July 1, 1883, amount available. $1,303 68 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. 48 40 July 1, 1884, amount available... 1,255 28 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 4,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 5,255 28 55,803 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix Z 15.) 10,000 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 the local engineer in charge and not recommended for improvement: Cumberland River and its principal tributaries above Pineville, Kentucky. (See Appendix Z 16.) And upon a favorable report, after preliminary examination, Major King was charged with and completed the following, the result of which was transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 129, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: Survey to ascertain the cost of placing locks and dams on the Cumberland River from Nashville, Tennessee, to the Cincinnati and Southern Railroad, in Kentucky. (See Appendix Ž 17.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE OHIO RIVER; OPERATING AND CARE OF LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL; IMPROVING FALLS OF OHIO RIVER AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; IMPROVEMENT OF THE MONONGAHELA AND ALLEGHENY RIVERS; CONSTRUCTION OF AN ICE-HARBOR AT MOUTH OF MUSKINGUM RIVER, OHIO, AND OF A HARBOR OF REGUGE NEAR CINCINNATI. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Capt. Frederick A. Mahan, Corps of Engineers. 1. Ohio River.-Davis Island Movable Dam.-During the year the fixed dam behind Davis Island was completed. The whole of the movable dam is completed except a few trestle floors, which can be added at any time. The whole work is practically finished, except the lock-gates, the machinery for moving them, and the movable dam across the head of the lock. Dike at the Trap.-The root of the dike at this place was repaired. Dam at Brown's Island.-This work was completed, but some of the paving was washed out during the winter and will be replaced during present season. Dike at Twelve-Pole.-This work was completed. Dike at Portland Bar.-This work was completed. Dike at Puppy Creek Bar.-This work was completed. Upper Dike at the Grand Chain.-The substructure of this dike is complete for a length of 2,700 feet and the superstructure for a length of 2,670 feet. The dike is to be 3,000 feet long. Lower Dike at the Grand Chain.-This work has been completed. Dredging and snagging.—No work of either kind was done during the fiscal year. Removal of rocks.-About 700 cubic yards of rock were removed from the bar at the mouth of the Licking. Falls of the Ohio.-The middle chute in the dam at the head of the falls was widened from 300 to 500 feet by an addition of 200 feet to the Boulé movable dam. Another section of Boulé movable dam, 160 feet long, was placed in the Indiana Chute. The result of these changes has been to reduce the current so that ascending boats no longer have any trouble in getting above the dam whenever the stage of the river permits them to get to it. A training-wall has been extended down-stream from the north end of the Middle Chute, which has answered a good purpose. The original condition of the Ohio River as to depth, width, and navigability cannot be stated in definite figures, as there is no defined plane from which to measure, both the low-water line and the elevation of the river-bed being variable. There has undoubtedly been a general improvement. The general method of improvement has been to remove snags and rocks, to close up duplicate channels by low dams, to hold up and guide the water by dikes where the river is too wide, and to remove hard bars and projecting points. The radical improvement of the river so as to secure a minimum depth of 6 feet in low water has been begun by the construction of the Davis Island Dam. The amount appropriated for the improvement of the Ohio River, from the first appropriation in 1827 to July 5, 1884, is $3,770,479.25. In addition to this there has been allotted to this river a portion of twenty-three different combined appropriations for the Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas rivers, which aggregate $1,947,000, but the amount thus allotted is unknown. The amount asked to be expended during the next fiscal year is $600,000. 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.... $111,213 37 $82,926 08 9, 205 29 92, 131 37 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... 19,082 00 600, 000 00 619, 082 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 600, 000 00 (See Appendix A A 1.) 2. Operating and care of Louisville and Portland Canal.- During the fiscal year the canal was in operation for 275 days; it was closed for 48 days on account of high water, and for 43 days by ice. During the year 4,346 vessels, representing an undertonnage of 1,070,650 tons, passed through the canal. The total expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1884, were $53,189.18, of which sum $2,135.42 was for repairing damages caused by the great flood of February, 1884. The estimated amount required for operating and maintaining the canal during 1884-'85 is $94,340, and during 1885-'86, $88,340. The great improvement in navigation caused by the changes in the dam at the head of the falls seems to have removed the necessity for a high-water lock. It is proposed to postpone this work until the question of its necessity can be decided by longer experience. The plan for enlarging the entrance to the canal, presented in the last annual report, having been adopted by Congress, it is expected that this work of enlargement will be begun during the present season. (See Appendix A A 2.) 3. Improving Falls of the Ohio River at Louisville, Kentucky.-Work on this improvement, which is the much-needed enlargement of the harbor of Louisville, and the upper portion of the Louisville and Portland Canal, has not yet been begun, as the first appropriation was made by the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. It is estimated that $500,000 can profitably be expended on this work during the next fiscal year. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. $ 300,000 1,035, 363 500,000 4. Monongahela River, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.-Owing to lack of funds, nothing was done on this river except to receive stone from the contractor. Before work was begun on the Upper Monongahela it was unnavigable except in freshets. The originally adopted project contemplated the construction of three locks and dams, so as to extend the existing slackwater from New Geneva to Morgantown. Of these No. 7 was to be built by the Monongahela Navigation Company, and Nos. 8 and 9 by the United States. The amount appropriated up to July 5, 1884, towards carrying out this project is $307,000, of which sum $259,840.74 had been expended up to June 30, 1884. The result obtained is the construction of one masonry lock and dam and the commencement of another. The finished dam gives at least 6 feet of water throughout its pool during all stages. The amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year is stated below. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of 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 A A 4.) 47,159 26 48.901 17 48,900 00 5. Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.-Owing to lack of funds no work was done on this river during the last fiscal year. The amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year is $35,000. $816 69 816 69 35,000 00 July 1, 1883, amount available 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. 35,000 00 (See Appendix A A 5.) 35,816 69 6. Ice-Harbor at mouth of Muskingum River, Ohio.-Owing to the lack of funds no work was done during the last fiscal year. The amount that can be profitably expended during the next fiscal year is $51,400. July 1, 1883, amount available.... outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $7,916 96 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities $2,326 79 2,394 06 5,522 90 50,000 00 55, 522 90 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. 51, 400 00 (See Appendix A A 6.) 7. Harbor of Refuge near Cincinnati.-No work was done during the last fiscal year. With the funds on hand and the appropriation made by the act approved July 5, 1884, it is proposed to build a third dike on the Ohio shore which will complete the project for this place. No further appropriation is needed. 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 A A 7.) $16,000 00 63 00 15,937 00 17,000 00 32,937 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF August 2, 1882. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge of the district and not recommended for improvement: 1. Tionesta Creek, Pennsylvania. (See Appendix A A 8.) Upon a favorable report after preliminary examination LieutenantColonel Merrill was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 77, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 9.) 1. Ice-Harbor at Middleport, Meigs County, Ohio. (See Appendix A A 2. Ohio River at Rochester and Freedom for ice breakers. (See Appendix A A 10.) 3. Survey and estimate of cost of excavating a channel through Grand and Little Chains in the Ohio River sufficient to pass boats and give a depth of 6 feet at low water. (See Appendix A A 11.) 4. Youghiogheny River, from McKeesport to Connellsville, Pennsylvania. (See Appendix A A 12.) 5. Taggart's Valley River, West Virginia, above Grafton, to the Three Forks of Buckhannon. (See Appendix A A 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF KENTUCKY AND TRADEWATER RIVERS, KENTUCKY; BIG SANDY RIVER, KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA; AND OF GUY. ANDOTTE AND LITTLE KANAWHA RIVERS, WEST VIRGINIA. Officer in charge, Capt. J. C. Post, Corps of Engineers. 1. Kentucky River, Kentucky.-The present plan of improvement adopted contemplates slackwater navigation on this river from its mouth to the junction of the Three Forks, at Beattyville, a distance of 252 miles. This required the repair of five locks and dams, constructed by the State of Kentucky, and the construction of twelve new locks and dams. The operations of the past year have been confined to the repairs of the first four locks and dams, and maintaining slackwater navigation by their means for a distance of 82 miles, or 17 miles above the city of Frankfort. The latter has been practically continuous, the only interruptions being during the season of extreme low water in the Ohio and the freshet of February, 1884. A survey has also been made for the location of locks and Dams Nos. 7 and 8. The project of the construction of a lock and movable dam at Beattyville, Ky., was submitted to a Board of Engineers for discussion. Their preliminary report was printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 36, Forty-eighth Congress, first session, and will be found in Appendix B B 1 of this Report. No work was done upon this dam beyond preparation of the necessary drawings in conformity with the report of the Board. During the present fiscal year such repairs as are yet unfinished will be made upon the four Locks and dams now in operation; Lock No. 5 will be repaired, and Dam No. 5, and that at Beattyville will be constructed as soon as the land needed for the latter can be acquired. The land for Lock and Dam No. 6 will also be obtained, and their construction will be advanced as far as the appropriation will permit. A survey will be made for locating the remaining locks and dams. The attention of Congress is invited to the necessity of obtaining the required land for the additional locks and dams that are to be built at an early date. Delays, oftentimes of a year or more, in the construction of the works can in this way be avoided. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, it is proposed to complete the construction of Lock and Dam No. 6, and construct four additional locks and dams. Total amount appropriated to date.... 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. $800,000 00 475,547 94 107,772 03 33, 319 97 74,452 06 250,000 00 324,452 06 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886 (See Appendix B B 1.) 2,221,639 26 500, 000 00 2. Tradewater River, Kentucky.-The present project for improving this river was submitted January 21, 1881. This had been commenced |