3. Monongahela River, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.-The object of the locks and dams which the United States is building on the Monongahela River is to extend the existing slackwater from the mouth of Dunkard Creek, Pennsylvania, to Morgantown, W. Va., a distance of 14 miles. Two locks and dams are required for this extension: No. 9, the upper, was completed in 1880; No. 8, the one next below, is in course of construction. When completed, these locks and dams will give 6 feet in low water from Morgantown to Dunkard Creek, whence there is already 4 feet to Pittsburgh, secured by seven locks and dams belonging to the Monongahela Navigation Company. The distance from Morgantown to Pittsburgh is 102 miles. At Pittsburgh the Monongahela slackwater connects with the pool of the Davis Island Dam. The total amount heretofore appropriated for this improvement is $432,900, of which sum $361,572.68 has been expended to June 30, 1889. During the past fiscal year the masonry of the lock and of the abutment has been completed, and the building of lock gates and establishment of machinery will be carried on while the dam is being built under a contract already made. It is expected that the whole work will be open to navigation by the close of 1889. An estimate of $25,000 is submitted for continuing the work of im provement. 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, 189, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available.... $49, 861.97 35,000.00 84, 861.97 $13, 534. 65 52,965.70 31, 896. 27 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 25,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix D D 3.) 4. Operating and care of Lock and Dam No. 9, Monongahela River.During the past fiscal year the lower buttresses of the lock were raised to the height of the upper buttresses, and the chamber walls were partly raised; the corresponding changes in the lower lockgates and in the discharging valves were also made. Both chamber walls were tightened by injecting liquid cement. All the Government buildings were washed away by the unprecedented flood of July, 1888. During the present fiscal year it is proposed to finish the raising of the lock-walls and to make minor repairs and additions. Amount expended during the fiscal year, $8,804.10; amount required for year ending June 30, 1890, $6,450. (See Appendix D D 4.) 5. Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.-The work hitherto done on this. river has been limited to the removal of rocks, of which there was a vast number in and near the channel, and to the closure at two localities of duplicate channels. The benefit of this work has been very apparent. The money thus far appropriated for the improvement of the river amounts to $160,000, of which $136,895.92 has been expended to June 30, 1889. No work other than surveys and the establishment of two watergauges could be done during the past season on account of unusual high water. A contract has been made for a dike at Red Bank and two low dams are to be built at the Cornplanter Islands. 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, 1889, balance available $659.33 25,000.00 25, 659. 33 $2,555, 25 270.00 13,783, 95 16, 609. 20 9, 050. 13 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 50, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix D D 5.) 6. Dam at Herr's Island, Allegheny River.-The object of this dam is to extend navigable water up the Allegheny, from the head of the pool of the Davis Island Dam to the city limits, thus completing the improvement of the harbor of Pittsburgh, and providing the means for the cheap transfer of freights at all seasons. This dam will also be the first step towards the radical improvement of the Allegheny River, a work that promises most valuable results. The construction of this lock and dam has not yet been begun from inability to procure the necessary land. Negotiations are still in progress. The amount thus far appropriated for this purpose is $72,500. July 1, 1888, amount available.. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $36, 592.00 35,000.00 71, 592.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $860.22 890.22 July 1, 1889, balance available... 70, 701.78 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 100, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1886 and 1867. (See Appendix D D 6.) 7. Ice-harbor at mouth of Muskingum River, Ohio.-The work in hand is the construction of a large lock through Dam No. 1, Muskingum River, in order to permit Ohio River craft to take refuge during ice floods in the pool created by this dam. This lock is also needed to replace Lock No. 1 of the Muskingum River, which has long been in a dangerous condition. The total amount thus far appropriated for this work is $297,500, of which $260,149.33 has been expended to June. 30, 1889. The season's work was a practical failure owing to the constant succession of rises in the Ohio River, which flooded the coffer-dam almost as rapidly as it could be pumped out. The work remains in practically the same condition as at the close of 1887. July 1, 1888, amount available $1, 162. 46 60,000.00 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, 1889, balance avilable...... $23, 811.79 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix D D 7.) 61, 162. 46 26, 489.31 34, 673. 15 15,000.00 15,000.00 8. Muskingum River, Ohio.-The act of August 11, 18 8, appropriated $102,000 for building a new lock at Taylorsville, and for changing the flight of two locks at Zanesville into a single lock. A contract has been let for the Taylorsville lock, and work was begun in June, 1889; nothing has been done towards changing the Zanesville lock, and the engineer officer in charge recommends that this matter be held in abeyance. 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.... 183.25 $102,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. 136.00 61, 340.62 61, 659. 87 40, 340, 13 July 1, 1889, balance available.... (See Appendix D D 8.) 9. Operating and care of the locks and dams on the Muskingum River, Ohio. As originally improved by the State of Ohio, the Muskingum River contained eleven dams and twelve locks, and furnished continuous navigation for 91 miles from the Ohio River at Marietta to Dresden, at which place a connection was made with the Ohio Canal near its middle point, the canal extending from the Ohio River at Portsmouth to Lake Erie at Cleveland. According to old reports from the State Board of Public Works the locks were built 180 feet long and 36 feet wide, except the lock between Zanesville and Dresden, which was 120 feet long and 22 feet wide. The lifts of the locks are reported to have varied from 8 feet 10 inches to 12 feet 1 inch, and the whole cost of construction was about $1,500,000. The lock and dam above Zanesville is now destroyed, but the 75 miles of slackwater between Zanesville and the Ohio River has been maintained in good navigable condition; on this piece of river there are ten dams, eleven locks, and five lateral canals with a total length of 33 miles. During the first half of the fiscal year the river remained so high that many needed repairs could not be made. A new abutment inside of the old one was built at the Beverly Dam, and 100 feet of this dam was rebuilt In May, 1889, navigation was stopped, and at the close of the fiscal year four locks were being rebuilt, one new abutment was under way and preparations had been made for extensive repairs on two dams. A line of exact levels was run over the whole length of improved river, and it was connected with the Coast Survey Trans Continental line. The new ladder dredge was received from the contractors and put to work; a boat-yard was started at McConnelsville, and a number, of lock gates and barges were built. The officer in charge appends a table showing the exact dimensions of the locks and dams and the heights of the main structures above mean ocean level. Amount expended during the fiscal year, $128,521.44. Amount required for year ending June 30, 1890, $221,948. (See Appendix D D 9.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of harbor at Owensborough, Ky., was made by the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant Colonel Merrill, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix DD 10.) 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. Monongahela River, above upper dam, West Virginia.-The improvement proposed is the construction of six additional locks and dams on this stream, extending the slackwater navigation from Morgantown to several miles above Fremont, to reach the heavy deposits of coal on the West Fork. Estimated cost, $1,200,000. (See Appendix D D 11.) 2. Cheat River, West Virginia.-The estimated cost of such work as is immediately necessary on this river is $13,000, all of which could be advantageously expended in blasting and removing rock from the stream. (See Appendix D D 12.) 3. Muskingum River, Ohio, from Zanesville to Dresden.-The improvement proposed is the building of a new lock and dam, at an estimated cost of $139,000. (See Appendix D D 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE FALLS OF THE OHIO AND OPERATING AND CARE OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. IMPROVEMENT OF WABASH RIVER, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS, AND OF WHITE RIVER, INDIANA. Officer in charge, Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers 1. Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky.-By the river and harbor act approved August 5, 1886, this work, which originally consisted of the enlargement of the upper part of the Louisville and Portland Canal, was made to include the enlargement of the canal basin just above the new locks. Enlargement of the upper portion of the Louisville and Portland Canal.— The present project was adopted in 1883. It has for its object the enlargement of the upper end of the Louisville and Portland Canal, from a point about 400 feet below the railroad bridge to the upper end of the rock ledge which extends to a point about opposite Fourth street. The improvement practically makes a harbor from Tenth street east, and more than doubles the width of the canal from Tenth to Fifteenth street. The work has heretofore been done under four contracts, three for excavating and removing materials and one for the construction of part of the new canal wall along the northern line of the improvement from Tenth street west. One of the contracts for excavation was completed in November, 1886. The other two contracts for excavation expired December 31, 1888, leaving on one about 20 per cent. and on the other about 68 per cent. of the rock excavation to be done. The contractors for the new canal wall have completed about 87 per cent. of their work. The officer in charge has been authorized to purchase a plant and finish the excavation work by hired labor. The greater part of this plant has been purchased, and the work will begin when the river reaches a favorable stage. An agreement has been made with Mr. J. B. Speed for the transportation of the excavated material after it is loaded in cars. The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $299,394.54. Enlarging basin of canal above new locks.-This work has heretofore been carried on under contract with Gleason & Gosnell. The time for completion, after several extensions, expired December 1, 1888, and the officer in charge was authorized to purchase a plant and finish the work by hired labor. The plant is now in place and active operations will begin as soon as the stage of the river will permit. The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $30,345.66. July 1, 1888, amount available Add amount covered by contracts July 1, 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, 1889, balance available 855, 363,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 300,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix E E 1.) 2. Indiana Chute, Falls of the Ohio River.-The present project is to remove projecting points and reefs in the chute between the crossdam and railroad bridge, so as to produce a straight and unobstructed channel 400 feet wide, and to raise the guiding-dike, which extends along the north side of the chute from the cross-dam 500 feet west. The chute was originally very crooked and full of dangerous reefs and points. The work already done has resulted in an unobstructed channel 250 feet wide. No work was done on this improvement during the past year on account of the high stage of the river. The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $116,043.30. A more definite project for greatly improving this channel and making it available at lower stages of the river and relieving the Louisville and Portland Canal is now being considered by a board of officers of the Corps of Engineers. |