The sites selected for the two locks are, one at Kampsville, 31 miles above the mouth of the Illinois; the other at La Grange, 79 miles above the mouth of the river. The ultimate object of the improvement is the construction of a wat erway from the southern end of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River of sufficient capacity to accommodate large-sized Mississippi River steamboats and for military and naval purposes. The State of Illinois, aided by the United States, has executed part of the project by the construction of two locks of the dimensions above stated, one at Henry and one at Copperas Creek, respectively, completing, excepting dredging, that part of the improvement between La Salle, Ill., and the mouth of Copperas Creek. The La Grange lock and dam are completed and in use. The Kampsville lock is completed, and with its gates, etc., is nearly ready for use; part of the dam, with its abutment, is in place. The piles, timber, and stone for its completion have been purchased and are ready for delivery. If low water supervenes, this lock will be open to navigation before the close of this season. There remains to be done under the approved project the following work: At La Grange Lock some 2,400 cubic yards of riprap to be placed below the dam to protect the river bottom against scour, and an additional small building to lodge the lock tenders and skilled laborers. The Kampsville Dam and connecting levees are to be completed; the cofferdam and approaches to the lock to be dredged out to give access to the lock; accommodations for the lock-tending force to be built, and the grounds about the lock and dam to be cleared, sodded, and graded. The channels throughout the pools and between Kampsville and the Mississippi River are to be dredged to 7 feet depth. In executing the work the United States have expended up to June 30, 1892, $1,145,886.56, including $25,000 from the appropriation of August 11, 1888, for surveys, and excluding $62,359.80 expended upon the foundation of Copperas Creek lock, afterwards completed by the State of Illinois. An additional amount of $747,747 was expended by the State of Illinois at Henry and Copperas Creek locks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the following work was done: a. La Grange Lock.-The necessary dredging was done to maintain navigation. b. Kampsville Lock and Dam.-The masonry of the lock and abutment to dam was completed; 2,334 cubic yards of masonry was set; the lock gates and valve plat form were built and made ready for use; 46,922 cubic yards of earthwork, dredging, and filling done; 115 cubic yards of masonry set in the abutment of dam; 220 piles driven for the dam, and 380 cubic yards of riprap placed between them. Sheet piles were driven along the front of the piles, completing 258 linear feet of the base of the dam up to a level 1 foot below low water. Two dump scows were completed and extensive repairs were made to the plant, and the property, plant, and appliances watched and kept in working condition. The dredges and other floating property pertaining to this work are nearly unserviceable from decay, the work which should have been completed in four years at most having been delayed by meager appropriations for longer than the serviceable life of timber constructions in this latitude. Much of the expenditure for this work for the past four years has been for repairs on worn-out and rotten appliances, which could not be replaced by new on account of small appropriations and nearness to completion of the work. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended November 19, 1892, amount refunded (sale of fuel). February 9, 1893, amount refunded (overcharge freight, etc., on lumber).. $55, 310.86 43.20 458.45 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1893, balance unexpended..... 100,000.00 155, 812.51 78, 968.37 76, 844. 14 19, 115. 76 57, 728.38 July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 112,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 112, 000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix L L 4.) 5. Operating and care of La Grange Lock and Dam, Illinois River, Illinois. This lock and dam have been maintained and operated under the general indefinite appropriation for "operating and care of canals and other works of navigation," contained in the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, section 4. The approaches to the lock have been kept dredged and the lock maintained in serviceable condition by necessary repairs. Five hundred cubic yards of riprap was placed below the apron of dam. Due to long-continued high water, the lockages during the past year were less in number than in 1892, but the number of craft passing the site of the lock, and the tonnage of the same, show a gratifying increase, the tonnage having increased from 138,000 tons in 1892 to 179,000 tons in 1893, and the number of craft from 432 in 1892 to 475 in 1893. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $4,709.11. (See Appendix L L 5.) 6. Illinois and Mississippi Canal, Illinois.-The object of this improvement is to furnish a link in a navigable water route from Lake Michigan, at or near Chicago, Ill., to the Mississippi River, at the mouth of Rock River. The canal is located upon the route approved by the Secretary of War October 27, 1888, from the Illinois River, about 13 miles above the town of Hennepin, at the great bend of the Illinois River; thence via Bureau Creek Valley to Rock River at Penney Slough; thence by slack water and a short canal around the lower rapids of Rock River, to its mouth. The canal is to be 80 feet wide at the water surface, 7 feet deep, and with lock chambers 170 feet in length and 35 feet in width. A report upon the detailed location, plans, and estimates for the construction of this canal was submitted June 21, 1890, and published by Congress as House Ex. Doc. No. 429, Fifty-first Congress, first session. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, made the first appropriation for the construction of this canal, and directed work to be begun by the construction of one of the locks and dams on Rock River. Western section.-The right of way for the section of the canal 5 miles or less in length around the Lower Rapids of Rock River having been acquired, contracts were made during the fiscal year for constructing 3 miles or less of the canal trunk, and for preparing the foundations of three locks. The work was carried on as flood and weather permitted. Two of the three lock pits and foundations were completed, and about 300,000 cubic yards of earthwork in the canal trunk excavated or placed in embankment. The third lock pit, due to failure of the contractor, is partially completed. By hired labor three of the four abutments for the dams across the two arms of Rock River, at the head of the rapids, were constructed of artificial stone; the foundation of the lock walls at Guard Lock prepared, and the artificial stone head and tail bay floors and miter sills at Guard Lock laid; a large culvert under the canal below the lock begun; about 50,000 cubic yards of earth and stone excavation and embankment completed; the necessary temporary storehouses, etc., built, and plant and material collected for the prosecution of the work. The most difficult part of the work has been undertaken by hired labor. The progress by this method has been slow and expensive, much preliminary work of preparation having been necessary. Eastern section.-A survey party has been employed for part of the fiscal year in definitely locating the section of the canal from the summit level to the Illinois River, making legal descriptions of the lands required for right of way, securing abstracts of title, and obtaining offers for voluntary sale and purchase of such lands. This section of the canal has been staked out upon the ground, and the descriptions, plats, abstracts of title, and written options for the sale and purchase of the lands required are well along. A party is engaged in running lines from the feeder junction to Rock River with a view to ascertaining the best location for that part of the canal. Nothing has been done at the feeder line. It is expected as fast as they can be prepared the necessary plats and descriptions of lands required for right of way will be placed in the hands of the officers of the Department of Justice for obtaining the necessary titles. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 23,301.99 43, 656. 83 July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix L L 6.) 766, 526.78 5,925,960.00 500,000.00 EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Capt. W. L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Outer harbor at mouth of Calumet River, Illinois.-Capt. Marshall submitted report of examination under date of April 1, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the construction of an outer harbor at this locality is an improvement worthy of being undertaken by the United States, not, however, to enable the transaction of business in it, but for the purpose of providing by breakwaters a safe-sheltered entrance to the harbors at South Chicago. Sufficient information and data are on hand, derived from a recent detailed survey, for the preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement, and no further survey is necessary. (See Appendix L L 7.) 2. Wolf River Harbor, Indiana, on Lake Michigan; and whether Wolf River and Lake are navigable waterways of the United States, and whether covered in whole or in part by claims of private ownership.-Capt. Marshall submitted report of examination under date of December 29, 1892. It appears that, properly speaking, there is no "harbor" of Wolf River now existing. It is the opinion of Capt. Marshall and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that no public interest can be subserved by the construction of a harbor at the outlet of Wolf Lake, and that the locality is not at this time worthy of improvement by the General Government. In further compliance with the terms of the act, Capt. Marshall states that Wolf River and Lake are not navigable waters of the United States in the sense that they can be used to carry on commerce by water in any ordinary way between the States of the United States or with foreign countries; and that the area covered by Wolf Lake is embraced in whole or in part by claims of private ownership, the title to that part of the territory in question lying in the State of Illinois being a matter now before the courts for settlement. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 169, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix L L 8.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN MICHIGAN AND OF MICHIGAN CITY HARBOR, INDIANA. This district is in the charge of Maj. William Ludlow, Corps of Engi neers. The works on the eastern coast of Lake Michigan were in his charge the entire year; those in eastern Michigan were in the charge of Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, to November 1, 1892, and of Maj. Ludlow since that date. Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Michigan City Harbor, Indiana.-The works at this harbor consist of a. The "inner harbor" made by deepening Trail Creek to 13 feet, and protecting the entrance by piers 100 feet apart and extending into the lake about 800 feet. The United States do the dredging and pier work, and the local authorities and shore-owners attend to revetting the banks. This work is completed except that an extension of the improvement to unoccupied territory in rear of the city has not yet been done. The total expenditure to account of this work to July 1, 1892, was $105,923.06. b. The "outer harbor," a basin of 40 acres built in the lake, inclosed by a pier on the east side and a breakwater, 1,400 feet long, on the north, and with an opening at the northwest angle. A northward extension of the west pier closes the west side. This work was projected in 1870 and completed in 1884. The older works are much decayed, and the basin has never been dredged. It is not used by vessels. In connection with the outer harbor, a pier projects 500 feet northward from the west end of the breakwater to protect the entrance from a strong westerly current. The approximate cost of the outer harbor, as constructed, has been $560,000. c. The "outer breakwater," projected in 1882 and now under construction. The work lies in the open lake westward of the entrance and is to have a length of 2,000 feet, the two equal arms making an angle of 1350. It is probable that some modifications of the plan and position of this work are desirable. Five hundred feet of it, starting from the east end, which is 400 feet distant from the end of the projecting breakwater pier, was built in 1889, and 200 feet more is now under contract. Outer harbor.-The gross expenditure to account of the outer harbor to July 1, 1892, including the outer breakwater, was $706,588.05. For the outer harbor the expenditures for the fiscal year were $6,830.41. The repairs to the west end of the old breakwater, begun in May, 1892, were completed in September, and the two outer cribs of the breakwater pier were refilled with stone and planked over. On the outer breakwater some of the decking, broken by the heavy sea of the fall gales, was replaced. The estimate for 1895, $80,000, is for continuing construction of outer breakwater 500 feet, with contingencies. July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... $253.20 24, 669. 22 24.922.42 13, 533.22 July 1, 1893, balance available. 249, 613.50 80,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. Inner harbor.-For the inner harbor, the expenditures for the fiscal year were $9,495.92. At the beginning of the year the navigation was in good condition and work continued on the inward extension, the area dredged being 1,430 feet long by from 50 to 100 feet wide, to a depth of 15 feet, and the amount handled 62,280 cubic yards. Soundings December 1, 1892, showed 18 feet at the entrance, 14 feet to the Franklin Street Bridge, and thence 12 and 13 feet to the upper end. In April, 1893, the entrance had shoaled to 11 and 12 feet, and a cut 75 feet wide by 16 feet deep was made for a distance of 625 feet. With additional dredging near the Michigan Central Railway Bridge, the total amount was 8,087 cubic yards. This left the navigation in good condition and the dredge cleaned out the lower winding basin at the expense of the city, the filling being due to silt from a sewer. Aside from the dredging, the principal matter requiring attention is the old pier at the east side of the entrance, The outer 700 feet of this |