Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix K 13.) $41,200 00 20,000 00 14. Staunton River, Virginia, between Brook Neal and Pig River.-The distance between Brook Neal and Pig River is 52 miles, and the average fall per mile 4.3 feet. The present general project for the improvement of this part of the river was adopted in 1882, the object being to secure a navigable channel for bateau navigation not less than 14 feet wide and 14 to 2 feet deep at low water, with a slope of water-surface at rapids not greater than 10 feet to the mile. After a survey in 1882 of the river from the bridge of the Virginia Midland Railroad to Pig River, a distance of 233 miles, Clement's Falls was selected as most in need of improvement. The project for improving Clement's Falls was adopted in 1883, the object being to secure a channel 14 feet wide and 14 feet deep at low water, with a water surface slope of about 5 feet to the mile. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $1,894.79, which has resulted in the improvement of the navigation through the worst shoals in a distance of 15 miles. These are Clement's Falls and Brown and Tuck's shoals. To continue the improvement $20,000 should be appro priated for the fiscal 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 14.) $105 21 105 21 32,000 00 20, 000 00 15. Dan River, between Madison, North Carolina, and Danville, Virginia.-The distance by the river from Madison to Danville is 49.81 miles, and its descent 2.82 feet per mile. The object of the first project for this improvement, adopted in 1880, was to provide a channel for navigation not less than 35 feet wide, but was afterwards modified to a channel of not less than 16 feet wide and 2 feet deep in the rapids at extreme low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $25,048.51, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $3,063.48 have been expended, making a total to June 30, 1885, of $28,111.99. These expenditures have resulted in the improvement of 5 miles of the river above Danville, and about 13 miles of the river have been freed from serious obstructions by this improvement. An appropriation of $21,500 is recommended for the improvement during the year ending June 30, 1887, by the officer in charge. July 1, 184, amount available................. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1. 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1834. Jaly 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885, amount available. $451 49 5,000 00 5,451 49 $3,020 48 43 00 3,063 48 2,388 01 [ 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 15.) $21,500 00 21,500 00 16. Roanoke River, North Carolina.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1871, the object being to improve navigation by the removal of rocks near Weldon and Halifax, and all wrecks, snags, and overhanging trees at various other points, and dredging channels through the numerous bars and shoals. The engineer in charge recommends that the operations should be limited for the present to the building of snag-boats, the removal of snags, and to the careful examination of certain bars. This work will, when accomplished, effect a much needed improvement. The amount expended to June 30, 1874, was $45,000, and since this date no funds have been available for the continuation of the work until August 2, 1882. Up to that period the work consisted in the removal of rocks at Weldon, and many wrecks, logs, overhanging trees, and building three dikes at Indian Highland Bar. The appropriation of $5,000 made August 2, 1882, was expended in repairing two dikes at Indian Highland Bar. A survey was also made to ascertain the changes which have taken place since 1871, and a report thereon submitted. The total expenditures up to June 30, 1885, are $49,698.81. An appropriation of $20,000 is asked for building a snag-boat, removing snags, surveying Big and Little Rocky bars, and for making other necessary examinations. The work can be economically prosecuted if the entire sum, $20,000, is granted for the year ending June 30, 1887. July 1, 1884, amount available $977 19 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 3,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... 3,977 19 676 95 July 1, 1885, amount available............... 3,300 24 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 20,000 00 20,000 00 (See Appendix K 16.) 17. French Broad River, North Carolina.-The first project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1878, the object being to secure a channel 35 feet wide and not less than 24 feet deep at low water between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals, a distance of 31.61 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1882, was $37,780.22, with which expenditure the following results have been attained: A survey of the river between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals, the improvement of the various shoals and rapids by means of rock and gravel excavation, and the construction of wing-dams for a distance of 26 miles below Brevard. For the completion of the improvement from Brevard to Big Buck Shoals $7,500 will be required. The act of August 2, 1882, appropriated $5,000 for improving the river "from Smith's Bridge up." A survey from Smith's Bridge (near Asheville) to the foot of Long Shoal, a distance of 12.09 miles, was made in 1882, and a project adopted for securing a channel 30 feet wide and not less than 24 feet deep at low water for this distance. The estimates amounted to $76,000. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, this part of the river was improved for a distance of 4 miles above the bridge, under a special act of appropriation. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $39,355.52, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, $3,432.71 were expended, making a total to June 30, 1884, of $42,788.23. No appropriations have been made since August 2, 1882. For completing the improvement between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals, the engineer in charge asks $8,000, and for continuing the improvement between Long Shoal and Smith's Bridge, $25,000. Total asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $33,000. July 1, 1884, amount available.... 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 17.) $211 77 211 77 79,000 00 33,000 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Cockpit Point, Virginia, for Ice Harbor.-The report on this exami nation was transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix K 18.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engi neer, that the locality was worthy of improvement by the General Government, Mr. Abert was charged with and completed the survey of― 1. Colonial Beach, formerly White Point, in county of Westmoreland, Virginia.—(See Appendix K 19.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA-APPROACH TO NORFOLK HARROR, VIRGINIA-CURRITUCK SOUND-COANJOK AND EDENTON BAYS AND NORTH RIVER BAR, NORTH CAROLINAIMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAR OLINA. Officer in charge, Capt. F. A. Hinman, Corps of Engineers. Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor at Norfolk, Virginia.-The project for improvement, adopted in 1877, was to deepen and widen the channel at the mouth of the Southern Branch and along the Berkley and Portsmouth Flats, in the harbor proper, and, for the approaches, to dredge a channel 500 feet wide and 25 feet deep at ordinary low water through the bars at the Western Branch and Sewall's Point. The revised project of 1885 is as follows: To secure a channel not less than 25 feet deep and 500 feet wide at ordinary low water, by dredg. ing, from the deep water of Hampton Roads to Norfolk and the United States navy yard on the Southern Branch, and also to secure a channel in the Eastern Branch, at the same stage, not less than 22 feet deep, with a width at least 300 feet at the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge, and generally increasing to about 700 feet at its mouth, by dredging between said points. With slight modifications all operations have been conducted in accordance therewith. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $356,847.86, which resulted in a channel at least 25 feet deep and at least 200 feet wide at ordinary low water from the deep water of Hampton Roads to the United States navy-yard, and also a channel at least 22 feet deep and not less than 200 feet wide at same stage in the Eastern Branch up to the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge. The former channel has narrowed somewhat, and has also shoaled at the mouth of the Southern Branch to 24 feet for a distance of 700 feet. The latter is as stated. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $26,148.23, which was applied to improving the channel of the Eastern and Southern Branches, by dredging 88,538 cubic yards of material from the former and 27,861 from the latter-total, 116,399, measured in scows-with good results to navigation and commerce. The entire harbor was surveyed from Fort Norfolk to Campostella Bridge over the Eastern Branch and to the navy-yard on the Southern Branch, and a map of same made. Since the original estimates were made for this harbor the conditions upon which they were based have changed very materially, owing to increased commerce necessitating more wharves and anchorage-ground. The aggregate appropriations exceed the original estimates slightly, but expenditures have been made in localities not originally contemplated. There will be but a small balance on hand at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. To entirely and permanently complete this work, so far as can be foreseen, will require the expenditure of $507,744.56, and this amount can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, in the general improvement of the harbor and its approaches by dredging, and the construction of a bulkhead. The portion of the approach to the harbor between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk is not included herein as it is the subject of a separate report. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. $3,185 89 25,000 00 28,185 89 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $26, 148 23 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 2.97 26,151 20 July 1, 1885, amount available.. 2,034 69 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 507,700 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 1.) 2. Approach to Norfolk Harbor and the United States (Norfolk) Navyyard, between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk.-The original condition of the channel was good, with the exception of a bar opposite the mouth of the Western Branch, on some parts of which there was a depth of only about 15 feet at mean low water. The project for the improvement adopted in 1878, was to dredge this bar for a distance of 4,800 feet to a width of 500 feet and a depth of 25 feet at mean low water. The result obtained from the expenditures at this point was a channel 4,400 feet long, 265 feet wide, and 25 feet deep at mean low water, which greatly facilitated navigation and commerce. This channel has shoaled to 24 feet in places. No work has been done in this locality since November, 1880, until the passage of the act of July 5, 1884, which appropriated $50,000 specifically for widening the channel. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $379.40, which was applied to surveying the locality in question and preparing map of same. A Board of Engineer officers was convened August, 1884, to prepare a project for the application of this appropriation. The Board reported a plan involving, in conjunction with dredging, the construction of a dike at or near Pinner Point, expressing at the same time doubts whether, under the phraseology of the law, any part of the money could be applied to a work of construction. However, the requirement of navigation demanding the widening of the channel as contemplated in the project already commenced and partly executed, by dredging, it was recommended that the existing appropriation be applied to widening the channel between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk by dredging along the eastern side thereof. This having been approved, the work has been advertised accordingly. It is expected to increase the width of the 25-foot channel at least 300 feet and to remove the 24-foot shoal in the upper part thereof. The amount that can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $255,600, which it is proposed to expend in the construction of a dike and in widening the channel along the eastern side by dredging. The advantages and benefits to be derived therefrom will be a better approach to the harbor and more room for anchorage. The advancement of the Port Warden lines from Lambert's Point to Fort Norfolk, as proposed by the local engineer, is approved. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1834.. July 1, 185, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. $50,000 00 $379 40 1 96 381 36 49,618 64 July 1, 1885, amount available............. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 255,600 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 2.) 3. Appomattox River, Virginia.-At the close of the war the navigation of this river was in such a condition that the depth of water on more than one of the shoals did not exceed 6 feet at high tide, and this depth was diminished by 3 feet at low tide. The plan of improvement adopted in 1870 was to attain a depth of 12 feet at high water, with as much width of channel as the river would bear. This plan has been steadily adhered to, constant progress being made towards its completion from year to year by the use of the money granted by Congress. The means depended on have been jetties, wing-dams, and training. walls, with resort to the dredge only when the needs of commerce required immediate work in the channel to give more width or depth than had been attained under the slower operation of the structures mentioned, of which the system has not yet been fully carried out for want |