Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending 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 V 6.) 7. Bayou Bœuf (Bœuf River), Louisiana.-The project for improving this bayou was adopted in 1881, and contemplated removing snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation between Wallace Landing and the mouth, about 152 miles. Three outlets near Point Jefferson, La., were examined in 1884 and their closure recommended. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $25,977.91. The removal of obstructions enabled steamboats to run to Point Jefferson, 19 miles below Wallace, during high stages, with greater safety. The three outlets were closed in 1887 and 1888, but the dams were destroyed during the overflow from the Mississippi River in the spring of 1890. It is essential that they be rebuilt to maintain navigation in the bayou; the estimated cost of this work is $12,000. Nothing was done during the fiscal year 1891, on account of high water. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $22.09 5,000.00 5,022.09 50.77 4,971, 32 22.00 4,949. 32 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 26,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix V 7.) 8. Tensas River and Bayou Maçon, Louisiana.-The project for improving Tensas River was adopted in 1881, and contemplated removing snags, logs, and leaning timber obstructing navigation between Dallas and its mouth, about 134 miles, at an estimated cost of $23,000. Bayou Maçon, a tributary, was added under the same head of appropriation by act of 1884, and the project contemplated removing the same class of obstructions between Floyd and its mouth, about 98 miles, at an estimated cost of $17,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $15,873.24, of which $7,529.25 had been applied to the Tensas and $8,343.99 to the Maçon. The obstructions were removed as far as practicable with these amounts, and in Bayou Maçon, the principal commercial branch, had resulted in improved navigation so as to shorten the time of steamboat trips 12 hours. Owing to high stages of water during the greater portion of the period since the act of 1890, no work was done during the past fiscal year. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available $126.76 5,000.00 5, 126.76 .28 5, 126.48 ENG 91-16 $19,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix V 8.) 9. Bayous Rondeway and Vidal, Louisiana.-An appropriation of $1,000 was expended in the fiscal year 1889 in removing obstructions, chiefly leaning trees, from the canal and the part of Bayou Vidal re maining open between Lake Palmyra (an old bend of the Mississippi) and the line of levee north of the lake. After completion of this work, the canal was claimed as private property and the owner issued notice that tolls would be collected from passing boats, and for this reason it was recommended that the old mouth of the bayou, which was ob structed by leaning timber and fallen timber and stumps, be reopened, to save the steamboat interest from such imposition. The act of 1890 appropriated $1,000 for this purpose, but owing to high stages of the Mississippi the work was not begun until the latter part of June, when a chopping party commenced operations. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix V 9.) $1,000.00 116. 02 883.98 .69 833.29 10. Big Black River, Mississippi.-The original project for this improvement contemplated removing snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation between Cox Ferry and the mouth, about 130 miles, at an estimated cost of $32,000. The first appropriation, by act of 1884, $5,000, was applied to removing the principal obstructions for a distance of 75 miles above the mouth. The next appropriation, by act of 1886, contained the proviso that no part of the appropriation should be used until the State of Mississippi caused the bridges below the Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad to be so constructed as not to obstruct navigation. But one of the bridges now obstructs navigation, located about 20 miles below the railroad, and called the Baldwin Ferry Bridge. The act of 1890 removed the restriction contained in the act of 1886, and the project was modified to include only the portion of the river below the Baldwin Bridge. Work was commenced in January, 1891, and continued, whenever the stages of water were favorable, until June 18. The principal work done was between Baldwin and Ivanhoe ferries, a distance of about 20 miles. It will require about $10,000 to clear the lower part of this river thoroughly, and until this amount can be granted in a single appropriation nothing further should be done, as smaller appropriations can not be expended with economy. $10,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 10, 000, 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix V 10.) 11. Yazoo River, Mississippi.-Work in this river was begun in 1873. The project contemplates removing snags, logs, wrecks, and leaning timber obstructing navigation throughout the entire length of the stream. New obstructions are brought into the river every year by floods, sliding banks, etc., and no estimates for permanent improvement have been made on this account. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $186,875.13. Prior to improvement the river was obstructed by a large number of wrecks, and by snags and leaning timber. Nine of the steamboats sunk during the war were removed by contract in 1873-74, and snag boats have operated since whenever funds were available, benefiting low-water navigation greatly, and keeping the river in navigable condition from head to mouth the year round. In the past fiscal year a snag boat was employed in removing obstructions October 20 to 31, during the month of December, and June 2 to 15 and 21 to 25, and did effective work. The shifting bar at the mouth of the river is the most serious obstruction to navigation. Boats that could navigate the principal streams of the Yazoo Valley system (about 800 miles) without hindrance are prevented at low stages from entering or leaving without lightening, and at times navigation across the bar is stopped altogether. The item of appropriation for this river by act of 1890 contained an allotment of $5,000 to be used in making a survey from the Louisville, New Orleans, and Texas Railway bridge to the mouth, to determine in what manner the mouth can be improved to permit free passage of vessels at all seasons of the year, and to include an investigation of the feasi bility and advantage of making a new outlet for the river by way of Chickasaw Bayou, or otherwise, with an estimate of cost. This survey was begun in October and continued until high water compelled suspension, December 6, and the river remained too high until the end of the fiscal year to complete field work. The maps are finished, except the last sheet. The cost of the survey required the full amount of the allotment, and if it should appear feasible to divert the river through a new outlet, it will be important to make borings along prospective lines. The estimated cost of this work is $2,500, which is included in the amount asked for the fiscal year 1893. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $3,124.87 25,000.00 28, 124.87 14,780.90 13, 343.97 23.69 13, 320. 28 Amount that can be profitably expended'in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 40, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix V 11.) 12. Tehula Lake, Mississippi.-This work was commenced in 1881, and the project contemplates removing snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation, to permit light-draught boats to enter the lake earlier in the season. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $10,278.57. In the past fiscal year a snag boat worked for 10 days in December removing snags, tree slides, etc., from the channel, and the balance available is to be applied to clearing the banks at low water. The work is of such nature that it must be gone over to remove ob structions added from time to time, but by an expenditure of $6,000 in one low-water season it can be done so thoroughly that nothing should be required for several years. 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.. (See Appendix V 12.) $1,721.43 3,000.00 4, 721. 43 1,135.20 3, 586, 23 6,000,00 6,000.00 13. Tallahatchee River, Mississippi.-This improvement was begun in 1879, and contemplated removing snags, sunken logs, and leaning timber, obstructing low-water navigation below the mouth of Coldwater River about 100 miles, and the removal of a wreck in the channel near the mouth. The estimated cost was $40,000, if completed in two sea sons. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $32,500, of which $10,000 were expended above the mouth of Coldwater (a part of the river not included in the project), in accordance with the provisions of the appropriations. The balance was spent between the mouth of Tallahatchee and Sharkey_Landing, about 65 miles above, to the great benefit of navigation. Before the improvement commenced the river was navigable about 6 months of the year. Now boats run to Sharkey the year round. In the past fiscal year work was retarded by high water, but a snag boat was employed for 5 weeks, in November and June, and extended operations about 25 miles above Sharkey. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended $5,000.00 2,968.98 2,031. 02 12,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix V 13.) 14. Steele's Bayou and Washington Bayou, Mississippi.-Work in this stream commenced in 1884. The project contemplates removing snags, stumps, drift, and leaning timber, to improve high-water navigation. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, for this purpose was $7,500, and operations extended over the navigable part of the bayou, but there were not sufficient funds to do the work thoroughly. A snag boat was employed for three weeks in February, 1891, in removing obstructions from the lower 50 miles of the bayou until stopped by high water. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. 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 V 14.) $2,500.00 1 520.66 979.34 .31 979.03 5,000.00 5,000.00 15. Big Sunflower River, Mississippi.-Work in this river commenced in 1879. The project contemplated building wing dams to scour a channel from 3 feet to 40 inches deep at the bars, and the removal of snags, sunken logs, and leaning timber obstructing navigation. The cost was estimated at $66,000, if the work should be completed in three or four consecutive seasons. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $52,000. Operations during the 12 years extended over the navigable part of the river, from Clarksdale to its mouth, but as new obstructions were added every year, and owing to small and irregular appropriations, the work never has been done thoroughly. However, the following benefits were reported: Before the improvement commenced the river was navigable for very light boats about 6 months in the year; now it is navigable the year round, but difficult and dangerous at low stages on account of shoals, snags, and sunken logs. Larger boats are used, and make the round trip (of about 180 miles and return) in 5 days, while before the improvement it was unusual for a boat to make this trip under 8 days. Freight rates are reported to be 50 per cent. less. Of late years the lands along the river are being cleared and settled rapidly, which is attributed partly to improved navigation. In the past fiscal year a large snag boat was employed in this river from January 10 to February 13, and a smaller snag boat during the month of June. Operations extended up to 18 miles above Faisonia, or about 160 miles above the mouth. It is recommended that future appropriations shall not restrict expenditures to designated localities, in order that the funds may be ap plied wherever they will yield the greater benefit to navigation. The amount estimated for can be spent to advantage, and will result in greater benefit to navigation and work of more permanent character than a larger sum by small allotments. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, balance available.............. $5,000.00 4, 196. 07 803.93 4.79 799.14 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 V 15.) |