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area required, and wharfage facilities far beyond what can possibly be needed for years to come.

For the second plan I have fixed the distance between the piers at 400 feet. This is the same width of entrance as at Grand Haven, and has been found quite sufficient there. Some accidents have occurred from vessels striking the piers or missing them altogether and going on the beach; but most of these mishaps would, I am convinced, upon investigation be found to have resulted from defective seamanship.

In case the first plan is adopted I would recommend the following: I. Prolong the present south pier 1,000 feet, to be constructed first. II. The exterior breakwater to be 2,500 feet long, and to have the direction as indicated on map, north 12° 30′ west, its prolongation to intersect the north pier 120 feet from its outer extremity, and the opening to be 400 feet wide, measured on line of breakwater.

III. The north arm or return to be 800 feet long and to extend to the 15-foot curve, or to some point near the shore, or to the shore itself if necessary. In the latter case its direction could be changed to that of the shortest line joining the end of the breakwater and the shore. The following is the estimate, based on the most reliable data available:

PLAN NO. 1.—EXTERIOR HARBOR.

Detached breakwater, 8 feet superstructure:

250 feet piering, 18 feet water, at $150. 350 feet piering, 20 feet water, at $160. 1,000 feet piering, 24 feet water, at $180. 1,700 feet piering, 26 feet water, at $195.

10 per cent. contingencies..

Total cost

South pier extension:

400 feet piering in 20 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $150. 200 feet piering in 22 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $158. 250 feet piering in 24 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $165. 50 feet piering in 26 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $175. 100 feet piering in 28 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $200.

10 per cent. contingencies

Dredging 60,000 cubic yards, at 30 cents..
Detached breakwater

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Total cost estimated

861, 260

For the second plan I would recommend that the present north pier be extended to the 15-foot curve, and a new pier 400 feet south of the north pier and parallel to it be built out to 22 feet depth of water, the portion between shore-line of Lake Michigan and Pere Marquette Lake to be pile revetment. Then to remove the present south pier and dredge the area between the piers to a depth of 18 feet.

I would recommend that the new south pier and pile revetment be constructed first, and that the latter from the shore-line to Pere Marquette Lake, a distance of 800 feet, be sheet piled to prevent leakage of sand.

The land required in widening the entrance is not estimated for, as I have been assured that it will be donated by the owners.

SECOND PLAN.-WIDENING ENTRANCE.

800 feet pile revetment, with sheet piling, at $27.54.
South pier: 1,050 feet piering, 18 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at

$22,032 00

$110

115,500 00

650 feet piering, 20 feet water, 6 feet superstructure, at $150. North pier: 550 feet piering, 18 feet water,

97,500 00

feet superstructure, at $110.

60,500 00

Removing old pier

25,000 00

320,532 00

Total

10 per cent. contingencies

Dredging 222,000 cubic yards, at 30 cents

32, 053 20

352,585 20 66,600 00

419,185 20

The cost of removing old pier cannot be estimated with any great degree of accuracy; still the figures given above, $25,000, are deemed large enough to cover any contingencies.

There are, it is estimated, about 3,500 cords of stone in the old pier, most of which can be dredged up and saved.

A tracing of the map of the survey made by Assistant Engineer John A. Mitchell, during the month of August, 1883, is forwarded in a separate package. The proposed plans are marked on it as follows: For exterior harbor, first plans: South pier extension, "X," in red. Exterior breakwater, "Y," in red. For widening entrance, second plan: South pier, "A," in red.

North pier, "B," in red.

TABULATED STATEMENT OF COMMERCIAL STATISTICS, LUDINGTon harbor, MICHIGAN' FROM JULY 1, 1882, тo JUNE 20, 1883.

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APPENDIX K K.

IMPROVEMENT OF SAINT MARY'S RIVER; ENLARGEMENT OF, AND OPERATING, SAINT MARY'S FALLS CANAL; IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN HARBORS ON LAKE HURON, AND OF SAGINAW RIVER; CONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR OF REFUGE ON LAKE HURON, AND OF ICE-HARBOR AT BELLE

RIVER-REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF SAINT CLAIR FLATS CANALIMPROVEMENT OF DETROIT RIVER.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL 0. M. POE, córps of ENGINEERS, BVT. BRIG. GEN., U. S. A., OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS.

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UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,
Detroit, Mich., July 28, 1884.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports relating to the works of river and harbor improvements under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A.

O. M. POE,
Lieut. Col. of Engineers,

Bvt. Brig. Gen., U. S. A.

KKI.

IMPROVEMENT OF HAY LAKE CHANNEL, SAINT MARY'S RIVER,

MICHIGAN.

The estimated cost of this improvement is $2,127,292. Of this amount the sum of $200,000 was appropriated by act of Congress, approved August 2, 1882, and work is in progress under a contract with John Hickler, dated February 28, 1883, which expires November 1, 1884, and covers an expenditure of $140,000.

The remainder of the appropriation has been or will be devoted to sinking test-pits; blasting operations near Sailors' Encampment; surveys; expenses of United States tug Myra, and engineering and office expenses.

The details are shown in the appended report of E. S. Wheeler, assistant engineer.

The price stipulated in the contract with John Hickler requires him to remove about 194,444 cubic yards. Of this he had excavated 120,380.1 cubic yards on the 30th of June.

Of this work there remained to be done after the close of the fiscal year 74,064 cubic yards, and the prospect seems to be good that he will fulfill the requirements of his contract.

Test-pits sunk at Little Island Rapids show that the digging there will be easy.

The result of the examinations and observations made during the fiscal year has been to show that of the proposed excavation at Middle Neebish a linear distance of at least 3,130 feet is of such character that it cannot be removed by the dredge without being first broken up by other means. A series of precise levels has been run from the estab lished bench-mark at Saint Mary's Falls Canal to the lower end of the Hay Lake Channel improvement. The results are given in the appended report of Assistant Engineer Joseph Ripley.

Repairs and improvements have been made to the drill-scow so that if necessary two drills can be used.

The tug Myra has been improved by building a cabin on her afterpart sufficient to accommodate eight persons if necessary. She has also been repaired and painted.

As before stated, the original estimate of the cost of this improvement was $2,127,292. Only $200,000 have thus far been appropriated for it, but the river and harbor bill for 1884-'85 is reported to contain an item of $125,000 for continuing the work.

With appropriations so small in amount it can readily be seen that many years must elapse before the channel can be completed, and inasmuch as the work done can be of value only when the whole is finished, it is respectfully submitted whether it would not be good policy to push the work faster than is possible with such small appropriations.

The late Lieutenant-Colonel Weitzel, in his report of January 14, 1882, printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 54, first session Forty-seventh Congress, and reprinted in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, pages 2362 et seq., fully sets forth the advantages of this route and the economic benefit to commerce which will result when it is made available.

The area over which operations can be carried on simultaneously is so great that a very large plant can be employed if sufficient means are afforded. It is safe to say that $1,000,000 could be advantageously put under contract at one time.

But it is considered impossible, in view of the urgent claims of other works, to obtain an appropriation of so large an amount at one time,

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