservation, and repair of fortifications. For preparation of plans for fortifications. For protection of site of Fort Niagara, New York.. $1,782, 000 500, 000 For sea walls and embankments... For purchase of submarine mines and necessary appliances to operate them for closing the channels leading to our principal seaports.. For needful casemates, cable galleries, etc., from which to operate submarine mines For continuing torpedo experiments. 2 THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS. The Board, as at present constituted, consists of the followi cers of the Corps of Engineers: Col. Henry L. Abbot, Col. C. B stock, Col. D. C. Houston, and Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, is also a member Board when it is acting upon matters pertaining to the defensive on the Pacific coast. The Board has considered the various subjects referred to it the past year by the Chief of Engineers, and the following is summary of the reports rendered thereon: 1891, July 9. On project of Lieut. Col. P. C. Hains, Corps of neers, for gun emplacement at Fort Washington, Md.' September 1. On project of Mr. C. Farrington for a turret for purposes. September 29. On an application for permission to level off an ished battery at Governors Island, N. Y. October 14. On project of Maj. T. H. Handbury, Corps of Eng for obtaining a navigable channel in the lower Willamette and Col rivers. October 16. On project of Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Eng for a mining casemate and cable gallery at fort opposite Fort ware. October 26. On plan of Mr. Patrick McCann for a land fortres October 26. On plan of Mr. Owen Foley for a chevaux-de-frise November 30. On pamphlet of Lieut. Honeycutt on the "R average effect of parallel and independent fire." December 9. On plan of Mr. John Dougherty for a revolving f December 9. On project of Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps gineers, for gun emplacement at Fort Warren, Mass. December 14. On modified plans of the North River Bridge pany for a bridge across the Hudson River at New York City. December 16. On Senate 455, Fifty-second Congress, first se "To authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Company t struct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between York City and the State of New Jersey." December 21. On Senate 846, Fifty-second Congress, first se "To authorize and regulate the construction of bridges across the son and East rivers, at the city of New York and prescribe the d sions of the same." December 26. On purchase from the Highland Beach Associat land adjacent to Sandy Hook, N. J. December 28. On defenses of Long Island Sound-eastern enti 1892, January 12. On purchase of armored cable. January 15. On House of Representatives 289, Fifty-second gress, first session, "To incorporate the New York Bridge Com for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a bridge East River, between the cities of New York and Brooklyn, in the of New York." January 26. On plan of Mr. John Hegeman for a folding boat for ponton bridges. January 26. Ou project of Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, for the defense of the gorge of a gun-lift battery at Sandy Hook. January 29. On suggestions of Mr. Burwell Blair for locating hostile vessels entering a harbor. January 30. On memorial of Port Townsend Board of Trade for the defense of Puget Sound. February 1. On project of Maj. W. A. Jones, Corps of Engineers, for the improvement of the Red River of the North and Big Stone Lake. February 8. On plan of Mr. John Nader for a movable spar torpedo for harbor defense. February 8. On plan of Mr. H. G. Lane for a steel fort. February 8. On plan of Mr. Edwin Bell for formation of artificial bars to exclude hostile vessels. February 12. On plan of Mr. Charles Boeckh for deepening and navi gating channels. March 3. On device of Mr. C. K. Corliss for directing the movements of torpedoes. March 3. On Senate 2295, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To provide for the appointment of an Ohio River Commission for the improvement of said river from Pittsburg to Cairo." March 10. On specifications for submarine-mining cable proposed by Lieut. Col. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers. The report of the Board was accompanied by a memorandum on the subject by Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, dated March 9, 1892. March 28. On electrical defense scheme of Gen. G. W. Serrell. March 28. On Senate 2626, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Companies to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between New York City and the State of New Jersey." March 28. On plan of Mr. Charles H. Buckalew for submarine tunnels. April 2. On request of the Mount Morris, N. Y., bank directors for authority to partially fill in the Harlem River; and on their application that War Department orders relative to the height of the New York Central Railroad Company's bridge across the Harlem River be rescinded. April 6. On House of Representatives 7819, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "to authorize the construction of bridges over the North or Hudson River between the States of New York and New Jersey." April 7. On plan of Mr. C. F. Shedd for wire foot nets for obstructing an enemy's men and horses. April 28. On plan of Mr. George Cowing for the auxiliary defense of harbors and coasts. April 28. On House of Representatives 8312, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "to authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Companies to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between New York city and the State of New Jersey." May 26. On the defense of the eastern entrance to New York Harbor at and near Throgs Neck. May 26. On plan of Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, for strengthening the superstructure of the Buffalo Breakwater. In the performance of the duties of the Board, the following personal examinations were made: Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated July 28, 1891, ENG 92-2 |