July 1, 1888, amount available $99.03 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. 3,000.00 3,099.03 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1889, balance available $240.57 241.05 2,857.98 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix L 9.) 13, 000, 00 8,000.00 10. York River, Virginia.-The Pamunky and Mattaponi rivers unite at West Point to form the York River, which follows a southeasterly course for 41 miles and empties into Chesapeake Bay. Its average width as far as Yorktown, a distance of 26 miles, is 14 miles. Prior to the commencement of the present improvement the navigation was obstructed by two bars; one at West Point, 2.1 miles in length, with a ruling depth of 15 feet at low water; the other at Potopotank Creek, 8 miles below, with a ruling depth of 18 feet at low water. With the exception of these two bars the depth of the channel was not less than 20 feet. The original project for the improvement of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to provide a channel 22 feet deep at low water and 100 feet wide through both bars, and also a basin of the same depth opposite the wharves at West Point, and connecting with the channel. Since the commencement of the work in 1880 the trade at West Point has largely increased and the depth of 22 feet at low water in the channel does not answer the present demands of navigation. Steamers now load at West Point drawing 24 feet. During the progress of the work in 1889 the Secretary of War directed (January 4, 1889), at the request of the agents of the Piedmont Air Line Company (Richmond and Danville Railroad), that the project be modi fied to authorize, under the contract with the American Dredging Company, the deepening of the channel to admit the passage at low water of vessels drawing 24 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $95,348.62, which provided: (1) A channel through West Point Bar for a distance of 11,300 feet with a width varying from 100 to 230 feet and with a depth varying from 17.8 feet to 25.6 feet at low water; and (2) A channel through Potopotank Bar 105 feet wide with a depth of 22 feet at low water. The only dredging at this bar was done in 1881. These channels have not the width nor depth sufficent to accommodate the present trade of York River, and freight brought by rail to West Point to be shipped to foreign ports. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $30,962.33 was expended at the West Point Bar, which gave a channel through the bar of a width varying from 161 feet to 257 feet, and a depth, exclusive of the center cut, of 22 feet at mean low water. Under the modification of the project by the Secretary of War, a cut 40 feet wide, in the center of the channel, and 24 feet deep was dredged through the bar, The total amount expended to June 30, 1889, is $126,310.95. July 1, 1888, amount available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $3,401.38 30,000.00 33, 401.38 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $30,899.83 30,962. 33 2,439.05 July 1, 1889, balance available..... 127, 250.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 10.) 11. Chickahominy River, Virginia.-Before improvement the obstructions below Windsor Shades consisted of three bars near that point, upon which the depth was from 4 to 5 feet at low water, and a bar at the mouth of the river upon which the depth at low water was from 11 to 12 feet. The project for improvement, as amended in 1882, provides for dredging channels from 100 to 150 feet wide through Windsor Shades, Old Fort and Binn's bars, to a depth of not less than 8 feet at low water, and for dredging a channel through the bar at the mouth with a width of 200 feet and a depth of from 14 to 15 feet at low water. Up to June 30, 1888, $19,000 had been expended. Channels of the required width and depth were dredged through the bar at the mouth and at Windsor Shades, and also for portions of the distance through the bars at Old Fort and Binn's. The channels at Windsor Shades and Old Fort had been reduced in width on June 30, 1888, to about 75 feet by filling at the sides, and the channel at Binn's Bar had narrowed to about 160 feet. The depths remained about as dredged, except at Old Fort Bar, which had filled to some extent. There was expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, $1,927.12, making a total of $20,927.12 to that date. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, a continuation of the channel at Binn's Bar was dredged to a depth of 9 feet for a width of 60 feet and a length of 1,500 feet; and a continuation of the channel at Old Fort Bar was dredged to a depth of 9 feet for widths of 30 and 60 feet and a length of 800 feet. Work was still in progress at the close of the fiscal year. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $2,500.00 $400.31 1,526. 81 95.06 2,022. 18 477.82 7,500.00 5,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix L 11.) 12. Staunton River, Virginia. (a) Between Brook Neal and Randolph.Prior to improvement the river could be navigated only by bateaux drawing about 1 foot of water. Numerous rock ledges, sand-bars, and rapids occurred between reaches of deeper water well adapted to navi gation. The project for the improvement between Brook Neal and Randolph Station, 31 miles below, on the Richmond and Danville Railroad, was adopted in 1879, the object being to secure a navigable channel not less than 35 feet wide and 2 feet deep at low water through the various obstructions. The amount expended upon this portion of the river to June 30, 1888, was $32,112. About 29 miles of the river were opened for navigation by small steamers. During the year ending June 30, 1889, there has been expended $2,465.82, making a total to June 30, 1889, of $35,034.18. The expenditure during the year was upon the improvement of the rapids at White Rock Falls, which was only partly completed. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1883.. July 1. 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. $388.00 5,000.00 5,388.00 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $2,364.40 2, 922. 18 2,465.82 July 1, 1889, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix L 12.) 31, 200.00 20,000.00 (b) Between Pig River and Brook Neal.-The project for the improvement between Pig River and Brook Neal was adopted in 1882, the object being to secure a navigable channel for bateaux not less than 14 feet wide and from 1 to 2 feet deep at low water, with a slope of water surface at rapids not greater than 10 feet per mile. The amount expended upon this portion of the river to June 30, 1888, was $6,573.04. This expenditure resulted in opening a channel from the Virginia Midland Railroad Bridge to a distance of 184 miles above. During the year ending June 3, 1889, there has been expended $426.96, making a total expended to June 30, 1889, of $7,000. The expenditure during the year made the channel available for about 18 miles above the Virginia Midland Railroad Bridge. July 1, 1888, amount available.... July 1, 1839, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. (See Appendix L 12.) $426.96 426.96 13. Dan River, Virginia and North Carolina.-The navigation in the Dan River, between Madison, N. C., and Danville, Va., prior to the improvement, was obstructed by numerous bowlders and rock ledges and sand and gravel bars and rapids. Between these obstructions were pools or reaches of navigable water. The original project for this improvement was adopted in 1880, the object being to afford a channel for navigation not less than 35 feet wide and not less than 1 feet deep in pools, and 2 feet deep in the rapids at extreme low water from the head of the canal at Danville, Va., to Madison, N. C., a distance of 49.13 miles. It was believed that these depths would give for six months in the year a channel of not less than 3 feet depth through the various obstructions. The project was afterward modified to a channel of not less than 16 feet wide and 2 feet deep in the rapids at extreme low water, which were the dimensions excavated. The amount expended upon the improvement to June 30, 1888, was $50,088.81. This has secured a channel of nearly the dimensions required, from Danville to Madison, the proposed head of navigation; further work is necessary for its completion. The channel was available for rafting lumber, and for bateau navigation, except at extreme low water, though the current was rapid at several shoals which it was intended to remedy by the construction of spur-dams. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $411.19 has been expended, which has completed the spur-dams at Slink's Shoal, reducing the velocity of current at that point. The funds being exhausted, and Congress having made no appropriation for the following year, the plant was sold at auction in August, 1888. The total amount expended to June 30, 1889, is $50.500. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 .... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 13.) $411. 19 411. 19 7,000 14. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navi gation. The Amicus, a wooden barge, was sunk April 8, 1888, at Skidmore's Bar, in the Pamunky River, 48 miles above West Point, Va., and was abandoned by her owners. She was an obstruction to navigation and prevented dredging which was proposed in the project for the improvement of the Pamunky River during the year 1889. The usual notice of thirty days to persons interested was published, and proposals were opened May 6, 1889. The bid of $800 by Messrs. James H. and Charles H. Denmead, of West Point, Va., was the lowest received, and a contract was made with them, and was approved June 5, 1889. The work of removal commenced June 11, and was in progress at the close of the fiscal year. (See Appendix L 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Mr. S. T. Abert, United States agent, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement. 1. Hull's Creek, Virginia.-(See Appendix L 15.) 2. Hunting Creek at its mouth, Virginia.-(See Appendix L 16.) 3. Channel crossing the Potomac River, from Alexandria, Virginia, to the Maryland side.-(See Appendix L 17.) Preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer, Mr. S. T. Abert, United States agent, and reported by him as worthy of improvement: 1. Quantico Creek, Virginia.—(See Appendix L 18.) 2. Ware River, Virginia.-(See Appendix L 19.) 3. Machodac River, Virginia.-(See Appendix L 20.) The Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, did not concur in the opinion of Mr. Abert. I am not satisfied that these localities are worthy of improvement, and for this reason surveys have not been ordered. It appearing from the report of the preliminary examinations made by the local engineer that the following localities are worthy of im provement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Mr. S. T. Abert, United States agent, was charged with their survey, the results of which will be submitted when received: 1. Occoquan Creek, Virginia. 3. Acquia Creek, Virginia. 3. Chickahominy Creek [River], Virginia. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. Officer in charge, Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders, until August 28, 1888, First Lieut. H. Taylor, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Roanoke River, North Carolina and Virgina.-When placed under governmental improvement in 1872, this stream possessed a 10-foot depth of channel from its mouth 61 miles up to Hamilton, thence a 5-foot depth 68 miles further to Weldon (about eight months per year), this channel depth being reduced during the low-water season to 10 feet to Hamilton and 2 feet to Weldon. Över the whole 129 miles the river was more or less obstructed by snags, fallen trees, rocky bars, and by war obstructions. The original projects of 1872 contemplated the removal of the war blockades, a few rocky bars, and all sunken logs, snags, floating and other obstructions, and the contraction of the channel-way by jetties, so as to assure during the entire year an unobstructed 10-foot navigation up to Hamilton, and 5-foot navigation up to Weldon. The total final cost of this work below Weldon was estimated in 1872 at $269,000 for a steam-boat channel of 5 feet depth at low water. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $71,152.69 (including outstanding liabilities) bad been spent upon this improvement, giving a moderately well-cleared channel over the entire length of the river, allowing a 10foot navigation 61 miles to Hamilton and a 2-foot navigation 68 miles further to Weldon all the year; and also a fairly well-cleared 5-foot navigation all the way to Weldon during eight months of the year. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $11,021.09, including outstanding liabilities, was spent mainly above Hamilton, in removing the worst leaning trees and other bank obstructions from the entire river and clearing a good channel of 100 feet width and 7 feet depth from Hamilton, 36 miles upward to Little Rocky Bar, and to 5 feet depth 22 miles further to Halifax, and of natural depth 10 miles further to Weldon. Such money as is now on hand will be used up be fore new appropriations can become available. After the improvement is finished its proper maintenance may cost from $2,000 to $6,000 per year. |