the Board, in connection with its report on the defenses of the entrance of Long Island Sound, made an inspection of the loca ered by the report on August 28, 1891. Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated March the Board made an inspection of the defenses of Savannah, April 12 and 13, and of Charleston, S. C., on April 14, 15, and 1 Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated June the Board, on June 13, 1892, made an inspection of the barges ing powder and other explosives, anchored near Ellis and islands, New York Harbor. This matter was investigated at quest of the Treasury Department in view of complaints that t and property of people on the New Jersey shore were mena these barges. In addition to their duties with The Board of Engineers, tl vidual members of the Board have been otherwise engaged as t 1. Col. Henry L. -Abbot, the president of the Board, has co in charge of certain experiments with torpedoes; as a member Board of Ordnance and Fortification; as president of the Board the harbor lines for the harbor of New York and its adjacent and as division engineer of the Northeast division. He has also as president of Boards for examination of officers of the Co Engineers with a view to promotion, and as president of the B fix the harbor lines of the port of Boston. He has recently be tailed on a Board to consider and report upon the subject of harbo for Oswego, N. Y. 2. Col. C. B. Comstock has served as division engineer of the west division; as member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. En School; as president of the Mississippi River Commission; as m of the Board to fix the harbor lines of New York Harbor and its ent waters; as member of the Board to fix the harbor lines of delphia; as member of a Board for examination of officers of the of Engineers with a view to their promotion; and is under ord represent the War Department at the Fifth Congress of Internal gation at Paris, France. 3. Col. D. C. Houston has been the disbursing officer of The Bo Engineers. He has conducted the various works of river and improvement and of fortifications under his charge, and he has s as a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer Scho a member of the Board to fix the harbor lines for the harbor of York and its adjacent waters; as a member of Boards to establis bor lines in the harbors of Stamford and Bridgeport, Conn.; as me of Board for examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers w view to promotion; and is a member of the Board to consider h lines for Norwalk, Conn. 4. Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, in addition to conducting the va works of river and harbor improvement and of harbor defense which he was charged during the year, has continued to serve member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School; on bor-line Boards for the harbors of New York, Stamford, and Bridge on the Board on the subject of obstructions to navigation in the son River; and on the Board to consider a deep-water harbor on Pacific Coast between Points Duma and Capistrano. He also se on the harbor-line Board for the port of Boston, and is a member o Board to consider harbor lines for Norwalk, Conn. POST OF WILLETS POINT, NEW YORK-UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOL-BATTALION OF ENGINEERS-ENGINEER DEPOT. Officer in command, Lieut. Col. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers. POST OF WILLETS POINT, NEW YORK. At the close of the fiscal year the garrison consisted of 24 commis-sioned officers and 353 enlisted men, including officers and noncommissioned officers of the general staff, student officers, and enlisted men of the Hospital Corps. This is a loss of 3 officers and a gain of 20 men in strength over last year's report. Repairs and improvements have been made during the year to roads, sidewalks, and buildings, and two new brick barracks and a guardhouse have been begun by the Quartermaster's Department. A brick house for the fire engines and appliances has been completed and extensive repairs to the quartermaster's wharf have been commenced. The new guard-house is nearly ready for use. One more barrack, a building for the post mess for enlisted men, and a storehouse near the wharf for quartermaster's and commissary stores, as heretofore reported, are very much needed for the comfort of the garrison as well as for the proper handling and storage of public property. The drill, discipline, instruction, and sanitary condition of the garrison have been satisfactory and compare favorably with the attainments of former years, as shown by the comparative statement in appendix. UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOL.. During the year 6 engineer officers, 2 cavalry, 1 artillery, and 5 infantry officers completed the course, and 7 infantry officers who have completed the laboratory duty are still engaged in the practice work of planting and operating torpedoes, which it is expected will be completed October 1, 1892. All have manifested intelligence and interest in the work and are entitled to certificates of proficiency in one or more of the branches they have been studying and practicing. BATTALION OF ENGINEERS. The legal strength of the Battalion of Engineers is five companies, of 150 men each, with a sergeant-major, and quartermaster sergeant, and is officered by details from the commissioned officers of the corps. The present strength is 18 officers and 437 enlisted men. The authorized strength of companies A, B, and C, which are stationed at Willets Point, is 133 men each, and of Company E, stationed at West Point, 100 men. The total losses from all causes during the year have been 149, and the total gain 169, making a net gain of 20 men. The battalion has been employed during the year at engineer, ponton and torpedo drills, infantry drill, rifle practice, photography; and ompany E, at West Point, has assisted in the instruction of cadets in ilitary engineering and pontoon drill. ENGINEER DEPOT. The fireproof storehouse referred to in last report is nearly completed, d the work of arranging the pontoon, siege, and torpedo materials and appliances in it is well under way. This building will f the storage room needed for many years to come. The small tug for planting torpedoes has been placed under and is to be completed by the end of September. A quantity of lumber and other materials have been procur purpose of replacing the old and worn-out pontoon bridge eq The buildings and machinery for trials of the Sims-Edison have been provided and are now in use for the purpose intend A concrete tank for insulated torpedo cable has been bui now in use for storing cable. The depot property, such as torpedo, pontoon materials, an ments, have been cared for, and the usual purchases, receipts, is repairs have been made. Experiments have been continued, including the trials of t Edison Torpedo, .tests of building materials, fuses, circuit mooring rope, shackles, etc., details of which will be found i dixes, or have been made the subject of special reports. STATEMENT OF FUNDS. Congress has at various times appropriated as follows: 1. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the amount of.. Expended and pledged.. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., (no limit) for fireproof storehouse, the amount of Expended and pledged. Outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1892, balance available. 2. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act September 22, 1888: July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available 3. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act March 2, 1889: June 30, 1892, assigned during fiscal year. 4. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act August 18, 1890: July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available. 5. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act February 24, 1891: July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available 6. Torpedoes for harbor defense, acts March 2, 1889, and August 18, 1890: Reallotted during fiscal year for purchase of American Submarine Cable, total amount.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available. 7. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... 1 1 There will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 18 the engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., viz: 1. For incidental expenses of depot..... 2. For purchase of materials for instruction of battalion.. 3. For purchase and repair of instruments... 4. For purchase and binding of professional works for library Total..... (See Appendix No. 5.) 1: RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. The funds with which the works for the improvement of rivers and harbors were prosecuted during the last fiscal year were derived from the appropriations by the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, appropriations in the sundry civil act approved March 3, 1891, for certain works on account of which contracts were to be made for completion as provided in the act of September 19, 1890, and such balances of former appropriations as were available. A brief statement derived from the reports of the officers in charge of the several works hereinafter given sets forth the condition of each improvement, the extent of work performed during the last fiscal year, the amount expended, and estimate of amount required for its completion. Section 2 of the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1867, requires that the Secretary of War shall annually submit to Congress a full estimate for the entire and permanent completion of each river and harbor work, and of the amount that can be profitably expended on each uncompleted work in the next fiscal year. It is believed that sufficient funds are provided by the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, to carry the works through the fiscal year of 1894, except in the cases of works on account of which contracts are to be made for their completion as provided in the river and barbor acts of 1890 and 1892, and consequently estimates for this last class of works only are submitted. Each report, however, sets forth the amount necessary to complete the work in question, and provides a basis upon which items of appropriation can, if necessary, be formulated. Reports are appended of the work accomplished in the removal of wrecks obstructing or endangering navigation, as provided for in section 4 of the river and harbor act approved June 14, 1880, and enlarged by provision in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882. Under the authority given to the Secretary of War in section 12 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, harbor lines have been established at the following localities: Five Mile River Harbor, Connecticut; New York Harbor and adjacent waters; Anacostia River (Eastern Branch of the Potomac, Washington, D. C.); South Branch of Elizabeth River, at navy-yard, Norfolk, Virginia; San Pedro, Wilmington Harbor, California; San Diego Harbor and adjacent waters, California; Willamette River at Portland, Oregon; Vancouver Harbor (Columbia River), Olympia Harbor, and Bellingham Bay (at New Whatcom and Fair Haven, Washington). Examinations were made whenever required by the committees of Congress of proposed bills authorizing the construction of bridges upon which the views of the War Department were desired. Of the bills so examined 34 originated in the Senate, and 56 in the House of Representatives. During the fiscal year examinations were made of such plans and locations as were submitted by parties interested, of bridges proposed to be built over navigable waters subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, as authorized by acts of Congress. A brief statement is given of the action had in such cases. Under sections 4 and 5 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, persons, corporations, or associations owning or controlling bridges over navigable water ways of the United States, which are unreasonable obstructions to the free navigation of such waters, after being given a reasonable opportunity to be heard, have been notified to so alter the bridges as to render navigation through or under them reasonably free, easy, and unobstructed. In each case the cl quired to be made were specified in the notice, and reasonabl prescribed in which to make them. A detailed statement of is given further on in this report. Reports made in compliance with the requirements of se the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, and section 4 of that 5, 1886, of instances in which piers, breakwaters, or other w by the United States in aid of commerce or navigation are u pied or injured by a corporation or an individual, will be four pendix Z Z. The engineering works in the charge of this office are arr five divisions, and officers of the corps assigned as division to overlook the work, as follows: West of the Rocky Mountains: Pacific Division, Col. G Mendell. East of the Rocky Mountains: Northeast Divis Henry L. Abbot; Southeast Division, Col. Wm. P. Craighill; S Division, Col. Cyrus B. Comstock; Northwest Division, Col. M. Poe. South Pass of the Mississippi River.-During the fiscal yea June 30, 1892, the legal channel was maintained at the head Pass and through the Pass itself, but during a period of th days, from May 20 to June 20, both dates inclusive, such cha not obtain through the jetties at the mouth of the Pass. Dur period, however, there was a navigable depth of 28.1 feet. Rules and regulations for the use of canals.-Section 7 of the r harbor act approved July 5, 1884, authorized the Secretary of prescribe proper rules and regulations for the administration, by the public, of the Des Moines Rapids Canal, the St. Mary Canal, and the Louisville and Portland Canal, and provided p for willful violations of such rules. Similar legislation w sequently enacted by acts of August 11, 1888, and September 1 applying to the South Pass of the Mississippi River and t Moines Rapids Dry Dock. It is desirable that similar authority should be granted to the tary of War with respect to all the canals owned and operated Government, and that the willful violation of such rules as may scribed should be declared a misdemeanor, and penalties ther provided. The need of rules to govern the use and navigation o works, and of adequate provision for their enforcement, applies a all the canals. Express legislation in some cases indicates tha gressional action is necessary in all cases for the sufficient and enforcement of whatever rules the Secretary of War may promu and difficulty has already arisen from the lack of authority to e rules and regulations prescribed for the use of canals not embra existing enactments. The following draft of an act, which will, it is believed, accon the objects desired with respect to all United States canals and s works of navigation, is proposed and recommended for passa, Congress: AN ACT providing for the establishment and enforcement of rules and regulations for the navigation of United States canals and similar works of navigation, and for other purpos Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of A in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and is hereby, authori prescribe and publish such rules and regulations for the government, use navigation of any or all canals and similar works of navigation that now a hereafter may be owned, operated, or maintained by the United States as may necessary, proper, or expedient for the purpose of regulating the use of such o or similar works by vessels passing through them, and of preventing any ob |