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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, 183, amount available

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..

$318 28

318 28

3, 000 00 16,000 00

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.
Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 10,000 00
(See Appendix S 10.)

11. Coldwater River, Mississippi.-This improvement was commenced in 1879, and consisted in the removal of obstructions to navigation. No work has been done for the last three seasons, no appropriations having been asked, as the officer in charge states that to put the stream in a navigable condition would require the expenditure of a larger amount of money than the commerce of the country will warrant. Amount expended to June 30, 1883

$10,006 09

No appropriation is asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available

$993 91

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding

liabilities July 1, 1883.....

508 07

485 84

July 1, 1884, amount available

(See Appendix S 11.)

12. Yallabusha River, Mississippi.-The project for the improvement of this stream was adopted in 1881, and consisted in the removal of obstructions to navigation from the stream.

The navigation has been greatly improved thereby, and boats now navigate the stream regularly during high water.

The original estimated cost of this improvement was
Amount expended to June 30, 1883..

$7,000 00 6,900 24

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. Although the amount of the original estimate for this improvement has been appropriated and expended, owing to the nature of the stream continual changes are taking place, which require constant work in the way of snagging and removing fallen timber, and for this purpose $3,500 is asked, to be expended during the next fiscal year.

July 1, 183, amount available

$99 76

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 12.)

99 76 2,000 00 3,500 00

13. Big Hatchee River, Tennessee.-The improvement of this stream was commenced in 1880, and the project adopted consisted in the removal of snags, logs, and other obstructions from the bed and banks of the river. The work has resulted in giving greatly increased facilities for navigation.

The original estimated cost of this improvement was..
Amount expended to June 30, 1883

$30,000 00 16,238 74

With the appropriation of July 5, 184, and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to continue the improve ment as heretofore.

5908 EN-15

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, 1884.....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix S 13.)

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14. South Forked Deer River, Tennessee.-The project for the improvement of this stream consists in the removal of logs, snags, leaning timber, &c., and was adopted in 1882.

Work was carried on during the past season from the mouth to the head of navigation at Jackson, Tenn., and has resulted in giving greatly increased facilities for navigation. More particular attention was paid to the removal of overhanging timber, as the funds available would not permit of any extensive work.

The original estimated cost of this improvement was

$19, 250 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

$3,000 00

July 1, 184, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883

3,000 00

2,000 00

14,250 00

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.
Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 10,000 00 (See Appendix S 14.)

15. Water-gauges on the Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.— Observations were continued at all the gauges, and repairs made where necessary.

Inspections of the gauges on the Mississippi River were also made nearly every month. New high-water-marks were established at Baton Rouge, La., and Louisville, Ky., as the floods this year exceeded all previous records.

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

July 1, 1884, amount available....

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884..

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ....

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix S 15.)

$1,861 94

2,100 00

3,961 94

3, 207 41

754 53 5, 000 00

5, 754 53

5, 000 00

EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2,

1882.

The following localities were examined by Major Miller, the local engineer in charge, and not recommended for improvement, viz:

1. Yallabusha River, above Grenada, Mississippi. (See Appendix S 16.) 2. Loosascoona River, Mississippi. (See Appendix S 17.)

3. Sulphur River, Texas, from its mouth to Sulphur Station. (See Appendix S 18.)

4. Bayou Roundaway and Bayou Vidal, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 19.)

5. Ouachita River, from Camden, to Arkadelphia, Texas. (See Appendix S 20.)

6. Yazoo Pass, with a view to connecting the pass with the Mississippi River. (See Appendix S 21.)

7. Roebuck Luke, a tributary of Yazoo River, Mississippi. (See Appendix S 22.)

8. Steele's Bayou, Mississippi, from its mouth to Swan Lake. (See Appendix S 23.)

9. Black River, from its mouth to Trinity, Louisiana, for shortening its channel by a cut-off. (See Appendix S 24.)

10. Loggy Bayou, Lake Bisteneau, and the Dorcheat, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 25.)

11. Cane River, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 26.)

12. Petit Anse Bayou, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 27.)

13. Mouth of Lake Palmyra where it enters the Mississippi. (See Appendix S 28.)

And upon favorable report, after preliminary examination in each case, Major Miller was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 69, Forty-eighth Congress, first session:

1. D'Arbonne River, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 29.)

2. Harbors of Monroe and Trenton, Louisiana. (See Appendix S 30.) 3. Plan and estimate for continuing the improvement of Ouachita River, from its mouth to Camden, Arkansas. (See Appendix S 31.)

4. Survey of Red River from its mouth to Fulton.

NOTE. The estimates submitted by the officers in charge of the cost of all the surveys required by the above act, including that of Arkansas River, amounted to $98,065, of which the estimated cost of the survey of Red River, including Bayou Pierre, was $45,441. The excessive cost of this, itself greater than the whole amount available, compelled its abandonment for the present.

REMOVING SNAGS, ETC., FROM THE ARKANSAS RIVER; IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER BETWEEN FORT SMITH AND WICHITA, AND AT PINE BLUFF; AND OF RIVERS SAINT FRANCIS, WHITE, L'ANGUILLE, SALINE, AND BLACK, IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI; AND SURVEY OF ARKANSAS RIVER BETWEEN FORT GIBSON AND WICHITA.

Officers in charge, Capt. Thomas H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, until December 11, 1883; after that date, Maj. Milton B. Adams, Corps of Engineers.

1. Removing snags, &c., from Arkansas River, Arkansas.-Operations under this head consist in the removal of snags and like obstructions to navigation, and the cutting of trees along the banks which are likely to be carried into the river by falling where the banks are eroded. The United States snag-boats O. B. Reese and Wichita were used dur ing the season.

The operations of the former boat were confined to the reach below Little Rock, while those of the latter were upon the reach of the river above that place. Owing to the smallness of the balance of the appropriation for the prosecution of work under the above head these

boats could only do the work that was pressingly needed, and could only be kept at work, the former for four months and the latter for one month during the year.

There were 519 snags and 6 drift piles removed in the lower reach of the river, and 135 snags and 3 drift-piles removed on the upper reach during the time they were operating. The work has been of great benefit, and has given entire satisfaction to those engaged in the commerce of the river. It is proposed to continue these operations from year to year as funds will permit. It is impossible to predict a time when operations of this character on these heavily wooded streams will cease to be required in order to render their navigation free and safe, since each recurring flood-water makes new deposits of snags in the channel, which ought to be removed.

With a view to the possible general improvement of the Arkansas River below Little Rock by dikes, &c., so as to afford, as near as may be, a uniform depth in the channel, the officer in charge renews the recommendation of last year for an appropriation of $21,000 for continuing the survey of the Arkansas River from Little Rock to its mouth, including the cut-off and outlet through White River.

In addition to which he estimates that $30,000 could be profitably expended below Little Rock, and $16,000 between Little Rock and Fort Smith, in snagging operations during the 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..............

$18,143 13

17, 121 19

1,021 94 36,000 00

37, 021 94

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 67,000 00 (See Appendix T 1.)

2. White and Saint Francis rivers, Arkansas.-The object of this work is the removal of snags and logs from the channel, and trees from along the banks which form or are likely to form obstructions to the free navigation of these rivers. Some work was done on the White River during the month of June, but the balance of funds available only admitted of three weeks' operations there, when the snag-boat Reese, engaged on this work, had to be laid up in ordinary, to await additional appropriations.

No work whatever could be done on the Saint Francis River, on account of insufficient funds. The officer in charge represents that the White and Saint Francis rivers are so dissimilar in character, location, &c., as to render it injudicious to ally them in providing for their im provement, while at the same time he regards the Saint Francis and L'Anguille as in every way susceptible of being considered together in appropriations and operations for their improvement and he recommends accordingly. He also states that the commerce of the Saint Francis has recently been divided, and that there is now a lower river trade, from the cut-off to the mouth, including the L'Anguille River, and an upper river trade, which is confined entirely to that portion of the river above the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad crossing.

On the Lower Saint Francis River it is estimated that $6,000 could be advantageously expended in removing snags, logs, &c., which now ob struct the channel; in the execution of which work a lighter-draught

snag-boat than such a one as can best work in White River should be used. The upper reach of the Saint Francis River is stated to be in a fairly good condition, and it is thought that no further work there is at present required.

Total amount appropriated to date, $154,000.

July 1, 1883, amount available....

$3,141 96

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..

2,417 29

July 1, 1884, amount available....

724 67

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1834 (White River, $35,000;
Saint Francis River, $12,000).

47,000 00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..

47,724 67

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886 (White River, $17,000; Saint Francis River, $24,000)..

41,000 00

(See Appendix T 2.)

3. Arkansas River at Pine Bluff and Fort Smith, Arkansas.— wing to the small balance of appropriation remaining available, no active operations could be undertaken during the fiscal year. The high water of February last caused considerable erosion along the entire front of the town, occasioning much apprehension, and, in reply to a resolution of the House of Representatives of April 29, calling for information, a special report from the officer in charge suggesting plans for protection was submitted and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 151, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. (See also Appendix T 3.)

The appropriation of $55,500 by river and harbor act of July 5 will be applied towards the prevention of further inroads, by the construction of jetties at intervals along the bank, so as to arrest the course of the water and deflect it across the river to the opposite side.

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 T 3.)

$2,053 83

1,340 97

712 86 55,500 00

56, 212 86

4. Arkansas River between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Wichita, Kansas.-The object of the work under this head is the removal of snags and other obstructions in the channel, and the cutting of such trees along the banks as are likely to be carried into the river and form obstructions there.

The United States snag boat Wichita was working on this reach of the river after August, 1883, until the winter season made it necessary to discontinue operations, when this boat was taken to Little Rock and laid up for the season. The early part of April found operations again renewed in the same field.

An accident to the boat, however, occasioned some delay and cost for repairs just at the commencement of the present season of work. Repairs were made at reasonable cost and with promptness, considering the location of the accident-in the Indian Territory-and since then, up to the close of the fiscal year, the operations have been satisfactory. There were 391 snags and 2 drift-piles removed and 2,699 trees cut or deadened by this boat during these two short seasons of work. The

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