works of improvement, it is estimated that the north jetty may be completed by extending it seaward for the distance of about 1,000 feet. This estimate is made, however, on the basis that the entire amount of $75,000 will be appropriated at one time. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 75,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, in addition to the balance unexpended July 1, 1901 75,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. Abstract of contract in force during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, for constructing jetties, etc., at mouth of Coquille River, Oregon. The rates paid for materials furnished and placed in the work by the contractor were printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1900, page 4270. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. The Coquille River is in the collection district of southern Oregon. Empire City, on Coos Bay, is the port of entry. The nearest light-house is at Rackliffe Rock, on the north side of the mouth of Coquille River. The following commerce was carried by vessels across the bar at the mouth of the river during the calendar year 1900: List of vessels crossing bar at mouth of Coquille River, Oregon, during year ending Decem- IMPROVEMENT OF COQUILLE RIVER, OREGON, BETWEEN COQUILLE Information concerning the project for obtaining a channel 4 feet deep and 60 feet wide, for small steamboats and launches, in the 13 miles of the Coquille River between Coquille and Myrtle Point, and the results of operations in former years, are cited in the summary of The operations during fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, were carried on by híred labor and with Government plant, were in continuation of the operations in progress at the close of the last fiscal year (reported in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1900, page 4271), and were as follows, attention being invited to the project for improve- ment and maps following page 3348 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1895 for information concerning the location of the shoals, etc., mentioned below: Shoal No. 7.-The least low-water depth found on this shoal was 14 feet. The Government dredge scow dredged 1,510 cubic yards of material from this shoal and removed 67 large snags and 201 small snags from it, resulting in obtaining a low-water channel 50 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending for the distance of 330 feet through the It was found that a new shoal had formed a short distance below shoal No. 7. The least low-water depth found on this new shoal was about 2 feet. The Government dredge scow dredged 1,766 cubic yards of material from this shoal and removed 6 large snags and 60 small snags from it, resulting in a dredged channel 50 feet wide, 4 feet deep (at low water), and extending for the distance of 430 feet through the shoal. Shoal No. 6.-The least low-water depth found on this shoal was 14 feet. The Government dredge scow dredged 3,268 cubic yards of material from this shoal and removed 2 large snags and 6 small snags from it, resulting in obtaining a low-water channel 50 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending for the distance of 840 feet through the shoal. Shoal No. 5.-The least low-water depth found on this shoal was 1 foot. The Government dredge scow dredged 3,340 cubic yards of material from this shoal and removed 89 large snags and 146 small snags from it, resulting in obtaining a low-water channel 60 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending for the distance of 440 feet through the shoal. Between Shoals Nos. 4 and 5.-At places between these two shoals the channel was found to have a low-water depth of only about 2 feet. The Government dredge scow dredged 3,206 cubic yards of material and removed 74 large snags and 53 small snags between these two shoals, resulting in obtaining a low-water channel 50 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending for the distance of 1,370 feet. Between Shoals Nos. 3 and 4.-As stated on page 4272 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, a low-water channel 36 feet wide and 4 feet deep was dredged in June, 1900, through a shoal at the lower end of the two rows of pile dikes which confine the channel from Roberts Landing up to Rackliffs Landing. During the past fiscal year the width of this dredged channel was increased from 36 feet to 50 feet by the Government dredge scow, 5,068 cubic yards of material being dredged and 43 large snags and 73 small snags being removed. This resulted in obtaining a channel 50 feet wide and 4 feet deep at low water, extending throughout the length of the shoal, about 1,300 feet. Shoal No. 3.-The least low-water depth found on this shoal was 14 feet. The Government dredge scow dredged 2,976 cubic yards of material from this shoal and removed from it 23 large snags and 40 small snags, obtaining a low-water channel 50 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and extending through the shoal for the distance of 600 feet. The material dredged from the above-named shoals consisted of sand and fine gravel, except at Shoal No. 3, where coarse gravel and clay were encountered. The average cost for the dredging, including the removal of the snags, was a fraction over 6 cents per cubic yard. Roberts Landing to Rackliff's Landing.-In fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, the channel of the river in the five-eighths of a mile between these two points was confined between two rows of pile dikes 60 feet apart (as shown by photographs following page 4272 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1900). During the past fiscal year six cross dikes, the aggregate length of which was 585 feet, were constructed, connecting the two rows of pile dikes built in 1898 to the banks of the river to further aid in confining the channel between the two rows of pile dikes built in 1898. The operations for the year were suspended, on account of the small balance available, October 25, 1900, at which time the several small steamboats and launches plying the stream experienced but little difficulty in reaching Rackliffs Landing, about 11 miles above Coquille. On account of the limited amount available for operations, no work was done during the past fiscal year above Rackliffs Landing. Mr. William G. Carroll, inspector, was in immediate charge of the operations in progress during the past year. A new stern-wheel steamboat, the Welcome, 56.2 feet long, 13.5 feet wide, net tonnage 21, drawing but 1.5 feet of water when loaded, and built especially for navigating the shallow portions of the stream between Coquille and Myrtle Point, was completed and placed in commission during the past fiscal year, and on account of its light draft it has been found to be very satisfactory for service in this river. Another stern-wheel steamboat 77 feet long, 16 feet wide, draft when fully loaded about 14 inches, is nearing completion at this time. This boat is being built especially for this stream also. The draft of these new boats is only about one-half the draft of the boats which have attempted to navigate the stream between Coquille and Myrtle Point in former years. No deterioration of the improvement thus far made occurred in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, excepting that a number of snags have been brought into the stream by freshets. It is estimated that these snags and other snags which are expected to lodge in the channel between June 30, 1901, and June 30, 1903, may be removed for about $3,000. It appears that the bed of the stream is being filled up each year in the 3 or 4 miles immediately below Myrtle Point by sediment brought down during freshets, and it is considered impracticable to obtain and maintain the projected channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water throughout the distance of 13 miles between Coquille and Myrtle Point except at an expense not warranted by the limited amount of commerce of the region. On this account, together with the recent introduction of very light-draft boats to take the place of the boats of greater draft which formerly attempted to navigate the stream, it is believed that the project for improvement between Coquille and Myrtle Point requires revision, to better meet the changed conditions and requirements. A modified plan of improvement is under consideration, and report on the subject will be submitted at an early date. In the meantime it is submitted that in any event it is considered that it will be necessary to remove the snags which annually come into the stream and dredge some of the worst shoals, in order to maintain a channel for the new light-draft boats. It is estimated that this will cost $1,500 per annum. Accordingly $3,000 is named in the appended money statement as the amount, in addition to the small balance available July 1, 1901, that can be profitably expended for maintenance of improvement in fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. Money statement. July 1, 1900, balance unexpended..... June 30, 1901, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1901, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1901, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1901, balance available............... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Submitted in compliance with requirements of sundry civil act of June $3,855.50 3,820.68 34.82 24.55 10.27 19, 980. 77 3,000.00 The traffic on the Coquille River between Coquille and Myrtle Point during the year ending December 31, 1900, was handled by the steamers Reta and Welcome, the freight carried being as follows: List of boats plying Coquille River, Oregon, between Coquille and Myrtle Point, during year ending December 31, 1900. IMPROVEMENT OF ENTRANCE TO COOS BAY AND HARBOR, OREGON. Information concerning the present project for obtaining and maintaining a channel 20 feet deep at low tide running straight out to sea through the bar in the Pacific Ocean at the entrance to Coos Bay, by means of rubblestone jetties, and the results of operations in former years are cited in the summary of this report. The present project contemplates confining the entrance to the bay between two high-tide rubblestone jetties, but the projected depth has been practically obtained by means of the 9,600-foot north jetty alone. The north jetty is considered to have been completed in November, 1897. Therefore the operations under the one appropriation made since then (appropriation of $150,000 of March 3, 1899) have consisted of maintaining the improvement by placing additional rubblestone in the north jetty, principally at and near its sea end, to compensate for settlement caused by heavy seas since the jetty was completed in 1897. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901, the operations consisted principally of continuing the work of placing additional rubblestone in the north jetty, to compensate for settlement caused by heavy seas. This work was carried on under contract with Wakefield & Jacobsen, of Portland, Oreg., dated August 15, 1899. (Operations under this contract were commenced in September, 1899, and for information concerning the general requirements of the contract and the result of oper |