machines, which could be applied to the keeping open the channels here and elsewhere on the lakes, if necessary. Even were it necessary to work these machines annually in order to keep this channel open-which, from the almost unchangeable nature of this bay, it is quite certain would not be the case-the annual cost of running them and keeping them in repair would be but a trifling part of the yearly interest on the excess of the amount of General Cram's estimate over the original cost of these machines. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. N. MACOMB, Col. of Eng'rs, Bvt. Col. U. S. Army. Col. of Eng'rs, Bot. Brig. Gen. U. S. Army. Lieut. Col. of Eng'rs, But. Brig. General. Major of Engineers and Brevet Colonel. Major of Eng'rs and Bvt. Maj. U. S. Ármy. There being no other business before it, the board adjourned sine die. WALTER MCFARLAND, J. N. MACOMB, Col. of Eng'rs, Bvt. Col. U. S. Ármy. Major of Eng'rs and Bvt. Maj. U. S. A., Recorder. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Erie, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1869. GENERAL: In my recent trip to Toledo and Maumee Bay, made in conformity with the instructions of Special Order No. 34, Headquarters Corps of Engineers, dated Washington, D. C., April 26, 1869, I met many prominent merchants, ship-owners, and others interested in the welfare of the city and its harbor, and anxious to ascertain what was to be done for them out of the recent general appropriation for river and harbor improvements. In company with a delegation of these gentlemen, I examined, as well as my limited time would permit, the channel through the bay and its surroundings; and the result of that examination was simply to confirm me in the conclusions reached by the board of engineers of which I was a member, convened in January last, "for the consideration of the improvement of the entrance to Toledo Harbor, Ohio." In respect to the growth and progress of the city, however, and the value of its commerce, upon which it is presumed the amount of the allotment to be made for the improvement of its harbor must depend, an erroneous impression has prevailed, due to a table contained in the "Toledo Blade's annual statement of the trade and commerce of Toledo" -which shows a marked and constant decrease in the grain trade of the city from 1862 to 1866-which decrease was attributed to the diversion into other channels of a portion of the grain trade, upon which the prosperity of Toledo largely depends. This, it is admitted, is partly true; owing to the opening of the Mississippi and the demands of the southern markets, which had been closed in the earlier years of the war; but it is claimed that all the lake cities suffered similarly, and that Toledo suf fered less than the others relatively. The loss of the wheat crop in the Wabash valley in 1865-'66, was a severe blow to the city, keeping its trade below even what it had been in the four preceding years; but from all this the city is rapidly recovering, as is shown by the fact that its receipts, which from 11,674,120 bushels of grain, 1,383,889 barrels of flour in 1861, had fallen to 7,914,800 bushels of grain, 736,207 barrels of flour in 1866, have grown again to 11,280,575 bushels of grain, 868,524 barrels of flour, in 1868. These figures are taken from the last published report on the trade and commerce of the city. In respect to population the city's growth has been remarkably rapid. In 1860, the population was 12,800; in 1865, 24,400; in 1867, 31,651; and in 1868, between 35,000 and 36,000 are claimed, and the claim seems to be sustained by the fact that 5,600 votes were polled at the last election. In 1867, over 1,300 dwelling houses were erected. In 1868, over 1,500, and nearly all are occupied. Judging from these facts and from the active spirit everywhere manifested by the inhabitants, as shown by the improvements in progress all over the city, I think that Toledo must be regarded as one of the most rapidly growing of our many growing western cities. The greatest obstruction to its progress is to be found in the insufficient depth of water in the channels through Maumee Bay, which causes frequent groundings of heavily laden vessels entering and departing, and of course long delays and useless expense. While examining the bay on Monday last, two large steamers, here at the very commencement of navigation, ran aground and were being lightered. Of course the annoyance, inconvenience, and loss of money consequent upon this, injuriously affects the interests of the city, by keeping many vessels and traders away, and yet in spite of these obstacles the place grows. To put the entrance to this harbor into proper condition, I think the method of improvement recommended by the board of engineers above referred to should be carried out. The estimate for improving the western channel was, if done by government machines, including their cost, $124,212; if done by contract, at forty (40) cents per cubic yard, $152,800. It is possible that on account of the exposed position of the channel to be dredged, extending from the Black can-buoy, where General Cram left off dredging, to near Turtle Island light, a distance of three and a half (34) miles, and the delays to which the machines would probably be subject by reason of rough weather, these estimates may be too low, and I think that not less than $150,000 should be appropriated or allotted for this purpose; that is, to give a channel two hundred (200) feet in width. From the nature of the bottom, too, which is nearly level throughout this whole distance, no relief can be given to the commerce of the place except by dredging this channel deeper over its entire length, and for a width of not less than one hundred (100) feet; the cost of which would not fall short of $75,000 or $80,000, and if this amount can be allotted to Toledo, I think it should be done. No smaller amount will be of much avail. The anxiety of the citizens to have something determined in respect to their harbor has induced me to make this report, though, under circular of April 5, from your office, the matter properly came within the province of General Cram. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WALTER MCFARLAND, Brevet Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C. D 3. Report of operations in the improvement of Sandusky River, Ohio, for the year ending June 30, 1869. Upon an examination of this river in April, after the charge of its improvement had been devolved upon me, it was found that the chief impediments to its navigation were at the first shoal place below Whitacie bar; referred to in General Cram's report upon this river as secondary place No. 2, at Squaw Island, and at the mouth of the river. I accordingly directed that the first and second points mentioned should be dredged to the width of sixty feet and two feet below the bottom, and that the balance of the appropriation should then be applied to the improvement of the bar at the mouth of the river; which was accordingly done, affording considerable relief to the vessels navigating the river. In this operation 13,704 cubic yards of material were removed, 13,649 cubic yards having been previously removed under General Cram's orders from Whitacie bar and from the bar at the mouth of the river. This gives a good eight foot channel from Fremont to the mouth of the river, and entirely exhausts the appropriation. The estimated cost of making this a twelve-foot channel was $35,000. Until there is a good twelve-foot channel through Sandusky Bay, which is not now the case, it would be useless to give twelve feet depth in Sandusky River. But $20,000 could be well expended here in widening the present sixty-foot channels and deepening them so as to admit of the passage of the heaviest vessels that can navigate Sandusky Bay. Report of operations in the improvement of Sandusky City Harbor, for the year ending June 30, 1869. Since the close of the last fiscal year, 17,685 cubic yards of sand have been removed from the outer bar, and when carefully examined in June last, the channel was found to be 240 feet in breadth with over twelve feet depth of water on it except in two places on the south side of the cut, one 60 feet by 100 feet, the other 100 feet by 200 feet, the smaller dimensions running crosswise to the channel, on which the water is but eleven and a half feet in depth. It is probable that these spots were never cut out to the proper depth. It will be remembered that the original design was to dredge this channel to 400 feet width. I learned, however, upon making my first examination of this harbor in April last, that there was more water on the outer bar than there was just inside the harbor, and that the merchants and ship-masters of Sandusky City were desirous of having the balance of the appropriation for the improvement of this harbor, applied exclusively towards deepening the channel over this inner bar, being perfectly satisfied with the condition of the outer channel. I accordingly recommended that this balance should be so applied, which recommendation, upon the evidence furnished by long and careful surveys extending into July, was approved by the Chief of Engineers, July The work was accordingly advertised, bids opened August 30, to which time a recent order of the War Department compelled us to put off their examination, and the dredging was let to Patrick Smith, of Cleveland, at thirty-three and a half cents per cubic yard, a reduction of forty-one and a half cents on the price paid for dredging on the outer bar and an advance of six and a half cents on the price paid for dredging in Sandusky River. The work will be begun this fall and carried as far as the weather will permit. The price at which the contract is let is so much lower than the rates which have ordinarily been paid, and by which I had made my estimates, that I find we shall be able to make the channel one hundred and fifty feet wide, instead of one hundred, which was all I hoped for. It should, however, be widened still another hundred feet, the cost of which may be estimated at $10,000. all of which will be expended in the deepening of the channel over the inner bar during the present year. Still needed for this purpose, $10,000. This will complete the improvement of this harbor for twelve feet depth of water, though probably it will be necessary periodically to remove deposits from both channels, the cost of which has been estimated at $2,500 annually. Sandusky Harbor is in the collection district of Sandusky, Ohio, Sandusky City being the port of entry. During the year ending June 30, 1869, there had been collected from customs a revenue of $9,792. Number of vessels which had entered and cleared, foreign, 191; coastwise, 5,487. D 5. Report of operations in the improvement of Huron Harbor, Ohio, for the year ending June 30, 1869. This improvement was under charge of Brevet Major General T. J. Cram, colonel of engineers, until April 12, 1869, when it was placed in charge of Major Walter McFarland, of the same corps. Nothing has been done in the improvement of this harbor during the past fiscal year; since its close, however, estimates of the cost of necessary repairs in both piers have been made, advertised, and the work let, to be completed this fall. to be applied to further repairs as the necessity for them arises, which will not probably amount to more than $1,500 per year. No further appropriation is asked. Huron Harbor is in the collection district of Sandusky-Sandusky City, Ohio, being the nearest port of entry. Revenue collected for the year $37. Number of vessels entered and cleared, coastwise, 103. D 6. Report of operations in the improvement of Vermilion Harbor, Ohio, for the year ending June 30, 1869. This improvement was under the charge of Brevet Major General T. J. Cram, colonel of engineers, until April 12, 1869, since which time it has been under charge of Major Walter McFarland, same corps. Nothing has been done here since the close of the last fiscal year, the piers being in very good condition, and giving no indications of needing further repairs very soon. The appropriations and allotments for this work are exhausted, and there is no immediate necessity for any others. Probable annual cost of keeping the piers in repair $1,000. Vermilion is in the collection district of Sandusky-Sandusky City being the nearest port of entry. Revenue collected from customs for the year ending June 30, 1869, $82. Number of vessels entered and cleared, coastwise, 191. D 7. Report of operations in the improvement of Black River Harbor, Ohio, for the year ending June 30, 1869. This improvement was in charge of Brevet Major General T. J. Cram, corps of engineers, up to and including April 12, 1869; after which it was in charge of Major Walter McFarland, of the same corps. As in the preceding year nothing has been done here, the harbor being in sufficiently good condition. Since the close of the year, however, slight repairs to the west pier have been found necessary, estimates made, the work advertised and let, and it will be completed probably by the end of October. It is reported that there is twelve feet water on the bar; and allowing one foot and a half for the usual height of the lake, we should have water enough for vessels drawing ten feet; while, according to General Cram's report of last winter, there was only depth enough to allow vessels drawing eight feet to pass. Balance on hand June 30, 1868, being the entire appro priation of 1866 .. Expended (office).. $10,000 00 24 58 |