SECTION LINED WITH SEGMENTAL ARCH. 000 feet excavation (101.79), 11,310 cubic yards, at $8.. 000 feet brick (16.8), 1,867 cubic yards, at $14 $90,480.00 26, 138.00 16,886.25 1, 110.00 134, 614. 25 At the close of the last fiscal year there had been excavated 727,000 cubic yards of naterial; the dam had been raised to a mean elevation of 153.7 feet. The east conluit had been completed, and 1,594 feet of the west conduit. The inside slope of the lam, the east slope, and 255 feet of the west slope of the reservoir had been paved. The progress of the work during the present year has been unsatisfactory. The work of excavation was practically suspended during the months of July and August, awaiting an appropriation by Congress, and during September pending decision apon the application of the contractors for an extension of their contract. Moderate progress was made during the months of October and November, but since that date little has been accomplished. The plant employed has been in poor condition, and the force entirely inadequate. The following table shows the number of days' labor during each month: One hundred and one thousand one hundred and eighty-six cubic yards have been excavated during the year; the dam has been brought to full height and width with the exception of about 350 feet at the west end, which is about 24 feet below grade. The levees at the north and east sides of the reservoir have been brought to subgrade, and the low ground south of the dam filled in readiness for sodding. The west conduit has been completed; 1,994 linear feet of the west and northern slopes of the reservoir, and 942 feet of road gutters have been paved. Six hundred and eighty and seventy-five hundredths cubic yards of stone have been hauled from Rock Creek and Foundry Branch and Champlain avenue shafts for paving. The work remaining to complete the contract is to excavate and pave a por the north hill and the recess for the gate-house; about 25,000 yards excavati 9,500 square yards paving, to trim and sod the dam, to bring the roadway to r and clean and level the bottom of the reservoir. The amount available to cu the work is $116,967.66. MAIN CONNECTIONS.. The only work on the main connections during the year was the calking 75-inch outlet main from the new reservoir; this work was commenced Jan and completed February 28, 1887. The balance available is $2,008.58, which will probably suffice to comples work. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. G. J. LYDECKER, C. McD. TOWNSEND, First Lieutenant of Enga Corps of Engineers, V. S. A. VV 3. ERECTION OF FISH-WAYS AT GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC. As fully explained in my last annual report, all operations on the: ways at the Great Falls had been supended after their damage by floods of October, 1885, and final settlement made with the contrac in February, 1886. No work was in progress at the beginning of the fiscal year, whatever remained of the fish-ways was still under water, the pre extent of damage done to them still unknown, and the feasibility completing them undetermined. In the meantime, however, the C States Commissioner of Fisheries, in whose office the plans and speci cations for the work had been prepared, had requested that steps | taken to complete the sixth section, of which action I was advised by: Chief of Engineers under date of June 16, 1886. Prior to that, und date of June 14, 1886, I had applied to the Chief of Engineers fo remittance of funds to enable me to reconstruct the dam which in cepted the flow of water through the channel in which the fish-wa were located, with a view to ascertaining their exact condition, a what, if anything, could be done towards their restoration. The que tions of so doing and of completing the sixth section as requested the Commissioner of Fisheries were before the Department for ce sideration at the beginning of the fiscal year, and under date of J: 13, 1886, I was authorized to proceed with the work (see copy of c respondence herewith). Operations in pursuance of the above authority were commenced the 7th of August, it having not been deemed advisable to start wor before that date on account of continuing high water. The reconstru tion of the dam was completed early in September, and the flow water thereby diverted from the site of the fish-ways in the Fai branch of the Potomac. It was then found that little more than t sixth section remained, and that was found filled up with sand, grave and stones, the removal of which required the tearing away of a co siderable portion of the superstructure. The work of repairing th section was then commenced and continued until the early part of X vember, when the work was completed, at a total cost of $3,741.49. This section has remained without injury since that date, and practical working as a fish-way been the subject of observation on th rt of the officers of the Fish Commission. I am advised that the sult of these observations is, in the main, satisfactory, and that the npletion of the fish-ways on the general principles involved in the struction of this section is desired by the Commissioner of Fisheries. do this in such substantial manner as to withstand the violent floods the Potomac in this locality will probably cost upwards of $50,000, pending largely on the details of the plan that may finally be adopted. wever, I do not understand that this Department is called upon to bmit any estimate for this purpose, nor does it appear, in fact, that ere has been any specific legislation devolving the construction of ese fish-ways upon the War Department, though the intent of Coness has been so construed. The appropriation for the work was orig. ally made in the act entitled "An act to increase the water supply of e city of Washington, and for other purposes," approved July 15, 82, and simply provided "for the erection of suitable ish-ways at the reat Falls of the Potomac and at the dam to be constructed under the ovisions of this act in accordance with plans and specifications to be escribed by the United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries." is act specifically authorizes and directs the Secretary of War to do rtain work pertaining to the increased water supply, but is silent as any duty or responsibility on his part in relation to the fish-ways. would therefore seem desirable that, if further appropriation be made r these structures at the Falls, Congress should more definitely assign e duty and responsibility of its disbursement. The original appropriation was $50,000, of which there had been exended to June 30, 1887, $44,365.18, leaving $5,084.82 as the balance en available. The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June ), 1387: mount available July 1, 1886... mount expended during the year. Balance available June 30, 1887 $9,376. 31 3,741.49 5, 634.82 CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE FISH-WAYS AT GREAT FALLS. UNIITED STATES COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, DEAR SIR: In obedience to your instructions I proceeded to the Great Falls of the' otomac May 3 to make the necessary arrangements for observing the working contious and efficiency of the sixth or lowest section of the series of fish-ways now uner construction there. The construction of the fish-ways was carried on under a contract the conditions which required that the entire work should be completed on the 31st of October, 85. The high water occurring about that date found none of the six sections conituting the series of fish-ways completed. Five sections were under construction d in a condition to be damaged by the high water. The lowest or sixth section as most advanced towards completion, needing only the setting of the line of copg provided for in the plans and specifications to insure the permanence and durality of the construction. A careful examination of No. 6 shows that it has suffered little or no injury from e floods and ice of the past winter, and that it is in perfect working condition, and eds only to be completed as planned to render this part of the construction peranent. The work remaining to be done is as follows: (1) The erection of a weir-dam about 40 feet long and 5 feet high from the abutent of fish-way to the opposite shore, the object of this being to regulate and to conol the supply of water to the fish-way, and at the same time to provide for the scharge of the surplus water. (2) To clear out the channel below the weir-dams so that the water flow.sg the dam may be discharged into the river below, by the side of the fishway, 1 of over the lower end as is now the case. (3) Placing and securing of the 12-inch coping to cover the rubble-masonry forming the sides of the fish-way. (4) The removal of the loose rock now piled up at the lower end of the fish-wa; ; excluding fish from access to it. This work may be undertaken at once, and if prosecuted actively may be first in time to have a thorough test of the efficiency of the fish-way the present seas. The most expensive part of the work will be the coping. This, however, is no sary for the permanence of the fish-way and not for its proper working, and its en may be deferred until low water during the summer. The construction of the waste-weir and the removal of the rock from the over channel and at the foot of the fish-way are necessary to secure proper working. There is, I am informed, still unexpended and available of the appropriation $10,000. And I respectfully recommend that the matter be brought to the attention of honorable Secretary of War, with the request that he authorize or direct the com tion of No. 6 in accordance with plans and specifications. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Professor S. F. BAIRD, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries. MARSHALL MCDONAL LETTER OF THE UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER of fisherIES, UNITED STATES COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES, SIR: A year or two ago Congress made an appropriation of $50,000 for the plac of a fish-way at the Great Falls of the Potomac, for the purpose of allowing upper passage of migratory fish in a locality owned by the United States, the se tion of a plan to be made by the United States Fish Commissioner, and the work be carried out by the United States engineers. After carefully considering all the known methods, I finally selected a plaz vented by Col. Marshall McDonald, an officer of the Fish Commission, and the es mate for its construction coming within the amount of the appropriation, I repor the fact to the War Department, which had the matter put in hand under the dr tion of the United States engineers. Owing to very heavy rains supervening before the sections of the fish-ways co be properly strengthened a considerable amount of damage was done to the we and operations have remained in abeyance for some time past. I directed Cole McDonald to visit the locality and make a report upon the present condition of 1. work, which I forward herewith to you for your information. If there is no good reason to the contrary, I would respectfully ask that the wel be continued at least to the completion of the lowest section, as by this means shall be able to determine whether it will actually answer its proposed purpose. understand that there are sufficient funds in hand for doing this; and it is proba if more are required to complete the entire work they can be obtained from Congres Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. SPENCER F. BAIRD, Respectfully referred to Maj. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, for his inform tion and early report. To be returned. JOHN G. PARKE, Acting Chief of Engineers. [Second indorsement.] OFFICE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, Washington, June 19, 1886. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. To complete the sixth section and do the other work suggested in the inclosed rert by Mr. Marshall McDonald will be a simple matter as soon as the flow of water rough the Falls Branch is interrupted, as proposed in my letter of the 14th instant. e unexpended balance of the appropriation for the fish-ways is $9,376.31. This section is much less liable to damage from freshets, drifts, etc., than any of e others, and when completed will afford a good test of the practical working of e system. I most respectfully recommend that the work be commenced at once, as quested by the Commissioner of Fisheries. It is recommended, further, that the ork be done by hired labor, as it will not be practicable to specify in advance what necessary to be done. G. J. LYDECKER, LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: Referring to your report of the 19th ultimo upon the letter of Prof. S. F. Baird the Secretary of War, of the 9th ultimo, inclosing report of Col. Marshall McDonald lative to the condition of the fish-ways, at the Great Falls, the Secretary of War has pproved the following recommendation of the Chief of Engineers: "That work upon the sixth section of the fish-way, together with the other work rerred to, be commenced at the earliest practicable moment and prosecuted to cometion in accordance with the provisions of section 3709, Revised Statutes." You will be governed accordingly. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. G. J. LYDECKER, JOHN G. PARKE, Acting Chief of Engineers. Corps of Engineers. |