OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF LIGHT-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION, Manila, P. I., August 31, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations in the division of light-house construction during the months of July and August, 1903:

The working parties at Bugui, Čapul, Jintotolo, and San Bernardino continued the construction work on which they were engaged at the beginning of the fiscal year, as described in the annual report.

GIGANTES AND CALABAZAS.

Working parties sailed from Manila August 4, 1903, to make repairs which were reported to be urgently needed at these stations. No reports of operations have yet been received from the foremen in charge.

MINOR REPAIRS.

Minor repairs at Corregidor, Cape Engaño, Malabrigo, and Manigonigo were made by the light keepers.

Pollok Bay.--Cement and paints were shipped by army transport service, April 15, 1903, to Lieut. Commander J. H. L. Holcombe, U. S. Navy, district commander, Pollok Naval Station, for the purpose of repairing and painting this station. On August 4, $50 Philippine pesos were forwarded to pay for the necessary labor. The cost of labor and the cost of materials used at each station during the month of July are given below:

Pay rolls of workmen..

78.50 2,243.80

2, 322.30

1, 492. 68 2,031.74

3, 524. 42

2,262.65

3.58

36.76

26.04

123.75

1,044. 94

Building materials, subsistence stores, and paints shipped during the month of

August, 1903:

Philippine currency.

$187.93 2, 710.96

429.76 1,793.95 423.77 2, 197.31 8.92

7, 752.60

It is impossible at this time to give the exact cost of work at each light station for the month of August, as no data have yet been received from the overseers.

In

some cases the pay rolls for July have not yet been received, but the cost of labor has been estimated from the trimonthly reports of operations.

SPENCER COSBY,

Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army, Light-House Engineer.

Very respectfully,

CHIEF BUREAU COAST GUARD AND TRANSPORTATION,

Manila, P. I.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF LIGHT-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION,
Manila, P. I., September 8, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report concerning work accomplished and under way on September 1 on the proposed marine railway on Engineer Island, authorized by act of the Philippine Commission, No. 788.

On or about July 6 of this year the preliminary work was commenced under the local direction of Mr. A. H. Perkins, assistant engineer, bureau of engineering, who was temporarily detailed for the purpose. A survey of Engineer Island and of the proposed site for the marine railway was made and soundings taken over the area included in the approach to the proposed site, the site proper, and the portion to be filled for use of power plant, machine shops, etc. Borings were made to determine the feasibility of securing a proper foundation, but owing to the great depth of mud encountered it was decided to drive a number of test piles, to load same, and thus determine more definitely what may be expected from pile foundations.

The Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company was invited to submit a bid for this testpile work, which bid, amounting to $2,300 United States currency, was considered excessive, and it was decided to do the work by day labor. A small pile driver is now being constructed for the purpose.

Owing to the location of the proposed site it will be necessary to fill a portion of the channel wherein is to be located the marine railway and to build up a portion of Engineer Island. This will be accomplished by building a temporary bulkhead across the channel and filling in back of it with the material to be dredged from the site proper of the marine railway. Plans and specifications for this temporary bulkhead were made and bids advertised for. Two only were received, and it is still under consideration as to whether or not the lower one will be accepted or the work be undertaken by day labor.

On August 12, 1903, Mr. Perkins was relieved as assistant engineer in charge of the work by Mr. W. H. Robinson, under whom it is now being carried on.

The expenditures during July and August chargeable against the appropriation for this work, authorized by Act 831 of the Philippine Commission, are as follows, stated in Philippine currency:

The above does not include the salaries of the assistant engineer in charge from July 6 to August 15, or of the assistant overseer from July 1 to July 31, as it is understood that their salaries are not to be charged against the marine railway appropriation, nor does it include the cost of tools or material borrowed from the division of light-house construction, as much of this material will be returned, and what is not returned will be purchased and replaced and will become a proper charge when the purchase is made. In like manner no charge is shown for articles received on memorandum receipts from the United States engineers or improvement of the port. The above amount can be segregated about as follows:

Survey and soundings:

Salaries..

Material, etc

Borings, including the building of apparatus and small storehouse on Engineer Island:

Salaries.

Material

Rent of bancas

136.66
21.19

157.85

311.60

254.89

130.43

696.92

Driving test piles, including building of driver and transportation

During the month of September work which will be completed and commenced will be about as follows: Test piles will be driven; temporary bulkhead will be started; maps and profiles will be completed and so arranged as to be of most benefit to the office or intending contractors.

An additional report will be made in a few days regarding the foundation for the proposed marine railway. Respectfully submitted.

Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army, Light-House Engineer.

SPENCER COSBY,

CHIEF BUREAU OF COAST GUARD AND TRANSPORTATION,

Manila, P. I.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF LIGHT-HOUSE CONSTRUCTION,
Manila, P. I., July 21, 1903.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations in the division of light-house construction for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903:

CONDITIONS AT BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

This office was without organization. A property clerk employed jointly by the division of light-house maintenance and this office assisted in receiving and shipping supplies. An assistant storekeeper had been appointed. On July 1, 1902, Mr. J. F. Porras reported for duty as clerk. One working party had been organized and established at Cape Engaño light station for the repair of the roof.

WORK ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE YEAR.

The office force has been gradually increased to the extent allowed by existing laws and now consists of

For copying drawings and assisting the chief draftsman it has been absolutely necessary to use men from the working parties from time to time.

Under the general authority of the acting civil governor, dated May 22, 1902, overseers of construction have been hired and gangs of workmen organized for making repairs or completing the structures at the several light stations.

A depot force under an assistant overseer has been organized in connection with the construction storeroom, to make repairs to apparatus and machinery, and to make minor structures and repairs in wood and iron for the working parties.

The working parties are generally in charge of an American overseer assisted by one or two American mechanics. A Filipino assistant overseer has had charge of work in Cebu Harbor. A Filipino assistant overseer has charge of the depot force under the supervision of the property clerk. The working parties at isolated light stations have been furnished subsistence in addition to their pay.

Transportation of men and supplies has been furnished mainly by the light-house tenders Corregidor and Picket, used jointly by the divisions of maintenance and construction. The coast-guard vessels and the Quartermaster's Department United States Army have also furnished occasional transportation.

The main construction work of the year has been the renovation of the old buildings and the construction of new quarters at Corregidor Island light station and the establishment of working parties at Bugui Point, Jintotolo Island, Capul Island, and San Bernardino Island, all third-order light stations, left by the Spanish Government in an uncompleted condition and partially wrecked by insurrectos.