Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project......$2,078, 856.50 1,000,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and (See Appendix S 10.) 11. Sabine River, Texas.-At the commencement of the improvement of the river there was a depth of 3 feet on the bar at its mouth and also above the town of Orange. Logs, snags, etc., above here interfered with navigation. To June 30, 1889, there had been appropriated for this work $34,700, of which $30,760.39 had been expended. In 1880 a channel 6 feet deep, 70 to 100 feet wide, was dredged through the bar. In 1881 several small cuts, to avoid bends obstructed with logs, were made above Orange. The dredged channel over the bar at the mouth is somewhat obstructed by logs, but the depth is now sufficient for present demands of navigation and commerce. An examination above Orange showed many snags in parts of the channel and a project was prepared and contract entered into for the expenditure of the remaining balance in closing both branches of Old River at the head of the Narrows with pile, brush, and earth dams, to throw all the water into the useful channel, and removing the snags, overhanging trees, etc. The smaller Old River channel was closed and most of the piles driven for the larger dam, when a sudden rise in the river washed out many of the piles in the latter. The river remaining so high that satisfactory work could not be done, the contract was extended to the next low-water season. Work was resumed in September, 1890, and the dams finished, as projected, in December following, completing the project. The amount expended on this stream to June 30, 1891, was $34,614.12. $3,939, 61 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (See Appendix S 11.) 12. Neches River, Texas.-Before this river was improved the bar at its mouth had only 3 feet of water over it, and snags and fallen trees obstructed navigation between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport. To June 30,1890, $33,000 had been appropriated for this work, of which $28,842.16 had been expended. In 1880 a channel was dredged through the bar at the mouth of the river 5 feet deep and 30 to 60 feet in width. In 1882 the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport was cleared of obstructions. The bar at the mouth had again shoaled, so that at extreme low water there was only a navigable depth of about 3 feet. The channel was dredged to a depth of 5 feet by the Government dredge, which had been at work at Calcasieu Pass, and the work was completed in May, 1889, since which time no work has been done. The improvement will not be permanent, as the bar will reform. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended (See Appendix S 12.) $4, 157.84 4, 157.84 13. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The removal of wreck of the British bark Bruce, sunk in Ship Island Harbor, Mississippi, in December, 1890, was commenced, under contract with the Alabama Dredging and Jetty Company for the sum of $1,490, on June 19, 1891, and is now in process of execution. (See Appendix S 13.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 5, 1884. The preliminary examination of Bayou Carlin, Louisiana, required by the act of July 5, 1884, was not made at the time, owing, as stated in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, page 244, to an uncertainty as to the locality intended by the act. Recent correspondence having elicited information as to the location of the bayou, the local engineer in charge, Major Quinn, made an examination of it and submitted report thereon, through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Quinn, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement; but Colonel Comstock, for reasons stated, does not consider the improvement worthy of being made by the United States. The views of Colonel Comstock being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. (See Appendix S 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEY 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 Fisk, Major Quinn's predecessor, and reports thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, 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 of these localities were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Shoals on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, near the Rigolets, known as the "Middle Ground," with a view of dredging a channel 10 feet deep and revetting sides of the same.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 111. (See also Appendix S 15.) 2. Bayou Chevreuil and Bayou Tigre, Louisiana, from Lake Des Allemands to points near Vacherie, Chigby and Malagay settlements in St. James Parish for removal of bars and other obstructions to navigation.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 182. (See also Appendix S 16.) 3. Bayou Terre Bonne, Louisiana, from Houma to Thibodeaux.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 110. (See also Appendix S 17.) 4. Bayou Black to connect with Terre Bonne, Louisiana.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 113. (See also Appendix S 18.) 5. Berwick's Bay, Louisiana, to the Gulf, with a view of obtaining a deeper channel.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 198. (See also Appendix S 19.) 6. Bayou Cocodrie, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 114. (See also Appendix S 20.) 7. Bayou Black, Louisiana, for connection between Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 125. (See also Appendix S 21.) The required preliminary examination of Bayou Teche, Louisiana, from St. Martinsville to Port Barre, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement; but Colonel Comstock does not consider this reach of Bayou Teche worthy of being improved 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. 280, Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 22.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and reports thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. 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. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. 1. Bayou Des Glaises, Louisiana, with a view of clearing the stream of obstructions from the Atchafalaya River to Cottonport.-The proposed improvement contemplates the removal of overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $2,500. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 119. (See also Appendix S 23.) 2. Bayou Vermillion, bay and passes, Louisiana.-The proposed improvement contemplates clearing the stream of obstructions to such an extent as to allow 5 feet of water to be carried up to the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad, at an estimated cost of $25,000. as House Ex. Doc. No. 273. (See also Appendix S 24.) Printed The required preliminary examination of Mermenton (Mermentau) River, Louisiana, including its tributaries and course through Lake Arthur and Grand Lake to the Gulf of Mexico, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Captain Fisk, was charged with its survey. His successor, Major Quinn, has com pleted this duty and submitted report thereon. The proposed improvement contemplates clearing the stream of obstructions from Viterboville to the mouth, and construction of a brush dam at Lower Mud Lake, at an estimated cost of $23,615.25; and the construction of jetties at the mouth, to give deep water over the bar, at an estimated cost of $781,210. (See Appendix S 25.) Captain Fisk was charged with the required preliminary examination of Sabine River, Texas, from where said river empties in Sabine Lake to Sudduth's Bluff, on said Sabine River. This examination is now in charge of Major Quinn, and report of the results will be duly submitted when received. been entered into for completion of the entire work, which is to be pushed at such rate that the contractors shall earn not less than $1,000,000 per year provided appropriations to that extent or that rate are made by Congress. The delivery in place of the material for the work should commence not later than August 1 next. 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, outstanding liabilities.. $2,372.63 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts".. 1,040, 000. 00 $119, 152.59 500,000,00 600,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 1.) 1,219, 152.59 115,073. 4) 1, 104, 079. 10 1,042, 372. 63 61, 706. 47 July 1, 1891, balance available ..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 5, 100, 000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...... .... 1, 000, 000.00 2. Ship channel in Galveston Bay, Texas.-This is a channel dredged by the United States Government from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut, the latter terminating at a point 5 miles from Morgan Canal, which is an excavation across Morgan Point at the mouth of the San Jacinto River. Morgan Canal and Morgan Cut are works executed by the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company, chartered under the laws of Texas. The natural depth on the line of the Galveston Ship Channel averaged 8 feet at mean low tide, with a depth at some places of but 7 feet. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1871 and modified in 1877, the object being to excavate and maintain a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide at bottom through Galveston Bay from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut, a distance of 18.9 miles. Work upon the channel, which had been suspended in 1883, was resumed in February, 1888, and by June 20, 1889, a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide at bottom had been excavated up to Morgan Cut. The average depth of excavation was 13.15 feet. The total amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $528,686.54. It resulted in a channel having a ruling depth of 10 feet, the channel having shoaled to that depth. The amount expended during the past fiscal year was $7,541.89, the channel at that date having a ruling depth of 9 feet. The work is not capable of permanent completion. It is estimated that an annual expenditure of $80,000 will be required to maintain it after once excavated to the required depth. The work of improvement of the ship channel having, in July, 1889, reached the point in the bay at which the southern extremity of Morgan Cut is located, the officer in charge, under instructions from this office, called upon the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company to execute its agreement of January 22, 1881, to transfer to the United States its works at Morgan Point. Congress, by act approved September 19, * $60,000 reserved from the appropriations of September 19, 1890, and March 3, 1891, for contingencies of engineering and inspection. |