of commerce. Vessels drawing 16 feet frequently grounded at high tide above Long Bridge, and frequent dredging was necessary to maintain even this depth. The channel was narrow, as the appropriations for dredging were too small to provide for more than a narrow cut through the bar. The Washington channel was narrow and shoal, and inadequate to the wants of commerce. Extensive mud flats existed along the city front from Observatory Hill to a point opposite the Arsenal. Below Long Bridge these flats were separated from the city front by the Washington channel. The greater portion of these flats was exposed at low tide, and covered at high tide by water polluted by the sewage of the city. At the foot of Seventeenth street, N. W., a large sewer discharged directly upon the flats. These conditions rendered a portion of the city almost uninhabitable. The average rise and fall of tide in the Potomac River at Washington is 3 feet. By act passed August 2, 1882, Congress adopted a project which has for its object the improvement of the navigation of the river by widening and deepening its channels; the reclamation or filling of the marshes or flats on the city front, by depositing on them the material dredged from the channels; and the establishment of harbor lines beyond which no wharves or obstructions should be built. The project provides in detail for such depth of channels as will accommodate the largest vessels that can reach Arsenal Point, with such depth at the wharves as will allow vessels to receive full cargoes without grounding at low water: for filling the flats above Long Bridge to a height of 3 feet above the flood line of 1877, and the middle part of the flats below Long Bridge to the same height, but sloping each way to a height of 6 feet above low tide at the margin of the fill; that in order to purify the water in the Washington channel, which will be cut off at its upper end from the Virginia or main channel, a tidal reservoir or basin be established above Long Bridge, to be filled with water from the Virginia channel on the flood tide, and discharged into the Washington channel on the ebb. The plan also contemplates the rebuilding of Long Bridge, with longer spans and fewer piers, during the progress of the work, and the interception of all sewage now discharged into the Washington channel and its conveyance to James Creek, but neither the reconstruction of the bridge nor the building of the intercepting sewer were included in the estimate of the cost of the improvement. The estimated cost of the improvement is $2,716,365. Twenty thousand dollars of the appropriation of September 19, 1890, was made available for dredging in the Eastern Branch. About that amount will be expended at that locality, which leaves the aggregate appropriations for the Potomac proper, $1,835,000. Up to the close of the fiscal year 1890, the expenditures aggregated $1,561,705.50, and the following work had been accomplished: The Virginia channel above Long Bri ge had been deepened to 20 feet at low tide for a width of from 400 to 550 feet, a part of which has since filled up and been redredged. The same channel below Long Bridge had been dredged to a depth of 20 feet and a width of about 350 feet. This part of the Virginia channel has maintained itself to the full depth originally dredged or has deepened. The Washington channel has been dredged to a depth of 20 feet for a width of 350 feet throughout its entire length, and to a depth of 12 feet from the 20-foot channel nearly to the easterly margin of the fill up as far as the Seventh street wharf. This channel has for the most part maintained itself, though some filling occurred during the freshet of June, 1889. All the material dredged from the river had been deposited on the flats, and of the 12,000,000 cubic yards estimated to be required, about 8,301,000 had been deposited. The entire area of the flats, about 621 acres, had been outlined, the margins or embankment protected as far as practicable by riprap, and practically the entire area to be reclaimed had been raised above overflow at ordinary high tide. The outlet gates of the tidal reservoir at the head of the Washington channel had been completed with the exception of the coping. The expenditures during the fiscal year 1891 amounted to $65,115.87. This sum was applied to the construction of a sea wall to protect the banks from erosion by waves and currents, about 5,100 linear feet having been completed, and to raising the embankments around the mar gin of the flats to prevent their overflow by freshets. The construction of a dike on the westerly side of the Virginia channel, above Long Bridge, with a view to reducing the deposit at that locality, has also been in progress. Contracts have been made for dredging in the Virginia channel, in the Eastern Branch, and in the Washington channel. The latter work is now in progress, and will complete the dredging to be done in the Washington channel. The work in the Eastern Branch is under the provisions of the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, which makes $20,000 of the $280,000 appropriated for improving the Potomac River, available for dredging in the Eastern Branch. The officer in charge refers to the necessity for a liberal appropriation, and gives it as his opinion that though the work has been damaged by freshets, it can still be completed within the estimated cost if a single large appropriation be made. Long Bridge.-Lieutenant Colonel Hains refers in his report to the necessity of rebuilding Long Bridge. In the event of a freshet occurring when the Potomac River is full of ice, great damage is to be expected. The piers of the bridge are of such faulty construction that an ice gorge would be probable, which would cause the water to back up and overflow portions of the city front, and, through the sewers above the bridge. such of the lower parts of the city as may be drained by them. Great damage was done by the freshet of June, 1889, but greater damage may occur from a freshet of lesser magnitude if accompanied by an ice gorge. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... $13, 294. 50 280,000.00 $881,365.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 881,365.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J 1.) 2. Potomac River at Mount Vernon, Virginia.-Before this improvement was commenced, the ruling depth over the wide flat between the main channel of the Potomac River and the wharf at Mount Vernon was but 4 feet at low tide. The original project, adopted in 1879, was for a channel 150 feet wide, and from 6 to 7 feet deep, with a turning basin at the wharf of 150 feet radius. This project was amended in 1888 so as to provide for a channel 200 feet wide, and a turning basin of 200 feet radius. On June 30, 1890, $14,500 had been expended, and the channel was about 140 feet wide between the 6-foot curves, and from 60 to 100 feet wide between the 9-foot curves, the depth here varying from 9 to 12 feet. The turning basin was 360 feet wide, but was incomplete. The act of September 19, 1890, provided for the completion of the improvement, and operations have been conducted with this end in view. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $2,500 was expended. The channel was dredged 165 feet wide, with a depth of from 8 to 10 feet, and the turning basin completed, the radius being 180 feet. The officer in charge regards the present dimensions of the channel as sufficient for navigation, and no further appropriations are recommended. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 191, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.......... (See Appendix J 2.) $2,500.00 1,997. 14 502,86 502,86 3. Occoquan Creek, Virginia.-Occoquan Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters about 25 miles below Washington, D. C. Navigation was obstructed by four bars, which were improved between 1873 and 1880 by the expenditure of four appropriations aggregating $25,000, giving a navigable depth of about 6 feet to Occoquan, the head of navigation, 4 miles above the mouth. In compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, a new survey was made in 1889, and the condition of the several bars found as follows: Lower Mud, about 3.5 miles below Occoquan. This bar is about 4,000 feet long and had a ruling depth of about 3 feet. The former dredged channel had filled in. Upper Mud, about 2.25 miles below Occoquan. The channel dredged in 1874-75 was found to have maintained its original dimensions, being about 50 feet wide and from 5 to 6 feet deep. Sand Bar, about one-half mile below Occoquan. The former dredged channel had filled in, the least depth being 4.2 feet. Occoquan Bar, a short bar opposite Occoquan. The channel dredged here had filled in, and the least depth was 4 feet. The project for the new improvement comprises the dredging of channels 6 feet deep and from 100 to 150 feet wide through the bars, with the construction of such dikes as may be required to maintain the depth secured by dredging. The first appropriation for the new work was made September 19, 1890. At the close of the fiscal year $1,605.01 had been expended. The dredging of a channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide through the lower bar was then in progress. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts $150.00 4,345.36 $10,000, 00 1,605.09 8, 394.91 July 1, 1891, balance available ............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix J 3.) 4,495.36 3,899.63 35,000.00 35,000.00 4. Aquia Creek, Virginia.—Aquia Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters about 41 miles below Washington, D. C. The stream is about 7 miles long, and in 1872 its navigation was chiefly obstructed by shoals between the mouth and the "Narrows," 4.5 miles above. Here the creek takes the character of a wide bay, from 1,000 to 6,000 feet wide, while the depths of water ranged from 2 to 4 feet over an almost continuous shoal of soft mud. Above the "Narrows" the creek is from 60 to 200 feet wide, with a depth of from 2 to 17 feet, the shoaler portions being near the head of navigation. The stream is crossed by a bridge of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad about 3 miles above the mouth, the draw of the bridge being but 28 feet wide. From 1872 to 1878 appropriations amounting to $10,000 were made by Congress, and the navigation improved by dredging a channel from 40 to 50 feet wide, and from 4 to 5 feet deep, through the shoaler parts of the creek, chiefly above the railroad bridge. A new survey of the creek was provided for in the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, and was made in 1889. The channel dredged from 1872 to 1878 was found to have maintained its dimensions between the railroad bridge and the "Narrows," but at other places it had filled in. The general depth of water in the creek remained substantially as in 1872. Estimates for improving the navigation were submitted January 18, 1890, and an appropriation of $10,000 made by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. The project for the improvement, approved December 4, 1890, proposes a channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep, dredged through the shoals where less than 6 feet is found between the mouth of the creek and the "Narrows." At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $500 had been expended. A channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep had then been dredged from Thorny Point, at the lower end of the shoal, for a distance of about 2,670 feet toward the railroad bridge. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $10,000.00 500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 30,000,00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 15,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J 4.) 5. Harbor at Breton Bay, Maryland.-The navigation of the head of Breton Bay was obstructed in 1874 by a shoal extending from the 9. foot curve in the bay to Leonardtown, a distance of about 1 mile, the least depth on the shoal being 5 feet at low tide. The original project, adopted in 1878, contemplated dredging a channel 150 feet wide and 9 feet deep through the shoal with a suitable turning basin at the wharf. In 1885 the project was amended to provide for a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep, with a turning basin 400 feet wide by 800 feet long. In 1890 the original project was resumed, as this appeared to be sufficient for the navigation of the bay. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $32,500 had been expended. The condition of the improvement at the close of the last preceding dredging operations (in March, 1889) was as follows: The basin at the Leonardtown Wharf was 645 feet long by 370 feet wide. From the lower end of the basin the channel was 150 feet wide for a distance of 1,870 feet, and for a further distance of 1,380 feet around the turn at Buzzard Point, the width varied from 185 to 280 feet. The depths varied from 8.5 to 14.6. feet. The channel between Buzzard Point and the 9-foot curve in Breton Bay had not been dredged. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $517.79 were expended, and at the last-named date the dredging needed to complete the proj ect was in progress. No further work is required by navigation at present, and no further appropriations are recommended. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix J 5.) $5,000.00 517.79 4, 482.21 $200.00 3,000.00 3,200.00 1,282. 21 6. Nomini Creek, Virgina.-This stream is an important tributary of the Potomac, which it enters about 82 miles below Washington, D. C. Navigation was obstructed in 1872 by a bar of sand and oyster shells at its mouth, over which but 3 feet could be carried at low tide, and the dangers and difficulties of passing the bar were further increased by a rapid current and cross tides. After passing the bar 8 feet can be carried to Nomini Ferry, about 4 miles above the mouth. The original project for the improvement, adopted in 1873, provided for dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep through the bar. The project was modified in 1879 by increasing the width to 150 feet, and again in 1885 by increasing the width to 200 feet. In 1890 a further modification was made, proposing the construction of two jetties parallel to the outer channel, retaining the width of dredging at 150 feet. The total cost of this modified project was placed at $72,500. Up to June 30, 1890, $36,986.61 had been expended. At the close of work in 1883 a channel about 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep had been dredged through the bar. During the suspension of work, from 1883 to 1889, the cut was reduced in depth and width by deposits of sand. In 1889 the outer channel was widened and redredged on the westerly side for a width of 94 feet and a length of 1,470 feet, the depths being from 8.9 to 13.8 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $2,961.28 has been expended in dredging the chaunel at and outside of White Point, the |