IMPROVEMENT OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA AND DAKOTA.

The commerce of this river is at present insignificant, but may assume important proportions as the country tributary to it comes under cultivation. Some immediate prospects of benefits to transportation are offered in the project to ship up Missouri River freight to Glendive by railroad, and thence down the Yellowstone to Fort Baford, &c., giving a short down-stream haul to Fort Buford instead of the 300 miles of up-stream haul from Bismarck, as at present.

APPENDIX B.

ANNUAL REPort of captaIN JAMES B. QUINN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Saint Paul, Minn., August 21, 1886.

SIR: In response to your telegram of the 18th inst., I have the honor to inclose herewith the report of operations upon the improvement of the Missouri River between Sioux City, Iowa, and Fort Benton, Mont., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1556. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. CHAS. R. SUTER,

President Missouri River Commission.

JAMES B. QUINN,
Captain of Engineers.

REPORT OF OPERATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE MISSOURI RIVER FROM SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO FORT BENTON, MONT., FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886.

The working party which had been left at Two-Calf Island, early in 1885, had accumulated a large quantity of brush and other dam-building material by the arrival of the steamer Josephine, July 3, but this party was not moved up to the head of Grand Island, the site of the proposed dam, till the 26th of July. By the 10th of August the dam at the head of Grand Island was finished. This dam is 660' long and required for its construction a large amount of material, viz, 850 fascines, 725 poles and stakes, and 830 cubic yards of rock and gravel ballast.

As soon as this dam was finished the party crossed over to the head of Hammond Island and, shortly after, finished the dam at this point. This dam is 350′ long and required in its construction 1,700 fascines, 1,450 poles and stakes, and 1,660 cubie yards of rock and gravel ballast.

Through the agency of these two constructions the difficult crossing at Grand Island has been entirely remedied.

As soon as these two dams were finished the working parties were moved up to Duphins Rapids, and the reconstruction of the dams at this difficult place commenced

The main dam at this place is 1,127' long, and, at its outer extremity, is joined to a wing which extends down stream a distance of 560'. About 600′ above the main dan a relief dam 612' long was built parallel with the main dam.

In the construction of these dams there was used 3,900 fascines and 1,850 cubic yards of rock and gravel ballast.

The completion of the dams at this point has very materially improved the naviga tion, as it was a very difficult place, not only on account of the shoal waters, but also for the swiftness of the current. Heretofore all the dams constructed at this place have been destroyed by the ice or high water, and it is, therefore, with no little pride that I am now able to state that the dams recently built at this place have successfully withstood the onslaught of the ice and high water and are now in as good con dition as when finished. To those unacquainted with the location the significance of the above statement may not be fully appreciated otherwise than a complete vindi cation of the employés engaged upon the work, as to the untruthfulness and malig nant assertions of envious and carping critics, but, aside from this, it appears to be proven that the form of construction adopted in thesc dams is the best adapted to meet the requirements of future similar work. It is a matter of serious regret that suitable material for such dams is becoming very scarce and will have to be transported long distances. As a consequence such constructions must rapidly increase in

3ost, and it was in partial anticipation of this that the acquisition of a powerful dredgo boat was urged.

During the season 3,309 lineal feet of dam was constructed at an average cost of 59 07 per lineal foot. Considering the very substantial character of the constructions this is a very reasonable price, and it is hardly likely that it can be improved upon in any future work of this description.

The steamer Josephine, owing to the lack of any appropriation for snagging, was used as a transport and tow-boat. And from estimates based upon some similar work, done by the Fort Benton Transportation Company, her possession by the Government resulted in a saving to the work of something near $30,000. The original cost of the steamer was $13,200, and consequently, she apparently more than paid for herself in one season.

While she is thoroughly fitted for the duty for which she was bought, she is entirely too large for economical towing, about the works, and a small tow-boat is essential for the economical prosecution of the work.

The Josephine can be used for the transportation of materials and supplies at the commencement of the season and afterwards attend to her special duties of snag pulling.

The tow-boat would, therefore, be solely for use as a tow-boat, and should be equipped with powerful machinery and be of small size.

The narrowness of the channel in the rocky portion of the river subjects the larger boats to a very severe service during the working season, and in consequence the steamer Josephine will need some repairs to enable her to resume work. She was hauled out on the bank to protect her from the outgoing ice during the spring breakup, and through the absence of funds, to put her in commission, she was left on the blocking until the rapid cutting of the bank made it necessary to launch her.

The steam dredge-boat was completed on the 2d of September and proved to be an excellent machine. During the short experimental working of the machine it averaged 1,500 cubic yards per day, and will, undoubtedly, be able to excavate considerably more than this per day, when working regularly. As it was finished too late in the season to begin any extensive work, it was merely employed in excavating a small experimental channel through the bar immediately below Fort Benton, the material removed being used to form a small temporary dam. As the result of this work a four-foot channel through the bar was obtained, and, at last accounts, this depth was still maintained, the ice having simply leveled the earthen dam, as was expected.

Upon the suspension of work the dredge and a barge were laid up for the winter in a harbor dredged out for the purpose. The remainder of the floating plant was hauled out, beyond danger, where it still reumains, with the exception of the steamer Josephine, before alluded to.

Plans for a pair of improved compound non-condensing engines, for the steamer Josephine, have been prepared in the event of its becoming necessary to substitute new engines for the present old-style high-pressure engines. Plans have also been nearly completed for the small tow-boat.

All of the past season's work has been confined to that portion of the river between Fort Benton and Carroll, Mont. It is difficult to get any definite information concerning the extent of the commerce over this portion of the river, as the only line of boats upon this portion of the river is owned by a single firm, who appear to be afraid to furnish any statistics of their trade, for the reason, as they expressed it, "that it would be used against them." I have no information from them upon this subject, but from an estimate made from the number of trips made by their boats during the season, as given by my recorders at the works, there was probably something like 13,500,000 pounds of freight carried by the four boats during the season.

Of this amount, probably 1,000,000 pounds was wool, shipped down-stream. Besides the wool there was considerable grain, flour, hides, and bullion shipped downstream, of which I can give no estimate. Although the down-stream traffic does not amount to half of that in the opposite direction, I believe it would show a healthy increase from year to year if the data was accessible.

Between Bismarck and Fort Benton the local traffic is on the increase, but is much retarded in consequence of the greater portion of the bordering country being Indian reservations, and, practically, non-productive.

Below Bismarck the local traffic is improving, and several small boats find profitable Occupation. The General Terry and General Tompkins are running in this portion of the river, but I am not in possession of any information as to the extent of the commerce carried.

The country is being gradually settled up, and, in the event of the Indian reserva tions being opened up for settlement, the commerce of this portion of the river will be speedily increased.

Nothing has been done on this stretch of river between Bismarck, Dak., and Sioux City, Iowa, for some time, and although it is possible to apply the system of improve

ment advocated by me for the improvement of the sandy portion of the upper river, I do not think that, for the present, there is much more improvements required here than will result from the pulling of the dangerous snags.

PROJECT FOR NEXT SEASON'S OPERATIONS.

The dredging should be continued and, in connection with it, the construction of dams, when necessary, to further control the water and maintain it in the desired channel.

The snag pulling is very necessary, and should embrace the whole of the river between Sioux City, Iowa, and Carroll.

As the rectification of the channel in the sandy portion of the river is becoming necessary with the advance of the improvement, the application as an experiment to a characteristic section, should be provided for.

With the addition of a suitable tow-boat it is believed the plant will be in such condition that the greater portion of the work can be done by contract.

Dam-building operations....

Experimental works for rectification of channel, including plant

Office and inspection expenses and surveys..........

Caro and preservation of plant, and contingent expenses.

Total.....

Money statement.

July 1, 1885, amonnt available

July 1, 1886, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year exclusive of outstanding liabilities, July 1, 1885.

$43,958 1

$42,866 83

1,091 38

43,958 21

Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.....not determined. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1888

160,000 00

Total expended upon the present project to June 30, 1886... ....

201,456 67

sion.

*Thirty thousand dollars of this amount was expended by Missouri River Commis

385,000 00

Batchelor
Helena

Benton

Rosebud..

Total..

Names.

The following table gives the cost, capacity, &c., of boats navigating the Missouri River between Sioux City, Iowa, and Fort Benton, Mont., in 1885-'86.

⚫ Several smaller boats also navigated the river, the names of which have not been learned. The following table gives the (estimated) business of 4 boats in 1885:

8872 ENG 87—— 9)

Remarks.

Ꮓ Ꮓ 2.

REPORTS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION RESPECTING ALLOT MENT OF APPROPRIATION OF AUGUST 5, 1886.

1.

MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION,

Saint Louis, Mo., September 2, 1886.

SIR: At a meeting of the Missouri River Commission, held on August 26 and 27, the subject of the expenditure of the item of $375,000 for im proving Missouri River from its mouth to Sioux City, in the river and harbor bill approved August 5, 1886, was carefully considered. According to the wording of the act the money is to be expended in "cou tinuing improvement, including necessary work at Omaha, Atchison, Saint Joseph, Fort Leavenworth Reservation, Arrow Rock, Kansas City, Plattsmouth, Brownsville, and Nebraska City, under the direc tion of the Secretary of War, in accordance with plans and estimates to be furnished by the Missouri River Commission."

In their last annual report the Commission submitted an estimate of $1,000,000 for continuing the improvement of the river from Kansas City down, this estimate including the continuation of work then in prog ress at Kansas City and Saint Joseph, two of the places specially mentioned in the above quoted act. As regards the other places mentionel but little is actually known. Reports and plans and estimates for work of improvement have been made for all of them in former years, and at all except Arrow Rock work on a small scale has been executed. From the best information available the Commission infer that but little if any trace of such work is now to be found. The cause of such failure is to be sought in the utterly insufficient appropriations which were made from year to year, and which never allowed work to be done of an ex tent and character which would insure permanence or efficiency. From these old reports and maps the Commission infer that to do the neces sary work at the various points enumerated in the act, exclusive of Saint Joseph and Kansas City, would require from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. besides a large addition to the present plant amounting to probably $300,000 more. During the past season the greater portion of the plant was concentrated on the work at Kansas City; the balance was em ployed at Saint Joseph. Even this division of the plant was attended with serious drawbacks, and any further division would, in the opinio of the Commission, render work impracticable.

To scatter the current appropriation in allotments to all the points enumerated in the bill would result in no good whatever, as the amounts would be everywhere inadequate to even begin the work needed. Under these circumstances the Commission deem that a literal compliance with the requirements of the act is impossible, and they have therefore de cided to recommend the continuance of work at Kansas City and Sain Joseph, two of the places enumerated, and on the general improvemeti of the river in the vicinity of Kansas City. At these points a good deal of work was done last year which needs extension and completion. With the funds now available this can be done, and reasonable progress be made toward completion of the local projects. As regards the other points mentioned, the Commission propose to make, at once, such sur veys as are needed, and to submit plans and estimates in time for the action of Congress at its next session.