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APPENDIX Y Y.

REPORTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION.

YY I.

. REPORT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION FOR 1886.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION,

PRESIDENT'S OFFICE,

New York, September 20, 1886.

SIR: The Mississippi River Commission has the honor to submit the following report, embracing the subjects specified below, to wit: (1) Progress of surveys and examinations from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1886.

(2) Progress of construction from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1886. (3) Levees.

(4) Financial statements and estimates.

PROGRESS OF SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS.

No field work has been done. A small force was retained till the close of the fiscal year, in the office, under the direction of the Secretary of the Commission, for the reduction of the work of previous seasons. Gauges. In September, 1885, for want of funds, the gauge readings 8872 ENG 87--169

2689

at Grand Eddy, Mo.; Paducah, Ky.; Belmont, Mo.; Greenville, Miss., and College Point, La., were discontinued. There remain eighteen sta tions at which gauges are maintained.

Discharge observations.-The reduction of the notes of the six discharge parties which were in the field from September, 1884, to April, 1885, has been continued and will soon be completed.

Preparation of maps.-Work on the charts of the 1: 10,000 series, 233 in number, is approaching completion; and the 1: 20,000 series, reduced from the preceding, is in process of publication. The inch-to-the-mile series has been published complete, but some of the sheets require additions from later surveys. The map of the Alluvial Valley, on a scale of 1 inch to 5 miles, is finished, and ready for printing when funds are available.

(For details see report of Captain Turtle, Appendix A.)

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION.

In the absence of appropriations no work has been done in the districts below Cairo, beyond what was necessary for care and preservation of property, except such moderate repairs of existing works as could be made with the balances available for contingencies.

The general service purchased and delivered stone for repairs of revetment at Hopefield Bend, in November and December, 1885, and part of its plant is now employed in the work for the protection of the Memphis City front.

(For details see the report of Captain Turtle, Appendix B.)

The present value of the construction plant owned by the Government, and employed on the Mississippi River from Des Moines Rapids to the Head of the Passes, is, approximately, $1,061,000, of which $1,014,000 is in floating plant, and $47,000 in instruments, office furniture, tools, &c. Detailed statements of this plant and of its value are given in the reports of the several officers. Two tow-boats belonging to the third district have been lent to the Missouri River Commission during the suspension of operations.

The diminution in value since the last report, amounting to about $200,000, in part represents the deterioration during a long period of disuse. In the Illinois-Ohio River district, in February, 1886, a loss of $40,000 was occasioned by floating ice. On the other hand, a constant expenditure has been required to secure the idle plant from decay and total loss.

In November, 1885, a tour of inspection from Keokuk to New Orleans was made by the Commission, and a supplemental report, containing the information then obtained as to the condition of the works and their effect, was submitted December 18, 1885.

(See Ex. Doc. No. 38, H. of R., 49th Congress, 1st session.)

WORKS ABOVE CAIRO.

(District from Des Moines Rapids to Illinois River, 161 miles. Officer in charge, Capt. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers.)

The general plan in this district contemplates closing side channels by low dams, revetting banks subject to erosion, and regularizing the channel, with the view of providing a navigable depth of 5 feet at low water. Dredging is employed to aid the action of the dams or to remove temporary obstructions, the material excavated being used for foundations of brush dams when suitable.

The operations of the past year comprise repairs to closing dams at Denmark, Carroll, Hickory, and Slim islands, construction of dams at Westport Chute and the Fritz islands, completing revetment at Cincinnati Landing, and dredging in Quincy Bay, Hickory Chute, and on Wyaconda Bar, with minor repairs and work of shore protection.

Navigation during the year has been generally good, but little detention from shoal water being reported.

(For details see report of Captain Ruffner, Appendix C.)

(District from the Illinois River to the Ohio River, 241 miles. Officer in charge, Maj. O. H. Ernst, Corps of Engineers.)

The general plan in this district contemplates a continuous improvement from Saint Louis down, by confining the river to an approximately uniform width of 2,500 feet and protecting the banks from erosion. The object is to secure a minimum low-water depth of 6 feet from the mouth of the Illinois to Saint Louis, and of 8 feet from Saint Louis to the Ohio. The methods employed are to direct the flow, and to build up new banks with solid material caught from the river itself by means of hurdles, and to revet the new banks so formed as well as the natural banks where subject to caving. Work is also done at detached points, when specially authorized, as at Alton and Saint Louis harbors and on the east bank near Cairo.

From lack of funds operations have been confined to such repairs as were necessary to prevent loss, and to additions that seemed advisable in view of the action of existing works. Repairs were made at Horsetail, Twin Hollows, and Chesley Island, and the hurdles at Pullight and Jim Smith's were raised.

The works in this district suffered little damage during the winter, and are now in good condition. Large deposits have been formed behind them, and a minimum channel depth of 8 feet maintained for 22 miles below Saint Louis. A least depth of 5 feet is reported in that part of the river which has not been improved.

On February 13, 1886, the fleet of this district was carried from its winter harbor, behind Carroll's Island, 12 miles below Saint Louis, by ice, and several pieces destroyed or damaged beyond repair. The loss including expenses of recovery and repair, was about $40,000. (For details see report of Major Ernst, Appendix D.)

WORKS BELOW CAIRO.

The general plan adopted by the Commission for the improvement of the river from the mouth of the Ohio to the mouth of Red River contemplates the reduction of the low-water width to about 3,000 feet, by means of permeable dikes, behind which artificial banks shall be formed by deposit, and the preservation of the natural curves of the river by revetting caving banks, together with the construction of levees as a secondary means of maintaining the regimen of the river. Below Red River, by reason of the depth of water and the comparative stability of the banks, no works of contraction are required.

The rectification of the Red and Atchafalaya Rivers presents a special problem, a solution of which was offered by the Commission in their report of December 19, 1884, the plan presented being, however, subject to modification after further study of the conditions.

Beyond their general plans, works of improvement and protection at certain places have been specially authorized and placed in charge of the Commission.

FIRST DISTRICT.

(Cairo to foot of Island No. 40, 220 miles. Includes New Madrid and Plum Point Reaches. Officer in charge, Capt. Smith S. Leach, Corps of Engineers.)

Since the last report no work has been done in this district beyond what was necessary for the care and preservation of plant, and such slight repairs to the works on Plum Point Reach as their condition seemed to require and the state of the funds permitted. A small break at the upper angle of the Osceola-Bullerton Dike was closed, with the immediate effect of filling up the excavation behind it, which had been caused by the scour of the current through the gap.

The damage to the works during the past year has been slight, and has not materially impaired their efficiency. A considerable amount of pile-dike has been broken off at the 20-foot level from the decay of the material used, but the lower parts, with the foot-mats, remain, and the deposits which have formed behind them are unaffected. The revetment at Fletcher's Field was exposed at both ends by the caving of the unprotected bank above and below it, but has held its place with very little loss.*

The main low-water channel through this reach is becoming well defined, both in position and in depth, while the secondary channels are being obliterated. The channel through Plum Point Cressing has not changed its form during the past season, through all stages of the river. (For details of the work and tabulated results of surveys see report of Captain Leach, Appendix E.)

SECOND DISTRICT.

(Foot of Island No. 40 to mouth of White River. Includes Memphis Reach and Har bor. Officer in charge, Capt. Smis S. Leach, Corps of Engineers.)

The only works of improvement in this district during the past year have been the repair of a serious fault in the revetment of Hopefield Bend and the reballasting of a part of this revetment, and of that on the Memphis city front. This was completed in January, 1886, since which time no change has taken place in the condition of the work at either place. The amount expended was about $20,000.

The effect of maintaining the bank in Hopefield Bend has been to cause the river to cut away the bar which was forming on the point below, and to transfer the stress of the current on the left bank to the southern part of the city front. The caving along this tract threatening serious loss, a sum of $60,000 has been subscribed by citizens and railway companies interested, and, by authority of the Secretary of War, plant has been furnished, to be used under direction of the Engi ncer officer of the district, in securing this front by a system of cribspurs, such as have been successfully tried at New Orleans. (For details see report of Captain Leach, Appendix F.)

THIRD DISTRICT.

(Mouth of White River to Warrenton, Miss., 220 miles. Includes Lake Providence Reach and Vicksburg and Greenville Harbors. Officer in charge, Capt. William T. Rossell, Corps of Engineers.)

(1) Lake Providence Reach.-The only work of improvement during the past year has been the closing of gaps in the Baleshed and Stack

*Recent examination shows that the Craighead Point revetment, which was supposed to have disappeared, is still in place and entire,

Island system of dikes, by repairs and extension of existing works, and construction of one additional cross-dike, the whole amount expended being about $13,000.

Examination shows in general satisfactory results from the works. Even where the dikes have disappeared, as at Duncansby, they had already accomplished the purpose for which they were built, and the channel secured by them is still maintained. The revetment at Pilcher's Point has, in many places, slipped out of sight, but the bank line has substantially retained its position. The Mayersville revetment has not succeeded in holding the head of the island.

The least channel depth on the reach during the year has been 13 feet. (2) Vicksburg Harbor.-No work has been done here during the year. Examination shows that the cut through the bar, which was dredged in 1883 to the zero of the gauge, has been filled to an average depth of 7.5 feet. The revetment at Delta Point has suffered no material loss, and the shore-line is unchanged.

(For details see report of Captain Rossell, Appendix G.)

FOURTH DISTRICT.

(Warrenton, Miss., to Head of Passes, 484 miles. Includes Harbors of Natchez and Vidalia and New Orleans, mouth of Red River, and rectification of Red and Atchafalaya Rivers. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers.) The work in this district has been confined to the mouth of Red River, where the channel was kept open during the low-water season of 1885 by scraping and by temporary wing-dams, at a cost of $11,000.

Examination of the spurs in process of construction in Gouldsboro' Bend, New Orleans Harbor, shows that since they were begun the 100foot contour has moved outward, and the other contours have become more regular. Their full effect, however, cannot be ascertained until the system is completely developed.

(For details see report of Major Raymond, Appendix H.)

LEVEES.

No new levee work has been done during the year. From February to May, 1886, about $3,500 was expended in the fourth district in repairs to the sinking portion of Kempe Levee, at Potter's Slough.

Numerous small breaks, due to insufficient height, occurred in the third district levees, between Cypress Creek and Arkansas City, during the flood of 1886. Breaks are also said to have taken place in the Long Lake Levee, second district. Elsewhere the Government levees have remained intact.

The condition of levees along the entire alluvial valley is, briefly, as follows:

Saint Francis Front.-(1) From Commerce to Bird's Point, 38 miles, which is the head of the flood escape into the Saint Francis Basin, there are no levees, and no estimates have been made for closure.

(2) In the first district, Cairo to foot of Island 40, 220 miles, the levees have been neglected since their destruction in 1858; not more than 1 per cent. of the old system could be utilized in the construction of a new line. The estimate for a complete line is 8,910,000 cubic yards, at a cost of $2,300,000.

(3) In the second district, foot of Island 40 to the Saint Francis River, 78 miles, about one-third of which is unleveed, it is estimated

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