and the improvement extended 7 miles. During the past fiscal year a distance of 12 miles was cleared of snags and overhanging trees, and the river has now an unobstructed channel for 19 miles. Several steamers have been running upon this river during the present season. This improvement will be continued with appropriation made by the act of July 5, 1884, and it is proposed to extend it with the amount asked for. 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. $8,500 00 6, 441 22 3,502 92 3, 444 14 58 78 2,000 00 2,058 78 8,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix B B 2.) 5,000 00 3. Big Sandy River, West Virginia and Kentucky.—The project for improving the natural channels of this river and its forks, by the removal of snags, bowlders, and overhanging trees, and the concentration of the water at low stages into narrow channels, was adopted in 1878. This has been continued, and a clear channel was formed 50 feet wide and 2 feet deep, at ordinary low water from Louisa, Ky., to 100 miles above, on the Louisa Fork, or 15 miles above Piketon, Ky., the head of steamboat navigation. A channel of the same dimensions has also been formed from Louisa up the Tug Fork, 108 miles. This latter includes the Roughs of Tug, and extends 6 miles above it. A project for building a lock at Louisa, to form a pool extending several miles up the two forks, was approved in 1880. During the past year a contract was made for the delivery of the stone needed for the lock, and 2,768.58 cubic yards of stone of the required kinds have been received. The excavation for the foundation of the lock was commenced June 1, and 2,132.34 cubic yards of rock and 1,623.3 cubic yards of earth have been removed. The Louisa Fork was cleared of obstructions for a distance of 36 miles from its mouth, and the wing-dams that had formerly been constructed were repaired. New wing-dams were constructed at White House and Lost Creek Shoals. With the $50,000 appropriated by act of July 5, 1884, the construction of the lock will be continued as far as practicable. With the $10,000 of this sum designated by Congress for continuing the improvement upon the Tug and Louisa forks, $5,000 for each, these streams will be cleared of obstructions as far as practicable, and the wing-dams already constructed will be repaired. It is estimated that it will require an additional amount of $10,000 for each of the forks to complete their improvement. This amount has been added to the estimate for the completion of the present project. It is proposed to apply the amount asked for to the construction of the lock and dam and to the improvement of the Tug and Louisa forks. Total amount appropriated for this river to date. Total amount expended to June 30, 1884 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. $204, 000 00 74,225 99 101,564 72 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix B B 3.) 50,000 00 4. Guyandotte River, West Virginia and Kentucky.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1878, and operations have been continued in conformity with it. This consisted in removing obstructions, both natural and artificial, and opening a clear channel 30 feet wide and 18 inches deep at the lowest stages of water. During the past fiscal year operations were carried on upon that portion of the river extending from Dam No. 1, 7 miles from the mouth of the river, to Sand Lick Bar, a distance of 913 miles. Snags, trees, and rocks were removed, and new channels were formed where necessary. The completion of the present plan of improvement is estimated at $10,000. Of this amount $2,000 was appropriated by act of July 5, 1884. During the present fiscal year this improvement will be continued. It is proposed to complete the project with the amount asked for. Total amount appropriated to date... $12,500 00 10,500 00 July 1, 1883, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 1,418 88 1,418 88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 2,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix B B 4.) 8,000 00 8,000 00 5. Little Kanawha River, West Virginia.-The present project, adopted in 1880, proposes, by the construction of an additional lock and dam, to extend the slackwater navigation upon this river a distance of 12 miles. No other operations than receiving the stone contracted for April 17, 1882, and preparing it for laying have been carried on during the past fiscal year. One thousand one hundred and fifty-four cubic yards of dimension stone and 1,404.2 cubic yards of rubble have been received. As the small amount of stone that remained to be received under this contract at the close of last season could be obtained at less cost than the contract price, and the contractor requested to be released, his application was granted. An examination of all the works constructed in the upper portion of the river for open river navigation in 1879 and 1880 was made. This developed that they needed repairs, which are estimated to cost $4,500. This sum has been added to the amount required for the completion of the present project. With the $31,000 made available by act of July 5, 1884, it is proposed to commence the construction of the lock. It is proposed, with the amount asked for, to complete the lock and dam and make the necessary changes required for the improvement of the navigation of the upper river. Total amount appropriated for this river 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 (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix B B 5.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, 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: Extending the survey of the Louisa Fork of the Big Sandy River to Grundy Court-House. (See Appendix B B 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF WABASH RIVER, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS, AND OF WHITE RIVER, INDIANA. Officer in charge, Maj. Jared A. Smith, Corps of Engineers. 1. Wabash River, Indiana and Illinois-a. Below Vincennes.-With the small balance available at the beginning of the fiscal year the only extended work which could be continued was at Little Chain. Through the reef at this place a new channel has been blasted and dredged 1,610 feet long and 35 feet wide, with an additional length of 250 feet 45 feet wide. The stone has been placed in a dike on the Indiana side, with ringbolts at intervals of 200 feet, to assist ascending steamers if needed. The channel should be further widened to 100 feet or more, and it is expected to give at least 33 feet of water at the lowest stage. With the present channel, boats can pass with great care at stages when it has never before been possible. Some small repairs have been made to the planking of dam in New Harmony Cut-off. The detailed survey of the river has been continued to Mount Carmel, Ill. Improvements thus far have been followed by greatly reduced freight rates to all within the adjacent counties, whether shipping by boat or rail. The channel is fairly good for a distance of 80 miles below Mount Carmel, and the benefits have fully justified the outlay. The entire amount expended to June 30, 1884, has been $389,354.26. The principal points requiring further improvements, besides removing snags and making various small wing-dams and bank protections, are Widow Goss' Bar, Skidmore Bar, Little Chain, Grand Chain, and Grand Rapids. Several other points require attention, but they are not extensive. The lock and dam at Grand Rapids, the estimate for which is $130,000, is the only expensive work required. It is hoped to commence its construction the ensuing year. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates $30,000, and a further appropriation, for this purpose, of $100,000 is recommended by the officer in charge to continue the work, in addition to $70,000 required to complete works at Little Chain, Widow Goss' and Skidmore bars, and to continue other improvements. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... $18,093 93 16, 337 86 July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885... 200,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of works indicated Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 170,000 00 (See Appendix C C 1.) b. Above Vincennes.-The removal of snags from channel between Vincennes and Terre Haute was continued from July 1 to October 31, 1883. Six hundred and ten large snags and 186 overhanging trees were removed, cut in pieces, and put out of the way. A substantial dam, 200 feet long, of piles, brush, and stone, with shore protections above and below at each end, has been nearly completed across the cut-off at Horseshoe Island. The survey of the river was extended to Vincennes and then continued below to Mount Carmel, Ill. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, has been $53,021.14. The channel from Vincennes to Terre Haute has been so far improved that steamers make regular trips the entire distance during nearly all the year. A few points only are difficult to navigate at extreme low water, and the improvements required are comparatively inexpensive. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates $10,000 for this portion of the river. The removal of snags should be continued, and various small wingdams and shore protections constructed, for which an estimate of $40,000 for the year ending June 30, 1886, is submitted. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883...... $13,820 46 11,841 60 50,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for works indicated...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 40,000 00 (See Appendix C C 1.) 2. White River, Indiana.-As the dredge procured for the Wabash and White rivers was employed on the former work all the season of 1883, and the available funds were small in amount, no work save the necessary care and repair of plant was undertaken until the spring of 1884. The drilling, blasting, and dredging of a new channel at Kelly's Ripple was commenced May 28. June 30, the first cut, 35 feet wide, had been extended 664 feet. Until the cut is entirely through the reef no benefit can be realized therefrom. The work will be continued with the appropriation of July 5, 1884. The improvements already made on the river have very greatly benefited navigation, and small steamboats are now running regularly over a distance of 45 miles or more. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, has been $81,110.01. A great many snags are still in the river, and should be removed. The work at Kelly's Ripple should be completed, and several wingdams and shore protections constructed. July 1, 1883, amount available.. $6,530 19 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 2,640 20 July 1, 1884, amount available... 3,889 99 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... 10,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. 13,889 99 55,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 30,000 00 (See Appendix C C 2.) EXAMINATIONS And Surveys for IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF august 2, 1882. An examination was made by the local engineer in charge of the stone formation in Kankakee River, at Momence, Illinois, and the improvement of the locality in question was reported as not a public necessity. (See Appendix C Č 3.) BRIDGING NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. Bridge across Thames River near New London, in the State of Connecticut, authorized by act of Congress of March 3, 1883.-The joint Board of Army and Navy officers appointed, as provided for in section 2 of the above act, rendered a report approving, with certain conditions, the project for the construction of this bridge submitted by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad Company. The action of the Board having been approved by the Secretary of War, the company was so informed July 28, 1883. (See Appendix D D 1.) 2. Bridge across the Ohio River at the city of Wheeling, in pursuance of the act of Congress of December 17, 1872, and of the act of February 14, 1883, supplementary thereto.-A full statement of all matters relating to the erection of this bridge, when plans therefor were submitted by the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Company, will be found in Appendix B B of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, and the subsequent action thereon, in the Appendix of this Report. The conditions and requirements of the Board having been approved by the Secretary of War, were accepted by the Wheeling and Harrisburg Railway Company November 12, 1883. (See Appendix D D 2.) 3. Bridge across the Ohio River near Beaver, Pennsylvania.—The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Company having failed to comply with the requirements of the law of December 17, 1872, authorizing the construction of bridges across the Ohio River, at the request of the |