already on hand, This entire amount can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890.. Expended during fiscal year.. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891.. $339, 026.06 188, 650.68 587,676.74 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.............. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. Amount appropriated by sundry civil act approved March 3, 1891... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year........... 859, 414.41 900,000.00 600,000.00 2,359, 414.41 172,078.97 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 2, 187, 335.44 $24,985. 55 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 1,293, 168. 47 1,318, 154.02 July 1, 1891, balance available 869, 181.42 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 2, 238, 865.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O O 1.) 2,000,000.00 2. Operating and care of St. Marys Falls Canal, Michigan.-During the fiscal year the canal was open to navigation 221 days. It was closed for the winter December 3, 1890, and opened April 27 for the season of 1891. Nine thousand five hundred and forty-one vessels, etc., aggregating 7.431,423 registered tons, and carrying 8,338,981 tons of freight and 26,226 passengers, passed through the canal in 4,614 lockages. The staple articles transported were 2,298,487 tons of coal, 48,816 tons of copper, 3,460,238 barrels of flour, 19,476,073 bushels of grain, 3,873,044 tons of iron ore, 108,441 tons of pig and manufactured iron, 188,272 barrels of salt, 3,076 tons of silver ore, 383,461,000 feet B. M. of lumber, 45,506 tons of building stone, 2,408 tons of wool, 937 tons of hides, and 351,030 tons of miscellaneous or unclassified freight. The expenditures on account of operating and care for the fiscal year aggregated $45,417.66. The estimated amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $67,400, all of which is already provided for by indefinite appropriation. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890.... Expended during fiscal year.. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 ..... $270, 597.68 45, 417.66 316.615.34 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1892................ Balance remaining for allotments of preceding year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities... Additional allotment required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1892 (See Appendix 0 0 2.) 3. Dry dock at St. Marys Falls Canal, Michigan.-The proposition to locate a dry dock in immediate proximity to the lockage system is as objectionable as ever; but if it should be decided to do so, then the location heretofore referred to, at the eastern end of the area transferred from the Fort Brady military reservation to the canal reservation is the least objectionable. But the construction of a pier in front of the Fort Brady reservation has been completed and a portion of this work would have to be removed, thus increasing by $20,000 the probable cost of a dry dock, and the estimate therefor should be increased accordingly. Amount (estimated) required for the construction of a dry dock at the point indicated, $343,872, It is understood that the State of Michigan holds $65,000 in readiness to transfer to the United States for the purpose of constructing a dry dock at St. Marys Falls Canal. (See Appendix 0 0 3.) 4. Hay Lake Channel, St. Marys River, Michigan.-Before improvements were commenced the channel through Hay Lake was restricted in depth at Sugar Island Rapids and at the Middle Neebish; at these two places a maximum draft of but 8 or 9 feet could be carried if a very irregular course was taken, and practically vessels drawing more than 6 feet of water would not attempt the passage. In addition to the places above mentioned there were some shoals in Hay Lake requiring removal to make the channel available for the vessels navigating St. Marys River. The original estimates for this improvement were based upon a proj. ect for a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep, leaving the present navigable channel of St. Marys River at Sugar Island Rapids (about 24 miles below the canal), through those into Hay Lake, and then, by way of the Middle Neebish, rejoining the present navigable channel at the foot of Sugar Island, thus saving a distance of 11 miles and obtaining a route which can be so marked by lights as to be navigable at nighta condition impracticable with the present channel except by the use of many lights. The estimated cost of this project was $2,127,292. The project was subsequently modified to increase the navigable depth to 20 feet, the estimated cost being $2,659,115, subject to change, however, in case unexpected difficulties are developed during the progress of the work. The contract of Messrs. C. F. and H. T. Dunbar, dated October 30, 1888, was completed in November, 1890, 65,117 cubic yards, bank measure, having been excavated since May 31, 1890, and a total of 151,916 cubic yards above 20 feet grade and 19,225 cubic yards between 20 and 21 feet grades having been excavated under this contract. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, permitted contracts to be made for all or any portion of the work. Accordingly all the excavation remaining to be done was contracted for on February 6, 1891. The channel was divided into six sections, and a separate contract made for each section. By May 31, 1891, a total of 20,958 cubic yards, bank measure, had been excavated under these contracts, and work was still in progress. The estimate for the work is $2.659,115, of which $1,675,000 has been appropriated, leaving $984,115 to be provided for. To pay the various Gioverument employés and contractors $500,000 will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. This amount should be appropriated with the proviso that any portion of it not required for the Hay Lake Channel could be expended elsewhere between Lake Superior and Huron at places where excavation is needed to attain the navigable depth of 20 feet. This entire amount can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890 Expended during fiscal year.. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891.. $657, 315.88 171,507.20 828,823.08 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended........ Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... Amount appropriated by sundry civil act approved March 3, 1891. 334, 066.70 400,000,00 300,000,00 1,034, 066.70 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... 184, 370.90 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... 849, 695,80 3,387.23 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 843, 460. 35 ... July 1, 1891, balance available 846, 847.58 2,847.22 984, 115.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix 0 0 4.) 500, 000, 00 5. Harbor at Cheboygan, Michigan.-Prior to undertaking any improvement at this harbor, only 63 to 7 feet of water could be carried across the bar at the mouth of Cheboygan River. The original project for the improvement, adopted in 1871, contemplated dredging a channel 200 feet wide and 14 feet deep through the bar, and revetting each side by a pile pier. Experience gained during the progress of the work already done leads to the belief that the piers can be omitted with consequent reduction of cost to the extent of about one-half the original estimate. Subsequent modifications of the project were made until, as it finally stood, it provided for a channel of 15 feet in depth, and generally 200 feet in width from the 15-foot curve in the Straits of Mackinac to the State Road Bridge. This has been completed, and until the dredged channel begins to silt up, or the revetting piers contemplated in the original project of 1871 are shown to be necessary, no further work is proposed, and therefore no further estimate is submitted at this time. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890 Expended during fiscal year... $129,648, 33 57.70 Total expenditure to June 30, 1891 ... July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year....... 129, 706.03 18, 385.43 45.00 18, 340. 43 12.70 18, 327.73 6. Harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan.-Prior to the commencement of improvements there was a navigable channel from Thunder Bay into the river of 12 feet depth, and of a variable width, which at one place was only 50 feet. The original project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1876 and provided for an entrance channel from the bay into the river of navigable width, and of not less than 13 feet depth, a subsequent modification increasing the proposed depth to 14 feet. The work was practically completed in 1884, but it was then stated that the improvement was of such a character that it would require attention from time to time, and it was recommended that a sufficient appropriation be made to render $10,000 available for use when it should be wanted. On June 30, 1890, a channel 80 feet wide and 14 feet deep extended across the bar at the mouth of the river, and a clear depth of 13 feet was available from there to the Second Street Swing Bridge in Alpena, a distance of about 1,800 feet. It was estimated that a full restoration of the 14-foot channel would cost $5,500 and that an appropriation of $30,000 would make the depth 16 feet, this latter depth being the one recommended. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $5,500 for "Improving harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan: To restore fourteen-foot channel," at the same time appropriating $10,000 for "Improving Thunder Bay River, Alpena, Michigan; For sixteen-foot channel from mouth to one mile above." The wording of the act therefore required the depth of 16 feet to be made in the river where vessels drawing more than 14 feet of water could not get, and prevented a greater depth than 14 feet from being made in the harbor in order that the greater depth made in the river might be rendered available. The language of the act being mandatory, however, a contract for dredging the harbor to the depth of 14 feet was entered into with the Bay City Dredging Company on April 9, 1891, the dredging in Thunder Bay River being done under the same contract, and but one dredge being required for both works; 6,871 yards, scow measure, were removed from the harbor during the fiscal year, and work is still in progress. By June 30, 1891, a channel about 150 feet wide and 14 feet deep extended across the bar. In view of the fact that the river above the bar is being dredged to a depth of 16 feet, and in view of the commercial importance of the city of Alpena, which is situated at the mouth of the river, the river and harbor are well worth the additional appropriation of $20,587.48, which, if made at one time, and rendered available for both river and harbor, will probably suffice to increase their depth to 16 feet. This entire amount can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Total expenditure to June 30, 1890.. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $12, 888.70 1,897.11 20, 785.81 59.79 5,500.00 5,559.79 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 187.29 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. 5,372.50 July 1, 191, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. $1, 145. 18 5,372.50 (Amonnt (estimated) required for completion of combined projects for Thunder Bay River and Harbor, Michigan..... 20,587.48 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 20,587. 48 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O O 6.) 7. Thunder Bay River, Michigan.-Before improvements were com menced Thunder Bay River, from its mouth to one mile above, varied in width from 175 to 100 feet, and had a navigable channel of from 14 to 11 feet deep, except at the upper end, where the depth diminished to 5 feet. On April 17, 1889, as a result of a survey made in compliance with the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, an estimate of $36,087.48 was made for improving the river to a depth of 16 feet within the dock lines established by the city engineer of Alpena in 1888 from the 16-foot curve in Thunder Bay to 1 mile above the ruth of the river. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, appropri.ed $10,000 for "Improving Thunder Bay River, Alpena, Michigan: For sixteenfoot channel from mouth to one mile above," at the same time appropriating $5,500 for "improving harbor at Thunder Bay, Michigan: To restore fourteen-foot channel." The wording of the act was such, therefore, as to prevent the application of any part of the $10,000 to the bar between the mouth of the river and the 16-foot curve in the bay, and the $5,500 appropriated for this latter locality was for part of the work included in the estimate of $36,087.48 made in 1889. Moreover, the depth of 16 feet was required in the river where vessels drawing more than 14 feet of water could not get and the depth in the harbor was restricted to 14 feet, thereby preventing the greater depth in the river from being rendered available. The language of the act being mandatory, however, a contract for dredging the river to the depth of 16 feet was entered into with the Bay City Dredging Company on April 9, 1891, the dredging in Thunder Bay Harbor being done under the same contract, and but one dredge being required for both works. Seven thousand four hundred and twentyone cubic yards, scow measure, were removed from the river during the fiscal year, and work is still in progress. By June 30, 1891, one dredge cut, about 25 feet wide and 16 feet deep, extended upon the northerly side of the axis of the river from the light-house crib at the mouth to the Second Street Swing Bridge in Alpena, and a second dredge cut had been made upon the southerly side of the axis for about half this distance. In view of the commercial importance of the city of Alpena, which is situated at the mouth of the river, the river and harbor are well worth the additional appropriation of $20,587.48, which, if made at one time and rendered available for both river and harbor, will probably suffice to increase their depth to 16 feet. This entire amount can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Total expenditure to June 30, 1891....... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $1,724, 10 10,000.00 391.50 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 9,608.50 $1,332.60 9,608.50 NOTE. The estimate of the amount required for completion of the combined projects for improving Thunder Bay River and Harbor, with the estimate of the amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is given in the money statement for Thunder Bay Harbor, Michigan, page 349. (See Appendix 0 0 7.) |