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Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. $32,935 86

Amount available July 1, 1871...............

Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873......

(See Appendix H 1. (1)

47,000 00 72,000 00

2. Improving Minnesota River.-The work of removing snags from the channel of this river was resumed on the 4th September at Le Sueur and continued up the stream some ten miles. During the winter a party was employed between Patterson's Rapids and Sacred Heart Creek in removing boulders. The work was carried on under an agreement with Mr. S. A. Hooper, upon the terms of his contract of a former year. Amount appropriated by act of July 1, 1870.. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. Amount available July 1, 1871...

Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.....

(See Appendix H 2.)

$10,000 00

10,000 00

9,903 56

10, 096 44 15, 000 00

3. Improvement of Illinois River.-During the last fiscal year operations on this river were confined to carrying out the modified project referred to in my last annual report, viz: to make an open channel navigation with a minimum depth of 4 feet. It is reported that this depth will fully meet all the requirements of the commerce of the river until the proposed enlarged canal is ready for use.

At the beginning of the fiscal year work was in progress under the contract of F. D. Van Wagenen, for dredging between Henry and Copperas Creek. The result under the contract has been a channel of 5 feet from Henry to Peoria, thirty-seven miles, and one of 4 feet for fifteen miles farther, and a channel-way for a 7-foot navigation, reaching to Copperas Creek, is now prepared if the dam be raised 6 inches higher thau first proposed.

During the year a second contract was entered into for continuing the dredging of bars, &c., and the work has been in progress since January.

An estimate for the completion of the work in accordance with the present plan, i. e., to make a channel 150 feet wide and 43 feet deep in excavation, with dams to confine the water when required, amounting to $292,000, is submitted in detail in the report of the assistant in local charge of the work. Of this amount $150,000 could be profitably expended during the next fiscal year.

Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870...
Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.
Amount available July 1, 1871...

Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873.....

(See Appendix H 3.)

$100, 000 00

26, 270 10 73, 729 90 150,000 00

4. Improving Des Moines Rapids.-During the past fiscal year work upon this improvement has been confined to excavation of earth and rock from prism of canal, making embankment with a protecting riprap wall, and to the construction of lower and middle locks. Work upon the guard-lock or Montrose channel has not yet been commenced.

A portion of the appropriation of $400,000, made July 11, 1870, was applied to the section-work of the canal at such points as the engineer deemed best, regard being had to the condition of the embankment and its capacity to resist the action of the river-current during the high

stages of the water. Fortunately no trouble was experienced on this

score.

Immediately upon the passage of the act of January 18, 1871, appropriating $341,000, work upon the prism of the canal was resumed. The engineer in local charge reports that he has "endeavored to push, with all the speed compatible with good work, the riprap wall of the embankment, in order that it (the embankment) may be protected from the effects of the ice during the coming winter. In this I have succeeded and have raised * the embankment so as to have it safe

from an overflow from anything but unusually high water. I have also completed the riprap wall on all portions of the line where the embankment was old and well settled."

The contract for work on the lower lock expiring October 20, 1870, the officer in charge employed a small force to place the lock in a condition to stand the winter. On the passage of the act of March 3, 1871, appropriating $250,000 for this improvement, steps were at once taken to resume work, proposals were invited and contracts made for the lower and the middle locks. The engineer reports that up to the close of the fiscal year the work progressed in a very satisfactory manner.

The contracts for stone used in the construction of the locks having expired August 26, 1871, the balance required during the remaining portion of the working season of that year. was obtained by purchase in open market.

Proposals were invited May 15, and contract made July 1, 1871, for stone for lower lock, and a contract has been entered into for supplying cement for both locks. During the year all the castings and timber for the lock-gates have been furnished and the contracts completed.

For further details in regard to the prosecution of this work of improvement, attention is invited to the reports of the officers in charge, General J. H. Wilson for the first quarter of the fiscal year, when he was relieved by the officer now in charge, Colonel J. N. Macomb. These reports are transmitted herewith.

Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870....
Amount appropriated by act of January 18, 1871
Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871....

$400,000 00 341, 000 00 250,000 00

Total....

991, 000 00

Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, (General Wilson)..

220, 000 00

Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, (Colonel Macomb) ..

481, 944 06

Balance available July 1, 1871.

289,055 94

The engineer officer in charge reports that this amount will be expended during the working season of 1871, in fulfillment of contracts, for work on the prism and locks, and for contingencies. He asks for an appropriation for the completion of the canal of $1,000,000.

The details upon which this estimate is based were not transmitted by the officer in charge, and owing to the late day at which his report has been received, I have not been able to procure them in season to be forwarded with this report.

(See Appendixes H 4 and H 1, (2.)

5. Improving Rock Island Rapids.-During the first quarter of the

fiscal year operations were confined to the removal of isolated patches and debris by the chisel-boats, and to the removal of the obstructions caused by the coffer-dams which were laid at the commencement of the work. The engineering party was engaged in testing levels for the purpose of verifying work done.

Under the appropriation of July 11, 1870, proposals were invited and contract awarded; but, owing to the death of the contractor, great delays ensued, resulting, however, in a re-letting of the work. The officer in charge reports that he has reason to believe that there will be no time lost in the completion of the work.

Immediately on the signing of this contract, work was commenced at Smith's Chain; a coffer-dam 950 feet by 250 was completed, and on September 1, 1871, the assistant in local charge reports the excavation in the pit in a fair state of progress; and work was begun on a second coffer-dam, at the "opening of Smith's Chain." On the completion of work at Smith's Chain it is contemplated, before the close of navigation, to improve patches between Sycamore and Smith's Chains, and those near Crab Island and St. Louis Chains.

For perfecting this improvement and meeting all probable contingencies in closing up the work, such as clearing out all patches of rock between the places already improved, &c., the officer in charge asks for an appropriation of $100,000.

Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.
Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.

Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.
Amount available July 1, 1871...

Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873

(See Appendix II 5.)

$150,000 00

150,000 00

8,989 56

273,000 00

100, 000 00

6. Preservation of the Falls of St. Anthony.-The work of closing the tunnel was commenced during the fiscal year, and progressed favorably until cold weather set in. The balance of appropriation was to be applied to building the apron for the protection of the falls.

At the opening of the present season, work was resumed at the tunnel, and has progressed favorably. Just after the close of the fiscal year certain newly-discovered weak points were developed, which caused a diversion of the labors of the working party, and with the well-directed efforts of the assistant the havoc threatened by this new danger was averted. Surveys of these weak points are now in progress.

The officer in charge reports that estimates for the further prosecution of this work will depend upon the results of the surveys and examinations above referred to.

$50,000 00

50,000 00

Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870...........
Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.
Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 61,425 00
Amount available July 1, 1871..

(See Appendix H 6.)

38, 574 17

7. Rock Island Bridge.-The two divisions of this work have been under the immediate charge of Captain Benyaurd, in charge of the superstructure, and Captain Stickney, of the substructure.

The completion of the superstructure has met with unexpected delay on the part of the contractors in the manufacture of the iron-work

Extension of time was granted them, and the entire work will probably be completed during the current fiscal year.

The substructure has progressed favorably, and the unfinished pier and abutments will be completed in ample time for the superstructure. The joint resolution in relation to this bridge, approved July 20, 1868, requires that the expenditures by the United States for the construction of this bridge shall not exceed one million of dollars. This sum has been appropriated, and the officer in charge reports that he has no doubt it will be ample for the completion of the work.

Amount available July 1, 1870 .

Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.

$598, 986 47 300,000 00

898, 986 47

Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 169,748 60

Amount available July 1, 1871

(See Appendix H 7.)

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS.

729,237 87

The survey of a ship-canal route from Hennepin, on the Illinois. River, to Rock Island, on the Mississippi, via Geneseo, has been made under the orders of Colonel Macomb, in compliance with the act of July 11, 1870, showing a length for such a canal of sixty-five miles, with a navigable feeder from Rock River, at Dixon, of thirty-eight miles.

Estimates are made for a ship-canal 160 feet wide and 7 feet deep, with locks 350 by 75 feet, and for a navigable feeder, amounting to $12,500,000.

For a commercial canal 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with locks 150 by 21 feet, the estimated cost, including feeder, is $3,900,000.

Examinations above the Falls of St. Anthony, and between that and the mouth of Minnesota River, and also of the Minnesota River, have also been made this season.

(See Appendix H 8.)

IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, AND ARKANSAS RIVERS, AND OF RIVERS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

Officer in charge, Lieutentant Colonel W. F. Raynolds, Corps of Engineers, who has under his immediate orders Captains C. R. Suter and C. J. Allen, Corps of Engineers.

The removing and destroying snags, cutting trees to prevent the formation of snags, and dredging bars in these streams was continued during the year. Four boats operated in the Missouri River, from St. Joseph's to the mouth of the river, until November, and renewed operations in June, and have since continued work between Omaha and the mouth.

Operations in the Mississippi, last summer and autumn, extended from Keokuk to Vicksburgh, and in the Arkansas as far up as Illinois Bayon. One of the snag-boats worked in the White River, clearing that stream of the most troublesome snags as far up as Des Arcs. Boats will be sent to the Ouachita, St. Francis, White, Black, and Little Red Rivers at the close of the autumn.

Of the snag-boats now on hand but one is suited for operations in the smaller streams during low water, and the officer in charge recommends the construction of two additional boats of light draught.

In a communication from him of the 19th October, (see Appendix I 13,) Lieutenant Colonel Raynolds urgently recommends that in rebuilding the hulls of the large snag-boats, which must soon be commenced, iron should be used, by which their draught can be reduced from 43 feet to 23 feet, and their efficiency be very much increased. For carrying this proposition into effect he submits an estimate of $150,000 for three of the boats.

Table showing the work done by United States dredge and snag boats during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.

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Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870 ...
Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.

Amount expended from July 12, 1870, to June 30, 1871..
Amount available July 1, 1871..

Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873

(See Appendix I 1.)

$150, 000 00 150,000 00 181, 341 91

141, 169 97 750,000 00

2. Improvement of the White, Black, and Little Red Rivers, Arkansas.— The act of Congress of March 3, 1871, appropriates $10,000 for this purpose. The lightest draught snag-boat of the fleet will be sent into these streams as soon as it can be spared from its work on the Missouri and Arkansas. But this appropriation can only keep it at work for about two months, during which it can do but comparatively little service. (Appendixes I 9, 10, and 11.)

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

The following examinations and surveys embraced in the second section of the act of July 11, 1870, were completed during the year:

1. At St. Louis and Alton Harbors, Mississippi River, between Alton and the mouth of the Maremec River. The survey of the Mississippi River between these points, including the harbor of St. Louis, was necessarily incomplete, owing to the limited time and funds at command. To reach a satisfactory conclusion as to the plan for, and cost of, securing a permanently improved condition of the Mississippi River within the limits named, requires the thorough, systematic survey recommended by Lieutenant Colonel Raynolds and his assistant, Captain Allen.

The recommendations of Colonel Raynolds to improve the harbor at Alton, by closing the channel west of Ellis Island, opposite Alton, by a

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