5. Emory River, Tennessee, from its mouth to Harriman.-Lieut. Col. Robert submitted report of examination under date of August 22, 1892. It is his opinion that Emory River is worthy of improvement by the General Government, provided it can be done at a reasonable cost, which can only be determined by a survey, the cost of which is estimated at $600. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 21, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix D D 12.)

IMPROVEMENT OF TENNESSEE RIVER BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, AND FOOT OF BEE TREE SHOALS, ALABAMA.

This district was in the charge of Capt. George W. Goethals, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock,.Corps of Engineers. 1. Tennessee River between Chattanooga, Tenn., and foot of Bee Tree Shoals, Alabama.-The original condition of the river from Chattanooga to Browns Ferry, as shown by examinations made in 1867 and subsequently, was unfavorable to navigation, the channel being obstructed by rock reefs, bars, bowlders, and projecting rocky points, permitting the passage of vessels from six to nine months annually. From Browns Ferry to Florence it was navigable only at unusually highwater stages, owing to the obstructions known as Big and Little Muscle Shoals. Navigation between Florence and Riverton, Ala., was lim、 ited to about six months annually, owing to the obstructions known as Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals.

The existing project of improvement is as follows:

a. Removing obstructions by blasting and dredging at Ross Towhead, in "The Suck," and at Bridgeport and Guntersville, Ala.

b. Building a canal 14.5 miles long, 70 to 120 feet wide and 6 feet deep to permit navigation past the river obstructions known as Big Muscle Shoals; the canal to have nine locks, each 60 feet wide by 300 feet long, and to cross Shoal Creek by means of an aqueduct 900 feet long and 60 feet wide. Constructing a canal 13 miles long, to enable vessels to avoid the obstructions known as the Elk River Shoals; this canal to have two locks, one at each end.

c. Blasting a channel through bed rock and building wing dams at Little Muscle Shoals; the project as modified in 1890 contemplates the building of a canal along the north bank of the river 3 miles long, with two locks.

d. Constructing a canal 8 miles long, 150 feet wide and 7 feet deep, past the Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals obstructions, with one guard lock at the upper and one lock with 25-foot lift at the lower end; these locks to be 80 feet wide and 350 feet long.

The total amount expended to June 30, 1892, including outstanding liabilities, was $3,556,529.70, and resulted in the improvement of the river as follows:

Navigation through "The Suck" and the Pan was rendered easier by the removal of bowlders, detached rock, overhanging trees, and projecting rocky points. At Elk River and Big Muscle Shoals the locks, gates, valves, and machinery for properly operating them were completed; the aqueduct and permanent stone dams finished; houses for lock-keepers and assistants, a dredge and towboat for use of the canal built, and the canal opened to navigation the year round. At Little Muscle Shoals the channel was deepened by blasting, and wing dams built in accordance with the original project, giving increased depth. At Colbert and Bee Tree Shoals increased depth was obtained

by excavating a channel and contracting the waterway by means of riprap dams; survey of location for proposed lateral canal was completed and center line permanently marked by stone monuments.

The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding liabilities, was $167,422.41, for which the following work was done:

Chattanooga, Tenn., to Decatur, Ala.-The channels through Tumbling Shoals, Poor Horse and Broad Axe bars were straightened and deepened by blasting, and the low-water fall reduced, making navigation easier. At Ross Towhead and Guntersville a considerable quantity of rock and gravel was removed under contract, resulting in increased depth of channel at these localities. At Bridgeport some of the obstructing rock ledges were blasted and gravel removed from the channel by dredging. The gap in Beards Reef was cleared of obstructing rocks, giving a straight channel 120 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

Decatur, Ala., to Florence, Ala.-A large quantity of stone was quarried at both divisions of the canal, and after being broken was placed on the inner slopes of the longitudinal dam and canal embankments throughout their entire length to tighten them; the effect of the broken stone, in addition, is to protect slopes from wash by passing vessels and the embankments from ravages by muskrats. An obstructing towhead which had formed in the channel above Lock A was removed; the channel below Lock B was deepened and widened by dredging; the wooden snubbing posts at the various locks and below Lock 9 were replaced with iron ones; filling and grading were done behind lock walls and lock-keepers' houses where needed; certain Government lands and lock-keepers' houses were inclosed by fences. A building to be used as quarters for foremen was completed; a machine shop was constructed and fitted up with necessary machines for repairing lock machinery, tools, and appliances, and arrangements made to operate the machines by steam or water power; quarters were arranged for laborers; a ditch about 1,100 feet long was dug as an outlet for overflow from Six Mile waste weir, and new ties were placed on railway track over Six Mile and Bluewater weirs.

Florence, Ala., to foot of Bee Tree Shoals.-The test pits and examinations needed to determine the nature of foundation for the lock were completed. By a modification of the project it is proposed to substitute a single lock of 25-foot lift for the two locks contemplated in the modified project of 1891. Bids for the construction of this lock were opened May 15, and a contract was awarded just before the close of the fiscal year. Satisfactory arrangements were made and authority granted to purchase 305.35 acres of land needed for canal purposes, and of this amount 82.07 acres was purchased and paid for. The channel opposite Colbert Island was straightened and deepened by the removal of a number of detached rocks and by repairing a break in the longitudinal dam. In order to determine the depth of rock on the site of lock walls a number of borings were made.

Four hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars of the appropriation of July 13, 1892, for improving Tennessee River below Chattanooga, was allotted to this reach, making, with the balance already on hand, $626,353.91 available for work. Of this amount $149,027.64 was expended during the year, not including outstanding liabilities, July 1, 1893, $18,394.77, and the amount covered by uncompleted contracts on that date, $38,093.85. The amount estimated as required to complete the existing project for this reach is $5,707,939.81. Two million dollars can be profitably expended in the year ending June 30, 1895.

The money statement for this work is consolidated with that for Tennessee River below Bee Tree Shoals, page 300, so as to embrace the entire reach of the river below Chattanooga, as follows:

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts ....

47, 980. 17

66, 374.94

July 1, 1893, balance available.....

*436, 527. 74

2,130,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........... 5, 837, 939. 81 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix E E 1.)

2. Operating and care of Muscle Shoals Canal, Tennessee River.-The canal has been in constant use since it was opened to navigation, November 10, 1890. The number of steamboats, barges and miscellaneous craft, exclusive of Government boats engaged in the improvement of the Tennessee River and care of the canal, that used the canal during the year was 223.

A most serious break occurred on the morning of June 1, just above Lock 3, owing to an unprecedented rainfall of 3.6 inches in less than nine hours; without warning a section of the towpath 75 feet in length and extending to bed rock, 23 feet below the railway track, was carried away. By working night and day the damage was repaired in time for two vessels to pass through on the 3d of the month.

The accumulation of sediment in the canal required frequent dredging; 38,964 cubic yards of material was thus removed during the year, besides about 1,500 logs which had drifted in the channels leading to the canal proper.

The total expenses during the year, in cluding outstanding indebtedness, amounted to $55,975.19.

(See Appendix E E 2.)

IMPROVEMENT OF OHIO, MONONGAHELA, CHEAT, ALLEGHENY, AND

MUSKINGUM RIVERS.

This district was in the charge of Lieut. Col. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Harry F. Hodges, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders from August 15, 1892, to April 23, 1893; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Ohio River.-The following is a summary of the work done during the fiscal year:

Logstown.-Work was commenced at this place upon a modification of the old riprap curved dike, so as to place it in a line perpendicular to the shore, and other spur dikes were planned to improve the low

*A contract for $305, 766. 60 of this amount has been awarded.

water channel. A vigorous opposition to the change was made by the Pittsburg Coal Exchange, and work was suspended and a board of engineer officers convened to examine the site and report upon the plans. The board recommended the construction of the cross-dike in place of the upper part of the training dike, and one other spur dike, but, in view of the strong opposition of the coal-boat operators, considered it advisable to omit from the plans the work that was intended for improving the low-water channel.

Ice pier at Kerrs Run.-This work was completed during the year. Dikes at Eight Mile Bar.-Supplementary works were constructed at this point, for the purpose of improving the channel opposite the dike built in 1885-'86. Two loose stone spur dikes were constructed, one 450 feet and one 210 feet in length. They were located at right angles to the current, and carried up to an elevation 4 feet above low water. Observations taken subsequently indicated a considerable improvement in the channel, as regards depth, width, and general direction.

Rock bar at mouth of Licking River.-A steam drilling scow for the removal of the rocky bar in the mouth of Licking River, by blasting and subsequent dredging, is now in process of construction.

Cullums Ripple.-A hired dredge was employed from November 15 to November 20, 1892, in removing snags and small drift, which had become so tightly packed as to form an obstruction in the channel opposite the dike at Cullums Ripple. Sixteen snags and seventeen cords of drift were removed and disposed of in such a manner that no further danger to navigation could result.

Great Miami Embankment.-Enlargement of this embankment has been completed, so far as funds under the allotment would permit, and the work may be considered completed.

Rising Sun.-A hired dredge with towboat and barges was employed, from November 11 to November 30, in widening and straightening the channel opposite the upper dike on the Indiana shore at Rising Sun. Three thousand three hundred and twenty cubic yards was removed by dredging, and by this removal a very much larger quantity was scoured out by the current, so that a greatly improved channel resulted.

Dike at Madison, Ind.-This work was completed during the year. Embankment at Shawneetown. This was enlarged and the work under the allotment completed in May, 1893.

Brooklyn Harbor.-By the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, the sum of $10,000 was allotted for the purpose of improving the harbor at Brooklyn, Ill. The work of improvement was a continuation and extension of that done in 1884 and 1888. The United States dredges commenced work in October, 1892, and continued until December 17, 1892, when they were stopped by high water. Thirty-nine thousand two hundred and eighty-six and four-tenths cubic yards of pudding stone, gravel, and mud was removed during this time.

Dike at middle of Grand Chain.-This dike, which has been a long time in building on account of unfavorable stages of the river, was completed with a total length of 3,008 feet.

Operations of United States dredges.-The dredges after undergoing repairs started down the river from Cincinnati August 16, 1892. Dredg ing was done at French Island, Bowlesville, Caseyville, Sisters, resulting in the removal of 24,230.6 cubic yards of sand, 16,805.5 cubic yards of loose rock, sand, and gravel, one wreck, and eight snags. After performing this work the dredges were employed at Brooklyn Harbor.

Gauging low-water discharge of Ohio River.-Measurements were made of the low-water discharge below the mouths of the principal streams tributary to the Ohio River. This was accomplished during the low-water stage of the river which prevailed during the month of October and early portion of November, 1892, and furnishes valuable information.

Surveys. Special surveys of the river were made at Clusters, Rising Sun, Scuffletown, and at Eight Mile Bar.

The amount expended up to close of fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $5,081,947.33.

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts....

July 1, 1893, balance available.......

106, 787. 29

311, 528.55

$15, 831.31

79, 979. 17

95,810. 48

215, 718. 07

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,
1895
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.
(See Appendix F F 1.)

1, 000, 000. 00

2. Operating snag-boat on Ohio River.-The repairs made to the snag boat E. A. Woodruff were only those of the most urgent character. The boat worked from August 8 to December 16, 1892, 131 days, and in this time removed 532 snags, 1 rock, and 45 wrecks. The total distance traveled was 2,1214 miles. The officer in charge earnestly recommends an increase of the amount of money to be made applicable to this work each year, as the amount of $25,000 per year now provided by permanent annual appropriation made by act of September 19, 1890, is not sufficient to keep the snag boat fully employed and in repair. An increase to $50,000 per year would, it is believed, permit this service to be so thorough as to add largely to the safety of navigation and make the service entirely satisfactory.

The amount expended on this work up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $37,400.

(See Appendix F F 2.)

3. Operating and care of Davis Island Dam, Ohio River, near Pittsburg, Pa.-This dam was built to test the adaptability of the system of movable dams to the peculiar condition of the Ohio River, and to the special character of the commerce that navigates it. It was intended to be the first step in the radical improvement of the Ohio River, designed to give a minimum depth of 6 feet at all times, except when ice was running. Incidentally this dam has been of great value to the city of Pittsburg, by securing an ample depth of water in its harbor throughout the low-water season. It has also been of immense benefit to the coal trade by enabling them to bring loaded boats out of the Monongahela River at any time. The natural harbor room of Pittsburg is very limited, and before the Davis Island Dam was built the great bulk of coal barges were held in the Monongahela. In short rises the amount of coal that could be shipped south was absolutely limited by the number of barges that could be locked through the lowest dam