ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

shown that it is impossible to maintain and keep in repair the aqueduct, aqueduct road, dam, reservoirs, gate-houses, supply-mains, bridges and buildings, and attend properly to the distribution of the water supply, at an expenditure of less than $20,000 annually. But the construction of an overflow at the receiving reservoir has now become an imperative necessity, and for this purpose $2,000 is required.

(See Appendix R R 1.)

2. Increasing the water supply of the city of Washington.-This work is being done in pursuance of an act approved July 15, 1882. The project, approved by this office July 30, 1883, consists, first, in the extension of the Washington Aqueduct from the distributing reservoir to the site of a new reservoir near Howard University, by a tunnel 20,715.8 feet long; second, the completion of the dam above the Great Falls, entirely across the Potomac River, to a height of 148 feet above mean high tide at the navy-yard; third, constructing a new distributing reservoir in the valley east of Howard University, capable of holding about 300,000,000 gallons; and, fourth, laying cast-iron water-mains 75 and 48 inches in diameter from the new reservoir to the center of distribution in the city of Washington. In August, 1883, the lands needed for carrying out this project were taken by due process of law, the honorable Attorney-General publishing the fact, with descriptions of the parcels taken.

In September contracts for the supply of about 3,000 tons of cast-iron water pipe were made, and its delivery was completed in the early spring.

In October contracts for the construction of the tunnel, dam, and reservoir were entered into at prices which makes the estimated cost of the general works as follows:

Dam..
Tunnel

Reservoir.

$94, 293 75 648, 100 00

298,980 00

Active operations under these contracts were commenced in November, and continued to the close of the fiscal year, with such progress as justifies the expectation of completing all essential parts of the work during the fall of 1885. The work of laying mains has been carried on by hired labor; it was commenced May 1, and up to the close of the year 3,600 linear feet of 48-inch main had been laid.

The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884:

[blocks in formation]

An additional appropriation of $87,500 is imperatively required for completing the payments for lands actually taken for the reservoir, this being the sum necessary to make up the amount awarded by the arbitrators, from whose award there can be no appeal by the United States. With this exception it is believed that the amounts already appropri

ated will suffice to complete the works on hand. The United States is charged with one-half the cost of the work only, the other half being charged against the District of Columbia.

(See Appendix R R 2.)

3. Erection of fish-ways at Great Falls.-The act for increasing the water supply of Washington also included a provision for the erection of fish-ways at the Great Falls of the Potomac, on plans to be prepared by the Commissioner of Fisheries. The subject was held under advisement in the office of the Commissioner until June 7, 1884, when detailed plans and specifications approved by him were forwarded to Major Lydecker. Nothing has yet been done in execution of these plaus. The amount appropriated for the work was $50,000, and is believed to be totally insufficient for the accomplishment of the work on the plans submitted.

The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884:

Amount available July 1, 1883.
Amount expended during year.

Balance available June 30, 1884......

No estimate is submitted for any additional appropriation. (See Appendix R R 2.)

PUBLIC

[blocks in formation]

BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND WORKS IN AND AROUND WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Col. A. F. Rockwell, United States Army.

In addition to the work performed for maintaining in good condition the improved portions of the public grounds in the District of Columbia, satisfactory progress was made in continuing the improvement of the western side of the grounds south of the Executive Mansion, and an additional green-house for the accommodation of palms and crotons was erected in the nursery in the Monument Grounds. Additional and much needed drainage facilities were provided in the Smithsonian Grounds; the small triangular reservation at the intersection of Massachusetts avenue and Seventh and B streets northeast was graded and inclosed with park post-and-chain fence; and the work of improv. ing Reservation 17 was continued, an area of about 15 acres having been graded and sown down in grass seed.

Attention is invited to the detailed report of the officer in charge, which embraces a statement of the number, area, location, and present condition of the public reservations in the city of Washington, and his estimates for the coming fiscal year are recommended, as follows:

For improvement and care of public buildings and grounds......

For compensation of persons employed on and around public buildings and grounds..

For contingent and incidental expenses..

For rent of office public buildings and grounds

Total.....

(See Appendix S S.)

MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION.

$171,750

49, 060

500 900

222, 210

This Commission, organized under the provisions of the act of June 28, 1879, reports to and receives instructions from the Secretary of War, through this office.

Information regarding the progress of the Commission in its duties was transmitted to Congress, as required by the above act, in a report dated December 21, 1883, which was printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 37, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. This report embraces the following subjects and subdivisions, viz:

1. Progress of surveys and examinations since December 1, 1882. 2. Construction.

3. Remarks on the subjects of levees and outlets.

4. Legislation.

5. Financial statements and estimates of funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, for "Surveys and expenses of the Commission," and for "Improving the Mississippi River."

(See Appendix T T.)

PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHARTS OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES.

Under the supervision of this office the following engraved plates of the Lake Survey have been electrotyped:

[blocks in formation]

The following have been placed in the hands of the electrotyper: Huron Island.

Marquette Harbor.

During the year, 7,426 charts were issued under the supervision of Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year.
July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities...

Amount appropriated by act approved March 3, 1853, for fiscal year 1883-84. $3,000 00

1,555 51

1,211 34

2,766 85

Amount available for fiscal year 1884-'85..

Amount required for survey of Northern and Northwestern Lakes for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, namely, for printing and issuing charts for the use of navigators, and electro-typing copper plates for chart print

3,000 00

3,000 00

ing
(See Appendix U U.)

MILITARY AND GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS.

The new map of the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi, scale 2000000, has been engraved on stone and an edition printed.

The compilation of an outline map of the United States, scale 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 has been completed. The northeastern and northwestern sheets are now in the hands of the engraver.

A map of the Military Department of the Missouri, on a scale of 16 miles to 1 inch, by Lieut. O. M. Carter, Corps of Engineers, 1884, has been photolithographed and an edition printed.

A map showing the field of operations of the cavalry at the battle of Gettysburg, surveyed under the direction of John B. Bachelder, scale 1200, has been engraved on stone, and an edition printed.

GEOGRAPHICAL

UNITED
RIDIAN.

SURVEYS OF THE TERRITORY OF THE STATES WEST OF THE HUNDREDTH ME

ONE

Officer in charge, Capt. George M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, until March 6, 1884.

Lieutenant Macomb, Fourth United Stated Artillery, was in temporary charge from July 1 to October 1, and was relieved from duty with the survey on December 31, 1883.

During a leave of absence for two months, ending March 1, 1884, this officer voluntarily assisted in the final preparation of maps for reproduction and completion of reports for the press.

The office of the survey was closed during February, the records and property being transferred to the custody of the Engineer Department. Work during the year, consisting mainly of completion of all topographical plots, construction and final drawing of regular atlas sheets, preparation of data and completion of manuscript for unfinished reports, and distribution (until January 1, 1884) of maps and reports, has been entirely confined to the office.

The remaining work on six topographical maps was completed, which concludes all that can be done, with means at disposal, upon the regnlar topographical atlas sheets.

The manuscript of the special volume of positions, distances, &c., was placed in the hands of the Public Printer on February 1, and that for the final report (Volume I) would have been forwarded except for the illness of the officer in charge.

The Secretary of War transmitted to Congress the detailed report upon the Third International Geographical Congress and Exhibition at Venice, Italy (mentioned in last annual report), with the recommendation "that the report and accompanying illustrations be ordered to be printed in quarto form, with the view to its wide distribution." (See Senate Ex. Doc. No. 9, Forty-eighth Congress, first session.)

This report contains an account of the acts of the Geographical Congress, a description and discussion of the exhibits from twenty-two separate countries, a summary of the scope and progress of the discussion touching the establishment of a single initial meridian and standard or cosmopolitan time, for the uses of the entire civilized world, as well as information concerning the origin, organization, functions, history, and progress of the topographic, hydrographic, and geologic surveys of the several governments.

So far as practicable the cost of specific works was obtained, thus affording information valuable for comparison in relation to minute surveys of an extended character.

This information, grouped in a single view, facilitates the appreciation of the great permanent increase of exact geographical data, which forms a part of the results of these surveys, and defines the comparatively small portion of the total land area (about 6,000,000 out of 52,000,000 square miles) that has undergone alone a detailed topographical survey. The information relating to the works of more than thirty foreign countries has been drawn largely from translations from official publications, as also from original memoirs, introduced in full, prepared by several chiefs of foreign surveys, these data (entirely official) having been

obtained through the individual courtesy of foreign officials, the personal efforts of Captain Wheeler, and the assistance of the State Department and its representatives abroad.

Attention is again invited to this useful and interesting report.

A photolithographic edition of each of 13 original and finished atlas sheets (scales, 1:506,880, 1:253,440, and 1: 42,240), final results of the labors of the survey, representing an aggregate area of 73,788 square miles, turned over to the Engineer Department on February 29, 1884, has since been issued at this office.

Topographic plots of areas, in certain atlas sheets, which were but partly covered by the operations of the survey, have also been received at this office.

The special volume of geographical positions, &c., awaits proofreading, which, together with Volume I of the quarto series, completes the reports that include the final results of the survey.

The funds for the prosecution of this work are exhausted.

The following is a summary of completed results from the field expeditions from 1869 to 1879, inclusive.

Surveyed topographically of the mountain area west of the 100th meridian, 359,065 square miles.

Topographical maps of above area, published in atlas-sheet form, each 19 by 24 inches=326,891 square miles.

Part of above surveyed area, original data of which are reduced upon partially filled atlas-sheet plots, 32,174 square miles.

Total number of publications of all kinds (quarto, royal octavo, and octavo), including annual reports separately issued and two not yet in print, 41.

Total number of published maps and atlas sheets of various scales (topographic, land classification, and geologic), including those bound with reports, 161.

(See Appendix V V.)

RECONNAISSANCES AND EXPLORATIONS.

The following-named officers have been on duty at the headquarters of the Army and at the headquarters of the divisions and departments, and have been engaged during the year in preparing such maps and making such surveys as were required by their respective commanding officers.

Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe (colonel and aid-de-camp to the General of the Army) at headquarters of the Army until February 8, 1884, and Capt. James F. Gregory (lieutenant-colonel and aid-de-camp to the LieutenantGeneral), at same headquarters from November 1, 1883.

Capt. James F. Gregory (lieutenant-colonel and aid-de-camp to the Lieutenant-General) at headquarters Division of the Missouri until October 23, 1883, and Capt. Thomas H. Handbury at same headquarters from December 15, 1883.

Capt. W. R. Livermore at headquarters Department of Texas.
Lieut. Dan C. Kingman at headquarters Department of the Platte.
Lieut. O. M. Carter at headquarters Department of the Missouri.
Capt. H. S. Taber at headquarters Department of Dakota.

Maj. W. A. Jones at headquarters Division of the Pacific and Department of California.

Lieut. G. J. Fiebeger at headquarters Department of Arizona until August 9, 1883, and Lieut. T. A. Bingham at same headquarters since that date.

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »