REPORT OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS, Ludington, Mich., December 29, 1884. SIR: The Board of Engineer Officers constituted by paragraph 1, Special Orders No. 181, current series, from headquarters Corps of En gineers, "for the purpose of examining the harbor of Ludington, Mich., and reporting a plan with an estimate of cost for making a harbor of refuge at that place in accordance with the requirements of the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882," met at Ludington, December 27, with all the members present, and have the honor to submit the following: The president of the Board submitted the copy of instructions from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, with the following reports on the subject, to wit: 1st. Report of Maj. F. Harwood, Corps of Engineers, relative to the necessity for a harbor of refuge at Ludington, Mich., with plans and estimates therefor, and map accompanying same. 2d. Report of Capt. D. W. Lockwood, Corps of Engineers, on survey of "harbor of Ludington, Mich., with view to an examination by a Board of Engineers and report of a plan and expenses of same for making a harbor of refuge," as provided for in river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, with tracing accompanying the same.* 3d. Report of Capt. D. W. Lockwood, dated November 29, 1884, recommending a plan for proposed harbor of refuge. After an examination of the harbor and site of the proposed work the Board met several lake captains and obtained their views with regard to the general subject of what would constitute a proper harbor of refuge at this point. After discussion, the Board agreed upon the following conclusions: 1st. That Pere Marquette Lake affords a much greater area for anchorage than it is practicable to obtain in an outer harbor, and is ample to accommodate all the vessels that would be likely to seek shelter in it from stormy weather in Lake Michigan; that it is completely protected from the heavy seas and gales that may prevail on the larger lake by the sand-spit which separates the two, and which is a natural breakwater. 2d. The smaller lake being a natural harbor basin, when connected with the larger lake by a passage affording sufficient depth of water, and having an entrance in Lake Michigan easy of access in all weather, becomes a harbor of refuge of such a character as to meet the requirements of commerce. 3d. The present entrance to Pere Marquette Lake is 200 feet wide; this is not considered enough, and an increase of width to 400 feet is therefore recommended. In consequence of the location of the piers as they now are, this widening can only be effected by changing the south pier, and this can be done by constructing a new south pier parallel to and 400 feet from the present north pier, and then removing the present south pier and dredging the passage so as to obtain a depth of 18 feet of water. The Board further recommends that the north pier be extended to the 15-foot curve, and the new south pier be built out to the 22-foot curve. These piers can be subsequently further extended should it be found necessary to do so. * Printed as Senate Ex. Doc. 81, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. An exterior breakwater, in order to afford a sufficient area behind it to enable vessels in storms to anchor with safety under its protection, would have to be located in deep water, and its cost of construction would therefore be great. The lake bottom in this locality is composed of sand, constituting bad holding ground, so that unless the structure was built well up above the water and practically inclosed the anchorage, there would probably still be trouble in vessels holding their own, even when anchored behind the breakwater. The entrances would have to be limited in extent, otherwise the water inside would be much disturbed; in fact, while it would be possible to locate the work so that an entrance during storms from a certain direction would be comparatively easy and the protection sufficient, it might be found a serious matter to fulfill these requirements through a range in the direction of the wind of nearly 180°, with a breakwater limited in extent, and under the varying conditions of shore currents and consequent drift that exists here. The cost of the plan recommended will probably be less than one-half that of an outer harbor, a fact which has been given due weight by the Board, as well as the additional fact that, in the ordinary course of appropriations a much shorter time would be required to obtain the same extent of protection to shipping. The detailed estimate of cost of widening the present entrance to Pere Marquette Lake, as recommended by the Board, is as follows: 800 feet pile revetment, with sheet piling, at $27.54 The cost of removing the 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. All of which is respectfully submitted. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. O. M. POE, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. THOS. H. HANDBURY, Major of Engineers. D. W. LOCKWOOD, Captain of Engineers. K K 18. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY, NEAR THE VILLAGE OF PETOSKEY, WITH A VIEW TO CONSTRUCTING A HARBOR OF REFUGE. UNITED STATES ENGINEER Office, Grand Rapids, Mich., October 25, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to state that in obedience to your printed letter of September 4, 1884, I made a personal examination of Little Traverse Bay, near the village of Petoskey, September 27-29, and now respectfully submit the following report: The clause in the river and harbor act approved July 5, 1884, calling for an examination or survey of this locality, states the object of such examination or survey to be "with a view to constructing a harbor of refuge." Little Traverse Bay, is between 20 and 25 miles south of Waugoshance light, which marks the western entrance to the Straits of Mackinac. Its general direction is east and west, and it is exposed directly to winds from the northwest around to southwest. Its shores are bold, and in most places rocky. I do not consider the locality worthy of improvement, for the following reasons: 1. There already exists on the north shore of the bay, and about 5 miles from Petoskey, a natural harbor of refuge, which is sheltered from winds from the north around to southwest. During the past summer a light-house was built to mark the entrance, which is an easy one, with a sufficient depth of water to admit the larg. est vessels on the lake. 2. Little Traverse Bay is so far to the east of the course taken by vessels bound from the Straits of Mackinac to the different ports of Lake Michigan, or vice versa, that in nearly if not all cases such vessels would find it more to their advantage to seek shelter under the lee of the islands or in Grand Traverse Bay than in Little Traverse Bay, even if an additional place of refuge existed at its head. The harbor at Harbor Springs is sufficient for the present needs of commerce, and as its use is and will continue to be confined to vessels engaged in the coasting trade only, there is little fear but that it will answer for years to come all the demands that may be made upon its capacity. To establish a harbor of refuge on the south shore of the bay, near Petoskey, would require the construction of an extensive breakwater, which would have to be built in deep water in order to secure the requi site area for shelter. If located at Petoskey it would serve to protect the piers used by steamboats during the summer, but except in special cases would offer no advantages over Harbor Springs Harbor as a refuge in bad weather. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. D. W. LOCKWOOD, APPENDIX L L. 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, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, BVT. BRIG. GEN., U. S. A., OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS Relating to THE WORKS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports relat ing to the works of river and harbor improvements under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. 132 ENG O. M. POE, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Bvt. Brig. Gen., U. S. A. 2097 |