Ouachita River, in Arkansas. Amount available July 1, 1872 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 By Colonel Simpson By Captain Benyaurd Amount available July 1, 1873 ... Ouachita River, in Louisiana. Amount available July 1, 1872 $60,997 27 $8, 229 71 12, 424 22 48,573 05 Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 By Colonel Simpson By Captain Benyaurd Amount available July 1, 1873 ..... (See Appendixes K 7 and K 12.) $40,864 98 60,000 00 $7,638 36 972 55 8, 610 91 92, 254 07 8. Removal of wrecks in Yazoo River, Mississippi.-The sum of $40,000 was appropriated for this work by the act of March 3, 1873. Proposals for the removal of the most dangerous wrecks were invited June 11, and it is proposed to apply the sum available to this purpose during the ensuing season. An examination of the river will be made during the extreme low water, with a view to determining definitely the position and character of the remaining wrecks, &c. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875... (See Appendix K 12.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $40,000 60,000 1. Examination and surveys of the Mississippi River from the Missouri River to the Ohio River.-Under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 10, 1872, a survey of the Mississippi River from Kimmswick to Cairo was made during the fall of 1872, but it being incomplete a resurvey was authorized. It was commenced at the locality known as Horse-Tail Bar. This being completed in May, the party proceeded to carry the triangulation down the river toward Cairo, and on the 30th of June had reached a point about 28 miles below Saint Louis. It is important that this survey should include not only the river-bed, but its immediate valley, and the officer in charge, Colonel Simpson, submits an estimate for a complete survey of this character, the appropriation of which is recommended. (See Appendix K 8.) 2. Of Saint Francis River, Missouri. (See Appendix K 9.) 3. Of Gasconade River, Missouri. (See Appendix K 10.) 4. For the removal of wrecks and other obstructions placed during the war in Yazoo River, Mississippi. (See Appendix K 11.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, AND ARKANSAS RIVERSIMPROVEMENT OF WHITE AND SAINT FRANCIS RIVERS. Officers in charge, Lieut. Col. W. F. Raynolds, Corps of Engineers, to January 1, 1873; Col. J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, from January 1 to April 7, 1873; since which time Maj. C. R. Suter, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas Rivers.-The snag-boats employed on this improvement have worked during the past year in the Missouri River, from Kansas City, Mo., to the mouth, 335 miles; in the Mississippi River, from the mouth of the Missouri to Vicksburg, Miss., 800 miles; and in Arkansas River, from Little Rock, Ark., to Lewisburg, Ark., 80 miles. The smallness of the last appropriation, and the necessity of building a new hull for the machinery of one of the boats, curtailed the fieldwork of the snag-boats. One snag-boat, the S. Thayer, was lost in Arkansas River. During a portion of the season one snag-boat was transferred to the improvement of the Ohio and one to the improvement of the Ouachita Rivers. A contract has been closed for building an iron hull for the machinery of one of the present wooden boats, and the boat is expected to be ready for service before the end of the coming season. The officer in charge recommends the building of iron hulls for two more of the present wooden boats, and submits estimates for that purpose; and that, after these boats have been tested, two additional iron snag-boats be built, and the remaining wooden boat be fitted up for wrecking purposes. Operations during the coming season will be as extensive as the funds available will admit. A season of nine working months is contemplated. Of this, three months' work goes to the Missouri, four to the Mississippi, and two to the Arkansas. The officer in charge submits a project and estimates for rendering this work more comprehensive and efficient. By providing a sufficient number of suitable boats it could be extended over the principal tributaries of the Mississippi and their main affluents. The operations he proposes would extend over a period of six years, and, including cost of necessary boats, would require a sum of $3,274,400 to carry them out in full. Amount available July 1, 1872, (including balance of appropriation of 1866, for Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, and Ohio Rivers, $48,150.46.).. $160,359 05 Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 Amount available July 1, 1873... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. (See Appendix L 1.) 100, 000 00 82,057 82 178, 301 23 373,000 00 2. Improvement of White and Saint Francis Rivers.-No work was done on this improvement last season, as the appropriations of previous years were exhausted. A snag-boat has been got ready for this service, and operations will begin as soon as the conditions for work are favorable. The officer in charge recommends that the work of improving these streams be confined to the removal of snags and other obstructions, and submits estimates for that purpose. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875. (See Appendix L 2.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $50,000 00 3,431 21 46,568 79 64,000 00 Major Suter is charged with the survey of Forked Deer River, below Dyersburg, Tenn., provided for by act of March 3, 1873. This survey was delayed owing to prevalence of high water during the early part of the season. IMPROVEMENT OF THE OHIO RIVER-IMPROVEMENT OF MONONGAHELA, GREAT KANAWHA, AND WABASH RIVERS-WATER-GAUGES ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. Officer in charge, Maj. W. E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. F. A. Mahan, Corps of Engineers. Major Weitzel, Corps of Engineers, was in charge of the improvement of Wabash River to April 15, 1873. 1. Improvement of the Ohio River.-The three outstanding contracts of the last fiscal year have been completed. They were for the construction of a dam at Chartiers Creek, fcr dredging at Merriman, and for a dam at the head of Marietta Island. New contracts were made for the following work: Completion of the dike at Glasshouse ripple, completion of the Chartiers Creek dam, repair of Wheeling dam, repair of dam and dike at Buffington, construction of a dike at Evansville, repair of the dam at Cumberland Island, and for the removal of Bacon Rock: An informal contract was also made for the repair of the dam at Marietta Island. At Glasshouse 1,501 cubic yards of riprap were put in the dike, and the contract was closed. At Chartiers Creek 8,923 cubic yards of stone were put in under the new contract up to the close of the fiscal year. Since the 30th of June the dam has been finished. Wheeling Island dam has received 2,839 cubic yards of stone and 425 cords of brush, and is nearly done. At the close of the fiscal year 20,751 cubic yards of stone had been put in at Buffington, and the work has since been finished. The dike at Evansville has been extended out from the shore 400 feet, requiring 2,367 yards of stone, 2,672 cords of brush, and 147 piles. Although but one-third completed the dike has reduced the height of the harbor bar some three feet, and proved that it has been well located. The contractors have delivered 4,296 yards of stone at the Cumberland Island dam, to which have been added by purchase 1,198 cords of brush. The contract requires the completion of this dam on the 1st of December. The contractors for the removal of Bacon Rock failed entirely to carry out their contract, and the work has been transferred to one of their bondsmen. If the stage of water permits the rock will probably be removed before the close of the present year. The new United States dredge Ohio has been at work in the upper river during the year at Merriman's ripple, at Deadman's, on the wreck of the New State, in Glasshouse, at the Twins, at Captina, and at Buffington, and has been found to effect a great saving in the cost of dredging, compared with that done by contract. In about a year this dredge has removed 29,380 cubic yards of material. The United States snag-boat J. J. Abert was temporarily employed. in removing snags and wrecks from the Lower Ohio, and a small boat was also employed for a short time in similar service on the upper river, near Parkersburgh. Detailed surveys and maps have been made of the river at Flint Island, Puppy Creek, French Island, Scuffletown, Henderson Island, Mount Vernon, Shawneetown, and at the foot of the Grand Chain. The appropriation of $200,000 for the year 1873-74, will be applied to the construction of dikes at French Island and at Henderson Island, to building another dredge-boat and scows, to buildng an iron-hull snagboat, and to the current expenses of dredging and of removing obstructions. The officer in charge again recommends the construction of a small survey and inspection steamboat, with scraper attachment, costing about $35,000, and also asks attention to the need of an effective system of lighting western rivers. Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix M 1.) 2. Improvement of Monongahela River.-The report of the engineer in charge gives the progress of the work up to September 1, 1873. At that time land had been procured for a lock and dam, to be located at Hoard's Rocks, and a contract made for the construction of a masonry lock for the sum of $54,641.75. The lock will have a chamber 200 feet by 50 feet and a lift of 15 feet. Amount appropriated by act of June 10, 1872. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873 Amount required to complete lock and dam... (See Appendix M 2.) $25,000 00 66,000 00 1,409 00 89,591 00 47,000 00 3. Improvement of Great Kanawha River.-Contracts have been made for the improvement by riprap dikes of Cabin Creek, Elk and Two-Mile Shoals, and arrangements have been made to send a party with a crane-boat and large grapple to remove loose rocks and bowlders lying in the bed of the river. It is expected that all of this work will be finished before the 1st of December. The officer in charge recommends the construction of a lock and dam at the foot of Paint Creek Shoal. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix M 3.) $25,000 00 25,000 00 150,000 00 4. Improvement of Wabash River.-Contracts were made for snagging and dredging, commencing at the mouth of the river, and for the improvement of Coffee Island chute by rock excavation and by building a dike. There will be, during the present season, a good and clear channel 100 feet wide and 4 feet deep at low water from the mouth of the Wabash to the Little Chain, a distance of thirty-one miles. The work at Coffee Island chute has been delayed by high water. Under the appropriation of $50,000 for the year 1873-74, a contract has been made for 23,000 cubic yards of rock excavation at the Grand Chain, thirty-eight miles above the mouth of the river. This point was selected as one of the worst on the river, and because the appropriation would suffice to complete the work necessary at this place. The officer in charge states that there is a most serious obstruction in the Wabash at Grand Rapids, and that it is useless to improve any other place until this one is attended to. It was once improved by a lock and dam, built by the Wabash Navigation Company, but their works have gone to ruin and the river is in a worse condition than before they were built. The company offers to sell out to the United States. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars is asked for the next fiscal year. Amount available July 1, 1872.......... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.. Amount available July 1, 1873. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. (See Appendix M 4.) $70,542 40 150,000 00 5. Water-gauges on the Mississippi and its tributaries.-The system is in good working order, and the officer in charge has made a report of his annual inspection, accompanied by records of the stages of water at all the gauge-stations, with such reliable records as could be found at the stations prior to the establishment of the present gauges. The gauge-records kept at Pittsburgh, Wheeling, and Cincinnati have also been included. The gauges are now kept up by allotments from the general appropriation for examinations and surveys and contingencies of rivers and harbors, in lieu of which the officer in charge recommends a special appropriation of $6,000. The attention of this office having been called to the condition of the harbor of Mount Vernon, Ind., Major Merrill was directed to cause a detailed examination to be made and to report its present condition and what improvement is required. For his report see Appendix M 6. The following examination and surveys provided for in the act of March 3, 1873, have been assigned to Major Merrill. These examinations are in progress, and the results will be duly transmitted when received. 1. Of Youghiougheny River, Pennsylvania. 2. Of exploration of routes for the extension for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the Ohio River by the north and south branches of the Potomac River. IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION AT THE FALLS OF THE OHIO RIVER, AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. Officer in charge, Maj. G. Weitzel, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Capt. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers. The controversy with the directors of the canal relative to the expenditure of the $300,000 appropriated June 10, 1872, was settled by the decision of Mr. Justice Miller, of the Supreme Court of the United States, in the circuit court, and the work was prosecuted without interruption. The widening of section No. 2 and the new side walls thereon, the high-water passage through the bridge, (except a little coping,) the dam at the head of Sand Island, and the new guide-wall, and nearly all of the rock excavation at the foot of the new locks were completed, and good progress made in completing the new side walls of the canal and grading the banks. Amount available July 1, 1872.. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1873.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Amount available July 1, 1873.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1875.. $346,033 66 100,000 00 299, 272 18 146,761 48 100,000 00 In order that the Secretary of War might be prepared to comply with requirements of the river and harbor act of June 10, 1872, Major Weitzel was directed to report upon the condition of the Louisville and Portland Canal, and the provisions necessary to relieve the same from |