Jaly 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893............... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. $42,951.88 27, 668.83 15, 286. 05 1, 905. 71 13, 380.34 30,000.00 43, 380.34 249, 613.50 Inner harbor.-The total expenditures to this account to July 1, 1891, were $102,532.49. The navigation has been practically maintained as projected and gradually extended towards the upper limit by frequent dredging. The expenditures for the year were $3,390.57. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1892, balance àvailable..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. . Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 (See Appendix K K 16.) $6,842.51 3, 390, 57 3,451.94 1, 371.96 2,079.98 15,000.00 17, 079.98 EXAMINATION AND SURVEY, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Grand River, Michigan, below Grand Rapids, with a view of determining the existence or nonexistence of underlying rock, the hydraulics of the river, and the detailed topography of the valley subject to overflow, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Ludlow, and report thereon submitted through Col. 0. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Maj. Ludlow and of the division engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Maj. Ludlow was charged with and has completed its survey, and submitted report thereon. The project recommended contemplates improvement of the river to provide for open 10-foot navigation, at an estimated cost of $670,500. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as Honse Ex. Doc. No. 197, Fifty-second Congress, first session. (See also Appendix K K 17.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN EASTERN MICHIGAN. Officer in charge, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Charles S. Riché, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. St. Marys River, Michigan.-The project for obtaining a navigable channel of 16 feet depth between Lakes Superior and Huron had been barely completed when the demands of commerce so enormously increased that the work of obtaining a depth of 20 feet throughout was undertaken with the full sanction of both legislative and executive authority. A necessary part of the project is the construction of a new lock upon the site of the old State locks, to have a length of 800 feet between gates, a width of 100 feet throughout, a depth of 21 feet on the miter sills, and a single lift approximating 18 feet. The canal is to be deepened to correspond. The estimated cost of this enlargement of the canal system is $4,738,865, for the details of which see pages 2220 et seq. of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887. The cofferdam surrounding the site of the lock pit is completed, the pier in front of Fort Brady is completed, and nearly all the necessary material has been filled in behind it. The excavation of the lock pit is finished, and the construction of the masonry walls of the lock is making good progress. Anchorages for the lock gates have been constructed and are being placed in position, and valves and frames for filling and emptying the lock are under contract. Specifications for deepening a portion of the canal have been issued, and proposals for this work will be opened July 2, 1892. In view of the importance of losing no time in the prosecution of the work, an estimate of $2,000,000 is submitted, as the conditions now existing require that this amount should be available in addition to that already on hand. This entire amount can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 Expended during fiscal year (exclusive of outstanding liabilities). Total expenditure to June 30, 1892..... July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 1,093, 605. 47 1, 189, 686. 26 July 1, 1892, balance available..... 742, 236.99 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 2, 238, 865.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 1.) 2, 000, 000.00 2. Operating and care of Saint Marys Falls Canal, Michigan.—During the fiscal year the canal was open to navigation 233 days. It was closed for the winter December 7, 1891, and opened April 18 for the season of 1892. Eleven thousand five hundred and fifty-seven vessels, etc., aggregating 9,828,874 registered tons, and carrying 10,107,603 tons of freight and 25,697 passengers, passed through the canal in 5,615 lockages. The staple articles transported were 2,717,029 tons of coal, 65,667 tons of copper, 4,184,612 barrels of flour, 49,419,131 bushels of grain, 4,142,797 tons of iron ore, 73,047 tons of pig and manufactured iron, 236,169 barrels of salt, 1,330 tons of silver ore, 399,985,000 feet, B. M., of lumber, 38,678 tons of building stone, and 443,212 tons of miscel laneous or unclassified freight. The estimate of expenditures on account of operating and care for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is $59,000, all of which is provided for by indefinite appropriation. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 Expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding June 30, 1892. Total expended to June 30, 1892............. $316, 015. 34 57, 870.99 373,886.33 Allotment required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 54, 317.52 (See Appendix L L 2.) 3. Dry dock at St. Marys Falls Canal, Michigan.-The proposition to locate a dry dock in immediate proximity to the lockage system is as objectionable as ever, but if it should be decided to do so, then the location heretofore referred to, at the eastern end of the area transferred from the Fort Brady military reservation to the canal reservation, is the least objectionable. But the construction of a pier in front of Fort Brady reservation has been completed, and a portion of this work would have to be removed, thus increasing by $20,000, the probable cost of a dry dock, and the estimate therefor should be increased accordingly. Amount (estimated) required for the construction of a dry dock at the point indicated, $343,872. It is understood that the State of Michigan holds $65,000 in readiness to transfer to the United States for the purpose of constructing a dry dock at St. Marys Falls Canal. (See Appendix L L 3.) 4. Hay Lake Channel, St. Marys River, Michigan.-Before improvements were commenced the channel through Hay Lake was restricted in depth at Sugar Island Rapids and at Middle Neebish. At these two places a maximum draft of but 8 or 9 feet could be carried if a very irregular course was taken, and, practically, vessels drawing more than 6 feet of water would not attempt the passage. In addition to the places above mentioned there were some shoals in Hay Lake requiring removal to make the channel available for the vessels navigating St. Marys River. The original estimates for this improvement were based upon a project for a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep, leaving the present navigable channel of St. Marys River at Sugar Island Rapids (about 24 miles below the canal), through those into Hay Lake, and then by way of Middle Neebish, rejoining the present navigable channel at the foot of Sugar Island, thus saving a distance of 11 miles and obtaining a route which can be so marked by lights as to be navigable at night, a condition impracticable with the present channel, except by the use of many lights. The estimated cost of this project was $2,127,292. The project was subsequently modified to increase the navigable depth to 20 feet, the estimated cost being $2,659,115, subject to change, however, in case unexpected difficulties are developed during the progress of the work. Prior to the beginning of work under the contracts now in force, 611,907.17 cubic yards, bank measure, had been excavated from the channel. Under the six contracts for excavation now in force, a total of 1,123,479 cubic yards, bank measure, has been removed, of which 1,061,731 cubic yards was removed during the fiscal year; and work is still in progress. The total so far removed is in excess of that required by the specifications. The estimate for the work is $2,659,115, of which $1,790,000 has been appropriated, leaving $869,115 to be provided for. To pay the various Government employés and contractors, $500,000 will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. This amount should be appro priated with the proviso that any portion of it not required for Hay Lake Channel could be expended elsewhere between Lakes Superior and Huron at places where excavation is needed to attain the navigable depth of 20 feet. This entire amount can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891.... Expended during fiscal year (exclusive of outstanding liabilities).... Total expenditure to June 30, 1892 ..... $828,823.09 280.9 3.01 1, 109, 806.09 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. 819.65.80 284, 370.24 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. 565,325,56 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 480, 505. 49 $84,820.07 565,325,56 Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1892 115,000.00 869, 115.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 4.) 500,000.00 5. Harbor at Cheboygan, Michigan.-Prior to undertaking any improvement at this harbor, only 6 to 7 feet of water could be carried across the bar at the mouth of Cheboygan River. The original project for the improvement, adopted in 1871, contemplated dredging a channel 200 feet wide and 14 feet deep through the bar, and revetting each side by a pile pier. Experience gained during the progress of the work already done leads to the belief that the piers can be omitted, with consequent reduction of cost to the extent of about one-half the original estimate. Subsequent modifications of the project were made until, as it finally stood, it provided for a channel of 15 feet in depth, and generally 200 feet in width from the 15-foot curve in the Straits of Mackinac to the State Road Bridge. This has been completed, and until the dredged channel begins to silt up, or the revetting piers contemplated in the original project of 1871 are shown to be necessary, no further work is proposed. 6. Harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan.-Prior to the commencement of improvements there was a navigable channel from Thunder Bay into the river of 12 feet depth and of a variable width, which at one place was only 50 feet. The original project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1876, and provided for an entrance channel from the bay into the river, of navigable width, and of not less than 13 feet depth, a subsequent modification increasing the proposed depth to 14 feet. The work was practically completed in 1884, but it was then stated that the improvement was of such a character that it would require attention from time to time, and it was recommended that a sufficient appropriation be made to render $10,000 available for use when it should be wanted. On June 30, 1891, a channel about 150 feet wide and 14 feet deep extended across the bar, and dredging to restore the 14-foot channel in accordance with the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, was still in progress. Work was continued until October 20, 1891, by which time the 14-foot channel was restored for a width of 250 feet entirely across the bar; one dredge cut 16 feet deep and 20 feet wide also extended entirely across the bar, and two adjacent dredge cuts of same depth were partially finished. In order that the depth of 16 feet obtained in the river may be rendered available, the next appropriation should be expended in deepening the channel across the bar to the full depth of 16 feet for a suitable width. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 Expended during fiscal year... Total expenditure to June 30, 1892 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... [Amount (estimated) required for completion of combined projects for Thunder Bay River and Harbor... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 6.) $20,785.81 3, 403.69 24, 189.50 5, 372.50 4,548.87 823.63 10, 587.48 7. Thunder Bay River, Michigan.-Before improvements were commenced, Thunder Bay River from its mouth to 1 mile above varied in width from 175 to 100 feet, and had a navigable channel of from 14 to 11 feet deep except at the upper end, where the depth diminished to 5 feet. The general project for the improvement of the river contemplates a channel 16 feet deep within the dock lines established by the city engineer of Alpena, Mich., in 1888, the width varying from 100 to 50 feet according to locality, and the channel extending from the mouth of the river to a point 1 mile above. On June 30, 1891, one dredge cut about 25 feet wide and 16 feet deep extended upon the northerly side of the axis of the river from the lighthouse crib at the mouth to the Second Street Swing Bridge in Alpena; a second dredge cut had been made upon the southerly side of the axis for about half this distance, and dredging was still in progress. Work was continued until November 24, 1891, when the contract was closed, and a channel 16 feet deep and from 100 to 50 feet wide extended from |