the removal of snags, logs, and overhanging trees from its mouth to City Point, a distance of 30 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $3,000, and has resulted in obtaining, by the removal of overhanging timber from the banks, logs and stumps from the bed of the river, a fair high-water channel from its mouth up to Camargo, 16 miles. The appropriation asked for is to be applied to continuing the improvement according to the approved plan by removing obstructions to high-water navigation, working up-stream towards City Point. (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 Q 4.) $7,000 00 7,000 00 . Noxubee River, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1880, being to afford a channel for small river steamers from its mouth up to Macon, Miss., of navigable width and depth during about nine months of the year, when the water is above the ordinary low-water stage. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $34,114.60, and has resulted in obtaining a partially improved channel along the entire length of the river from Macon to the mouth. The amount available and the amount asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the project adopted, and it is thought these combined amounts will complete the improvement. 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... 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 Q 5.) $617 91 7,500 00 8, 117 91 4,732 51 3,385 40 25,000 00 25, 000 00 6. Pascagoula River, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1880, the object being to afford a channel 200 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water from Mississippi Sound into East Pascagoula River, and to improve the river above by the removal of snags, overhanging trees, &c. The channel before the commencement of the improvement had a depth of not more than 3 feet at mean low water at its shoalest place. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $58,430.84, and has resulted in securing a channel 180 feet wide and 72 feet deep at mean low water from Mississippi Sound into Pascagoula River and the thorough improvement of the river above for 50 miles and partially for 49 miles. further up. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement up the river, and it is expected will complete the project. July 1, 1884, amount available.... $276 08 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 3,000 00 3,276 08 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 2,706 92 July 1, 1885, amount available..... 569 16 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 7,000 00 7,000 00 See Appendix Q 6.) 7. Roadstead leading into Back Bay, Biloxi, and Biloxi Channel, Mississippi.-No projects have been adopted for the improvement of these localities, the amount appropriated being deemed insufficient for an economical prosecution of the work. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 7.) 8. Horn Island Pass, Mississippi.-No project has been submitted for the improvement of this locality, the amount appropriated being deemed insufficient for an economical prosecution of the work. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 8.) $5,000 00 5,000 00 38, 000 00 9. Pearl River, Mississippi, below Jackson.-The present project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a channel 5 feet deep at ordinary low water and of navigable width from the mouth of the river up to Jackson. Before the improvement the river was not navigable at all at low water and was difficult at high water. The amount expended on the work to June 30, 1885, is $71,619.99, and has resulted in considerable improvement of the river for high-water navigation. Very little has been accomplished towards securing a lowwater one. The amount available and the appropriation asked are to be expended in continuing the improvement, and will probably so improve the river as to meet the present demand of the commerce of the river. 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...... $6, 290 33 10,000 00 16, 290 33 7,910 32 8,380 01 -$100,000 00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 70, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 9.) 10. Pearl River, Mississippi, from Jackson to Carthage.-The present project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a channel 5 feet deep and of navigable width throughout. Before the improvement was commenced navigation was difficult even during high water, on account of snags and overhanging trees. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $18,447.60, and has resulted in a material improvement of the river. Boats of 3 feet draught can navigate the river from Carthage down 12 miles on a stage of 4 feet low water, and the remaining distance to Jackson on a rise of 6 feet. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to a continuation of the improvement according to the project, and will probably obtain a channel that can be navigated on a stage considerably lower than at present. July 1, 1884, amount available.... $6,807 42 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 6,755 02 July 1, 1885, amount available .... 52 40 (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 1857. (See Appendix Q 10.) 11. Pearl River, Mississippi, between Edinburg and Carthage.-The project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1884, the object being to obtain a good high-water channel throughout for the use of steamers during six or eight months of the year. Before the improvement was commenced navigation was only possible during very high water, and was even then troublesome. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $2,110.39, and has resulted in such an improvement of over two-thirds of the distance as to permit of the passage of steamboats of 3 feet draught with comparative ease and safety on a rise of 6 feet above ordinary low water. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement as projected, and it is thought the combined amounts will complete the work. $2,500 00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 2,110 39 July 1, 1885, amount available...... 389 61 (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. 10,964 00 10,000 00 (See Appendix Q 11.) 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. Homosassa Bay, Florida.-(See Appendix Q 12.) 2. Back Bay at Handsborough, Mississippi.-(See Appendix Q 13.) The reports on the above examinations were submitted 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 localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Major Damrell was charged with the following, the results of which will be duly submitted when received: 1. Wacissa River, Florida. 2. Pascagoula River, Mississippi, from the mills at Moss Point down to the anchorage in the bay, with a view to securing a uniform depth of 12 feet of water. For Major Damrell's report on the examination and survey of— 3. Mobile River and Harbor from lower anchorage up to the northern limits of the city of Mobile with a view to securing 23 feet depth of water, see Appendix Q 14. INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT AT THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officers, Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, to February 12, 1885, and Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, since that date. The inspecting officer in his annual report states that the full depths and widths of channels required by law have been maintained throughout the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, and that no dredging has been required on any part of the work since February, 1883. Considering the channel in the pass-there and just beyond the jetties-as a whole, it was in better condition at the date of this report than at the end of the previous fiscal year. A complete survey of South Pass showed that it had a channel throughout whose least depth was 27 feet, and that, except for about mile, there was a channel whose least depth was 30 feet. The fan-shaped area of about 14 square miles, seaward of the ends of the jetties, heretofore adopted for comparison, has deepened or scoured during the year an average depth equal to 1.16 feet, whereas during the previous year it had shoaled or deposited 3.61 feet in vertical height. There still remains in this area a deposit or fill averaging 7.13 feet in height, estimated roughly to contain 9,000,000 cubic yards of deposit. About 500 feet beyond the outer end of the jetties there is a channel 26 feet deep, having a width of 230 feet and a central depth of 30 feet or more; but this channel makes such a sharp bend or turn of about 90 degrees that it is often difficult for a vessel drawing 25 to 26 feet to make the turn without grounding on the shoals on either side. The bar growth beyond the jetties has gradually advanced seaward during each year since the jetties were commenced. 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 ............. $13,296 80 9,447 36 3,849 44 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. 16,920 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R.) IMPROVEMENT OF VARIOUS WATER-COURSES IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA-IMPROVEMENT OF SABINE PASS AND OF SABINE AND NECHES RIVERS, TEXAS. Officers in charge, Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, to February 12, 1885, and since that date Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. O. T. Crosby, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. Supervising Engineer, Lieut. Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. 1. Amite River, Louisiana.-Before improvement the river was much obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and trees standing in the river. It was used, however, by a small steamer and some sailing vessels. In 1880 a project was made to improve the river by removing all obstructions and dredging above the bayou Manchac as far as the appropriation would permit and get 5 feet depth of water. With the appropriation of 1880, 40 miles of river improvement was worked over by contract; this proved very unsatisfactory, and was of but little benefit to navigation. With the appropriation of 1881, by means of hired labor and Government plant, about 8 miles of river below bayou Manchac was properly improved, the other 8 miles below this not yet having been touched. The original estimated cost of the work was $23,760, of which $13,000 has been appropriated and $12,878.01 expended. To clear out the balance of the lower part of the river, as well as remove all other obstructions as far up as the mouth of the Cornite, beyond which it is thought inadvisable to improve the river, $8,205 will be required. The improvement has been beneficial to navigation, but it is not known that freight rates have been reduced, nor that commerce has been benefited to any extent by the money thus far spent. No expenditure has been made during the past year except to care for the plant. The estimated amount required for completion of approved project, if appropriated, can be all expended in the fiscal year, and will be used in cleaning out the stream, as indicated. The improvement will not be permanent, as obstructions will re-form. July 1, 1884, amount available... $374 39 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 252 40 July 1, 1885, amount available 121 99 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix S 1). 2. Tangipahoa River, Louisiana.-Before improvement the river was obstructed by snags, logs, rafts, standing and overhanging trees. The |