This decrease, taken in connection with the increased importations, shows a gain in this branch of the carrying trade in favor of American vessels, viz: Information was received towards the close of 1885 that shoaling had taken place in some portions of the harbor, and the freedom of navigation was thereby diminished. The necessary survey to determine the condition of the harbor could not be made until April, 1886, on account of continued high winds and ice. The map was completed in May, and the work of dredging put under contract in June, 1886, after due advertisement. The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, the American Dredging Company of Philadelphia. The work was completed in August, 1886. Money statement. July 1, 1886, amount available... July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, amount available...... $8,768.99 7,244. 41 1,524.58 66,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... COMMERCE OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. Faithful effort has been made to procure statistics on this subject, but without much success. The commerce has never been great, and yet the port is an important one for the United States, as it is the seat of the Naval Academy, and its relations to the safety of the Capital of the Nation in time of war are of such gravity that they cannot be ignored. The effect, if any, of work thus far executed upon the rates of freight and insurance and also upon the rates of competing routes of transportation is nothing. Prospective advantages to commerce as well as benefits to the community by the completion of the proposed improvement are not known further than already indicated. I 3. REBUILDING PIERS AT BATTERY ISLAND, HEAD OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, WHICH WERE CARRIED AWAY BY ICE, STRENGTHENING AND PROTECTING THE WORKS AT THAT POINT FROM FUTURE DESTRUC TION. The title of this improvement indicates its exceptional character. The estimate on which the appropriation was based is contained in the following letter: UNITED STATES ENGINEER Office, Wilmington, Del., April 10, 1886. GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the following resolution of the Senate of the United States: In the Senate of the United States, March 29, 1886. Resolved, That the Secretary of War be, and is hereby, requested to inform the Senate as to the extent of injury to the Government works near Battery Island Light, by the recent ice flow from the Susquehanna River, and submit an estimate of the probable cost to repair the piers and breakwaters, and better protect them against future damage. Attest: ANSON G. McCook, Secretary. In compliance with the direction contained in the indorsement on the above resolution, I submit the following report: The Government works near Battery Island Light consist of three basins, hatching house, etc., used by the United States Fish Commission as a station for hatching fish. The basins are made by projecting piers and breakwaters. One hundred and forty feet of the crib-work, inclosing the upper side of Basin H, was carried away for a depth of 3 to 4 feet. The connecting pier between the upper and lower sides of Basin H was partly carried away. The northwest pier is in a toppled condition, and should be rebuilt andprotected by guard-piles. The following is an estimate of the cost of repairing the damages to the piers and breakwaters, with stronger materials than first used, to protect the works from future damage: 40,000 feet oak lumber, 12 inches by 12 inches, at $49.50 per M.. 16,000 feet oak lumber, 2 inches by 12 inches, at $45 per M.. 100 oak piles, at $5.25 each 50 gum piles, at $4.50 each... 30 iron rods, 2 feet by 10 inches, at $4.50 each. 200 bolts, 1 inch by 24 inches, at 45 cents each. 700 cubic yards stone filling and riprap. $1,980 720 525 225 135 90 2,100 1,000 6,775 Labor.... If by better protection, as specified in the resolution, is intended to put the works in a condition of permanency, there should be placed around the entire plant, except the east side, stone jetties, involving a deposit of some 7,000 cubic yards of stone, at $1.50 per yard in place.......... Total Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. 10,500 17,275 WM. F. SMITH, United States Agent. The charge of the work was transferred, September 16, from General W. F. Smith to Col. W. P. Craighill. The project as executed differed from that of the estimate mainly in the substitution of a crib filled with stone for a large part of the proposed stone jetty. This was deemed to be in the direction of economy, while obtaining equal or greater strength, Weight can be given for a sufficient resistance to ice in this locality by much smaller and cheaper stone in cribs than in a breakwater entirely of stone, which should in its upper parts be composed of larger and much more costly blocks. The mass of the slopes of the stone breakwater is also saved in the cribs with vertical sides. The only objection to the use of cribs is their decay near the water line and the need of partial repairs and replacements every seven or eight years; but this is counterbalanced by the need of almost certain annual readjustment of the upper portions of the stone breakwater, unless this part be made of very large blocks, which would add greatly to the first cost, and go beyond available means. The cost of repairs in ten years would probably not vary much in the two modes of construction. Effort was made to do the work by contract, but the bids received October 16 were all too high, and were rejected. It was too late in the season to take the time for readvertising and the other required preliminaries to a formal contract, and it was determined to proceed at once by the purchase of materials and the hire of labor, etc., as needed. Operations were pressed with great vigor under the direction of Mr. N. H. Hutton, of Baltimore, and excellent progress was made. An experience of twenty years in this locality had shown that heavy ice need not be expected until about December 20, but 1886 was an exceptional year, inasmuch as on the night of December 3-4, while the main crib, over 600 feet long, was afloat and ready to be hauled into place, a violent wind-storm arose which seriously injured the outer end of the crib. Several days of very cold weather followed, resulting in the complete closing of the river by ice, which also filled the crib and sunk it. A rise in the temperature having taken place on the 11th, it was decided to use every possible means to save the crib, either by getting it into its proper place and filling it with stone, or, if this could not be done, to cut it in sections and place it inside the existing basin. A tug-boat, with an ice-breaker prow, was at once hired at Havre de Grace and used for breaking the ice. By the offer of high wages a number of men were induced to come to work. The ice in the long crib was removed by hand, as well as the field-ice overlaying such parts of the site for the crib as could not be reached by the tug. The crib was, after much hard work and great exposure, gotten into place and filled with stone. It was not yet built to its full height, but was made secure as high as carried. The riprap protection for the old cribs had been put in place before the ice formed. It was necessary to move some of this stone to the new crib. The main crib had been completed 620 feet long up to low-water mark, sunk in place, as explained, and filled with stone. A cross-crib, 100 feet long, had been framed and sunk in place, but for want of sufficient filling was capsized by the ice. Nothing more of much advantage could be done until the river above was clear of ice to such an extent as to permit the shipment of stone. from Port Deposit to fill the upper part of the long crib. The timber was on hand. Inclement weather prevented any work during January and February, 1887, and very little could be done in March. Even in April high 8872 ENG 87--55 winds retarded the work very much. Operations were brought to a close May 25, 1887. The work may be described in general terms as follows: One main protection crib on north end, of timber and stone, 14 feet wide on bottom by 8 feet on top, 144 feet high for 207 feet, and 93 feet high for 362 feet; a stone and timber crib 8 feet wide, 13 feet high, and 92 feet long; a stone and timber crib 10 feet wide, 13 feet high, and 130 feet long; the repair of 58 feet length of a crib 6 feet wide joined to the previous one; the driving of 466 feet, linear, of 3-inch sheet-piling, 12 feet long, and the rebuilding of a length of 150 feet of an old crib injured by ice, 6 feet high and 10 feet wide. About 3,917 perches of riprap stone of large size were used in filling cribs and riprapping. A detailed drawing, showing the condition of the station at the close of operations, has been prepared, and is on file in the engineer office in Baltimore. While the work was in progress, constant conference was had with Mr. T. B. Ferguson, Assistant Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, who gave all the aid he could afford. At his suggestion additions were made to the original scheme, all looking to the better adaptation of the station for its purposes. A letter from this gentleman is appended: UNITED STATES COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, Washington, D. C., June 25, 1887. DEAR SIR: In acknowledging the receipt of your favor of June 16, I take pleasure in expressing my appreciation of the thorough and efficient manner in which the protection of the harbor and station of the United States Fish Commission at Battery Island has been accomplished. The character of the work has varied very materially from that on which the estimates for the appropriation were based, but, nevertheless, is perfectly satisfactory, and I believe it is as efficient and permanent as it could possibly have been made with the sum available. Although the appropriation just expended was intended to cover repairs only such as were consequent on the destruction by ice, more general repairs are desirable, as the wharves and sheet-piling have rotted considerably. As it will no doubt be necessary very soon to make these repairs, I hope the cost of renewing the decayed logs in the wharves and piers heretofore constructed and the sheet-piling will be estimated for in your next report to the Chief of Engineers. Very truly and respectfully, yours, Col. WM. P. CRAIGHILL, U. S. Engineer. THOMAS B. FERGUSON, In compliance with his request, an examination of the older work at the station has been made. The cost of repairs which will be needed in the near future will be $7,000. The details of the estimate, of which this sum is the total, can be furnished at any time if desired, but are not now sent forward, nor is the total included in the estimates for improve ment of the river for purposes of navigation-a matter still in the charge of General Smith. Money statement. outstanding liabilities July 1, 1886.. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $17,275.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in repairs in fiscal year ending 17,275.00 7,000.00 |