proposed point only a very narrow strip of land, with but slight elevation, separated the two lakes, leaving but 1,250 feet between the 12-foot curves of each lake. To cut this out 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep, protect the banks with sheet-piling, and for pier-work, it was estimated the cost would be $170,530.80. Appropriated 1867.... $57,000 1867 and 1868.-Dredges commenced work in July, 1867, and up to close of the year 105,377 cubic yards of earth and sand was removed, and about 1,000 running feet of close piling built. 1868 and 1869.-No work, except the driving of a few piles, was done during this fiscal year. 1869 and 1870.-One thousand five hundred and sixty-two feet of pier was built and 64,067 cubic yards of earth dredged, leaving a channel of 8 feet and over, where the preceding year was but 3 feet. Allotted ...... $45,000 1870 and 1871.-Two hundred and fifty-six feet was added to the north pier and superstructure continued thereon, as well as piles driven for 64 feet more pier. A channel of 10 feet water was obtained. Appropriated July 11, 1870..... Appropriated March 3, 1871 $20,000 20,000 1871 and 1872.-The superstructure of north pier, over the 64 feet of piling mentioned in previous report, was put on and carried on a farther distance of 96 feet on piles driven since then. Piles were also driven for a 40-foot square section intended for a pier-head. On the south side the pier was prolongated 68 feet, beyond which the piles were driven for a further extension of 28 feet. The filling in the piers about the shore-line was thoroughly overhauled. Appropriated June 10, 1872.. REMARKS. $10,000 To make the piers complete, as originally designed, the south pier should be extended 136 feet, even with the north pier, at a cost of $6,940. 1872 and 1873.-The work accomplished this year consisted of superstructure on 28 feet of piles, ballasting both piers with brush and stone, carrying a fender-strip along channel-face of north pier, and dredging the channel. No pier-extension was made, owing to the imperative need of dredging. Appropriated March 3, 1873.... RECOMMENDED. $7,000 A permanent improvement demands that the south pier shall be extended 450 feet, to 16 feet water, at a cost of $48,000. The south pier lacks 104 feet of completion, as designed in 1870. The United States dredging-apparatus removed 20,680 cubic yards of sand, &c., from the channel during the year. 1873 and 1874.-During the year the work at this harbor has been limited to making repairs, filling piers with brush, slabs, and stoneballast. Appropriated June 23, 1874 $10,000 With this last appropriation it is intended to put out a crib, 50 by 24 feet, in prolongation of the south pier; obtain 300 cords of slabs and 200 cords of stone for filling and ballast. A portion of this appropria tion will be held over for dredging should such contingency occur, as appears likely. To carry out the permanent improvement suggested in 1873, that is, pushing the south pier into 16 feet water and the north pier into 11 feet, $44,525.60 will be required, which, together with $5,000 for dredg ing, (mentioned in last report,) will make $49,525.60, which amount could be profitably expended during next fiscal year. The original estimate for this harbor was $170,538.80. Amounts appropriated as follows: In 1867 In 1869 In 1870 In 1871 In 1872 In 1873 In 1874 Total...... Financial statement. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.... 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 Statement of ressels entered and cleared at White River Harbor from July 1, 1873, to July 1, 1874. Entered number, 927; tonnage, 111,744; men, 4,506. C 6. MUSKEGON HARBOR, MICHIGAN. Original plan: It was recommended that an extension of the piers be made in a line of direction parallel to the inner face of south pier, (south 61° 31′ west,) commencing at the present extremities, until a depth of 17 feet is reached. Requiring 700 feet of pier-work; estimated cost, $58,450. Appropriated March 2, 1867..... 1866 and 1867.-Nothing done during fiscal year. Engineer in charge recommends: $59,000 That upper portion of present slab-piers be replaced by a crib-superstructure, stoneballast, to cost $64,000. But there appeared no necessity therefor, and no appropriation was asked. 1867 and 1868.-During the year 384 feet of pier was built, (12 cribs,) work having commenced in July, 1867. Ten thousand dollars was asked for the next fiscal year to build upper part of a portion of the old piers. 1868 and 1869.-During the year two cribs, 32 feet each, were placed in extension of the north and one in extension of the south piers, and superstructure on all completed. Twenty-eight thousand dollars was estimated to replace superstructure (crib) over slab-work in repairs to interior of crib pier. 1869 and 1870.-The north pier was extended 320 feet and south pier reballasted, and repairs to breach between east end of south pier and old slab-pier repaired. Appropriated July 11, 1870.... The estimate of $28,000 recommended. $10,000 1870 and 1871.-The superstructure over cribs sunk in 1869 was finished, and one crib, 32 feet square, placed as pier-head on north pier, and the north and south piers repaired; the south pier reballasted. Appropriated March 3, 1871................ $15,000 The estimate, $28,000, again put forward; also for $4,000 to purchase stone to reballast north pier. 1871 and 1872.-The construction of a pier-head, 32 feet square, with superstructure over it, and the two cribs sunk in 1869-70, left the north pier complete. A breach through slab-pier, where it joined south Government pier, was closed with 34 feet pile-pier. Appropriated June 10, 1872...... No further appropriation was asked. $10,000 1872 and 1873.-Under contract with Bird & Mickle the superstructure of north pier-head was rebuilt in October, 1872. During fiscal year there was accomplished under this contract: Piling, two rows, complete, for 250 feet south pier; waling and binder on channel-row and first course of timber complete for 150 feet of pier. An extension of the south pier 400 feet into the lake, at a cost of $56,000, was strongly recommended. 1873 and 1874.-The work under contract with Bird & Mickle was completed September 30, 1873, by converting old slab-piers into pilepiers, 350 feet on south and 250 feet on north side of channel, with necessary repairs. In last report $56,000 was asked to extend south pier out into the lake to 18 feet water; and of this amount $10,000 was appropriated, which will be expended the coming season in extending the south pier 50 feet, (one crib,) and making certain needed repairs, especially necessary on north side, east of work of last year, where old slab-pier was burned and where a threatened breach is imminent. Amount required $46,000, which can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. The original estimate called for $58,450. There has been appropriated Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. 9,698 43 10,079 97 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.......... 46,000 00 Statement of vessels entered and cleared at Muskegon Harbor during the year. C 7. GRAND HAVEN HARBOR, MICHIGAN. Appropriated in 1852, $20,000, as per copy of letter to Senator Ferry, dated Office Chief of Engineers, June 23, 1873. As given in tabular statement accompanying report of Chief of Engineers, 1866, $2,000. Plan of improvement, (Colonel Graham, 1857:) To defend the concave bend in the southern shore of the river below the town by a close-piling, and to build two parallel piers out into the lake in prolongation of the river-channel; the south pier by cribs for 600 feet. Appropriated June 23, 1866 ..... $65,000 Of this amount, $11,241.22 was expended in repairing 309 feet of pilepier on south side, (built by railroad company in 1857.) The following estimates were given: 1. To include close-piling and repairs of piers. 2. For extension of south pier Deduct balance of appropriation.... 3. For construction of north pier. Total $31,967 42 61,902 57 93, 869 99 53,758 77 40, 111 22 258,900 48 299, 011 70 1866 and 1867.-Work commenced in June, 1867. Six cribs, each 32 feet, were placed in extension of south pier, and 500 feet close-piling constructed. Appropriated March 3, 1867 $40,000 It was recommended that the building of north pier be not deferred. Estimated cost, $200,000. 1867 and 1868.-During this year 1,943 feet of close-piling was finished, and two cribs, 32 feet each, placed in extension of south pier. 1868 and 1869.-The south pier was extended 100 feet, and old pilework, interior to that part of same pier, (D. and M. railroad,) repaired in 1866, repaired for a distance of 465 feet. Allotted April 10, 1869.. Transferred from Frankfort. It was recommended $1,866 1,885 To complete the improvement a pier on north side is necessary, and repairs to old pilepier continued for an additional length of 600 feet. The north pier to be 1,700 feet long, to cost $200,000; and cost of repairs to old slab-pier, $14,000. 1869 and 1870.-461 feet of old pile-pier was repaired, inward from work of 1866. A crib, 32 feet by 20 feet, was placed to protect the shoulder made by the pile-pier where it joined the crib-work. Appropriated July 11, 1870...... Recommendation for north pier again made. $10,000 1870 and 1871.-During this year about 200 feet of old pier was repaired. Appropriated March 3, 1871...... $6,000 Additional estimates were made as follows: Additional repairs and reballasting necessary to crib work, $5,300; repairs to pile-revetment, (of July, 1867,) $36,000; also, a pier-head to south pier, $7,000. Recommendations for north pier again put forward. 1871 and 1872.-During season 460 feet of repairs were completed. Appropriated June 10, 1872 .... $15,000 The recommendations made in former reports: for a pier-head, $7,000; north pier, $200,000; and repairing and replacing inner revetment, which would need a further appropriation of $26,300; total, $233,300, were again renewed. 1872 and 1873.-During this year 700 feet pile-revetment, 14 feet wide, was 'constructed, to replace old work built by the railroad company; and repairs put upon south pier, consisting of overhauling and replacing of filling and ballast, which had become displaced by heavy seas, putting in additional filling, and protecting pier-head crib with upright timbers, and piling and leveling superstructure. A break in pier under bell-house and another at shore-line were also repaired. Appropriated March 3, 1873.. $75,000 It was suggested that old revetment be repaired and maintained, a new work be constructed, cutting off bend in river-bank in a line with work of 1872. 1873 and 1874.-The United States dredging-apparatus had removed sufficient sand on the line of proposed north pier to enable the contractors, Messrs. Squier and White, to commence driving piles on the 7th July, 1873, under contract dated May 15, 1873, providing for the construction of the first three sections of north pier, 21 feet. The weather throughout the entire season was most favorable for outside work, and on the 29th November the last pile of the revetment and close-piling (1,506 linear feet of pier) was driven, much of the superstructure placed thereon, 700 feet of the work filled with slabs to the required height above water, and a cargo of stone placed on the filling at the pier-head, as completed, to hold the filling in place through the winter. On the 8th of April, 1874, dredging was commenced on the line of the proposed 20-foot pile-pier or outer section of north pier, and was completed June 18. On the 19th June the apparatus left this harbor for Ludington, having removed 45,488 cubic yards of sand in connection with this entire work. The contractors, on May 4, commenced driving the piles for the outside work, and have pushed matters so that only 250 piles remain to be driven to complete that part of the work. Much of the filling has been placed in this work to the water-surface, and some stone placed thereon to secure it. The superstructure is well advanced and nearly completed for onehalf the section, viz., 300 feet. The alignment of the whole work, considering the very awkward action of the piles in driving, is very good, and the work is certainly substantial, as the average depth of the dredge-cut was about 16 feet, and the average depth of driving a trifle over 13 feet. The extremely rough and continuous northwest weather of last fall caused the formation of a bar on the prolongation of the north-pier line, upon which bar, for the first 200 feet from the pier, there was not to exceed 3 feet of water. This bar was also driven over into the channelway, so as to leave only about 200 feet of water-way available during the winter and early spring. It has, however, gradually worn away, so that with the dredging and the action of the current it is so reduced as to no longer interfere with navigation The same rough weather carried out the filling from the open pilework at the "bell-house" (south pier) for a space nearly 100 feet in length, leaving a depth of from 1 to 4 feet of water through the pier. |