12. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering nari gation. Two wrecks in Port Clinton Harbor, Ohio, one of the sail boat Rescue, the other of the tug Wilcox, have been examined and found to be obstructions to navigation, and an allotment of $100 from the permanent appropriation of June 14, 1880, was made for their removal by the Secretary of War May 17, 1892. The work was not done before the close of the fiscal year. (See Appendix M M 12.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Maj. Overman, and reports thereon submitted through Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northeast Division. It is the opinion of Maj. Overman and of the division engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, Maj. Overman was charged with and has completed their survey and submitted reports thereon. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-second Congress, first session. 1. Grand River, Ohio, between Richmond and the mouth.-The improvement proposed contemplates the excavation of a channel 160 feet wide, 18 feet deep, and 7,310 feet long, at an estimated cost of $39,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 61. (See also Appendix M M 13). 2. Conneaut Harbor, Ohio.-Maj. Overman recommends the construction of new piers and dredging between them to a depth of 17 feet, the estimated cost of which is as follows: Construction of two piers, about 2,000 feet long, to the 17-foot depth in the lake.. Revetment of the shore inside for 500 feet on the west side and 700 feet on the east side... Dredging new channel 17 feet deep, 160 feet wide at bottom, and about 2,100 feet long, to the 17-foot depth in the lake $300,000 51,600 12,000 54, 540 418, 140 Contingencies. Total... Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 42. (See also Appendix M M 14.) IMPROVEMENT OF ERIE HARBOR, PENNSYLVANIA, AND OF DUNKIRK, BUFFALO, WILSON, OLCOTT, AND OAK ORCHARD HARBORS, AND OF TONAWANDA HARBOR AND NIAGARA RIVER, NEW YORK. Officer in charge, Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, to January 25, 1892, and Maj. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers, since that date; Division Engineer, Col. Henry L. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania.-The original survey of this harbor was made in 1819, at which time the channel was narrow and tortuous, with a depth of only 6 feet. In 1823 a plan for the improvement was adopted, and constitutes the present work at the entrance to the harbor, excepting some changes which have been required, either on account of the age of the structures already built or other causes, The piers have been extended from time to time and are now in pretty good order and condition. The north pier needs considerable repairs. The present project contemplated the extension of the piers to the 16-foot curve in the lake and the maintenance of a channel of navigable width 16 feet in depth from the harbor inside to the lake outside. Operations have been prosecuted with more or less interruption and suspension (no work was done from 1838 to 1842, from 1846 to 1853, and from 1855 to 1864), and have resulted in much benefit to the harbor and its channel entrance. The work during the year consisted in minor repairs to the piers, dredging in channel, which has put it in excellent condition, and extending the north pier 450 feet. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1891, not including outstanding liabilities, was $761,761.10. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $37,131.23. July 1, 1892, balance available (includes $20,000 reserved for Presque Isle). 37, 187. 79 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892............... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... (See Appendix N N 1.) 40,000.00 77, 187.79 2. Preservation and protection of Presque Isle Peninsula, Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania.-In a report upon the examination of Erie Harbor, made in 1885, it was recommended that the neck of the peninsula be protected by a breakwater, and the movement of sand around the eastern end of the peninsula, which threatens to close the harbor entrance, be arrested by the construction of jetties perpendicular to the shore of the peninsula, at an estimated cost of $173,044.50. Work under this project was in progress until October, 1889, when it was abandoned, it having been found that the structures built would not stand against the violence of the storms. No further work is at present contemplated, but the sum of $20,000 has been reserved from the appropriation for the improvement of Erie Harbor, to be used in case of necessity in closing any breach which might occur. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1890, was $60,000. Nothing was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. (See Appendix N N 2.) 3. Dunkirk Harbor, New York. The improvement of this harbor was commenced in 1827, when the first appropriation therefor was made. The original project was much the same as that of the existing improvement, which comprises the formation of an artificial harbor in front of the city by means of a breakwater running nearly parallel with the shore, and a shore arm or pier to the westward, with an opening between the piers and the breakwater. By 1832 the sum of $28,489.84 had been expended on the original plan, and the breakwater was then 2,564 feet long and the pier 1,400 feet long. Various improvements and repairs were made from time to time, and by 1838 there had been completed 2,125 feet of breakwater and ENG 92-23 300 feet of detached breakwater. In 1848 the breakwater was demolished. Between 1848 and 1870 some portions of the work were renewed and others repaired, but in 1870 a Board of Engineers took into consideration the question of the radical improvement of the harbor. The Board recommended a plan which provided a breakwater 2,860 feet long, one part of which, 2,300 feet in length, was to be nearly parallel with the shore, the other part to be nearly parallel to the axis of the channel entrance, 560 feet long, and terminating at the position of the dumb beacon, and the formation of a channel 170 feet wide and 13 feet deep; of the 2,300-foot section, 1,341 feet has been completed; none of the 560-foot section has been built. Work during the year consisted in repairing parts of the breakwater and west pier. The superstructures of the breakwater and pier are in very bad condition and need rebuilding. The channel requires considerable rock excavation and dredging to make it 170 feet wide as proposed. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1891, not including outstanding liabilities, was $493,153.05. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $6,864.93. 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 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. $20,926. 33 6,864.93 14, 061.40 7.00 14, 054. 40 20,000.00 34, 054. 40 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 128, 116. 41 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix N N 3.) 4. Buffalo Harbor, New York.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1826, and, as modified at various times, provided for the construction of piers on the north and south sides of Buffalo Creek, a masonry sea wall running south from the inshore end of the south pier, and a breakwater less than half a mile in front of the light-house, its long arm being nearly parallel with the shore. The present project was adopted in 1874, and provided for the construction of a breakwater of crib work 7,600 feet long, running parallel with the shore, and a shore arm of piles and crib work, 4,100 feet long, running out toward the southern end of the main or detached breakwater, leaving an opening of 150 feet between them. In 1887 this project was amended so that in the reconstruction of superstructure concrete was substituted for timber crib work. During the past year the principal work has consisted in rebuilding about 1,970 feet of superstructure in concrete, and in extending main breakwater 450 feet south, and in minor repairs to structures. Total amount expended up to June 30,1891, not including outstanding liabil ities, was $2,222,162.99. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $230,604.08. Amounted (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 N N 4.) 146, 223. 17 5. Tonawanda Harbor and Niagara River, New York.-The project for this work contemplates a channel 18 feet deep and 400 feet wide from the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Erie to the north end of Tonawanda Harbor, New York. The work of the year has consisted in excavating 28,764 cubic yards of rock, sand, clay, and gravel from the channel near Strawberry Island, which provides a fair channel 200 feet wide through the reef at this point. The amount expended up to June 30, 1891, was, not including outstanding liabilities, $105,464.75. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $40,392.86. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. $69, 535. 25 40, 392. 86 July 1, 1892, balance unexpended 29, 142.39 July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $1,910. 00 26, 910.00 July 1, 1892, balance available Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. 2,232. 39 75,000.00 77, 232. 39 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 1, 008, 690. 16 Submitted in compliance with the requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix N N 5.) 6. Wilson Harbor, New York.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1873 and modified in 1877, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and 12 feet in depth by the extension of parallel piers from the mouth of Twelve Mile Creek to the 12foot curve in Lake Ontario, with the formation of a protected channel between the piers. The mouth of the creek was originally obstructed by a bar, upon which there was a depth of 1 foot. Before the commencement of operations by the United States the piers had been carried about 400 feet into the lake by private enterprise. The total amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $64,899.75. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1802, was $78.76. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. $100.25 78.76 21.49 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix N N 6.) $13, 978. 49 13, 364.20 7. Olcott Harbor, New York.-The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1866. It proposes to connect the deep water in Lake Ontario with the deep water in Eighteen Mile Creek by the extension of two parallel piers from the mouth of the creek to the 11-foot curve in the lake, with the addition of a dredged channel between the piers. The project was modified in 1874 and in 1881 to provide for the removal of rock found in the channel between the piers and for additional pier extension. The natural channel between the mouth of the creek and the lake was obstructed by a bar, upon which there was a depth of 14 feet. The final project, adopted June 18, 1891, definitely fixes the length of the piers at 850 and 873 feet respectively, and provides for a channel 180 feet wide between piers, decreasing in width to 98 feet at the Main Street Bridge crossing Eighteen Mile Creek, with a depth of 13.5 feet at mean lake level. During the year the work of thoroughly repairing the piers was finished and the channel completed. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1891, not including outstanding liabilities, was $132,703.06. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $24,800.71. 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 (See Appendix N N 7.) $30, 296.94 24, 800.71 5, 496. 23 17.00 5, 479.23 8. Oak Orchard Harbor, New York.-The earliest project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1836, the date of the first appropriation, and proposed the construction of an east and west breakwater approaching to within 200 feet of each other, and connecting at the opening with two parallel piers extending into the lake. Subsequent modifications were extensions to the original project to provide for removal of rock and to adjust the harbor to the increased demand of commerce. The present project was adopted in 1881, the object being to extend the piers to the 12-foot curve in the lake, with the formation of a channel of navigable width and 12 feet deep at low water between the piers. The natural entrance into Oak Orchard Creek was narrow, with a depth of 2 to 4 feet. A shore protection 91 feet long was built in 1888 to the east of the east pier. During the past year the channel between the piers was widened and deepened. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1891, not including outstanding liabilities, was $199,514.21. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $4,963.45. 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... (See Appendix N N 8.) $5,485.79 4, 963. 45 522.34 8.50 513.84 |