This work was superintended under this office, and the work done by Duffin Bros., of Memphis, Tenn., under a contract made by the Tensas Basin Levee commissioners, of Louisiana, at 26 cents per cubic yard. Work was begun in December, 1886, and continued until stopped by high water in March, 1887. The principal gaps closed were at Old Eunice Landing and at Boggy Bayou; 130,751 yards were finished. After high water work was suspended, and will be resumed in September.

Panther Forest Levee.-This levee is intended to close the gap existing between Gaines Landing and Linwood, Ark.

This work was advertised and contract awarded to the lowest bidders, George Arnold & Co., of Memphis, Tenn., on November 29, 1886, at 19 cents per cubic yard. Abstract of bids received follows:

Work was begun early in January and prosecuted until stopped by high water. It was resumed April 25, and is now being pushed; 70,000 cubic yards have been placed. After beginning this work it was found advisable, on account of threatened banks and bad material, to change the location. As this change increased the amount of clearing very materially and decreased the size of levee in the open, a supplementary contract was made, giving the contractors $60 per acre for clearing. This contract was approved by the Secretary of War on March 2, 1887.

Leland Short Line.-This work was advertised and contract made with Stansell and Forrest, of Memphis, Tenn., on December 25, 1886, at 174 cents per cubic yard, to be finished March 20, 1887. Abstract of bids received follows:

Work was begun early in January, but owing to the over-confidence of the conactor was not finished on time. This levee, although at that time above the level of the water, broke on March 21, flooding the country immediately behind. After the subsidence of the water work was again resumed, and it was finished and accepted on May 17, 1887.

With a protection levee that it was found necessary to build, and ditches for draining the site, the yardage in this levee was 98,000 cubic yards.

Lakeport Levee.-This work, superintended under this office, was done by Mr. Ford, of Lakeport, Ark., under contract made by the Chicot County levee board. The only work was topping and enlarging near Lakeport. Cost, $2,339.

Protection of levees from damage during high water.—The Board of Engineer Officers on Building and Repair of Levees allotted $18,000 to that purpose in the third district.

During high water sacks, lumber, and other supplies were purchased, and the steamers Vidalia and Meteo were used for moving them and laborers to threatened points. A break occurred at the Bigg's Levee, Louisiana, nearly opposite Vicksburg. The ends of the break were revetted. The break at Leland was similarly treated. Some work was done all along the levees in Arkansas, but especially at the Opossum Fork Levee. Here the struggle was severe; the water rose from to 14 feet above any previous water, and it was only by most persevering and incessant work that the fine was held. Thirty-six thousand sacks and several thousand feet of lumber were used. From 300 to 400 men were employed. In this case the judgment and energy of Assistant Engineer Tollinger, Rodman Kilpatrick, and Inspector Coney, can not be too much commended. Mr. H. C. Smith, an employee of the contractors, and Mr. Ross, on the part of the Desha County levee board, were of the greatest service. Below Arkansas City, on the Eunice Levee, Assistant Engineer Goodrich and Inspector Currie held the line, and by great exertion prevented much loss, especially in unfinished parts.

There was expended on all the levees about $13,000.

Financial statement, third district, from November 1, 1886, to June 30, 1887.

By reallotment of the Commission June 30 and July 1, 1887, the available balance for Lake Providence Reach was decreased to $28,000; Opossum Fork Levee increased to $60,000, and the following additional allotments made, viz:

Approximate value of plant belonging to the United States and used upon the improvement of the Mississippi River, third district.

List of civilian engineers employed on works of river and harbor improvement in charge of Capt. William T. Rassell, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., from October 31, 1886, to June 30, 1887, inclusive, under the river and harbor appropriation act approved August 5, 1886.

REPORT OF CAPTAIN DAN C. KINGMAN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, UPON OPERATIONS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New Orleans, La., July 30, 1887. COLONEL: I have the honor to transmit herewith my report of operations for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, for works in my charge in the fourth district, Mississippi River.

The charge of the fourth district, Improving Mississippi River, was transferred to me by Maj. Charles W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, on December 4, 1886, by virtue of Special Orders No. 265, paragraph 6, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, dated Washington November 13, 1886.

I. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT NEW ORLEANS, LA.

The adopted projects for work in New Orleans Harbor are, first, to cover the caving bank in the Carrollton Bend, for a distance of 10,000 linear feet, with a mattress of willow brush, ballasted with stone; second, to protect the portion of bank known as the 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