nel to Elizabethtown, and a 3-foot channel thence to Fayetteville at all times of the year. This navigation is all that the present boats require; also all that the original project seems to suggest, and also all that the limited water supply of the river will allow. After this is completed from $3,000 to $5,000 per year will be needed to insure the maintenance of the improved channel. July 1, 1881, 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, 1855, amount available 200,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix M 7.) 60,000 00 8. Cape Fear River, below Wilmington, North Carolina.-(In charge of Lieut. Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, to January 15, 1855.) Before improvement in 1829, the Cape Fear had three bar-entrances with least depths as follows: About 9 feet at the Baldhead Channel, 9 feet at the Western and Rip Channel, and 10 feet at New Inlet Channel, the two former bars being 8 miles, and the latter 2 miles, from the point of junction of their channels near Federal Point. From Federal Point 20 miles up to Wilmington there were several shoals with a least depth of 7.5 feet at low water. The original projects of 1829 to 1847 proposed to improve the upper 20 miles by dredging and by jetty-contraction of the channel. During this time $202,602.67 were spent in increasing the depth upon the shoals to 9.5 feet at low water, equal to that at the bar entrances. At or about this time the shore at Fort Caswell, opposite Baldhead Point, was protected by stone jetties. The projects of 1852 to 1857 proposed to deepen the water at the main entrance by jetties at Baldhead Point and by a dike closure between Smith's Island and Zeke's Island near New Inlet. During this time $156,898.18 was spent in nearly completing these works. Although this dike was nearly swept away in 1857 by the great storm of that year, and the jetty only lasted until 1871, these works temporarily deepened the water on the main bar-entrances by several feet. The projects of 1870-'72, for the river mouth, proposed the complete closure of New Inlet (completed in 1881), by which the least depth of water upon the main entrance was increased to 13 feet at low water. The projects of 1872-282, as continued to date, propose the extension of the New Inlet Dam 2 miles further down the stream to prevent the further erosion of Smith's Island at the Swashes. The project of 1875, as continned to date, proposes the occasional use of dredging upon the outer bar to assist in the gradual straightening and deepening of the barentrance. The projects of 1874-'81, for the 20 miles above New Inlet, as continued to date, proposed dredging wherever necessary across shoals, so as to secure first a 12-foot channel, 200 feet wide, and then a 16-foot channel, 270 feet wide at low water, over this whole length. The latter depth combined with the average rise of tide on the bar (4.5 feet) and at Wilmington (2.5 feet) will give a good 18-foot navigation. at high water from the ocean to Wilmington. Up to June 30, 1884, $1,473,102.90 was spent in all upon the proposed improvements of 1870-82 with complete success, obtaining 13.5 feet at low water every where from the ocean over the bar and up to Wilming. ton, and 16 feet at all but a few shoals. During the last fiscal year $159,256.03 more has been expended up to June 30, 1884-5, with equally marked success in continuing these projects, obtaining a 14-foot least depth of water at the main bar entrance, and completing to partial width the desired 16 foot channel 28 miles farther to Wilmington. The foreign commerce has increased from about $1,500,000 exports in 1871 to about $5,000,000 exports in 1885. The total commerce, exports and imports, foreign and coastwise, is now about $18,000,000 per year. It is estimated that $380,000 in addition to the funds now available can be profitably expended upon this improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, in completing the existing project, by completing the unfinished dike south of Zeke's Island, so as to thoroughly secure Smith Island from further erosion by the ocean, and by widening and deepening the existing channels to their approved dimensions, and by protecting them against further deterioration, so as to secure a channel of 270 feet width and 14 feet least depth at low water across the bar and a channel of 270 feet width and 16 feet depth at low water 28 miles further to Wilmington. It is estimated that by next year the above improvement will be completely finished, and that the commerce of this harbor will be sufficient to justify the deepening of the bar entrance to at least 16 feet least depth at low water. Projects for this new work will be duly submitted. July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $29,397 10 200, 000 00 July 1, 1985, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 229,397 10 -$139,749 92 July 1, 1885, amount available... 70,141 07 380,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M 8.) 9. Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina.-Before improvement in 1880, this river was dangerously obstructed with snags and logs everywhere but was otherwise navigable for 9-foot boats at ordinary stages of water from its mouth in the Waccamaw River 41 miles upward to Smith's Mills; and thence for 3.5-feet draught boats at low water 88 miles further to Little Buff, or at high water 182 miles further from Smith's Mills to Cheraw, the present head of steam navigation. The commerce of this river is estimated to have then been about $400,000 per year. The original project of 1880, as continued to date, proposes to secure a thoroughly cleared 9-foot navigation to Smith's Mills, and a 3.5-foot navigation to Cheraw at all stages of water. Up to June 30, 1884, $18,845.47 was spent in all upon this improve ment, giving an unobstructed 9-foot navigation at ordinary stages of water to Smith's Mills, and a moderately unobstructed 3.5-foot navigation to Cheraw. The commerce of the river has been thereby increased so as to be at present about $2,000,000 per year. During the last fiscal year to June 30, 1885, $7,244.94 more has been expended, giving, at an ordinary stage of water, a well cleared 9-foot navigation 41 miles upward to Smith's Mills; and a fairly cleared 3.5foot navigation, at low water 83 miles further to the railroad station at Pedee, or at high water 182 miles further from Smith's Mills to Cheraw, with a marked and proportionate increase of commerce. It is estimated that $60,000 can be profitably expended upon this improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, in removing snags, logs, wrecks, &c., from the bed of the river, and in cutting down and pulling back from caving banks the trees which would otherwise soon fall into the river; and with a probable increase of commerce of $1,000,000 per year. In addition to the above it is estimated that it will probably cost $30,000 more to complete the present approved and adopted project; after which from $3,000 to $5,000 per year will be needed to insure the maintenance of the improved channel. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $154 53 8,000 00 8,154 53 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. $7,212 19 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 32 75 7,244 94 909 59 July 1, 1885, 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 M 9.) 90,909 59 60,000 00 10. Waccamaw River, South Carolina.-This river, prior to improvement in 1880, was navigable for 12-feet draught boats at all stages of water, from Georgetown, Winyaw Bay, 26 miles, to Bull Creek, and at high water, 4 miles further to Buck's Lower Mills; thence for 7-feetdraught boats at high water, 36 miles further, to Conwayborough; thence a badly blocked channel for 3-feet-draught boats 124 miles, to Reeves' Ferry, the present head of steam navigation; thence it possessed an obstructed channel, with 3-foot depth for 54 miles, to Lake Waccamaw, which is 244 miles distant from Georgetown. The commerce of this river is estimated to have been about $400,000 per year. The original project of 1880, as continued to date, proposed to secure a channel 12 feet deep at all stages of water, with 80 feet bottom width, from the mouth of the river 66 miles upward, to Conwayborough, and afterwards a cleared channel 178 miles further, to Lake Waccamaw. Up to June 30, 1884, $29,069.18 was spent in all upon this improvement, giving a clear channel of 7 feet least depth at high water as far as Conwayborough. The commerce upon this portion of the river has been thereby increased up to about $1,200,000 per year. During the last fiscal year to June 30, 1885, $6,294.63 more has been expended, giving a thoroughly cleared channel with 100 feet least width and 8.8 feet least depth at high water as far as Conwayborough, and with proportionate increase of commerce. It is estimated that $63,000 can be profitably expended upon this improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887; of which $18,000 will give a 12-foot navigation at high water from its mouth 41 miles to Bucksville, and thence a similar 10-foot navigation at high water 25 miles further to Conway borough, and $45,000 a clear 3-foot steam navigation from Conwayborough 24 miles further to Reeves Ferry. In addition to the above it is estimated that about $40,000 more will be needed to continue the approved and adopted project, so far as to secure a thoroughly cleared channel at all stages of tide and water of 12 feet depth to Bucksville, 10 feet depth to Conway, and 3 feet depth to Reeves Ferry, and of its natural depth to Lake Waccamaw. No further improvement is recommended at present; after which $3,000 per year will be necessary to insure the maintenance of the improved channel. 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, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix M 10.) $330 82 6,000 00 6,330 82 6, 294 63 36 19 103, 036 19 63,000 00 11. Harbor at Georgetown, South Carolina.-This harbor prior to im provement in 1880 had an excellent well protected anchorage of at least 2 miles length 150 feet width, and 15 feet depth. It is the natural seaport for commerce going to or coming from the Waccamaw and Great Pedee rivers and their tributaries. Georgetown is also a railroad terminus. A bar of about 2,850 feet length and with only 9 feet depth of water was the only obstacle to an otherwise good 12-foot navigation from Georgetown 12 miles to the ocean. The commerce of this harbor is estimated to have then been about $2,000,000 per year. The original project of 1881, as continued to date, proposes to secure a dredged channel of 200 feet bottom width, and 12 feet low-water depth entirely through this bar. No money was spent upon this improvement prior to June 30, 1884, because the available funds were too small to allow of being profitably spent. During the last year up to June 30, 1885, $8,433.85 has been expended, giving a through cut entirely across the bar with 12 feet low-water depth, and with a width varying from 20 to 80 feet. The funds still available will widen this cutting to a uniform width of probably 80 feet during the present season's work. It is estimated that $20,000 can be profitably expended upon this improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to widen the present cut to 150 feet or more. In addition to the above, it may cost $10,000 more to complete the present approved and adopted improvement, in case that the buried stumps of the river bottom should be found in unexpectedly large numbers. The channel, once thoroughly opened, will probably be permanent. By this improvement, ocean vessels of 12 feet draught after once crossing the Winyaw Bay bar can proceed without further delay 15 miles further to their anchorage at Georgetown. July 1, 1884, amount available..... $7,000 00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 5,000 00 12,000 00 July 1, 1885, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $5,750 80 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 2,683 05 8,433 85 July 1, 1885, amount available....... 3,566 15 30,000 00 (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 of acts 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M 11.) 20,000 00 12. Santee River, South Carolina.-This river was formerly navigated by 4-feet-draught boats over its entire length of 184 miles from the sea to its head. In 1880, the date of commencement of the improvement, this navigation was considerably obstructed and blocked at all stages of water by sunken logs, snags, and floating timber. Its bar entrance was narrow, crooked, and shifting, with only about 4 feet depth of water at low tide. Four steamers and a few small vessels were then running upon portions of this river. Its commerce is estimated to have then been about $600,000 per year. The original project of 1880 proposed to secure a safe and unob structed 7-foot navigation from the mouth 154 miles upward to Wright's Bluff, and thence a similar 5-foot navigation 30 miles further to its head in the Congaree and Wateree rivers; and also to deepen and straighten the outlet of the river through Mosquito Creek to Winyaw Bay. The appropriation of 1881 and since provided only for work upon the outlet of the river through Mosquito Creek to Winyaw Bay, and the approved project of 1881 for this expenditure, as continued to date, proposes to secure to the river a straightened canalized outlet through Mosquito Creek 7 miles long, 30 feet wide, and 6 feet deep at mean low water, and to construct one draw-bridge over this creek. Up to June 30, 1-84, $24,950.42 was spent in all upon this improvement in cutting 7,8.5 linear feet of this canal to 30 feet width and 5 feet depth. During the last year, up to June 30, 1885, $15,402.53 more has been expended in making necessary surveys of the whole improvement and in extending the cutting 5,915 linear feet, and leaving 4,012 linear feet more of main canal, and desirably 4,800 linear feet of cut-offs to complete the canal to its full length. No improvement of commerce has yet been produced, nor was any to be expected therefrom until the canal is finally completed. It is estimated that $80,000 can be profitably expended on the river improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, of which $40,000 will secure a moderately well-cleared 5-foot navigation at high tide and ordinary stages of water from the sea 184 miles upward to its head in the Congaree and Wateree rivers; and that $40,000 will extend the canalized outlet through Mosquito Creek to Winyaw Bay. It is estimated that this expenditure will at once (as already shown on the Pee Dee River) increase the river commerce by from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year. |