This channel is found to be too narrow for the passage of the steamers which carry the increased trade to the landing. The engineer in charge therefore recommends the enlargement of the width from 150 to 200 feet; also to dredge a training channel, and to sink a mattress for the purpose of diverting a cross-current detrimental to the integrity of the main channel and obstructive to steamers which enter it. The amount to be expended for this object is $30,000, which should be spent in one season if it is desired to complete the work promptly and economically. The work has progressed slowly on account of the small appropriations; and much of the dredging done each season has been for the purpose of removing sand which has been brought in by the grounding of steamers in the narrow cut. { Amount (estimated) required for completion of proposed project $30,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 30,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K 4.) 5. Harbor at entrance of Saint Jerome's Creek, Maryland. Saint Je rome's Creek enters the Chesapeake Bay 91 miles south of Baltimore and 6 miles north of Point Lookout. The outer bar in the bay has a length of 2,193 feet from the 9-foot curve in the bay to Corsey's Point in the creek. The least depth of water on it before improvement was 2.8 feet. The average depth in the channel to the ponds used by the Fish Commission for hatching oysters was one-half foot. The length of the inner channel to the wharf of the Fish Commission is 3,742 feet. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, and contemplated dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water through the outer bar at the mouth of the creek, and a channel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep through the south prong of the creek, the material therefrom to be thrown up into a dike, if practicable, s0 as to form a pond of a portion of this south prong for the purposes of the United States Fish Commission. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1885, amount available $54 07 15,000 00 15,054 07 $6,601 52 2,241 92 8,843 44 6,210 63 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix K 5.) 6. Rappahannock River, Virginia. The distance from Fredericksburg to the mouth of the river is 1065 miles. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1871, and modified in 1879, the object being to provide a channel 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep through the bar at Fredericksburg, channels 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep through the bars between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, and channels 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep through two bars between Port Royal and Tappahannock, where a larger class of vessels should be provided for. Between March 3, 1871, and June 30, 1879, $90,500 were expended on the first project. The amount expended under the present project between June 14, 1880, and June 30, 1885, is $65,437.81. This expenditure has resulted in securing, by means of dredging at various times and the construction of longitudinal and spur dikes, navigable channels at Fredericksburg, Pollock's, Bernard's, Pratt's, Spottswood's, Castle's Ferry, and Farley Vale bars, extending over a distance of 12.6 miles. Several dangerous wrecks and many drift logs and snags have been removed. The least depth in the channel at Fredericksburg and Spottswood bars is now 8 feet and 8t feet. Before improvement, the least depth was from 4 to 6 feet at low water. The other bars have now from 9 to 10 feet at low water. The progress of the work is slow on account of the small appropriations. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $84,000, which is to be applied to the improvements between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, and to operations upon the bars below Port Royal. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available { $50 93 20,000 00 20,050 93 $6,491 29 2,004 95 8,496 24 11,554 69 214,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix K 6.) 1. Totusky River, Virginia. - The obstructions to the navigation of this river consisted of two bars, one at its mouth, which forms a part of the wide flat between the outlet of the river and the navigable channel of the Rappahannock, having a least depth of 44 feet, and the other, about 24 miles above the mouth, known as Booker's Bar, having a ruling depth of 3 feet. The improvement at Booker's Bar is needed for purposes of navigation. Several small appropriations were made for this work, and on August 2, 1882, an additional appropriation of $5,000 was made, making the fund available about $9,945. This sum has been expended in building a longitudinal dike 2,117 feet in length, the effect of which has been to scour out the channel to a depth of 35 feet at low water, but this action is slow in its results. The channel should be dredged if prompt improvement of the navigation is desirable. For this object $12,000 will be required. propriations, amounting to $10,000, have been expended. July 1, 1894, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... July 1, 1885, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix K 7.) The ap 8. Urbana Creek, Virginia. - This creek is a tidal tributary of the Rappahannock, which it enters 91 miles below Fredericksburg, Va. Prior to the commencement of this improvement the navigation was obstructed by a bar at the mouth, over which but 6 feet of water could be carried. The present project for the improvement was adopted in 1879, the object being to excavate a channel through this bar 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep at low water. The amount expended up to June 30, 1884, was $15.431.41. No appropriations have since been made The expenditure has resulted in securing a channel through the outer bars of 10 feet in depth at low water and a width of 120 feet at the nar rowest part, with the ends of the channel widened for facility in enter ing. A turning basin 200 feet wide, 300 feet long, and 10 feet deep has als been made at Urbana Wharf, and a channel of approach within the creek 1,090 feet loug, 80 feet wide, and 10 feet deep at low water. The engineer in charge asks, for the completion of this work, an ap propriation of $6,000 for the year ending June 30, 1887. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount available. { Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix K 8.) $68 5 68 5 6,000 0 6,000 0 9. Mattaponi River, Virginia. This stream empties into the Yor River at West Point, Va. It is navigable for 56 miles. Previous to the commencement of this improvement the Mattapor River was obstructed by numerous bars and by snags, wrecks, an overhanging trees. The object of the first project for improvemen adopted in 1880, was to provide a channel 40 feet wide and 51⁄2 feet dee at low water, by the removal of the snags, drift-logs, wrecks, and ove hanging trees and by dredging through the bars. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $5,800 which were ex pended in suagging operations and the removal of wrecks, logs, an overhanging trees for a length of river of about 24 miles. The engineer in charge recommends making a channel through Ro inson and Latane's bars, with a width of 40 feet at bottom and a dept of 6 feet at low water. The cost of this improvement would be $38,00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilites July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount available { $2,500 223 2,276 33,800 Amount (estimated) required for completion of proposed project (See Appendix K 9.) 10. Pamunky River, Virginia. The Pamunky empties into the Yor River at West Point, Va. Its navigable length is 80 miles. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopte in 1880, the object being to provide a channel 40 feet wide and from to 5 feet deep from Hanovertown to Newcastle Ferry, a distance of miles, and 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep at low water upon the lower ban These latter bars, so far as known, are two in number, namely Ski more, or Upper Bassett's, and Fox's or Spring Bar. The cost of improving these two bars will be $8,300. The amount required to complete the improvement of the entire river according to the original estimate is $20,800. The work can be prosecuted economically if the entire sum is granted for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. The total expenditure to June 30, 1885, was $5,171.98. July 1, 1824, amount available July 1, 1-85, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... July 1, 1885, amount available (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K 10.) $2,328 02 451 63 1,876 39 20,800 00 20,800 00 11. York River, Virginia. This is a large tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, into which it empties about 16 miles in a line north of Fortress Monroe. It is formed by the Mattaponi and Pamunky rivers, and has a deep, navigable ship-channel for a distance of 41 miles. The navigation of the river prior to the commencement of the present improvement was obstructed by a bar at the mouth of Potopotank Creek, having a least depth of 19 feet at low water, and a bar about 84 miles above, at West Point, Va., having a least depth of 14 feet. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1880, the object being to provide a channel, by dredging, 22 feet deep and 200 feet wide (to be increased afterwards to 400 feet wide) through the bars, and also a basin of the same depth at the wharves at West Point. The first appropriation for this improvement was made June 14, 1880. This sum, $10,000, was applied to the improvement of the Potopotank Bar, through which a channel 105 feet wide and 22 feet deep has been secured by dredging. The appropriations since 1880 have been expended on the bar at West Point. The amount expended up to June 30, 1884, was $57,597.70, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $9,571.18 have been expended, making a total to June 30, 1885, of $67,168.88. At West Point the width proposed for the cut was 400 feet and the depth 22 feet at low water. The least depth on the bar June 30, 1885, was 17+ feet, and the average width was 150 feet, or about three-eighths of the width proposed in the project. The greater part of the new cut has a depth of 22 feet at low water. No exact estimate can be given of the silting of the channel which occurs at the confluence of the Mattaponi and Pamunky rivers. The amount of silting is now being observed. The engineer asks for $90,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. July 1, 1884, amount available.. $2,402 30 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1894... 20,000 00 22,402 30 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. $8,121 30 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities. 2,114 31 10,235 61 July 1, 1885, amount available. 12,166 69 5,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...$176,000 00 Amount that can be prof profitably expended in fiscal year ending. June 30, 1887 90,000.00 Submitted in pliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K 11.) 12. Chickahominy River, Virginia. This river is navigable for 37 miles. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1878, the object being to dredge channels 100 to 150 feet wide through Binn's, Old Fort, and Windsor Shades bars to a depth of not less than 8 feet at low water, and to remove snags, logs, &c., from points above Windsor Shades. The least depths on these bars, prior to the commencement of the improvement, were from 4 to 5 feet at low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $15,000, which has resulted in securing a channel through Binn's Bar 150 feet wide and 8 feet deep, and through Windsor Shades and Old Fort bars 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep, and through the bar at the mouth of the river 90 feet wide and 14 feet deep at low water. For the completion of the project for the improvement of the upper part of the river $1,000 are still required, and for completing the project for improving the bar at the mouth an appropriation of $13,000 is recommended. For the economical prosecution of the work it is desirable that the full sum of $14,000 be granted for the year ending June 30, 1887. { Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $14,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 14,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix K 12.) 13. Staunton River, Virginia, between Randolph Station and Brook Neal. The length of the Staunton is 200 miles. It unites with the Dan at Clarksville, and thereafter is called Roanoke River. The present project for the improvement of this river between Ran dolph Station on the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and Brook Neal, 31 miles above, was adopted in 1879, the object being to secure a navigable channel not less than 35 feet wide and 2 feet deep at low water through the various ledges and sand-bars which obstruct the naviga tion, with a slope of water-surface at rapids not greater than 10 feet to the mile. The amount expended to June 30, 1884 was $22,013.85, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $2,949.94 have been expended, making a total to June 30, 1885, of $24,963.79, which has resulted in the improvement of nearly 18 miles of the channel since the commencement of operations. Five miles of this length have been made navigable at low water for small steamers during the last fiscal year. An appropriation of $20,000 is required for the economical prosecution of this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. July 1, 1834, amount available. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884..... $486 15 5,486 15 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $2,876 19 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 73 75 2,949 94 July 1, 1885, amount available. 2,536 21 |