[Third indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, April 21, 1887. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War inviting attention to the report of the Board of Engineers (dated the 15th instant), constituted, with his sanction, by orders from this office in compliance with the requirements of "An act to authorize the construction of bridges across the Great Kanawha River below the Falls, and to prescribe the dimensions of same," approved March 3, 1887. It will be seen that the Board recommends "that the site of the bridge and the location of the piers be approved as proposed. The level of low water, from which according to the law the height of the bridge is to be measured, should, it is suggested, be determined by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River, who should also decide as to the proper location of the piers in accordance with the approved plans and be satisfied that the height of the bridge is right." Attention is also invited to the accompanying letter, dated the 16th instant, from Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, the president of the Board, recommending that such supervision be exercised. by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River as may be necessary to prevent the use of 'insufficient foundations' for the piers and consequent 'riprap or other outside protection,' and to require that all coffer-dams or other temporary works be removed by the owners of the bridge before it be opened to traffic." It is recommended that the views of the Board as set forth in its report and the accompanying letter of the president dated the 16th instant be approved. The papers and drawings should be returned with the view to the preparation of duplicates, and in this connection the inquiry is sug gested whether the rule of the War Department of July 31, 1886, contemplates the filing of duplicates of the papers as well as of the maps and drawings. J. G. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Fourth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 27, 1887. The report of the Board of Engineers, the recommendations of Colonel Craighill, and the Chief of Engineers are approved. The papers are respectfully referred to the Chief of Engineers and the Acting Judge-Advocate-General to prepare the plans and papers in duplicate for the approval of the Secretary of War. Duplicates of the report of the Board and Colonel Craighill's letter should be submitted. By order of the Acting Secretary of War. JOHN TWEEDALE, [Fifth indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully transmitted to the Acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army, with plans and papers in duplicate, as directed by the foregoing indorsement of the War Department.. J. C. DUANE. Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Sixth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The papers appear to be in compliance with the provisions of the rule of the War Department applicable to these cases, except that the extract from the minutes of the company shows that its organization was at first intended to be temporary. The other papers submitted, however, indicate that the company is at present permanently organized. The instruments of approval are herewith transmitted. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge Advocate-General [Seventh indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, June 15, 1887. Respectfully referred to the Chief of Engineers for file in his office, one copy of the within instrument having been sent to Mr. George W. Thompson, president Ohio River Railroad Company. By order of the Acting Secretary of War. JOHN TWEEDALE, Chief Clerk. REPORT OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS. POINT PLEASANT, W. VA., SIR: The Board of Engineers directed by your orders of March 28 to consider the plans and location of the bridge proposed by the Ohio River Railroad Company to be built over the Great Kanawha River, at Point Pleasant, has the honor to report as follows: The Board assembled at Charleston April 14, and they had a session at Point Pleasant the next day. Notice of these meetings had been given in the newspapers of both those places. All persons who desired to do so were invited to appear and present their views on the subject before the Board. The attendance was not large on either occasion. The site of the bridge and its vicinity were examined. The law of Congress under which the bridge is proposed to be built was approved March 3, 1887. Its language conforms almost exactly to that recommended in the report of the Board dated June 10, 1884. The officials of the railroad company, as shown by the papers and plans submitted to the Hon. Secretary of War, with the communication of March 20, from Mr. G. W. Thompson, president of the company, have complied with the requirements of the law, even going beyond it in giving "a clear opening" of 460 feet, whereas the law calls for but 400. It is the recommendation of the Board that the site of the bridge and the locations of the piers be approved as proposed. The level of low water from which, according to the law, the height of the bridge is to be measured, should, it is suggested, be determined by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River, who should also decide as to the proper location of the piers in accordance with the approved plans and be satisfied that the height of the bridge is right. Your letter of instructions of March 29, 1887, and all the papers which accompanied it, are returned herewith. The maps are sent in a separate package by mail. Respectfully submitted. CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Colonel of Engineers. WM. E. MERRILL, Major of Engineers. LETTER OF COLONEL WM. P. CRAIGHILL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Baltimore, Md., April 16, 1887. GENERAL: In sending forward to-day in a separate package the report of the Board of Engineers appointed to consider the subject of the bridge proposed to be erected near Point Pleasant over the Great Kanawha River, I have the honor to make a suggestion, which seems important. Referring to the second section of the law of March 3, 1887, I recommend that such supervision be exercised by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River as may be necessary to prevent the use of "insufficient foundations" for the piers and consequent "riprap or other outside protection," and to require that "all cofferdams or other temporary works be removed by the owners of the bridge before it be opened to traffic." Very respectfully, your obedient servant, To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. WM. P. CRAIGHILL, LETTER TO COLONEL WM. P. CRAIGHILL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., June 17, 1887. SIR Referring to the report of the Board of Engineers of April 15, and your letter of April 16, 1887, respecting bridge to be built by the Ohio River Railroad Company across the Great Kanawha River at Point Pleasant, W. Va., I am directed to inform you that the plans and location recommended by the Board have received the approval of the Acting Secretary of War, upon the express conditions following: (1) That the level of low water from which, as required by the act aforesaid, the height of the bridge is to be measured, and the proper location of the piers in accordance with the plans hereby approved, shall be determined by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River. (2) That such supervision of the construction of the proposed bridge be exercised by the officer in charge of the improvement of the Great Kanawha River as shall be necessary to prevent the use of insufficient foundation for the piers and consequent riprap or other outside protection, and to require that all coffer-dams and other temporary works be removed by the owners of the bridge before it is opened to traffic. You will therefore please exercise such supervision of the proposed bridge as may be necessary to determine that the conditions imposed by the War Department are faithfully observed. By command of the Acting Chief of Engineers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. WM. P. CRAIGHILL, JAS. C. POST, Major of Engineers. Corps of Engineers. W W 9. BRIDGE ACROSS THE WEST CHANNEL OF THE DETROIT RIVER, TO CONNECT BELLE ISLE PARK WITH THE MAINLAND, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED JULY 20, 1886. OFFICE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, Detroit, April 15, 1887. SIR: The city of Detroit having been authorized by act of Congress approved July 20, 1886, to construct a bridge across the West Channel of the Detroit River, to connect Belle Isle with the mainland, the board of public works caused the necessary plans and specifications therefor to be prepared, and as required by said act forward the same to you for approval. As this is a matter of importance to the people of the city of Detroit, the board of public works respectfully request that you give the same your earliest attention. Respectfully, etc., Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. JOHN CAMPBELL, Secretary. [First indorsement.; OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully referred to Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, for examination and report as to whether the accompanying plans, etc., of the proposed bridge are in conformity with the requirements of the act of July 20, 1886 (for copy of act see page 37 of laws affecting the Corps of Engineers, Forty-ninth Congress, first session). In this connection a copy of the rule of the War Department "to be observed when application is made pursuant to an act of Congress for approval by the Secretary of War of plans for a bridge," etc., is herewith, which it is requested may be furnished the bridge authorities for their information and guidance; the drawings and papers contemplated therein to be furnished in duplicate and duly authenticated. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. JOHN G. PARKE, [Second indorsement.] UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, May 18, 1887. Respectfully returned to the office of the Chief of Engineers with report of this date. O. M. POE, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Bot. Brig. Gen., U. S. A. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, through the acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army, inviting attention to the accompanying report of Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, dated the 18th instant, from which it will appear that he has given the subject full and careful consideration, and has reached the conclusion that the plans and location of the bridge satisfy the requirements of the act of July 20, 1886, and may therefore be approved. His views are concurred in by this office. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Fourth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., June 1, 1887. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, with formal instrument for his approval (prepared in duplicate) of the design and drawing and map of location of the bridge across the west channel of the Detroit River, to connect Belle Isle Park with the mainland. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. [Fifth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers for file in his office, one copy of the within instrument having been sent to Mr. John Camp bell, Secretary board of public works, Detroit. By order of the acting Secretary of War. JOHN TWEEDALE, Chief Clerk. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL O. M. POE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, Mich., May 18, 1887. SIR: In compliance with indorsement, dated office of the Chief of Engineers, April 21, 1887, on a communication of April 15, 1887, from the board of public works of the city of Detroit, Mich. (by John Campbell, secretary), submitting to the Secretary of War for approval, plans and specifications for a bridge over the west channel of Detroit River, |