July 1, 1891, balance unexpended on all items of appropriation July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, balance available.... No estimate for further appropriation is submitted. (See Appendix A A A 3.) $433, 792. 47 3, 466.94 430, 325.53 146.08 430, 179.45 4. Erection of fishways at Great Falls.-At the commencement of the fiscal year operations were in progress under the contract entered into June 9, 1891, with Isaac H. Hathaway, of Philadelphia, Pa., for the construction of fishways at Great Falls, the plans and specifications for which had been prepared by the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, as contemplated by the act making appropriations for the same. By direction of the Secretary of War, the engineer officer in charge is held responsible only for the proper protection of the aqueduct dam at Great Falls and for the disbursement of the funds appropriated. The Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries having discovered that his plans for section 6 of the fishways were not adapted to the site of the work, new plans and specifications were prepared by him for this section, and on the 10th of September a supplemental contract was entered into with the contractor for the work under the new plans for section 6. By the terms of the contract the work was to have been completed before December 12, 1891; but the contractor, finding that this would be impracticable, asked for an extension of time to July 1, 1892, and this was granted him; the additional expense to the United States by reason of such extension being deducted on final settlement, as provided for in the contract.. By reason of the uncertainties as to the amounts of excavation, concrete, and riprap work that would be found to be required to completely finish sections 4, 5, and 6 of the fishways, and of a doubt whether all of this work and the superstructure of section 4 could be completed, as was greatly to be desired, before the next spring freshets, with the appropriation available for the fishways, after paying the contractor the amount then due him (the contract provided that the excavation, the concrete, and the riprap were to be done at rates per cubic yard), it was deemed advisable to enter into a supplemental contract with the contractor to completely finish section 4, and to finish all the work remaining to be done on sections 5 and 6 at a lump sum which was within the amount of the appropriation remaining available. This agreement was entered into on the 22d of December, 1891. There remain to be done sections 1, 2, and 3 to complete the fishways, for which the Commissioner will prepare modified plans, and for which $15,000 was included in the estimates submitted in my last annual report. IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, AND CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Col. O. H. Ernst, major, Corps of Engineers. The various improved parks and reservations have received the care and attention required to maintain them in good condition. The Washington Monument received necessary attention. A new set of cables for the elevator was placed, and the improvement of the surrounding grounds was completed as far as available funds would permit. Additional buildings were erected in the nursery grounds. About 486,000 plants were propagated in the greenhouses during the year, nearly all of which were set out in the public grounds in May and June. In the Smithsonian grounds and Judiciary Square additional asphalt road pavement and footwalks were constructed. In Lafayette Square additional asphalt footwalk was laid. A granite curbing was placed around Lafayette Square. A granolithic pavement was laid upon the sidewalk on Pennsylvania avenue in front of the Executive Mansion grounds. McPherson Square was entirely remodeled. Reservation No. 34, on the north side of Pennsylvania avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets west, was also remodeled. Reservation No. 20, at the intersection of Pennsylvania avenue, Twenty-eighth and M streets northwest, was improved. The circle at the intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey avenues and First and G streets northwest was inclosed with an iron post-and-chain fence, and some trees were planted. Eight hundred and forty-three feet of additional water pipe was laid in different parts of the public grounds during the year. In the Executive Mansion some floors of Portland cement were laid in the basement, extensive improvements were made in the laundry and the bath-rooms, some of the apartments were redecorated, new carpets and window draperies purchased, some of the furniture renovated, and the work of introducing electric lights completed. The stone balustrade above the cornice on the east end of the Mansion and a portion of the east porch were considerably damaged by a severe storm in November. Necessary repairs were made to the greenhouses connected with the Mansion. $184, 022 55, 680 Attention is invited to the detailed report of the officer in charge, and to his estimates for the coming fiscal year, as follows: For improvement and care of public buildings and grounds... For compensation of persons employed on public buildings and grounds. For replacing the overhead system of telegraph wires with duplicate sixconductor underground cable, and for care and repair of existing lines. For contingent and incidental expenses of public buildings and grounds. For care of Washington Monument and maintenance of elevator: Salaries of employés Fuel, light, contingencies, etc. 32,500 500 $9,060 3,600 12, 660 285,362 (See Appendix B B B.) PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHARTS OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES, AND SURVEYS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING THESE CHARTS UP TO DATE. Under the supervision of this office additions have been made to the engraved copper plates of charts of Corrections and additions to quite a number of other plates have been ordered, and work thereon is progressing. During the year 5,801 charts were distributed under the supervision of Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, at Detroit, Mich.; of these 5,113 were sold at 20 cents each, and 19 at 10 cents each, and the amount of $1,024.50 turned into the Treasury. In addition, 19 charts at 20 cents each were sold at this office, and the sum of $3.80 was deposited in the Treasury. The total amount received for the sale of charts was, therefore, $1,028.30. The total appropriation for printing and distributing these charts was only $2,000. Were it not for the fact that the distribution is made from an office already organized for river and harbor work, the necessary supply of charts could not be printed and distributed with so small an appropriation. During the fiscal year surveys were made as follows: St. Marys River from White Fish Bay to Detour Light-House.-A project for this survey having been submitted at an estimated cost of $64,080, orders were given directing Col. Poe to expend the available balance of the appropriation in commencing the work. Active operations were begun May 22, 1892. By the close of the fiscal year a base line had been measured, the triangulation was planned starting from the base line through six stations, and angles at four of these stations were satisfactorily measured; observations were made for primary azimuth; a line of precise levels was run from St. Marys Falls Canal lock to Bay Mills on the Lake Superior level; a water gauge was established at this latter point, and observations taken to determine the fall in the water surface above the canal; hydrographic work was begun in the vicinity of Sailors Encampment, and considerable progress was made. Every possible use has been made of all former work done in this locality, at the time the river was originally surveyed and charted, and also at the time of the river improvement survey of 1879; the records of both surveys are in the hands of the Engineer Department, and all duplication of Government work is thus avoided. A number of instruments formerly used by the survey were put in good condition and shipped to the locality, and everything is now in readiness to push the work to completion and issue new charts of the river as quickly as possible. Shoals off Pelée Spit Light-House, and Littles Point, Lake Erie.-Imformation with regard to dangerous shoals in these localities having been received, estimates for their survey were made, amounting to $1,000 and $610 respectively. Allotments of these amounts having been made from the appropriation, Col. Poe was directed to proceed with the work. Active operations were prevented by unfavorable weather until May 20, 1892, when a lake survey party left Detroit for the localities of the shoals. This party remained in the field until the close of the fiscal year, being very much delayed by heavy weather. Their work was entirely completed, however, a new and very dangerous shoal having been located off Point Pelée, Ontario, and less water being found on the shoal off Littles Point than had previously been discovered. (See Appendix C C C 1.) Waverly Shoal, Lake Erie.-The survey of this shoal was made in the latter part of September, 1891. For details see report of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, dated January 16, 1892. (See Appendix C C C 2.) Shoals in the St. Lawrence River.-Surveys of reported shoal places in the St. Lawrence River, made under the direction of Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, have developed six shoals, two east of the northern end of Grenadier Island, two below Crossover Light-House, one S. by W. W. of Coles Ferry Light-House, and one SSE. E. of the same point. The bottom of the St. Lawrence River is very irregular, and obstructions are apt to remain undiscovered even though numerous soundings have been made. Considering the great and growing importance of the commerce, it would be well to thoroughly sweep the navigable channels to give assurance of the nonexistence of undiscovered obstructions within a depth of 20 feet below the surface. This work must be left to the future when sufficient funds become available. (See Appendix C C C 3.) Discharges of Niagara River.-Measurements of discharges have been made and the results will be published after the observations have been reduced. Resurvey of the lake front at Chicago.-A resurvey of this front was ordered so as to show the changes wrought in the hydrography since the former survey and to show in greater detail the conformation of the reefs and shoals along the city front and landings. The immediate reason for the survey was that all obstructions and dangers could be buoyed and marked for the safety of the great numbers of passengers who, it is to be supposed, will visit the grounds of the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, by means of steamers, etc., from the various landings along the city front. The survey and the plotting of the notes are progressing under the supervision of Capt. W. L. Marshall, Corps of Engineers. (See Appendix C C C 4.) Survey of Black Creek Shoal, Lake Ontario.-This survey was made in October last, and the details are given in the report of Capt. Dan C. Kingman, Corps of Engineers, dated October 28, 1891, (See Appendix C C C 5.) An effort has been made to keep all the charts up to date. A number have been corrected, and in some cases where certain special examinations have been required, the only practicable way to make them has been in connection with river and harbor improvements in the immediate vicinity. This very important work has been seriously impeded by lack of funds. As soon as the funds available will permit it is proposed to prepare and publish general charts of lakes Superior and Michigan, each on one sheet, there being a great demand for these charts at present; also to prepare and publish coast charts of lakes Huron and Superior in order to complete the set of charts of the lakes. These projects or something of a similar nature will have to be carried out if the charts are to be rendered of the greatest service to navigators. The work already done, particularly the location of the dangerous shoals in Lake Erie, has fully demonstrated the necessity which exists for work of this character. The lake marine is of too great importance to the country at large for any effort looking towards its safety to be spared. When the Government sells charts to navigators these eharts should embody the latest and most accurate information concerning the localities to which they refer, and everything should be done to render navigation safe and certain. The low water of recent years combined with the great increase in size and number of vessels has resulted in the larger and more expensive vessels discovering dangers previously unknown, and discovering them by the costly process of striking them. All dangers so discovered should at once be surveyed and located upon the charts in order to prevent the repetition of similar accidents at the same point. Localities deemed perfectly safe for navigation when smaller vessels were used are now regarded with suspicion by the larger vessels, and it is essential that certain special areas should be reëxamined. St. Marys River is one of the localities on the lakes where new surveys are essential in order that the charts may be rendered of the greatest service; the surveys upon which the present charts are based were made between 1853 and 1857, and since that time the region tributary to the river has undergone an enormous development. More than 9,000,000 tons of freight now pass through the river annually, and extensive works of improvement have been completed and are in progress. Since the original surveys were made the draft of vessels has increased from 9 and 12 feet to 16 feet and will shortly be increased to 20 feet. The river is a difficult one to navigate with the large vessels of the present time, and new charts are absolutely essential. The records of the former survey and of the river improvement will prevent all duplication of work, and will permit the survey to be pushed to completion as quickly as possible. The organized districts in connection with river and harbor work now established at the chief cities on the lakes will greatly facilitate keeping all of the charts up to date, and will insure the maximum results with the minimum cost. In view of the great importance of this work to the lake marine an appropriation of $50,000 for surveys and other expenses connected with correcting and extending the charts of the northern and northwestern lakes is most earnestly recommended, as the conditions now existing are urgent and require that this amount should be available at the earliest possible moment, and an appropriation of $3,000 is recommended for the printing and distribution of the charts. (See Appendix C C C 1.) |