Advantage has been taken of the partial improvement of the river, several steamboats having made successful trips during the high-water seasons of the last two years. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the project adopted, and will probably complete the work. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.... 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 N 22.) $645 31 27 40 617 91 7,500 00 8, 117 91 27,745 00 25, 000 00 23. Pascagoula River, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1880, the object being to afford a channel 200 feet wide and 7 feet deep at mean low water from Mississipppi Sound into East Pascagoula River, and to improve the river above by the removal of snags, overhanging trees. The channel before the commencement of the improvement had a depth of not more than 3 feet at mean low water at its shoalest place. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $55,723.92, and has resulted in securing a channel 180 feet wide and 73 feet deep at mean low water, from Mississippi Sound into Pascagoula River, and the improvement of the river above for a distance of 50 miles. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement up the river, and it is expected will complete the improvement. July 1, 1883, amount available. $3,358 31 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 3,082 23 July 1, 1984, amount available...... 276 08 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 3,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 3,276 08 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 7,000 00 7,000 00 24. Manatee River, Florida--The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1882, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from Tampa Bay into Manatee River, so as to give a depth of 13 feet at mean low water from Tampa Bay up the river to Shaw's and McNeil's Point. The least depth on the bar at the mouth of the river before the improvement was 8 feet at mean low water, not sufficient for the class of vessels engaged in the commerce between the river and outside ports. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $12,000, and has resulted in securing a channel 2,150 feet in length, 1,750 feet of which has a width of 60 feet and a depth of 12 feet, and 400 feet of which has a width of 35 feet and depth of 111⁄2 through the bar at the entrance of the river from Tampa Bay. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the project. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $8,784 78 8,784 78 58,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 29,000 00 (See Appendix N 24.) 25. Roadstead leading into Back Bay of Biloxi, Mississippi.-No project has been adopted for the improvement of this roadstead, the amount appropriated being deemed insufficient for an economical prosecution of the work. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $4,988 55 4,988 55 30,009 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 30,000 00 (See Appendix N 25.) 26. Removing sunken vessels obstructing or endangering navigation.— The wrecks of the lighter Arlington, the brigs New York and Uncle Sam, and the steamboat Gertrude, forming obstructions to or endangering the navigation of Mobile River at or near Mobile, Ala., were removed during the months of February, March, and April, 1884. (See Appendix N 26.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR, ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were, after preliminary examination, reported by the local engineer as not worthy of improvement and the work not a public necessity: 1. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida, especially the northwest channel. (See Appendix N 27.) 2. For a channel inside the shoals along the coast of Florida from Cedar Keys to Clearwater Harbor and Tampa, Florida. (See Appendix N 28.) 3. Saint Mark's River, Florida. (See Appendix N 29.) Upon a favorable report from the preliminary examination made by him, Major Damrell was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Dog. No. 128, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 1. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida. (See Appendix N 30.) 2. The shoal between Dauphin Island and Cedar Point, Alabama. (See Appendix N. 31.) INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT AT THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officers Capt. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, to February 1, 1884, and Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers, since that date. Examinations and surveys to ascertain the depths of water and widths of channel secured and maintained by James B. Eads at South Pass of the Mississippi River.-The inspecting officer, in his annual report dated July 22, 1884, states that during the year covered by the quarterly certificate, June 10, 1883, to June 9, 1884, inclusive, there has been maintained a channel through the jetties at the mouth of the South Pass of the Mississippi River, "26 feet in depth, not less than 200 feet in width at the bottom, and having through it a central depth of 30 feet without regard to width"; also that during the above-mentioned period a channel having 66 a navigable depth of 26 feet" was maintained through the shoal at the head of the South Pass and "through the Pass itself." These channel depths and widths were maintained by the works already in place, supplemented by repairs thereto, and some others constructed from time to time, wing-dams and extension of Inner East Jetty, and without the assistance of dredging. The least depth existing from deep water in the river to deep water in the Gulf has varied between 263 feet and 29 feet, with a general increase in these depths during the year. Shoaling has occurred in some of the area immediately above Head of the Passes, with a deepening in other portions, the depth of approach of full 30 feet noted last year be ing maintained. The channel through the Pass has generally improved during the year with an approximation to uniformity of depth. Seaward of the jetties there has been a general advance of the slope, the fill for the year over the area heretofore adopted for comparative estimates of fill or deepening being 3.61 feet; for the period from June, 1876, to 1884, the entire fill over the area has been 8.29 feet. Congress requires examinations and surveys to ascertain depths and widths of channels maintained at South Pass, &c. The estimate for this purpose of the amount required for the next fiscal year is $17,420. July 1, 1883, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved March 12, 1884. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1884, amount available... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... $5,948 94 6, 000 00 11, 948 94 8,652 14 3,296 -0 10,000 00 13,296 80. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 17,400 00 (See Appendix O.) IMPROVEMENT OF SABINE PASS AND BLUE BUCK BAR, AND OF SABINE AND NECHES RIVERS, TEXAS. Officer in charge, Capt. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, to February 1, 1884, since which Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers. 1. Sabine Pass and Blue Buck Bar, Texas.-Surveys were made in 1853 and again in 1872-'73, and the report of the later survey showed that there was a depth of 63 feet over the bar at mean low tide. Dredging operations upon the bar were carried on at intervals in the years 1876 to 1881, inclusive, when the unsatisfactory results obtained induced the adoption in 1882 of a project for permanent improvement by means of jetties from the points Texas and Louisiana, the estimated cost of which was $3,177,606.50; the balance available at that time was $301,296.12, and work was begun in December, 1882, and prosecuted under contract till the end of November, 1883. A report of the work done from the end of the fiscal year June 30, 1883, to the completion of the contract was made by Captain Heuer, January 14, 1884, for which, with the report the assistant, Mr. Thomas L. Raymond, see Appendix P 1. Condition of the improvement June 30, 1884.—The jetty so far placed seems to be undisturbed and intact, except perhaps one or two lengths of mattresses of the top layer between the wreck of the Clifton and the shore. There seems to be some movement of the crest of the bar seaward and a slight decrease of depth. It is too early in the improvement, and the work itself is too incomplete, for any important changes in the bar to be expected. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $153, 009 23 151, 042 94 1,966 29 200,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. 201,966 29 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix P 1.) 2,676, 220 44 500, 000 00 2. Sabine River, Louisiana and Texas.-At the commencement of the improvement of the river there was a depth of 34 feet on the bar at its mouth in Sabine Lake and above Orange; the obstructions of the Narrows, and logs, snags, &c., interfered with the navigation of the river. A cut through the bar having a depth of 6 feet and more, and 70 to 100 feet in width, was completed in June, 1889, and cuts, one from the main river into the narrows 60 to 75 feet wide, with a depth of 5 feet, and one at Dead Bend about 70 feet wide, with a depth of 7 feet, together with the removal of sunken logs and snags, were completed in November, 1881. The total expenditure on the river to June 30, 1884, has been $29,553.44. The cut made at the bar is now much obstructed by logs, but the depth therein is sufficient for present needs. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, and no appropriation is asked for the next fiscal year. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount available.. (See Appendix P 2.) $4,546 56 4,546 56 3. Neches River, Texas.-At the commencement of the improvement of this river there was a depth of about 3 feet of water over the bar at its mouth in Sabine Lake, and in the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilport the navigation was obstructed by snags and fallen trees. A channel was excavated across the bar to a depth of 5 feet and more, varying from about 30 feet in width to 60 feet in 1879, and in 1881 obstructions between Yellow Bluff and Bevilport were removed, in which work the total sum of $20,892.43 was expended to June 30, 1884, at which date the depth of water in the cut across the bar was about one foot less than in the lake near its outer entrance sufficient for present needs. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, and no appropriation is asked for the next fiscal year. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. (See Appendix P 3.) $5, 156 85 49 28 5, 107 57 7,000 00 12, 107 57 IMPROVEMENT OF PEARL RIVER, MISSISSIPPI, AND OF VARIOUS WATER-COURSES IN LOUISIANA. Officer in charge, Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers. 1. Pearl River, Mississippi, from Jackson to Carthage.-The natural channel was much obstructed by logs, snags, drift, standing trees in the water, and overhanging trees on the banks. The present project was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a channel of navigable width and 5 feet depth at low water. The amount expended on the work up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, is $699.24. The river is navigable for small steamboats over the distance improved. The amount expended during the past fiscal year is $10,993.34 for the construction of plant and prosecution of the work resulting in the removal of some of the worst obstructions over the entire distance. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $2,500, to be applied to the continuation of work under the existing project. This will result in the further improvement of the navigation between Carthage and Jackson. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 $17,800 76 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. $9,791 23 10,993 34 July 1, 1884, amount available 6,807 42 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project . 2,500 00 2,500 00 2. Pearl River below Jackson, Mississippi.—The natural channel is much obstructed by snags, sunken logs, rafts, standing trees in the water, and overhanging trees on the banks, and a number of shoals in the lower portion. The original project was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a navigable channel 5 feet deep at low water from Jackson down to the mouth of the river. The amount expended on the work to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, is $60,543.49. The river is not navigable at present at extreme low water, on account of the shoals and snags. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, is $3,166.18, and has resulted in the closure of twelve run-out bayous, and the removal of some of the obstructions. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $16,000, to be applied to the carrying on of the existing project. By closing run-out bayous and side channels the water will be confined to one channel and the shoals swept away by the current. Total amount appropriated.. Total amount expended ... $80,000 00 63,709 67 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 9, 456 51 $3,103 88 3,166 18 July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. 5908 EN- -14 6, 290 33 10,000 00 16, 290 33 |