The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, provides that the sums therein appropriated for the Mississippi River from Des Moines Rapids to the mouth of the Ohio shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of War in accordance with the plans, specifications, estimates, and recommendations of the Mississippi River Commission. 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.... Amonnt appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. (See Appendix X 3.) $144, 427 01 131,763 63 12,663 38 200, 000 00 212,663 38 4. Harbors of Refuge in Lake Pepin.-The project for this work proposes the building of breakwaters at Stockholm and Lake City to protect and facilitate the landing of steamboats, and which will admit of such extension in the future as to afford safety to rafts caught in the lake by storms. The estimate is as follows: For Lake City, $154,583; for Stockholm, $73,370. The amount appropriated by act of August 2, 1882, was too small to justify a beginning. The officer in charge is now engaged in revising the plans with a view to presenting a project for partial relief under the appropriation already granted. July 1, 1883, amount available* July 1, 1884, amount available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. NOTE.-Under act of July 5, 1884, $15,000 was appropriated for Stockholm for Lake City, under separate heads of appropriation. (See Appendix X 4.) $20,000 00 20,000 00 208, 000 00 40,000 00 and $15,000 5. Removal of bar in Mississippi River, opposite Dubuque, Iowa.-A small amount of dredging was performed during the year in removing the higher points of the middle ground bar and in clearing the landings at East Dubuque. An examination of the bar shows that although there has been some change, there is no serious alteration for the worse. The work heretofore accomplished has consisted in dredging away the bar in front of the Dubuque wharf, thereby affording ample depth at all stages of the river, and furnishing a wide and deep entrance to the ice harbor. As the balance available will be sufficient for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, no appropriation is asked for for that period. 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 (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix X 5.) $10,374 32 3,097 40 7,276 92 9,770 03 6. Ice-Harbor at Dubuque, Iowa.-The project for a winter harbor at Dubuque proposed the dredging of a portion of Waple's Cut, a natural $10,000 for Stockholm and $10,000 for Lake City. basin, so as to afford 6 feet depth at extreme low water over an area of about 500,000 square feet. Since the original project was made the city has acquired title to all the ground surrounding the basin, and made excellent regulations for care of the harbor. In view of this change of circumstances the officer in charge recommends a modification of the project by which the available area is increased one-third and the landing space more than doubled, at a comparatively small additional expense. The modified estimate is $50,000, of which $20,000 was appropriated by act of August 2, 1882. The amount of dredging already done is 92,725 cubic yards. During the winter of 1883-'84 there were laid up in the harbor 10 steamboats, 2 wharf-boats, 2 dredges, 33 barges, and 1,000,000 feet of lumber, valued at $292,400. July 1, 1883, amount available.... $7,840 68 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 7,840 68 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 20,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of modified project 10,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 10,000 00 (See Appendix X 6.) 7. Rock Island Rapids, Mississippi River.-During the past year the system of buoys for guidance of navigators was maintained. A survey of Duck Creek Chain developed the existence of certain patches of rock above grade, the estimated cost of removing which is $8,000. To provide for the removal of this rock and for the expense of maintenance of buoys and permanent channel marks, and for the continuance of such inspection and superintendence as is required in the interest of present and future navigation, the officer in charge recommends an appropriation of $13,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix X 7.) $2,154 19 2, 154 19 13,000 00 8. Harbor at Rock Island, Illinois.-No work was done during the year other than a survey of the harbor. This survey has developed the advisability of certain dredging work, and it is proposed at an early day to expend the available balance in carrying it out The funds now available being sufficient for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, no appropriation is asked for. July 1, 1883, amount available... $6,669 62 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 399 95 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 6,269 67 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ (See Appendix X 8.) 14,759 15 9. Harbor at Muscatine, Iowa.-The object of this improvement is by dredging to keep the steamboat landings free from deposit. The balance, $2,920.26, available, July 1, 1883, was expended in dredging along the city front. A survey made at the close of work showed the harbor in good condition except along the line of the city water pipes. These should be relaid at a greater depth. No further estimate is submitted. 5908 EN- -16 July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. (See Appendix X 9.) $2,920 26 2,920 26 10. Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-This work was begun in 1866. The adopted plan consisted in building a canal 8 miles long and in cutting a channel in the rocky bottom of the river the remaining 4 miles. The canal was opened August, 1877, although not fully completed, and has been in operation since that time. The work of the past year consisted in laying 1,355 cubic yards riprap and 2,296 cubic yards riprap face stone on the outer face of the canal embankment, in raising the east wing-wall at foot of canal 4 feet above the lock-walls, and completing the foundation for similar work at the west wing wall, in dredging rock and sand from Montrose Chain and from the channel near Nashville. The existing project for this work covers an estimate of $4,492,680, and this project is now modified by adding the cost, $5,000, of an office building, much needed in connection with the canal, and $40,000 for constructing sluices to draw off the mud and sand brought into the canal by the creeks emptying into it, the removal of which, under the system now followed, causes a very large annual outlay for dredging. This addition brings the modified project up to $4,537,680. There has been expended on this work to present date $4,393,003.43; there is now a balance on hand of $2,932.37, and there is required to complete the work $141,745.80. The good of the work requires that this amount be appropriated for fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in order that arrangements may be made for completing it within a reasonable time. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. $23, 110 73 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.. 20, 177 76 2,932 97 50,000 00 52,932 97 46,745 00 45,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 91,700 00 (See Appendix X 10.) 11. Operating and care of Des Moines Rapids Canal.-During the year the canal was operated as heretofore, being open 245 days. There passed through the canal 913 steamboats and 705 barges, carrying 13,057 passengers, 54,215 tons merchandise, and 470,580 bushels of grain; 9,399,764 feet of logs, 57,018,151 feet lumber, 25,182,500 shingles, and 15,924,645 laths were also floated through. The canal embankment required less work than heretofore, and it is hoped that in time this embankment will be brought to such a condition as to need no further repairs. The machine shop at the lower lock, operated by the regular canal force, performed good service in repairs to canal machinery, and also to that of the Government boats wintering there. The amount of deposit brought into the canal by freshets during the year was very great, requiring the services of two dredges during a portion of the season; 52,616 cubic yards of material were dredged and removed during the year. There has been expended to July 1, 1883, for operating and care $326,348.28. There was expended during the past fiscal year, includ ing outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, $49,085.42, which includes the construction of four new dump-boats. The standing estimate for operating and care, including ordinary repairs, is $40,000. The future expenses of the canal are provided for in the act of March 3, 1881, which authorizes the Secretary of War to draw from the Treasury from time to time such amounts as may be needed. Amount received from Treasury year ending June 30, 1884... outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount not yet drawn from Treasury $47,000 00 $43,283 42 49,085 42 2,085 42 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 45, 000 00 (See Appendix X 11.) 12. Dry Dock at Des Moines Rapids Canal.-The project for this work provides for the building of a dry dock near the middle lock of the canal, 400 feet long by 100 feet in width, with gates of 80 feet opening. The estimate of cost is $125,000. During the year ending June 30, 1884, the following work was accomplished: Seven hundred and forty-five linear feet of the outer embankment was built and partially covered by riprap face stone. About 4,000 cubic yards of material were excavated from the chamber of the dock and removed to the lower end to form a platform for working and storage purposes. In order to make a water-tight connection with the rock bottom a ditch 6 feet wide was dug down to the rock and filled with clay puddle. Above the ditch the main embankment is built. July 1, 1883, amount available..... $24,607 05 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 22,583 55 65,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix X 12.) 65, 000 00 13. Mississippi River at Quincy, Illinois.-The balance available for this work was expended in repairing and strengthening the two wingdams built in 1879 and in protecting the head of Island 427. A brush fence dam extending from Island 427 to the Missouri shore was also built. Work is still going on at this point under an allotment from the appropriation for improving Mississippi River from Illinois River to Des Moines Rapids. As future work in this vicinity will be provided for from the general appropriation, no further amount is asked for. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. (See Appendix X 13.) $12,491 22 12,491 22 14. Quincy Bay, Illinois.-The original project for this work was presented in 1879, and contemplated the expenditure of $224,000. The work proposed was the dredging of about 700,000 cubic yards of material, some shore protections, &c., in order to afford a large and safe winter harbor capable of accommodating all the vessels that may seek refuge there. The amount expended to date on this project is $45,000, which has resulted in the removal of 206,000 cubic yards of material and affords a depth of 4 feet at low water over an area of about 80 acres. No work was done during past year on account of lack of funds. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix X 14.) $202 11 202 11 154, 109 87 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 the local engineer in charge, Maj. A. Mackenzie, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Iowa River from Wapello to its mouth. (See Appendix X 15.) 2. Pecatonica River, from Argyle to Wayne, La Fayette County, Wisconsin. (See Appendix X 16.) TEST OF THE ADAMS FLUME. Preliminary arrangements for making a practical test of the flume invented by Mr. M. J. Adams for improving rivers have been continued under his "supervision and direction" during the year. Preparations for the test contemplated by Congress are still incomplete, and the unexpended balance ($139.80) of the $28,000 appropriated for it by the acts of March 3, 1879, and August 2, 1882, is, it is understood, deemed by him inadequate for continued prosecution of the work. PRESERVATION OF THE FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE FALLS-IMPROVEMENT OF CHIPPEWA AND SAINT CROIX RIVERS, WISCONSIN, AND OF MINNESOTA RIVER AND RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA-RESERVOIRS AT THE SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Officer in charge, Maj. Chas. J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 1. Preservation of the Falls of Saint Anthony.-The plan for the preservation of the falls, adopted in 1874, contemplated the construction of a concrete dike beneath the limestone ledge forming the bed of the river, to prevent percolation through, and consequent destruction of, the soft underlying sand-rock; the construction of rolling dams to keep the upper surface of the limestone ledge flooded during the winter; and a timber apron and wings to prevent retrocession of the crest of the falls and destruction of the dike, &c. The dike was completed in 1876, and the other works by 1878. Since 1878 work has been confined mainly to the preservation and repair of the timber structures. Owing to a lack of funds, no work was done during the past fiscal year. The last appropriation was made by act passed August 2, 1882. Considerable erosion has occurred in and about the east angle since 1881, mainly due to an attempt at tunneling under an adjoining millpond, and the deposit of material in the channel above the crest of the falls, by private parties. |