The estimate may seem high, but it is 29 cents per cubic yard less than was paid for dredging the channel at the mouth of Saginaw River, and should this prove to be as difficult, the price of 50 cents per cubic yard will be found entirely too low instead of too high. I have not estimated for piers of any kind, since the expenditure of the large amount of money required to build them is unwarranted by the commerce of the place.

The harbor, if made, can be of no general importance, and is not required as a harbor of refuge. Neither would it be possible for a vessel finding the anchorage outside dangerous to enter in a gale of wind. The point has only local consequence, and in any of the rare cases, when a vessel would be driven from the anchorage outside, a harbor is easily made at Tawas, Wild Fowl Bay, or Saginaw River, neither of which is more than thirty miles distant.

I may remark, that from the middle of August to the latter part of October, 1857, I was on board of the little steamer Surveyor, at work on this portion of Saginaw Bay, and on no occasion was I driven from my anchorage, although in several gales, and generally in more exposed positions off the points where triangulation stations were built. Respectfully submitted.

O. M. POE, Major of Engineers.

APPENDIX D 1.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF MONROE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

The improvement of this harbor, and of the harbors on Lake Erie, west of Dunkirk, was under charge of Major Walter McFarland, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, until April 25, 1871, since which time of Captain G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engineers, United States Army.

Work of dredging, under the contract with Thomas Dunbar & Co., of Erie, Pennsylvania, dated August 30, 1869, was continued to October, when the contract was completed. Eight thousand cubic yards of sand were removed from the bar at the mouth of the ship canal, and there is now a good 12-foot.channel into and through ship canal, and into the river. In regard to further improvement of this harbor, see report of resurvey of Monroe Harbor, accompanying this report.

Balance June 30, 1870...

Expended during the year

Balance June 30, 1871....

$6,253 71 6,101 60

152 11

The amount annually required to keep piers in repair is probably about $800. This harbor and port are in the collection district of Detroit, near Monroe light, a fixed white light of the fourth order.

The amount of duties collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, $54 45.

Number of entries and departures, 82; aggregate tonnage, 10,629.

D 2.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF MAUMEE BAY, TOLEDO, OHIO.

The work of improving the western channel through Maumee Bay, under the contract made with Patrick Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio, dated August 11, 1869, was continued to November 6, 1870, when the dredges were removed for the season, up to which time the entire amount of sand removed was 73,653 cubic yards. Patrick Smith resumed work April 25, 1871, with two dredges, and up to the time of the completion of his contract, June 7, had removed from the western channel about 86,000 cubic yards of sand and clay. An appropriation for $50,000 was made July 11, 1870, for the further improvement of the harbor. Sealed proposals were publicly invited to February 15, 1871, for the removal of 120,000 cubic yards from the same channel, and a contract was made with Alexander Spalding, of Buffalo, New York, the lowest bidder, March 3, 1871, at 21 cents per cubic yard, amounts so removed to be determined by soundings and measurements made before and after dredging, with an allowance to the contractor of $25 per day for each dredge when prevented from working by rough and windy weather only. (See abstract of proposals accompanying this report.) Andrew Spalding commenced work under his contract with two dredges on May 20, 1871, and up to the close of the fiscal year has removed 36,691 cubic yards of sand from the main channel. Spalding will continue his operations between the red and black can buoys of the main channel, now 60 feet wide, until he has attained throughout a depth of 14 feet of water at low stage, afterward he will widen the channel to the limit of avail

able funds.

An appropriation of $50,000 was made March 3, 1871, for the further improvement of the harbor. Sealed proposals were publicly invited to May 25, 1871, for the removal of 200,000 cubic yards, more or less, of sand from the main channel, at such points as the engineer in charge should direct, and a contract was made with Charles Fitzsimons, of Chicago, Illinois, the lowest bidder, June 6, at 30 cents per cubic yard, measurement to be made in the bed of the channel. (See abstract of proposals accompanying this report.) He will commence work early in July and will be assigned to that part of the main channel between the red can buoy and the 14-feet curve in the direction of Turtle Island.

Which balance will be expended by June 30, 1872. Still required to complete improvements as ordered, $20,000.

Toledo Harbor (Maumee Bay) is in the collection district of Miami, near the port of Toledo, Ohio. The nearest light is a fixed white of the fourth order, shown from Turtle Island.

The amount of revenues collected here during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, was $49,289 35. Number of entries of vessels during the same period, 2,178; and departures, 2,148, with an aggregate tonnage of 982,593.

Abstract of proposals for improving Toledo Harbor, Ohio, opened at Buffalo, New York,

May 25, 1871.

Abstract of bids for dredging the main ship channel through Maumee Bay, Ohio, opened at the United States Engineer Office, Painesville, Ohio, in accordance with the terms of an advertisement dated January 15, 1871.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF SANDUSKY CITY HARBOR, SANDUSKY, OHIO.

In accordance with the terms of his contract, dated September 10, 1869, Patrick Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio, commenced the work of dredg ing the inner channel of this harbor in July, 1870, and completed his contract in November, having removed 28,192 cubic yards of sand and clay in a cut 60 feet wide and 2,500 feet long.

For the further improvement of this harbor an appropriation of $10,000 was made July 11, 1870. Sealed proposals were publicly invited

to February 15, 1870, for removing 25,000 cubic yards of sand, more or less, from the channel over the inner bar, in a cut half a mile in length and 90 feet in width, and a contract was made with O. J. Jennings, of Syracuse, New York, the lowest bidder, March 4, 1871, at 263 cents per cubic yard, measured in bank. (See abstract of proposals accompanying this report.) O. J. Jennings commenced work with one dredge, May 13, 1871, and up to the close of the fiscal year has removed about 5,500 cubic yards of sand and clay. The progress made has not been satisfactory on account of many mishaps to the dredge from imperfect machinery and bad weather. It is hoped he will complete his contract by the 1st of November.

No appropriation is recommended for the further improvement of the harbor.

Sandusky City is a port in the collection district of Sandusky, Ohio, near Cedar Point and Sandusky lights.

Revenue collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, $26,400. Number of entries, 1,070; number of clearances, 1,048; aggregate tonnage, 406,483.

Abstract of bids for dredging the channel over the inner bar, Sandusky Bay, Ohio, opened at the United States Engineer Office, Painesville, Ohio, in accordance with the terms of an advertisement dated January 15, 1871, inviting proposals for the same.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF HURON HARBOR, OHIO.

The operations at this harbor, commenced in the spring of 1870, by William Nicolls, of Detroit, Michigan, under contract dated October 14, 1869, were completed in September.

The piers are now in good condition, and the channel has full 15 feet depth of water at low stage.

Balance June 30, 1870....

Expended during the year

$12,551 52

3,156 76

Balance June 30, 1871....

9,394 76

Probable annual cost of keeping the piers in repair, $1,000.

Huron is a port in the collection district of Sandusky, Ohio, near the Huron beacon-light.

Revenue collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, $30. Number of entries, 34; number of clearances, 34; aggregate tonnage, 8,239. No appropriation recommended.

D 6.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF VERMILLION HARBOR, OHIO.

No money has been available, for any improvement, during the year. The piers are in fair condition. It is probable that the shipping from this port has slightly increased during the year, but there is ample water in the channel-way to meet all the requirements of the commerce of the harbor. No appropriation is asked for any improvement. Probable cost of keeping piers in repair, $1,000.

Vermillion is a port in the collection district of Sandusky, Ohio, near Vermillion beacon-light. Duties collected during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, $102. Number of entries and departures for the same period 68, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,239.

D 7.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF BLACK RIVER HARBOR, OHIO.

Nothing of any consequence has been done during the year. The piers are in good repair and the channel has 12 feet of water.

Balance June 30, 1870....

Expended during the year.........

Balance June 30, 1871.....

$7,980 05 66 00

7,914 05

No further improvement of the harbor is required. Probably $1,000 annnally will suffice to keep piers in repair.

Black River is in the collection district of Cuyahoga, Ohio, near the Black River beacon-light.

D 8.

REPORT UPON THE IMPROVEMENT OF CLEVELAND HARBOR, OHIO.

The head of the east pier which, was run into by a steamer in October, and badly injured, and which was further damaged by a storm in the same month, has been completely repaired from the water-line seven courses upward, using in this work 7,000 feet (board measure) timber and plank, 1,200 pounds of iron and spike, 20 cords of rubble-stone. The Work was done by days labor. The decking of the east pier has been greatly injured by mariners during the year; the almost entire absence