RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. This boat will be finished in July, 1891, and will be put to work clearing the river of logs and snags until the available funds are exhausted. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $3,506.56 were expended in defraying the expenses of the examination and in the construction of the log boat and the purchase of the necessary machinery for it. 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 $7,770,35 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 20, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 13.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Chattahoochee River, Georgia and Alabama, between West Point and Franklin, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Price, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Price, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement; but Colonel Comstock, in view of the cost of improvement and the present and prospective wants of commerce, does not consider the locality worthy of improvement at this time. The views of Colonel Comstock being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 134, Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. (See also Appendix P 14.) The required preliminary examination of Alabama River, Alabama, to ascertain cost of securing a 6-foot channel at low water from mouth to Wetumpka, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Price, and report thereon submitted though Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of En gineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Price, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this river is worthy of improvement as proposed. The report of the preliminary examination containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further survey appears to be necessary at this time. The cost of securing a 6-foot channel as proposed is estimated at $386,251, and the annual cost of maintaining it at $10,000. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 140, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix P 15.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI, Officer in charge, Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers; Division 1. Mobile Harbor, Alabama.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in August, 1888, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from the Gulf of Mexico to the city of Mobile of 280 feet width on top of cut, with a central depth of 23 feet at mean low water by dredging, at an estimated cost of $1,980,000. Length of continuous cut, 293 miles. Act of September 19, 1890, extended the work up Mobile River to the mouth of Chickasabogue Creek and increased the estimated cost to $2,043,800. The channel had originally a minimum depth of 5 feet through Choctaw Pass and 8 feet on Dog River Bar. This was deepened by dredging under appro priations from 1826 to 1852 of $228,830.68 to 10 feet through both. In 1860 the channel in Choctaw Pass had shoaled to 73 feet. From 1870 to 1878 the channel was deepened by dredging to 13 feet under appropriations amounting to $401,000. Length of cut 8 miles. From 1881 to 1888 the channel was deepened by dredging to 17 feet, under appropriations amounting to $740,000, but this project was not completed when the last project was adopted. The length of cut was 25.91 miles. The entire length of channel under present project is 31.85 miles and the entire length of continuous cut is 29.98 miles. Since the adoption of the last, or present, project a channel has been dredged to a depth of 19 feet and width of 80 feet from where there was that depth in Mobile River to where the same depth was found in the lower part of the bay, a continuous cut of over 26 miles; about onehalf was done in the fiscal year 1888-'89, and the remainder during the fiscal year 1889–290. The lower portion has shoaled so that the least depth is now 14.7 feet. The average central depth is, however, about 19.4 feet for the whole length of the channel. The amount available is to be applied to continuing the improvement in accordance with the approved project, and it is believed will secure a minimum depth of at least 20 feet. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... 293, 319.68 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..... 244, 889.32 $27,829.30 July 1, 1891, balance available..... 60,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,443, 800.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and (See Appendix Q 1.) 1,503, 800.00 2. Warrior and Tombigbee rivers, Alabama and Mississippi.-a. War rior River, Alabama.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890 the object being to obtain a channel 6 feet deep at ordinary low water from Tuscaloosa to its mouth by removal of logs, snags, and overhanging trees, the improvement of bars, bank revetment, and the construction of locks and dams, at an estimated cost of $577,000. The channel at this time is not navigable at a low-water stage. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $21,840.85 and was used in construction of a portion of plant re. quired for prosecution of the work. The amount available is to be expended in removal of snags, logs, and overhanging trees and repairs of jetties. 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..... $13,967.98 45,000.00 58,967.98 21,840.85 37, 127.13 532,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... b. Tombigbee River, Mississippi, from Walker Bridge to Fulton.-The present project for the improvement of this section of the river was adopted in 1888, the object being to obtain a good channel for navigation during high water by the removal of snags, logs, stumps, and cutting overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $11,000. The channel was originally only navigable for small rafts, and very troublesome for them. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $3,734.70 and resulted in improving about one-half of the entire distance according to the project. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $2,782.48, and resulted in completion of the project. 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 .............. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $265.30 4,000.00 4, 265, 30 2,762, 48 1,482.82 3,000.00 3,000.00 c. Tombigbee River, from Fulton, Mississippi, to Vienna, Alabama.— The project for the improvement of the river from Fulton down to Columbus, 144 miles, was adopted in 1873, the object being to give a good high-water navigation throughout by the removal of snags and overhanging trees. The channel before improvement was not navigable at all from Fulton down to Cotton Gin Port, 69 miles. From Cotton Gin Port down to Aberdeen, about 25 miles, it was navigable for small barges carrying about 125 bales of cotton. From Aberdeen down to Columbus, about 49 miles, navigation was difficult when the river was 12 feet above ordinary low water. The project for the improvement of the portion of the river between Columbus and Vienna was adopted in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and 3 feet deep during ordinary low water. Before the improvement was commenced the channel was much obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and there was only 1 foot of water on some of the bars during low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was about $82,074.57 (exact figures can not be given for reasons that appropriations were made jointly for Warrior and Tombigbee rivers) and resulted in the completion of the proposed improvement of that section of the river from Ful ton down to Columbus, and in giving such a channel from Columbus down to Vienna that navigation was possible on a 2 foot rise for boats drawing 3 feet, and the accomplishment of over one-half the work. The amount of $5,261.23 has been expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, in preparation of a portion of the plant required for future work and the commencement of work at three different points on this section of the river. This section of the river should be desig. nated hereafter as Fulton to Columbus, the portion below Columbus being incorporated by the act of September 19, 1890, with that desig nated as "Tombigbee River from Demopolis to Columbus, Mississippi." 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 $3,975.49 6,000.00 9,975. 49 5, 261.23 4,714. 26 8,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement .......... 8,000,00 d. Tombigbee River, Alabama, below Vienna.-The project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and 4 feet deep at ordinary low water from the mouth up to Demopolis, and 3 feet deep from Demopolis up to Vienna. Before the improvement the river was navigable from the mouth up to Bladon Springs, 91 miles, during the entire year; from Bladon Springs up to Demopolis, 100 miles, navigation was suspended about 2 months yearly during low water. From Demopolis up to Vienna the channel was obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and water was so shoal on the bars that navigation was only attempted on a considerable rise. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was about $112,292.21 (exact figures can not be given, as appropriations were made jointly for Warrior and Tombigbee rivers), and resulted in obtaining an unobstructed channel, with 3 feet depth of water, from the mouth up to Tompkin's Bluff, 145 miles, with a 2-foot depth from there up to Kirkpatrick's, 63 miles, and 1 foot depth from there up to Vienna, 74 miles. A considerable portion of the sum expended has been used in preservation of the improvement previously made. The amount expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $257.98, and has been used in care of property. This section of the river having been divided and covered by the act of September 19, 1890, and under other designation, should hereafter be omitted. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... $269.36 257.98 11.38 e. Tombigbee River, Alabama, from its mouth up to Demopolis.-The present project for the improvement of this section of the river was adopted in 1890, the object being to secure a channel of 6 feet depth at low water by removal of logs, snags, and bank revetment, and con struction of locks and dams, at an estimated cost of $508,898. At the present time the channel has a minimum depth of 2 feet. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $9,648.98, and has resulted in completing the improvement of 65 miles of the lower and best part of the river and the partial improvement of 37 miles more. The entire length of this section is 191 miles. The amount available is to be used in removal of snags, logs, and overhanging trees, improvement of Harwell Bar by dredging and of McGrew and Pierson shoals by blasting. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1891, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $55,000.00 9, 648.98 45, 351.02 12,000.00 33, 351.02 453,808.00 250, 000. 00 f. Tombigbee River, from Demopolis, Alabama, to Columbus, Mississippi. The present project for the improvement of this section of the river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a channel of 6 feet depth at an ordinary low water by removal of logs, snags, etc., bank revetment, and construction of locks and dams, at an estimated cost of $779,400. The present channel has a minimum depth of 1 foot. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $288, and has resulted in the preparation of a portion of the plant and the commencement of the work proper. The amount available is to be used in the removal of snags, logs, overhanging trees, and repair of jetties. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..................... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... $15,000.00 288.00 14,712.00 764, 40v. CO Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 250,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 2.) 3. Black Warrior River, Alabama, from Tuscaloosa to Daniels Creek.The present project for the improvement of this section of the river was adopted in 1886, the object being to afford a waterway for the transportation of coal, iron ore, iron, etc., in barges from the Warrior coal fields to the Gulf of Mexico by the construction of five locks and dams, at an estimated cost of $741,670. The present channel is only navigable during very high water, and is even then extremely dangerous. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $188,165.44. This was used in necessary surveys, preparation of plan and estimates, acquisition of land for site for Lock No. 1, erection of lock-tender's house and buildings required for quarters, kitchen, storerooms, tool rooms, cement warehouses, blacksmith shop and shed, and construction of two boats; clearing of lock site, excavation of foundation pit for bank wall, stripping of quarry, grading |