July 5, 1884, and their closure recommended, at an estimated cost of $8,500. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can be profitably expended in continuing the removal of obstructions to highwater navigation and in closing the outlets near Point Jefferson. No permanent improvement can be secured, as new obstructions are added from time to time, which will require removal in the interests of safe navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 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 U 8.) $5,000.00 4,875 68 124 32 13,500 00 13,500.00 9. Tensas River and Bayou Macon, Louisiana. - The project for the improvement of Tensas River was adopted in 1881, and consisted in the removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, &c., obstructing navigation, from Dallas, La., to its mouth, about 180 miles, at an estimated cost of $23,000. Bayou Macon, a tributary of the Tensas, was added under the same head of appropriation by the last river and harbor act, and the cost of removing similar obstructions in that stream, from Floyd, La., to its mouth, about 130 miles, is estimated at $17,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1884 was $3,000, which was applied in 1881 to the removal of obstructions from the Tensas, and benefited navigation to a limited extent by their removal as far as practicable with that amount. During the year the work was carried on by contract. The removal of obstructions was begun at the mouth of Tensas River and continued up-stream for 28 miles, greatly lessening the dangers of navigation in that part of the stream. These streams are only navigable during high water, and the past season were open to navigation from November to June, inclusive. No work was done in Bayou Macon, as the amount appropriated was not sufficient to extend the work into that stream last season. With the appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks as heretofore. If the whole amount asked for be granted the work can be prosecuted in both streams. The work is not permanent, as new obstructions are added from time to time, which will require removal in the interests of safe navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. $4,000.00 3,984 66 15 34 33,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project July 1, 1885, amount available { requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 9.) Submitted in compliance with requiremen 10. Bayou D'Arbonne, Louisiana. -The first appropriation for improving this stream was made by river and harbor act approved July 5, 1884. Like the other tributaries of Ouachita River, it is only navigable during high stages of water in the main stream. The project for its improvement contemplates the removal of snags, logs, wrecks, leaning trees, &c., obstructing navigation, from Stein's Bluff to its mouth, 42 miles, at an estimated cost of $15,000. The work during the year was carried on by contract. It was begun at the mouth and continued up-stream 22 miles 4,143 feet. This work resulted in the removal of obstructions from about one-half of that portion of the stream in which improvement is contemplated by the present project, and consequently has improved high-water navigation and lessened the dangers thereof. During the past year the bayou was navigable from December until May. With the appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions to high-water navigation according to the project. The work is not permanent, as new obstructions are added from time to time, which require removal in the interests of safe navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix U 10.) $5,000 00 4,869 41 130 59 10,000 00 5,000 00 11. Yazoo River, Mississippi. - Work in this river was begun in 1873 by removing the wrecks of eleven steamboats sunk during the late war. The project for its improvement contemplates the removal of wrecks, logs, snags, overhanging trees, &c., which obstruct the channel throughout the entire length of the stream. No permanent improvement can be effected, as each flood brings new obstructions into the river and others are continually added by caving banks, &c. These require removal from time to time to render navigation safe. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $132,698.82, and had resulted in a marked benefit to commerce and improvement of the navigable channel. The large number of wrecks and natural obstructions which had limited the navigation of the stream had been removed to such an extent that the river was navigable from its head to its mouth during the entire year, and steamboats made regular trips without much difficulty. In the past year work was carried on during the low-water season by the United States snag-boat John R. Meigs, and extended over the entire river, greatly benefiting low-water navigation. The depth of water in some places was increased from 24 to 4 feet. One steamboat wreck and many other dangerous obstructions were removed. The steamboat masters and pilots navigating the river are unanimous in acknowledging the substantial benefits resulting from this work. The balance available will be required for the care and preservation of the property belonging to this improvement, and work cannot be resumed before a new appropriation becomes available. The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can be profitably expended in continuing the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks of the river. Of this amount, however, $5,500 will be required for necessary repairs of the snag-boat before it resumes work in the stream. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... $301 18 10,000 00 10,301 18 9,054 71 1,246 47 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 July 1, 1885, amount available...... { harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 11.) 12. Big Sunflower River, Mississippi. -The project for improving this stream was adopted in 1879, and consisted in building ordinary wingdams to scour a channel of from 3 feet to 40 inches over the bars, and in the removal of snags, sunken logs, and leaning timber obstructing navigation, at an estimated cost of $66,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $35,106.42, and had resulted in a marked benefit to navigation and commerce by the removal of obstructions, and the increased depth of water of from 18 inches to 3 feet which had been gained over the bars where dams had been built. During the year new wing-dams were built at five different bars, securing an average increased depth of 2 feet. Several old dams were repaired, and the work of removing obstructions from the channel and banks continued. Steamboat men state that in 1879 it took from ten to fifteen days to make a trip, while at the present time it can be accomplished without difficulty in six days at the lowest stages of water. The suspension of work, owing to lack of funds, will necessitate a greater expenditure during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, on account of the formation of new obstructions added from time to time by caving and sliding banks, &c. With the amount asked for it is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks and the construction and repair of wing-dams where necessary. No permanent improvement can be effected on account of the additional obstructions formed from time to time. July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $1,893 58 5,000 00 6,893 58 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... 6,848 20 July 1. 1885, amount available.... 45 38 { Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 24,000.00 15,000 00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 12.) 13. Tchula Lake, Mississippi. -The project for this improvement was adopted in 1881, and contemplated the removal of snags, logs, overhanging trees, &c., obstructing navigation to enable light-draught steamboats to enter the lake earlier in the season. The estimated cost of this improvement was $10,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $5,228.54, which was applied, in 1881 and 1882, to carrying out the project and resulted in improving the channel and lengthening the navigable season. The work during the past year greatly benefited navigation, as many trees were removed which had fallen into the channel since the last work was performed. A number of dangerous sawyers, which had obstructed the channel for years, were also removed. Much work, however, remains to be done and new obstructions are continually forming, which require removal from time to time. Consequently the improvement cannot be permanent. With the amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks as heretofore. As this stream is really the easterly branch of the Yazoo River, extending from the head to foot of Honey Island, about 67 miles in length, it is recommended that future appropriations for its improvement be included in the general appropriation for Yazoo River. July 1, 1884, amount available. $271.46 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 1,500 00 1,771 46 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 1,345 62 July 1, 1885, amount available.. 425 84 { 5,000 00 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 U 13.) 14. Tallahatchee River, Mississippi. This work was begun in 1879. The project for the improvement contemplated the removal of snags, sunken logs, and overhanging timber, obstructing low-water navigation in the stream below the mouth of Coldwater River, a distance of 165 miles, and also removal of the wreck of the steamer Star of the West, lying in the channel 8 miles above the mouth of the river. The estimated cost of such improvement was $40,000. The river and harbor acts of 1880, 1881, and 1882, however, required the expenditure of funds above the mouth of the Coldwater to Batesville, Miss., and $10,000 has been expended in removing similar obstructions from that part of the stream. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $21,000 (of which amount $11,000 had been expended in the lower river), and had resulted in the removal of a large number of obstructions and greatly increased the capacity of the river for navigation. A small steamboat was built in 1882 for navigating the Little Tallahatchee River from Batesville to mouth of the Coldwater, on which part of the stream there had not been a steamer since the war. During the year the United States snag-boat John R. Meigs was employed, while funds were available, in removing obstructions from the lower portion of the river, beginning operations at the mouth and continuing up-stream about 25 miles. This portion of the stream was the worst obstructed, and many dangerous channel obstructions were removed, greatly benefiting navigation thereby. Steamboat men pronounce it the most effective and useful work yet done in the river. Previous to improvement the river from the mouth of the Coldwater to the Yazoo, which it enters, was navigable about six months of the year. Boats from the Yazoo now run to Sharkey's Landing, 100 miles above the mouth, the entire year, but seldom go above that point at any stage of water, as the amount of commerce higher up the river is not sufficient to justify them. If the entire amount asked for is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, the work can be carried in both sections of the river. Should a smaller amount be appropriated, the interests of navigation would be best promoted by continuing the removal of obstructions from the lower or Big Tallahatchee River, according to the project. New obstructions, caused by sliding and caving banks, are continually forming, and no permanent improvement can be effected on this account. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix U 14.) 15. Coldwater River, Mississippi. -This improvement was begun in 1880 and continued in 1881. The work was principally done in the lower part of the stream, from Neal's Landing to the mouth, about 35 miles. The upper portion is obstructed for several miles by solid jame from one-quarter to one-half a mile in length, and the navigable portion of the stream runs through a thinly settled country, a large portion of the land being covered with a heavy growth of cane and timber. No further appropriation is asked for improving this stream. The river is only navigable during the highest water in the Yazoo and Tal lahatchee rivers, and then navigation is good and about as safe as in the latter. To secure safe navigation at lower stages would require a greater expenditure than the commerce of the country would warrant. The total amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $11,000. July 1, 1884, amount available.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. (See Appendix U 15.) $485 8 485 8 16. Yallabusha River, Mississippi. -The improvement of this stream was begun in 1881, and the project adopted consisted in the remova of snags, sunken logs, leaning timber, &c., obstructing navigation fron Grenada, Miss., to its mouth, a distance of about 63 miles. New ob structions, caused by caving banks, &c., are continually forming, which require removal from time to time in the interests of safe navigation Consequently no estimate for permanent improvement can be submitted The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $7,000, and had resulted in the removal of the principal obstructions from the channel and bank for 42 miles up-stream from the mouth, and enabled boats to navigat the stream regularly during high water. During the year work was begun at Grenada, and the removal o obstructions continued down-stream to the mouth. The work resulted in a greatly improved channel, and the river is now navigable five o six months of the year, or during high and medium stages of water. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can b profitably expended in removing obstructions from the channel and banks, as heretofore, for the purpose of extending the period of navi gation. |