The principal object to be gained by the improvement is in the great saving in distance for all vessels plying between Key West and the Gulf ports. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $25,000, and has resulted in cutting a channel entirely through the bar 60 feet in width at the bottom and 65 feet at the top, with a depth of 15 feet at mean low water. From the soundings taken on the mail steamer using this channel it is believed that this cut has filled, and that there now exists a channelway with only an available depth of 11 feet at mean low water. An appropriation of $3,500 is asked to make a further examination of this harbor. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix O 7.) $115,000 00 3,500 00 8. Pease Creek, Florida.-The project for the improvement of this stream, adopted in 1881, is to improve it for high-water navigation by the removal of snags, overhanging trees, and loose rocks from the channel from its mouth up to Fort Meade. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $10,453.18, and has resulted in the improvement of about 64 miles of the river from its mouth upstream. During the past fiscal year nothing has been done except caring for the public property, the small balance available rendering any work impossible. The balance available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to the care and preservation of the public property and to continue the improvement up towards Fort Meade. Before the improvement the stream was of generally sufficient width and depth, but much obstructed. July 1, 1884, 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.... 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 O 8.) 9. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1884. It consists in cutting a channel, by dredging and rock excavation, 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water, through the Middle Ground. By act approved July 5, 1884, an appropriation of $5,000 was made to carry on this work, the only appropriation under this project. Under a former project a channel was dredged from the wharves at Cedar Keys to the deep water of the Gulf to a least depth of 11 feet at mean low water and a width of 200 feet. An examination made in 1883 showed that this channel had retained its depth except in the Middle Ground. During the past fiscal year a contract was made for dredging and rock excavation in accordance with project. The time for commencement of this work having been extended, no work has been done during the year. The amount expended during the year was $197.45, in making such examination as was necessary to lay out the work and for advertising. The balance available and appropriation asked are to be used in extending and widening the cut according to the projects. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 .. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... $5,000 00 197 45 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 4,802 55 (Amonnt (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 1857. 20,000 00 20,000 00 (See Appendix O 9.) 10. Manatee River, Florida.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1882, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from Tampa Bay into Manatee River so as to give a depth of 13 feet at mean low water from Tampa Bay up the river to Shaw's and McNeil's Point. The least depth on the bar at the mouth of the river before the improvement was 8 feet at mean low water, not suffi cient for the class of vessels engaged in the commerce between the river and outside ports. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $12,000, and has resulted in securing a channel 2,150 feet in length, 1,750 feet of which has a depth of 12 feet and a width of 60 feet, and 400 feet has a depth of 11 and width of 35 feet, through the bar at the entrance of the river from Tampa Bay. There being no funds available, no work has been done during the past fiscal year. The appropriation asked for is to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the project, extending, widening, and deepening the cut by dredging. (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 O 10.) $58,000 00 58,000 00 11. Caloosahatchee River, Florida.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1882, the object being to so improve the river from the bar at the mouth up to Fort Meyers as to accommodate vessels of 6 feet draught. The amount expended up to June 30, 1885, is $5,570.49, and has resulted in improving the bar at mouth of the river, giving a channel depth of 9 feet at mean low water where there was only 5 feet before. During the past fiscal year a re-examination has been made and a contract entered into for carrying the improvement on in continuation of the project. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be ap plied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the project by dredging. 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 $5,000 00 544 71 4,455 29 $13,400 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix O 11.) 12. Apalachicola River, Florida.—The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1874, the object being to afford a channel of 6 feet depth and navigable width its whole length, avoiding the worse portions by utilizing Styx River and Moccasin Slough. The channel at that time had sufficient depth and generally sufficient width, but was obstructed by snags and overhanging trees; but the portion through Moccasin Slough was narrow, crooked, and difficult. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $37,244.51, and has resulted in the complete execution of the project, and, in addition, the opening of Chipola Cut-off to White's Bluff, a distance of 9 miles, the widening of the canal at Moccasin Slough, and the removal from the river of the yearly accumulation of snags, logs, and sunken timber. The river having been carefully gone over during the latter part of the fiscal year 1883-'84, it was not deemed necessary, after an examination, to do any work during the past fiscal year, but during the present low stage of the river it is intended to go over it and remove whatever obstructions have accumulated during the year. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to maintaining the improvement as completed. 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... $1,310 96 1, 000 00 2,310 96 July 1, 1885, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement..... 55.20' 2,255 76 2,000 00 2,000 00 (See Appendix O 12.) 13. Withlacoochee River, Florida.-The project for this improvement, adopted in 1881, is to improve the river by the removal of snags, loose rocks, and overhanging trees, the deepening of some of the worst shoals and of a bar at the mouth of the river, so as to enable boats drawing 2 feet of water to navigate the river during about half the year. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $10,051.20, and has resulted in improving the river from its mouth to Lake Panasofkee. In many places along the route, however, the width and depth are 20 feet and 2 feet. These must in time be enlarged. The balance available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to the care and preservation of the public property and continuing the improvement. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1. 185, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $3,000 00 $2,541 20 2,571 20 428 80 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1837 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1856 and 1867. (See Appendix O 13.) $13,400 00 13,400 00 14. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering naviga tion.-Notice was published to all parties interested in the wreck and cargo of the steamer Dictator, forming an obstruction to the navigation of the harbor of Tampa, to remove the same. This was replied to by the owners that they would entirely remove the wreck and cargo. (See Appendix O 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement: 1. Anclote Harbor, Florida.-(See Appendix O 15.) 2. Wekiva River, Florida.-(See Appendix O 16.) 3. Saint Augustine Harbor, Florida.-(See Appendix O 17.) 4. Amelia Rirer, Florida.-(See Appendix O 18.) 5. Charlotte Harbor, Florida.-(See Appendix O 19.) Reports on the above examinations were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the locality was worthy of improvement by the General Government, Captain Rossell was charged with and completed the following: 1. Mosquito In'et, Florida.-(See Appendix O 20.) The following locality was, after a preliminary examination, reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement: 2. For canal and inland communication from the Saint John's River, through Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River, to Jupiter Inlet and Lake Worth, Florida.-(See Appendix O 21.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN THE STATES OF GEORGIA, FLORIDA, AND ALABAMA-IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT PENSACOLA. Officer in charge, Capt. R. L. Hoxie, Corps of Engineers. Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. 1. Ocmulgee River, Georgia.—The Ocmulgee and the Oconee rivers form the Altamaha. These three rivers constitute the principal water highways of the State, and furnish a natural outlet for the lumber, cot ton, and other products of Central Georgia. During the first half of this century Georgia appropriated at least $60,000 for the improvement of this river. The present plan of improvement is based upon an examination made in 1875, when the obstructions were found to be snags, sand and gravel bars, rock reefs, overhanging trees, and submerged rafts, in a shifting and tortuous channel, with a varying depth of from 22 inches to 4 feet at low water. The project for the improvement of the river contem plates the removal of these obstructions. The expenditure, up to June 30, 1885, of $55,007.42 has resulted in securing a good navigable channel at low water between Hawkinsville and the junction of the Oconee, while many of the most serious ob structions have been removed. During the past year but little work was done on this river, and that at Big Eddy, near Jacksonville, where a difficult channel was replaced by one 80 feet wide and 10 feet deep at low water. The limited appropriation for this work and for the Oconee suggested, as a measure of economy, combination of the working forces of these two rivers upon each river in succession. The Oconee was worked during the past season. The Ocmulgee will be worked during the present summer. The appropriation available and that herein asked for can be profitably expended in the proposed improvement of the river 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, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... $12 14 3,000 00 3,012 14 $635 53 384 03 1,019 56 1,992 58 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix P 1.) 30, 000 00 15,000 00 2. Oconee River, Georgia.-This river rises in Northeast Georgia, flows past Milledgeville and Dublin, and joins the Ocmulgee in the southern part of the State, forming the Altamaha. The State of Georgia has expended about $35,000 for its improvement. The first examination made by the authority of the United States was in 1874, and a plan of improvement was subsequently adopted which contemplated the removal of obstructions from the channel and blasting through rock reefs, where necessary, in order to secure a depth of about 3 feet at low water from the mouth of the river to Milledgeville, Ga. The result of the work done up to June 30, 1885, has been to enable steamboats navigating this river to run on a stage of water 4 feet lower than that at which navigation was possible before improvement. The amount expended up to June 30, 1885, is $23,459.36. The appropriation available and that herein asked for can be profit ably expended in the proposed improvement of the river channel. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $472 24 3,000 00 3,472 24 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 $3,120 02 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 311 58 3, 431 60 July 1, 1885, amount available 40 64 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 30,000 00 15,000 00 (See Appendix P 2.) |