Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix T 2.) $1,000.00 1,000.00 3. Improvement of Amite River, Louisiana.-Before improvement the river was obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and trees. One or two small steam-boats and a few sailing vessels were employed in the commerce of the river. In 1880 a project was made to remove obstructions above · Bayou Manchac, so as to get 5 feet depth as far as appropriations would permit. Eight thousand dollars was appropriated, and the improvement of 40 miles of river above Bayou Manchac was contracted for. The work was of little benefit to commerce. In 1881 $5,000 more was appropriated to continue the work. In 1883 the project was modified so as to improve the river below Bayou Manchac, and work was done upon about 8 miles of river. In 1886 $2,000 more was appropriated to continue the improvement. This was applied to that portion of the river below Bayou Manchac, and principally between there and Port Vincent. Work was resumed in November, 1886, and completed in January, 1887, and the channel cleared. In 1888 $5,000 was appropriated, of which $2,500 was made applicable to Bayou Manchac by the terms of the act. Under this appropriation Bayou Manchac was cleaned out from its mouth to Hereford Landing, a distance of 9 miles, and the obstructions that had re-formed in Amite River below the mouth of Manchac were removed. The improvement is not a permanent one, as new obstructions will form from the caving banks. The estimated annual expense of keeping this stream clear is $2,000. The original estimated cost of the work on Amite River only was $23,760, of which $17,500 has been appropriated, and there has also been appropriated for Bayou Manchac $2,500. 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, 1988.. $333.33 5,000.00 5,333.33 4,709, 29 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 624.04 (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. 3,760.00 3,800.00 (See Appendix T 3.) 4. Bayou La Fourche, Louisiana.-The natural channel was much obstructed by snags, overhanging trees, shoals, and wrecks. The original project, adopted in 1879, had for its object the removal of these obstructions. The amount expended on this work up to the end of fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $24,998.24. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, was $3,756.21 for care of property, gauge-readings, and continuing improvement. Much relief has been given to commerce by removal of snags, etc, The project adopted is that for the canalizing of the bayou, connecting it with the Mississippi by a lock at its head. This improvement is estimated as costing $450,000, with $31,000 annual expense of maintenance, this including $22,500 interest on original cost of $450,000 at 5 per cent. In 1888 Congress appropriated $50,000 for the improvement of Bayou La Fourche on the plan of Lieutenant Crosby, Corps of Engineers, dated June 11, 1886, and provided for dredging for the immediate relief of low-water navigation. The money becoming available so late in the season, it was impossible to do all the dredging required to obtain 2 feet at low water between Donaldsonville and Thibodeaux, and therefore it was decided to remove only the bar at the head, hoping to let in enough water to relieve flatboat navigation. This was done, and the flat boats which had been faid up a day or two at the time the cut was opened through immediately began running and continued until the river rose to a stage sufficient to admit the steam-boats. This dredging cost $3,184.85. Specifications were prepared, and the remainder of the work advertised, bids to be opened June 10, 1889. The only bid received requiring double the money available to do the work it was rejected and authority granted to make arrangements to scour out the bars, using a stern-wheel steam-boat. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $79.61 50,000.00 50,079.61 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... 3,236.70 July 1, 1889, balance available....... 46,842.91 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix T 4.) 5. Bayou Terrebonne, Louisiana.-This bayou was examined by direc tion of Congress in 1879. The estimated cost of the improvement was $18,800, afterward increased to $38,800, to consist of dredging a channel 4 feet deep, and clearing out all obstructions to Houma, La. The total amount appropriated by Congress for this work is $38,800. When work was commenced in 1880, the Bayou Terrebonne, in many places, was but little more than a drainage ditch, being about 11 feet wide where the dredge commenced work. The first 7 miles of dredg ing terminated about 15 miles below Houma. In 1882 work was resumed and continued to within about 10 miles of Houma. In 1886 work was again resumed, and during the fiscal year 1886-87 the channel was lengthened 4.1 miles. The dredge continuing work until December 17, 1887, carried the channel to the railroad depot at Houma and there dug a turning-basin, which completes the work according to the approved project and $3,000 within the esti mated cost. In 1888 Congress appropriated $3,000, which will be held until the bayou requires re-dredging. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, balance available................... (See Appendix T 5.) $519.67 3,000.00 3,519.67 6. Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana.-This is a new work. To comply with the requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, a preliminary examination and survey were made of the mouth of Plaquemine, with a view to its connection with the Mississippi River by locks, and also Bayou Plaquemine and other connecting streams to form the best route to Grand Lake, La. The report of the result of the survey is printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 21, Forty-ninth Congress, second session, and also as Appendix S 21, of the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1887. The proposed project provides for the opening of the water-route indicated by removal of snags and dredging and constructing a lock at the month of Bayou Plaquemine, at an estimated cost of $1,708,250. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriates $100,000 for this work, and a further sum of $200,000 may be profitably expended in continuing it during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. By the terms of the above act the $100,000 appropriated was to secure the mouth of the bayou from further caving and to dredge a channel 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep from deep water up to Plaquemine Dike. On the recommendation of the officer in charge the first part of this work was transferred to the officer in charge of the fourth district of the Mississippi River, who has plant available for this work, thus avoiding the expense of building it. The other portion of the work was commenced early in June by the Government dredge that had been working at the mouth of Neches River, Texas, during the winter and spring, and is progressing satisfactorily. 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.... $100,000.00 3,685.80 96, 314. 20 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......1, 608, 250, 00 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 T 6.) 200, 000, 00 7. Bayou Courtableau, Louisiana.-An examination was made of this stream in 1879. The estimated cost of improving it below Port Barre was $40,000. In June, 1880, Congress appropriated $7,500 to commence work, the project being to close some of the bayous that at high water ran from the Courtableau, and thus force all the water flowing out of the bayou over the Little Devil Bar at its mouth. After this bar was removed, locks and dams were to be constructed so as to give slackwater navigation to Washington, La. In 1883 this estimate was increased to $78,500, and provided for a masonry instead of a timber lock. In 1882 one dam was built on the Big Fordoche, another in the Little Fordoche, and trees were slashed on some of the smaller bayous, with a view to checking the flow of water through them. The effect was to increase the depth of water over Little Devil Bar. In 1884 one of the dams was cut, and Little Devil Bar reformed. In 1885 this dam was rebuilt and the other dam which was damaged was repaired. In 1886 these two dams were again repaired and another was nearly completed in Bayou English. A sudden rise in the Atchafalaya prevented the work from being continued and a portion of the last was destroyed. During the fiscal year 1887-'88 the Bayou English dam was repaired and completed, Bayou Mamzelle was closed, and the wings of the dam closing the Big Fordoche were repaired. At the time work ceased, early in November, the bar was cutting out rapidly, there being then a channel of 3 to 5 feet, while when work begun there was one of but a few inches. However, at that time the closure of Old River prevented any communication with the Mississippi River. In August, 1888, Congress appropriated $5,000 for the continuance of this work. An examination made in October at low water showed that the water had cut around one end of each dam. The plant was at once put in order and material obtained to repair the old dams, and build others, closing as many of the other run outs as possible with the funds in hand. An early beginning of high-water season made it necessary to wait for the next low water, and work will be commenced as soon as the water will permit. The estimate for closing the bayous is $2,107.90. 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....... $330.87 5,000.00 5,339.87 694.26 4,636. 61 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 2, 107.90 2,200.00 (See Appendix T 7.) 8. Calcasieu River and Pass, Louisiana.-In 1874, and again in 1882'83, dredged channels were cut through the flats in Calcasieu Lake above Calcasieu Pass. The dredged channel was 8 feet deep and 70 feet wide by 7,500 feet long. In 1885 this channel had again shoaled to a depth of 3 feet and needed redredging, but an unfortunate wording of the appropriation, "Improving Calcasieu River," prevented its application to this work. In 1886 this was remedied, and funds heretofore appropriated for Calcasieu River became available for both the pass and the river. Contracts were made in 1886 for building two lines of piles and planking about 120 feet apart and a mile or more in length, between which a channel 100 feet in width and 6 feet in depth was to be dredged, and the excavated material thrown outside of the lines of the piles. The excavation of a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep through a bar at the junction of the river and lake was included in the contracts. Work was commenced on the lines of piles and planking in the winter of 1886. In the spring of 1887 operations were resumed and the pile. work and planking partially completed, when the contract was annulled January 3, 1888. During this long delay the revetment was badly damaged by the teredo. The project was modified so far as to omit the revetment. Work was begun in March and completed August 31, 1888. The results will not be permanent. 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 (See Appendix T 8.) $6, 236.72 10,000.00 16, 236.72 6, 236.72 10,000.00 9. Sabine River, Louisiana and Texas.-At the commencement of the improvement of the river there was a depth of 34 feet on the bar at its mouth and also above the town of Orange. Logs, snags, etc., above here interfered with navigation. In 1880 a channel 6 feet deep, 70 to 100 feet wide, was dredged through the bar. In 1881 several small cuts to avoid bends obstructed with logs were made above Orange. The dredged channel over the bar is somewhat obstructed by logs, but the depth is sufficient for present demands of navigation and com merce. An examination above Orange in May last showed many snags in parts of channel, and a project was prepared for the expenditure of the remaining balance. July 1, 1888, amount available... $4,546.56 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... 24.90 July 1, 1889, balance available 4,521.66 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. 4,521.66 (See Appendix T 9.) 10. Neches River, Texas.-Before this river was improved the bar at its mouth had only 3 feet of water over it, and snags and fallen trees obstructed navigation between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport. In 1880 a channel was dredged through the bar at the mouth of the river 5 feet deep and 30 to 60 feet in width. In 1882 the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport was cleared of obstructions. A little less than $21,000 had been expended on these improvements prior to June 30, 1884. The bar at the mouth had again shoaled, so that at extreme low water there was only a navigable depth of about 3 feet. The channel was dredged to a depth of 5 feet by the Government dredge, which had been at work at Calcasieu Pass, and the work was completed in May last. The improvement will not be permanent, as the bar will reform. No appropriation is required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available (See Appendix T 10.) $11,667.84 7,500.00 4, 167.84 11. Sabine Pass, Texas.-The object of this improvement is to obtain deep water at this locality so as to give an outlet to the products of eastern Texas and western Louisiana, and give a good harbor in the Gulf coast. |