Portage has been completed. The result has been an increased depth of navigation wherever the works have been applied. There is not now, nor has there been any regular navigation of the Wisconsin River, due to the prevalence and shifting nature of the sand bars, and the consequent lack of any defined channel for considerable distances. The general subject of the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers has been referred to the Board of Engineers, who have not yet announced any final conclusions. The necessary additional observations are now being taken for the Board. During the past year the following work has been done: 1. Wisconsin River.-No work has been done towards completing the improvement. Eight of the dams were repaired, and brush and stone collected for the repair of the remainder of the dams on the improved section below Portage, preparatory to the work of the observation party thereon. 2. Fox River.-On the Upper Fox the work was restricted to timely repairs to plant and to maintaining existing navigation by timely repairs to mechanical structures and the dredging of bars, and operating the locks. On the Lower Fox operations during the year were confined to making repairs to locks, dams, and canal banks; to deepening channels by rock excavation and dredging; to quarrying stone for locks and dams, and to making repairs to boats and dredges. Navigation was maintained during the season of navigation in 1884, except at Menasha, where the lock was necessarily closed for repairs October 23, 1884. Navigation was resumed May 11, 1885, throughout the line and maintained to the close of the fiscal year. The work on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers during the last fiscal year has been under the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, and under section 4 of the act of July 5, 18 4, providing for the operating and care of canals and other works of navigation. The specific appropriation contained in the river and harbor bill approved July 5, 1884, has not been made available, awaiting the result of legal proceedings under the proviso attached to the act, authorizing the purchase of the neces sary sites for the Menasha Dam, which matter is still pending with a prospect of immediate settlement. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to apply the funds available and to become available under the specific appropriations to the purchase of sites for the Menasha Dam, and for carrying out the provisos attached to the river and harbor acts of August 2, 1882, and July 5, 1884, items, Fox and Wisconsin rivers; to the reconstruction of the Menasha Dam and widening of the Neenah Channel as recommended in the report of the Board of Engineers dated September 17, 1884, approved by the Secretary of War December 10, 1884; to deepening by rock excavation and dredging the channel at the entrance to the Menasha Outlet to Lake Winnebago, and to deepening and widening the Menasha Canal. The funds asked for the year ending June 30, 1887, are for the furtherance of the approved project as far as it relates to the Fox River below Montello, Wis. Under the continuous appropriation for operating and care of canals and other works of navigation, it is proposed to thoroughly repair the old locks on the Upper Fox; to maintain existing navigation by timely repairs to old locks until replaced by new, and to continue the repairs of works that have already been completed and used, injured by the extraordinary flood of 1881. July 1, 1884, amount available Fuel sold to officers, deposited to credit of appropriation. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... July 1, 1885, amount available...... $66, 903 31 105 00 160,000 00 227,008 31 51,332 93 175,675 38 1,965, 663 00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 300, 000 00 ¡Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Operating and care of canals and other works of navigation applied to Fox and Wisconsin rivers, Wisconsin. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. Approved estimate for expenditure in fiscal year ending June 38, 1836 ... (See Appendix II 6.) Indefinite. $46, 687 40 42,304 00 IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS OF CHICAGO AND CALUMET, ILLINOIS-IMPROVEMENT OF ILLINOIS AND CALUMET RIVERS-SURVEY FOR HENNEPIN CANAL, AND FOR THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. Officer in charge, Maj. W. H. H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers (temporarily in charge of Capt. Thos. H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, from December 19, 1884, to end of the fiscal year). 1. Chicago Harbor, Illinois.-The project of improvement now in course of execution at this harbor was adopted in 1870 and modified in 1878. The objects sought are, first, the formation of an outer harbor adjoining the entrance to the Chicago River, and designed also to furnish increased commercial facilities by relieving the river from its overcrowded condition; second, the creation of a harbor of refuge, affording a good anchorage in deep water, and safe access to the harbor and river. The amount expended upon the work for harbor at Chicago since 1870 is $1,316,549.87, and has resulted in the completion of the outer harbor (excepting the dredging necessary to afford the contemplated depth of 16 feet) and the completion of 3,836 feet of the exterior breakwater, with the exception of the superstructure on the easterly end thereof. In addition to needed repairs the material now on hand and contracted for will complete the superstructure on the easterly end of the breakwater, and will be sufficient for the construction of ten additional cribs. To carry on the work of building and sinking these ten cribs, raising the superstructure of the entire work, and dredging in the outer harbor, the sum of $225,000 will be required. July 1, 1884, amount available .... $7,104 69 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 100,000 00 Received December 4, 1884, on account of judgment, schooner Two Fannies 77 76 107,182 45 July 1, 1875, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $79, 127 07 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1885, amount available..... 4,423 38 $284,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J J 1.) 2. Calumet Harbor, Illinois.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor has for its object the creation and maintenance of a channel 300 feet wide and 16 feet deep, from Lake Michigan to Calumet River. The amount expended in the execution of this project to June 30, 1885, is $380,774.41; 5,360 feet of pier-work have been completed, and 384,376 cubic yards of material have been dredged from the channel. During the past season the south pier was extended 200 feet, and 748 linear feet of revetment was rebuilt. The appropriation of $21,400 asked for is to be applied to extending the south pier, and to the repair and preservation of the existing piers. The officer in charge in a communication to this office of December 3, 1884, which was transmitted to Congress, printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 36 of the last session, called attention to the extension of the north shore-line caused by deposits of slag, &c., from the works of the North Chicago Rolling Mills. These deposits, if continued, will call for a further extension of the piers, and additional appropriation will have to be made by Congress. Whereas if they were discontinued, it is believed that no further appropriation need be made except that now called for, and small amounts occasionally to preserve the work, and maintain the dredged channel in good condition. July 1, 184, amount available................ Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. $245 61 20,000 00 20,245 61 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 19,020 02 July 1, 1885, amount available....... 1,225 59 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 21,400 00 21,400 00 (See Appendix J J 2.) 3. Illinois River, Illinois.-Previons to the adoption of the present project the improvement of the Illinois River, as carried on by the General Government, consists chiefly in constructing wing-dams and dikes and in dredging through the worst bars. The amount expended in that way up to une 30, 1880, was $550,450.55. The State of Illinois has constructed two locks, each 75 feet wide by 350 feet long between gates, situated at Henry and Copperas creeks. The present project contemplates the extension of this slack water system 100 miles below by the construction of two more locks and dams, situated, respectively, at La Grange and Kampsville. It is also proposed to dredge the channel of the river where needed from the State lock, at Copperas Creek, to the mouth of the river. At Kampsville the foundation of the lock is completed, but te cofferdam and works have been flooded, as there were no appropriations for a continuation of operations. At La Grange the foundation of the lock and the east dam abutment are finished; the main lock walls, except the upper short courses, are completed, and several sections of dam have been put in. With the funds now available the lock walls will be completed. The amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, will be expended in completing work at La Grange and in purchasing material and operating at Kampsville. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1881 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... 700,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 350,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J J 3.) 4. Calumet River, Illinois. The project for the improvement of this river was recommended by a Board of Engineer Officers in accordance with certain requirements of the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882. It is proposed to dredge a channel 200 feet wide and 16 feet deep from the harbor to the forks of the river at Lake Calumet, "no work to be undertaken, however, until the right of way shall have been conveyed to the United States free from expense, and the United States released from all liability for damages to adjacent property owners." The work will be commenced so soon as the necessary releases required have been approved by the Secretary of War. The officer in charge states that the property owners along the lower section of the river have signed the necessary papers, but as yet few releases have been obtained along the upper section. Should these be obtained, he states that an additional sum of $100,000 should be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing a plant and continuing the work as proposed. July 5, 1884, amount appropriated.... July 1, 1885, amount available... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $50,000 00 50,000 00 175,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 100, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1856 and 1867. (See Appendix J J 4.) Surveys for the Hennepin Canal and the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.-Some necessary work was done upon the maps of the survey, which were unfinished at the time the reports were rendered. July 1, 1884. amount available... July 1, 18-5, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... July 1, 1885, amount available..... (See Appendix J J 5.) $9,010 92 739 41 8,271 51 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement: 1. Wolf Lake, Indiana.-(See Appendix J J 6.) 2. For ship canal from Calumet River to Lake Calumet, Illinois.—(See Appendix JJ 7.) Reports on the above were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the locality was worthy of improvement by the General Government, he was charged with and completed the following: 1. Calumet River, Illinois, from a point half a mile east of Hammond to the forks of the river.-(See Appendix J J 8.) IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN AND OF GRAND RIVER BELOW GRAND RAPIDS. Officer in charge, Capt. D. W. Lockwood, Corps of Engineers. 1. Charlevoix Harbor, Michigan.-The average width of the original channel of entrance was 75 feet; the depth varied from 2 to 6 feet. The present project for its improvement, adopted in 1868 and revised in 1875 and 1876, is to dredge channel 100 to 150 feet wide to a depth of 12 feet, and to protect both sides with close piling. This was modified in 1876 by substituting crib work for pile piers. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $59,978.63, and resulted in obtaining a channel of navigable width and 123 feet mid-depth between the piers, and about 12 feet in the narrow channel between Round and Pine lakes. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, was $6,228.47, and resulted in building 705 feet of pile revetment in channel connecting Round and Pine lakes and general repairs to south plank beam revetment in lower channel. The available depth for navigation is about 12 feet. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is to be applied to extending the south pier into Lake Michigan in accordance with approved project, completing the revetment of channel between Round and Pine lakes, and in general repairs to piers and plank beam revetments. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 $1,031 37 10,000 00 July 1, 185, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount available...... 4,802 90 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 115,000 00 50,000 00 (See Appendix K K 1.) 2. Frankfort Harbor, Michigan.-The natural channel of entrance to this harbor was not more than from 3 to 4 feet deep. The present project for its improvement, adopted 1866, was to dredge an ontlet through a strip of land separating Lake Aux Becs Scies from Lake Michigan, and to build two parallel piers 200 feet apart, extending from 12 feet soundings in the inner lake to the same depth in Lake Michigan. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $235,291.05, and resulted in securing a channel of entrance 195 feet wide with an available depth of 14 feet, the water surface being 1.8 feet high. |