1 2. Entrance to Coos Bay and Harbor, Oregon.-The obstructions which existed at the entrance to this harbor before the works of improvement were begun consisted, first, of the outer bar, which is of sand and shifting in character; and second, of the inner shoals formed by the sands which accumulate when the northwesterly winds prevail. Under the action of these winds the spit on the north side advanced toward the south, contracting the navigable passage, and usually making the outer channel follow a long and tortuous course. The channel has at times broken through the North Spit, and was then direct, the depth of water was greatest, and vessels could enter or go out without trouble. The project for this improvement, adopted in 1879, was to construct, at an estimated cost of $600,000, a jetty of wood and stone, as might be found best, from a point 250 yards below the northern extremity of Fossil Point, on a line towards the east end of Coos Head. The present plan, under which operations are progressing, consists in abandoning any further work on the Fossil Point Jetty, and the building of two high tide jetties of stone; one from Coos Head and one from the southern end of the North Spit out towards the bar, ending at a distance apart of about 1,500 feet. In addition, the project includes the reclamation and holding of the sands of the North Spit, to prevent as far as possible their blowing over into the harbor. The estimated cost of the work as approved is $2,466,412.20. The total amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $197,460.41. The Fossil Point Jetty had been built to a total length of 1,761 feet, but a considerable portion of this consisted simply in a paving of heavy stone on the bottom to prevent scour. The results had been to keep the channel over the bar, which had been constantly improving since work was begun, from varying its position as much as formerly, and to commence an erosion of the North Spit. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $72,360.07, of which $12,857.33 was expended on the old project, and $59,502.74 on the new. There has been practically no change in the results since the preceding Annual Report. A small amount of stone was placed on the jetty last July, since which nothing has been done, except preliminary work under the new project. The erosion of the North Spit has continued, and a better direction for the inflowing and outflowing currents has been thus secured. The works have not increased the bar depths, and this can not be expected until the north jetty, now under construction, has been very considerably extended. The total amount appropriated for the improvement of Coos Bay to date has been $338,750, in seven acts. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended....... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1891, balance available.......... .... $16, 289.59 125,000.00 141, 289.59 72,380.07 68,909.52 $10, 150.70 12, 590.70 56, 318.82 ENG 91-26 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... .$2,341, 412, 20 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W W 2.) 750,000.00 3. Umpqua River, Oregon.-Just below Scottsburg, the head of navigation on the Umpqua River, are 5 sandstone bars or ledges 12 feet to 15 feet wide and submerged 1 foot to 2 feet at low tide, on a low-river stage. They are separated by pools about 150 feet wide and from 5 to 10 feet deep at low water. The Secretary of War having authorized the expenditure of the balance of the appropriation of March 3, 1871, viz, 84,685.89, in improving the river below Scottsburg, a project was submitted and approved in 1885 for making a channel 50 feet wide and 3 feet deep at low water, by drilling and blasting the rock and removing the broken pieces. In September, 1889, a survey was made of the Umpqua River, and a project submitted for its improvement. This project, approved in October, 1890, provides for the removal of rock bowlders and ledges in the wharf basin at Scottsburg, and below this basin, with a view of opening a channel-way 50 feet in width and 4 feet in depth at low water. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $6,658.42. The result obtained was a navigable channel 50 feet wide and 2 feet deep at low water, extending nearly through the reefs below Scottsburg, where formerly there was only a foot or less in depth. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $334. No results were obtained during the year, no work being done except preparatory to active operations to begin in July, 1891. The total amount appropriated for the Umpqua River is $33,500, in three acts. The present appropriation being deemed sufficient for the completion. of the existing project, no estimate for additional appropriations is made. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, balance available.... (See Appendix W W 3.) $27.47 9,000.00 9,027.47 334.00 8, 693.47 670.18 8,023.29 4. Siuslaw River, Oregon.-The Siuslaw River enters the ocean in the midst of a vast shifting sandy beach, and the unconfined channel has a range of about 1 mile, over which it wanders. The depth on the bar varies from 5 to 12 feet at low water, and the Bar Channel changes very much in position and direction. Fifty thousand dollars was appropriated for this work in September, 1890. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $601.96. No work was done and no results were obtained during the year. By authority of the Secretary of War a Board of Engineers was constituted to formulate and submit a project for improving mouth of Siuslaw River under the appropriation of September 19, 1890; and the report, dated June 11, 1891, of the Board, contains the following language in reference to beginning work at this locality: It would seem to be imperatively necessary, in order that it may be efficiently and economically done, that it be not commenced until an amount sufficient to build the north jetty to its full length up to at least low water be made available. This involves about three-fourths of the total cost of that jetty, or $300,000. The Board, however, suggests that the available funds be applied to the procurement of the necessary plant and appliances and the commencement of the construction of a dike on the sand spit near the mouth of the river at the northern end of the sandy peninsula, and this suggestion of the Board was approved by the Acting Secretary of War August 4, 1891. The full report of the Board is herewith, forming part of Appendix W W 4. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix W W 4.) $50,000.00 601.96 49, 398.04 700, 000. 00 300, 000. 00 5. Yaquina Bay, Oregon.-The usual prevailing depths over the bar at low water before improvement were from 7 feet to 8 feet. Three distinct channels existed, constantly changing in position and depth. The south channel was the one mostly used, though rendered dangerous by rocks. The middle channel, being usually the shoalest, was little used, though free from rocks, while the north channel, long, tortuous, and studded with rocks, was considered unnavigable. The mean rise of tide was 7.1 feet. The project adopted in 1881 was to construct a dike or jetty on the south side, to cause the south channel to shoal up, with a view to obtaining in the central channel a least depth at high water of 17 feet. As originally projected, the dike was to start from near low-water line, and, rising 2 feet above mean low water, was to run out to sea a distance of 2,500 feet; the beach from high-water level to be protected by sinking gabions and covering the surface with a layer of mattresses and stone. The stone for the jetty was to be deposited in place from barges, and cribs were to be used if practicable. It was found, however, that cribs could not be used on account of the strong currents and high seas, and that the ocean swell, even in quiet weather, was too great to permit the use of stone barges. Accordingly, the jetty had to be built from the shore end, and by carrying the stone out over a tramway, and was begun at high-tide line instead of at low-tide line, thus making the total projected length of the jetty in 1881 3,700 feet. In 1884 the jetty was extended shoreward a distance of 316 feet to close a gap that had been washed out by the sea, making the total projected length of the jetty at that time about 4,000 feet. The present project, adopted in 1888, is to raise the south jetty to fall high water without extending it seaward, thus making its total length 3,748 feet, and to construct a mid-tide jetty on the south side of the entrance about 2,300 feet in length, extending from the north head along and behind the reef, putting out from the head to a point opposite the end of the south jetty and distant from it about 1,000 feet. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $383,498.37. At that date the south jetty had been built up to full high water without being extended, and the north jetty had been extended 820 feet. The result was to cause the channel to run in a direct line out to sea and to maintain an ordinary depth of 11 to 12 feet at low water. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $67,741.20. The work during the past year has been chiefly confined to the extension of the north jetty, which has materially increased the tendency of the channel to run straight out to sea. Full results, however, can not be realized until the work has further progressed and the north jetty is built out to an equal depth with the south jetty. There has been a general depth on the bar throughout the year of 11 to 12 feet, and the Oregon Development Company's steamer Willamette Valley has suffered but little detention on account of the bar. This depth is liable to be materially reduced during the prevalence of cer tain winds by the accumulation of sand on the bar and the inadequacy of the only partially confined ebb flow to scour it off. The recent survey of the bar indicates a controlling depth of 9 feet at low water on the bar. The appropriations made in seven acts amount to $550,000. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... $1,501.63 165,000.00 166,501.63 67,741.20 98,760.43 6, 476.07 92, 284.36 165,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix W W 5.) 6. Tillamook Bay and Bar, Oregon.-The channel over the bar is direct and shifts but little, so that the bar is considered one of the safest on the Oregon coast. A fair depth of water is maintained throughout most of the year, and vessels drawing 13 feet can usually enter. The bay at low tide consists of three channels of fair depth near the entrance, but giving only 1 or 2 feet near the head of the bay. Tillamook, the principal town of the region, is situated on a tidal slough above the head of the bay, and can be reached only by light-draft vessels at high tide. A special project for the expenditure of the money appropriated by the act of August 11, 1888, has been approved. This consists in the construction of longitudinal and spur dikes and shore protection works to deepen the water over Dry Stocking Bar, at the mouth of Hoquarton Slough, and to remove snags and overhanging trees from Hoquarton Slough. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $4,735.55. During the year ending June 30, 1890, a survey of the bar and entrance to the bay was made. Hoquarton Slough as far as Tillamook City was cleared of snags. During the winter of 1889 the longitudinal dike and three spur dikes were washed away, so no results of permanent importance had been obtained up to June 30, 1890. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $187.40. No work was done and no results were obtained during the year. The amount appropriated for the improvement of Tillamook Bay is $5,700 in two acts. A special project is being prepared for the improvement of Tillamook Bay. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, balance available..... 464.46 500.00 964.46 187.40 777.06 242.95 534. 11 7. Nehalem Bay, Oregon.-Nehalem Bay at high water is about 2 miles long by 1 miles wide at widest part, and is connected with the ocean by a narrow channel extending in a southerly direction about 3 miles. This channel varies in width from 1,000 to 2,000 feet at high tide. A low sandy peninsula about 2 miles long and one-quarter mile wide lies to the west of this channel, and separates it from the ocean. South of this peninsula the entrance channel shifts within the limits of 1 mile, sometimes occupying a southerly and sometimes a northerly position. The ordinary bar depth is about 5 to 6 feet at low water. The plan of improvement recommended was to build two high-tide stone jetties, converging until the distance apart is about 500 feet; then, if necessary, running out to sea parallel to each other to such distance as will insure a low-water depth on the bar of at least 8 feet. The amount, $10,000, appropriated September 19, 1890, "for commencement of jetty construction," being inadequate even to procure the necessary plant for beginning work, there were no expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1891. No work was done. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $10,000.00 10,000.00 Amonnt (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 321, 927.50 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W W 7.) 8. Upper Columbia and Snake rivers, Oregon and Washington.-Under the above head it has been deemed proper to officially include the continuous Columbia and Snake rivers from Celilo at the head of the Dalles to Lewiston. The Upper Columbia and Snake rivers form a continuous line of navigable river, but broken by many rapids, rendering navigation difficult and dangerous. These rapids are nearly always caused by rocky bars with occasional bowlders, and the channels were crooked and narrow. Before improvement the ruling depth on many of these bars was 2 to 3 feet at low water, while some of them were practically impassable. Previous to 1877, $100,000 had been expended in survey and rock removal at the principal rapids. In 1877 a project was made consisting of removing rock bowlders and rocky reefs, and scraping gravel bars, to secure a low water channel of 5 feet in the Columbia as far as the mouth of the Snake, and 44 feet in the Snake as far as Lewiston. The estimated cost of this work was $132,000. |