14. Salkahatchie River, South Carolina.-The Salkahatchie River rises in Aiken County, S. C., and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The lower part of the river is known as the Combahee. Above a point known as Hickory Hill the river was obstructed at numerous places by piles, logs, trees, and sand bars. The project of improvement contemplated the creation of a continuous channel suitable for rafts and flatboats from a point 5 miles above Toby Bluff to Hickory Hill. The cost was estimated at $18,000. The work done comprised thoroughly clearing the lower 12 miles of Salkahatchie River between Hickory Hill and the Charleston and Savannah Railroad Bridge, and improving the reaches from that bridge to Broxton Bridge. A substantial improvement of the river is reported. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, provided $5,000 for this river, completing the estimated cost. No further funds will be required, the improvement being completed so nearly that the funds last appropriated will be sufficient for its maintenance. The total expenditures to June 30, 1891, were $13,475.20. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix M 14.) July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... $245.15 5,000,00 15. Beaufort River, South Carolina.-The portion of this river under improvement lies between Coosaw River and the town of Beaufort. It possessed a 7-foot channel nearly all the way through in places narrow, but for some distance had no more than 4 feet depth at low water. $863.42 10, 136.58 5,245. 15 The project provides for creating a through 7-foot channel of convenient width by dredging. The first work ever done on this river by the United States was begun in June, 1891, 3,754 cubic yards having been dredged. The total expenditures, including June 30, 1891, have been $603.17. $12,500.00 11, 896.83 July 1, 1891, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix M 15.) 4,524.80 5.60 4,519.20 11,000.00 12,500.00 12, 500.00 16. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering naviga tion.-During the past fiscal year the removal of a wreck of a vessel, name unknown, loaded with guns and shot, from the South Channel across the Charleston, S. C., bar was completed. (See Appendix M 16.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Wateree River, South Carolina, from Camden to the falls of the Catawba, also of the bend or curve in said river about 4 miles below Camden between the plantations of Witte and Williams to determine if it is advisable in the interest of navigation to make a cut off across the neck of said bend, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Abbot, and report thereon submitted through Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division. It is the opinion of Captain Abbot, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is not worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 271, Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. (See also Appendix M 17.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN GEORGIA, AND OF CUMBERLAND SOUND, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. Officer in charge, Capt. O. M. Carter, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Thomas H. Rees, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Savannah River and Harbor, Georgia.--The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on in Savannah Harbor during the last fiscal year was approved by the Secretary of War on July 22, 1890. The project contemplates the establishment of a navigable. channel 26 feet deep at mean high water between the city of Savannah and Tybee Roads. The mean rise and fall of tide varies from about 7 feet at Fort Pulaski to about 6 feet in front of the city wharves. The estimated cost of the improvement is $3,500,000. In 1873, prior to improvement, the channel was in places not more than 9 feet deep at mean low water, and the usual high-water draft of vessels was not more than 14.5 feet. During the fiscal year just closed 72,178.84 square yards of log and brush mattresses and 26,160.5 cubic yards of stone have been used in the oyster-bed training wall. In the pile and brush work forming the closing dam at the Duck Puddle, the training wall below Spirit Island, and the spur dams protecting the banks at Elba Island and Jones Island there have been used 2,339 piles, 25,825.57 cubic yards of brush fascines, and 1,134.32 cubic yards of stone. Between the ocean steamship wharves and Tybee Knoll 396,144.66 cubic yards of material have been removed by dredging. The expendi tures during the year amounted to $212.148.91. The total amount expended under the present project to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $277,943.49. There is now a navigable channel from the city to the sea with a least mean low-water depth of 14 feet, a gain of about 5 feet since the work was begun. The real gain in navigable depth is somewhat greater than here shown, and vessels of from 20 to 21 feet draft now go from the city to the sea on a single tide. The estimated reduction in freight rates, due to the improvements already executed, is 25 per cent., which effects an annual saving in freights alone of more than the total sum of money expended by the United States upon the harbor within the last 25 years. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...... July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts $65, 794.58 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix N 1.) $4,035.05 350,000.00 126, 779.28 July 1, 1891, balance available 15, 106.86 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 3, 150, 000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893... 1,000,000.00 354, 035.05 212, 148.91 141, 886. 14 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1830.. 2. Savannah River, Georgia.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to secure a lowwater steamboat channel not less than 5 feet in depth between the cities of Augusta and Savannah, Ga. The estimated cost of the improvement is $332,000. Prior to inprovement navigation was much impeded by logs, snags, piles, and other obstructions. The depth at summer low water over some of the shoals did not exceed 2 or 3 feet. The expenditures during the year amounted to $7,411.24. The total amount expended under the present project to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $7,411.24, and has resulted in removing 354 snags, stumps, and logs, and 3,443 overhanging trees from the most troublesome places throughout the whole extent of river. Five trees were swung to bank and 24 logs were cut up on bank. The depth of water over the shoals near Augusta has increased during the year. $19.91 25,000,00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 25, 019.91 7,411. 24 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended....... 17,608.67 307,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix N 2.) 3. Darien Harbor, Georgia.-The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on in Darien Harbor during the last fiscal year was adopted in 1885. The project contemplates the establishment of a navigable channel 12 feet deep at mean low water between Darien and Doboy. The mean rise and fall of tide is about 6.5 feet. The estimated cost of the improvement is $170,000. No work has ever been done under the existing project prior to the fiscal year just closed, during which 13,194.6 cubic yards of material were removed by dredging during the month of June. The expenditures during the year amounted to $1,835.73. The total amount expended to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $4,870.49, and has resulted in removing 13,194.6 cubic yards of material from the worst shoal in the harbor. 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...... 20,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix N 3.) 4. Altamaha River, Georgia.-The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on upon the Altamaha River during the last fiscal year was adopted in 1890. The project contemplates the establishment of a steamboat channel 3 feet in depth at ordinary summer low water between Darien and the junction of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers. The estimated cost of the improvement is $129,000. Prior to improvement navigation was much impeded by logs, snags, and other obstructions, the low-water depth at some points not exceeding 2 feet. During the fiscal year just closed 150 snags, stumps, and logs, and 466 overhanging trees were removed; 4 trees were pulled back, and 2 logs were cut up on bank. The expenditures during the year amounted to $1,946.79. The total amount expended under the present project to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $2,446.79, and has resulted in removing many of the most dangerous snags and overhanging trees. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... $223.41 15,000.00 15, 223.41 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, balance available... 12,776.62 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix N 4.) 13, 276.62 5. Oconee River, Georgia.-The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on upon the Oconee River during the last fiscal year was adopted in 1890. The project contemplates the establishment of a steamboat channel 3 feet in depth at ordinary summer low water between Milledgeville and the mouth of the river. The estimated cost of the improvement is $171,000. Prior to improvement navigation was much impeded by sand bars, overhanging trees, snags, and sunken logs. On some shoals there were low-water depths of not more than 2 feet. During the fiscal year just closed 1,135 logs, snags, and stumps, and 146 overhanging trees were removed, 600 cubic yards of stone were placed in a closing dam at Fish Trap Cut, and 19 piles were driven and 11 brush mats sunk at Old Boat Yard in constructing contracting works at that point. The expenditures during the year amounted to $8,120.31. The total amount expended under the present project to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $8,120.31, and has resulted in so improving the river that boats now run at a stage of water 4 feet lower than before improvements were begun. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1891, balance available 17, 030.87 8,010.00 9,070.87 146,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix N 5.) 201.18 25,000.00 6. Ocmulgee River, Georgia.-The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on upon the Ocmulgee River during the last fiscal year was adopted in 1890. The project contemplates the establishment of a steamboat channel 3 feet in depth at ordinary summer low water between Macon and the mouth of the river. 25, 201.18 8, 120.31 The estimated cost of the improvement is $210,000. Prior to improvement navigation was much impeded by rock shoals, sand bars, overhanging trees, snags, and sunken logs, the low-water depth at some places not exceeding 2 feet. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.......... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 During the fiscal year just closed 173 snags and logs, 13 stumps, and 520 overhanging trees were removed, 8 trees were deadened, and 14 logs cut up on the river bank. The expenditures during the year amounted to $12,575.89. The total amount expended to June 30, 1891, including all outstanding liabilities, is $13,099.69, and has resulted in removing many dangerous obstructions, boats now being able to run without accident at a stage of water some 3 feet lower than before the improvements were begun. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... $523.80 5,340.00 $244.95 30,000.00 30, 244.95 12, 575.89 17, 669.06 July 1, 1891, balance available... 5,863. 20 11, 805. 26 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 180,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 50, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1-66 and 1867. (See Appendix N 6.) 7. Brunswick Harbor, Georgia.-The plan of improvement under which operations have been carried on in Brunswick Harbor during the last fiscal year was adopted in 1880 and modified and enlarged in 1886. |