3. Improvement of Cumberland River below Nashville.-The improvement of this river has, so far, been restricted to that part of it which lies below Nashville. During the past fiscal year operations have been carried on at Harpeth Shoals-the most serious obstruction below Nashville-both by contract and by hired labor. The contractor, who should have had his work finished by the 1st of January, 1873, applied for and received two extensions of time of one year each to enable him to fulfill his contract. This led to the conclusion to do the additional work, for which an appropriation had been made, by hired labor, aud work by that system was begun in November, 1873, and by the close of the fiscal year twelve thousand cubic yards of stone had been quarried and moved to the river-bank in readiness for boating to the sites where the dams were to be built. Preparations were also made for the beginning of channel-excavation and the construction of the dams. In the meanwhile the contractor was carrying on his work, and at the close of the fiscal year there remained only about a quarter of his work to be done, which since then has been completed. By the close of this calendar year it is expected that the work so far ordered for Harpeth Shoals will be completed and the appropriation exhausted. No appropriation has yet been made for the improvement of the Cumberland River above Nashville, but a survey for the purpose of ascertaining the probable cost of this improvement was ordered by Congress, and was made in 1871. The improvement appears to be of so much importance to the welfare of the States of Tennessee and Kentucky that an appropriation of $100,000 for the purpose is recommended. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $319.66 percentage due on contracts not yet completed).. $35,000 00 15,912 76 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.. 21,506 04 Amount available July 1, 1874, (excluding $1,416.92 retained percentage). 27,989 80 175,000 00 (See Appendix P 2.) 4. Improvement of Tombigbee River.-Under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1873, the remainder of the appropriation of June 10, 1872, for the improvement of this river, was to be expended within the State of Mississippi. An examination of the needs of the river com merce within the limits of this State led to the conclusion that this money could be best expended above Aberdeen. A force of men, therefore, was set to work removing drifts, logs, stumps, overhanging trees, &c., which impeded the navigation of this part of the river during high water, and carried their operations from Aberdeen to a point about five miles above Cotton Gin Port, where the winter rise put an end to further operations for the season. During the present season the same method of improvement will be carried up to Barr's Ferry, on the road from Smithville, Miss., to and across the Tombigbee, which will exhaust the balance of the appropriation. No attempt is to be made to improve the low-water navigation of this part of the river, as it would be too expensive, if not impracticable. To complete the improvements according to the surveys which have been made will take $46,500. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874..... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix P 3.) $4,667 05 2,350 77 2,316 28 46,500 00 Examination of Oostenaula River, Georgia.-The examination and sur vey of this river, which was made in compliance with provisions of the act of March 3, 1871, extended only to the mouth of the Coosawattee. At the request of one of the Representatives in Congress from the State of Georgia, Captain Overman was instructed, in the absence of Major McFarland, to extend this examination from Resaca to Carter's Mill. For his report, which contains an approximate estimate for the improvement of the navigation between those two points, see Appendix P 4. BRIDGING THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. Bridge across the Genesee River at Charlotte, New York.-An act of Congress, approved March 3, 1873, authorized "the construction of a railroad draw-bridge across the Genesee River, in Monroe County, New York," and required that the bridge "shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe." A board of engineer officers was convened at Charlotte to examine and report upon the plans submitted by the bridge company, and its report will be found in Appendix Q 1. 2. Bridging the channel between Lakes Huron and Erie.-Section 3 of "An act making appropriations for the repair, preservation, and completion of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1873, "authorized and required" the Secre tary of War "to detail from the Engineer Corps one or more engineers, whose duty it shall be to inquire into and report upon the practicability of bridging, consistently with the interests of navigation, the channel between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, at such points as may be needful for the passing of railroad-trains across said channel, and also its effect upon the navigation of the same; and, further, to inquire into the number and character of the vessels navigating said channel, and the number of trips made by each, and, if said bridging be practicable, to report, what extent of span or spans and elevation above the water will be required in the construction of such bridge or bridges so as not seriously to injure the navigation of said channel." A board of engineers was accordingly organized, by orders from the War Department, for the purpose indicated, and its report will be found in Appendix Q 2. 3. St. Louis and Illinois bridge across the Mississippi River.-Congress, by acts approved July 25, 1866, and July 20, 1868, (Statutes at Large, vol. 14, pp. 245, 246; vol. 15, p. 123,) authorized the St. Louis and Illinois Bridge Company to build a bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Mo. Representations having been made by parties interested in preserving the free navigation of the river that the bridge, when completed, would materially obstruct and injuriously modify that navigation, a board of officers was convened by the War Department August 20, 1873, to examine and report upon the same. The report of the board, together with its supplementary report, are printed in Appendix Q 3. To comply with the request from the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce of April 9, 1874, an examination was made, under the direction of Colonel Macomb, of the ponton railway bridge across the Mississippi at Prairie du Chien, with the view of procuring information bearing upon H. R. bill 2588, to legalize and establish said bridge. Colonel Macomb's report will be found in Appendix Q 4. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER-REMOVAL OF THE RED RIVER RAFT-IMPROVEMENT OF TONE'S BAYOU AND OF CYPRESS BAYOU, RED RIVER, AND CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND DREDGING AT THE FOOT OF SODA LAKE-IMPROVEMENT OF CALCASIEU PASS, LOUISIANA; AND OF ENTRANCE TO GALVESTON HARBOR, AND OF RED FISH BAR, TEXAS. Officer in charge, Capt. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders the following officers of the Corps of En gineers, viz: Lieut. H. M. Adams, from July 1, 1873, to June 1, 1874; Lieut. É. A. Woodruff, from July 1, 1873, to September 30, 1873; Lieut. C. E. L. B. Davis, from July 1, 1873, to June 30, 1874; Lieut. James B. Quinn, from July 1, 1873, to June 30, 1874. 1. Improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi River, Louisiana, at Pass à l'Outre.-From June 30, 1873, to June 30, 1874, a channel from 17 to 20 feet deep was available each day at high tide at Pass à l'Outre. The act of Congress, passed at its last session, giving the Secretary of War control over the use of the channel in course of improvement, though not yet enforced, has had a beneficial effect. Regulations, provided for by the act, will be established and enforced during the pres ent year, and, it is thought, will result in preventing blockades. In connection with the improvement of the mouth of the river, whether by canal, jetties, or dredging, numerous surveys, borings, and measurements have been made, the results of some of which have been reported from time to time as the work progressed. This field-work has not yet been completed. During next year the dredge-boat Essayons, which will then have been in active service seven years, will require extensive repairs, for which $100,000 will be required in addition to the appropriation of $150,000 for running expenses. Balance in Treasury of the United States July 1, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876: Running expenses.. Repair of dredge.. $85,083 00 7,748 55 30,000 00 130,000 00 117,503 40 135, 328 15 (See Appendix R 1.) 2. Removing the raft in Red River, Louisiana.-A navigable channel through the whole length of the raft was obtained in November, 1873, since which time work has been directed to the removal of the remain. ing portions of the raft and to clearing the banks of the river, where necessary, to prevent the re-formation of raft and the deposit of new obstructions from caving banks. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. (See Appendix R 2.) 3. Improvement of Tone's Bayou, Louisiana.-The raft-dam reported in course of construction last year was completed and remained in place during the year, but produced no apparent useful effect; the bayou under it deepening and permitting quite as great discharge as before its introduction. It appears that the total closure of this bayou will alone effect the end desired-that of improved navigation in Red River below Tone's Bayou, the cost of which is estimated at $20,000. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.... Amount available July 1, 1874.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this (See Appendix R 3.) $1,007 63 989 00 18 63 20,000 00 4. Improvement of Cypress Bayou, and construction of dams and dredg ing at the foot of Soda Lake, Texas and Louisiana.-Work on the former was continued throughout the year when rendered practicable by the stage of water in the bayou, and resulted in widening, deepening, and straightening the channel from Jefferson to a point below Smithland. Further examination was made at the foot of Soda Lake, and a plan for improvement projected, which, from its character, could not be commenced with the insufficient appropriation available. The officer in charge submits estimates for the next fiscal year amounting to $372,580. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874 .. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this (See Appendix R 4.) $38,000 00 14,794 38 28, 368 34 24,426 04 238,000 00 5. Improvement of Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana.-This work was completed January 13, 1874. It has benefited a large lumbering interest in Southwestern Louisiana. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check Amount available July 1, 1874.. (See Appendix R 5.) $9,287 51 9,210 96 76 55 6. Improvement of the harbor of Galveston, Texas.-Captain Howell submitted a report upon the results of the survey he had been directed to make for the purpose of determining and estimating the cost of some plan of improvement calculated to give an eighteen-foot entrance to this harbor. As the method of construction proposed by him is in some degree new, and involves a large expenditure, it was deemed advisable to refer his report to a board of engineer officers for opinion thereon. These reports were transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 136. The appropriation of June 23, 1874, will be expended in accordance. with the recommendation of this board, but only so far as to test the merits of the plan. It is hoped a result may be presented early in the next session of Congress, when estimates for the prosecution of the work will be submitted. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874... (See Appendixes R 6 and R 7.) $3,608 31 60, 000 00 3,606 54 60,001 77 7. Improvement of Red Fish Bar, in Galveston Bay, Texas.-This work contemplates widening, deepening, and lengthening the cut through Red Fish Bar to meet the growing wants of commerce. The appropriation of June 23, 1874, is not deemed sufficient to complete the work. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.... Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount available July 1, 1874. 868 41 10,000.00 50.00 10,018 41 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, (as revised in this (See Appendix R 8.) 5,000 00 8. Survey for the location of the terminus of the Fort St. Philip Canal under the lee of Sable Island.-The survey of 1871 and 1872 gave the data for considering the location, except, 1st, borings and soundings along the line of probable location of the trunk of the canal; and, 2d, for inclosure of Grand Bay. These are now given by Captain Howell. (See Appendix R 9.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Captain Howell was charged with and has completed the following: In compliance with provisions of the act of June 10, 1872 1. Of the Neches and Angelina Rivers, Texas.-This was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 84. (See Appendix R 10.) In compliance with the act of March 3, 1873— 2. Pascagoula Harbor, Mississippi.-Transmitted to Congress, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 84. (See Appendix R 11.) 3. Entrance of Matagorda Bay and the channel of Indianola, Texas.Transmitted to Congress, and printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 174. (See Appendix R 12.) 4. Bayou Lafourche, Louisiana, from Lafourche Crossing to the mouth. (See Appendix R 13.) 5. From the mouth of Red River down Atchafalaya River to Brashear, Louisiana. (See Appendix R 14.) The survey for connecting the inland waters along the margin of the Gulf of Mexico from Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to the Rio Grande, Texas, in compliance with the provisions of the act of March 3, 1873, is in prog ress, but owing to its great extent, not yet completed. SHIP CANAL TO CONNECT THE MISSISSIPPI WITH THE GULF OF MEXICO. To comply with a resolution of the House of Representatives of March 14, 1871, Captain Howell was charged with the surveys for the location and plan of this work. His results and accompanying drawings were referred to a board of engineer officers for examination, whose report, together with that of Captain Howell, with explanatory remarks from members of the board and from this office, was transmitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in Ex. Doc. H. R. No. 220, and will be found in the appendix to this communication, as also a brief account of the application of the jetty-system to the mouth of the Rhone, recently received from Mr. E. Malézieux, engineer-in-chief in the corps of Ponts et Chaussées. (See Appendixes R 15 and R 16.) |