7. Fort Calhoun, Hampton Roads, Virginia.- As contemplated in my last report, the balance of the stone required for the formation of the mole has been received, and deposited over the foundations of the walls of the fort, so that there is now aeting along their whole extent a greater weight by upwards of 20,000 tons than is estimated will be brought upon them when the fort is completed and garrisoned. Though an accession of weight continues

to cause subsidence, it is in a continued decreasing ratio; and should there be no evidence of a contrary nature by next spring, it is proposed to resume the construction of the walls, for which purpose an estimate is submitted.

8. Fort Macon, Beaufort, North Carolina.—This fort has been completed, and is now garrisoned.

9. Fort Caswell, Oak Island, North Carolina.-This work was reported last year to be in readiness to receive a garrison. Since that time the department has been informed that, in the storms so frequent on that coast, inroads bave been inade in the dikes by the sea, and a breach finally created, which even threatens more damage than has yet taken place. The walls of the fort bave also had some motion since they were erected, causing injuries to the arches of the caponniers and crenated galleries, and give indication of insufficient stability to resist the weight, tending to their overthrow. The funds originally available were not sufficient to construct the breast-height walls, the parapets, furnaces, &c., which are necessary for its completion.

10. Fortifications in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.-Operations in this harbor have consisted in applying the balance of the appropriation of 1834 to the prosecution of the plan for protecting the site of Fort Moultrie. This plan, so far as tested, has answered the desired end, and a large accumulation of sand has taken place on the shore, before exposed to the abrading action of the sea. For want of funds the operations were abruptly arrested last March, the works brought to as favorable a close as circumstances would permit, and the officer charged with their superintendence otherwise disposed of.

11. Fort Pulaski, Cockspur ?sland, Georgia.-On the 3cıh of September, 1834, the piling and construction of the grillage for the foundation of this work was completed, and the masonry commenced. Since that time the available funds have been applied in laying 5,165 cubic yards of masonry; to the completion of all the counter-arches and cross walls of the rampart to a height of seven feet above the grillage, and to the completion, generally, of the counter-arches of communication; and the piers, scarp, and rear walls, and counterforts of the north, northeast, and southeast fronts, to a height of more than twelve feet above the grillage. The work is represented by the local engineer to be in a favorable con dition for a vigorous recommencement of operations so soon as further means are provided.

12. Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida.-Nothing has been done at this work the past year for want of funds.

13. Fort Pickens, Pensacola Harbor, Florida.-This fort was completed in October last, and occupied by a garrison. It has since been necessary to give increased dimensions to the scarp walls of the two faces of the northeast bastion, to insure their permanence against the immense pressure of the sand ramparts. It is satisfactory to state that all parts of the wall supporting these heavy embankments are now in excellent condition, as proved by the severe test to which they have been subjected, from the unusual and heavy rains of the past summer.

14. Fort on Foster's Bank, Florida.-In September 1834 the construction of the platform foundations of this work was in progress, and, owing to the exposed position of the site, required great labor and activity to lay the masonry in a secure and proper manner. Thel funds arising from the appropriation of 1834 were at this time exhausted; but seeing the great injury, if not complete destruction that would

result to the works, should they be suspended at that stage of their progress, it was determined by Captain Chase, the local engi. neer, to continue them, on his own credit, in anticipation of the appropriation of 1835. When he became aware of the non-appropriation for fortifications, the works had been in progress nearly four months after the available means had been exhausted; the safety of

the foundations had been secured, and the whole structure raised to five feet above high water level. But, under the previous appropriations, a large quantity of materials had been collected, and were then deposited in the narrow strip of land comprising a part of Foster's island, which were necessarily much exposed to injury, and, indeed, to total loss, from the changes produced by storms on the recently formed island. It was, therefore, very desirable they should be used in the walls of the work as rapidly as possible; and Mr. Strong: the contractor, did not hesitate to proceed with the construction on his own responsibility, relying upon the appropriation of 1836 to remunerate him for his services. The work is now saised two feet above the tops of the lower tier of embrasures, and all tlie piers and casemates are raised ten feet above the parade.

15. Fort Morgan, Mobile Point, Alabama.-Arrangements were made in obedience to the instructions of the Secretary of War, to fit up thirteen casemates of this fort for officers' quarters, store and guard rooms. The first of these are nearly completed, and the balance of the funds, as far as they go, will be applied to the others.

16. Fort Livingston, Grande Térre,' Louisiana.-Nothing has been done at this work. The expenditures hitherto made have been principally for the construction of the temporary buildings. A person is placed on the island for the purpose of taking care of the materials and houses ; and one laborer, ander his direction, is engaged in cutting the ditches that are considered beneficial to future operations.

II. HARBORS AND RIVERS. 1. Chicago Harbor, Illinois.--Notwithstanding the difficulties attendant upon procuring supplies of materials and workmen in a country whose whole energies are necessariiy exerted for the accommodation of a numerous and rapidly growing population, the works at this place have been successfully prosecuted, and to an extent commensurate with the available means. The piers forming the artificial harbor bave been extended about 500 feet, and enclose a channel of 200 feet in breadth, varying from three to seven feet ditap: ready for the operations of a dredging machine, hy which a free passage will be opened to the channel of the river. The north pier now extends into the lake 1,260 feet, and to twelve feet water; the south, 700 feet, and to seven feet water. In their present incomplete state, great protection has already been afforded to the increasing commerce of the place, and as many as five schooners have, at one time, discharged their cargoes under their shelter. Since the opening of navigation, to the 30th of September, upwards of 200 vessels have arrived at this port, showing that its speedy completion will cor fer gaat advantages, not only on Chicago and its immediate neighborhood, but on the whole country to the west and south, as far as the shores of the Mississippi.

2. River Raisin Ship Canal.-On the 2d of May last, the work was con menced by erecting barracks for the laborers, and commencing the construction of the machinery necessary for excavation, and removing and keeping off the water. From that time to the present the work has been advancing as the weather would allow, encountering occasional difficulties from iil.health among the laborers, and delay and trouble in procentig others. The driving of piles was coipmenced at the lake, on both sides of the intended cut, and ten feet from each one to the next. These are now driven (350 in number along 1,750 feet of the work : on the tops of these piles strong tenons are cut, and caps of square timber, 12 by 10 inches, framed and placed. From these caps of tim.ber, land-ties ot'limber, 20 feet long, and placed 20 feet apart, extend at right angles under the einbankment, being strongly keyed to the caps. On the back side of the caps and piles, pile-planks, 9 feet in lengih, are driven, (the piles being driven 14 feet into the earth,) being previous y well jointed. The plank dam is then made water-tight by the usual process of pudrling with clay from four io six feet in depth; cross dams are then made, and the water dr.WIL from a section of the canal, and the dry excavation is made. The caps are now framed and placed, as above, on both sides of the work,

1,750 feet in length; the land-ties placed, and pile.plank driven on each side for 1,500 feet of the distance; and the excavation entirely completed, 100 feet wide at the surface by 68 at the bottom, 11 1-2 deep, in a distance of 482 feet of tļie very worst portion of the work, and is commenced and now in progress in another section of abont 500 feet in length. It is expected that one-haif ot| the length of the whole canal will be excavated this fall, and that enough of the last appropriation wili be left on hand to commence the piers in the month of December, no doubt exists that the latter work can be far better and cheaper done in the winter than when no ice is on the lake.

3. Black Rock.- Two hundred and sixty-three fett of crib work have been added to the pier, projecting from the main shore, at the entrance into the Black Rock basin, making the whole lergih of the work 350 fett. lts object is to arrest the sarid in its progressive notion along the beach, and prevent it from filling the basin, and obstructing the entrance into the Erie canal, where the latter leaves the basin to go towards Buffalo. This oljeci has so far been fully obtained. During the last fall and winter, the sand acetimulated against the south side of the pier, making a dry beach for a width of 170 feet, while', before, the water was from ten to eighteen feet deep. This beach continues to inery asi, but more slowly than at first. The mole on Bird Island has been rebuilt for a length of 165 feet, leaving 300 feet still to be executed, part of which will be done this fall, and the remainder in the spring. The supply of stone was for some time cut off, and the weather, during the latter part of the season, has been remarkably unfavorable; but for these causes, both the pier and the mole would, by this time, have been completed.

4. Bufalo.-The operations for the year have been as follows:-1st. Removing with the diving bell the ruins of old cribs which obstruct the channel, nearly the whole of which has been accomplished. 2d. Dredging out the curved point which projected into the creek at the inner end of the United States works. The whole of the sand which could be reached by common road scrapers has been removed, and the floating dredging machines now inove over every part, and have been kept constantly employed when the weather would admit. 3d. Placing about 150 fi et of crib work to support the towpah extending from the inner end of the mole to the boundary of the United States land. 4th. Removing the timber work of the tow path along the moie, and placing it by a heavy wall laid with hydraulic mortar. Nearly the whole length of this wall has been

As raised out of water, and several hundred fett of tow path flagging have been laid. far as completed, i é works are of stone, and executed in a permanent and workmanlike

5. 'Dunkirk Harbor.–The piers at this place have been extended 382 feet by sinking new cribs, building them to the surface of the water, and filling them with stone. This has added 322 feet to the east end of the west pier, and 60 feet to the east pier, or breakwater. or work previously raised to the surface of the water, a length of 580 feet has been wholly or partially completed. To finish what has been commenced, more or less remains to be done for á length of 482 feet, as also the repairs on the break water, specially VOL. XIV.

14

manner.

authorized by the act of last session of Congress. Materials have been provided for these

purposes, and the available funds are supposed to be sufficient. Should the weather be favorable during the fall, it is hoped that before the end of the present year the whole may

be accomplished. The length of the west pier will then be 1,920 feet, and that of the breakwater, or detached pier in front of the bay, 1,340 feet.

6. Erie or Presqu' Isle Harbor.-Since the last annual report, the operations at this harbor have consisted, ist. In completing the repairs at the breach which was formed at the junction of the south break water and the south channel pier. This was effected last fall, and the place where the break existed is now occupied by the most substantial part of the whole work. 2d. In forming against the piers and breakwaters throughout their entire extent on one side, and at certain places on both sides, a bank or mound of stone, thrown into the water at random, rising next the pier to the surface, and sloping outwards so as generally to have a base equal to the depth of water at each particular point. 3d. In thoroughly repairing the whole of the timber work, and where, as it is generally the case, the planking has rotted or been washed off of the top of the cribs, supplying its place by Ja pavement of large flagging stones, carefully wedged to secure them against the action of the waves.

7. Conneaut Creek.-The works at this place have been entirely completed according to the original plan, and no expenditures have been made here during the past year. The sand accumulating against the west pier begins, as usual, to pass around its outer extemity, and to form a bar across the channel; the wood work above water is decaying, and at one or two places the piers seem to be threatened with being undermined, but no immediate measures appear to be necessary to guard against these evils. The depth of water in the

channel is now nine feet, and the harbor has proved of great value to the commerce of the lake. Within a month, as many as twenty-six vessels at one time have taken shelter here during a gale of wind.

8. Ashtabula Creek.— The method devised in previous years for the removal of the rock which obstructs the entrance into this creek having promised favorably, it was this summer considered expedient to construct a machine specially for that purpose ; which, however, from a variety of causes, could not be got into regular operation before the 2d of September. Since that period the weather has been very unfavorable ; but enough has been done to increase the confidence previously felt as to its success. The dredging machine has been constantly in operation when the weather would admit, and has laid bare all the rock which it will be necessary to remove: the depth of water in the shallowest part of the channel is about seven feet. Materials have, in part, been collected for the extension of the western pier, Preparations have been made for commencing the foundation of the beacon light-house, and should the weather prove favorable, it will be sunk this fall, in which case the light-house will be completed early in the spring.

9. Cunningham Creek.- Nothing has been done at this place this year. The light-house is completed, but it still remains isolated from the rest of the work, and further expenditures are necessary to properly secure its base.

10. Grand River.-The west channel pier has been lengthened 300 feet, to guard the channel from being obstructed by the sand which is constantly accumulating on that side, at this and all the other harbors on the lake. This extension removes all danger from that cause for many years, and greatly facilitates the entrance into the harbor. The beacon has been lighted all summer.

11. Cleaveiand Harbor.-The operations at this important point have consisted in depositing stones against the outsides of the piers for their permanent security; in placing an additional crib, and depositing stone for securing the base of the beacon light; and in driving outside the west channel piera line of contiguous piles, to support the foot of the slope of the permanent stone mole intended to be formed.' These operations will be continued as long as the weather will admit.

12. Genesee River.-From 1829 to 1834, there has been constructed at the mouth of this river, 5,240 feet in length of pier, of an average width of eighteen fert, and from ten to seventeen feet deep, forming a double line of docks that receive between them the Genesee river, which work has fuifiiled the purpose for which it was constructed, namely, it has cleared out a crooked channel of from six to seven feet in depth of water, that could not be entered in a dark night, so as to have formed, at the present time, a channel of thirteen feet depth of water, that can be entered and passed through at any time of night.

13. Genesee River Beacon light-Upon the west pier in the lake, at the distance of 2,700 feet from the shore, a beacon of stone has this year been erected, twenty-five feet high, an octagon, of twenty feet in diameter, upon a foumdation of forty feet square, in fifteen feet depth of water, the beacon tapering to a diameter of ten feet at the top.

14. Big Sodus Bay:- From 1829 to 1834, the work constructed amounts to 5,900 feet of length of pier, sixteen feet wide, and from six to seventeen feet in depth. These docks enclose the entrance of the bay from Lake Ontario, excepting the channel that is to be dredged out between the two branches or T's that extend into the lake. The piers are upon the same plan, and formed of similar material to those at the Genesee river, but they have subsided very little into the bed of the lake, in consequence of the hard pan at the bottom, and consequently exhibit a more uniform straight line than those ai Genesee. The timber above water is also beginning to decay. 15. Beacon Light at Sodus Bay.- A structure of stone of the same form, dimensions,

!

and foundation as the beacon ai Genesee river, has been commenced at the extremity of the west pierof Sodus, in Lake Ontario, and is three-fourths finished.

16. Oswego, Lake Ontario, New York. The operations for the improvement of this harbor have been confined to the collection and proper distribution of stone for the construction of the inole and pier, and in paving the mole with large blocks of limestone.

About 4,0:35 cords of stone have been applied to the first mentioned objects, and 1,115 tons of liinestone to the second. A sufficient quantity of stone has been deposited in the mole to render it secure the coming winter.

17. Monument on Steele*s ledge.- On the 14th of October, this monument was completed, except putting in the copper bolts required for the upper courses of stone.

18. Piers at Kennebunk, Maine.-In making preparations to carry into effect the wishes of Congress in reference to the erection of the eastern pier at this place, it was ascertained that the appropriation was vot sufficient to complete it upon the plan proposed ; and as the new work will be exposed, in its unfinished siate, to the action of the sea during the autumnal and winter storins, the propriety of commencing its construction was doubted. Nothing has, therefore, been done this season, but to procure materials and prepare the stone for the upper courses of the work. A large quantity of fine blocks of stone is now ready, and every things is.prepared for commencing, operations next spring, except contracting for the masonry, whicn the available funds did not justify.

19. Merrimack River, Massa husetts.The pier leading from Salisbury shore to Badger's rock has been completed, and extended nearly two hundred feet into the river, terminating upon a fedge of rock one foot under water at low tide. When completed it will afford shelter and protection from the ice to three ships at a time, affording them a harbor of fifteen fett water at low tide.

20. Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts. The parts of the beach at this place that are planted with grass are represented as doing well, and as giving evidence that the object in view, viz: the protection of the harbor, will be attained. Upwards of two thousand acres have been planted this season , and the estimates for next year contemplates the setting out of a similar quantity.

21. Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts.-Nine hundred feet of stone wall have been constructed on the west side of the breakwater at this place since the last report, and 1,500 feet of brush fence, for the purpose of arresting the drifting sand. Grass, for the same object, has been set out at various points

along the

beach, to the extent of one thousand feet, which, together with the general state of the beach, is represented by the agent to be in good con. dition.

22. Hyannis Breakwater, Massachusetts. The present length of this break water is 1,050 feet, carried to its full height, and fifty feet partially finished, which will afford considerable protection to the coasting navigation. Many difficulties to its rapid progression this season are represented by the agent to have existed, and which he has used every exertion to overcome.

23. Hudson River, New York.-An examination of the river between the points where the principal obstructions to its navigation are found to exist, by the officer charged with its improvement, led to conclusions so different as to the realization of all the benefits anticipated by the projector of the plan, that it was deemed advisable to adopt the recommene dation of this officer, and to refer the whole subject to the Board of Engineers. The plan reported by the Board, is confirmatory of the general principle of the original plan, yet differing, in some degree, in carrying those principles into execution. It contemplates, first, the removal of the existing deposites, and, secondly, the prevention of future accumulations. The means recommended for the accomplishment of these objects are, dredging, contracting the bed of the river by employing longitudinal piers, and protecting the channel shores from the action of the current. It was believed that, by the first process, a channel would be obtained adequate to all the wants of the river navigation: that the erection of piers and protection of the channel shores would preserve the channel, so formed, free from fu

ture obstructions. Early preparations were made for carrying this plan into effect; and as soon as a system of operations could be matured, called for by the importance and diffculty of such an undertaking, contracts were effected for carrying on the operation of dredging, for the delivery of stone, the formation of dams, and protection of the shores of the channel, as far as the available means would authorize. Owing to many unfavorable circumstances, these contracts have not been completed, though this great work inay now be considered in full operation; and from the change that has already occurred at the principal obstruction, the happiest results may be anticipated.

24. Harbors of New Castle, Marcus Hook, Chester, and Port Penn, Delaware River.The appropriation for the year 1835 was made available in April, and proved to be less than halt of the sum necessary to construct one pier. The plan has been persevered in of repairing the outer piers of these harbors with stone from the low water mark up, cutting away the impediments to a free passage for the tides through the harbors. At Marcus Hook the southeastern pier has been repaired on this plan, and the two sluice-ways between the outer piers have been removed; the effect of which has been not only to prevent any further deposite, but has caused by the action of the tides, the removal of much of the mud from within this

harbor lying above the level of the bottom of the openings made between the piers, serving as a preservation of the harbor more against future injury than any good that the commerce of ihe Delaware can derive from it in its present state. The

limited appropriation of the year could not be applied at Marcus Hook in effecting any useful object whatever. The only manner in which ii could be applied was at Newcastle, in carrying into effect so much of the plan recommended as it would accomplish in the removal of the obstructions to the free passage of the current through this harbor and between the piers, and repairing the northeastern pier with large stone from low water up. In furtherance of this application of the available means, a 9 uice-way has been partiaily opened, the northeastern pier eut down to low water marki, a foundation prepared there on for laying the masses of stone for its reconstruction, and stone purchased for raising the work four fext high; after accomplishing which, the funds will be so nearly absorbed as te render any further progress impracticable.

25. (crocock Inlet, North Carolina.-Several years since, when the inlet was first examined with a view to the improvement of its navigation, the passage by the Flounder slue and Wallac's channel was sek cted as the one on which, for many rcasons it was best to operate. When the operations were commenece, but five and a hali ftet water could be carried through the slut. At the biginning of this year, a passage existed, one hundred and I wenty fire wiile, and seven and a half feet deep at low water on the shvalest part. It had, for a year previous, become the principal channel for vessels from l'amico Bay, and Nilise rivers. During the pics 11 yiar, the passage, with ihe same average width, has been increased in depth to cight and a half fit at low water on the shoal st pait. Since the date of the last raport, by one boat, 31,683 cubic yards have been excavated, and removed to a «istance of seven hundred and fifiy yards; of these, 26,443 cubic' yards liave been excavated and remored since the 22d of April, the date at which the work conimeuced this year.

26. Cape Fear River, North Carolina.-Some interruption to the operations on this rirer has necessarily occurred, resulting from the death of the officer chargeil with its improvement. On the west side of the river, the jettees above Town creek liave been completed, and are generally in good order. On the cast side of the river the jettee at Reedy point is complete and in order. The one next below was cor.structed, but having been destroyed by the current, &c., is not yet rebuilt. The three other jetteés contemplated by the plan have not been commenced.

27. Savannah River, Georgia.- The progress of the improvements on this river has not answered the expectations of the project for the year. It was contemplated to complete the foundation of a permanent obstruction between Hutchinson and Argyle islands; and to remove, by diedging, the shoals at the Wrecks, Garden Bank, and upper Mud Flat. All the preliminary arrangements for the first mentioned object were made; materials were collected, and operations commenced, when the local engineer was made aware that. by the secon:) article of the treaty of Beaufort, concluded in 1787, between the States of Georgia and South Carolina, no obstructions whatever should be made by the citizens of either state in the channel it was contemplated to close. A suspension of operations was ther fore required by the department; the subject was referred to the United States attorneys in those States, and a consequent application will be made to the respective Governors at the suitable time. Although every exertion was made to hasten the construction of

the dredge-boat, machinery, &c. for the other operations, owing to a scarcity of workmen, and a breakage of a part of the machinery, when first put in operation, the sickly season commenced on the river before much could be perfected, and not more than 2,800 cubic sards of sand and mud has been removed from the Wrecks.

23. Inland Pass between St. Joh's and St. Mary's, Florida.--The officer to whom was assigned the superintendence of the improvement of ihis pass coulil 1.0t spare his attention from the works on the Savannah river, to make an examination of the impediments to be removed, until about the first of last June. So soon as the project submitied by him could receive the sanction of the department, measures were entered into for the construction of :: dredge boai, and the necessiry mud flats for clearing out the channel; and it is anticipa. ted that the operation will be commenced by the first of ner! January

29. Ochlochiney and Appalachicola River, Floridai.-The improvements of these rivers were brought to a close upon the completion of the operations reportel last pi ar.

30. Stark's River and Harbor, Florida.--Theobstructions in the liarbor corsisting of oyster bars ani mud shoals, aril esiendi gorer a space of about two mits, liave buurtmoved. A cual has been cut through the natural bridge at Rock Haren, about six huisdred yards tons, which opens the river and swamp forscow navigation surteen miles above the natural bridge to a point about two miles south of the St. Augustine road. The funds appropriated for these works liave been expended, and operations brought to a close.

31. Mobile llarbor, J:ba?n?.--The operations under the presint contractor have been prosecuted with much rigor and great sucess, notwithstanding the prevalence of bad! weather, and occasional damage sustained by the machinery from the contact of vessels. An ad lition of fifty feet has been add d to che pass, making at this tine a charlayage of on red and fifty fiet in width, and ten feet in depth ; and it is anticipated that its width will be extended to two hundred fert by the first of January. Ile application of the Jappropriation of 1835 will afford an additional width of two hundred and fifty fe t'i, so that

the whole pass will be one hundred and Gifty yards wide. I his is deemed sufficient for the cial to the commerce of that country. easy entranic and passage of any vessel; and its accomplishment will prove very benefi

32. Puiscagoula River, Mississippi.- As anticipated last year, the then existing contract