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The joint resolution in relation to the Rock Island bridge, approved July 20, 1868, provides, "and said railroad company shall, within six months after said new bridge is ready for use, remove their old bridge from the river," &c.

The question arises, therefore, whether the United States, by intervening to prevent the removal of the portion of the old bridge known as the North Pier, relieved the railroad company from the obligation imposed by the joint resolution referred to. If so, then its removal can only be made under an appropriation therefor by Congress, as submitted by Colonel Macomb.

It is respectfully suggested that the matter be referred to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. W. W. BELKNAP,
Secretary of War.

A. A. HUMPHREYS, Brig. Gen. and Chief of Engineers.

ROCK ISLAND, ILL., January 15, 1874. GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated November 15, 1873, informing me that the Secretary of War authorizes the removal of the north pier of the old railroad bridge. The work of removing the other piers of the old railroad bridge has been effected by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, in pursuance of congressional legislation. I therefore informed the assistant general superintendent of the road, Mr. A. Kimball, of the decision of the Secretary of War, and requested the superintendent to apprise me of the time and manner in which he contemplated to remove the pier in question. Please find inclosed a copy of my letter to Mr. A. Kimball, also a copy of the answer to my letter, which was sent to me by Mr. Hugh Riddle, general superintendent of the road, to whom Mr. Kimball had referred my communication of December, 1873. From the letter and inclosure of Mr. Hugh Riddle you will see that the railroad company does not consider itself bound to remove the pier. The letter explains itself, and I have but to add that the company in fact was prepared also to take out this pier last year, and that the company really had already removed from the pier three or four courses of masonry when the prosecution of the work of removal was stopped by an order from the Goverment, as conveyed to the railroad company by a letter from Captain Flagler, Ordnance Department, referred to by Mr. Riddle. Should the railroad company be relieved of the duty of removing the pier, I respectfully apply for an independent appropriation of three thousand five hundred dollars, ($3,500,) which sum will be sufficient. The funds still available to the Rock Island Rapids improvement and improving the Upper Mississippi are very low or nearly exhausted, and as the expense of removing the north pier of the old bridge was not included in my annual estimates, I deem it prudent to apply for such independent means as to enable me to carry the order into execution.

I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS,

J. N. MACOMB, Colonel Engineers, U. S. Army.

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Rock Island, Ill., December 3, 1873.

SIR: A communication from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated November 15, 1873, announces the decision of the Secretary of War that the north pier of the old bridge also has to be removed. As the work of removing the other piers of the old railroad bridge has been effected by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, pursuant to congressional legislation, I respectfully request of you, under the authority given to me in the above-mentioned letter, to acknowledge the receipt of this communication to you, and to give me some information in reference to time and the manner in which you will proceed to remove the north pier of the old bridge. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. KIMBALL, Esq.,

Asst. Genl. Supt. C., R. I. & P. R. R. Co.,

A true copy:

J. N. MACOMB, Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

Davenport, Iowa.

J. N. MACOMB,

Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

CHICAGO, December 9, 1873.

SIR: Your communication dated December 3, addressed to A. Kimball, esq., assistant general superintendent, in reference to the removal of the north pier of the old bridge, has been referred to me to answer. Early in July last, after our contractors had commenced to remove this north pier, we were advised by telegraph and letter from Col. D. W. Flagler that the Secretary of War had decided the north pier should not be removed. (See copy of letter inclosed.) In compliance with such notice we discontinued work, have settled with and discharged our contractors, and closed up, as we supposed, our bridge account with the Government satisfactorily.

In view of the fact that this pier would have been removed but for the order referred to, that the railroad company have acted in good faith in carrying out the agreement made with the United States, as directed from time to time, we would respectfully submit that the company should not now be asked to remove said pier, at increased cost, after having been stopped by order of the Secretary of War.

Respectfully, yours,

HUGH RIDDLE,

Vice-President and Gen. Supt. C., R. I. & P. R. R. Co.

Col. J. N. MACOMB,

Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

A true copy:

J. N. MACOMB, Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Illinois, January 6, 1873. SIR: I have the honor to state that on the 21st ultimo I wrote to the Chief of Ordnance, United States Army, inquiring whether, under the order of the Secretary of War, dated July 8, 1869, the work of supervising the removal of the old railroad bridges to, and the railroad tracks over, the island was still in charge of the commanding officer of this arsenal.

The letter has this day been returned to me with the following indorsement:

ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, January 3, 1873. Respectfully returned to the commanding officer of Rock Island Arsenal, with a copy of the order of the Secretary of War, dated July 8, 1869, by which it will be seen that only the construction of the bridge and approaches thereto was transferred to the Engineer Department. The removal of old tracks, bridges, and all the other things mentioned in the railroad company's agreement remain under control of the Ordnance Department, and you are charged with the execution and control. of the same.

By order of Chief of Ordnance.

S. V. BENÉT,

Major of Ordnance.

All of which is respectfully furnished for your information.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. W. FLAGLER,

Captain of Ordnance, Bvt. Lieut. Col. U. S. A., Commanding.

Col. J. N. MACOMB,

In Charge Construction of Rail and
Wagon Road Bridge, Rock Island, Ill.

A true copy.

J. N. MACOMB,
Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL,
Illinois, July 5, 1873.

SIR: In confirmation of my telegram to you this a. m., I have the honor to inform you that for the purpose of protecting the landing of Davenport, Iowa, as contemplated in a joint resolution of Congress approved March 3, 1873, the Secretary of War directs that the north pier of the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad bridge between this island and Davenport shall not be removed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. W. FLAGLER,
Brt. Lieut. Col. U. S. A., Commanding.

A true copy.

J. N. MACOMB, Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

Mr. A. KIMBALL,

Asst. Supt. C., R. I. & P. R. R. Co., Davenport, Iowa.

EXAMINATION OF RIVERS AND HARBORS.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

TRANSMITTING

Certain reports of examination of rivers and harbors under the act of March 3, 1873.

JANUARY 27, 1874.-Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.

WAR DEPARTMENT, January 24, 1874.

The Secretary of War has the honor to submit to the House of Representatives a report of the Chief of Engineers, of the 22d instant, transmitting copies of such reports of examinations of rivers and har bors, desired to be made by the act of March 3, 1873, as have been received up to this date and subsequent to the annual report of the Chief of Engineers, of October 20, 1873.

WM. W. BELKNAP,
Secretary of War.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, D. C., January 22, 1874. SIR: In compliance with the requirements of the act of March 3, 1873, making appropriations for certain public works upon rivers and barbors, and directing examinations and surveys to be made at certain points therein named, with a view to their improvement, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of such reports of these examinations, &c., as have been received at this Office up to this date and subsequent to my report of October 20, 1873, upon the duties and operations of the Engineer Department for the past fiscal year.

Examinations or surveys have been made or are in progress at the remaining localities mentioned in the act of 1873, the results of which will be duly submitted as soon as received.

I also transmit a copy of a report upon a survey of the Neches and

Angelina Rivers, Texas, made in compliance with the act of June 10,

1872.

1. Aroostook River, Maine.-The survey made for the purpose of ascer taining the practicability of improving the navigation of this river embraced an extent of sixty-nine miles, commencing at the boundary of the Province of New Brunswick, and extending up the stream as far as the Saint Croix or Masardis. The estimated cost of making the river navigable between these points in its lowest stage for boats drawing 2 feet of water is $50,000 for a channel 50 feet in width. An outlay of from $6.000 to $8,000 would greatly benefit the navigation.

2. Penobscot River, from Oldtown to Medway, Maine.-The object of this examination was to ascertain the practicability and cost of improving the navigation of this river between the limits specified, a distance of about sixty-five miles, for small boats of not more than 2 feet draught, so that they may be enabled to navigate it even at its lowest stage.

The estimate submitted by the officer in charge of this examination of the cost of such improvement is $240,000.

3. At Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, for a breakwater between Gerrish's Island and Wood Island.-The site for such a breakwater is near the outer entrance to this harbor, on a ridge or bar connecting these two islands, the distance between them being 1,330 feet at high water and 872 feet at mean low water. At extreme low tide this bar is uncovered for nearly its whole length.

The officer in charge reports that commerce would be greatly bene fited by such an improvement in the large increase of safe anchorageground, besides affording a good harbor of refuge during southeast gales. From its proximity to the navy yard at Kittery it would also prove an advantage to vessels of war, especially as the harbor thus enlarged would be well protected by the forts in its vicinity.

The amount of material required for a breakwater is estimated at about 23,000 cubic yards of rip-rap, and its cost at about $150,000.

4. In Ipswich Bay, Massachusetts, to ascertain the practicability of a harbor of refuge at Hodgkin's Cove.-A breakwater here would afford a much-needed shelter for vessels along this coast. It appears that the only suitable location for such a work would be either on the lower or upper Plum Cove rocks. Of these two locations the officer in charge of the survey gives preference to the first as affording a more secure anchorage at least cost, although the area of anchorage-ground would be smaller. Estimates are submitted for a breakwater of rip-rap work up to one foot above mean high water, having a width of 22 feet at top, upon which three courses of dimension-stone and a heavy coping would be laid, bringing the whole height to 11 feet above high water. This would cost about $640,000.

5. At Wood's Hole, in Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts, for the removal of rocks therefrom.-This is a passage between Vineyard Sound and Buzzard's Bay, which, if improved, would be much more generally used, and tend greatly to a saving of time and to diminish the dangers of navigation. An appropriation of $5,000 would remove a few of the worst rocks that now interfere with steamboats plying regularly be tween New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard, but, in the opinion of the officer in charge of this examination, a more thorough improvement is advisable, as, in addition, it would benefit a large fleet of sailing-vessels, and because, as it is in a difficult locality to operate in, much of the smaller sum would be expended in preparation and leave little to work with. He estimates that $22,000 will suffice to make a clear channel

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