feet wide, with a depth of 12 feet, thence to the head of the river, a total distance of about 23 miles. Additions to this project have been made at various times. These provided for the repair, extension, and reconstruction of the revetment confining the Carrollton Channel and for the construction of similar works at the head of Crow Island for the improvement of Zilwaukee Bar. On June 30, 1891, dredging was in progress on the bar at the mouth of the river and at Zilwaukee Bar. Repairs were being made to the Carrollton revetment and the wing dam was being extended. During the fiscal year dredging has been continued at the mouth of the river, and is still in progress. Dredging has also been done at Zilwaukee Bar, in the vicinity of Bristol Street Bridge, Saginaw, and in the channel of the river below Melbourne. The burnt superstructure of the Carrollton revetment has been repaired, as well as the wrecked portion of the lower end of the old wing dam at the head of Crow Island; and the latter was extended downstream, terminating upon the west shore of the island. Owing to the recent low stage of water, a bar at Essexville, near the mouth of the river, has come into special notice. A channel must be dredged across this bar in order to make available the channel contemplated in the project. The cost of this work was not included in the original estimate, nor was the amount necessary to complete the West Channel along West Bay City. The amount of material yet to be removed in order to complete the projected channel is estimated at about 640,000 cubic yards, and the cost at $281,203. But it is perfectly well understood that considerable portions of the work can never be considered as permanently completed, and that more or less dredging will always be required after each spring freshet, at a probable cost of not less than $5,000 per year. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891... Expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities. Total expenditure to June 30, 1892. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... $503, 331.78 52, 326.00 555, 657.78 73, 727.42 June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year 61, 109. 73 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 12, 617.69 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. $8, 310.45 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... 3, 352.50 11, 662.95 July 1, 1892, balance available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 9.) 954.74 100,000.00 100, 954. 74 68,250.00 10. Harbor of refuge at Sand Beach, Lake Huron, Michigan.-Prior to 1876 vessels, when caught in heavy weather near the dangerous Pointe aux Barques, the southerly headland of the mouth of Saginaw Bay, were compelled to run a distance of 60 miles and find refuge in St. Clair River. After the subsidence of the storm those upward bound had to work their way back again. The project for the construction of a harbor of refuge at Sand Beach ENG 92- -22 was adopted in 1873, and consisted of a breakwater constructed of timber cribs filled with stone, inclosing an area which is to be deepened by dredging where necessary. The estimate of the probable cost of the improvement was $1,442,500. The sum of $1,155,000 has been appropriated for the work, and it was practically completed in 1885, at a cost of about $975,000. Few improvements have resulted in greater benefit to the lake commerce, as is fully shown by the infrequency of disasters in the vicinity since it became available. The dredging in progress on June 30, 1891, has been continued throughout the fiscal year, interrupted only by the winter. On June 30, 1892, this work was stopped and the dredge discharged, as the limit of the funds assigned for this purpose under the contract had then been reached. The work done consisted in removing shoals in and around the harbor, the material excavated being composed of hard clay, bowlders, and sandstone bedrock, very similar in character to grindstone. All the dredging contemplated for the fiscal year was completed, except upon a shoal at the main entrance to the harbor, and six additional dredge cuts were made across this. Repairs to the piers were made by a diver during 1891, prior to October 1. In May, 1892, the diver made a thorough examination of the pier foundations and found the damage done during the winter less than usual. On June 1, 1892, the diver began repairing this damage, and this work was still in progress at the close of the fiscal year. The original project for the harbor has been practically completed, except the superstructure on the south pier, and the dredging, and it is thought that the former will not prove necessary. The dredging, though practically completed as far as the original project is concerned, may be continued to advantage. The west pier now appears to be in a less satisfactory condition than the others, and extensive repairs must soon be made to the portion above water. The timbers are badly decayed, and the whole superstructure will have to be rebuilt with timber or replaced by more durable material. The piers were begun in 1873, and age and decay have injured many of the timbers that are above water. There is no doubt that the superstructure will continue to suffer more and more each succeeding year and that the annual cost of repair will steadily increase. As is well known, this harbor has but little local importance, but is of incalculable benefit to the general commerce of the lakes. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891.. Expended during fiscal year (exclusive of outstanding liabilities). Total expenditure to June 30, 1892.. 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 appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. $1,091, 812. 26 14, 256. 34 1, 106, 068. 60 59, 673. 51 15, 511.88 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 10.) 44, 161. 63 3,778. 42 40, 383. 21 150,000.00 190, 383. 21 80,000.00 11. Black River, Michigan, at Port Huron.-Before improvements were commenced the lower reach of Black River from its mouth to the Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge, a length of nearly 13 miles, varied in width from 120 to 150 feet, and had a navigable channel of from 10 to 14 feet in depth, except at a few points, where it was obstructed by shoals or bars having only 83 feet of water over them. The original estimate for the improvement of the river to a depth of 15 feet was $55,110. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, in appropriating for this improvement required a depth of 16 feet. The estimate had, therefore, to be increased to $75,000. The project upon which this latter estimate was based contemplates excavating a channel 16 feet deep from the mouth of the river to the Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge, the width varying from 160 to 75 feet, according to locality. On June 30, 1891, a channel 16 feet deep and 75 feet wide extended from the mouth of the river to Military Street Bridge, and dredging was still in progress. Except for interruption by the winter, work has been continued throughout the fiscal year, and is not yet completed. June 30, 1892, a channel 16 feet deep and 75 feet wide extended from the mouth of the river to Military Street Bridge, a distance of about 1,700 feet. Thence for a further distance of about 4,500 feet there was a channel 50 feet wide and of the same depth. The total length of the improved channel was about 6,200 feet. Total expenditure on project to June 30, 1891. Expended during fiscal year (inclusive of outstanding liabilities).. Total expenditure to June 30, 1892 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. $2,399.11 10, 536. 27 12,935.38 23, 831.23 9, 456.73 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 12, 064.62 14, 374.50 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 .... 10,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 11.) 40,000.00 12. Mouth of Black River, Michigan.-Black River empties into St. Clair River at Port Huron, Mich. At and below its mouth, extending beyond the middle of St. Clair River, there is a bar or middle ground which was dredged by the Government, under former appropriations, to a clear depth of 15 feet. The main channel of St. Clair River is found between the middle ground and the Canadian shore. By the deposit of material brought down by the current of Black River, the depth of this bar has been reduced an average of about 6 inches, and in conjunction with a low stage of water has become an impediment to navigation along the front of the city in the vicinity of the mouth of Black River. The approved project for the improvement of this bar contemplates making a series of dredge cuts of a uniform depth of 16 feet along the dock front of Port Huron, from the 16-foot curve above to the same curve below the mouth of Black River, the first cut at a distance of about 50 feet from the wharves and the others to continue the work outward as far as the available funds will permit. By June 30, 1891, a channel of 16 feet clear depth extended from the 16-foot curve above the mouth of the river to the same curve below, and from a line parallel to the wharves and 50 feet outside of them towards the middle of St. Clair River, making the improved channel 550 feet wide, its total length being 2,200 feet. Work was still in progress. Work was continued until the funds were exhausted on November 14, 1891, when the improved channel had been extended 170 feet farther towards the middle of the St. Clair River, making its total width 720 feet. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891.. Expended during fiscal year (inclusive of outstanding liabilities) Total expenditure to June 30, 1892 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. $12, 868. 23 6, 939.05 19, 807.28 9, 259.47 9, 066. 75 192.72 10,000.00 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... 1893.. 10, 192. 72 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, (See Appendix L L 12.) 13. St. Clair Flats Canal, Michigan.-The present approved project for the improvement of the canal contemplates driving a double row of sheet piling to a depth of 26 feet along the channel face of each dike, dredging the area between the dikes to a depth of 20 feet, continuing the channel above and below the canal to the same depth in river and lake, and rebuilding the decayed portions of the timber superstructure. It is considered sufficient to obtain the depth of 18 feet at present, and to postpone obtaining the depth of 20 feet until the general project for a continuous depth of 20 feet along the entire water route shall have reached a more advanced stage. The estimated cost of obtaining these two depths is as follows: For 18 feet For 20 feet $365,000.00 513, 559. 40 On June 30, 1891, a channel 18 feet in clear depth and 150 feet in width extended from the 18-foot curve in St. Clair River, about 900 feet above the canal, down into the canal for a total length of about 3,890 feet, the decayed channel occupying the east half of the northern part of the canal. A little over 3,000 linear feet of sheet piling remained to be done to complete the revetment and work was still in progress. During the fiscal year dredging has been continued and is still in progress, and revetment construction has been completed. On June 30, 1892, a channel 18 feet in clear depth extended from the 18-foot curve in St. Clair River, about 900 feet above the canal, for the full width of the canal (about 300 feet) and throughout its whole length, and for a farther distance of 2,400 feet below the canal, where its width was gradually increased to 380 feet. A double row of sheet piling had been driven to a depth of 26 feet along the channel face of each dike. The general project for a continuous depth of 20 feet along the entire water route is not yet in a sufficiently advanced stage to warrant making this depth at St. Clair Flats Canal at present, but the depth of 18 feet is urgently demanded. All through commerce between Lakes Ontario and Erie and Detroit River, on the one hand, and Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior, on the other, must pass through this canal. This commerce is about the same as that through Detroit River, which, for the season of 1891, consisted of 34,251 vessels, having a registered tonnage of 22,160,000. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891. Expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities.. Total expenditure to June 30, 1892 . July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. $696, 179.50 53, 581. 40 749, 760.90 78, 981. 21 63, 932. 11 15, 049. 10 $7,940.88 3, 264. 17 11, 205. 05 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... July 1, 1892, balance available, applicable only to Grosse Pointe Channel. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L L 13.) 3, 844. 05 196, 250.00 14. Operating and care of St. Clair Flats Canal, Michigan.-The canal is in immediate charge of a custodian, who reports any violations of canal regulations, and also acts as inspector whenever work is in prog ress. During the spring of 1892 repairs were made to the canal revetments at eleven different places, where they had been injured by the striking of vessels. The cost of this work was $571.16. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the ordinary current expenses of operating and care of the canal, such as salary of custodian, trimming willows, etc., exclusive of the amount named above, was $1,188.67. The estimated cost of operating and care of the canal for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is as follows: Salary of custodian..... Current repairs and contingencies which can neither be foreseen nor estimated for in detail, to include a fair proportion of the expenses of the office of the superintending engineer at Detroit...... $1,500 3,500 Total...... 5,000 All of which is provided for by indefinite appropriation (section 4 of the river and harbor act of June 5, 1884). Total expenditures to June 30, 1891 Expended during fiscal year.. $59, 253.30 1, 888.67 Total expenditure to June 30, 1892...... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... 61, 141.97 5,000.00 Additional allotment required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893........... (See Appendix L L 14.) 15. Clinton River, Michigan.-In 1870 the channel over the bar at the entrance to this river afforded a depth of only 3 feet, while the depth in the river for some distance above was 10 feet. A project for dredging a channel across the bar was approved and carried into effect in 1870. A project for the general improvement of |