OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, January 28, 1901. SIR: I have the honor to return herewith concurrent resolution of Congress adopted by the Senate January 19, and concurred in by the House of Representatives January 22, 1901, as follows: Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the Secretary of War be directed to transmit to the Senate an estimate of the cost of deepening the channel of Curtis Bay, Baltimore Harbor, in Maryland, to thirty feet and widening the channel to two hundred and fifty feet; and also an estimate of the cost of increasing the depth of the main ship channel of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor to thirty-five feet and the width thereof to one thousand feet and in compliance with the terms of said resolution to submit the accompanying copy of report dated January 26, 1901, by the local engineer officer, Lieut. Col. O. H. Ernst, Corps of Engineers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN M. WILSON, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, Hon. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War. ESTIMATE OF COST OF DEEPENING THE CHANNEL IN CURTIS BAY, BALTIMORE, MD., TO 30 FEET AND OF WIDENING THE SAME TO 250 FEET; ALSO OF INCREASING THE DEPTH OF THE MAIN SHIP CHANNEL OF PATAPSCO RIVER AND BALTIMORE HARBOR TO 35 FEET AND THE WIDTH TO 1,000 FEET. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Baltimore, Md., January 26, 1901. GENERAL: In compliance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 23d instant, I have the honor to submit the following estimates: I. For "deepening the channel of Curtis Bay, Baltimore Harbor, in Maryland, to 30 feet and widening the channel to 250 feet." The quantity of material to be removed is computed to be 1,484,296 cubic yards (scow measurement), which, at 12 cents per yard, will cost $178,115.52. Adding 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies, the estimate for the improvement is $195,927.07, or, in round numbers, $196,000. This estimate is based upon a fairly accurate knowledge of the material to be encountered. II. For "increasing the depth of the main ship channel of the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor to 35 feet and the width thereof to 1,000 feet." An estimate for this work can not now be made with entire accuracy, for the reason that there is some uncertainty as to the character of the material to be encountered at the greater depth. Before the work is undertaken numerous borings should be made, for which neither time nor money is now available. The quantity of material to be removed is computed to be 81,816,914 cubic yards (scow measurement). Assuming it to be of the same general character as that already excavated, with the same proportions of hardpan and soft mud, which is probably not far from the truth, the price may be placed at 11 cents per cubic yard and the cost at $8,999,860.54. Adding 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies, the estimate becomes $9,899,846.59. This will provide a channel from Baltimore to deep water in Chesapeake Bay; but to reach the Atlantic Ocean some dredging must be done at York Spit, just above the mouth of York River, where the depth in the bay is less than 35 feet. A channel 35 feet deep and 1,000 feet wide at this place is estimated to cost $802,938.09, which added to the former sum makes the total estimate for the channel from Baltimore to the ocean, in round numbers, $10,700,000. I have had prepared also an estimate for enlarging the channel to a depth of 35 feet, retaining its present width at bottom, 600 feet, which may be found of interest in this connection. It is $4,802,609.55 for the channel from Baltimore to Chesapeake Bay, to which should be added $487,446.20 for the channel at York Spit, making in all, in round numbers, $5,300,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. JOHN M. WILSON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. 2d Session. No. 119. CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. JANUARY 28, 1901.-Referred to the Committee on the Philippines and ordered to be printed. The PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE presented the following CABLEGRAM FROM THE DIRECTORY OF THE FEDERAL PARTY, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, URGING BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT TO ESTABLISH CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHENEVER HE DEEMS IT OPPORTUNE. MANILA, January 27, 1901. • PRESIDENT OF SENATE AND SPEAKER OF HOUSE, Washington: Accessions to Federal party by thousands in all parts of Archipelago. Attitude of hitherto irreconcilable press and general public opinion show that labors of party to bring peace will soon be crowned with success. Until now political parties have attempted formation on plans more or less questioning American sovereignty. Our platform makes main plank sovereignty United States with liberty to each citizen to pursue peacefully his political ideals hour of peace has sounded for. On our platform are grouped many Filipinos of hitherto irreconcilable ideas; but some, more obstinate, decline to join, for, though willing to accept sovereignty of United States, prospect of indefinite continuance of military government makes them distrust purposes of the United States, and delays their submission. Adjournment of present Congress without giving President authority to establish purely civil government with usual powers and postponement for at least year of such government until new Congress will certainly confirm this distrust. Directory federal party believes conferring such authority on President would inspire confidence, hasten acceptance sovereignty of Union and coming of peace. Directory therefore prays both Houses of Congress to authorize President McKinley to establish civil government whenever he believes it opportune. FRANK H. BOURNS, JOSE NER, TOMAS DEL ROSARIO, C. S. ARELLANO, Directory of Federal Party. |