January 26. On plan of Mr. John Hegeman for a folding boat for ponton bridges.

January 26. On project of Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, Corps of Engi neers, for the defense of the gorge of a gun-lift battery at Sandy Hook. January 29. On suggestions of Mr. Burwell Blair for locating hostile vessels entering a harbor.

January 30. On memorial of Port Townsend Board of Trade for the defense of Puget Sound.

February 1. On project of Maj. W. A. Jones, Corps of Engineers, for the improvement of the Red River of the North and Big Stone Lake. February 8. On plan of Mr. John Nader for a movable spar torpedo for harbor defense.

February 8. On plan of Mr. H. G. Lane for a steel fort.

February 8. On plan of Mr. Edwin Bell for formation of artificial bars to exclude hostile vessels.

February 12. On plan of Mr. Charles Boeckh for deepening and navigating channels.

March 3. On device of Mr. C. K. Corliss for directing the movements of torpedoes.

March 3. On Senate 2295, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To provide for the appointment of an Ohio River Commission for the improvement of said river from Pittsburg to Cairo."

March 10. On specifications for submarine-mining cable proposed by Lieut. Col. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers. The report of the Board was accompanied by a memorandum on the subject by Col. H. L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, dated March 9, 1892.

March 28. On electrical defense scheme of Gen. G. W. Serrell.

March 28. On Senate 2626, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "To authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Companies to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between New York City and the State of New Jersey."

March 28. On plan of Mr. Charles H. Buckalew for submarine tunnels.

April 2. On request of the Mount Morris, N. Y., bank directors for authority to partially fill in the Harlem River; and on their application that War Department orders relative to the height of the New York Central Railroad Company's bridge across the Harlem River be rescinded.

April 6. On House of Representatives 7819, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "to authorize the construction of bridges over the North or Hudson River between the States of New York and New Jersey." April 7. On plan of Mr. C. F. Shedd for wire foot nets for obstructing an enemy's men and horses.

April 28. On plan of Mr. George Cowing for the auxiliary defense of harbors and coasts.

April 28. On House of Representatives 8312, Fifty-second Congress, first session, "to authorize the New York and New Jersey Bridge Companies to construct and maintain a bridge across the Hudson River between New York city and the State of New Jersey."

May 26. On the defense of the eastern entrance to New York Harbor at and near Throgs Neck.

May 26. On plan of Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, for strengthening the superstructure of the Buffalo Breakwater.

In the performance of the duties of the Board, the following personal examinations were made:

Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated July 28, 1891, ENG 92-2

the Board, in connection with its report on the defenses of the eastern entrance of Long Island Sound, made an inspection of the locality cov ered by the report on August 28, 1891.

Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated March 18, 1892, the Board made an inspection of the defenses of Savannah, Ga., on April 12 and 13, and of Charleston, S. C., on April 14, 15, and 16, 1892. Under instructions of the Chief of Engineers, dated June 6, 1892, the Board, on June 13, 1892, made an inspection of the barges containing powder and other explosives, anchored near Ellis and Bedloes islands, New York Harbor. This matter was investigated at the request of the Treasury Department in view of complaints that the lives and property of people on the New Jersey shore were menaced by these barges.

In addition to their duties with The Board of Engineers, the individual members of the Board have been otherwise engaged as follows: 1. Col. Henry L. Abbot, the president of the Board, has continued in charge of certain experiments with torpedoes; as a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification; as president of the Board to fix the harbor lines for the harbor of New York and its adjacent waters; and as division engineer of the Northeast division. He has also served as president of Boards for examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers with a view to promotion, and as president of the Board to fix the harbor lines of the port of Boston. He has recently been detailed on a Board to consider and report upon the subject of harbor lines for Oswego, N. Y.

2. Col. C. B. Comstock has served as division engineer of the Southwest division; as member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School; as president of the Mississippi River Commission; as member of the Board to fix the harbor lines of New York Harbor and its adjac ent waters; as member of the Board to fix the harbor lines of Philadelphia; as member of a Board for examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers with a view to their promotion; and is under orders to represent the War Department at the Fifth Congress of Internal Navigation at Paris, France.

3. Col. D. C. Houston has been the disbursing officer of The Board of Engineers. He has conducted the various works of river and harbor improvement and of fortifications under his charge, and he has served as a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School; as a member of the Board to fix the harbor lines for the harbor of New York and its adjacent waters; as a member of Boards to establish harbor lines in the harbors of Stamford and Bridgeport, Conn.; as member of Board for examination of officers of the Corps of Engineers with a view to promotion; and is a member of the Board to consider harbor lines for Norwalk, Conn.

4. Lieut. Col. G. L. Gillespie, in addition to conducting the various works of river and harbor improvement and of harbor defense with which he was charged during the year, has continued to serve as a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Engineer School; on harbor-line Boards for the harbors of New York, Stamford, and Bridgeport; on the Board on the subject of obstructions to navigation in the Hudson River; and on the Board to consider a deep-water harbor on the Pacific Coast between Points Duma and Capistrano. He also served on the harbor-line Board for the port of Boston, and is a member of the Board to consider harbor lines for Norwalk, Conn.

POST OF WILLETS POINT, NEW YORK-UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOL-BATTALION OF ENGINEERS-ENGINEER DEPOT.

Officer in command, Lieut. Col. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers.

POST OF WILLETS POINT, NEW YORK.

At the close of the fiscal year the garrison consisted of 24 commissioned officers and 353 enlisted men, including officers and noncommissioned officers of the general staff, student officers, and enlisted men of the Hospital Corps. This is a loss of 3 officers and a gain of 20 men in strength over last year's report.

Repairs and improvements have been made during the year to roads, sidewalks, and buildings, and two new brick barracks and a guardhouse have been begun by the Quartermaster's Department. A brick house for the fire engines and appliances has been completed and extensive repairs to the quartermaster's wharf have been commenced. The new guard-house is nearly ready for use.

One more barrack, a building for the post mess for enlisted men, and a storehouse near the wharf for quartermaster's and commissary stores, as heretofore reported, are very much needed for the comfort of the garrison as well as for the proper handling and storage of public property.

The drill, discipline, instruction, and sanitary condition of the garri son have been satisfactory and compare favorably with the attainments of former years, as shown by the comparative statement in appendix.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER SCHOOL.

During the year 6 engineer officers, 2 cavalry, 1 artillery, and 5 infantry officers completed the course, and 7 infantry officers who have completed the laboratory duty are still engaged in the practice work of planting and operating torpedoes, which it is expected will be completed October 1, 1892.

All have manifested intelligence and interest in the work and are entitled to certificates of proficiency in one or more of the branches they have been studying and practicing.

BATTALION OF ENGINEERS.

The legal strength of the Battalion of Engineers is five companies, of 150 men each, with a sergeant-major, and quartermaster sergeant, and is officered by details from the commissioned officers of the corps. The present strength is 18 officers and 437 enlisted men.

The authorized strength of companies A, B, and C, which are stationed at Willets Point, is 133 men each, and of Company E, stationed at West Point, 100 men.

The total losses from all causes during the year have been 149, and the total gain 169, making a net gain of 20 men.

The battalion has been employed during the year at engineer, pontoon and torpedo drills, infantry drill, rifle practice, photography; and company E, at West Point, has assisted in the instruction of cadets in military engineering and pontoon drill.

ENGINEER DEPOT.

The fireproof storehouse referred to in last report is nearly completed, and the work of arranging the pontoon, siege, and torpedo materials

and appliances in it is well under way. This building will furnish all the storage room needed for many years to come.

The small tug for planting torpedoes has been placed under contract and is to be completed by the end of September.

A quantity of lumber and other materials have been procured for the purpose of replacing the old and worn-out pontoon bridge equipage. The buildings and machinery for trials of the Sims-Edison Torpedo have been provided and are now in use for the purpose intended.

A concrete tank for insulated torpedo cable has been built and is now in use for storing cable.

The depot property, such as torpedo, pontoon materials, and instruments, have been cared for, and the usual purchases, receipts, issues, and repairs have been made.

Experiments have been continued, including the trials of the SimsEdison Torpedo, tests of building materials, fuses, circuit closers, mooring rope, shackles, etc., details of which will be found in appendixes, or have been made the subject of special reports.

STATEMENT OF FUNDS.

Congress has at various times appropriated as follows:

1. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the amount of.....

Expended and pledged..

For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., (no limit) for fireproof storehouse, the amount of

Expended and pledged..

Outstanding liabilities.

July 1, 1892, balance available..

2. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act September 22, 1888:

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available

3. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act March 2, 1889: July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

June 30, 1892, assigned during fiscal year.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available....

4. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act August 18, 1890: July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available.

5. Torpedoes for harbor defense, act February 24, 1891: July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available

6. Torpedoes for harbor defense, acts March 2, 1889, and August 18, 1890: Reallotted during fiscal year for purchase of American Submarine Cable, total amount..

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended and available....

7. For engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893....

$11,000.00 10, 996. 75

16,000.00 12, 468.34 558. 15 2, 973. 51

17,316.75 5,088.33

121, 713.93 5,000.00 21, 315.54

46, 748.54 24,598.85

16,742. 08 83.70

74, 961. 12 74, 961. 12

15,000.00

There will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, for the engineer depot at Willets Point, N. Y., viz:

1. For incidental expenses of depot..

2. For purchase of materials for instruction of battalion.

3. For purchase and repair of instruments.

4. For purchase and binding of professional works for library.

Total......

(See Appendix No. 5.)

$5,000.00

3,500.00

3,000.00

500.00

12,000.00

RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

The funds with which the works for the improvement of rivers and harbors were prosecuted during the last fiscal year were derived from the appropriations by the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, appropriations in the sundry civil act approved March 3, 1891, for certain works on account of which contracts were to be made for completion as provided in the act of September 19, 1890, and such balances of former appropriations as were available.

A brief statement derived from the reports of the officers in charge of the several works hereinafter given sets forth the condition of each improvement, the extent of work performed during the last fiscal year, the amount expended, and estimate of amount required for its completion.

Section 2 of the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1867, requires that the Secretary of War shall annually submit to Congress a full estimate for the entire and permanent completion of each river and harbor work, and of the amount that can be profitably expended on each uncompleted work in the next fiscal year.

It is believed that sufficient funds are provided by the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, to carry the works through the fiscal year of 1894, except in the cases of works on account of which contracts are to be made for their completion as provided in the river and barbor acts of 1890 and 1892, and consequently estimates for this last class of works only are submitted. Each report, however, sets forth the amount necessary to complete the work in question, and provides a basis upon which items of appropriation can, if necessary, be formulated. Reports are appended of the work accomplished in the removal of wrecks obstructing or endangering navigation, as provided for in section 4 of the river and harbor act approved June 14, 1880, and enlarged by provision in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882.

Under the authority given to the Secretary of War in section 12 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, harbor lines have been established at the following localities:

Five Mile River Harbor, Connecticut; New York Harbor and adjacent waters; Anacostia River (Eastern Branch of the Potomac, Washington, D. C.); South Branch of Elizabeth River, at navy-yard, Norfolk, Virginia; San Pedro, Wilmington Harbor, California; San Diego Harbor and adjacent waters, California; Willamette River at Portland, Oregon; Vancouver Harbor (Columbia River), Olympia Harbor, and Bellingham Bay (at New Whatcom and Fair Haven, Washington). Examinations were made whenever required by the committees of Congress of proposed bills authorizing the construction of bridges upon which the views of the War Department were desired." Of the bills so examined 34 originated in the Senate, and 56 in the House of Representatives.

During the fiscal year examinations were made of such plans and locations as were submitted by parties interested, of bridges proposed to be built over navigable waters subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, as authorized by acts of Congress. A brief statement is given of the action had in such cases.

Under sections 4 and 5 of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, persons, corporations, or associations owning or controlling bridges over navigable water ways of the United States, which are unreasonable obstructions to the free navigation of such waters, after being given a reasonable opportunity to be heard, have been notified to so alter the bridges as to render navigation through or under them