low water. The plans under consideration contemplate a bridge giving a clear height of 80 feet above low water, or 10 feet less than required by law, and the representatives of the river interest state that they are content with this reduced height. The Board are of the opinion that 80 feet height near Pittsburgh will give as much head-room in the floods as 90 feet at Stubenville, owing to the fact that the extreme oscillation of the river at Pittsburgh is more than 10 feet less than it is at Steubenville, and they, therefore, thin that the proposed reduction in height will not be an injury to naviga tion. Under these circumstances they are in favor of an 80-foot bridge at this locality, but in view of the positive requirements of the Oh River bridge law, that bridges in this part of the river shall have a height of 90 feet, they do not see how the War Department ean ap prove of the proposed height without additional legislation. As the Bridge Company has announced its intention of asking for such legisla tion, the Board would recommend that the War Department give the Bridge Company their support and co-operation in endeavoring to cure from Congress the privileges desired. In conclusion, the Board would recommend the approval of the pr posed bridge, except in the matter of height, which should be left op until Congress has had time to act on the application of the Bridge Co pany; it is evident that a failure of Congress to authorize the propos reduction in height will necessarily compel the raising of the supe structure to a height of 90 feet above low water. Respectfully submitted. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. WM. E. MERRILL, Lieut. Col. of Engineers J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. AMOS STICKNEY, Major of Engineers. LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., June 1, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to submit the accompanying plans and papers pertaining to the proposed bridge of the Ohio Connecting Railway Con pany across "the Ohio River from the south shore to the north shore thereof at a point about one-half mile south of the mouth of Cork's Rur. in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania," provided for by "an act to auther ize the construction of the Ohio Connecting Railway Company Bridge" approved May 14, 1888, and to state that upon measurement the main channel-span is found to be 525 feet from center to center of piers, and the piers to be 18 feet in thickness on the low-water line; deducting therefor 9 feet from each of the piers-18 feet-the clear width of the main-channel span is 507 feet, as required by the act. The back-chan nel span, adopting the same method of measurement, is found to be 416) feet from center to center of piers, from which deducting 16 feet for width of piers, leaves 400 feet clear width, as required by law. The plan also shows the bridge to be 80 feet above low water to the lowest part of the superstructure of the bridge, which is also in accord ance with the requirements of the act. It is accordingly recommended that the plan as submitted be approved. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. Secretary of War. (Through the Acting Judge Advocate General, U. S. Army.) [First indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., June 4, 1888. Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War, with instrument (prepared in duplicate) for his approval of the plans of the proposed bridge of the Ohio Connecting Railway Company across the Ohio River at the mouth of Cork's Run, Allegheny County, Pa. There is no extract from the company minutes showing the names of the present officers of the company with the papers. With this exception, the papers required by the War Department circular of July 31, 1886, are complete. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, June 19, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to return one copy of an instrument indicating Le approval by this Department of the plans and location, as shown on the accompanying map, of the bridge authorized to be constructed by the "Ohio Connecting Railway Company" over the Ohio River near the mouth of Cork's Run, Allegheny County, Pa., under the act of Congress approved May 14, 1888. Very respectfully, Mr. M. J. BECKER, WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Chief Engineer Ohio Connecting Railway Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. W W 20. FRIDGE OF THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY ACROSS THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER AT WAVERLY, MISSISSIPPI, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS OF MARCH 3, 1887. [THE ACT OF APRIL 2, 1888, CHANGES THE NAME OF THIS COMPANY TO RAILWAY INSTEAD OF RAILROAD.] THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Birmingham, Ala., May 16, 1888. DEAR SIR: As you are aware there has already been approved by the War Department the plans for the erection of a draw-bridge by this company crossing the Tombigbee River at Columbus, Miss. have now in contemplation a change of route which has in view the crossing of the Tombigbee River at a point 9 miles above Columbus known as Waverly. Should this line be adopted, we presume the Department will consider the necessity of our still building the draw. bridge, although no boats have ascended the river beyond the point of contemplated bridge site in the past four years. We have therefore prepared plan for a bridge giving 220 feet draw, which we respectfully submit for approval. You will find appended to the papers herewith an agreement (in duplicate) executed by the president of this company, which agreement is similar to the one heretofore executed by him in the matter of our proposed bridge across Tombigbee River at Columbus. I learn from the president that the information required by the War Department as to the directors and officers of this company for the current year, and as to the acceptance by this company of the several acts of Congress mentioned in the agreement, has been heretofore furnished, and is now filed with the papers pertaining to the bridges already authorized. This has been done in order to save time in the transmission of the papers back and forth, the necessities of our construction being urgent. W would therefore ask that you give this matter your earliest convenien attention. Yours, truly, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. I. Y. SAGE, General Manager. [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, May 23, 1888. Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. Plans for a bridge across the Tombigbee River at Columbus, Miss., submitted by the Georgia Pacific Railway Company, were approved by the Secretary of War April 28, 1888, as will appear from the papers herewith. The railway company now contemplates a change in the location of its proposed bridge from Columbus, Miss., to Waverly, a point on the river 9 miles above, and asks for the approval of the War Department thereof. The plan submitted covers the whole of the water-way of the river with its draw-spans, which, as nearly as can be ascertained from the drawings, are of sufficient width for the purposes of navigation at the proposed new location. The act of March 3, 1887, providing for the construction of bridges across the Sunflower, Yazoo, and Tombigbee rivers, authorizes the Georgia Pacific Railway to build bridges "at such points as may hereafter be selected by said railway company for crossing said rivers with its railroad line, the said bridges to be so constructed as not to interfere with the navigation of said rivers," and it is assumed that under this provision the railway company may change the location of the proposed bridge, the plans already approved having been first canceled. The information already furnished by the company in accordance with the requirements of the rule of the War Department dated July 31, 1886, will, it is supposed, suffice in the case of the bridge now proposed. Previous papers herewith. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Second indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, May 26, 1888. Respectfully referred to the Acting Judge-Advocate-General to prepare the approval in duplicate, which will be drawn so as to annul the former authority granted April 28, 1888. By order of the Secretary of War. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, with instrument (prepared in duplicate) for approval of plans of a bridge across the Tombigbee River, Mississippi, drawn so as to annul the authority granted April 28, 1888. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge Advocate-General. LETTER OF JOHN W. JOHNSTON, PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. THE GEORGIA PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Birmingham, Ala., June 13, 1888. SIR: I beg to acknowledge your esteemed favor of June 4, inclosing an instrument, in duplicate, indicating approval by the Secretary of War of amended design and location for our Tombigbee River Bridge. I have executed these papers, and now return the same herewith to the Department for completion. I beg to add that the approved plans for the bridge over the Tombigbee, at Columbus, were returned to the Secretary of War for cancellation by registered letter dated May 31. Hoping to receive, at an early day, our copy of the perfected papers, as above, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. President. LETTER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, June 20, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to return one copy of an instrument indicating the approval by this Department of the plans and location of a proposed bridge, to be constructed by the Georgia Pacific Railway Company across the Tombigbee River at Waverly, Miss. Very respectfully, JOHN W. JOHNSTON, Esq., WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Birmingham, Ala. President Georgia Pacific Railway Company, W W 21. BRIDGE OF THE MEMPHIS AND CHARLESTON RAILROAD COMPANY ACROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER AT CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS OF FEBRUARY 28, 1887. KNOXVILLE, TENN., January 30, 1888. SIR: Under an act of Congress, approved February 28, 1887, entitled "An act to authorize the construction of a bridge across the Tennessee River at or near Chattanooga, Tennessee," the Memphis and Charleston Railroad Company is authorized to construct and maintain a bridge and approaches thereto over the Tennessee River at or near Chattanooga, in Hamilton County, Tenn. In conformity to the requirements of section 4 of said act, I send you by Southern Express, for your examination and approval, a map of the river 1 mile above and below the proposed site, showing the location of the proposed bridge, course of the river, currents, contour lines, etc. Yours, respectfully, C. H. HUDSON, General Manager Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Respectfully referred to Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, for examination and early report. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. [Second indorsement.] U. S. ARMY, February 4, 1888. Corps of Engineers, JAS. C. POST, Major of Engineers. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers. It is believed that the interests of navigation, taking into considera tion the probable future commerce on the Tennessee River, require all draw-bridges to have a clear opening on each side of the pivot-pier of at least 160 feet, and as this length has been adopted for several other bridges now contemplated, I respectfully recommend that the same be required in this case, and that it be made the ruling length in all bridges hereafter built across this river. I would also recommend that the lowest part of the superstructure shall be not less than 70 feet above low water. This is the height the drawing indicates, though the figures are not stated. I also recommend that the length of the fixed spans be increased so as to give at least 175 feet clear space between piers at the ordinary stage of water, and that no riprap or other obstructions be allowed about the bases of piers. This latter modification, it is thought, will not materially increase the cost of the bridge, as the number of spans and piers will be reduced. It will be observed that no current observations, except at near low water, are shown on the map presented by the railroad company. The engineer of the company explains that during and since the taking of his observations the river has not reached a height which would |