Statement of the number of vessels arriving coastwise to the port of Chicago, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Statement of the number of vessels clearing coastwise from the port of Chicago, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $6,866.32 per centage due on contracts not yet completed). Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. $90,000 00 20, 423 47 75,000 00 107, 198 23 78, 225 24 78,000 00 B 14. IMPROVEMENT OF CALUMET HARBOR, ILLINOIS. The operations at this harbor are reported as follows by the assistant in immediate charge, First Lieut. F. A. Hinman, Corps of Engineers: UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Mobile, Ala., May 14, 1874. SIR: The work at Calumet Harbor for that portion of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, during which I was in immediate charge, i. e., from June 30, 1873, to December 19, 1873, was as follows: The north and south piers were each extended 200 feet, excepting the superstructure. The dimensions of the cribs of the former pier were 50 by 20 by 143 feet, those of the latter pier being 50 by 20 by 10 feet. The total extension of both piers, excepting the superstructure, during the working season of 1873 was 750 feet. A number of the spaces between the ends of cribs were filled with brush and stone, the brush being obtained for the cutting of it. The superstructure over the cribs sunk in extension of the north pier in 1872 was commenced and virtually completed. Thirty-seven thousand four hundred and sixty-five cubic yards of material were excavated from the channel and crib-beds and dumped into the lake. The soundings taken just before the close of operations for the season showed an improved channel of 11 feet, due to dredging. The above work was done by hired labor, the materials being furnished by contract. A light-keeper has been appointed, and a light is now regularly shown at the harbor during the season of navigation. It is understood that during the present season certain parties contemplate replacing the rope ferry over the river just above the entrance to the harbor, with a draw-bridge; also that the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, and Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad Companies intend to rebuild their bridges over the Calumet River, putting in wider draws, Respectfully submitted. I was relieved from the charge of this harbor by paragraph 2, Special Orders No. 140, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, dated Washington, June 26, 1874. The above report comprises all the work done during the year. The original estimate for this harbor was $300,000 in round numbers. (See Report of Chief of Engineers for 1871, page 104.) It is considered that the cost of the harbor as originally designed will not exceed the estimate. The sum of $75,000 can be profitably expended during the present fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. The number of arrivals of vessels of all kinds at this harbor during the past year was 137, with a tonnage of 16,129 tons. Departures the same. 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.. $20,000 00 19,992 27 25,000 00 39, 273 05 25,719 22 75,000 00 B 15. IMPROVEMENT OF MICHIGAN CITY HARBOR, INDIANA. The operations of this harbor are reported as follows by the assistant in immediate charge, First Lieut. F. A. Hinman, Corps of Engineers: UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I respectfully submit the following statement of work done at Michigan City Harbor during that portion of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, of which I was in immediate charge: For the east pier of the outer harbor 240 piles were delivered and driven; 10,920 lineal feet of 12 by 12 inch pine timber were delivered and framed for superstructure; 13,632 feet, board-measure, 3-inch pine plank were delivered and laid for decking; the necessary stone and brush-filling and enough bolts and spikes were furnished to complete the same, according to the plan, for a distance of 503 feet from the end of the bridge. The above work was done by Messrs. Fox and Howard, of Chicago, Ill., under contract of date August 9, 1872. This contract has been closed. The extension of the pier west of the entrance to the harbor was commenced last June by Mr. James H. Ledhe, of Chicago, Ill., under contract dated June 15, 1873. The work was completed before the expiration of the contract, December 1, 1873, and the contract closed. In the prosecution of this work 1,735 piles were delivered and driven; 13,706 lineal feet 12 by 12 inch pine timber were delivered and framed for superstructure; 14,304 feet, board-measure, 3-inch pine plank were delivered and laid for decking; the necessary brush and stone was put in for filling, and the amount of bolts and spikes needed was furnished. The exposed portion of this pier was quite heavily riprapped with stone. It is recommended that a permanent beacon be placed on the end of it. As it was thought that the brush and stone below the superstructure would settle considerably into the sand during the severe gales, the lower cross-timbers of the superstructure were occasionally omitted in both of the above-mentioned piers in order to allow stone from above to fall below and fill up the vacant spaces. The consequence was that the superstructure had to be filled with stone several times. It is likely that they will require refilling this spring. The crib at the end of the pier east of the entrance to the harbor was repaired, as contemplated in my last annual report. The above-named piers were located by me last November, and a map of the same submitted to you. To complete the outer harbor according to the plan will require the construction of a breakwater and a short extension of the east pier. For a distance of 250 feet from the shore line this harbor is quite shallow, there being about 3 feet of water. Last fall the steam barge Eureka, loaded with stone, was wrecked in a gale between the two piers. She lay a total wreck about 300 feet east of the beacon pier. No dredging has been done since June, but it may become necessary to do a little, as the soundings at the close of the operations for last season showed a scant 12-foot channel opposite the iron-ore dock. The docks belonging to private parties should be repaired in some places. As directed by you, the foreman of each of my harbors have forwarded through me monthly progress sketches, showing the work done during the month; in case of pierwork, there was forwarded a tracing of an outline-plan and elevation of each pier, commencing at the shore-line on a scale of 1 inch to 100 feet, showing (in red ink) the plan and the elevation of the work done during the month; in case of pile-piers, there was furnished, in addition to the above, a plan and elevation of the work done during the month on a scale of 1 inch to 10 feet, on which was shown in plan each pile driven, and in elevation the condition of the work; in case of dredging, the cut was located on a map of the harbor and a tracing of the same forwarded to you. Respectfully submitted. F. A. HINMAN, First Lieut. of Engineers, U. S. A. I was relieved from the charge of this harbor by paragraph 2, Special Order No. 140, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, dated Washington, June 26, 1874. The only work done since the above report was a small amount of dredging between the old harbor piers during the spring of 1874. original estimate for this harbor (see Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1870, page 126) was $324,421.40. There has been appropriated in 1872.. $50,000 50,000 50,000 150,000 It is estimated that the work can be completed within the estimate. The estimate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, is $80,000. The following is a list of marine arrivals and imports at this harbor for the year: Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873............ Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $1,499.41 percentage due on contracts not yet completed). Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 B 16. IMPROVEMENT OF THE FOX AND WISCONSIN RIVERS. The improvement of these rivers has been prosecuted during the year in accordance with the general plan submitted in my last annual report. The accompanying reports of the assistants in immediate charge show the work done in detail. It is proposed to continue this general plan this season, completing the work of last season on the Lower Fox and commencing the work on the Upper Fox. The work on the Upper Fox will be on the new lock near Eureka ; dredging the bars from Berlin and below; repairs and alterations of locks at Fort Winnebago and Governor's Bend, and deepening the canal at Portage City. The work on the Wisconsin will be continued on the plan heretofore pursued. A survey is now in progress to carry out the requirements of the harbor and river appropriation bill of June 23, 1874, in regard to the "northern route," recommended by the Senate Select Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard. Owing to the late date of the appropriation of this year a large portion of the working-season has been lost. The estimate made by me last year for completing this improvement according to the plan adopted was $3,000,000, since which time $300,000 has been appropriated. A revised estimate and report based on the survey above mentioned will be submitted in time for action at the next session of Congress. The estimated amount which could be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1876, is $750,000. The amount of tolls collected during the year ending June 30, 1874, is $1,239.17, required to be reported annually by act of Congress approved July 7, 1870. This is no criterion of the amount of business which might be done on the route, as it was closed during most of the year and the tolls are derived from local business. The plan which has been adopted has been subjected to much criticism from parties interested in the route. On the 24th of June, 1874, a convention was held at Oshkosh, Wis., composed of delegates from the various cities and towns on the route, at which the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That we regard the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers as an inter-State highway to be a work of very great and increasing importance; that the interests of the Northwestern States demand the construction of the work in accordance with the highest scale of measurements approved by General Houston in his report of June 30, 1873, and that appropriations for carrying on the work should be made by Congress, that the entire work may be well and fully completed within three years. Resolved, That a committee be appointed by the chair, whose duty it shall be to act as a committee to present the wishes of the people, from time to time, in all matters pertaining to the manner of completing the improvement, and whose further duty it shall be to press upon the attention of Congress the necessity and the importance of the work; to make such suggestions to the authorities, from time to time, as they may deem advisable and expedient; and that the chairman of the convention be designated the chairman of said committee. From this it will be seen that the plan recommended by me in my last annual report was indorsed. I can but repeat that the appropriations heretofore made are disproportionate to the magnitude of this work, and inadequate to its completion, either with economy or reasonable rapidity. It will require, according to present estimates, ten years to complete the work at this rate of appropriation. There was appropriated in 1873, $300,000, and the same amount in 1874. The papers accompanying this report are as follows: No. 1. Letter of Capt. Lydecker, dated August 12, 1874, transmitting report of Assistant Engineer Edwards on Fox River improvements. No. 2. Report of Assistant Engineer Edwards, dated August 10, 1874. No. 3. Letter of Lieutenant Hinman, dated July 25, 1874, transmitting report of Assistant Engineer Nader on Wisconsin River improvement. No. 4. Report of Assistant Engineer Nader, dated July 24, 1874. No. 5. Report of Assistant Engineer Nader, dated December 15, 1873. Financial statement. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount received from tolls for year ending June 30, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. $200,000 00 27, 37 13 1,893 27 300.000 00 229,907 92 299, 22 48 750,000 00 FOX RIVER. Letter of Capt. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, FOX RIVER IMPROVEMENT, Appleton, Wis., August 12, 1874. SIR: I have just received the annual report of N. M. Edwards, assistant engineer on the Fox River improvement, for that portion of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, during which he was in charge of the work. There remains but little for me to add on the operations of that year. Very little work was done from the time I assumed charge, owing to the appropriation having been so nearly exhausted that we could not venture upon operations on an extensive scale until the new appropriation was assured to us. |