M M 6. IMPROVEMENT OF NIAGARA RIVER, NEW YORK. I relieved Lieut. Col. H. M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, of the charge of this work on November 30, 1883, in compliance with Special Orders No. 261, paragraph 7, Adjutant-General's Office, November 14, 1883. No work has been done during the fiscal year, and available funds will be held for such application as may be necessary for the further improvement of the channel. The right bank of the river, between Youngstown and Fort Niagara, cuts very badly and washes away every spring, and unless something be done to protect the bank the officers' quarters will be endangered. The river and harbor bill approved July 5, 1884, provides for an examination or survey of that portion of the river. Should such survey be ordered and made, an estimate of the cost of protecting the bank will be submitted in a special report. No appropriation is at present asked for. During the season of navigation of 1883 there were entered at the port of Tonawanda 467 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 151,062 tons; there were cleared 464 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 149,607 tons; the value of the imports was $191,388; exports, none; duties collected, $17,510.56. July 1, 1883, amount available.. Money statement. $1,500 1,500 APPENDIX N N. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS ON LAKES ONTARIO AND CHAMPLAIN, AND THE SAINT LAWRENCE RIVER-IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS AND TICONDEROGA RIVERS, NEW YORK, AND OTTER CREEK, VERMONT. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HENRY M. ROBERT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith annual reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, of the river and harbor works under IMPROVEMENT OF WILSON HARBOR, NEW YORK. During the past fiscal year the work of pier extension was continued under the contract with William J. Harris, dated December 20, 1882. One crib 30 feet long was placed in the extension of the west pier (in addition to the three cribs placed just previous to June 30, 1883), and four cribs, each 30 feet long, in the extension of the east pier. The superstructure was built over 120 linear feet of each of the piers, completing on November 3, 1883, the above-named contract for the construction of 240 linear feet of pier extension. There will be no operations at this harbor during the present season, since the funds are practically exhausted. At an examination of this harbor, made near the end of the fiscal year, the work was found in good condition, with the exception of about 30 feet of the east pier within the natural shore-line, at which point the timber work is much decayed, and the erosion of the shoreline, together with the high stage of water, make a breach imminent; a result which would be followed with serious injury to the harbor. The attention of parties most interested in the preservation of the harbor was called last season to the necessity of such action on their part as would avert the danger. If the work is promptly repaired the cost would be but trifling, but if allowed to remain unrepaired it may at any time result in a practical blockade of the harbor by the formation of a bar across the inner end of the channel. The question is of growing importance whether the United States is to preserve improvements originally made by the Government, but now lying inside the shore-line and in use, or subject to use, by riparian owners for docks, &c., or whether such original work is to be preserved by the local authorities or parties most in interest. Such parties are generally careless or indifferent to dangers which threaten or causes which produce an impaired condition of the inner harbor, so long as they expect to refer to the officer in charge for the repair of disasters which could have been prevented at small expense by timely action on their part. Continuation of pier extension, dredging, and repair are the operations contemplated during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available $7,945 06 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. 7,811 81 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 133 25 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 50,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886.. 30,000 00 Arrivals and departures of vessels during the year ending December 31, 1883. |