Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $2,000 00 2,000 00 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 barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 16.) 17. Steele's Bayou, Mississippi.-The first appropriation for this im provement was made by river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. The proj eet for its improvement consists in removing snags, logs, stumps, overhanging trees, &c., obstructing high-water navigation. The work done during the year consisted in the removal of the principal obstructions only, but has benefited high-water navigation to a great extent, and lessened the dangers thereof. The bayou was navigable during five months of the past year. As a large portion of the commerce of this stream comes from Lake Washington, Washington Bayou, which connects the lake with Steele's Bayou, should be included in the improvement of the latter. This bayou is about 6 miles long. With the amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the removal of channel and bank obstructions from Steele's Bayou, and extend the work through Washington Bayou to Lake Washington. The improvement is not permanent, as new obstructions are added from time to time which will require removal in the interests of safe navigation. Amonnt appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... $2,500 00 2,374 74 July 1, 1885, amount available.......... 125 26 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 17.) 18. Big Black River, Mississippi.-The first appropriation for improving this stream was made by river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. The project for the improvement contemplates. the removal of snags, logs, wrecks, and overhanging trees obstructing navigation between the mouth and Cox's Ferry, 130 miles above, at an estimated cost of $32,000. This improvement, however, would not be permanent, as new obstructions are added from time to time. During the year work was begun at the mouth, and the removal of obstructions continued up stream 754 miles, resulting in the removal of the principal obstructions from the channel and banks, and increasing the facilities for navigation on that portion of the stream. The river, however, is only navigated at present by flat-boats carrying staves, &c. The bridge of the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railroad, about 15 miles above the mouth of the river, and that of the Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad, 90 miles above the mouth, and two highway bridges, all without draws, form obstructions to free and safe navigation at all stages of water. Until these obstructions are remedied it is recommended that no additional funds be appropriated for improving this river. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. $5,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 4, 120 27 879 73 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 U 18.) 27,000 00 19. Big Hatchee River, Tennessee.-This improvement was begun in 1880. The project consisted in the removal of logs, snags, leaning tim ber, &c., obstructing navigation from Bolivar, Tenn., to the mouth of the river, a distance of about 240 miles, to render that portion of the stream navigable for light-draught boats throughout the year. The estimated cost of this improvement was $30,000. The improvement will not be permanent, as new obstructions form from time to time. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $16,252.81. Before the commencement of work navigation was almost impossible. The removal of obstructions during 1880, 1881, and 1882 had benefited commerce by allowing shipment of products by river, whereas previous to that time railroads had a monopoly of the carrying trade. The removal of obstructions was continued during the past year, extending from Piljerk's Landing to 8 miles below Locust Bluff, a distance of 50 miles. Although the improvement is not permanent, it is thought that this portion of the river will not require further improvement for some years, or until other portions where work is greatly needed have been cleared of obstructions. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can be profitably expended in removing the channel and bank obstructions as heretofore. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $247 19 2,500 00 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 2,747 19 $1,940 20 1,953 20 July 1, 1885, amount available 788 99 11,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix U 19.) 11,000 00 20. South Forked Deer River, Tennessee.-The only work heretofore done towards improving this stream was in 1883. The project contem plated the removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, and similar obstructions to navigation from the mouth of the stream to Sharon, about 114 miles above, at an estimated cost of $19,250. Operations, however, have been extended to Jackson, the head of navigation, 81 miles above Sharon. The work will not be permanent, as some obstructions are added from time to time. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $3,000, and had resulted in giving greatly increased facilities for navigation by the removal of a large number of obstructions, principally overhanging trees, between Jackson and the mouth of the river. The work during the past year was begun at Jackson and continued down-stream, about 60 miles, to Bell's Depot, and a tolerably unob structed channel secured on that part of the stream, which is now navigated by a small steamer recently built at the former place. Two railway and five highway bridges, all without draws, and a logboom form serious obstructions to the navigation of this stream. While these remain the whole river cannot be made navigable for steamboats, but that portion below the lower obstruction, about 100 miles above the mouth, and the reach from Bell's Depot to Jackson, can be improved in the interest of steamboat navigation. With the appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to continue the removal of natural obstructions from the channel and banks, as heretofore, below and above the artificial obstructions. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1855, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $2,000 00 2,000 00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project . (See Appendix U 20.) 14, 250 00 5, 000 00 21. Water-gauges on the Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.Observations were continued at all the gauges, and repairs made where necessary. Inspections of the gauges on the Mississippi River were made nearly every month. By joint resolution of Congress approved February 21, 1871, the sum of $5,000 was to be appropriated annually for these gauges. As no appropriation was made for their maintenance during the next fiscal year, and the amount available is insufficient to maintain all the guages during that time, the Mississippi River Commission has agreed to pay the observers at the gauge stations on the Mississippi River to prevent suspension of those important observations. The readings of the gauges on the tributaries will be continued during the fiscal year or until the balance available is exhausted. 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, 1835, amount available ..... 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 21.) $754 53 5,000 00 5, 754 53 3,637 00 2, 117 53 5,000 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Cassidy's Bayou, Mississippi. (See Appendix U 22.) 2. Yazoo Pass, Mississippi, to determine the cost of a lock at that place.— (See Appendix U 23.) Reports on these examinations were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. No examination of Bayou Carlin, Louisiana, has been made, owing to an uncertainty as to the locality intended by the act. And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the following localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, and no additional survey required, Captain Bergland's reports thereon were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Forty-eighth Congress, second session: 1. Deer Creek, Mississippi.--Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 132. (See Appendix U 24.) 2. Outlets of Bœuf River, Louisiana, with a view to closing same. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 99. (See also Appendix U 25.) 3. Bayou Bartholomew, Arkansas, from present head of navigation to Lincoln County line.-Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 147. (See also Ap pendix U 26.) Captain Bergland was also charged with, and made a report upon, am examination of the navigation of Cypress Bayou and the lakes between Jefferson, Tex., and Shreveport, La., with a view to its modification, as required by the above act, which was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 103, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix U 27.) IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER; OF RIVERS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND OF BLACK RIVER IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engineers. 1. Removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas.-Prior to the first improvements in 1833, shifting sand bars, numerous drift-piles, and dangerous snags constituted the obstacles to navigation in the lower reaches, and gravel or rock shoals, with a few snags and many overhanging trees, constitute those of the upper. Except for a few special reaches like the Fort Smith and Pine Bluff the general plan of improvement has consisted in snagging operations, including the cutting of overhanging trees, in building wing-dams to improve the shoals, and in surveys looking to plans for its permanent improvement. The ap propriations up to June 30, 1885, amount to $420,376.87. Of this there had been expended to June 30, 1884, $311,511.56, resulting in great relief to navigation. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $28,702.79 were expended in the running expenses of two snag boats, which have rendered excellent service. Much of the present good work will be lost by there being no appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. The balance available July 1, 1885, will be used to relieve navigation, if possible, at extreme low water, and so tide over until the next appropriation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... $36,000 00 outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. $28,368 79 28,702 79 July 1, 1885, amount available..... 7,297 21 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. 50,000 00 (See Appendix V 1.) 2. Arkansas River between Fort Smith and Wichita, Kansas (under ap propriations of 1880-81-82).-This part of the Arkansas River originally offered many obstructions to navigation in the way of shoals, snags, and overhanging trees rendering navigation very dangerous and, at certain stages of water, practically impossible. The original plan of improvement had for its object the removal of the snags and overhanging trees and the contraction of the channel at the shoals. Up to June 30, 1885, there has been expended under this head of appropriation $59,000. This expenditure has been of such practical value to navigation that accidents are practically unheard of, and the river, with the exception of several unimproved shoals, is in excellent navigable condition as high as Fort Gibson, Indian Territory; above this point it will require a large outlay to make the river navigable. During the year ending June 30, 1885, 87,875.95 have been expended in snagging operations and in a survey of certain shoals. The amount that can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1887, will be found under the preceding general head of "removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas and Kansas." July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1985, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1×4 (See Appendix V 2.) $7,875 95 7,875 95 3. Arkansas River at Fort Smith, Arkansas.-In 1878, it was impossible for steamboats to reach the landing at Fort Smith at low water. During that year a brush and stone dike was built 1,100 feet long projecting from the left bank a short distance above the mouth of the Poteau River, and extending parallel to the current down-stream 600 feet. This had the desired effect of carrying the main channel to the right bank near the mouth of the Poteau River and deepening the channel at the landing. In 1879, the portion of the dike parallel to the current was lengthened 400 feet, additional width was given the dike and it was carried to a uniform height of 8 feet above low water. This gave permanency to the results of the previous year and no further appropriations were deemed necessary. The expense of this work was $19,695.49; $10,000 of this was appropriated by act of June 18, 1578, the balance being an allotment from the general appropriation for the Arkansas River. In April, 1884, an examination of the town front disclosed some slight erosion and an estimate was made for repairing a few small dikes that had been constructed by private enterprise. An appropriation was made by the act of July 5, 1884, for the protection of the Larbor and a project for the improvement adopted in August, 1884, the object being to deflect the river in such a manner as to prevent the erosion of the banks along the town front. No further appropriation is required. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1985, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding Fabilities July 1, 1884 (Appendix V 3.) $5,000 00 5,000 00 4. Arkansas River at Pine Bluff, Arkansas.—The reach of river which lies in the vicinity of Pine Bluff, Ark., was in a very bad condition prior to any attempts at improvement. At one point a cut-off was threatened which would change the slope of the river from three-fourths |