Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $5,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. 5,000.00 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. 1,250.00 3,750.00 25,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 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. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.......... Amount appropriated by act approved August 11, 1888. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended....... $11,042. 27 10,000.00 21, 042. 27 11, 042. 27 10,000.00 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 44 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 bundred 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 (See Appendix S 1.) $1.000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 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. In 1881, 1882, 1886, and 1888 Congress made appropriations aggre gating $7,000, and 20 miles of the Tickfaw, and the Natalbany to Springfield, the head of navigation, have been improved. Work was also done on the Ponchatoula as far as it was thought advisable. The Blood River was also cleaned out as far as navigable. Only a little wood and some saw logs are carried or floated on this stream. The improvement is not permanent, as obstructions will continue to form in all these streams, but an annual appropriation of $1,000 will keep them in good order. With the appropriation of 1886 the work was completed according to the original project, but obstructions having re-formed in the mean time it was necessary to use the appropriation of 1888, $1,000, for removing them. In 1890 $1,000 was appropriated for continuation of improvement, but nothing has been done yet, owing to the Government plant with which the work is to be done, being engaged elsewhere. The amount expended on this stream to June 30, 1891, was $7,000. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended $1,000.00 1,000.00 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 (See Appendix S 2.) 3. Amite River and Bayou Manchac, Louisiana.-The Amite River and its principal tributary, Bayou Manchac, were navigable by the ordinary river steamboat below and for a short distance above their point of junction, but the navigation was very much impeded and endangered by snags, stumps, and impending trees. In 1880 a project was adopted for the improvement of the Amite River, providing for a low-water channel 5 feet in depth as far up-stream as appropriations would permit, the main part of the work to be done above the mouth of the Bayou Manchac. In 1880 $8,000 was appropriated for this work, and in 1881 $5,000. An effort to do the work by contract was made, but the results were unsatisfactory, and in 1883 the original project was modified so as to permit the use of Government plant and hire of labor on the work, the improvement to be made below the mouth of the Bayou Manchac. In 1886 $2,000 was appropriated for this improvement, and work was resumed with the Government plant and hired labor. The obstructions to the navigation below the mouth of the Manchac were removed, leaving the river in good shape. In 1890 an appropriation of $3,800 was made for the improvement of the Amite River and Bayou Manchac, leaving the amounts to be expended upon each discretionary with the engineers. During the year the work has been confined to clearing the bayou of logs, snags, and impending trees for a distance of about 24 miles above Hope Villa and from Hope Villa to the junction with the Amite River, leaving both streams in fairly good condition. Owing to the caving of the banks of these streams, the permanent improvement is hardly possible, and about $2,500 will be required annually to keep them clear of the obstructions caused by drift. At the end of the fiscal year just closed $22,667.86 had been expended on this work. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year............ $514.04 3,800.00 4,314.04 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended............ 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 S 3.) 3, 191.90 1, 122. 14 2,500.00 4. Bayou La Fourche, Louisiana.-Prior to 1879 the navigation of Bayou La Fourche was very much obstructed by snags, logs, raft-heaps, impending trees, and wrecks. In 1879 a project for the removal of these obstructions was approved, and under the project work was carried on until 1885, during which time $28,754.45 was expended, resulting in giving much relief to navigation. In 1888 Congress appropriated $50,000 for the improvement of the bayou, on the plan of Lieutenant Crosby, Corps of Engineers, dated June 11, 1886, and provided for dredging for the immediate relief of low-water navigation. Lieutenant Crosby's project was for a lock at the head of the bayou, connecting it with the Mississippi River, and subsequent dredging of the bayou channel to a width of 75 feet, with a depth of 5 feet at mean low water of the Gulf. The estimated cost was $450,000, with an annual expenditure of $8,000 for operation and maintenance. Under the provision of this act dredging was commenced at the head of the bayou, and has been continued since, with considerable benefit to the low-water navigation. Dredging is a very unsatisfactory method of improvement, since much of the work has to be gone over again after the subsidence of the flood in the Mississippi River. If the lock was constructed, whatever dredging was thereafter done in the bayou would be practically permanent and the certainty and safety of the navigation of the bayou assured. Up to the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 1891, there has been expended on this stream the sum of $57,283.44. 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 $35, 407, 49 50,000.00 85,407.49 12, 690.93 72, 716.56 400,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix S 4.) 5. Bayou Terrebonne, Louisiana.-The estimated cost of the improve. ment of this bayou was $38,800. The project called for the dredging of a channel 4 feet deep at mean low water of the Gulf to Houma. When work was commenced in 1880 Bayou Terrebonne was little better than a drainage ditch, being about 11 feet wide when dredging began. The completion of the work to Houma as projected cost $35,808, enabling planters to float their merchandise to Houma or else to New Orleans by connecting bayous and canals. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (See Appendix S 5.) $2,994.79 2.79 2,992.00 6. Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana.-Previous to the closing of the mouth of Bayou Plaquemine by a dam in 1867 or 1868 the largest steamboat passed through it into Grand Lake and the numerous water routes connected with it. In 1885 a project was proposed for reëstablishing this water route by building a lock at the head of the bayou and dredging out the channel below. In 1888. $100,000 was appropriated for improving the bayou and protecting the bank at its mouth from caving; $75,000 of this sum was allotted to bank protection; the remainder has been devoted to dredging out the bayou so as to give a channel 60 feet wide and 6 feet deep at mean low water level of the Gulf. This dredging is still in progress, the Government dredge and hired labor being employed. About half the channel is completed. In 1890, $100,000 was appropriated for continuing improvement. Of this sum $60,000 was allotted for bank protection. For the expenditure of the remainder a project for the purchase of property and right of way for a lock at Plaquemine was presented but has not yet been approved. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, there had been expended on this stream from funds allotted to this office the sum of $16,984.31. *July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $53, 605. 44 100,000.00 153, 605. 44 21, 542. 01 132,063.43 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1, 508, 250. 00 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 S 6.) 500, 000, 00 7. Bayou Courtableau, Louisiana.-During the high-water season the backwater from the Atchafalaya always forms a large sand deposit known as Little Devil Bar at the mouth of the Courtableau. When the water fell a number of small bayous on the lower side of the Courtableau formerly allowed so much water to escape into the swamps that there was not sufficient current to scour out Little Devil Bar, and during low water it was necessary to transfer freight around it by a tramway. An examination was made in 1879, and the cost of improvement below Port Barre was estimated at $40,000, the project being to close the runout bayous, forcing all the water to flow over Little Devil Bar and scour it out, after which a timber lock and dam were to be constructed to give slack-water navigation to Washington, La. In 1883 the estimate was increased to $78,500, and provided for a masonry lock. Up to June 30, 1889, there had been appropriated $29,000, of which $27,910.61 had been expended in closing run-out bayous, with the effect of partially removing the bar. *The money statement for securing mouth of Bayou Plaquemine from further caving (page 231) is consolidated with this. |