The total expenditures from the beginning of the improvement to June 30, 1885, amount to $80,450.50. The money still available from the appropriation for repairs made in 1879 will probably suffice for several years. July 1, 1884, amount available $627 50 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1884........... 78 00 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 549 50 (See Appendix Q Q.) IMPROVEMENT OF ENTRANCE TO HUMBOLDT BAY; OF SAN JOAQUIN, MOKELUMNE, SACRAMENTO, AND FEATHER RIVERS, CALIFORNIA; AND OF COLORADO RIVER, NEVADA, CALIFORNIA, AND ARIZONA. Officers in charge, Capt. A. H. Payson, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. S. W. Roessler, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders, to March 25, 1885; Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Humboldt Bay, California.-There is a bar at the entrance to this bay upon the greater part of which are breakers at nearly all times, but through which a channel, variable in position, width, and depth, permits navigation to be carried on except during the prevalence of very heavy seas. The work proposed is the construction of a low wall on the south sands, outside the harbor entrance, with the view of giving permanence to the shifting channel across the bar. The cost of this is estimated at about $537,000. The amount on hand being insufficient for the proper prosecution of so costly and exposed a work, nothing has been done further than the preparation of plans. Negotiations with the owners of the land on the south spit, which must be secured for the Government, have resulted in such extravagant demands, that a suit in condemnation will probably be necessary. July 1, 1884, amount available............... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $81 68 62,500 00 62,581 68 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.......... 109 00 July 1, 1885, amount available...... 62,472 68 537,500 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix R R 1.) 2. San Joaquin River, California.-Stockton Slough was dredged over a length of 5,250 feet to widths varying from 60 to 110 feet and a depth of 9 feet at low water; 60,786 cubic yards were removed and deposited ashore. In Mormon Slough a channel 60 feet wide and 4,250 long was dredged to 6 feet at low water, with the removal of 47,595 cubic yards. Through the shoal at the entrance from Stockton Slough to the San Joaquin, a channel 700 feet long, with an average width of 80 feet, was dredged to 9 feet at low water, with the removal of 12,908 cubic yards. Through the shoal at the "Narrows," in the San Joaquin, a channel was dredged 1,050 feet long by 60 feet wide to 9 feet depth at low water, with removal of 13,122 cubic yards of sand. The Devil's Elbow Cut-off was completed by the removal of 24,519 cubic yards, and has been found a great convenience to the navigation. In January the United States snag-boat removed in three days the wreck of an old dredge sunk in the approach to the Devil's Elbow Cut. During May, 1885, ten working days were spent between the railroad bridge across the San Joaquin and Hill's Ferry, with removal of 96 snags and 45 trees. The funds asked for the coming year will be expended in dredging portions of the river and removal of snags as the necessity arises. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1884, amount available...... $10,997 37 20,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... 30,997 37 30,443 77 July 1, 1885, amount available.. 553 60 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 40, 000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R R 2.) 3. Mokelumne River, California.-The snag-boat worked from Novem ber 6 to December 8, 1884, in the portion of the river between Snodgrass Slough and Benson's Ferry, removing 160 snags and 314 overhanging trees. The result was a practicable and reasonably safe channel from the mouth of the river to Benson's Ferry, but much work could still be done to the advantage of the navigation. The funds available and asked for are to be used in further removal of snags and trees below Benson's Ferry. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $8,500 00 4,958 09 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 3,541 91 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1877 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 5,000 00 (See Appendix R R 3.) 4. Sacramento and Feather rivers, California.-The snag-boat was employed on these streams 148 days, of which 99 were on the Sacramento and 49 upon the Feather. The work consisted in the removal of 764 snags and 41 trees on the Sacramento and 302 snags and 298 trees on the Feather. The dams at Parrott's Chute and Call's Bend were increased in length and strength. ened, and Fremont Bar and Salmon Bend were scraped. The pier of the unused railroad bridge at Knight's Landing was removed after the company had taken off the superstructure. For the first time, it is believed, no accident happened to either steamers or barges during the year, though the latter were loaded to greater draughts than ever before; that is, from head of navigation to Butte City 32 inches, from Butte City to Colusa 38 inches, and from Colusa to Sacramento 54 inches. The snag-boat is well designed for her purpose, and full credit is given by the commerce interested for the important improvement already effected by her operations. Funds available and asked for are to be applied to the employment of the boat in snagging, dam-building, and scraping, as called for by the ever-changing emergencies of the navigation. 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 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 40,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R R 4.) 5. Colorado River, Nevada, California, and Arizona.-An examination between the Needles and El Dorado Cañon was made by Lieutenant Roessler during September, 1884, and a project for an improvement at three obstructions in this portion of the river was adopted in October, 1884. A barge fitted with derrick, steam capstan, and quarters for crew was built in San Francisco, launched on the river, and started with working party from the Needles January 26. Work was discontinued on account of the high stage of the river March 26. Improvements were effected at Six-Mile Rapid and Mojave Crossing, which are reported as having given material aid to the navigation. The funds available are to be used in continuing work at the rapids between the Needles and El Dorado Cañon and the removal of three dangerous rocks above this last point. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $25,000 00 $15,686 59 15,741 59 9, 258 41 (See Appendix R R 5.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement. His report thereon was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. 1. Yuba River, California.-(See also Appendix R R 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLUMBIA AND WILLAMETTE RIVERS BELOW PORTLAND, OREGON, AND OF THE MOUTH OF COLUMBIA RIVER-OF THE ENTRANCES TO COOS AND YAQUINA BAYS AND MOUTH OF COQUILLE RIVER, OREGON, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS EMPTYING INTO PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON TERRITORY-WATER-GAUGES ON COLUMBIA RIVER. Officer in charge, Capt. C. F. Powell, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Edward Burr, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Columbia and Willamette rivers below Portland, Oregon.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1877 and modified subsequently, the object being to afford a ship channel of 20 feet depth at low water, by contraction and shore-protection works at four bars from Portland to Columbia City; by temporary improvement at the bars during construction of the works and at three shoal places below Columbia City, and by snagging operations. The natural depth of channel at the shoalest place was about 9 feet, and on six other bars 10 to 15 feet at low water. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1885, is $370,718.94, and has resulted gener ally in maintaining a channel depth of successively 17, 18, and 19 feet, low water, from Astoria, near the mouth of the Columbia River, to Portland, 100 miles inland. Operations during the year consisted of tem porary improvement at three bars, works of construction at one of those bars, and at two others, and in removal of snags. The city of Portland conducted dredging at the bar next below the city. The amount asked for the next fiscal year is for completion of the projected contraction and shore-protection works, temporary improve. ment during the year, extension of the plan of permanent works below Columbia City and for removal of a rock onstruction; for an explanation of which see report of the engineer in charge, in Appendix. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount received by transfer of property to other improvements and by deposit ount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $1.98 6,250 36 100,000 00 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 106, 252 34 $105, 120 92 627 14 105,748 06 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 504 23 250,541 74 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix S S 1.) 2. Mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon and Washington Territory.The project of this improvement, adopted in 1884, is to afford a channel 30 feet deep at mean low tide, by a low-tide jetty about 44 miles long and of a partly tentative character from near Fort Stevens, on the south cape, to a point about 3 miles south of Cape Disappointment. The natural channel is shifting, sometimes good and sometimes poor. Of late years it has carried about 19 feet at low water and for an insufficient width; 26 feet are required on the bar in a wide, direct, and stable channel, and 30 feet are desirable for the deep vessels needed by the Columbia River trade, on account of the heavy seas of the locality. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1885, is $59,376.70. Operations have consisted in necessary preliminary work; building certain accessory structures; procuring an efficient plant, and in commencing the jetty construction at extreme high-tide line. Contracts are in force for furnishing piles; brush, for foundation course, is cut on the Fort Stevens military reservation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884... July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available.... $100,000 00 $59,376 70 6,326 02 65,702 72 34, 297 28 ́Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 3,700, 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 S S 2.) 1,330, 000 00 3. Entrance to Coos Bay, Oregon.-The project of this improvement, adopted in 1879, and subsequently extended, is to build a half-tide jetty or deflecting dike about 2,400 feet long, from near Fossil Point inside of the entrance towards Coos Head exterior to the entrance, for affording a direct channel of least depth of 14 feet at mean lower low tide. The mean rise of tide above this plane is 5.6 feet. The natural channel was shifting, usually in sharp curves, and sometimes carrying not more than 7 to 8 feet depth. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $124,953.48, and has resulted in the construction of an incomplete jetty in deep water, 1,775 feet long, affording during the last four years a straighter and more stable channel. The general effect of the work has been to partly erode the north spit as desired and to deflect the ebb about one-half from its former direction towards that intended. The appropriation estimated for next year is to be applied to jetty extension. It is expected with this amount to further improve the channel direction and to increase the depth. July 1, 1884, amount available................. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of atstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. ly 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities ly 1, 1885, amount available $22 04 30,000 00 30,022 04 $25,957 13 306 13 26, 263 26 3,758 78 440,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... See Appendix SS 3.) 4. Entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon.-The project of this improveCent, adopted in 1879, is to build a brush and stone jetty about 4,000 et long with shore protection, and to close the rock-obstructed south annel and force the ebb against the reef of Yaquina Head with the ew of providing a central channel of least depth of 12 feet at mean |