$10,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal yearending June 30, 1893 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O 10.) 11. Withlacoochee River, Florida.--This river is 120 miles long and has a normal width varying from 75 to 180 feet, though at numerous points a defined channel is almost lost in broad marshy lakes and cypress swamps. The low-water depth varied from 1 to 74 feet. before improvement the river was so obstructed by loose rocks, snags, fallen trees, floating grass islands, and bars as to be practically impassable excepting in isolated reaches. The river was examined with a view to its improvement in 1879. The approved project calls for the removal of snags, overhanging trees, loose rocks, and some of the worst shoals between the Gulf of Mexico and Pemberton Ferry, a distance of about 77 miles, so as to permit boats of 2-feet draft to navigate the river during one-half the year. Up to June 30, 1890, $16,770.21 had been expended. The river was cleared and made navigable as called for by the project between Pemberton Ferry and Dunellan. More work will be required on some of the ledges before navigation is safe. Work is also required below Dunellan. There were no operations during the past fiscal year, as the services of the United States snag-boat were not available. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, balance available ..... (See Appendix O 11.) 12. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida.-The improvement of this harbor has been carried on from time to time under various appropriations made since 1872. It was obstructed by a shoal, known as the Middle Ground, lying in the main ship channel opposite Way Key and by shoals elsewhere in the channel and at its outer extremity. At these points the general channel depth of 12 feet was reduced to from 7 or 9 feet by outcropping rocks with sand and shells. The existing project for the improvement has for its object to form a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep through these shoals. Work under this project has been carried on under various appropriations made since 1884. The total expenditure up to June 30, 1890, was $15,434.33. A clear channel of the required depth from the Gulf up to Cedar Keys had been obtained. Near Buoy 12, and in the middle ground, the width was insufficient. Operations under the existing contract were continued at the middle ground until July 26. When work stopped the cut there had a width of 200 feet and a least depth of 9.5 feet. Along its east side the depth was 10 feet. In the act approved September 19, 1890, $2,500 were appropriated for this harbor, with the provision that a portion could be expended at Derrick Island Gap on the inside channel from Suwanee River. As it is most economical to do the work contemplated under this appropriation with the United States snag boat Suwanee, no operations were possible until her services ENG 91-13 should become available. It is proposed to start the work here in July, 1891. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available ... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix O 12.) $6,917.74 2,500.00 9,417.74 7,270.66 2,147.08 86.85 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 1,060.23 44,000.00 13. Suwanee River, Florida.-The length of river under improvement is 130 miles. From the Derrick Gap entrance to Branford, a distance of 80 miles, the width of the river varies from 250 to 300 feet, and its original low-water depth from 3 to 30 feet. It was but little obstructed excepting at the mouth. Between Branford and Ellaville the general width is 325 feet. It was obstructed by many dangerous rock shoals, crossed by crooked channels which had a low-water depth of from 1.5 to 3 feet, as well as by snags and overhanging trees. A project for this improvement was adopted in 1880. It contemplates the formation of a channel 150 feet wide and 5 feet deep from the gulf (through the bars at the passes) as far up the river as New Branford (Roland Bluff). From there to Ellaville the channel is to be 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $27,360.17 had been expended on this improvement. A long cut, now partly obliterated, had been made through the shoals between the mouth and deep water of the Gulf of Mexico, and a practicable, but not safe, channel had been opened as far as Hudson. During the past fiscal year operations have been carried on by the U. S. snag boat Suwanee, and the channel between Branford and Luraville has been widened and deepened so that a channel safe during medium and high stages, and fairly safe and 3 feet deep at the lowest stages, now exists as far as Hudson, 15 miles below Ellaville. Navigation is still obstructed by the shoals near the mouth and at the Derrick Gap entrance. $663. 13 3,000.00 3,663. 13 2,340.20 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available 24, 158.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix O 13.) 1,322.93 689.42 633,51 EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Black, and reports thereon submitted through Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division. It is the opinion of Captain Black, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, no further surveys were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. The upper part of the St. John's River, Florida, from Lake Monroe southward, or in a southerly direction through the river and connecting lakes to the head of steamboat navigation.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 240. (See also Appendix O 14.) 2. St. John's River, Florida, from Jacksonville to Sanford, to obtain an estimate of the cost of deepening the channel so as to secure navigation for ocean steamers, and to report separately the cost of opening the channel of the river in the vicinity of Orange Mills.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 240. (See also Appendix O 14.) 3. St. Augustine, Florida, for improvement of channel so as to make a deep sea channel over the outer and inner bars.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 291. (See also Appendix O 15.) 4. Indian River, Florida, between Titusville and Jupiter Inlet.-This river is not regarded as worthy of improvement by the General Government until the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company surrenders and relinquishes to the United States all the rights and privileges it now holds under State charter along the entire route. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 168. (See also Appendix O 16.) 5. Channel lying north and west of the town of Cedar Keys, Florida, known as Boat or Number Four Channel.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 205. (See also Appendix O 17.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Black, and reports thereon submitted through Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division. It is the opinion of Captain Black, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement as specified. The reports of the preliminary examinations containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further surveys appear to be necessary at this time. 1. Peace [Pease] River, Florida.-It is the opinion of Captain Black that Pease River is not worthy of improvement above Fort Ogden; that it is worthy of improvement below Fort Ogden; that there is no pressing necessity at present for the improvement between Fort Ogden and Punta Gorda; and that the improvement below Punta Gorda is necessary only in connection with the improvement of the channels through Charlotte Harbor, between Boca Grande entrance and Punta Gorda. The Division Engineer considers the river worthy of improvement below, but not above, Fort Ogden. Captain Black states that With the appropriation of $35,000 made in the act approved September 19, 1890, the channel will be deepened at the mouth of the river as far as the railroad wharf at Punta Gorda. Should the railway be extended to the deep water at Boca Grande Pass, I do not deem a further improvement of the channel here necessary. Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 241, Fifty first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix O 18.) 2. Charlotte Harbor, Florida.-The improvement proposed contemplates the formation of a channel at least 15 feet deep and 200 feet wide, from the Boca Grande entrance to Punta Gorda, at an estimated cost of $468,000. If, however, as is proposed, the railroad is extended from Punta Gorda to Boca Grande, it will be necessary only to dredge a channel 23 feet deep and 300 feet wide from the Gulf of Mexico to the anchorage within the Boca Grande entrance, at an estimated cost of $35,300. (See Appendix O 19.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN GEORGIA, FLORIDA, AND ALABAMA, AND OF APALACHICOLA BAY, AND HARBOR AT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. Officer in charge, Capt. Philip M. Price, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. Charles L. Potter, Corps of Engi neers, to June 12, 1891, and Lieut. Wm. E. Craighill, Corps of Engi neers, since June 1, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Apalachicola Bay, Florida.-A bar existed at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, extending from one-half mile below the town of Apalachicola, Fla., to the lower anchorage. The minimum channel depth over this bar was 34 feet. In 1879 a plan of improvement was adopted which contemplated the dredging through the bar of a straight channel 11 feet deep and 100 feet wide, to be afterwards increased to 200 feet if the first cut should produce results that would warrant it. Up to June 30, 1890, the sum of $85,009.63 had been expended on this improvement in dredging a straight channel through the bar at the mouth of the river, whenever funds were available, between the years 1881 and 1890. On account of inadequate appropriations the dredged cut has never exceeded 90 feet in width and 94 feet in depth, and has gradually filled up, partly by the deposit of silt from the river, and partly by the washing in of material from the sides of the cut by the currents produced by the tides and the prevailing easterly winds. The last dredging was completed in May, 1890, and at that time the channel was 8 feet in depth at mean low water, and had a maximum width of 90 feet. Since that time no dredging has been done. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $3,529.38 has been expended in making a survey of the mouth of the river and of a part of the bay. The report of this survey was submitted on May 15, 1891, and showed that there had been an average shoaling of about 11 feet in the dredged cut. It also appears from this survey that the Bulkhead Shoal, on which there is only 6 feet of water, now forms the most serious obstruction to the commerce of Apalachicola Bay. The recommendation of the officer in charge, that the funds now available should be expended in dredging a 9-foot channel through this shoal was therefore approved, and he was authorized to advertise for proposals for doing the work. The advertisement was published on June 10, 1891, and the proposals will be opened on July 15, 1891. If reasonable bids are received it is proposed to expend all of the available balance in this dredging. It is anticipated that by next year it will be essential, for the preservation of the commerce of Apalachicola Bay, to redredge the straight channel through the bar at the mouth of the river. It is estimated that the cost of securing the approved channel of 100 feet in width and 11 feet in depth will be $60,000, and the work can be more economically accomplished if this sum is appropriated at one time. 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, balance available Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 60,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 1.) 2. Apalachicola River, Florida, including Lee Slough.-An examination and survey of the Apalachicola River was made in the winter of 1872-73. The river was found to be obstructed by snags and overhanging trees. An accumulation of drift logs against piles driven by Confederate authorities during the war near Moccasin Slough had formed a dam across the river and forced a narrow and very crooked channel through its banks and into the river Styx. The approved project for the improvement of the river contemplated securing a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep, at low water, by the removal of snags and overhanging trees, and widening and straightening the channel at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, at an estimated cost of $80,333. In 1888 an examination was made of the Cut-off, Lee Slough, and the lower Chipola River, and the cost of opening a channel 60 feet wide and 5 feet deep through it was estimated at $7,500. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $2,000 for the "Apalachicola River, including Lee's Slough," and the improvement of the latter is therefore added to the original project. Up to June 30, 1890, the sum of $42,245.11 was expended on the original project. At this time the river was in a good navigable condition, except at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, where further work is necessary to make navigation safe. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $1,566.32 has been expended in the removal of snags, sunken logs, and overhanging trees from the Apalachicola River and from the Cut-off and lower Chipola River, which lead to Lee Slough. No work has been done on Lee Slough proper for the reason that with the amount of money available it would have been impossible to accomplish any useful result. It was necessary that the snag-boat should clear a channel through the Cut off and lower Chipola River in order to reach Lee Slough. When this had been accomplished it was necessary for the snag-boat to return to the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. The small amount of work done on the Cut-off and lower Chipola River has enabled steamboats to reach the landings above and below Lee Slough and carry out the orange crop. The country bordering on this slough is now attracting the attention of settlers, and would be rapidly developed if the Cut-off and Lee Slough and the lower Chipola River were so cleared of obstructions that the river steamboats would go through them on their regular trips. |