there has already been appropriated, by acts of Congress of 1888 and 1890, the sum of $80,000, more or less. Act of September 19, 1890, appropriated for improving harbor at Sandusky, Ohio, $45,000. Amount expended, including outstanding liabilities, to June 30, 1891, $315,251.72. Amount of liabilities incurred in last fiscal year $37,739.74. Dredging in straight channel under contract reported at end of last fiscal year was continued until October 17, when contract was completed. As nearly as can be determined in advance of a careful survey the present condition of the channel indicates that about one-third of the dredging for new straight channel has been accomplished. A survey of the harbor is to be made at an early day which will afford definite information regarding the condition of the harbor. Dredging in the old channel to restore full width and depth was completed July 23. The outer bar is now the worst obstruction, the channel having a depth of only 12 to 14 feet and width of 50 to 100 feet. The conditions of this harbor are such that a full depth in channels can only be maintained by frequent dredging. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. (See Appendix M M 4.) $40, 362. 20 38, 273.66 2,088.54 41, 712.00 43, 800.54 5. Sandusky River, Ohio.-The present project for this improvement was based on a survey made in compliance with the river and harbor act of 1880, and provides for opening a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep through the bars between the city of Fremont and the channel in Sandusky Bay. The expense was estimated to be $44,000. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, the sum of $21,500 had been appropriated for the present project, all of which has been expended. No further appropriation was made until the year 1890. Act of September 19, 1890, appropriated for this improvement $1,500. Dredging under the last appropriation was commenced September 1 and completed September 15, 1891. As a result the navigation was somewhat improved, so as to fairly meet the present demands of commerce to Fremont. The least depth in channel was 7 feet in September, 1891. Somewhat more than half the estimated cost of project has been expended, but it is ten years since work was commenced, and it is probable that the amount now required to procure a channel of 9 feet depth would not be decreased to the extent of the amount appropriated. Amount expended previous to June 30, 1891 Amount expended in last fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.... $21, 500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 ........... 5,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 16,000.00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 5.) 6. Huron Harbor, Ohio.-The improvement of this harbor was commenced in 1826, when the mouth of the river was closed to navigation by a sand bar, and has been continued from time to time since that date. The project adopted in 1890 consists in extending the parallel piers to the lake contour of 16 feet depth and dredging channel to same depth. The estimated cost of this project was $22,000 in addition to amount required for renewing portions of old work. At the beginning of the fiscal year work was in progress under contract with John Stang, of Lorain, Ohio, for extending west pier 120 feet. The work was completed September 23, 1891. Some minor repairs have also been made to both piers. The project is about one-half completed. Total expenditures to June 30, 1891, $128,469.43. Expenditures in last fiscal year, $10,804.28. The result thus far is a channel depth of 16 feet, where originally the bar was dry at low water. The estimated cost of completing the extension of piers as contemplated, is $13,600. The superstructure of old piers is in very bad condition from decay and injury by storms. The necessary repairs and renewal are estimated to cost $12,000. Like nearly all the lake harbors the channel outside the piers shoals more or less from year to year, so that it is generally necessary to use a part of available funds in dredging. At times repairs are indispensable, so that part of each appropriation is necessarily expended without a corresponding advance in the project of improvement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 ... Amount (estimated) required for renewal of piers........ Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 6.) $10, 804. 28 10, 804.28 15,000.00 10, 600.00 7. Vermillion Harbor, Ohio.-Before improvement the mouth of the Vermillion River was closed by a sand bar, upon which there was a depth of less than 2 feet. The original project consisted of parallel piers running out into the lake from each side of the mouth of the river, in order to secure a depth of 10 feet. This project has been amended from time to time, and now provides for a depth of 14 feet. In 1878 the channel was about 70 feet wide, with a depth of about 12 feet, and has since remained nearly permanent. The act of September 19, 1890, made an appropriation of $2,000 for this harbor for repairs. The amount is much too small to put the piers in good condition. The most economical and advantageous method of doing the work is by hired labor. It was not convenient to make the repairs at any time during the last fiscal year. The work will be completed as far as available funds may permit in the season of 1892. The total amount appropriated for construction and maintenance of this harbor has been $126, 701.28 Total expenditures.. 124, 701.28 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. 2,000.00 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... 2,000.00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. 2,000.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.... 4,000.00 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 M M 7.) $6,000.00 8. Black River Harbor, Ohio.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1828, and amended from time to time as the demands of commerce called for an increased depth of channel. The present project provides for parallel piers 200 feet apart, running out to a depth of 16 feet in the lake. The total amount appropriated and allotted for this improvement in various years, commencing with 1828, has been $232,204.77; amount expended to June 30, 1891, $222,928; amount expended in last fiscal year, $9,276.77. Work of extending the piers under contract previously reported was completed September 12, 1891. Under this contract the east pier has been extended 102 linear feet. Small repairs have been made to superstructure of old piers. At the close of the last fiscal year the channel was reported to be 16 feet deep. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount (estimated) required for increase of depth to 17 feet..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 8.) $9,276. 77 9, 276. 77 20,000.00 38,000.00 9. Cleveland Harbor, Ohio.-The original project for the improvement of the mouth of Cuyahoga River was adopted in 1825, and has been amended from time to time to gain increased depth. It consists of parallel piers about 200 feet apart, running out to a depth of 16 feet in the lake. When operations were commenced there was a long, low sand bar where the river now empties into the lake, and the entrance was through a narrow, intricate channel, with a depth of about 3 feet. The amount appropriated and allotted for the improvement from 1825 to 1874, including survey in 1825, was $346,881.61. In 1876 the sum of $8,000 was appropriated for maintenance of old work. In 1875 a project was adopted for construction of a breakwater to form a harbor of refuge. The project has been amended from time to time, and now includes two breakwaters, one east and one west of the channel entrance. From 1875 to 1890 inclusive there was appropriated for continuing the improvement the sum of $1,168,750. Of this amount certain sums have necessarily been expended for repairs of old piers and for dredg ing to maintain the channel depth. These sums will amount to about $50,000. Assuming this amount to be exact, there had been expended upon the breakwaters for construction and repairs to June 30, 1891, $1,112,399.85; amount expended during last fiscal year, $54,718.40. As a result, the west breakwater has been completed and about 2,152 feet of the east breakwater, making a total length of 9,308 feet. The amount remaining to complete the breakwater as planned is 3,350 linear feet. In the last fiscal year the construction of breakwater was continued from July 1 to November 23, when the contract was completed. Under this contract the east breakwater was extended 452 linear feet. Dredging in the inner harbor was continued until July 15. At conclusion of the work the channel had a clear depth exceeding 16 feet. In the spring of 1892 it was found that quite extensive repairs were needed to the breakwaters, owing to injuries by storms and ice. The amount which could be undertaken was limited by available funds. These repairs were commenced in June and were in progress at the close of the fiscal year. The maintenance of the breakwater already completed will require a considerable annual expenditure, and the same is true of the channel entrance to the river, which is the real commercial harbor of Cleveland. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. 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 M M 9.) $56, 350. 15 54, 718. 40 1,631.75 233.87 1,397.88 100,000.00 101, 397.88 344, 250.00 10. Fairport Harbor, Ohio.-When the work was commenced in 1826 the mouth of the river was closed by a sand bar 1,200 feet wide, at times so hard and dry that teams could cross over it. The present project for the improvement of this harbor consists of parallel piers, 200 feet apart, running into the lake. It was adopted in. 1825, and has been modified by prolonging the piers from time to time so as to give increased depth, the object now being to afford a channel of navigable width and not less than 16 feet in depth. The total amount appropriated and allotted for Grand River and Fairport Harbor, commencing in 1825, is $320,873.53; amount expended to June 30, 1891, $299,469.82; amount expended in last fiscal year, $20, 033.26. At the beginning of the fiscal year work was in progress under a contract reported last year. The contract expired July 30, 1891, by limitation of time, and was amended. Proposals were obtained and a new contract was let to Mr. J. R. Irwin, of Painesville, Ohio. Under this contract, dredging was commenced October 5, and completed November 23, 1891. As a result the channel was given a depth of 17 feet throughout. In the spring of 1892 it was found that a bar had formed near the end of the piers at the entrance to the harbor. As its immediate removal was necessary a dredge, scows, and tug were hired from the American Transportation Company, at a rate of $75 per day for the outfit. The plant was employed ten and one-half days, and a good channel was dredged through the bar to a depth of 17 feet. Work under contract for extension of piers was continued until August 31, when it was completed. The west pier has been extended 80 feet and the east pier 120 feet. General repairs have also been made to both piers. The commerce of Fairport Harbor is increasing rapidly and it seems probable that additional facilities may be required in the near future. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 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 M M 10.) $21, 403.71 20, 033. 26 1, 370.45 35,000.00 36, 370. 45 79, 400.00 11. Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1826. Rock bottom was then found at 9 feet below the surface, and there was a depth of only 2 feet of water on the bar at the entrance. A later amended project contemplated the extension of the piers out to 16 feet depth of water, the removal of the decayed portions of both piers, and rebuilding with new material, at the same time straightening the line of the west pier so as to afford a uniform width of 160 feet in channel. The present project, adopted in 1891, provides for a width of 205 feet between piers and a depth in channel between piers of 20 feet; the piers to be extended to the depth of 22 feet in the lake. Dredging the shale rock and loose material was continued, under contract previously reported, until September 26, when it was completed. As a result the channel was dredged to a depth varying from 16 to 17 feet, and from 115 to 150 feet in width. The channel through the bar was excavated to a depth of 18 feet. The work of removing part of east pier has not yet been undertaken, for the reason that the lowest proposal for the work exceeded the amount of available funds. In the spring of 1892, the channel over the bar was again filled. A dredge was employed 453 hours with scows and tug, and the channel was excavated to a depth of 18 feet. The total amount appropriated for this harbor from 1826 to 1890, inclusive, was $467,401.21; amount expended to June 30, 1891, $428,310.72; amount expended in last fiscal year, including liabilities, $30,423.74. Ashtabula is rapidly becoming one of the largest shipping points for iron ore upon Lake Erie, and the necessity for deeper water is urgent. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 244, 392.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M M 11.) |