EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF August 2, 1882: The following localities were, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, reported as not worthy of improvement, and the work not a public necessity: 1. Harbor of Port Marshall, on Lake Champlain, New York. (See Appendix N N 17.) 2. Boquet River, New York. (See Appendix N N 18.) And the following as worthy of improvement, but the work not a public necessity: 3. Champlain River, Clinton County, New York, from the lake up to Champlain Town. (See Appendix N N 19.) 4. Harbor of Port Henry, on Lake Champlain, New York. (See Appendix N N 20.) Upon a favorable report after preliminary examination by the local engineer, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 73, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: Plan and estimate for a breakwater at Rouse's Point, on Lake Champlain, New York. (See Appendix N N 21.) PACIFIC COAST. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS OF OAKLAND AND WILMINGTON; OF SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN RIVERS; OF PETALUMA CREEK, AND OF HUMBOLDT BAY AND HARBOR, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. S. W. Roessler, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Oakland Harbor, California.-There were delivered on the jetties by contract during the year, 12,586 tons of stone, and facing was laid on 24,317 square feet. The contract for dredging the tidal basin was satisfactorily ended on June 10. The total amount dredged and put ashore during the year was 503,223 cubic yards. The contractor removed 493 piles, the ruins of a wharf, which were in the way of present improvement. A contract for 14,000 tons of stone and for facing the south jetty was made April 21, and bids were opened March 25 for dredging the channel in front of the city. The award was made to the lowest bidder, but the contract was not signed until July 7. Both of these contracts are to be fulfilled during the present working season, and will consume the balance of $63,950.29, remaining unexpended at the close of the fiscal year. The sum of $100,000 appropriated by act of July 5, 1884, and the sum asked in this report are to be applied to increase of tidal prism, to be secured by continued dredging of the tidal basin and by the construction of the San Leandro Canal. The total amount appropriated for this work is $874,600, of which $671,049.71 has been expended. The present depth of the entrance is 14 feet. The original depth before the improvement was begun was 3 feet. The average draught of vessels has grown from 5 feet before the improvement to 12 feet now. 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.... $188, 083 68 -$123, 814 82 124, 133 39 63,950 29 139,600 00 203,550 29 939, 929 20 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 300,000 00 (See Appendix O O 1.) 2. Wilmington Harbor, California.-The depth upon the bar at the entrance is now 10 feet at mean low water, being increased 1 foot since the date of the last Annual Report. During the year 11,851 cubic yards of reef material and sand were excavated. The reef material proved unsuitable for use on the west jetty. The appropriations have been $705,000 00 654,982 13 At the beginning of the improvement there was 1 foot at mean low water, and now the depth is 10 feet. Vessels drawing 15 feet enter readily at high water. The coasting trade passes almost entirely into the harbor. The sand which has been accumulating on the seaward side of the principal jetty, with more or less steadiness ever since the work was begun, has been carried away during the past year, exposing timberwork which had previously been regarded as secure. It may be necessary to incur additional expense on this account not hitherto foreseen. In other respects the developments are favorable. The funds now available, and those asked herein are to be applied to dredging the sand in channel above and below Deadman's Island; to extending, raising, and protecting the jetties, and to incidental expenses. 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...... $29,916 34 29,898 47 17 87 50,000 00 50,017 87 150,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 150,000 00 (See Appendix O O 2.) 3. Sacramento and Feather rivers, California.-The snag-boat was in commission 175 days. The work of the season consisted in the removal and destruction of 1,138 snags and 35 trees on the Sacramento River. A wing-dam was built at Morris Island, and the old dam at Call's Bend was repaired. The bar just below the city of Sacramento, and that above, known as Six-mile Bar, were improved by scraping. The wants of navigation seem to have been fully met, although the stage of the river became unusually low. The barges now used to carry wheat are built to carry 1,000 tons on 4 feet draught. This depth was fully maintained below Colusa, thence to Butte City 3 feet, and above Butte City 30 inches. These depths are better than previously maintained. The snag-boat is well designed to meet the emergencies of navigation in a river when the absence of fixed banks forbids permanent improvement at reasona ble cost. The appropriation asked is to be employed in maintaining the snag-boat and employing her and her crew in destroying snags, scraping bars, and in building temporary wing-dams, called for by the everchanging emergencies of navigation. No work was done on the Feather River. The total amount appropriated for these rivers is.. July 1, 1883, amount available. 230,466 80 20,430 14 210,036 66 40,000 00 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... 250,036 66 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 40,000 00 (See Appendix 0 0 3.) 4. San Joaquin River, California.-Stockton Slough was dredged to a depth of 9 feet for a distance of 3,700 feet, the width varying from 100 to 150 feet. The material was placed ashore, and amounted to 53,639 cubic yards. The excavation of a new channel or cut off at the Devil's Elbow was begun August 27, and prosecuted slowly during the winter. The time for completion was extended by request to May 15, at which date, the work not being half completed, the contract fell in default. The amount of work done was 23,594 cubic yards placed ashore. The amount remaining to be done is estimated to be 23,930 cubic yards. The work was readvertised, and will be completed in the autumn. On the upper river a dam 230 feet long was built near Crow's Landing, which is claimed to have extended the season of navigation above Grayson ten days. Six snags were removed. The appropriation asked for the coming year will be expended in dredging portions of the river as required, and Stockton and Mormon sloughs, and to the improvement of bars and removal of snags as the necessity arises. 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...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 40,000 00 (See Appendix O O 4.) 5. Petaluma Creek, California.-The improvement of Petaluma Creek, as outlined in the original report and estimate of December 2, 1879, was completed May 2, 1884, by the excavation during the year of 43,267 cubic yards of earth, which is deposited upon the banks. A cut-off 800 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 3 feet in depth was made and the channel dredged. The channel before improvement was for 2 miles below Petaluma bare at low water, and not covered until the tide had risen 2 or 3 feet. Within this distance there were three abrupt bends that seriously embarrassed navigation. The channel is now straightened by three new channels, cutting off the bends. The channel was deepened by dredging to 3 feet at low water through the whole length, except for 2,600 feet at the upper end, where the depth was made 2 feet. Some filling has taken place, caused by wash from the land in freshets. The amount appropriated is. $30,000 00 27,656 91 This improvement has been and will continue to be of great advantage to a considerable commerce and to a large number of industrious people occupying a fertile tract of country. July 1, 1883, amount available.... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 15,029 54 12,686 45 July 1, 1884, amount available.... (See Appendix O 0 5.) 2,343 09 6. Humboldt Bay and Harbor, California.-During the year there were 11,520 cubic yards of material dredged in widening the channel in front of the Arcata Landing to 110 feet where the width was less. The length so widened was 1,900 feet and the depth made was 10 feet. The channel fronting the town of Eureka was deepened to 13 feet over a distance of 3210 feet, requiring dredging of 26,080 cubic yards. The widths vary from a maximum of 150 to a minimum of 50 feet for a short distance. The depth adjoining this channel is usually 10 feet. Studies of physical conditions at the entrance were kept up during July and August. The funds now available and asked for are to be expended in the construction of a low wall on the south sands, projected to fix the bar channel, now unstable, in position, and to increase its depth, now insufficient. It may also be necessary to widen channels at Eureka and Arcata by dredging. 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 . 537,500 00 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 ( ( 6.) 7. Removal of sunken vessels obstructing or endangering navigation.-An examination of the wreck of the iron steamer Escambia on San Francisco bar was made in May, 1884, by divers and by dragging under favorable conditions of weather. The shoalest depth on the wreck at mean low water was found to be at least 33 feet, and probably a foot more, which is the governing depth on the adjacent sand. The wreck is not considered to be at present a danger to passing vessels. (See Appendix 0 0 7.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following locality was, after preliminary examination, reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement so as to admit the passage of small vessels, but the work not a public necessity: 1. Redwood Slough, San Mateo County, California. (See Appendix 0 0 8.) And the following were reported as not worthy of improvement: 1. Alameda Creek, Alameda County, California. (See Appendix O O 9.) 2. Santa Monica Bay, California. (See Appendix O O 10.) 3. Clear Lake, Lake County, California. (See Appendix O O 11.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. Officer in charge, Col. C. S. Stewart, Corps of Engineers. The object of this improvement is to prevent the deposit in this harbor of the sand and soil brought down during floods by the San Diego River. A project was formed in 1875 to turn the river back into False Bay, its former outlet. The work was done in 1876. An artificial channel was cut from a point in the river bed near Presidio Hill to a slough from False Bay; the old channel was dammed; and a levee, faced with stone and crossing the valley from bluff to bluff, was built between the artificial water-way and San Diego Bay to retain the overflow during floods. Thus far the improvement has been a success. The rainfall the past season has been unprecedented, amounting to 25.97 inches, of which 9.05 inches fell in February. The annual average rainfall heretofore has been but 9.32 inches. The floods have been numerous and high, carrying into the ocean a vast body of materials. The damage by the floods to the work has been slight. The usual injury has been done to the embankment by the burrowing of badgers and the gullying of reverse slopes by surface water. Owing to high water in the river, no repairs have been made. The cost of extra services during the storms has been $132. The total expenditure from the beginning of the improvement to June 30, 1884, has been $80,372.50. The amount still available from the appropriation for repairs made in 1879 will probably last for several years. July 1, 1883, amount available $759 50 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883....... 132 00 July 1, 1884, amount available... 627 50 (See Appendix P P.) IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN OREGON AND WASHINGTON TERRITORY-CONSTRUCTION OF CASCADES CANAL, COLUMBIA RIVER-IMPROVEMENT OF LOWER CLEARWATER RIVER, IDAHO. Officer in charge, Capt. C. F. Powell, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Willard Young, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Lower Willamette and Columbia rivers, Oregon and Washington.— The present project for this improvement was adopted in 1877, and modified in 1879 and 1882, the object being to afford a ship-channel of |