has been continued. Rocks were removed from Devil's Bend and Umatilla rapids during the working season to the amount of 465 cubic yards. The total quantity of rock removed by contract is 1,425 cubic yards. The work proposed for the present fiscal year is the widening of the channel of the Upper Umatilla Rapids, and the removal of rock from Homly Rapid, Squally Hook Rapid, Owyhee Rapid, and Rock Creek Rapid, so as to give the same depth of water as that already obtained on the above-named points. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendixes Z 3 and Z 4.) $9,000 00 19, 183 76 20,000 00 28,085 11 98 65 40,000 00 6. Umpqua River, Oregon.-No additional work was done toward the improvement of the navigation of this river during the fiscal year. There is a balance remaining of the appropriation of March 3, 1871, $4,685.89. EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Provision was made in the act of March 3, 1873, for a "Survey or examination of the mouth of Coquille River, Oregon," and upon investigation of its object, instructions were given to Major Michler to extend the examination so as to embrace the general question of a navigable outlet to Coquille River. His report thereon was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in Ex. Doc. H. R., No. 216. (See Appendix Z 5.) BREAKWATER AT WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA-REMOVAL OF RINCON ROCK IN THE HARBOR OF SAN FRANCISCO. Officer in charge, Maj. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. C. B. Sears, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Breakwater at Wilmington, California.-At the date of the last annual report the timber construction was completed and about two-thirds of the stone line was finished. The stone line is 2,000 feet long. It was completed in the past year. The double-piled work, which is 1,000 feet in length, and which stood in 5 feet of water, was filled with stone to the height of 3 feet above mean low-water, and ballasted on both sides with gravel and stone to half tide. The single line of piled work was ballasted to the same height for a distance of 2,200 feet. Two stone jetties, aggregating 980 feet in length and rising from 2 to 4 feet above the lowest stage of the tide, were built, with the object of directing and controlling the action of the current. They had the effect to increase the depth of water on the bar. A number of short jetties, aggregating 700 feet in length, were built along the main line, for the double purpose of preventing the work from undermining and to favor the accumulation of sand along the line. These works, as mentioned, consumed 25,778 tons of stone and gravel. A careful hydrographic survey of the lower part of the estuary was made and proposals issued for excavating a channel. No bids being offered, new proposals, to dredge by the cubic yard, were issued. A favorable bid has been accepted since the close of the fiscal year. It is now expected that the funds on hand will be sufficient to provide a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low-water, and, in addition, to build some training-walls for the better security of the channel when excavated. These results will probably be attained in the next fiscal year. The amount asked for the next year is intended for the protection of the timber-work. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.... Amount available July 1, 1874... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix A A 1.) $145,647 07 71,025 08 74,621 99 30,000 00 2. Removal of Rincon Rock, harbor of San Francisco, California.—A contract was made in September, 1873, for the removal of this rock to the depth of twenty-four feet at mean low-water, before June 1, 1874, for $43,000, but an extension of time to October 1, 1874, has been granted. The work was begun in October, and to the 30th June, 1,650 cubic yards of rock were removed, leaving 3,150 cubic yards yet to be removed. No appropriation is asked for the coming year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873... Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, July 1, 1873. (See Appendix AA 2.) HARBOR OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. $48,500 00 221 71 8, 147 44 33, 632 65 In my annual report of October 19, 1872, it was stated that Lieut. Col. B. S. Alexander, Corps of Engineers, had called the attention of this office to the probable filling up of the upper portions of this harbor, and that he had accordingly been directed to determine, if possible, the cause and extent of this filling. In addition to facts previously presented he reports the effects of the flood in San Diego River during the past winter, with suggestions as to the proper means to be applied to prevent the threatened injury, and recommends an appropriation of $80,000 for the purpose of turning the course of the river into False Bay. (See Appendix A A 3.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. The examination at Santa Cruz, California, required by the act of March 3, 1873, was assigned to Lieut. Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers, whose report thereon was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 84. (See Appendix A A 4.) A board of engineer officers was constituted in March, 1873, for the purpose of making an examination and survey and the plan for a harbor at San Antonio Creek, San Francisco Bay, as directed by the act of March 3, 1873. Its report thereon was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 174. (See Appendix AA 5.) IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Col. O. E. Babcock, Corps of Engineers. The condition of the public reservations in the city of Washington, and the character of the improvements made on them during the fiscal year closed, will be found in the detailed report of the officer in charge. The estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, are as follows: For improvement and care of the public buildings and grounds.. For compensation to persons employed on and around public buildings and grounds.... (See Appendix B B.) $344,816 50 53, 016 00 $397,832 50 SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS WITH A VIEW TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS. For examinations and surveys of rivers and harbors, and for incidental repairs at harbors for which there is no special appropriation, an appropriation of $150,000 should be made. SURVEY OF NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. Officer in charge, Maj. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, who has under his immediate orders the following officers of the Corps of Engineers: First Lieuts. H. M. Adams, D. W. Lockwood, E. Maguire, C. F. Powell, and Second Lieut. T. N. Bailey; and the following assistant engineers: J. R. Mayer, O. B. Wheeler, A. C. Lamson, E. S. Wheeler, G. Y. Wisner, A. R. Flint, G. A. Marr, H. Custer, and F. M. Towar. Progress of the work during the year.-The field-work of the connection of the triangulations of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan has been completed; the topography, in-shore hydrography, and off-shore hydrography of Lake Michigan have been finished. The Wisconsin triangulation has been completed southwardly to the vicinity of Chicago. The Keweenaw base has been remeasured. The survey of the Detroit River has been completed and a map published of its lower half. The triangulation, topography, and hydrography of the St. Lawrence River, from the 45th parallel to Lake Ontario, have been completed. The positions of several points in the interior of Michigan and Wisconsin have been determined in aid of State surveys. The survey of Lake Ontario has been begun; much of the field-work has been reduced. Charts No. 1, of the St. Lawrence, of Sandusky Harbor, of Chicago, and of mouth of Detroit River, have been completed. It is proposed during the present fiscal year to complete the triangulation at south end of Lake Michigan, to continue the determination of points in the interior of Michigan, to continue the survey of Lake Ontario, and to commence the triangulation connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. The need that the survey of the Lakes should be vigorously prosecuted is best shown by the number of charts required by the commerce of the lakes, now five or six thousand a year, and by the constant inquiry and pressure for charts not yet completed, or for which not even the surveys have, as yet, been made. It is judged that the single survey made last year of the mouth of De troit River and of a part of Lake Erie will save from $50,000 to $100,000 to commerce this year. Amount expended during fiscal year 1873-4 $175,000 175,000 Amount required for survey of northern and northwestern lakes for fiscal year ending June 30, 1876: For continuation of surveys of Lakes Ontario and Erie, determination of points in Michigan in aid of State survey, extension of triangulation south from Chicago, and miscellaneous 219,000 Estimate of funds for continuance of the survey of the northern and northwestern lakes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. Continuance of survey of Lake Ontario and reduction of the work. Hydrography, one steamer-party.. $20,000 26,000 15,000 25,000 Survey of Lake Michigan.-Reduction of previous work, determination of points Total...... (See Appendix C C.) MILITARY MAPS. 21,000 219, 000 The survey of the battle fields in the valley of the Shenandoah, by Maj. George L. Gillespie, acting under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sheridan, which was mentioned in my last annual report as in progress, was completed in October, 1873, and arrangements have been entered into for printing the maps. On the completion of the field-work the office of the survey was transferred from Winchester, Virginia, to the headquarters of the Lieutenant-General. (See Appendix D D.) The map of the battle-field of Gettysburg, in charge of Maj. G. K. Warren, has been completed in regard to the engraving of its topogra phy, and an agreement has been entered into with Mr. J. B. Bachelder to prepare sets of three maps, each to be in three sheets, showing the positions of both armies on the mornings and evenings of July 1, 2, and 3, In this office: Of the Atlanta campaign maps, which are being recompiled in this office, one sheet is nearly completed, and on two sheets considerable progress has been made. A map of the battle-field of Franklin has been published. A new addition of General Sherman's campaign has been printed and will form one of a series of campaign maps similar to those of the operations of the armies of the Potomac and James. A map of the battle-field of Chickamauga (in two sheets) is in preparation for publication. The railroads shown on the map of the Territories of the United States west of the Mississippi River were corrected to June, 1873, and an edition has since been published. The military map of the United States has been revised and a new edition has been printed. This map shows the boundaries of the military departments and all of the military posts in the United States. The final chart No. 3, of Lake Superior, and a chart of the harbor of Sandusky, are now being engraved. A chart of the river St. Lawrence from Strawberry Island to St. Regis, a chart of Lake St. Clair, and a lake-survey map of the city of Chicago will be engraved as soon as a preliminary edition has been photo-lithographed. Sheet No. 2 of Nebraska, in the Military Department of the Platte, and a campaign map of that department, in four sheets, embracing parts of Nebraska and Wyoming, and derived from surveys by Capt. W. A. Jones, of the Engineers, have been published GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF THE FORTIETH PARALLEL. Mr. Clarence King, United States civil engineer, in charge. The only field-work undertaken during the past year was a geological reconnoissance over parts of Western Nevada and adjacent California, made especially to study certain developments of the Achæan formations and for the purpose of obtaining data bearing on the classification of mining districts. The reconnoissance was made by the geologist in charge unaccompanied, and extended from September 2, 1873, to December 13, 1873. The party has been in office during the entire year, preparing the report and accompanying illustrations. The series of topographical maps have been completed and put in the hands of the engraver. The preliminary work for the reports, consisting of chemical, paleontological, and microscopical research, have been carried on with success. Analyses sufficient to determine many important chemical questions have been made, referring chiefly to waters, alkaline and saline deposits, and those of ores and rocks are now progressing. Microscopical research has been and is now being pursued with the promise of systematically identifying American rocks with known European types, a labor now attempted for the first time. The paleontology, already delayed by Professor Meeks' ill health, is now nearing completion, under Hall and Whitfield, of Albany. Illustrations for the two geological volumes are progressing. It is confidently expected by the officer in charge that the labors of this exploration party will be brought to a close within a year from this time. (See Appendix E E.) GEOGRAPHICAL EXPLORATIONS AND SURVEYS WEST OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN IN CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, UTAH, ARIZONA, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO, WYOMING, AND MONTANA. Officer in charge, First Lieut. George M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, having under his orders First Lieuts. R. L. Hoxie, W. L. Marshall, S. E. Tillman, and P. M. Price, Corps of Engineers, Second Lieut. A. H. Russell, Third United States Cavalry, and, during portion of the field-season, Lieuts. H. R. Brinkerhoff and L. H. Walker, Fifteenth United States Infantry, as escort officers, Acting Assistant Surgeons J.T. Rothrock, H. C. Yarrow, and C. G. Newberry, United States Army, who, in addition to their professional duties, were engaged in botanical, ornithological, and natural-history labors. |