On account of the numerous bridges obstructing South Fork no further improvement is deemed advisable at present, and after expending the balance available for North Fork nothing further should be required in it for several years, or until the main river has been put in equally good condition. The obstructed condition of the latter prevents navigation of the two forks for at least three months of the year, and $5,000 can be expended profitably in one season's work in the main stream. 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, 189, balance available...... 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 W 18.) $9,500.00 7,979. 21 1,520. 79 5, 000, 00 19. Water-gauges on the Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.-Section 5252 Revised Statutes authorizes and directs the Secretary of War to have water-gauges established and daily observations made of the rise and fall of the Lower Mississippi River and its chief tributaries at or in the vicinity of certain points named, and at such other places as he may deem advisable. The gauges were established in 1871, and, with a few exceptions, a complete record of the daily readings at all stations has been obtained from January, 1872, to the present time. By the terms of the statute the sum of $5,000 was to be available annually for these gauges. This amount, however, has not been appropriated regularly, and, as reported heretofore, it has been difficult to make the work continuous on this account. The amount expended to June 30, 188, was $67,100. During the fiscal year observations were continued at all the gauges, and inspections and repairs made when the stages of water would permit. Nearly all the gauges require rebuilding, and this work will be done as soon as the water falls sufficiently. It is recommended that additional gauges be established at Fulton and Garland, Ark., and Shreveport, La., on Red, River. Section 6 of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provides a permanent appropriation "for the purpose of securing the uninterrupted gauging of the waters of the Lower Mississippi River and its tributaries." 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, amount allotted for gaugings at St. Paul. July 1, 1889, balance available...... $9,600.00 $7, 133. 71 900.00 8, 033.71 1,566.29 9,600.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 (provided for by act of August 11, 1888) . (See Appendix W 19.) EXAMINATIONS 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 Willard, 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. Bogue Phalia, Mississippi, especially the part known as the Narrows, with view to its improvement.-(See Appendix W 20.) 2. Bayou Dorcheat, Louisiana, from Lake Bisteneau to the Arkansas line.-(See Appendix W 21.) The required preliminary examination of Ouachita River, Louisiana and Arkansas, from its mouth to head of navigation, to determine the advisability and probable cost of its permanent improvement, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Willard, and reported by him as not worthy of permanent improvement, but worthy of further improvement under the adopted project, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey. (See Appendix W 22.) IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER; OF RIVERS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND THE BLACK, ST. FRANCIS, AND LITTLE RIVERS, IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Red River above Fulton, Arkansas.-The first appropriation was made by act approved August 5, 1886. Prior to this time this river was choked with masses of drift-wood, isolated snags, and logs, and many overbanging trees added to the difficulties of navigation. The origi ually adopted project contemplates high and medium stage navigation only; $6,911.50 had been expended up to June 30, 1888, removing nearly eight hundred dangerous low-water snags. By the act which became a law August 11, 1888, $3,000 was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $3,077.30 has been expended in the continuance of the original project, which carried the work to within 75 miles of the point in the river to which work was to be carried. Пlad the appropriation been made as a whole, work would have been completed within the estimate ($10,000); $2,000 is required during fiscal year ending June 30, 1891; $1,000 to complete the original project, and $1,000 to remove snags that have accumulated in the improved river out of the unimproved. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $88.50 3,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... 3,088.50 3,077.30 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 11.20 1,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project annually (See Appendix X 1.) 2,000,00 2. Little Red River, Arkansas.-The only improvements ever attempted upon this river were made in 1872. Prior to this work many overhanging trees and a large number of snags interfered with navigation in the lower reaches, and many bowlders obstructed flat-boat and raft navigation in the reach above the present town of Judsonia. Most of the overhanging trees and snags were removed as high as Judsonia and the bowlders remained untouched to the end of June 30, 1886. The act approved August 5, 1886, appropriated $3,000. The amount estimated as actually necessary was $8,400-$400 for the bowlders, $8,000 for dredging a channel through the shoals. Up to June 30, 1888, 8612.90 had been expended in removing the bowlders and in care of the property. The balance, being inadequate to build a dredge, was held to await further action of Congress. By the act of August 11, 1888, the balance, $5,400, of the original estimate was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $5,008.90 has been expended in the continuance of the 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, balance available... (See Appendix X 2.) $2,387. 10 5,400.00 7,787. 10 $5,682.71 5,717. 71 2,069. 39 3. Removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas.-Prior to the first improvements, in 1833, shifting sand-bars, numerous drift-piles, and dangerous snags constituted the obstacles to navigation in the lower reaches, and gravel and rock shoals, with a few snags and many overhanging trees, constituted those of the upper. Except for a few special reaches, like the Fort Smith and Pine Bluff, the general plan of improvement has consisted in snagging operations, including the cutting of overhanging trees, in building wing-dams to improve the shoals, and in surveys looking toward plans for its permanent improvement. The appropriations to June 30, 1889, amount to $465,251.87. Of this there had been expended to June 30, 1888, $367,477.89. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $13,090.79 was expended in the construction of a new hull for the snag-boat Wichita and care of property and records. The water was not at a suitable stage for economical work after the completion of the snag-boat. The building of another light-draught snag-boat, after the model of the new Wichita, is recommended. The removal of obstructions will be continued with the amount on hand and the work on the maps will be completed. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $248.67 25, 000, 00 25, 248. 67 July 1, 1859, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $12, 853.79 13,090.79 July 1, 1889, balance available..... 12, 157.88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, annually (See Appendix X 3.) 35,000.00 35,000.00 4. Arkansas River, Arkansas.-By act of August 5, 1886, $75,000 was appropriated for continuing the improvement of Arkansas River, in accordance with the plan and recommendations contained in Appendix V 13, House Ex. Doc. No. 1, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, which provided that $8,000 be expended at Pine Bluff, $13,000 at Fort Smith, and $10,000 at Dardanelle, or so much thereof as may be necessary. The approved project for the expenditure of this sum is as follows: At Pine Bluff the $8,000 to be used in extending and repairing the dikes and or protecting the town front. At Fort Smith the $13,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike a little above the town to retain the channel along the city wharves. At Dardanelle the $10,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike above the town to remove the sand-bar now in front of the wharves. From Little Rock to the mouth, the balance, and so much as may not be required at the three places above specified, to be expended in the erection of permeable dikes at the worst places, looking towards the permanent improvement of the river to give at least a depth of 5 feet at extreme low water. By act of August 11, 1888, $150,000 was appropriated under this head, as follows: Improving Arkansas River, Arkansas: Continuing improvement, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the Secretary of War to enter upon project of improvement of said river as set forth in the report of the Board of Engineers on improvement of the Arkansas River from Wichita, Kansas, to its mouth, dated New York City, March sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, and contained in House Executive Document number two hundred and thirty-four, first session, Fiftieth Congress: Provided, That the Secretary of War shall expend the appropriation under this head with reference to the final improvement of this river as contemplated in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the year ending July first, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, and as authorized in the act for the improvement of rivers and harbors approved Angust fifth, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, and in House Executive Document number ninety, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, said methods to be applied as the Secretary of War may direct at such points between Wichita, Kansas, and the navigable month of the Arkansas River at its junction with the Mississippi River, as he may deem for the best interests of commerce. And all moneys now to the credit of different sections of the Arkansas River, other than the appropriations for the operating of the snag-boats, shall be availabe for use under this head; and in future the engineer in charge of this work and the Secretary of War shall make report upon the progress and needs of this work under this head, instead of reporting upon disconnected projects, as heretofore. Nothing herein contained shall be understood to prevent the Secretary of War from applying any part or all of the funds previously appropriated for use at Fort Smith, Dardanelle, in Pine Bluff reach, or from expending not exceeding four thousand dollars to remove the bar in front of Van Buren, or from allotting not exceeding eight thousand dollars as a contingent fund for the expenditure in Pine Bluff reach. The approved project for the expenditure of this sum may likewise be summarized as follows: At Pine Bluff the same as above. At Van Buren the $4,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike at a suitable point, a little above the town, and upon the opposite side of the river, to contract the channel and prevent it from leaving the city wharves. From Fort Gibson, Ind. T., to the mouth of the river, the balance to be expended in the erection of permeable dikes, and in one instance, by rock excavation, at the worst places, or the places at which serious interference with the largest amount of commerce occurs, so far as the amount of the appropriation will permit, looking toward the permanent improvement of the river to give the channel as provided under the act of August 5, 1886, from Little Rock to the mouth; and an all-year-round depth of water of at least 2 feet from Little Rock, Ark., to Fort Gibson, Ind. T. Before operations were begun at Fort Smith the old jetty at that place, built in 1877 and 1878, had so far disappeared as to render no service, and the river was about to throw a bar along the wharves of the town. At Dardanelle a bad bar had formed along the town front, cutting off all approach to either wharf at low water or at medium stage. From Fort Gibson to the mouth of the river the river consists of alternating bars and caving banks, with crossings more or less troublesome at low water, a few of the latter operating to effectually close the river to navigation at extreme low water for even boats drawing but 2 feet of water. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $6,044.09 has been expended at Pine Bluff in the erection of a new dike and repairing one of the light ones. At Dardanelle $2,944.62 was expended erecting 200 additional feet of dike. So far the results obtained have been in every way satisfactory. At Van Buren, Ark., $3,432.47 was expended in erecting a permeable spur-dike, above and opposite the town, for the purpose of deepening the channel next to the wharf. From Fort Gibson, Ind. T., to the mouth $23,513.95 has been expended according to projects. This erected one dike and repaired another above the Baring Cross Bridge with very successful results in bringing the channel of the river back to the draw-span. It also erected two dikes below the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railway Bridge at Little Rock, accumulated material, and prepared plant. Continued low water prevented an early examination of the river, delaying projects. Everything is in readiness to push the work during the next low-water season. The results from the general work have been satisfactory wherever the dikes have been erected a sufficient time to produce results. The work done at White Bluff and Eagle Bend in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is in every way a success. It has been difficult to work advantageously with so small an appropriation. If prompt economical results are expected at least $250,000 should be made available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, and it will require according to this plan $3,651,479 to complete the improve ment. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $10, 009. 54 150,000.00 160,009. 54 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $35, 935. 13 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. 1,778.59 37, 713.72 July 1, 1889, balance available.... 122, 295.82 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... .3,651,479.00 (See Appendix X 4.) 5. Petit Jean River, Arkansas.-Before improvement this river was obstructed by snags, logs, masses of driftwood, overhanging trees, and shoals. The original project for improvement contemplated rendering it navigable during high and medium stages of water, as high as Danville, Ark., by cutting the overhanging trees and cutting up the snags, |