2. Water supply, District of Columbia; the 48-inch main.—The work of laying the 48-inch main, for which $575,000 was appropriated by the act of March 2, 1889, the laying of the 30-inch mains in East Capitol street and in New Jersey avenue Northwest, and the 24-inch mains in Eleventh street Northwest, in K street Northeast, and in Eighteenth street Northwest, which were done by means of the same appropriation, had been completed at the close of the last fiscal year. The remainder of the appropriation, amounting to $10,669.91, remaining in the hands of the officer in charge, was turned into the Treasury, on the 9th of September, 1891. 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 available $10, 866.58 196.67 10, 669.91 81.40 10, 588.51 As far as can be foreseen the available remainder of the appropria tion will not be required for future expenditure. (See Appendix A A A 2.) 3. Increasing the water supply of Washington, District of Columbia.— This work was commenced under an appropriation made in the act of Congress approved July 15, 1882. All operations on this project are suspended, and no work has been done under it during the year. The work of replacing the decayed timber linings of the upper portions of the tunnel shafts, which was in operation at the close of the last fiscal year, was continued, and completed early in the year. The work consisted in making an entirely new lining of the best quality of Georgia pine, extending either from the surface of the rock, as at Foundry Branch shaft (which was completed in the previous fiscal year) and Champlain avenue shaft, or from the top of the brick lining that had been carried at the Howard University shaft to within about 20 feet of the surface of the ground. At Foundry Branch shaft the new lining was of 3-inch plank set behind horizontal frames of 10-inch by 12-inch timbers 2 feet apart. At Champlain avenue and Howard University shafts the lining was built solid of 10-inch by 12-inch timbers. The interior stone lining, "pitching," of the new reservoir near Howard University having been considerably injured by drainage water from ground around the reservoir, which found its way to the bottom of the reservoir under the stone and undermined it, it was found nec essary to cut off these streams, and several small retaining walls were built to prevent further damage. About 715 square yards of the stone lining of the reservoir, which had sunk from the washing out of the sand under it, was repaired. A guard strainer, 6 feet square, composed of 2-inch Georgia pine plank, was built around the inlet mouth of the 12 inch drain under the dam to prevent a possible disastrous obstruction of this drain. A masonry wing wall was built on each side of the mouth of the great sewer which passes around this reservoir for the protection of the mouth, and the earth which had been washed away refilled back of the wall and over the sewer. A watchman has been employed during the year at the new reser voir. His duties have included the guarding of the stone at the of all of the shafts except the one at Foundry Branch, whi the care of the watchman at the distributing reservoir. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended on all items of appropriation July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available..... No estimate for further appropriation is submitted. (See Appendix A A A 3.) 4. Erection of fishways at Great Falls.—At the commencement of fiscal year operations were in progress under the contract entered June 9. 1891, with Isaac H. Hathaway, of Palladrighia, Pa. for + construction of fishways at Great Falls. The pians and spermcas for which had been prepared by the Commissioner of Elsa and Foo. eries, as contemplated by the act making a pepeiations for the es, 6. By direction of the Secretary of War, the engt jeep * IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, AND CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Col. O. H. Ernst, major, Corps of Engineers. The various improved parks and reservations have received the care and attention required to maintain them in good condition. The Washington Monument received necessary attention. A new set of cables for the elevator was placed, and the improvement of the surrounding grounds was completed as far as available funds would permit. Additional buildings were erected in the nursery grounds. About 486,000 plants were propagated in the greenhouses during the year, nearly all of which were set out in the public grounds in May and June. In the Smithsonian grounds and Judiciary Square additional asphalt road pavement and footwalks were constructed. In Lafayette Square additional asphalt footwalk was laid. A granite curbing was placed around Lafayette Square. A granolithic pavement was laid upon the sidewalk on Pennsylvania avenue in front of the Executive Mansion grounds. McPherson Square was entirely remodeled. Reservation No. 34, on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets west, was also remodeled. Reservation No. 20, at the intersection of Pennsylvania avenue, Twenty-eighth and M streets northwest, was improved. The circle at the intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey avenues and First and G streets northwest was inclosed with an iron post-and-chain fence, and some trees were planted. Eight hundred and forty-three feet of additional water pipe was laid in different parts of the public grounds during the year. In the Executive Mansion some floors of Portland cement were laid in the basement, extensive improvements were made in the laundry and the bath-rooms, some of the apartments were redecorated, new carpets and window draperies purchased, some of the furniture renovated, and the work of introducing electric lights completed. The stone balustrade above the cornice on the east end of the Mansion and a portion of the east porch were considerably damaged by a severe storm in November. Necessary repairs were made to the greenhouses connected with the Mansion. Attention is invited to the detailed report of the officer in charge, and to his estimates for the coming fiscal year, as follows: For improvement and care of public buildings and grounds.. Salaries of employés Fuel, light, contingencies, etc.. $184, 022 55, 680 32,500 500 $9,060 3,600 12, 660 285, 362 (See Appendix B B B.) PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHARTS OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES, AND SURVEYS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING THESE CHARTS UP TO DATE. Under the supervision of this office additions have been made to the engraved copper plates of charts of Corrections and additions to quite a number of other plates have been ordered, and work thereon is progressing. During the year 5,801 charts were distributed under the supervision of Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, at Detroit, Mich.; of these 5,113 were sold at 20 cents each, and 19 at 10 cents each, and the amount of $1,024.50 turned into the Treasury. In addition, 19 charts at 20 cents each were sold at this office, and the sum of $3.80 was deposited in the Treasury. The total amount received for the sale of charts was, therefore, $1,028.30. The total appropriation for printing and distributing these charts was only $2,000. Were it not for the fact that the distribution is made from an office already organized for river and harbor work, the necessary supply of charts could not be printed and distributed with so small an appropria tion. During the fiscal year surveys were made as follows: St. Marys River from White Fish Bay to Detour Light-House.-A project for this survey having been submitted at an estimated cost of $64,080, orders were given directing Col. Poe to expend the available balance of the appropriation in commencing the work. Active operations were begun May 22, 1892. By the close of the fiscal year a base line had been measured, the triangulation was planned starting from the base line through six stations, and angles at four of these stations were satisfactorily measured; observations were made for primary azimuth; a line of precise levels was run from St. Marys Falls Canal lock to Bay Mills on the Lake Superior level; a water gauge was established at this latter point, and observations taken to determine the fall in the water surface above the canal; hydrographic work was begun in the vicinity of Sailors Encampment, and considerable progress was made. Every possible use has been made of all former work done in this loeality, at the time the river was originally surveyed and charted, and also at the time of the river improvement survey of 1879; the records of both surveys are in the hands of the Engineer Department, and all duplication of Government work is thus avoided. A number of instruments formerly used by the survey were put in good condition and shipped to the locality, and everything is now in readiness to push the work to completion and issue new charts of the river as quickly as possible. Shoals off Pelée Spit Light-House, and Littles Point, Lake Erie-Imformation with regard to dangerous shoals in these localities having been received, estimates for their survey were made, amounting to $1,000 and $610 respectively. Allotments of these amounts having been made from the appropriation, Col.- Poe was directed to proceed with the work. Active operations were prevented by unfavorable weather until May 20, 1892, when a lake survey party left Detroit for the localities of the shoals. This party remained in the field until the close of the fiscal year, being very much delayed by heavy weather. Their work was entirely completed, however, a new and very dangerous shoal having been located off Point Pelée, Ontario, and less water being found on the shoal off Littles Point than had previously been discovered. (See Appendix C C C 1.) Waverly Shoal, Lake Erie.-The survey of this shoal was made in the latter part of September, 1891. For details see report of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, dated January 16, 1892. (See Appendix C C C 2.) Shoals in the St. Lawrence River.-Surveys of reported shoal places in the St. Lawrence River, made under the direction of Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, have developed six shoals, two east of the northern end of Grenadier Island, two below Crossover Light-House, one S. by W. W. of Coles Ferry Light-House, and one SSE. E. of the same point. The bottom of the St. Lawrence River is very irregular, and obstructions are apt to remain undiscovered even though numerous soundings have been made. Considering the great and growing importance of the commerce, it would be well to thoroughly sweep the navigable channels to give assurance of the nonexistence of undiscovered obstructions within a depth of 20 feet below the surface. This work must be left to the future when sufficient funds become available. (See Appendix C C C 3.) Discharges of Niagara River.-Measurements of discharges have been made and the results will be published after the observations have been reduced. Resurvey of the lake front at Chicago.-A resurvey of this front was ordered so as to show the changes wrought in the hydrography since the former survey and to show in greater detail the conformation of the reefs and shoals along the city front and landings. The immediate reason for the survey was that all obstructions and dangers could be buoyed and marked for the safety of the great numbers of passengers who, it is to be supposed, will visit the grounds of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, by means of steamers, etc., from the various landings along the city front. The survey and the plotting of the notes are progressing under the supervision of Capt. W. L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers. (See Appendix C C C 4.) Survey of Black Creek Shoal, Lake Ontario.-This.survey was made in October last, and the details are given in the report of Capt. Dan C. Kingman, Corps of Engineers, dated October 28, 1891. (See Appendix C C C 5.) |