Financial statement. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.... $15,000 00 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $2,373.83 percentage due on contracts not yet completed) 24,802 07 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 15,000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. 39,192 87 Amount available July 1, 1874 15,609 20 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 25,000 00 B 2. IMPROVEMENT OF MENOMONEE HARBOR, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN. The operations at this harbor are reported as follows by Assistant Engineer W. H. Hearding, in immediate charge: The length of the extension which was built to the south pier of this harbor during 1873, was 720.1 feet. The length of the extension which was added to the north pier was 351.9 feet. Each of these piers is 14 feet in width. The work is of a substantial character, and was done by Mr. Abner Kirby, under his contract of date May 26, 1873. With the exception of three sections at the extremity of the south pier, together forming a length of 96 feet, the whole of the work was filled with edgings ballasted with stone. The filling in the north pier, for a length of 256 feet, has settled to a depth of 44 feet below the top of the superstructure, and will require refilling. The slab pier built in 1872, and of which the above is an extension, should also be ballasted with 50 cords of stone to insure its stability. A plot of the soundings recently taken by Mr. F. C. Bradley, shows that a depth of 13.1 feet of water exists at the eastern extremity of the north pier, and 4.6 feet at the outer end of the south pier. At a distance of 165 feet to the eastward, on the aligument of the south pier, the water is shown as being 13 feet in depth. By act of Congress of date June 23, 1874, the sum of $25,000 was appropriated for the continuation of the improvement of this harbor. During the present season, $10,000 of this amount will be applied to deepening the channel by dredging. A contract was entered into by the Menomonee Dredging Association on the 26th day of the present month, to remove 40,000 cubic yards of material from the channel at the rate of 25 cents per cubic yard. The rest of the appropriation will be applied to the extension of the piers, and furnishing the requisite quantity of stone ballast for perfecting the work done in 1872 and 1873. The amount available after the refilling of stone is completed, will construct 128 feet in length, for the extension of the north pier; and in equal length for the extension of the south pier, making a total length of 256 feet of finished work. A summary of the work proposed to be done under the available appropriation is as follows, viz: For 70 cords of stone ballast to refill the vacancies caused by subsidence of material in north pier, at $10... For 50 cords of stone to secure slab pier, at $10.. For completing three outer sections of south pier... For removing 40,000 cubic yards of material from channel, at 25 cents. Leaving for expense of superintendence, &c.. Amount of appropriation..... $700 00 500 00 2,000 00 10,000 00 4,730 92 4, 182 00 22.112 92 2,887 08 25.000 00 In order to carry out the piers to a depth of 15 feet of water, and provide a channel of such width and depth as will meet the requirements of the commerce of the place, an appropriation of $50,000 should be made to be expended during the season of 1875. A great improvement to this harbor would probably be effected by cutting off a portion of the point which projects into the channel from the north side, which was originally the outer point on the north side of the mouth of the river, and by filling up the angle formed by the slab pier-work of 1872, and the original dock of R. Stevenson & Co., at the month of the river. The number of arrivals and departures of steamers and sailing-vessels during the year are as follows: Arrivals.- Of steamers, 210; of sailing-vessels, 468. Departures. Of steamers, 209; of sailing-vessels, 468. Of exports there have been as follows: Lumber, 122,008,529 feet, (B. M.;) lath, 22,154,400; pickets, 604,953; posts, 72,381; general merchandise, 88 tons; pig-iron, 3,000 tons; fish, 11,500 packages. Imports.--Hay, 3,000 tons; oats, 88,500 busbels; corn, 26,400 bushels; malt,1,000 bushels; bran, 4,000 bushels; potatoes, 5,500 bushels; general merchandise, 1,310 tons; bricks, 100,000; salt, 4,000 barrels; coal, 700 tons; quarry-stone, 300 cords; mess pork, 6,800 barrels; mess beef, 1,200 barrels; dried beef, 505 barrels; smoked hams, 1,075 barrels; sirup, 500 barrels; whisky, 230 barrels; beer, 250 barrels; onions, 600 barrels; flour, 17,500 barrels; corn-meal, 1,450 barrels; oatmeal, 150 barrels ; crackers, 4,500 barrels; dried apples, 2,300 barrels; green apples, 4,500 barrels; beans, 2,500 barrels; peas, 500 barrels ; lime, 3,000 barrels; sugar, 4,500 barrels; plaster Paris, 100 barrels; cement, 200 barrels. The plan adopted for the improvement of this harbor was not fixed until after the first appropriation of $25,000 in 1871 was made. Consequently no original estimate was made. It is estimated that the total cost of the plan now being carried out, i. e., extending the piers to a depth of 16 feet in the bay and dredging out a channel 14 feet deep from the mouth up to a point in the river now crossed by the ferry, is $212,000. There has been appropriated up to date, $100,000. Financial statement. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. $25,000 00 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $1,254.84 per centage due on contracts not yet completed). 11,350 01 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 25,000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. 34,837 69 Amount available July 1, 1874.... 26, 512 32 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. 50,000 00 B 3. IMPROVEMENT OF GREEN BAY HARBOR, WISCONSIN. The operations at this harbor are reported as follows by Assistant Engineer W. 'H. Hearding, in immediate charge : By act of Congress March 3, 1873, the sum of $20,000 was appropriated for the improvement of this harbor, and a contract was made with Mr. Albert Conro of Milwaukee, Wis., on the 30th of May, 1873, for widening and deepening the channel, commencing at the angle formed by the first and second reaches outside of the mouth of Fox River. The shape of this section, which was improved by dredging, was triangular, the vertex of the triangle being situated at the angle made by the reaches as above stated, the base of the figure extending from the elbow near the mouth of the river to a distance of 150 feet to the westward of the original channel bank. The lengths of the legs of this isosceles triangle were each 2,350 feet. The average depth of excavation was 64 feet. Besides the accomplishment of this work, about 5,000 cubic yards of material were removed from the channel immediately to the eastward of and adjoining this improved section. The total quantity of material excavated and removed was 49,833 cnbie yards. Piles were driven to mark the alignment of the channel and for establishing the datum for governing the depth to which excavation was made. The recent appropriation made by Congress of $10,000 will be applied to the improvement of the channel by dredging and in repairs to the revetment of the east pier across Grassy Island. By your orders a survey of the channel was made during the latter part of February and the beginning of March last from the mouth of Fox River to a point 2,862 feet to the northward of the northern extremity of the revetment across Grassy Island. The method adopted for taking the soundings was by cutting holes through the ice upon lines of cross-sections, which were established at parallel distances of 30 feet apart. The soundings were taken upon the cross-section lines at distances of 20 feet apart. This survey shows that an extensive bar has been formed across the channel at a point commencing at a distance of about 1,600 feet to the southward of the south end of the pier revetment across Grassy Island. It covers a section of the channel about 400 feet in length, the depth of water over it being about 11 feet. This part of the channel should receive attention as soon as practicable. To provide a channel 100 feet in width, having a depth of 14 feet across the bar, will require the removal of about 12,000 cubic yards of material. One cut of the dredge 25 feet in width should next be made parallel with the range of the stations erected at the time of the survey, the positions of which formerly governed the west bank of the inner reach of the channel. This cut should be made to a depth of 16 feet below the established datum, and at a parallel distance of 40 feet to the eastward of the produced range line. The average depth of required excavation upon this line is about 34 feet; its length is 2,200 feet; the quantity of material to be removed is 9,500 cubic yards, scow meas urement. The pier forming the revetment, to the east side of the channel, across Grassy Island, was seriously injured by the ice during the past winter, the whole section to the northward of the island, 480 feet in length, having been twisted and ruptured to such au extent as to require immediate attention and repairs, as well as to be provided with protection for the future. The size of the vessels trading at this port has increased since the improvement has been commenced, and the demands of the increasing commerce are urgent for vessels of still greater capacity than are at present employed. To provide a channel of 14 feet in depth, and 200 feet in width for its entire length, would require the removal of 140,000 cubic yards of material, which would involve a further expenditure of about $45,000, provided it is considered expedient to give such facilities to the commerce of the place. The number of arrivals and departures of steamers and sailing-vessels during the past years is as follows: Arrivals. Departures A list of the imports and exports at this harbor, as taken from the books of the custom-house officer, is as follows, viz: Imports.-Merchandise, 81,512 packages; iron-ore, 26,382 tons; flour, 1,082 barrels ; coal, 15,111 tons; salt, 28,604 barrels; carbon-oil, 2,641 barrels; liquor, 1.834 packages; fish, 1,405 barrels; lard, 4,320 barrels; shingles, 450,000; fire-wood, 616 cords; railroad-iron, 8,658 tons; lumber, 300,000 feet, (B. M. ;) meat, 2,809 barrels; stone, 391 cords; plaster, 3,000 barrels; apples, 3,035 barrels; cement, 3,410 barrels; powder, 30 tons; paints, 58 packages; hardware, 4,573 packages; drugs, 138 packages; vinegar, 148 barrels; lime, 200 barrels; fish, 100 barrels. Exports.-Merchandise, 10,617 packages; pig-iron, 13,344 tons; wheat, 307,432 bushels; flour, 39,693 barrels; empty barrels, 3,910; fish-kitts, 29,779; salt, 590 barrels; oak staves, 969,187 M; shingles, 102,153 M; lumber, 990,000 feet, (board-measure ;) fish, 2,275 barrels; fish-barrels, 450; pork, 10 barrels; liquor, 10 barrels, and 1,278 half barrels; oats, 300 bushels; lime, 100 barrels; meat, 51 barrels; barrel-heads, 475,040 M. An estimate of $155,416.77, for completing the improvement of this harbor, was made in 1867 by Maj. J. B. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers. This contemplated a cut through Grassy Island and revetment of the This work was completed within the estimate in 1871. same. There was appropriated in 1871 the sum of $17,500, which was applied to dredging the channel between Grassy Island and the mouth of the Fox River. In 1872 I estimated that $50,000 would be required to deepen and straighten this channel to a depth of 13 feet at ordinary low water and a width of 200 feet. The sum of $20,000 was appropriated and expended in 1873. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated this year. Owing to the increasing importance of this port it is considered best to make the channel 14 feet deep at low water. This will involve an expenditure of $45,000, in addition to what has already been expended. After this is expended, a small annual expenditure will be necessary for maintaining the channel. Financial statement. 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 B 4. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF REFUGE AT ENTRANCE OF THE STURGEON BAY CANAL, WISCONSIN. The operations at this harbor are reported as follows by Assistant Engineer W. H. Hearding, in immediate charge: By act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, the sum of $40,000 was appropriated for the protection of the entrance of the projected canal, which is in process of construction across the peninsula, and which divides the southern section of Green Bay from Lake Michigan. The plan adopted for this protection is by constructing two piers, one on the north and the other on the south side of the proposed canal. Each of the points of the commencement of these piers is situated at a distance of 425 feet from the axis of the canal, making a distance between them of 850 feet, and which forms the base of a triangle. The angles of convergence, which the piers make with this base, are respectively 76° 41' for the north pier, and 73° 53' for the south pier; the point of the base used for the commencement of the north pier being a little in advance or eastward of a line drawn at a right angle with the axis of the canal. Each of these piers when completed will extend into the lake upon the described angles, about 1,200 feet from the shore, to reach a depth of 18 feet of water. The width of the channel between the eastern extremities of the piers when completed will be 250 feet. The operations during the year 1873 resulted in the construction of 1,524 linear feet of pile-pier work, of 14 feet in width, or a length of 762 feet of each pier. The piles forming the sides of the in-shore sections, each 100 feet in length, are driven at a distance of 4 feet apart, and are provided with cap-timbers. For the next outer sections, each of 150 feet in length, the piles are driven as near together as practicable, and are provided with cap timbers and ties. The remainder of the work is close-piling cut down to within a distance of one foot from the water-surface, and finished with superstructure. There is but little stone left over the brush-filling in the sections nearest to the shore, particularly in the north pier, where the piers were not driven in juxtaposition. The piers themselves have withstood the action of the water and ice during the past winter very satisfactorily, scarcely any change being perceptible in their alignment, and no displacement having occurred. Two of the sections of the south pier, the fourth and fifth from its eastern extremity, remained through the winter without a filling of either brush or stone, and the average depth of water over the stone filling in the outer or eastern section is 4 feet. The average of the depths by careful measurement from the upper plane of the superstructure timbers to the top of ballast is 4 feet. The piers will require to be filled to within 1 foot of the top of the superstructure, with stone of the largest obtainable size, owing to the exposed position of the piers. This will be done under the recent appropriation of $10,000 allotted by Congress for securing and improving the work at this harbor; and also in view of the depth of water (about 15 feet) which prevails at the present extremities of the piers, one section of pier of an increased width, 32 feet in length, will be built in addition to each of them, and from the shoulders formed outside by this increase in width, guard-piles will be driven to cover and strengthen the present outer sections, and secured to the original structure with iron bolts. No accretion has been formed along the shore, either to the northward or south ward of the piers, which is contrary to the effect usually produced by the construction of such works. The loss of this effect is partially attributable to the admission of the wa'er between the comparatively open pile-work, the ballasting of stone having been washed by the waves through the apertures between the piles, and for this reason I respectfully recommend that bowlder-stones only, of large dimensions, be used in refilling the piers, particularly at or near their intersections with the shore-line. The cost of procuring this character of stone is, of course, greater than that incident to the purchase of stone of a smaller size, but the importance of the object to be attained is more than commensurate to an increase in the cost of the material. It is assumed that as soon as the action of the water through the piers near the shore is checked, that a sedimentary deposit, to a greater or less extent, will be made in the angles formed by the piers at their intersections with the shore-line, both at the northward and the southward of the work. That a constant action of detrition and deposit takes place upon this section of the lake-shore, as at all other points which are exposed to the action of the waves where the material forming it is of sand or of material capable of being removed, is evident from the fact that on the inner side or between the piers an accretion has formed since they have been constructed, which is of a curvilinear shape, the greatest ordinate of concavity being at a center point of the shore between the piers, and it is also assumed that this accretion is not entirely due to the action of the waves confined within the limits of the basin after their admittance to the basin from the lake. It is possible you may consider it best to finish this work of improveme it by changing the method of construction from pile-work to crib-work, now that a depth of 15 feet of water has been reached, in which case an outlay of $90,000 will be involved to complete the piers, $60,000 of which could be advantageously expended during the working season of 1875. During the month of January last a commission was appointed by the legislature of Wisconsin to examine the work which has been accomplished by the Sturgeon Bay Canal Company upon the canal, and to report upon the same, in which report the commissioners were required to state what proportion of the work was done. Their report shows that more than one-fourth of the entire work of excavation has been accomplished. The total estimated cost of this improvement, including dredging be tween the piers, is $180,000, and there has been appropriated up to date $50,000. The amount appropriated this year was $10,000, which will complete the work of last year, and extend each pier about 32 feet. The object of the improvement is to protect the lake-entrance of the canal now in course of construction from the head of Sturgeon Bay to Lake Michigan, a distance of 6,600 feet, which will make Sturgeon Bay a harbor of refuge easily accessible from Lake Michigan. During the season of 1873 considerable progress was made on the canal, it being estimated by the State authorities that one-fourth of the excavation required was completed. The greater part of the work is dry excavation above the water-level. The wet excavation, or canal proper, is from the head of Sturgeon Bay, a distance of about 1,000 feet toward Lake Michigan. No work has been done the present season, owing to financial difficulties, but it was expected to commence work at the lake end. The utility of the work being done by the Government depends entirely upon the completion of the canal. Unless the latter is completed the piers now under construction will be useless, and consequently it would not be advisable to appropriate more money unless the continued progress of the canal work is assured. Financial statement. 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. |