during the year. Two new shot-furnaces have been completed; the entrance to two magazines covered with bomb-proof protections, the cisterns repaired, permanent drain laid, and the stone pavement in front of barracks repaired. No further appropriation is asked for this work at present. Fort Richmond, Stat n Island, New York harbor.-The masonry of this work was continued as long as the available funds warranted, resulting in the laying of about 450 cubic yards. The remaining work consisted principally of the excavation of the ditch, commencement of a magazine, continuation of the permanent wharf, and the cutting of stone preparatory to a resumption of the masonry. A large supply of stone is now ready for laying. The walls of the fort have been raised every where to about the level of the parade, and part of the gorge-scarp carried three or four feet higher, and the interior space, including the parade, has been filled with earth to the full height. The money on hand and that included in this year's estimate will be applied to raising the walls and piers, and turning casemate arches. Balance in the treasury on 30th September, 1850 - $60,000 00 60,000 00 60,000 00 Governor's island, New York harbor.-The iron work of the gun-platforms, shot-furnace, stairs, platforms, and railings, and manoeuvring ap paratus of the draw bridge of Fort Columbus, Castle Williams, and south battery, were covered with a coat of lacker, to protect it from injury by rust. The coping of the counterscarp and parts of the scarp of Fort Columbus were pointed with bituminous mastic. The floors of the basement of this fort and south battery were repaired, and all the exposed wood-work of Castle Williams and about the sally-port of Fort Columbus was painted (and sanded) with two coats of mineral paint. These repairs were made in October and November of 1849, at a total cost of $728 761, drawn from the appropriation for contingencies of fortifications. It is found to be necessary to extend the sea-wall of Castle Williams both to the east and south, where there is considerable injury done by the wash of the waves; and for this purpose an appropriation is asked. Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852 $4,500 00 Fort Delaware, Delaware river.-The Pea Patch island, on which this work stands, is formed of a very soft mud; in consequence the foundation of the entire work is to rest on an extensive system of piling, driven deep into the soil. The extreme care and attention necessary to secure a foundation for a heavy structure, under these circumstances, has restricted the labors of the year to the putting down and careful testing of these piles. By the latter end of November it is supposed they will be ready for the grillage; and with the opening of the next working season, for the superincumbent masonry, which it is designed to press forward as fast as the grants of Congress will permit. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 To be applied by 30th June, 1851 Estimate for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852 $58,000 00 30.000 00 50,000 00 Fort on Sollers' Point Flats, Baltimore harbor.-Since the date of the last annual report, the constructing wharves on two fronts of the work, and a third of another, have been completed; the piles for those of a fourth front, and the greater part of those on a fifth, have also been driven; making a total of 822 piles driven, and 1,217 lineal feet of wharves constructed. A steam pile-driving machine for driving the foundation piles of the sea-wall has been put in operation, and 64 foundation piles and 221 sheet piles driven on one front. A machine for sawing off the piles, when driven, at a uniform level under water, close to the surface of the shoal, has been constructed; also a dredge machine for levelling the surface of the shoal; both worked by the engine of the pile-driver. A divingbell, for examining the foundation and working under water, has been built. A crane for receiving materials, and a storehouse, have been erected at the site of the fort. At the opening of the ensuing spring the masonry will be commenced and prosecuted with vigor. Balance in treasury on the 30th September, 1850 $68, 100 00 68, 100 00 50,000 00 Fort Madison, Annapolis harbor, Maryland.-No officer being available for the superintendence of this work, the existing appropriation remains unexpended. No appropriation asked. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 $5,000 00 Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia -The work of the year has been applied to the completion of one of the tide-locks; to a commencement of the masonry of the redoubt; the preparation of materials for the same; and to the means of draining and keeping dry the ditch of the redoubt. At the artesian well the operations have been confined to the purchase of materials, and to preparations for lowering smaller pipes to their position, down through the 8-inch pipes now sunk. The principal operations of this and the ensuing year will be upon the scarp of the redoubt, and in providing a good system of ventilation for the large magazines in the flank of front No. 6. These magazines are required as a place of deposite for a large quantity of gunpowder, and have been proved to be very defective as to ventilation, requiring very considerable modification. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 Estimate of amount required for year ending 30th June, $20,000 00 20,000 00 20,000 00 Fort Calhoun, Hampton Road, Virginia.-The diminution of the subsidence of the foundation of this work, though progressive, has not yet reached a satisfactory point. The settlement cannot be considered without further and more careful examinations than have yet been reported, sufficiently uniform and sufficiently reduced to warrant the removal of the present load, and the construction of the work thereon. I do not, therefore, at this time ask for further appropriation. Balance in the treasury on the 30th September, 1850 $18,596 00 1,000 00 Fort Macon, and preservation of its site, Beaufort harbor, N. C.-The repairs needed at Fort Macon embrace the stopping of leaks in the casemate valleys, pointing of masonry, embanking and grading glaces and crests, and slight repairs of iron and wood work, which it is designed to execute as soon as the small appropriation asked for shall be granted. Preservation of the site.-The inner portion of the site has experienced some injury from the gales of the past summer; the outer part continues in good condition. The work of the present year will consist of repairs of the existing jettees, the construction of some slight additional catchsand and dike-work on the sea side of the fort, and the building of a permanent wharf; for which purposes the funds now available are suffi cient. Balance in treasury, for preservation of site, on the 30th September, 1850 Probable amount required for expenditure to 30th June, 1851 1,800 00 Repairs of Fort Caswell and preservation of its site, Smithville, North Carolina.-Repairs of Fort Caswell --The repairs in progress some years since were suspended by the exhaustion of the means available therefor. Since then, the decay of the flooring of the citadel has proceeded so far as to render its renewal necessary, and it is designed to effect this, and to complete the suspended work of pointing, grading, and minor repairs. Preservation of the site.-The operations of the past year consist in the construction of a jettee of 420 feet length, and the commencement of a permanent wharf. The jettee has fully answered the purpose for which it was designed, having caused an addition to the shore of its vicinity of 210 feet in width, and rendered the adjacent portion of the fort quite secure. The abutment of the wharf has been completed; and being composed of granite, carefully adjusted on a grillage, it gives protection to the beach at an important point. Piles for sustaining the pillars of the wharf have been driven, and it is advancing to completion. Slight repairs to the dike, on the sea side of the fort, and to the other works for the preservation of the site, are needed, which, with the construction of the wharf, will be effected the present year, and with the means now available. Balance in treasury on the 30th September, 1850 $5,100 17 5,100 17 Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for repairs of the fort for the year ending 30th June, 1852 2,900 00 Protection of the site of Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, South Carolina.—The break water has been completed as far as the limited means applicable to its construction would go, and it continues to answer the end proposed. The island in advance of the finished work is rapidly wearing away, but it is hoped the application of the means lately granted by Congress will suffice to arrest this action and afford permanent security. No further appropriation is now asked. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 To be expended by the 30th June, 1851 $3,500 00 3,500 00 Dike to Drunken Dick shoal, Charleston, South Carolina.-Little progress has been made in this work, owing to the limited amount of means. The available funds have all been applied to the extension of the dike, which continues to produce the most satisfactory results. The superintending engineer proposes an appropriation of $100,000 for the next year; and I have no doubt that true economy would be consulted in the immediate application of that sum, but the wants of the service elsewhere constrain me greatly to reduce that estimate. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 - Estimate of amount required for the year ending 30th June, $10,000 00 9,500 00 10,000 00 Fort Sumter, Charleston harbor, South Carolina.-During the year the scarp-wall of this work has nearly been completed. The foundation of this part now sustains the whole weight of the scarp without material subsidence, and in the opinion of the officer in charge, there is reason to believe that the casemate foundations will prove equally capable of bearing their loads without settling sufficiently to cause any injury to the efficiency or appearance of the work. The engineer's estimate for the next year is $120,000. The work, he states, could with ease be finished during the next year if sufficient means could be provided; but for reasons already mentioned, I cannot ask the amount of his estimate. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 $49,000 00 45,000 00 40,000 00 Fort Pulaski, Savannah river, Georgia.-No appropriation was made for this work for the fiscal year which ended on the 30th June last; the operations have consequently been limited since the date of the last report. The labor of the year has been applied to enlarging the dikes along the northeast shore of Cockspur island, mowing the grass surfaces of the island and fort, attending to the general police of the post, and making some minor repairs. During the present year it is proposed to adjust the draw-bridges of the fort, restore all defective pointing of the masonry, build a small wall on top of the breast-height wall of the demilune, remove the mud from the ditch of the fort, complete the dikes for protecting the island from overflow, repair the exterior quarters, and make some smaller modifications and repairs. For the execution of this work, and for commencing the construction of a permanent wharf and the advanced battery on the northeast front of Fort Pulaski, an appropriation of $20,000 is re quested by the engineer officer in charge, but reduced by the department to $15,000. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 $15,000 00 14,000 00 15,000 00 Repairs of Fort Jackson, Savannah river, Georgia.-The labor upon this work was resumed early in November, 1849, and continued until the 1st of June last, when, for the want of funds, operations were closed. The expenditures of the year were applied to the following objects, viz: establishing foundations for the counterscarp walls of all the land-fronts and part of the river-fronts; raising the scarp-walls of the land-fronts about eight feet; embanking earth within the fort to bring the level of the parade to its proper reference; purchasing bricks, lime, cement, lumber, and other materials, and making the necessary machinery. During the present year it is proposed to complete the foundations of the sub-scarp and counterscarp walls; to build the greater part of the counterscarp walls, a part of the sub-scarp, and complete the scarp on the land-fronts. To construct suitable officers' quarters and barracks within the fort, the sum of $25,000 will be required, which being added to $15,000, the amount required for completing the work itself, will make the sum of $40,000. This sum the engineer officer in charge asks in a single appropriation. The department, however, is obliged materially to reduce this estimate. Balance in the treasury 30th September, 1850 $20,500 00 19,000 00 20,000 00 Fort Clinch, Amelia island, mouth of Cumberland sound, Florida.— The opinion of the Attorney General having been obtained as to the validity of the title of the United States to the site selected for this work, an engineer officer is now under orders to proceed thither and enter upon the construction of the fort; and it will be pressed as rapidly as the means will justify. Balance in treasury 30th September, 1850 Probable amount to be expended by 30th June, 1851 Estimate of amount required to be appropriated for fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852 - $16,174 97 16, 174 97 5,700 00 Repairs of sea wall of St. Augustine, Florida.—The labor at this work for the year ending 30th September last was applied to extending the sea-wall north of Fort Marion, to secure the embankments and walls of that work from the encroachments of the sea; to constructing banquettes, of masonry in the battery; to repairing a large breach made in the sea-wall near its centre; placing an enrockment for the protection of the foundations of the wall; embanking earth behind the wall; constructing sluices for the escape of the rain-water; pointing the masonry of the battery and sea-wall, and to executing all necessary minor repairs. The work is now in good condition. No further appropriation is asked, |
