$61,249.99, of which sum $4,653.44 was expended during the past fiscal year, and the river has been kept reasonably free from obstructions for a distance of 108 miles above the mouth. The work of the past season began about the middle of September, and continued until the middle of November. It consisted, as hereto fore, mainly in the removal of snags, the building of dikes, and in surveys of places requiring improvement. Work was done at the following points: Bocks Bar, Woodpecker Island, and Stake Shoal. For details of work, see report of Mr. L. P. Butler, United States assistant engineer, Appendix N. GENERAL REMARKS. The progress of the work for systematic improvement of the river by continuous work by reaches, which was started in 1891, has been seriously interfered with during the past year by the requirements of the river and harbor act of June 3, 1896, which specified numerous localities, separated by many miles, where work was to be done, notwithstanding the fact that the amount of money appropriated was largely reduced from that of previous years. In order to carry out the work indicated, it was necessary to break up the organization of the work in one of the divisions of the First Reach, in order to supply forces and plant for detached works. The Osage Division was seriously disorganized for this reason, and the work that was done in that division during the year was placed under the direction of the Gasconade Division engineer, and it has been considered necessary for economical reasons to discontinue the Osage Division altogether, merging it into the Gasconade Division. The work in the Gasconade Division has been much restricted. The work heretofore done upon the First Reach has extended from about 4 miles above Jefferson City to the Gasconade River, a distance of 45 miles, the whole length of the reach to the mouth of the river being 141 miles. The results obtained have shown beyond any question the practicability of controlling the river, holding its banks, and giving ample channels for navigation, but the cost and uncertainty of permanence of the work and slowness of progress have been such as to discourage the public and the National Congress in the effort to improve the river for such a distance as would give promise of the building up of its commerce and the benefiting of the general public to a degree commensurate with the cost of the work. The effect of this is plainly visible in the reduction of the appropriations, and the yielding to demands for the application of considerable portions of the reduced appropriations to detached works in scattered localities, where the interests of navigation do not require immediate work, and where the only objects to be attained are the protection of local private interests. The Commission and their executive officers have, during the past year, given much study and effort to the vital question of reduction of cost of work, in the hope that it might be so reduced as to make that part of the improvement of the river confided to the Commission such, in cost, efficiency, and rate of progress, as would insure early and suf ficient benefit to the general public, and to such a degree as to commend the improvement as being wise and worthy of its making. It is believed that much progress has been made toward a very great decrease in the cost of work that will not only be efficient in accomplishing the purposes of the improvement, but in making it permanent. The principal work on the river consists of dikes for regulating the width and directing the channels and work for protection of banks. Modifications of dike construction and new methods of bank protection have been tried, with most promising results; but it is yet too early in the progress of these efforts to assert with perfect confidence that the entire work of improvement can be made at a very great decrease from the cost of methods heretofore used. Unceasing efforts will be put forth to accomplish a result so much to be desired. For some of the details concerning these efforts, attention is invited to the appended reports of Mr. S. H. Yonge, in charge of Omaha work, and Mr. S. Waters Fox, in charge of the Gasconade division, Appendices F and J. For commercial statistics see report of Assistant Engineer A. H. Blaisdell, Appendix C. RECOMMENDATIONS AND ESTIMATES. MISSOURI RIVER. The act of July 13, 1892, provided for continuous annual appropriations for the river for a period of four years, and the provisions of the three succeeding appropriation acts permitted a concentration of effort in the systematic improvement of the river by continuous work. The results obtained were quite remarkable and the work was carried on in an exceedingly satisfactory manner. In the act of June 3, 1896, while provision was made for four years' work, the amount of annual appropriations was very much reduced and it was provided that considerable portions of the appropriations should be expended on scattered localities. The result of the latter act has been to seriously disarrange the systematic work, and the small amounts of the appropriations have made it impossible to keep up the plant, a considerable amount of which has been disposed of during the year, having become unserviceable, and not replaced. It is earnestly urged that when it may be deemed proper to provide for work at specified localities on the river not included in the systematic work in progress separate additional appropriations should be made, so that the systematic work and the maintenance of plant may not be left unprovided for by the diversion of funds to other purposes. In the last annual report the Commission stated that it was expected to largely reduce the cost of future work and that it was believed that the improvement of the first reach could be completed for considerably less than the amount previously estimated in the preceding annual report, viz, between $3,000,000 and $3,500,000. There has been a reduction in the cost of the work, and it is believed there will be considerable further reduction in the future, but until more progress has been made in this direction, no definite reduction of estimate is deemed advisable. Any reduction of cost, however, must necessarily be largely dependent upon appropriations being made in sufficiently large sums to warrant systematic continuous work. OSAGE RIVER. When the work of constructing the dam is commenced it is of the utmost importance that it be completed in a single season. To permit the annual floods for five or six months to pass over it in a partially completed state would cause so much damage as to increase greatly the cost of the work. The entire sum necessary for this work ought to be appropriated at once or authority be granted to contract for its completion. The estimate for snagging and removal of other obstructions is the same as in the last annual report. GASCONADE RIVER. The estimates for work under the existing project are the same as for last year. The sum actually appropriated, viz, $5,000, has been found insufficient to accomplish the necessary work of two years. Estimates for continuing works of improvement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899. Improving Missouri River from mouth to Sioux City, Iowa, including office and traveling expenses and salaries of Commission, surveys, gauges, physical data and publications, operating snag boat, and systematic improvement of first reach.. Improving Osage River, Mo. : For completion of lock and dam.... Improving Gasconade River, Mo.: Snagging, etc...... Money statements. $1,000,000 146, 000 4,000 150,000 15,000 IMPROVING MISSOURI RIVER FROM MOUTH TO SIOUX CITY, IOWA. July 1, 1896, balance unexpended... Refunded on account of overpayment.. Amount appropriated by sundry civil act approved June 4, 1897. $399, 249.49 3.92 300,000.00 699, 253. 41 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1899 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. IMPROVING OSAGE RIVER, MISSOURI AND KANSAS. July 1, 1896, balance unexpended.. 22, 829.78 365, 296.94 1, 000, 000. 00 $121, 694.62 July 1, 1897, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 14, 760.00 19, 782. 17 July 1, 1897, balance available..... 41, 597. 64 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, lock and dam.... 146,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1899: Lock and dam $146,000.00 Snagging... 4,000.00 150,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. IMPROVING Gasconade RIVER, MISSOURI. July 1, 1896, balance unexpended..... June 30, 1897, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1897, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1897, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1897, balance available..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1899.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. Respectfully submitted. AMOS STICKNEY, $5, 157. 40 4, 653. 44 503.96 30.00 473.96 15, 000. 00 Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A., Improving Missouri River from mouth to Repair of revetment in Belmont Bend Office and traveling expenses and salaries of Surveys, gauges, physical data, and publica Surveys or examinations. Rectification of the river at Omaha, Nebr. Atchison, Kans St. Joseph, Mo....... Near Nebraska City, Nebr. Financial statement from July 1, 1896, to June 30, 1897. Amount available July 1, 1896 (balance of appropriation). Improving Osage River, Missouri and Kansas. Lock and dam (construction of lock and accessories) Snagging operations |