The amount expended in the year ending June 30, 1884, was $84,265.65, which has been applied to the completion of Lock 6, commencing Lock 2, and operating Locks 3, 4, and 5, and movable Dams 4 and 5. The next work in order is the completion of Lock 2 and the building of movable Dam 6 and permanent Dam 2. After these would come the occupation of Site 7 by a lock and dam. The site already belongs to the United States. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 . 1,857,500 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 1886 (Appendix I 17.) 500,000 00 18. Elk River, West Virginia.-The work of the fiscal year, which was executed in September and October, 1883, consisted mainly in blasting and removing some large rocks that interfered with and in some instances prevented the movement of lumber down the stream-a very important industry in that section. Similar work will be done in the current fiscal year to the extent of the funds available. July 1, 1983, amount available... $2,963 00 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 1,783 77 July 1, 1884, amount available. (See Appendix I 18.) 1, 179 23 19. Improvement of Cape Fear River, North Carolina.-The principal work of the year has been the placing of the mattress foundation of the long dam from Zeke's Island southward towards the large marsh below, and putting on it a partial covering of stone. This has been delayed by causes mentioned in the appended report of Mr. Henry Bacon, who has continued in the local supervision of the improvement. Other matters are also treated by him in detail. (See Appendix I 19.) The dredging in the new channel along and above Snow's Marsh, with the object of shortening the length and increasing to 16 feet at low water the depth of the channel to Wilmington, was suspended in December, 1883, for want of funds. The total amount expended up to June 30, 1883, was $1,334,107.48, and in the year ending June 30, 1884, $138,995.42. July 1, 1883, amount available... $168,392 52 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 282,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 282,000 00 (See Appendix I 19.) 20. Removing sunken vessels obstructing or endangering navigation.— Two cases of this kind have received attention under the provisions of section 4, act of June 14, 1880, amended by act of August 2, 1882. The wreck of the Cascatelle having been represented as endangering the navigation of the lower Chesapeake Bay, and appearing to have been abandoned by her owners, proposals for her removal were called for by advertisement in June, 1883. Mr. E. M. Stoddard, of Norfolk, Va., being the lowest bidder, the contract was awarded to him. He entered promptly upon the work, and the removal to the required depth-35 feet below the plane of mean low water-was soon completed. Petition having been also presented for the removal, from Chincoteague Bar, Maryland, of the hull of the wrecked barkentine Wolverton, examination was made of her. It was found she was obstructing and endangering navigation. Her owners having been written to, promised to effect her removal. It being afterwards discovered that under the action of winds and currents the wreck was working in towards the beach and out of the way of vessels, further action was postponed. It was finally reported in April, 1884, that the wreck had been broken up and submerged to such an extent as to be no longer dangerous. (See Appendix I 20.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUst 2, 1882. The following localities were examined under the direction of the local engineer in charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Craighill, and not recommended for improvement, viz: 1. Pocomoke River, Maryland, with a view to a cut-off in the bend just below Snow Hill. (See Appendix I 21.) 2. Manokin River, Maryland, from its mouth to Princess Anne. (See Appendix I 22.) 3. Pungoteague Creek, Accomack County, Virginia. (See Appendix I 23.) 4. Cherrystone Creek, Virginia. (See Appendix I 24.) 5. Wetipquin Creek, Maryland. (See Appendix I 25.) 6. Isle of Wight and Upper Synepuxent Bay, Maryland, and Indian River, Delaware, and the intervening land, with a view to connecting their waters. (See Appendix I 26.) The following were reported as worthy of improvement, but the work not a public necessity: 1. Wicomico River, Maryland, from its mouth to Salisbury. (See Appendix I 27.) 2. Hunting Creek, Accomack County, Virginia. (See Appendix I 28.) 3. Dividing Creek, Talbot County, Maryland. (See Appendix I 29.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS AT WASHINGTON AND GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-IMPROVEMENT OF THE POTOMAC RIVER AT WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Officer in charge, Maj. Peter C. Hains, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbors at Washington and Georgetown, District of Columbia.-The improvement of the navigation of Washington and Georgetown harbors was first undertaken by the corporation of Georgetown, D. C. A dredge was maintained at this work by the corporation for a number of years. In 1833 an appropriation was made by the United States to enable the citizens of Georgetown "to remove the obstructions to their navi gation by causing the cut already made through the bar below the town to be enlarged and deepened, and for other purposes." Of this appropriation the sum of $48,266.60 was expended in excavating a channel through the bars above and below Long Bridge. The first regular appropriation by the United States for the improvement of the harbors of Washington and Georgetown was made in 1870. The project then adopted had in view the securing and maintaining of a navigable channel from Easby's Point, in the city of Washington, D. C., to Giesboro' Point, D. C., 200 feet wide and 16 feet deep at mean low tide; the removal of rocks in Georgetown Harbor, and the securing and maintaining to the wharves in Georgetown a channel of the dimensions requisite for navigation. Previous to this time, the natural channel over the bar below Georgetown was only 8 feet at mean low tide. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was Total expenditures to June 30, 1884.... $246, 291 86 11,609 01 257,900 87 These expenditures have resulted in securing in the approaches to Georgetown a navigable channel from 15 to 17 feet deep and 200 feet wide; and a channel to the wharves along the Washington front from 15 to 16 feet deep and 190 feet wide. The improvements now in progress under the appropriation for improving the Potomac River at Washington, D. C., having reference to the improvement of navigation, the establishment of harbor lines, and the raising of the flats, have increased the depth and width of the channel approaches to Georgetown to 20 feet and over 300 feet, respectively, so that during the past year no dredging was required to be done under the appropriation for improving Washington and Georgetown harbors; operations were restricted to the removal of rocks that render navigation unsafe in Georgetown Harbor. The greater parts of three groups have been removed to a depth of 20 feet at mean low tide. It is proposed to continue the removal of these and such other rocks as form obstacles to navigation. The project at first contemplated the removal of the group designated as C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, to a depth of 20 feet. It was found, however, that this group extended close in to the wharf line, and that there was no immediate necessity for their entire removal to a depth of 20 feet. The project was, therefore, modified to require the removal only of the highest two projecting points to a depth of 16 feet at mean low tide. The modified project can be carried out with the funds now available, so that no additional appropriation will be needed. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, amount available.. (See Appendix J 1.) $45, 693 79 $3,709 01 11,609 01 34,084 78 2. Improving Potomac River at Washington.-The present project for the improvement of the Potomac River in the vicinity of Washington, D. C., was adopted by act of Congress, August 2, 1882, wherein it is enacted that the sum of $400,000 is appropriated for "improving the Potomac River in the vicinity of Washington, with reference to the im provement of navigation, the establishment of harbor lines, and the raising of the flats, under the direction of the Secretary of War, and in accordance with the plan and report made in compliance with the river and harbor act approved March 3, 1881, and the reports of the Board of Engineers made in compliance with the resolution of the Senate of December 13, 1881." The object of the improvement is to secure a depth of water up as far as Georgtown as great as will accommodate the largest class of vessels that can reach Giesboro' Point; to establish the harbor lines, beyond which obstructions, such as wharves, &c., should not be built, and at the same time fill up the flats or marshes, in front of the city of Washington, raising them above the highest freshets, thereby improving its sanitary condition, the material taken from the river in improving the navigation to be used in filling up the flats. The expenditures under this appropriation have thus far resulted in opening a channel for navigation about 300 feet wide and 20 feet deep at low tide from the deep water off Giesboro' Point to the wharves at Georgetown, covering not less than 120 acres of marshes with the material taken from the river, reclaiming that area from overflow by ordinary freshets, and improving the healthiness of the localities near the reclaimed areas. About 20,000 linear feet of railroad, used for conveying material to the dumping ground on the flats, have been built, and about 7,000 feet of the foundation for the slope-wall finished. The work during the past fiscal year has progressed favorably-the amount of material dredged from the river and deposited on the flats being, in round numbers, 1,315,000 cubic yards. The amount available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $553,141.35. It is proposed to apply this in continuing the dredging of the Virginia channel and the deposit of the dredgings on the flats, so as to increase the width of the channel and complete the reclamation of Section 1 to a height of 6 feet above mean low tide; to dredge the Washington Channel from Long Bridge to the mouth of the Eastern Branch to a depth of 20 feet at mean low tide, and a width of about 250 feet or more-the dredgings to be deposited on Section 3 of the flats; to begin the construction of the tidal reservoir in Section 2, in order to supply fresh water to the Washington Channel when the latter is closed above Long Bridge; to construct the inlet-gates for taking fresh water into the tidal reservoir; to fill that portion of Section 2 of the flats between the northeast margin of the reservoir and the Monument grounds and between the northwest margin and the sewer canal; to complete the revetment of the slope on the outer edge of Sections 1, and 3; and to commence the construction of the wall on the Washington side of Section 3. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, will be applied to continuing the work already begun and in accordance with the approved project.. The officer in charge believes that the entire work can be completed within the estimate, and that when completed the land reclaimed will be equal in value to the cost of reclamation. He also calls attention to the necessity of building retaining-walls to the sewer canal at the foot of Seventeenth street. Provision should be made for the construction of these walls at an early day, either by the General Government or the District authorities. Under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 21, 1870, giving the possession of the Long Bridge to the Baltimore and Potomac Rail road Company, it was enacted that the United States should have the right to alter or amend the law. The bridge should be rebuilt, as it is a serious obstruction to the flow of water through it in times of freshets. When the Washington Channel is closed all the water of the river will be concentrated into the Virginia Channel, the sectional area of which must be enlarged. The officer in charge of the improvement suggests that, if no provision be made for building a new bridge, it should at least be put in a condition to cause as little damage as possible to private property in the city in times of freshets. The removal of about 400 feet of the causeway at the south end of the bridge and the deepening of the water between the piers northeast of the draw would afford some relief; but the only radical cure for the evil effects of Long Bridge is a new one. July 1, 1883, amount available.... July 1, 18-4, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix J 2.) 553, 141 35 1,816, 365 00 500,000 00 IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS AT BRETON BAY AND SAINT JEROME'S CREEK, MARYLAND; OF THE CHANNEL AT MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA; OF RAPPAHANOCK RIVER; OF YORK RIVER; OF TRIBUTARIES OF THE LOWER POTOMAC, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA. Engineer-in-charge, Mr. S. T. Abert, United States Civil Engineer. 1. Channel at Mount Vernon, Virginia.-Previous to the commencement of this improvement there was a depth of but 4 feet at low water over the wide flat between the wharf at Mount Vernon and the main channel of the Potomac River. The present project for the improvement of this channel was adopted in 1879, the object being to excavate a channel from deep water of the Potomac River to the wharf at Mount Vernon 150 feet wide and from 6 to 7 feet deep at low water, with turning basin at the wharf. The amount expended thereon to the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882, was $8,442.86, which resulted in securing a channel 145 feet wide, with a depth varying from 7 to 9 feet from the Potomac Channel to the wharf, and a circular turning basin at the wharf of the same depth and with a radius of 150 feet. The appropriation of $5,500 asked for is to be applied to widening the channel and enlarging the turning basin, and will complete the proposed plan of improvement. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 18-4, amount available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... $57 14 57 14 5,500 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 5,500 00 (See Appendix K 1.) |