APPENDIX H. REPORT OF MAJOR C. W. RAYMOND, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, UPON OPERATIONS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New York, July 20, 1886. COLONEL: I have the honor to transmit herewith my annual report of operations for year ending June 30, 1886, for works under my charge in fourth district, for improving Mississippi River. The charge of this district was transferred to me by Major Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, February 27, 1886. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Q. A. GILLMORE, CHAS. W. RAYMOND, Major of Engineers. Corps of Engineers, President Mississippi River Commission. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. The adopted projects for work in New Orleans Harbor are, first, to cover the caving bank in the Carrollton Bend for a distance of about 10,000 linear feet, with a mattress of willow brush ballasted with stone; second, to protect the portion of bank known as Gouldsboro' Bend, about 5,000 linear feet, by means of sloping submerged spurs, made mostly of brush and stone and placed at intervals which are as yet experimental, varying from 500 to 1,600 feet. The total amount expended on the above projects to June 30, 1885, is $146,047.02. A small portion of the brush mattress has been laid in the Carrollton Bend. Two spurs have been completed, and the foundation mattress and two cribs of a third placed in the Gouldsboro' Bend. A valuable plant for the work has been acquired, and nearly all the stone for ballast, iron reds, and other material, except brush, for the completion of the six spurs in the Gouldsboro' Bend is on hand. Owing to lack of funds no work has been done during the fiscal year except care of property, and a survey to determine the effect and condition of the submerged spurs constructed in the previous year. The survey was made in November and December, 1885, and developed the fact that the 100-foot contour had been thrown out from the bank. The other contours, while not so much changed in position, had become more regular. No caving of the bank or damage to the spurs could be discovered by inspection or inquiry. The gentle slope of the top of the spurs from the bottom at river end to low-water surface at shore end, thus avoiding any abrupt change of cross-section of water-way, appears to have accomplished the hoped-for result of deflecting the current from the bank without causing any great scour at river end of spur or violent eddy below. While the results appear favorable to this method of bank protection, a longer time must of course elapse before the test can be considered satisfactory. The revised estimated additional amount needed for completion of work in New Orleans harbor is as follows: Gretna Bend, spurs... $158, 600 35,000 Bend above Gretna to a point nearly opposite City Park, right bank, spurs... 64, 200 396, 600 Total. 654, 400 The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, is $100, 000. The work is in the collection district of New Orleans. The nearest light-house is at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The total exports of merchandise for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, was $82,303,520.93. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Improving Mississippi River (no limit)—Harbor at New Orleans. July 1, 1885, balance on hand.. Nov. 13, 1885, amount allotted. July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, July 1, 1885.--- $596 57 4,000 00 162 86 1,400 00 6, 159 43 July 1, 1886, balance on hand.. 4,151 78 2, 007 65 CUSTOM-HOUSE, NEW ORLEANS, LA., SIR: The following statistics relative to the commerce of this port are furnished in compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 16th ultimo: Entrances and clearances of vessels, coastwise and foreign, from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1886, inclusive. Imports and exports at the port of New Orleans, La., from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1886, Total duties on imports for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, $1,303,520.93. Very respectfully, Maj. CHAS. W. RAYMOND, 1,036, 416 81, 532, 468 82, 568, 884 B. F. JONAS, Collector. United States Engineer IMPROVEMENT OF THE MOUTH OF RED RIVER AND RECTIFICATION OF THE RED AND ATCHAFALAYA, AT THE MOUTH OF RED RIVER, LOUISIANA. No work in pursuance of any project for the permanent improvement of the rivers in this locality has been done. A project was prepared by the Mississippi River Commission, and is published in their report for 1884, but no instructions as to the carrying out of this plan have been received. In the latter part of July, 1885, those interested in the maintenance of navigation through Old River became apprehensive that it would be suspended, owing to the rapid fall of the Mississippi River, and requested that steps be taken to maintain the lowwater channel. The funds on hand were not sufficient to undertake any work, but on August 28 instructions were received from the President of the Mississippi River Commission to commence work, and an allotment of funds was made by the Commission. The steamer General Newton, belonging to the work of improving harbor at New Orleans, was put in commission and prepared for the work. An iron scraper made of boiler-plate, 16 feet wide and 3 feet high, strongly braced, was constructed. This scraper was attached to the bow of the Newton in such a manner that it could be raised and lowered by means of a proper derrick frame. The Newton, with a light-draft barge and a barge of coal, left New Orleans September 5, and arrived at Red River Landing on the 7th. A pile-driver and three small barges, kindly loaned by Captain Sears, from the third district, arrived at Red River Landing on the 5th, where the launch Ruby, with a quarter-boat, had been previously sent from Natchez. An examination was made on September 7, which showed only 4 feet on the crest of the bar at the mouth, and from 7 to 17 feet through Old River. The Red River Landing gauge read 12.30, and the Barbre's Landing gauge 7.9. The scraper was immediately put to work on the bar at the mouth, and in three or four days made a channel whose least depth was between 8 and 9 feet, which proved it to be very effective. The pile-driver and barges were taken into Old River, and commenced at once to construct light dike work for contracting the channel between Chandler's and Barbre's. These dikes were built of very small piles driven in two rows, and the space between the rows filled with willows ballasted with sand bags. They answer the purpose for which they are intended during the low-water season, and are swept away during the flood season, leaving no obstruction. During a temporary rise of the river the scraper work was suspended on September 11, and the dike-work after two dikes had been constructed. The plant was laid up at Red River Landing, and a small force retained to make repairs necessary to have all in readiness for resuming work when the falling river should make it necessary. The river commenced to fall on September 28, and on October 7 there was 8 feet on the bar at the mouth. The General Newton was put to work with the scraper on the 8th, with 6 feet scant, and on the evening of the 9th had secured a good 8-foot channel. Additional dikes were constructed between Chandler's and the head of the Atchafalaya, and at the mouth of Old River a dam 225 feet long was built, to close an opening in the bar, that the current might be concentrated in the scraped channel. On October 29 an examination was made and soundings taken from the mouth of Oid River to the head of the Atchafalaya. The least navigable depth was found to be 4) feet at intervals, but the channel was very narrow. All steamers in the trade continued to run as usual. On this date (October 29) the Red River Landing gauge read 6.4, and the Barbre's Landing 1.5, against 12.30 and 7.9, respectively, on September 7, when work was commenced with 4 feet on the bar at the mouth. From this it will be seen that portions of the channel of Old River would have been dry, and navigation entirely sus pended, but for the work done by the United States. On November 3, the river having commenced to rise, scraping was discontinued, and on the 10th dike construction was suspended. The piles in the temporary dikes and the dam at the mouth of Old River, which might prove obstructions at a higher stage of water, were removed as far as possible, and barrel buoys placed on the sites. The plant was overhauled, put in good condition, and returned to the points from which it was taken. The season's work closed on November 30, since which time there has been nothing done except care of property and office work. The gauge at Barbre's Landing has been read during the year. The work is in the collection district of New Orleans, which is the nearest port of entry. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. All the river commerce of the Red River, Bayous Tensas and Macon, Ouachita and Black Rivers, the Atchafalaya, Bayous Courtableau and Des Glaizes, together with numerous tributaries and a large portion of the commerce of Bayou Têche, passes through Old River. Several lines of steamers run regularly in the trade. The total value of the commerce to be benefited by the improvement amounts to over $40,000,000 annually. The amount which can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1888, cannot be stated until work upon a definite plan is inaugurated. To maintain navigation between the Mississippi and the Red and Atchafalaya by the temporary devices heretofore used would require an estimated annual appropriation of $25,000. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Improving Mississippi River (no limit)-Mouth of Red River. July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885... 11,351 65 July 1, 1886, balance on hand.. 4,364 43 IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT NATCHEZ AND VIDALIA, MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA. No work has been done in this vicinity, owing to the lack of funds. The approved project contemplates the protection of the caving banks by means of submerged sloping spurs placed at intervals to be determined as the work progresses, but assumed for estimate of cost at 1,000 feet. The estimated cost is $600,000. To prevent the flow of water across the neck of land between Giles and Cowpen bends, and the anticipated destruction of the harbors of Natchez and Vidalia by a cut-off, it is proposed to construct a levee at an estimated cost of $100,000. This makes the total estimates $700,000. The amount which can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1888, is $250,000 for the purchase of the necessary plant, the construction of the levee, and commencement of dike work. There is received annually at Natchez, Miss., about 40,000 tons provisions, groceries, and machinery, 7,000 tons cotton seed, 25,000 tons coal. The shipments are about 40,000 bales cotton, 4,000 tons oil products. About twelve hundred steamers arrive and depart. At Vidalia the receipts are 8,000 tons produce, provisions, machinery, etc., and the shipments 10,000 bales cotton and 2,000 tons cotton seed. A railroad recently completed to Trinity, La., will add materially to the commerce of Vidalia. The work is in the collection district of New Orleans, which is the nearest port of entry. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. July 1, 1885-Balance on hand..... July 1, 1886-Amount expended, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885... July 1, 1886-Balance on hand.......... $1,625 95 625 30 1,000 65 CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF LEVEES. The project of levee building adopted by the Mississippi River Commission has so far been simply to close the existing gaps in the lines already established by constructing levees as far as the funds allotted will permit, with locations of reasonable permanence and grades equal to the adjacent levees. While proceeding under this plan, the loss of levees by caving banks and their breaching by floods may be annually anticipated. At the beginning of the fiscal year no embankment construction was in progress; the levees generally throughout the district were in better condition than at any time in the previous twenty years. Lack of funds has prevented any new work being undertaken during the past fiscal year. The sinking of Kempe Levee, at Potter's Slough, necessitated some repair work being done during the months of February and March, 1886. The embankment was placed in good condition, but it again settled, and additional work was necessary in April and May, 1886. The parochial authorities of Tensas Parish have raised the grade and enlarged the cross section of the following United States levees: Point Pleasant, Shipp's Bayou to Hard Times, Hardscrabble, Bondurant, and for about two-thirds of the length of the United States Kempe Levee. The rapid caving of the bank occasioned a gap in the United States Bondurant Levee, and a new piece of levee was built by the State and parish to close it. The flood of 1886 did not severely strain the levees of the district, and no breaks have occurred in the levees built by the United States. The lines of levee are now continuous throughout the district, with the following exceptions: Diamond Island Bend, a gap about 50,000 feet long. Bougere Bend, a gap about 23, 400 feet long. Black Hawk to Red River, a gap about 90,000 feet long. Morganza Crevasse, a gap about 6,000 feet long. Maps showing on one sheet the location, profile, and cross-section of nearly all the levees have been made. The extensive plant and outfit required in the prosecution of levee work by hired labor has been cared for and repaired, and is in first-class condition for service. The commerce benefited is all that of the lower Mississippi River. The work coming under the general appropriation for improving the Mississippi River from Cairo to the Head of the Passes, no separate appropriation is asked for. July 1, 1886, expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885 3,296 67 2,784 72 July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885 July 1, 1886, balance on hand 611 76 3,400 00 1,000 00 5, 011 76 3,598 04 |