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REPAYMENTS TO THE APPROPRIATIONS.

1891, December 30. From Plumb Island, N. Y., allotment
1892, April 12. From Sands Point, N. Y., allotment..
1892, June 28. From Fort Hamilton, N. Y., allotment.

1892, June 30. Amount available......

.......

$259.06 4,750.00 684. 14

$5,693. 20

117, 647. 41

PROTECTION OF THE SITE OF FORT NIAGARA, NEW YORK.

Officer in charge, Capt. Dan C. Kingman, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers.

Protection of site.-Operations have been in progress for the protection of the site of Fort Niagara under allotments made from the appropriations for "sea walls and embankments" and preservation and repair of fortifications. The project provides for the repair of the sea wall along the lake front, the construction of dikes of fascines, iron pickets, and stone along the river and a portion of the lake front, and the filling in behind these dikes along the river front to a height of 6 feet above low water, leaving a flat slope down to the water. Above this slope is a level place wide enough for a roadway, then a steeper slope up to the general level of the site, the lower slope to be protected by a growth of willows and the upper one by sod.

The total amount expended under this project to June 30, 1892, is $29,449.38, which has resulted in the repair of the sea wall, the construction of 1,711 linear feet of dike work, 941 feet of which is along the river, the construction of a concrete breakwater in front of the northwest angle to protect the wall, and in grading the bank along the river front according to the project, for a distance of 941 feet. The grading was completed late in the season, and, as it was impossible to induce a growth of willows on this slope that would be any possible protection to it during the winter and spring freshets, it was covered with a rough pavement of stone.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year...

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1892, balance available ... .

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894. (See Appendix No. 1.)

$11,688.95 11, 138. 33

550.62

30.00

520.62

26, 105.30 3,000.00

SEA WALL AND EMBANKMENT AT DAVIDS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR.

Officer in charge, Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. Davids Island, 21 miles distant by water from the Battery, New York city, is one of the principal recruiting stations of the Army.

On the east side of the island was a bay into which garbage and refuse matter frequently drifted, becoming a source of annoyance and possible disease to the troops stationed there; separated from the bay by a low sand beach was a fresh-water pond, formerly used as a water supply during drought, and still used as an ice pond.

To protect the pond from salt water, as well as for sanitary reasons, the construction of a sea wall in front of this beach was recommended

in 1883 and 1884. In 1886 $47,000 was estimated as the cost of a masonry wall about 980 feet long, with embankment behind, the wall to be placed near low-water line, and to rise 12 feet above mean lowwater level.

Under the appropriation of September 22, 1888, $47,000 was allotted for this sea wall and embankment. Recent stringent regulations prevent the deposit of garbage in this vicinity; therefore a riprap wall with dimension-stone capping was substituted for the masonry wall originally designed, the cost being less and the wall equally effective. The sea wall was completed in April, 1890.

The wall and embankment are in good condition; slight repair to the embankment is needed where heavy storms have washed away part of the earth.

A survey of the shores of the island, made in June, 1891, to prepare estimates of cost of other needed sea walls upon this islaud, shows that protection is needed at the west shore, north of the coal dock; a suitable sea wall, with embankment, at this place is estimated to cost $30,000.

Estimates for other sea walls were also presented, but they are not deemed of as pressing importance as this one.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

Amount transferred to allotment for sea wall, Governors Island..........

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July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

55,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 30,000. 00 (See Appendix 2 A.)

SEA WALLS AT GOVERNORS ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR.

Officer in charge, Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. The project adopted in 1865 provided for inclosing the entire island by a sea wall. Under an allotment made in 1865 and other subsequent allotments and appropriations, walls were built on the south, southeast, east, and northwest sides of the island, and under an appropriation of $50,000, made by act of Congress approved August 18, 1890, at the beginning of the fiscal year work had been commenced on a contract for construction of sea wall on the west side of the island.

During the past fiscal year this contract was completed; the wall is 1,499.14 feet long, resting on a concrete foundation (containing 659.24 cubic yards of concrete); 39,544 cubic yards of filling were placed in the embankment behind the wall and 1,856 cubic yards were used to complete the embankment behind the north wall.

With the balance of the available funds a wall about 212 feet long is to be built under a contract recently entered into, extending north from the wall on the east side of the island to and under the quartermaster's wharf.

The existing walls are in good condition, but for preservation they should be repointed in places and parts of the foundation should be protected with riprap.

To complete the wall around the entire island, after the existing contract is finished, there will remain about 185 feet distance, to the shore end of the stone wharf.

The estimated cost of building a wall over this distance is $8,000,

and of repointing and riprapping the other walls where necessary, $5,717; total, $13,717.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..
Amount transferred from allotment for sea wall, Davids Island

$53, 740.98
6,597.86

$60, 338.84

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year..

46, 484. 70

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5,000.00

July 1, 1892, balance available

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 (See Appendix 2 B.)

5,000.00

BEACH PROTECTION, WATER SUPPLY, AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM AT FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA.

Officers of the Corps of Engineers in charge: Lieut. Col. Peter C. Hains, to November 31, 1891; Maj. L. Cooper Overman, from November 23 to December 7, 1891; Capt. Thomas Turtle, from December 7, 1891, to January 25, 1892; and Maj. Charles E. L. B. Davis, since January 25, 1892, with Lieut. George A. Zinn, Corps of Engineers, under their immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.

Beach protection.-The erosion of the beach on the side of the bay and to the northeastward of the fort had progressed so as to endanger the integrity of the sand-spit connecting the fort with the mainland. The approved project consisted of jetties or groins built at suitable intervals along the beach, at an estimated cost of $37,000. Four jetties have been built, of an aggregate length of 927 feet. There has been some fill on the east side of all the jetties, and between them some

scour.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

June 30, 1892, amount expended during the fiscal year

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1892, balance available

(See Appendix 3 A.)

$23,985.60 23, 656.07

329.53 89.00

240.53

Water supply.-The supply of water is dependent upon rainwater stored in cisterns and water of inferior quality brought across Mill Creek in iron pipes. The importance of an adequate supply of wholesome water within the limits of the fortification can hardly be overestimated. Six thousand dollars was appropriated by the act of Febru ary 24, 1891, but this amount was not deemed sufficient to sink a well to the depth which it is already shown must be exceeded to secure a supply of good water. A brief account of previous attemps at sinking wells at this post is given in the report of the local officer, who recommends that $4,000 additional appropriation be made.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. (See Appendix 3 B).

$6,000.00

6,000.00

Sewerage system.-Twenty-five thousand dollars was appropriated by the act of March 2, 1889, for a complete system of sewerage inside and outside of the fort. Bids received for this work showed that the appropriation was insufficient for the purpose. October 29, 1891, the Secretary of War decided that two separate systems must be constructed, one by the United States and the other by the hotel proprietors and others enjoying the privilege of residing on the reservation. Estimates in accordance with this decision of the Secretary of War were submitted March 12, 1892, amounting to $45,000, and it was recommended that an appropriation of that sum be made for the sewerage system, in lieu of the amount appropriated by the act of March 2, 1889. The numerous reports of the local officer in charge and of the commanding officers and post surgeons show the great and urgent need of this improvement.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... (See Appendix 3 C.)

$24, 902. 10 24, 902. 10

REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF FORT MARION, FLORIDA.

Officers in charge, Capt. W. M. Black, Corps of Engineers, to November 20, 1891, and Maj. John C. Mallery, Corps of Engineers, since that date, with Lieut. David DuB. Gaillard, Corps of Engineers, under the immediate orders of the former until November 6, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers.

The work of restoration of Fort Marion and the improvement of its grounds were begun with an appropriation of $5,000, made in the act approved July 5, 1884. A further appropriation of $15,000 for the restoration of this fort was made in the act approved August 18, 1890. Work under this last appropriation was begun October 20, 1890, and was continued to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, as set forth in detail in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for that year.

During the past fiscal year the entire terreplein was coated with a mixture of paraffin and petroleum; drawings for the restoration of the chapel door were made; a covered drain laid for a distance of 260 feet; 60 feet of pavement that had settled was brought up to its proper level, and a number of trees and plants were put out.

Additional and final work of restoration and improvement of fort and grounds remains, as set forth in the report of the officer in charge. of the work, which it is estimated will cost $6,500.

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For purchase of land for fortifications...

For protection, preservation, and repair of fortifications.

For preparation of plans for fortifications

For protection of site of Fort Niagara, New York.

$1,782, 000

500,000

80,000

5,000

3,000

For sea walls and embankments....

marine mines

For purchase of submarine mines and necessary appliances to operate
them for closing the channels leading to our principal seaports..
For needful casemates, cable galleries, etc., from which to operate sub-

$35,000

100,000

For continuing torpedo experiments........

150,000

10,000

2,665,000

THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.

The Board, as at present constituted, consists of the following officers of the Corps of Engineers: Col. Henry L. Abbot, Col. C. B. Comstock, Col. D. C. Houston, and Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie.

Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, is also a member of the Board when it is acting upon matters pertaining to the defensive works on the Pacific coast.

The Board has considered the various subjects referred to it during the past year by the Chief of Engineers, and the following is a brief summary of the reports rendered thereon:

1891, July 9. On project of Lieut. Col. P. C. Hains, Corps of Engi neers, for gun emplacement at Fort Washington, Md.'

September 1. On project of Mr. C. Farrington for a turret for shore purposes.

September 29. On an application for permission to level off an unfinished battery at Governors Island, N. Y.

October 14. On project of Maj. T. H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, for obtaining a navigable channel in the lower Willamette and Columbia rivers.

October 16. On project of Maj. C. W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, for a mining casemate and cable gallery at fort opposite Fort Dela

ware.

October 26. On plan of Mr. Patrick McCann for a land fortress. October 26. On plan of Mr. Owen Foley for a chevaux-de-frise. November 30. On pamphlet of Lieut. Honeycutt on the "Relative average effect of parallel and independent fire."

December 9. On plan of Mr. John Dougherty for a revolving fort. December 9. On project of Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers, for gun emplacement at Fort Warren, Mass.

December 14. On modified plans of the North River Bridge Company for a bridge across the Hudson River at New York City.

December 16. On Senate 455, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Company to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between New York City and the State of New Jersey."

December 21. On Senate 846, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To authorize and regulate the construction of bridges across the Hudson and East rivers, at the city of New York and prescribe the dimensions of the same."

December 26. On purchase from the Highland Beach Association of land adjacent to Sandy Hook, N. J.

December 28. On defenses of Long Island Sound-eastern entrance. 1892, January 12. On purchase of armored cable.

January 15. On House of Representatives 289, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To incorporate the New York Bridge Company, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and operating a bridge over East River, between the cities of New York and Brooklyn, in the State of New York."

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