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Responsibility for and maintenance of cofferdam was assigned to contractor November 23, 1910, under paragraph 36 of specifications. Work on construction of steel lock gates and Stoney valves was begun at Buffalo, and of pumping plant at Philadelphia, during October, 1910, and the construction of other parts of the required installations, electric motors, etc., was begun at shops in other cities and towns. All shop construction was continued during the winter months and the completed parts shipped to the lock.

The installation of the pumping plant was begun March 26, 1911, and the pumps were ready for pumping out the cofferdam inclosure June 5, when pumping began. The inclosure was unwatered to 1 foot below lower gate sill level in 33 hours continuous operation of the 12-inch and 20-inch pumps, about 25,000,000 gallons of water having been pumped at lifts increasing from 2 to 25 feet.

Maintenance of the inclosure unwatered to below lower gate sill level was continued to the close of the fiscal year by operation, at reduced speed, of the 20-inch pump.

The pumping plant and all of its accessories were completed June

29, 1911.

The placing of oak miter sills for the upper guard gate was begun June 7, and the placing of the steel gate leaves for this gate on June 26. This work was in progress at the close of the fiscal year.

BLACK ROCK SHIP LOCK.

Summary of materials placed and work done and accepted, with cost, exclusive of engineering contingencies, to July 1, 1911.

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Arthur H. Vogel.-Contract dated August 25, 1910, for excavation in Niagara River section of Black Rock Harbor and Channel, extending from the foot of the ship lock downstream 17,300 feet more or ess to deep water in Niagara River, the channel to be 23 feet deep

at mean river level and 400 feet wide at bottom. Total estimate, $532,100. Work to be completed June 30, 1912.

Excavation was commenced in the section immediately below the ship lock with one dredge September 7, and a second dredge was placed on the work September 23, 1910. Rock drilling across Strawberry Island Reef, 3,300 linear feet, was commenced October 17, 1910, with one drill boat and continued until November 11, 1910, when drilling was suspended for the season. Dredging continued until December 17, 1910, when the entire plant was laid up for the

season.

"End of season" survey required by paragraph 55 of specifications was completed January 20, 1911, and underpayment during 1910 found to be $7,044.18, which was paid to the contractor under paragraph 56 of specifications.

Dredging was resumed on the section immediately below the ship lock with two dredges on May 8, 1911, and continued to the end of the fiscal year, the total amounts excavated being 555,520 cubic yards, place measure, material overlying bedrock, and 2,281 cubic yards, place measure, bedrock; 5,600 linear feet of channel, from the ship lock to Strawberry Island Reef, completed; rock excavation across Strawberry Island Reef, 3,300 linear feet, only begun; channel below the reef, 8,400 linear feet, 50 per cent completed.

Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co.-Contract dated March 31, 1911, for excavation of north section of Black Rock Harbor from Ferry Street Bridge to the ship lock, removing Ferry Street Bridge pier, old State lock and middle wall between Black Rock Harbor and Erie Canal, the channel to be 200 feet wide at bottom and 23 feet deep. Estimated amount of contract $306,200. Work to be completed December 31, 1912.

Work was commenced May 15, 1911, with one derrick removing stone from middle wall. One dredge began removing wall and earth excavation on May 24; a second dredge began June 30, and both continued to the close of the fiscal year, when 33,841 cubic yards, place measure, material overlying bedrock; 280 linear feet of middle wall had been removed, and 569 tons stone removed from middle wall and placed on Bird Island Pier with derrick. No channel completed.

Buffalo Dredging Co.-Contract dated April 6, 1911, for excavation of Bird Island section of Black Rock Harbor, approximately 500 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 23 feet deep, being a section opposite Fort Porter, N. Y., left unexcavated under the contract with the Empire Engineering Corporation.

The work also involves the removal of about 300 linear feet of the Bird Island Pier and the construction, by deposit of material excavated from the channel and from the pier to be removed, of rubble mound pier to replace it. Estimated amount of contract $43,250. To be completed December 31, 1911.

Preliminary work was commenced May 15, 1911; drilling and blasting rock with one drill boat June 2 and excavation with two dredges June 6. At the close of the fiscal year the trench for new section of Bird Island Pier had been excavated complete and rubble stone hearting for the new pier placed therein ready for placing capping stone. Drilling and blasting rock was in progress; 3,433 cubic

yards of material overlying rock and 2,974 cubic yards blasted rock, all place measure, had been excavated.

Minor repairs to Bird Island Pier.-At the beginning of the fiscal year repairing breaks in the pier was in progress, being done by day labor and hired scow. Stone replaced in breach at station 25 to 26 with hired dredge and at old mill race, 650 feet north of Ferry Street, by hired labor.

During April, 1911, the break at the old mill race was entirely closed and the sheet-pile bulkhead, 1,790 feet north of Ferry Street, was repaired.

Total cost of repairs to pier during the fiscal year, $1,674.10.

PROPOSED OPERATIONS AND REMARKS.

Funds on hand will cover existing contracts for steel lock gates and operating machinery, the completion of all of the channel above the ship lock and new pier required at the elbow in Bird Island Pier, the excavation of all of the channel in Niagara River below the ship lock, and will also cover the construction of wing walls for the ship lock and the new bascule bridge across the channel at Ferry Street.

Further work to complete the project comprises electric power and lighting installations and guide piers for the ship lock, removal of cofferdam, the completion of lock grounds and buildings, and general repair of Bird Island Pier.

In order to advance this work most advantageously, with a view to completing the channel and the shiplock ready for use at the same time, it is recommended that the $300,000 authorized by the river and harbor act of June 25, 1910, be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913.

Estimate of additional funds required.

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1913, for works of improvement...

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APPROPRIATIONS.

For previous projects (as listed in H. Doc. No. 421, 57th Cong., 2d sess.).

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$52,098.00 100,000.00 233,000.00 1, 000, 000.00 367,000.00 1, 000, 000.00 1, 000, 000.00 400, 000.00 322.25

4, 152, 420.25

1 Exclusive of the balance unexpended July 1, 1911.

CONTRACTS IN FORCE.

FOR EXCAVATION IN BLACK rock harbor, N. y., dated February 1, 1906.

Name of contractor: Empire Engineering Corporation, New York.

Rates:

Removing material overlying bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure.
Removing bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure...

Removing partition wall, per linear foot.....

Handling rock with derrick, per ton....

Date of approval: March 6, 1906.

Date of commencement: November 5, 1906.

Date of expiration: December 31, 1908.

Time limit waived.

FOR EXCAVATION IN BLACK ROCK HARBOR, N. Y., DATED august 25, 1910.

$0.33

1.85

9.00

.90

Name of contractor: Arthur L. Vogel, Milwaukee, Wis.

Rates:

Removing material overlying bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure...
Removing bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure..

$0.22

2.05

Handling rock with derrick, per cubic yard, bucket measure..

1.50

Date of approval: September 1, 1910.

Date of commencement: September 7, 1910.

Date of expiration: June 30, 1912.

FOR EXCAVATION IN NORTH SECTION, BLACK ROCK HARBOR, n. y., dated march 31,

1911.

Name of contractor: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., Chicago, Ill.
Rates:

Removing material overlying bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure..
Removing bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure..

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FOR EXCAVATION IN BIRD ISLAND SECTION, BLACK ROCK HARBOR, N. Y., DATED APRIL

6, 1911.

Name of contractor: Buffalo Dredging Co., Buffalo, N. Y.

Rates:

Removing material overlying bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure..
Removing bed rock, per cubic yard, place measure..

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FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ERECTION OF STEEL LOCK GATES, VALVES, AND OPERATING MACHINERY, DATED AUGUST 15, 1910.

Name of contractor: D'Olier Engineering Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

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Supplemental to the above, for adding to the pumping plant a suction pipe directly connected to the pumps, dated October 7, 1910:

Name of contractor: D'Olier Engineering Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Rate: For all, $1,200.

Date of approval: October 14, 1910.

Date of commencement: October 14, 1910.

Date of expiration: June 30, 1912.

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

For commercial statistics, see report on Buffalo Harbor and on Tonawanda Harbor and Niagara River, N. Y.

005.

IMPROVEMENT OF TONAWANDA HARBOR AND NIAGARA RIVER, N. Y.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS.

No work was done during the year.

PROPOSED OPERATIONS AND REMARKS.

No work is proposed for the next fiscal year.

The channel of the project is completed, except through the "rapids" at the Buffalo waterworks intake crib, where the width of the channel is about 100 feet; and from Tonawanda Iron & Steel Co.'s docks to the north line of North Tonawanda, where the depth is 12 to 15 feet. The "rapids" channel will be superseded by the Black Rock Channel and shiplock, now approaching completion and improvement below the Tonawanda Iron & Steel Co.'s docks is not urgent. Sufficient funds are on hand for maintenance; no estimate is therefore made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913.

APPROPRIATIONS.

1

For previous projects (as listed in H. Doc. No. 421, 57th Cong., 2d sess.). $6,500.00 Aug. 11, 1888..

Sept. 19, 1890.

July 13, 1892..

Aug. 18, 1894.

June 3, 1896.

Mar. 3, 1899.

100,000.00

75, 000, 00

75,000.00

50,000.00

50,000.00

75,000.00

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