July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. $3,684 90 843 29 2,841 61 7,500 00 10,341 61 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 82,500 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 20, 000 00 (See Appendix J J 13.) 14. Saint Joseph Harbor, Michigan.-The natural channel was about 250 feet wide and 12 feet deep at the entrance, shoaling to 9 feet in the river above. The present project for its improvement, adopted in 1866 and 1874, was to obtain a channel of entrance of navigable width and not less than 16 feet deep. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $308,508 24, and resulted in securing a channel of entrance of about 14 feet depth. A canal 100 feet wide, 12 feet deep, leading up to Benton Harbor, and partial revetment of same; also in the construction of sand fences. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $2,369.45, and resulted in the purchase of material for rebuilding north pier. No work was done during the year, as the amount of money on hand would not warrant commencement. The depth of water remains about the same as in 1883. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $45,000, to be applied to completing north pier and repairing south pier in lower harbor. This will complete this part of the work, further improvement being dependent upon future action with regard to the Chicago and West Michigan Railway bridge. July 1, 1883, amount available.... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix J J 14.) $3,604 76 2, 369 6,235 31 15,000 00 21, 235 31 51,015 00 45,000 00 15. Removal of wrecked schooner from Charlevoix Harbor, Michigan.— This vessel sank at the end of north pier July 17, 1883, from coming in collision with the pier. August 1, when partly raised, she swung around in a gale and went down directly across the channel between the piers. Contract, after due formalities had been observed with regard to ownership, &c., was entered into November 16, 1883, for the complete removal of the wreck for $1,200. The contract was completed December 31, 1883. Allotment December 21, 1883 $1,420 00 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 1,413 49 July 1, 1884, amount available...... 651 (See Appendix J J 15.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. Upon a favorable report, after preliminary examination, Captain Lockwood was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 75, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 1. Harbor at Cross Village, Michigan. (See Appendix J J 16.) And also 2. Plan and estimate for a harbor of refuge at Ludington, Michigan, transmitted to Congress (together with a copy of a report to the House of Representatives March 24, 1882, in answer to a resolution of January 24, 1882, calling for a report as to the necessity for a harbor of refuge at Ludington with plans and estimates therefor) and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 81, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. (See Appendix JJ 17.) 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 ICEHARBOR AT BELLE RIVER-REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF SAINT CLAIR FLATS CANAL-IMPROVEMENT OF DETROIT RIVER. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Hay Lake Channel, Saint Mary's River, Michigan.-At present this channel is not available for any vessels except those of the lightest draught. The original project was to obtain a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep, sufficiently straight to admit of navigation at night. when provided with suitable lights and other aids, thus saving about 12 miles in distance, and much time now lost because of the impracticability of navigating the present route after dark. The amount of the original estimate was $2,127,292, of which there was appropriated by act of August 2, 1882, the sum of $200,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $122,824.70, and has been applied to digging test-pits, surveys, repairs of crane scow, and tug, construction and fitting out of quarter boat, engineering, drilling, and blasting rock, dredging, &c. Up to the 30th June 120,380 cubic yards of material had been removed from the Middle Neebish, of which 118,180 cubic yards were excavated after the 1st July, 1883. This part of the work was done by contract, which extends to the ist November, 1884. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $500,000, to be applied to continuing the excavation at Middle Neebish, and beginning operations on the Flats at the lower end of Hay Lake and at Little Rapids. July 1, 1883, amount available.. Received from sale of fuel.. $186, 316 97 6.00 186,322 97 July 1, 1883, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. 77,220 68 125 000 00 202, 220 68 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 1,802, 292 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 500,000 00 (See Appendix K K 1.) 2. Saint Mary's Falls Canal and River, Michigan.-When the work of improving Saint Mary's River and Saint Mary's Falls Canal was begun in 1870, only about 11 feet could be carried through the channel between Lakes Huron and Superior. The project approved at that time was to deepen this channel to 16 feet. This has been practically accomplished by an expenditure to June 30, 1884, of $2,405,432.83. Statistics show that the commerce using this route is increasing so rapidly that if the rate of increase be maintained for eight years, the present lockage system will be insufficient to pass all the vessels. It is therefore proposed to begin at once the construction of a new lock upon the site of the old ones, to be 70 feet in width, 700 feet between gates, and to have 21 feet of water on the miter sills, and to deepen the canal prism and approaches to correspond. The estimated cost of the work projected is $1,609,085, and of this amount not less than $250,000 should be appropriated to begin operations, with a similar annual appropriation until the work is completed. If this is done, the canal will be ready to take care of the larger class of vessels that will come into use with the improvement of Hay Lake Channel. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. Amount (estimated) required for proposed existing project.... (See Appendix K K 2.) $3,125 16 2,113 12 1,012 04 3,125 16 1,609,085 00 3. Operating and care of Saint Mary's Falls Canal, Michigan.-During the past year the canal was open for navigation 233 days. It was closed December 11, 1883 (six days later than ever before), and opened April 23, 1884. Four thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight vessels and rafts, having a registered tonnage of 2,333,257 tons and carrying 2,540,799 tons of freight and 49,263 passengers, passed through. The staple articles transported were 764,915 tons of coal, 33,536 tons of copper, 891,291 barrels of flour, 7,490,938 bushels of grain, 936,107 tons of iron ore, 93,103 tons of pig and manufactured iron, 92,638,000 feet B. M. of lumber, 109,731 barrels of salt, and 204,451 tons of miscellaneous or unclassified freight. The expenses of operating and care of the canal for the fiscal year 1883 and 1884 was $31,212.93. The estimated amount required on this account for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $35,000, all of which is already provided for by indefinite appropriation. (See Appendix K K 3.) 4. Dry Dock at Saint Mary's Falls Canal.-Under the provisions of the act of the legislature of Michigan, in accordance with which the Saint Mary's Falls Canal was transferred to and received by the General Government, it seems to be obligatory upon the United States to construct a dry-dock (see Annual Report Chief of Engineers for 1881, page 2268, Part III) at Sault Ste Marie. Four projects have been discussed: 1. For converting the upper chamber of the old locks into a dry-dock.— This is deemed inadmissible, for the reason that nothing should be done which would interfere with the lockage system. No detailed estimate has been made. 2. For a dry-dock north of the canal.-This location is objectionable, for reasons stated in detail in the report. The estimated cost of a drydock in this location is $313,818. 3. For a dry-dock on the south side of the canal, near the new lock.This location is objectionable for reasons given in the detailed report. The estimated cost of a dry-dock here is $291,492. 4. For a dry-dock near the east end of the area transferred from the Fort Brady military reservation to the canal reservation. This location is free from most of the objections to the other sites mentioned, but it would be more costly to build and to operate. The estimated cost of a dry-dock at this site is $323,872. Whatever site is selected the sum of $150,000 should be appropriated with which to begin operations. To this should be added the $65,000 (more or less) which the State of Michigan holds in readiness to transfer to the United States for the purpose of constructing a dry-dock at Saint Mary's Falls Canal. Amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $215,000, of which $150,000 should be appropriated by the United States and $65,000 (more or less) transferred by the State of Michigan. (See Appendix K K 4.) 5. Harbor at Cheboygan, Michigan.-The present project, adopted in 1871 and modified in 1882, has for its object to deepen the basin opposite the steamboat landing and to complete a channel into the Straits of Mackinac 15 feet deep and 200 feet wide with a pile and edging revetment on the west side. There is now a depth of 15 feet in the basin, and a 15-foot channel to the straits, but it is only 90 feet wide for a considerable portion of the distance. For lack of funds, nothing was done towards the project during the last fiscal year. The original estimate for the work was $395,000. The total cost is now estimated at $163,003, or less than half the original estimate. It is recommended that sufficient funds be appropriated to push the work to completion. July 1, 1883, amount available. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix K K 5.) $121 02 121 02 5,000 00 45,000 00 26,000 00 6. Harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1876 and subsequently modified, the object being to obtain an entrance channel of navigable width and a depth of 14 feet from a depth of 11 feet. The expenditure during the fiscal year was $6,125.62. The total amount expended by the United States on this work to June 30, 1884, was $14,393.40, and has resulted in the completion of the project. The channel obtained can, however, only be maintained by attention from time to time, and an estimate of $5,000 is submitted to meet the expenditures which will probably become necessary before the 30th June, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for maintaining existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix K K 6.) $10,667 58 6,125 62 4,541 96 10, 000 00 5,000 00 7. Harbor at Au Sable, Michigan.-The present project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1866 and modified in 1879, the object being to obtain a channel of not less than 10 feet in depth for a width of 100 feet. A full report upon the subject is printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1883, page 1854, and it is therefore not repeated. Nothing short of the work proposed in that report will accomplish the object. Its estimated cost is $32,121.60, and should now be appropriated in one sum to insure satisfactory results. It includes a modification of the project aiming to increase the available depth in the channel to 12 feet, the width remaining the same. Attention is invited to the fact that the project now proposed is not expected to permanently secure the depth indicated, but only for a sufficient length of time to justify the expenditure. The physical characteristics are such as to render the duration of any improvement quite limited. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $4,900 55 4,900 55 32, 121 60 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 27,000 00 (See Appendix K K 7.) 8. Saginaw River, Michigan.-The present project aims to secure a channel of 200 feet in width and 14 feet in depth from Saginaw Bay to Bay City, and 12 feet in depth from there to the head of navigation in Saginaw River. During the last fiscal year work has been in progress in accordance with this project. Under the appropriation of $125,000, made by act of Congress of August 2, 1882, 247,185 cubic yards of material were removed by dredging under three contracts at a cost for the same of $99,676.37, of which $47,816.50 were expended in front of Bay City and at the mouth of the river, and $51,859.87 above Bay City. The result is a narrow, but navigable, channel of a projected depth from Carrollton to the mouth of the river, which is already of great benefit. The works extend over such great distances that a large plant can be used, and as the interests involved are so very large, it is recommended that corresponding appropriations be made. The amount of material remaining to be removed is estimated at 712,992 cubic yards, and the cost of doing it at $421,000. The sum of |