ending June 30, 1886, in constructing jetty at the pass and improving interior channels. July 1, 1883, amount available.. 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.. $2,055 76 967 14 1,088 62 100,000 00 101,088 62 ====== 820,722 75 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 400,000 00 (See Appendix R 7.) 8. Harbor at Brazos Santiago, Texas.-The project of 1881 (only partly adopted) proposed the deepening of the channel across the bar and the maintenance of a suitable harbor inside the pass. The depth of water over the bar maintained by natural causes alone was 72 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, $157,666.61, has been applied to constructing a jetty on the south side of the entrance channel, and has resulted (work still incomplete) in obtaining and maintaining a greatly improved channel of entrance. Two hundred thousand dollars can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in constructing the works originally estimated for. 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 . $60,000 00 $23,312 87 57, 666 61 2,333 39 25,000 00 27,333 39 493,084 50 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ........ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 200,000 00 (See Appendix R 8.) 9. Protection of river-bank at Fort Brown, Texas.-This work was designed to arrest the progress of encroachment which threatens, not only to destroy the most valuable buildings at the post, but to break through into the lagoon, which would entirely change the channel of the river and leave the greater portion of the post on the opposite side of the channel. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $16,769.96. The results. attained have not been commensurate with the expenditure, and for reasons (explained in report of the officer in charge, for which see Appendix R 9) it has been considered best not to attempt to control the Rio Grande at this point by artificial works, and that it would be more expedient to move from time to time such of the buildings as may be in actual danger. No further appropriation for this work is recommended. July 1, 1883, amount available. (See Appendix R 9.) $1,230 04 1,230 04 WESTERN RIVERS. IMPROVEMENT OF RED RIVER AND OF RIVERS IN LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS-IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN MISSISSIPPI AND TENNESSEE, TRIBUTARY TO THE MISSISSIPPI-WATER GAUGES ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS PRINCIPAL TRIBUTARIES. Officer in charge, Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers. 1. Red River, Louisiana.-The improvement of this stream was commenced in 1872, and appropriations were made for carrying on the work under the following heads: "Removing raft in Red River and closing Tones Bayou, Louisiana," "Removing obstructions from Red River, Louisiana," and "Improving Upper Red River from Fulton, Ark., to head of raft." These items of improvement were all combined in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, under the title "Improving Red River, Louisiana," and it includes the whole river from the mouth of the Atchafalaya to Fulton, Ark. The improvement of the river has consisted in the removal of snags and other obstructions, in the removal of the raft, in the opening of a channel through the falls at Alexandria, La., and the deepening of the water over the shoal places. The navigation has been greatly improved thereby and boats are now enabled to navigate the river from its mouth to Fulton, Ark., during the whole year. During the fiscal year the United States snag boat C. W. Howell and the United States steamer Thomas B. Florence were employed in removing obstructions above and below Shreveport, as long as the funds remaining unexpended from former appropriations would permit. The removal of rock from the bed of the falls at Alexandria, La., under the contract entered into last year, has progressed slowly, on account of high water and lack of proper plant on the part of contractor. During the coming fiscal year it is proposed to complete the work at Alexandria, and to remove obstructions to navigation with the snagboats both above and below Shreveport, and, if necessary, to build brush wing-dams at the shoal crossings. The officer in charge states that it would also be very advisable to have a complete survey of Red River made from its mouth to Fulton, Ark. This was included in the examinations and surveys provided for in the act of August 2, 1882, but not undertaken for want of funds. It is therefore recommended that the sum of $45,000 be appropriated for this purpose, in addition to the sum required for the improvement of Red River. With the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improvement as heretofore. AMOUNTS EXPENDED TO JUNE 30, 1883. For removing raft and closing Tone's Bayou.. For improving Red River, Louisiana.. Total... July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix S 1.) $402, 933 98 117,500 00 20,000 00 36,466 59 576,900 57 15, 099 43 15, 099 43 75,000 00 75,000 00 45, 000 00 2. Ouachita River, Arkansas and Louisiana.-The improvement of this stream was commenced in 1871. The first project adopted for the im provement was by means of locks and dams, but this was abandoned, and operations were confined to the removal of obstructions and the im provement of the shoal places. The navigation has been greatly improved thereby and a constantly increasing fleet of steamers navigate the stream. No work was done during the past season for want of funds. Amount expended on present project, including cost of iron-hull snagboat and outfit, to June 30, 1883, $161,412.13. With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the snagging operations and the improvement of the shoal places. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884................ $15,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 40,000 00 (See Appendix S 2.) 3. Bayou Bartholomew, Louisiana and Arkansas.-The improvement of this stream was commenced in 1881, and the project adopted consisted in the removal of obstructions from bed and banks of the stream. The navigation of the bayou has been greatly improved, and boats now run regularly during high water to Baxter, Ark., the present head of navigation. No work was done during the fiscal year for want of funds. Amount expended to June 30, 1883.. The original estimated cost of this improvement was... $11,394 55 26,862 00 With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improvement as heretofore. July 1, 1883, amount available 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. $1,605 45 483 75 1,121 70 5,000 00 6, 121 70 8,862 00 9.000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886(See Appendix S 3.) 4. Bœuf River, Louisiana.-The improvement of this stream was be gun in August, 1881, and consisted in cutting down leaning trees along the banks and removing obstructions from the bed of the river. Navigation has been greatly improved thereby, so much so that boats now run regularly to Jefferson, La., the head of navigation, during the high-water season. No work was done during the last season, no money having been appropriated for that purpose. Amount expended to June 30, 1883 $9,743 99 The original estimated cost of this improvement was 20,000 00 With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improvement as heretofore. July 1, 1883, amount available... $256 01 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 256 01 Amount appropriated by act July 5, 1884. 5,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 5,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix S 4.) 5,000 00 5. Tensas River, Louisiana.-Work upon this improvement was commenced in 1881, and continued only during that season, and consisted in the removal of obstructions to navigation, by means of which the navigation was greatly improved for steamboats. No work was done last season, no money having been available. Amount expended to June 30, 1883. The original estimated cost of this improvement was $3,000 00 23,000 00 With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improvement as heretofore. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix S 5.) $4,000 00 33,000 00 10,000 00 6. Cypress Bayou, Texas and Louisiana.-The first project for the improvement of Cypress Bayou consisted in cutting and dredging a channel through the lakes and bayou, thus affording a good high-water channel from Jefferson, Tex., to Red River, La. This work was completed in 1880, but since then the timber has grown up again, and for the purpose of removing it the United States steamer Thomas B. Florence made one trip to Jefferson, Tex., doing as much work as the high stage of water would permit. The second project for the improvement of this bayou consists in constructing a dam across the lakes at Albany Point, and making a cut through to Red River. The estimated cost of this project was $372,580, and, should it be desirable to adopt it, the whole amount should be appropriated at once for the successful execution of the work. The result of this work will be to give good navigation to Jefferson, Tex., nearly all the year round, and also to improve the navigation of Red River in the vicinity of Shreveport. An examination of this bayou was made in July last, the result of which will be found in Appendix S 6 of this report. Amount expended to June 30, 1883.. 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.. (See Appendix S 6.). $92,261 20 1,738 80 932 31 806 49 7. Yazoo River, Mississippi.-The improvement of this stream, which was commenced in 1874, has consisted in the removal of wrecks, snags, logs, and other obstructions to the safe navigation of the stream. The navigation has been greatly improved thereby, and the boats navigate the stream with much less difficulty. No work was done during last season for want of funds. Amount expended to June 30, 1883.... $132,698 82 The appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the sum asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, will be applied to the removal of obstructions from the river as heretofore. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 30,000 00 (See Appendix S 7.) 8. Big Sunflower River, Mississippi.-The work upon this stream was commenced in 1879, and has been continued up to the close of the last fiscal year. The navigation of the stream has been greatly improved by the removal of snags, logs, and leaning timber, and by the deepening of the water over the shoal places by means of wing-dams. No work was done upon this stream during the past season for want of adequate funds. The original estimated cost of this improvement was $66,000 00 34,985 92 With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the snagging operations and the deepening of the channel. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1-83.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 $2,014 08 120 50 1,893 58 5,000 00 6,893 58 24,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 15, 000 00 (See Appendix S 8.) Tchula Lake, Mississippi.-Work upon this stream was commenced in 1881, and consisted in the removal of obstructions to navigation in the shape of logs, snags, leaning timber, &c. This work has greatly benefited navigation, and boats now enter the lake at a much lower stage of water, and are also enabled to run for a much longer period. No work was done during the past season for want of funds. With the appropriation of July 5, 1884, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improvement as heretofore. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... $10,000 00 5,228 54 $271 46 271 46 1,500 00 1,771 46 3,000 00 3,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 10. Tallahatchee River, Mississippi.-The project for the improvement of this stream was adopted in 1879, its object being to give increased facilities for navigation by the removal of obstructions such as snags, logs, and leaning timber. The result has been that the navigation has been greatly improved and boats make more frequent trips up the river than heretofore. A boat has also been built for the navigation of the river between Batesville and mouth of Coldwater River, this being the first boat that has navigated the upper river since the war. The original estimated cost of this improvement was $40,000, and the amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $20,681.72. |