being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Captain Price was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF MOBILE, OF WARRIOR, TOMBIGBEE, AND BLACK WARRIOR RIVERS, ALABAMA, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN MISSISSIPPI—IMPROVEMENT OF CHANNEL TO BILOXI BAY. Officer in charge, Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer since December 3, 1888, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engi neers. 1. Mobile Harbor, Alabama.—The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in August, 1888, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from the Gulf of Mexico to the city of Mobile of 280 feet width on top of cut, with a central depth of 23 feet at mean low water. The channel had originally a minimum depth of 5 feet through Choctaw Pass and 8 feet on Dog River Bar. This was deepened by dredging, under appropriations from 1826 to 1852 of $228,830.68, to 10 feet through both. In 1860 the channel in Choctaw Pass had shoaled to 74 feet. From 1870 to 1878 the channel was deepened by dredging to 13 feet, under appropriations amounting to $401,000. From 1881 to 1888 the channel was deepened by dredging to 17 feet, under appropriations amounting to $740,000, but this project was not completed when the new project was adopted. Considerable shoaling took place in a portion of this cut and deepening in another portion. Although 14 feet was found as the minimum actual depth, the available depth has never been less than 16 feet, as shown by the constant passage of vessels of that draught up to the present time. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $119,331.73, and resulted in obtaining a minimum depth of 19 feet for a distance of 12.9 miles, or about half of the entire length of the projected channel. The minimum depth in any portion of the channel is now 15.5 feet; last year it was 14 feet. The estimated cost of the present project is as follows: Completion of 17-foot channel (including removal of material filled in the cut) upon which the estimate for the 23-foot cut was based... Dredging channel 280 feet wide on top of cut, and central depth of 23 feet. 1,500,000 Removing material that will fill in during progress of work on 23-foot channel (three years). $282,000 198,000 1,980,000 The amount available and appropriation asked for is to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the modified project. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts July 1, 1859, balance available.... 4, 476.03 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R 1.) $1,730, 000, 00 500,000.00 2. Black Warrior River, Alabama, from Tuscaloosa to Daniel's Creek.The present project for the improvement of this section of the river was adopted in 1886, the object being to afford a water-way for the transportation of coal in barges from the Warrior coal-fields to the Gulf of Mexico. The present channel is only navigable during very high water, and is even then extremely dangerous. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $11,645.35. This was used in necessary surveys; preparation of plans and estimates; acquisition of land for site for Lock No. 1; erection of lock tender's house, and buildings required for quarters, kitchen, store-rooms, tool-rooms, cement warehouses, blacksmith shop and shed, and construction of two boats; partial clearing of lock-site; partial excavation of foundation pit for bank wall; partial stripping of quarry; partial grading of track from lock to quarry, and partial construction of coffer-dam. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $122,475.68 and was used in the completion of the work mentioned above as partially performed; laying track from the lock to the quarry, 13 miles; making two inclines from the bank into the lock chamber; framing and setting up of 19 derricks; construction of boat for derrick and two barges; quarrying of 7,811 cubic yards of stone; cutting of 2,364 cubic yards of stone; laying of 1,434 cubic yards of masonry; excavation of 816 cubic yards of rock and 1,500 cubic yards of earth in foundation. All the stone for completing Lock No. 1 is now ready, except about one-half of that needed for coping and miter wall. The estimated cost of the project is $741,670. The appropriation asked for and the amount available is to be applied to the completion of Lock No. 1 and construction of the others in order. July 1, 1888, amount available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... $94, 604.65 100,000.00 194, 604. 65 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1889, balance available..... $122, 475.68 9, 884.01 132,359.69 62, 244.96 535, 420, 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix R 2.) 3. Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers, Alabama and Mississippi-(a) Warrior River, Alabama.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1875, the object being to obtain a channel 4 feet deep and 80 feet wide at ordinary low water from its junction with the Tombigbee River up to Tuscaloosa. The channel at that time was not navigable at low water and was much obstructed at a medium stage. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was about $116,085 (exact figures can not be given, as for the years 1875-1882, inclusive, the appropriation was made for the Warrior and Tombigbee rivers jointly without any special allotment for each, and therefore no separate account was kept), and resulted in obtaining a channel safely and easily navigable at a stage of water fully 3 feet lower than was formerly practicable, enabling boats of 3 feet draught to run when the water is 1 foot above ordinary low water. The amount of $624.33 was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, in preparing maps, plans and estimates, and care of property. July 1, 1888, amount available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and (See Appendix R 3.) $302.96 18, 000. 00 18, 302.96 624.33 17, 678.63 8,000.00 8,000.00 (b) Tombigbee River, Alabama, from Walker's Bridge to Fulton.-The present project for the improvement of this section of the river is to open a channel for high-water navigation by the removal of snags and cutting overhanging timber. The channel was originally only navigable for small rafts and very troublesome for them. The amount expended to June 30, 1889 (the work having been commenced in the fiscal year), is $2,676.72, and has resulted in improving about one third of the entire distance according to the project. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement according to the approved project. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888............. $4,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 2,676.72 July 1, 1889, balance available 1,323.28 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... 7,000.00 1891 7,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R 3.) (c) Tombigbee River from Fulton to Vienna.-The project for the improvement of the river between Columbus and Fulton was adopted in 1873, the object being to give a good high-water navigation throughout by the removal of snags and overhanging trees. The channel before improvement was not navigable at all from Fulton down to Cotton Gin Port. From Cotton Gin Port down to Aberdeen, about 35 miles, it was navigable for small barges carrying about 125 bales of cotton. From Aberdeen to Columbus, about 65 miles, naviga tion was difficult when the river was 12 feet above ordinary low water. The project for the improvement of the portion of the river between Columbus and Vienna was adopted in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width 3 feet deep during ordinary low water. Before the improvement was commenced the channel was much obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and there was only 1 foot of water on some of the bars during ordinary low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was about $78,651.38 (exact figures can not be given for reasons stated in Warrior River report), and resulted in the completion of the proposed improvement (during the year 1886, in preservation of improvement already obtained) of that section of the river from Fulton down to Columbus and in giving such a channel from Columbus down to Vienna that navigation was possible on a 2-foot rise for boats drawing 3 feet, and the accomplishment of over one half of the work. The amount of $863.03 was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, in preparation of maps, plans, and estimates and preservation of property. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be expended in preservation of the improvement. July 1, 18-8, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, balance available.... (Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement. (See Appendix R 3.) $898.67 6,500.00 7,398.67 863.03 6, 535, 64 8,000.00 8,000.00 (d) Tombigbee River, below Vienna.-The project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1879, the object being to af ford a channel of navigable width and 4 feet deep at ordinary low water from the mouth up to Demopolis and 3 feet deep from Demopolis up to Vienna. Before the improvement was commenced the river was navigable from the mouth up to Bladon Springs, 143 miles above Mobile, during the entire year, but was obstructed by snags from Bladon Springs up to Demopolis; 243 miles above Mobile navigation was suspended about two months yearly during low water. From Demopolis up to Vienna the channel was much obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and water was so shoal on the bars that navigation was only attempted on a considerable rise. A railroad bridge at Jones' Bluff also gave considerable trouble. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was about $106,459.31 (exact figures can not be given for reasons stated in Warrior River report), and resulted in obtaining an unobstructed channel with 3 feet depth of water from the mouth up to Tompkins' Bluff, 197 miles above Mobile, with 2 feet depth up to Kirkpatrick's, 260 miles above Mobile, and 1 foot depth (at ordinary low water) up to Vienna. A considerable portion of the sum has been used in preservation of the improvement previously made. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $1,521.64, in preparation of maps, plans, and estimates and care of property. The amount available and appropriation asked for are to be expended in preservation of the improvement. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix R 3.) $102.26 6,000.00 6, 102.26 1,521.64 4,580.62 8,000.00 8,000.00 4. Noxubee River, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1880, the object being to afford a channel for small river steamers from its mouth up to Macon, Miss., of navigable width and depth when the water is above ordinary low-water stage. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $43,463.80, and resulted in obtaining a channel, partially improved, from the mouth of the river up to Macon, and a wholly improved channel (according to project) from Macon down to a point 28 miles below, and from the mouth of the river to a point 35 miles above, giving a river 65 miles wholly improved and 26 miles partially improved. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $4,063.72, and resulted in the completion of the improvement of the river below Macon. All work hereafter will be for the maintenance of the improvement July 1, 1888, amount available. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... $1,536, 20 5,000.00 6, 536. 20 4,063.72 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 2,472.48 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. 3,000,00 (See Appendix R 4.) 5. Pascagoula River, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1886, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and minimum depth of 12 feet at mean low water, from Moss Point to the anchorage in the bay, and to maintain the river above Moss Point in its improved condition. The channel, before the improvement commenced, had a least depth of 3 feet. This was increased to 73 feet with a width of 180 feet by dredging, from 1878 to 1880, at a cost of about $45,000. From the light-house near the mouth of the river throughout the entire length there is a navigable channel, obtained by the removal of snags and overhanging trees from 1881 to 1884, inclusive, at a cost of about $15,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $23,117.70, and resulted in obtaining a channel by dredging through the bar at the mouth of the river with a minimum width of 135 feet and a maximum width of 205 feet and a minimum depth of 9.5 feet at mean low water, |