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. July 1, 1891, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 5.) $4, 127.99 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1891, balance available $20,761.43 20,000.00 Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... (See Appendix Q 7.) 40, 761.43 24, 928.40 15, 833.03 6. Chickasahay River, Mississippi.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a good high water channel from the mouth up to the railroad bridge near Shubuta, by the removal of snags, logs, and overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $30,000. but Nothing has been expended up to the close of the fiscal year, plant for use on the improvement is in course of construction. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890..... 11, 676.79 4, 156.24 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. July 1, 1891, balance available.... 69,000.00 10,000.00 79,000.00 25,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix Q 6.) $5,000,00 5,000.00 1,250.00 3,750.00 7. Bluff Creek, Mississippi.-The project for the improvement of this creek was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a channel from the mouth up to Vancleaves by the removal of snags, logs, and overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $1,000. Nothing has been expended up to the close of the fiscal year. $1,000.00 1,000.00 8. Leaf River, Mississippi.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a high-water channel from the mouth to the mouth of Bowie Creek by the removal of logs, snags, and overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $25,000. Nothing has been expended up to the close of the present fiscal year, but plant for use on the improvement is in course of construction. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... $5,000.00 5,000.00 1,250.00 3,750,00 $20,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that cau 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 Q 8.) 9. Harbor at Biloxi, Mississippi.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1882, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from Mississippi Sound to the wharves at Biloxi of navigable width and 8 feet deep, at an estimated cost of $55,000; the channel before was 4 feet deep at the shoalest part. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $17,628.55 and resulted in dredging a channel 9 feet deep at mean low water throughout and 126 feet wide for a distance of 2,150 feet, thence 84 feet wide for a further distance of 2,000 feet, and thence 124 feet wide for a further distance of 1,030 feet. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $16,487.09 and resulted in obtaining a channel 9 feet deep and 120 feet wide throughout and 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 (See Appendix Q 9.) June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 10.) 10. Pearl River, Mississippi, below Jackson.-The present project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1885, the object being to afford a channel 2 feet deep at ordinary low water and of navigable width from the mouth of the river up to Jackson, at an estimated cost of $145,940. Before the improvement the river was not navigable at all at low water, and difficult at high water. The amount expended on the work to June 30, 1890, was $103,103.55 and resulted in the complete improvement of that section of the river from the mouth at the Rigolets up to Wheats Field, a distance of 106 miles, and the partial improvement of the river from Wheats Field to Jackson, a distance of 208 miles. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $1,335.25, and resulted in the construction of a log flat. Condition of this part of the river is now such that light-draft boats can navigate from the mouth at the Rigolets, La., to Wheats Field, Miss., 106 miles, all the year; from Wheats Field up to Columbia, Miss., 50 miles, on a 6-foot rise, and from Columbia to Jackson on a 7-foot rise. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890... 11. Pearl River, Mississippi, between Jackson and Carthage.-The pres ent project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adoptedin 1887, the object being to obtain a channel of 2 feet depth at low water and of navigable width throughout, at an estimated cost of $50,000. Before the improvement was commenced navigation, even during high water, was difficult on account of snags and overhanging trees. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $23,146.73, and resulted in such improvement of 102 miles of river from Carthage down, that boats of 3-foot draft of water could navigate this distance on a 3-foot rise above ordinary low water, and the remaining distance (3 miles) on a 4-foot rise. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $1,632.37. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... $103.27 3,000,00 3, 103, 27 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 1, 632.37 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ..... 1,470.90 23,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix Q 11.) 12. Pearl River, Mississippi, between Edinburg and Carthage.-The project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1884, the object being to obtain a good high-water channel, at an esti mated cost of $13,464. Before the improvement was commenced navigation was only possible during very high water, and was even then troublesome. The amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, was $5,857.08, and resulted in the completion of the project. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $600.66. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement... (See Appendix Q 12.) $629.53 5,000.00 5,629.53 600.66 5,028. 87 500.00 500.00 13. Bogue Chitto, Louisiana.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a 3-foot channel during the greater part of the year by the removal of logs, snags, fish traps, etc., from the mouth up to Alfords Bridge, at an estimated cost of $30,000. Nothing has been expended up to the close of the present fiscal year, but plant for use on the improvement is in course of construction. 25,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 25,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 13.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Sucarnochee River, Alabama, from its mouth to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Bridge, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Damrell, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Damrell, based upon the facts and reasons given, that, although this river is worthy of improvement to a certain extent, it is probably of less importance than any river in charge of his office, and work on it should be postponed until the more important ones are finished. In view of the estimated cost of improvement Colonel Comstock does not consider the river worthy of improvement by the United States. 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. 116, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Q 14.) INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officers, Capt. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers, to January 31, 1891, and Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers, since that date. The inspecting officer in his annual report states that the legal channel was maintained through South Pass itself, except for 3 days in April, when at one point the depth was 25 feet, and for 12 days the jetty channel had a central depth of from 27.5 to 29.4 feet. Beyond the ends of the jetties, and on a direct course, the least depth during the year was 26 feet, but in the channel turning to the eastward a depth of more than 30 feet was maintained. Aside from the exception mentioned, the least depth from the Head of the Passes to the Gulf during the year was 27 feet, and the least width of the 26-foot channel was 160 feet. In the fan-shaped area beyond the ends of the jetties there was an average shoaling of 2.7 feet during the year. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 12, 210.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN STREAMS IN LOUISIANA, AND OF HARBOR AT SABINE PASS, SABINE RIVER, AND NECHES RIVER, TEXAS. Officers in charge, Capt. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers, to January 31, 1891, and Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers, since that date; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Chefuncte (Tchefuncte) River and Bogue Falia, Louisiana.-The river is navigable for steamers drawing 5 feet to Old Landing, about 10 or 12 miles above its mouth, and then for the lighter-draft schooners to Covington, about 2 miles farther up on the Bogue Falia. The bar at the mouth of the river had a depth of 4 feet on it at the lowest stage of the water. The project for the improvement of the river was made in 1880, and contemplated the removal of overhanging trees, logs, etc., in the channel and the dredging of the bar at its mouth. The obstructions, such as overhanging trees, logs, etc., were removed, but the bar at the mouth was not dredged, as it would be likely to re-form. To prevent this or retard its re-formation, the officer in charge in 1884 recommended building a breakwater extending 2,500 feet into the lake and then dredging a channel through the bar. With the two appropriations of $1,500 each, made in 1881 and 1882, the obstructions below Covington were removed and part of the unexpended balance was used for the construction of 820 feet of the breakwater. The original estimated cost of improving the river was $5,460, but this did not include building a breakwater across the bar. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $3,000 had been expended on this improvement, at which time the navigation had been improved for schooners to Covington by removal of snags and overhanging trees, and it is thought that the breakwater has retarded the drift of sand on the bar at the river's mouth. Twenty-five hundred dollars was appropriated by Congress in August, 1886, to improve Bogue Falia between Old Landing and Covington. Early in 1887 operations began and channels 5 feet in depth and 30 to 60 feet wide were cut through the bars in this stretch of bayou, giving better navigation for schooners to and from Covington. The $1,000 appropriated in 1890 has not been expended yet, but will be used in removing snags and similar obstructions as soon as the Government plant now employed in the improvement of the Amite River is released. One thousand dollars can be profitably expended on this river and bayou next season. The sum of $5,425 has been expended on this stream up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. $1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 (See Appendix S 1.) 2. Tickfaw River and its tributaries, Louisiana.-In 1879 Congress authorized an examination of this river. A project was submitted in 1881 to clean out the river and its navigable branches, the Natalbany, Blood and Ponchatoula rivers, by removing logs, snags, trees, etc., at an estimated cost of $10,230. |