REPORT OF CAPT. LANSING H. BEACH, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. Detroit, Mich., January 15, 1903. GENERAL: I have to respectfully submit the following report of preliminary examination of Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, with a view to improvement as a harbor of refuge. Pointe Aux Barques is the extreme end of what is known throughout Michigan as the "Thumb"-that is, the peninsula lying between Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. The item was inserted in the river and harbor bill, as far as can be ascertained, at the instance of the secretary of the Pointe Aux Barques summer resort association, there being quite a flourishing summer resort at this locality. I can not, however, find any demand on the part of navigation interests for a harbor of refuge at this point, although general inquiry has been made among parties interested or likely to be interested in the navigation of this part of the lake. A large number of vessel captains report that even if a harbor of refuge were established at the Pointe it would not be used, owing to the dangerous rocky coast at this locality, and also to cross seas which would be encountered in reaching it. The bottom of the lake in this vicinity is rock, irregular in formation, but massive, so that even if a harbor should be undertaken at this point the cost of removing the bed rock to an extent sufficient to afford the proper area would be practically prohibitive. There is at the locality now a small basin near the shore which can be reached by a channel about 300 feet in width. Its navigation, however, is very dangerous, and can be attempted only in calm weather. To enlarge the entrance so that vessels could approach without danger would involve a very large outlay outside of the harbor itself. It is believed that the harbor of refuge now at Sandbeach, about 25 miles from this locality, serves the purpose more fully and better than a harbor at Pointe Aux Barques could possibly do. In view of the practically unanimous opinion that the harbor is not only unnecessary, but would not be used if constructed, and the certainty of the enormous cost involved, a survey of the locality is not considered necessary. The locality is not believed to be worthy of improvement. Very respectfully, LANSING H. BEACH, Captain, Corps of Engineers. Brig. Gen. G. L. GILLESPIE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. (Through the Division Engineer.) [First indorsement.] Chicago, Ill., January 16, 1903. OFFICE DIVISION ENGINEER, NORTHWEST DIVISION, Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers. The opinions that the locality is not worthy of improvement, and that a survey is not necessary, are concurred in. O. H. ERNST, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. ENG 1904-194 [Second indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, February 5, 1903. Respectfully referred to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, constituted by Special Orders, No. 24, Headquarters, Corps of Engineers, series of 1902, for consideration and recommendation, as required by section 3 of the act of June 13, 1902. By command of Brigadier-Genoral Gillespie: A. MACKENZIE, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. [Third indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors has considered the within report of the district officer, the indorsement of the division engineer thereon, and other data available. The site of the harbor of refuge at Sandbeach, Mich., was selected in 1873, after careful consideration of the west coast of Lake Huron from Pointe Aux Barques southward for more than 50 miles. At an expense of nearly $1,500,000 a harbor of refuge has been constructed at Sandbeach, and this harbor is but 25 miles (approximately) south of Pointe Aux Barques. It appears that the harbor contemplated at Pointe Aux Barques is desired largely as a haven for pleasure craft, and no demand for the harbor has been manifested by navigation interests at large. The bottom near Pointe Aux Barques is of rock and would afford no suitable holding ground for the anchorage of vessels. Moreover, owing to the dangerous nature of the rocky coast in the vicinity, many vessel captains report that a harbor of refuge at this locality would not be used. The Board is of opinion that it is not desirable that the United States should undertake the improvement of Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, with a view to improvement as a harbor of refuge. For the Board: H. F. HODGES, Senior Member Present. APPENDIX O O. IMPROVEMENT OF WATERS CONNECTING THE GREAT LAKES. REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1904, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. OFFICERS IN CHARGE, LIEUT. COL. W. H. BIXBY, MAJ. W. L. FISK, AND LIEUT, COL. CHAS. E. L. B. DAVIS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Ship channel connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo. 2. St. Marys River at the Falls, Michigan. 3. Operating and care of St. Marys Falls Canal, Michigan. 4. Hay Lake and Neebish channels, St. Marys River, Michigan. 5. St. Clair Flats Canal, Michigan. 6. Operating and care of St. Clair Flats Canal, Michigan. 7. Detroit River, Michigan. 8. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. EXAMINATION AND SURVEY. 9. Back channel in Detroit River from main ship channel to Wyandotte, Mich. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, Mich., July 20, 1904. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith the annual report relative to the works under charge of Maj. Wm. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, from June 30, 1903, to January 30, 1904, then under charge of Maj. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers, to March 31, 1904, and under my charge since the latter date. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. E. L. B. DAVIS, Lieut. Col.. Corps of Engineers. Brig. Gen. A. MACKENZIE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. O O I. IMPROVEMENT OF SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES BETWEEN CHICAGO, DULUTH, AND BUFFALO. Operations were in progress during the fiscal year as follows: Detroit River and St. Clair River and Lake.-No dredging was done in the Detroit River under this project during the year. In the St. Clair River 28,806 cubic yards of sand and clay were dredged from the lower approach to the St. Clair Flats Canal in July and August, 1903, under a contract that expired August 25, 1903. From the same locality and from the Arthur House shoal 47,663 cubic yards were dredged under a contract which is still in force. Two dredges have excavated 352,517 cubic yards of material, completing the work at Squirrel Island, St. Clair, Middle Ground, and Stag Island, and at the end of the fiscal year were working at the lower end of Lake Huron, having removed 60,512 cubic yards during the month of June, 1904. This work is under the local charge of Chief Assistant Engineer E. S. Wheeler. St. Marys River.-At the foot of Little Mud Lake the angle in the channel was widened on the east side by the removal of 49,033 cubic vards of sand and bowlders from an area of about 15,700 square yards and on the west by the removal of 3,941 cubic yards from an area of 2,400 square yards. The bowlders remaining above grade were removed by a steam derrick and a diver, 205 cubic yards of bowlders. being picked up. The angle at Sailors Encampment is to be improved by the removal of bowlders, sand, and rock from an area 1,400 feet long and 200 feet wide on the west side of the channel just above Johnsons Point, and on the east side by the removal of sunken crib and bowlder ridge covering an area of 1,800 square yards. During the year 49,033 cubic yards were dredged on the east side and 3,941 cubic yards on the west side. In August, 1903, the examination of the river for shoals by means of suspended raft bars was completed. The total area now covered is 30 square miles between Point Iroquois and Detour, and the location of all shoals and scattered bowlders on which there is less than 27 feet depth of water is now accurately known. Other surveys of special localities were also made during the year. The St. Marys River work was in charge of Assistant Engineer Joseph Ripley. Money statement. July 1, 1903, balance unexpended. June 30, 1904, amount expended during fiscal year, for works of improve ment July 1, 1904, balance unexpended July 1, 1904, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1904, balance available ... $285, 579. 64 a 131, 337. 33 154, 242. 31 20, 976. 12 133, 266. 19 July 1, 1904, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 20, 645. 36 @The actual expenditures during the year amounted to $131,365.61, from which deductions are made as follows: Amount erroneously charged to this appropriation on account of certificate of settlement No. 22225. $3.28 Amount received from sale of typewriter September 27, 1902, and heretofore credited to miscellaneous receipts.. 25.00 28.28 Making the net expenditures $131,337.33. |