When the present estimates were in the course of preparation, through an oversight this item of $17,240 was not included in the total of the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906, and on that account it is necessary to make the following corrections: Last column, page 77, "Estimates of Appropriation, 1907," $311,310 should be $328,550, and $1,399,260 should be $1,416,500, while in the last column, page 78, the figures $1,538,960 should be $1,556,200. These figures relate to the appropriations for the year ending June 30, 1906, and do not affect the estimates submitted for 1907. Instead of the note which precedes "Contingent expenses, PostOffice Department," on page 77, the following note should be substituted: The apparent total increase is $44,750, while as a matter of fact there is an actual decrease of $13,550 in the estimates for salaries, Post-Office Department, the transfers from the Treasury and the postal service amounting to $58,300. If the printing of this matter has proceeded so far that it would be impossible to correct it in the plates, I have the honor to request that these corrections appear in the appendix. 1st Session. No. 62. EFFECT OF WAVE ACTION AT CERTAIN HARBORS ON LAKE MICHIGAN. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT OF EFFECT OF WAVE ACTION AS AFFECTING HARBORS AT LUD INGTON, MICH., AND MANITOWOC, TWO RIVERS, RACINE, KENOSHA, AND SHEBOYGAN, WIS. DECEMBER 7, 1905.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 6, 1905. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, dated August 22 last, together with copy of a report from a Board of Engineers, dated July 15, 1905, appointed in pursuance of an item in the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affecting the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and to report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action, etc. Very respectfully, WM. H. TAFT, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, August 22, 1905. SIR: Under authority conferred by section 9 of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, I have the honor to submit herewith for transmission to the Public Printer a report, dated July 15, 1905, by a HD-59-1-Vol 44- -63 Board of Engineers appointed in pursuance of an item in section 1 of said act, as follows: The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to appoint a board of engineers to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affecting the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and to report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action. Such board shall further investigate and report as to whether, in the interests of economy, future repairs and construction of piers in such harbors and in those similarly situated should be made of cement or other permanent substance. A copy of the order convening the Board accompanies this letter. Very respectfully, A. MACKENZIE, 8. In accordance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, a Board of officers of the Corps of Engineers, to consist of Lieut. Col. William H. Bixby, Maj. Lansing H. Beach, Maj. David Du B. Gaillard, General Staff, will assemble at Detroit, Mich., upon the call of the senior member of the Board, to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affecting the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action. The Board will further investigate and report as to whether, in the interests of economy, future repairs and construction of piers in such harbors and in those similarly situated should be made of cement or other permanent substance. The expenses of the Board are payable from the appropriations for improving the harbors named above. The Board is authorized to visit such points as it deems necessary for the proper performance of its duties. Upon the completion of the duty assigned to them the members of the Board will return to their proper stations. The journeys required under this order are necessary for the public service. [1013014, M. S. O.] REPORT OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS ON EFFECT OF WAVE ACTION AS INJURIOUSLY AFFECTING THE HARBORS OF LUDINGTON, MICH., AND OF MANITOWOC, TWO RIVERS, RACINE, KENOSHA, AND SHEBOYGAN, WIS., AND AS TO THE USE OF CEMENT OR OTHER PERMANENT SUBSTANCE IN FUTURE REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS IN SAID HARBORS AND OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED. JULY 15, 1905. GENERAL: The Board of Engineers convened by Special Orders, No. 111, War Department, Washington, May 13, 1905, has the honor to submit the following report: The duties with which the Board was charged are described in the order as follows: The Board "will assemble at Detroit. Mich., upon the call of the senior member of the Board, to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affect ing the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action. The Board will further investigate and report as to whether, in the interests of economy, future repairs and construction of piers in such harbors and in those similarly situated should be made of cement or other permanent substance." In pursuance of orders the Board assembled at Detroit, Mich., on the morning of June 22 and remained in session throughout the day. The six harbors embraced in the order, all of which lie upon Lake Michigan-Ludington on the east side and the others on the west side-were visited by the Board June 23 to June 26, inclusive. Public hearings, after due notice to the mayors and other interested parties, were held at each place and full opportunity was given to all persons to submit their views and desires. LAKE MICHIGAN. The length of Lake Michigan from the north end to the south end on a right line is about 307 miles; its average breadth is about 67 miles; the maximum depth is 870 feet; the area of its water surface is 22,400 square miles; the mean surface elevation above mean tide at New York City is 581.35 feet; the average date of the opening of navigation at the Straits of Mackinac is April 17, and that of the closing of navigation is January 9; the level of the lake surface varies considerably from time to time; the lowest stage is from 1.5 feet to 2 feet below mean lake level, and obtains, with slight change, from early in November to April; the high stage usually obtains from the end of June to the middle of August. At the time of the Board's visit the stage of the lake was about 1 foot above normal. East shore of Lake Michigan.-This shore is generally composed of fine sand, the grains being so small as to be easily blown by the wind, and large quantities are moved by severe on-shore winds and storms, forming on this coast high dunes upon the front of a gently sloping shore. Such harbors as existed before improvements by the United States were in the mouths of creeks or small rivers, or the outlets from the small lakes near the Lake Michigan shore. At many of them sufficient depths for large vessels existed within the shore line and in the main lake just outside, but the entrances were obstructed by extensive bars formed partly by the sand thrown up by storm waves or blown from the banks into the streams and carried down by the current and partly by the sediment brought down from the upper watersheds. During the stormy season, when the harbors were most needed for shelter, the bars increased in height and extent, and although some were cut down by scour during the freshet period, they rendered the channels shifting and uncertain at all times. West shore of Lake Michigan.-This shore is also mainly of sand, usually a trifle less fine than on the east shore; it shows many miles of steep bluffs, 50 feet or more in height, due to the general westerly retreat of the shore under wave action. Most of the rivers flowing into Lake Michigan from the west are small and unimportant. The harbors along the western shore of the lake are generally located at the mouths of rivers, the works of improvement consisting of two approximately parallel piers extending into the lake and protecting a dredged channel. As a result of the improvements made and maintained by the United States, all of the important harbors Board of Engineers appointed in pursuance of an item in section 1 of said act, as follows: The Secretary of War is hereby authorized to appoint a board of engineers to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affecting the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and to report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action. Such board shall further investigate and report as to whether, in the interests of economy, future repairs and construction of piers in such harbors and in those similarly situated should be made of cement or other permanent substance. A copy of the order convening the Board accompanies this letter. Very respectfully, A. MACKENZIE, 8. In accordance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, a Board of officers of the Corps of Engineers, to consist of Lieut. Col. William H. Bixby, Maj. Lansing H. Beach, Maj. David Du B. Gaillard, General Staff, will assemble at Detroit, Mich., upon the call of the senior member of the Board, to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affecting the harbors at Ludington, Mich., and Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan, Wis., and report at the earliest practicable date what plan of improvement it is desirable to adopt to overcome such wave action. The Board will further investigate and report as to whether, in the interests of economy, future repairs and construction of piers in such harbors and in those similarly situated should be made of cement or other permanent substance. The expenses of the Board are payable from the appropriations for improving the harbors named above. The Board is authorized to visit such points as it deems necessary for the proper performance of its duties. Upon the completion of the duty assigned to them the members of the Board will return to their proper stations. The journeys required under this order are necessary for the public service. [1013014, M. S. O.] REPORT OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS ON EFFECT OF WAVE ACTION AS INJURIOUSLY AFFECTING THE HARBORS OF LUDINGTON, MICH., AND OF MANITOWOC, TWO RIVERS, RACINE, KENOSHA, AND SHEBOYGAN, WIS., AND AS TO THE USE OF CEMENT OR OTHER PERMANENT SUBSTANCE IN FUTURE REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS IN SAID HARBORS AND OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED. JULY 15, 1905. GENERAL: The Board of Engineers convened by Special Orders, No. 111, War Department, Washington, May 13, 1905, has the honor to submit the following report: The duties with which the Board was charged are described in the order as follows: The Board will assemble at Detroit, Mich., upon the call of the senior member of the Board, to inquire into the effect of wave action as injuriously affect |