In accordance with a modification of the original project, approved September 27, 1884, this new work was placed 50 feet further from the center line of the channel than the old piers, and will afford, when completed, a 200-foot entrance between the pier-heads. The entire length of the north pier is now 900 feet, and of the south pier 1,125 feet. Superstructure was completed over 300 linear feet of the south pier, and over 150 linear feet of the north pier. Rock removal.-During the past fiscal year, 6,413 cubic yards of rock were blasted and removed from the river bed, and 4,478 cubic yards of sand were dredged. This work was carried on simultaneously with the pier work, and the rock blasted from the channel was utilized for crib filling and riprap, at a cost (including all expenses, and estimated depreciation of plant) of $6.35 per cord, divided as follows: The cost of dredging 4,478 cubic yards of sand is included in the cost of dredging rock as given above. The total expenditure during the last fiscal year amounted to $13,772.63, as follows: In a report on occupation and use of piers, &c., called for by General Order No. 13, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, July 23, 1884, the following facts in relation to this harbor were presented : The south pier at this harbor is used as a wharf by the steamboat which stops here about six times a week. Nearly all the freight handled at the place passes over this pier. A warehouse, a fish market, and other buildings, as shown on the accompanying map of the harbor, have been built just back of this pier. The owner of these buildings, who is also the proprietor of the land on both sides of the harbor as far up as the Second Street Bridge, collects wharfage upon all freights which pass over the pier; this wharfage being equal, in some cases, to the freight from Manitowoc to Abnepee. He has even presented bills for wharfage on Government supplies. This person has, in fact, an entire monopoly of the business of the harbor, and must continue to have until the channel is carried up the river beyond the limits of his property. This pier is being seriously damaged by the demands made upon it as a landing pier and freight wharf, and such use of it should be discontinued as soon as suitable wharfage can be provided higher up. The bridge at Second street prevents the harbor above being reached by any but the smaller-sized vessels, as the draw opening is but 35 feet in width, and the depth in the channel but 7 feet. Should the Government undertake to enlarge this part of the channel to the same dimensions as are now being provided below, the citizens will either remove the bridge to Fourth street or rebuild it on its present site, with a draw opening of sufficient width to accommodate all vessels which will be likely to use this harbor. An obstruction known as the Citizens' Pier remains near the middle of the harbor as a temporary barrier against sand which is driven through the north pier into the channel. This old pier will be removed by the citizens when requested to do so by the United States. With the funds asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the work of blasting and pier construction. Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... $92 71 15, 000 00 15,092 71 13, 772 63 1,320 08 35,000 00 35,000 00 DETAILS OF COST OF WORK AT AHNEPEE HARBOR, WISCONSIN, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, INCLUDING ESTIMATED DEPRECIATION OF PLANT. Drilling and blasting: Net expenditure. Less value of explosives paid for and remaining on hand. Proportion of contingent expenses.. $4,979 16 631 26 4,347 90 370 79 Estimated depreciation of plant, 10 per cent. on $1,500. 150 00 Proportion of contingent expenses 127 14 Depreciation of dredge plant, estimated at $200 per month, for two and one-half months... 500 00 Total cost of dredging 6,413 cubic yards of rock 2,400 97 or 37.4 cents per cubic yard. In addition to the rock dredged, 4,478 cubic yards of sand were also removed; as this was a necessary part of the rock removal, its cost has been included above. Placing rock in piers: Transporting, handling, and placing 6,413 cubic yards of rock in cribs, and as riprap, net expenditure... Proportion of contingent expenditures.. or 21.04 cents per cubic yard, or 99.73 cents per cord. Pier extension: $1,276 20 73 08 1,349 28 (1) Two cribs, 50' by 20′ by 12 feet, were built, sunk, filled, and planked. (2) Two cribs, each 50′ by 20′ by 12 feet, which had been partially built in 1882, were completed by adding four courses of timber to each, and were sunk, filled, and planked. (3) One crib, 50' by 20' by 124 feet, which had been built to full height in 1882, was sunk, filled, and planked. (4) Four hundred and fifty linear feet of superstructure was built up an average of six courses, filled and planked. The total cost of the work was: For timber and plank, bolted in place... Less cost of 75,000 feet, B. M., of timber at $8 per 1,000 feet, B. M., purchased and on hand A comparison of the actual cost of the pier work with the estimated cost of same if done by contract, assuming as the contract prices an average of the lowest bids received August 26, 1884, for similar work at Menomonee and Two Rivers harbors, Wisconsin, shows that the cost of the work was less than one-half of what it would have been if done by contract, viz: Actual cost by hired labor... Saving... This remarkable saving is due to the following circumstances: (1) The stone used for filling was refuse, blasted from the channel, and its removal was necessary, even had there been no pier-work in progress. The cost of placing this stone, after it had been dredged, was less than $1 per cord. Should the entire cost of drilling, blasting, dredging, and placing the stone in the piers be considered as a legitimate expense of pier construction, it would still not have been excessive, viz, $6.35 per cord. The contract price at Sheboygan is $7 per cord. (2) The second item in importance is timber, on which the saving over estimated contract prices was $1,107.06. This timber was cut from the United States reservation at Sturgeon Bay, and deliv.. ered at Ahnepee, under an agreement dated August 12, 1882, at the rate of $8 per thousand feet, board measure. (3) The market price of iron was very low during the summer, and this circumstance was taken advantage of by purchasing in open market. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1884. Estimated cost (see Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1881, page 2084).... $200, 000 00 $35,000 00 43,042 72 A survey of this harbor was ordered by act of Congress approved June 14, 1880, and the first appropriation was made March 3, 1881. The project of improvement consists in the formation of a channel from a point about 2,000 feet south of the mouth of Kewaunee River, through a spit about 300 feet wide, affording communication between the river and Lake Michigan. From the lake end of this cut two parallel piers are to be constructed, extending to the 18-foot curve, with dredging between and through the cut, to a depth of 14 feet. Under the appropriation of July 5, 1884, a contract was entered into with Schwarz & Berner, of Green Bay, Wis., for building 500 linear feet of pile pier. The present length of the north pier is 700 feet, and the depth of water at its outer end is 9 feet. The length of the south pier is 275 feet; the existing contract, when completed, will add 500 feet to its length, making it 775 feet long, with a depth of water at its terminus of about 10 feet. Work under the contract was begun near the close of the fiscal year, but had not progressed sufficiently to increase the length of the completed pier work as given above. The two United States dredges will begin work at this harbor during the present season, and it is expected that by the close of navigation a 12-foot channel will be dredged between the piers and through the cut to the river bend. The inspector at Kewaunee reports that private parties have begun to build docks and are preparing to erect warehouses for the transaction of business in expectation of the opening of the new channel. It is doubtful if the local business at this harbor would in itself justify the completion of the improvement; it will, however, afford protection for vessels in stress of weather, and as a harbor of refuge its completion is desirable. Should an appropriation be made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is contemplated to expend it in further pier construction and dredging. Number. Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available..... July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... July 1, 1885, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... $875 24 18, 000 00 18,875 24 1,521 33 17,353 91 156, 957 28 50,000 00 Abstract of bids for pier extension at Kawaunee Harbor, Wisconsin, opened at Engineer's Office, at 10 o'clock a. m., Tuesday, August 26, 1884. Manitowoc, Wis... $0 23 $0 181 $30 00 $43 00 $0 24 $0 13 $16 00 $6 00 $0 05 $0 05 $11, 133 50 04 10, 284 25 06 07 12, 313 25 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1884. |