water navigation was provided for by the construction of locks and dams. Three masonry locks, at distances, respectively, of 0.68, 3.86, and 5.24 miles below Greensport, had been nearly completed with their dams, and a fourth lock and dam, 21 miles below Lock No. 3, had been commenced. The completion of the first three locks, with the dam af Lock 4, will give access from Rome, Ga., to the Coosa River coal-fields. During the year ending June 30, 1889, the expenditure of $26,839.84 has resulted in the practical completion of Locks 1, 2, and 3, some modificatious in the valves only being required to open them to navigation. The act of August 11, 1888, provided for a survey of the river from Lock 4 to Wetumpka, with estimates for its improvement. This survey is now in progress. Lock 4 will be the first lock in the down-stream navigation should the river be opened to Wetumpka, and it is proposed to increase its dimensions to 52 feet by 322 feet. The building of Lock 4, with the opening of the river below it to Wetumpka, will provide water transportation from the Coosa River coalfields to the Gulf at Mobile, Alabama, by way of the Alabama River. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $2,544.50 60,000.00 62, 544.50 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 225,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix Q 8.) 9. Chattahoochee River, Georgia and Alabama.-The river was originally much obstructed by logs, snags, overhanging trees, and by a number of rock and marl shoals and sand-bars, so that navigation was difficult and dangerous. Steam-boats could only run by daylight, and were then often detained for days by a single obstruction. Very many were lost by striking snags or logs. The present plau'of improvement (adopted in 1873) contemplates a low-water channel 4 feet in depth and 100 feet in width from Columbus, Ga., to Chattahoochee, Fla., a distance of 224 miles, by the removal of snags and other obstructions from the channel and overhanging trees from the banks, by the excavation of rock shoals, and by works of contraction. Previous to the act of June 18, 1878, $70,000 was appropriated for "Chattahoochee and Flint rivers," but it is not known how the amount was apportioned. Up to June 30, 1888, $150,134.04 of the appropriations for the Chattahoochee River alone had been expended, and with its share of the combined appropriations had resulted in securing a fair navigable channel between Chattahoochee and Eufaula at all seasons of the year, and between Eufaula and Columbus at all times except during the prevalence of extreme low water. Steam-boats now make regular trips with but few accidents or detentions, running by night as well as by day. The limited annual appropriations for this improvement have not been sufficient to maintain the works of contraction constructed, nor to extend or modify them as required. The jetties and training walls are in need of much repair. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $10,507.57 has been expended in maintaining the existing improvement, excavating rock shoals, and in procuring new plant to replace that worn out. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding. $2,884. 17 20,000.00 22, 884. 17 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $10,507.57 3,400.00 14, 637.29 8, 246.88 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix Q 9.) == 182, 247.66 40,000.00 10. Tallapoosa River, Alabama.-The condition of this river when first examined was such that navigation was entirely suspended at low water, owing to the great accumulation of logs, snags, sunken and fallenin timber, a large number of overhanging trees obstructing the channel, gravel and sand-bars, and at some points reefs of rock crossing the river, thus rendering navigation dangerous if not impracticable. The river presented generally long reaches of fine open navigable water with a width of 200 to 300 feet and a depth of 6 to 12 feet, and when this width was exceeded to any extent shoal water was found with gravel and island bars. The original project adopted pursuant to an examination and partial survey of this river, made under an act of Congress approved June 14, 1880, contemplated obtaining a navigable channel from the mouth of the river to the foot of the Tallassee Reefs, 2 miles below the town of Tallassee, a distance of 48 miles, with a least depth of 3 feet and a width of 60 feet at low water, by the removal of logs and snags from the channel and of all overhanging timber from the banks where they interfere with navigation, by cutting through the soft rock that obstructed the river at several points, by contracting the channel at various shoal places with dams, jetties, and dikes, and also building such shore protection as might be found necessary. The present project, approved September 13, 1888, provides for a detailed survey of this river with permanent stations and bench-marks at intervals of about 1 mile, in connection with the original project, but has not yet been made on account of insufficiency of funds. The expenditure of $30,700.86, up to June 30, 1888, resulted in clearing out all logs and snags from the river channel, and in improving one of the rock-reefs, so as to admit of navigation at a moderate stage of water for a distance of 48 miles from the mouth of the river. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $5,136.48, and resulted in clearing the channel from its junction with the Coosa to the foot of Tallassee Reefs, a distance of 48 miles, of all snags and logs brought in during the winter freshets, and the removal of a considerable amount of overhanging timber from the banks, rendering the river navigable for small boats of 20-inch draught during the entire year. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding. $1,817. 14 7,500,00 9, 317.14 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities $5, 136. 48 5,524.00 July 1, 1889, balance available 3,793. 14 (Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, (See Appendix Q 10.) 10,000.00 11. Cahaba River, Alabama.-Under the act of Congress approved June 23, 1874, and an act approved June 14, 1880, examinations and a partial survey of this river were made in 1874 and in 1880, pursuant to which the present plan of improvement was adopted. This contemplates a channel 60 feet wide and 3 feet deep at low water from the mouth of the river to Centreville, Ala., a distance of 88 miles, by the removal of logs and snags from the channel, cutting overhanging trees from the banks, protecting caving banks from further erosion, removing rock-reefs, gravel-bars, and sand-bars, by excavation, and by works of contraction and widening the narrow portions of the river at certain specified points. The expenditure up to June 30, 1888, of $29,698.15 had resulted in clearing the river channel of logs and snags, and removing overhanging trees from the mouth of the river to Centreville, and in maintaining this degree of improvement up to close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. Since that time no work has been done because of a proviso in the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, that "no part of said sum ($7,500 appropriated for this work) shall be expended until the officer in charge shall have reported that the railroad and other bridges across said river have been provided with good and sufficient draw openings." These bridges continue to obstruct the navigation of the river, not having been provided with draw openings. The working plant of the Cahaba River has been transferred to the Escambia and Conecuh improvement. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix Q 11.) $7, 801.85 7,801.85 157,500.00 20,000. 00 12. Alabama River, Alabama.-The original condition of the river channel during the low-water season was such that commerce was much restricted, the smallest class of steam-boats only running, navigation being difficult and dangerous. These restrictions were caused by the innumerable bars, shoals, reefs, and collection of sunken logs and snags, at many of which points the low-water depth was reduced to 34 feet, and at some points to 24 feet. The width of the channel varies with the width of the river. The general width of the river from the mouth of the Coosa down to Gainestown ranges from 500 to 600 feet; below that point the width increases to 700 and 800 feet; wherever these widths are exceeded to any extent are found the bars, shoals, and reefs. In the open reaches of the river ample water is found. That portion below the Cut-Off, 20 miles in length, was absolutely inaccessible during low water, and all the landings situated thereupon were deprived of reliable service during that season. The plan of improvement adopted pursuant to an examination and partial survey of this river, made under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, contemplated obtaining a channel 200 feet in width and 4 feet in depth at low water from the mouth of the Alabama, 50 miles above Mobile, to Wetumpka, Ala., a distance of 387 miles, by the removal of snags, logs, etc., from the channel, cutting overhanging trees from the banks, protecting caving banks from further erosion, removing rock-reefs, gravel and sand bars by blasting, dredging, and works of contraction at certain specified points of the river. The present project, approved September 13, 1888, provides for a detailed survey of this river, with permanent stations and bench marks at intervals of about 1 mile, in connection with the original project, but has not yet been made on account of insufficiency of funds. The expenditure of $142,712.56, up to June 30, 1888, resulted in clearing the river of all dangerous snags, overhanging timber, in the improvement of the worst bars, in opening 20 miles of the river below the Cut-Off, before inaccessible during low water, in an increased safety to navigation, greater regularity and reduction in time of trips, and enabling boats to carry larger loads. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $8,882.52, was expended in maintaining the existing improvements. July 1, 1838, amount available, including liabilities outstanding. $2,287.44 20,000.00 22, 287.44 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities $8,882.52 9,773.93 12, 513.51 July 1, 1889, balance available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (subject to revision).. 200,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 40,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866, and 1867. (See Appendix Q 12.) 13. Removal of sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. —A fragment of wreckage from the middle-ground entrance to Pensacola Harbor was removed by the contractor, Mr. William Hughes, of Warrington, Fla. The work was completed in November, 1888. (See Appendix Q 13.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF August 5, 1886. The river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, provided for the resurvey of outer and inner bars at Pensacola, Florida, and the following paragraph in reference thereto is quoted from my annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888: Under the provisions of section 6 of the river and harbor act approved August 5, 1886, Captain Hoxie was charged with survey of outer and inner bars at Pensacola, Fla., which has not yet been completed owing to insufficient amount of the allotment practicable for this purpose from the appropriation for examinations and surveys made by the act. The officer in charge, in a communication to this office dated March 7, 1888, recommended a specific appropriation of $5,000 for the purpose of making proper survey and examination of this locality, and his communication was transmitted to Congress from the War Department March 15, 1888, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 226, Fiftieth Congress, first session. The appropriation asked for was not granted, and the resurvey was therefore completed as thoroughly as practicable with the small allotment available, and the results submitted in report of Captain Price, successor to Captain Hoxie, in charge of the work, dated February 8, 1889. (See Appendix Q 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, Captain Price, 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. St. Andrew's Bay, Florida.-(See Appendix Q 15.) 2. Chipola River, Florida, from its mouth to Marianna.-(See Appendix Q 16.) At the following localities reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, the result of the preliminary examination containing information sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary: 1. Chipola River, Florida, from its mouth to Wewahitchka and the “CutOff" and "Lee's Slough," running from the Apalachicola River to the Chipola River.-The improvement proposed contemplates the removal of overhanging trees, logs, and snags and the widening of the channel in some places in "Lee's Slough." Estimated cost $7,500. (See Appendix Q 16.) 2. Flint River, Georgia; Rock reefs at Albany and above.-The ob structions consist of nine reefs or shoals situated between Albany and Warwick, but until the effect upon the river above of the removal of the shoals below Albany is determined, it is not considered wise to do any work upon the shoals above further than the removal of loose rock from the channel. (See Appendix Q 17.) 3. Choctawhatchee River, Alabama, for low-water navigation.-As the existing project for the improvement of this river provides for a low water channel from its mouth to Geneva, the present examination extended only from Geneva to Newton, and contemplates a low-water channel 3 feet deep and 60 feet wide between those points at an estimated cost of $57,125. No improvement of the river above the Hollis Bridge should, however, be undertaken until that structure is provided with a suitable draw. (See Appendix Q 18.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made. by the local engineer for the location of a channel in and along the Coosa River, Alabama, from the rapids at Wetumka to connect with the improvements already completed on said river, above the Ten Islands, etc., that the locality is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor |