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the St. Francis, and extends to Crowley's ridge. A few levels taken will show the height of the overflow.

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A rise in the St. Francis, from its own resources, has never exceeded 8 feet at Wittsburgh.

Crowley's Ridge runs north and south through this part of Arkansas, on the west side of the St. Francis. It rises 100 feet above the bottom, and is from three to ten miles in width. Starting at Helena, it touches the river at Jeffersonville, near which it is pierced by the Anguille. It touches again at Madison, Double-headed Bluff, five miles above; Big Eddy and Wittsburgh; between these points it is from one to ten miles distant. At Wittsburgh it diverges, and is twelve miles distant at the Lake. It extends to Chalk Bluff, a point on the river near the Missouri State line. It divides the waters of the St. Francis and Anguille.

The St. Francis country is thinly settled, the slope of Crowley's Ridge, and the highest points of the undulating bottom, only, being occupied. It is heavily timbered and has very rich soil.

The formation of the entire valley is sand; the bottoms, bed of river and ridge are all of this material. The bottoms, however, have a thick stratum of loam overlaying the sand.

North of Wittsburgh the obstructions to navigation are so numerous, and the trade of the country so small, that the expense of opening the river cannot be justified.

During the overflow, say forty-five days in the year, a few small flat-boats bring down the entire shipments of the country.

There is trade enough between Wittsburgh and the mouth of the river to support a moderate sized light-draught boat the whole year. A 450-ton steamer, drawing 3 feet, rans to Wittsburgh on an average of eight months in the year. The traffic, however, does not fill this boat to more than half its capacity, except during the cotton-shipping

season.

Between Wittsburgh and the mouth of the river there are 348 snags in, or dangerously near, the channel, and 92 fallen trees. Eighty per cent. of these are from 18 to 30 inches in diameter, and very few exceed 3 feet. The timber is mostly sycamore, cottonwood, gum and oak.

To keep the river open to Madison, at low water, there will be required, in addition to the removal of the snags, six wing-dams, one at each of the following places: 1st. Burnt Cane; 2d. Foot of Overcup; 3d. Head of Overcup; 4th. Pretty Tree; 5th. Sandy Ground; 6th, Crow Creek.

To keep the river open to Wittsburgh will require, in addition, five wing-dams, distributed as follows: Middle Bar, 2; Big Eddy; half mile above Big Eddy; Anderson's Bar.

Below is an estimate of the cost of these wing-dams. Owing to the absence of rock in the country, and the great distance it would have to be moved, if used, the estimate is made for dams of timber.

The current is very light at all of the points except Pretty Tree and Big Eddy, where the material is coarse gravel.

The estimate is made with a view of opening the river to steamers whose draught does not exceed 2 feet, such boats being large enough for the trade, at least during the low-water season.

The plan proposed is to drive two rows of piles, 16 inches apart in the clear, cutting off the piles at the height of the dam. Between these two rows place hewn timber, the top pieces, at intervals, firmly bolted to the piles. This to form one side of the dam. Eight feet from the center, to be the center of the other side of the dam, alike constructed. The ends to be similar to the sides. An iron clamp to connect the top pieces of timber at the corners. The inclosure to be filled with sand, or gravel, where it can be obtained.

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2,928 piles, delivered, at $1 75..

Mouth of river to Madison.

Driving 2,928 piles, an average of 14 feet, at 15 cents per foot...... 33,058 cubic feet hewn timber, delivered, at 18 cents per foot....

=

692 bolts, with nut and washer, 4 feet 6 inches, by 14 inches, 31,140 pounds, at 64 cents....

600 pounds wrought-iron clamps, at 61 cents.

621 days' labor, at $2 50..

118 days' labor, at $4 50.

3,535 cubic yards filling, at 25 cents..

$2,500 00 5, 124 00 6,148 80 5,950 44

2, 101 95 37 50 1,552 50

531 00 883 50

24, 829 69

Madison to Wittsburgh.

3,799 piles delivered, at $1 75

Driving 3,799 piles, an average of 14 feet, at 15 cents per foot. 41,444 cubic feet hewn timber, delivered, at 18 cents

900 bolts, with nut and washer, 4 feet 6 inches by 14 inches,

pounds, at 64 cents...

500 pounds wrought-iron clamps, at 61 cents.

726 days' labor, at $2 50..

138 days' labor, at $4 50..

4,452 cubic yards filling, at 25 cents..

Total, mouth of the river to Wittsburgh..

$6,648 25

7,977 90

7,459 92

=40.500

2,733 75

31 25

1,815 00

621 00 1,113 00

28,400 07

53, 229 76

The removal of the snags between Wittsburgh and the mouth of the river involves all the expenditure the traffic of the entire St. Francis country will justify at this time.

At present a steamer, drawing 3 feet, runs to Wittsburgh eight months in the year. With the suags out, this time could be increased, and a boat of less draught, ample for the trade, could use the river at least ten months in every twelve.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier General W. F. RAYNOLDS,

Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

H. L. KOONS, Assistant Civil Engineer.

OFFICE WESTERN RIVER IMPROVEMENTS,

1122 Pine Street, St. Louis, Missouri, October 14, 1871. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit my annual report upon the improvement of the St. Francis River in Arkansas.

The act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, made an appropriation for the improvement of St. Francis River in the State of Arkansas, of $10,000.

The examination made last season showed that the St. Francis is a stream of sufficient magnitude in ordinary stages of water to float one of our snag-boats, and I have recommended that the appropriation should be expended in paying the running expenses of one of our boats while engaged in removing snags and other obstructions to navigation. It will not be possible to detach a boat for this purpose, until after operations under the appropriation for the improvement of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas Rivers shall have ended.

The last-named appropriation will be exhausted by about the 1st of January next, when, if no other appropriations were available, the snagboats would have to be laid up. Instead of doing this, the Bureau has approved my proposition to send one of them into the St. Francis, and to employ her there so long as it is practicable with the amount appropriated.

One of the snag-boats can be profitably employed at least another season, and possibly subsequently-for two months in removing obstructions from the St. Francis, and it would be much better to do so than to have the boats doing nothing, as has been the case half of each year. I therefore recommend that an appropriation should be made for that purpose, of $10,000.

Respectfully submitted.

W. F. RAYNOLDS, Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers.

Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Washington, D. C.

I 9.

OFFICE WESTERN RIVER IMPROVEMENT,

St. Louis, Missouri, January 27, 1871. GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith the report of the examination of Little Red River, Arkansas.

The whole extent of the navigable portion of Little Red River is less than fifty miles. The upper section of eighteen miles, extending from Searcy Landing to West Point, seems to be little more than a rivulet, excepting when the bed of the stream is filled with the back-water from White River.

At such times the removal of the overhanging trees and snags from

this section, of which there are nearly 20 of each per mile, would doubtless aid the passage of the boats which attempt to reach Searcy Landing.

From West Point to the mouth of the stream, the depth of water is two feet at the lowest stage; distance, thirty miles. An average of nearly twenty snags, and more than two hundred overhanging trees, were counted on this section of the river.

The fact stated that, the commerce of this stream is sufficient to induce the comparatively large boats running on White River to navigate it whenever it is practicable, and when this is not the case, that a small steamer is kept to ply between West Point and the mouth of the river, shows the importance of the interest involved. The snag-boats now in use having been built for service on larger streams are not such as will be required on Little Red.

Having heretofore estimated for the construction of such a boat as could do the work, the cost thereof is not included in the estimate now presented.

After a boat suited for the duty is procured, the estimated cost of the required improvements are as follows:

For the removal of snags and leaning trees between Searcy Landing and West Point; two months' work of snag-boat, at $5,000 per month....

$10,000

Removal of snags below West Point; four months' service of snag-boat, at $5,000 per month..

20,000

Removing 6,200 trees between West Point and mouth of stream, at 50 cents each....

3, 100

Add 15 per cent. to meet the cost of placing snags and trees, after removal, out of the reach of high water..

4,965

Total estimate...

38, 065

W. F. RAYNOLDS,

Respectfully submitted.

Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Engineers, United States Army, Washington, D. C.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, January 19, 1871.

SIR: I most respectfully submit herewith the report on the examination of Little Red River, in Arkansas, compiled from the field-notes of Captain John S. Tennyson. Little Red River is a tributary of White River, and empties into the latter, thirty miles below Augusta.

Having been ordered, at that time, to succeed Mr. A. Livermore in charge of the examination of rivers in the State of Arkansas, I proceeded to Little Red River, in order to meet Captain Tennyson on the field of operations.

By doing so, I had the opportunity to judge of the condition of the river from the mouth upwards to West Point myself, whereby I found that Captain Tennyson's notes fully coincided with my own observations. The examination of the upper part, that is from Searcy Landing to West Point, was made by Captain Tennyson alone, who had finished the same before my arrival on the river.

Searcy Landing being regarded as the head of navigation on Little Red River, the examination of this stream was commenced at that point and conducted to its mouth. The river can be divided into two sections, entirely different in their features, and they will be therefore treated separately.

The upper section reaches from Searcy Landing to West Point, eighteen miles; the lower, from that place to the mouth, thirty miles in length.

SECTION I.-Searcy Landing to West Point.

The bottom of the river from the upper Searcy Landing, called Merchants' Landing, is rocky throughout, and has several shoal places between these two points.

The first shoals are half a mile below Merchants' Landing, 115 feet long, and extend 211 feet from the right shore into the river. The channel is 55 feet wide and 5 inches deep at low water, with 1.1 feet fall.

The next shoal place is in front of lower Searcy Landing. These shoals are nearer to the left bank, one mile and a half long, and 200 feet wide. The width of the channel is 63 feet at the narrowest point, with 8 inches of water, and 0.8 feet fall.

Rock Island Shoals, 3 miles below Searcy Landing, are 300 feet long. The width of the channel is 61 feet; depth at low water, 9 inches; fall, 0.75 feet.

From these last shoals to Prospect Shoals, a distance of four miles and a half, there is hardly any visible current in the river. The bottom consists of loose rocks with the exception of about 500 feet, where sand is prevalent. The width of the river is in this part 275 feet on an average between banks, and has from 2 to 7 feet water in the channel.

Prospect Shoals are a half a mile above the town of Prospect Bluffs. The river-bed is covered with small rocky islands, which are from 2 to 5 feet above low water. The channel lies very nearly in the middle of the river, and is 57 feet wide, with 3 inches depth. On the right shore is a chain of loose rocks, which have been taken out of the channel and piled up in the shape of a dam. The length of these shoals is 600 feet, with 2.30 feet fall.

The left bank along this part of the river is from 25 to 35 feet high, consists of common clay and is covered with timber. There are but a few cultivated fields along this shore. The caving and washing out of the banks amounts to very little.

The right shore is high upland. The bluffs are from 50 to 60 feet high, and consist of clay, with rocks cropping out half way upon the bank. These bluffs reach their utmost height three miles below Searcy Landing, in a hill 150 feet high, which is composed of rocks clear up to the top.

From Prospect Bluff, sandy bottom is prevalent for a distance of five miles; the average width of the river is 300 feet between banks, which are low and subject to overflow; the depth of the channel is from 2 to 16 feet.

Best's Shoals, five miles below Prospect Bluffs, consist of two chains of loose rocks. On the upper chain, 130 feet long, the channel lies nearer to the left shore, is 65 feet wide, with 6 inches of water and 2.05 feet fall. The lower chain, 50 feet long, is close to the left shore, has 7 inches of water in the channel, which is 57 feet wide. Fall 0.75 feet. The loose rocks on both of these chains have been piled up in form of dams. There is rocky bottom for the next two miles below Best's Shoals, with from 10 inches to 3 feet water in the channel.

Three miles above West Point there are piles of loose rocks scattered along the left shore and extending half way into the river.

The average width of the river from Best's Shoals to West Point is 300 feet between banks. The channel is 100 feet wide and 10 inches deep.

The right bank along this part is, on an average. 45 feet high, the left one low and subject to overflow; both are covered with heavy timber.

SECTION II.-From West Point to the mouth.

The river assumes more the character of a natural canal. The width is almost uniform, and varies between 250 and 300 feet. The banks are nearly of the same height, (about 25 feet,) slope at an angle of 45°, and are covered with timber from lowwater edge up. The adjacent country is, during high water, subject to overflow, and there are but few spaces of cleared land in this section. The depth in the channel in this part is, at the lowest stage of water, 2 feet and over.

LOW WATER

occurs during the months of July, August, and September. The depth in the channel at low water has been described at the different localities above.

HIGH WATER

takes place first during the month of May, sometimes as early as the end of April. This is called the spring rise, and does not last very long.

The fall and winter rise from the head-waters is also of short duration. The river may rise from 15 to 20 feet within twelve hours, and fall again to the former stage within the next twelve hours.

The only rise for any length of time to depend on is the back-water from White River, when the latter is high. A rise of 15 feet in White River will make 4 feet water in Little Red River, clear through to Searcy Landing.

The highest water known was in 1867, when the high-water mark showed 39. 30 feet at Searcy Landing, 32.6 feet at Prospect Bluffs, and 29.3 feet at West Point.

OBSTRUCTIONS, SNAGS, AND LEANING TIMBER.

From Searcy Landing to West Point there are 353 snags, and 289 leaning trees. The latter are seen only in two bends and close together.

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