miles in extent. This reach is obstructed by bars and shoals near the Illinois shore, which interfere with landings on that side and render navigation difficult. As the result of this report an appropriation of $182,000 was incorporated in the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, and the project adopted for the improvement of the harbor consisted in contracting the width of the river between the Merchants' and Eads bridges to an average width of about 2,000 feet by means of a system of hurdles to be built out from the Illinois shore. The amount expended on this reach of the river prior to June 30, 1890, was for the extension and raising of dikes, previously built by the city of St. Louis, in Venice Bend, and was $36,341.85. . These dikes were only partially successful in improving the channel by deepening it at low water, the effect not being very marked. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $109,303.77 was expended in building a system of hurdles between the Merchants' and Eads bridges and extending out from the Illinois shore. Eleven hurdles were built having an aggregate length of 12,400 feet. It will take some time for the full effect of this work to be felt; a very appreciable fill has already taken place and it is confidently expected that in another low-water season the benefit of this work will be very apparent. No appropriation is asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the. amount appropriated in the last river and harbor act having been the full amount of the estimate. With the balance remaining on hand it is proposed to construct one hurdle which was omitted for the present, and repair and strengthen the work whenever required. 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 (See Appendix Y 3.) $182,000.00 109, 303.77 72, 696.23 $41.06 20, 892. 17 20,933. 23 51,763.00 4. Gasconade River, Missouri.-Before improvement this river was greatly obstructed by snags, logs, and leaning timber, which materially interfered with navigation. Work was commenced on this stream in 1880, and the project adopted for its improvement consisted in the removal of snags and logs, the cutting of leaning timber, and the construction of contraction works at shoal crossings. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $42,072.35, and at that time the navigation was much improved by the work done. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $543.61 was expended in repairing plant and in quarrying stone to be used in raising the height of dam at Pryor Mill. With the funds available it is proposed during the coming season to raise the crest of dam at Pryor Mill about 18 inches, also to remove such obstructions as may be found in the channel of the river. With the appropriation asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, it is proposed to construct contraction works at other shoals and remove obstructions. The original estimate for the improvement of this stream was $50,000. New obstructions are continually forming, and it will require appro priations from time to time to keep the channel open at low water after the principal work has been done. 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 Y 4.) 3, 884.04 10,000. 00 5. Osage River, Missouri.-Before any improvements were made, the navigation in this river was rendered difficult by reason of numerous snags and other obstructions, and at times suspended, owing to insufficient depth of water over shoal crossings. The first improvement of this river was undertaken by the State of Missouri, about 30 to 35 years ago, and consisted in an attempt to concentrate the water in a narrow channel over the shoals by means of wing dams built out from one or both banks, and thus deepen it. This method was a failure, as at high water the increased velocity enabled the stream to move its gravelly bottom and fill up these passes. The General Government assumed charge of the improvement in 1871, and the first efforts were expended in an attempt to deepen the water over the shoals by dredging, which resulted in failure, after this the method pursued consisting in building dams and training walls, so as to regulate the width of water way suitable to the low-water discharge of the river. This method is still pursued; snags and other obstructions found in the channel were also removed and leaning timber was cut from the banks. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, contained provisions for the construction of a lock and dam near the mouth of the Osage, the details of which have not been entirely projected. Estimates of the cost of obtaining habitual depths for navigation of 6 feet and 4 feet, respectively, by means of a series of locks and dams, are being prepared. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $202,468.60, the result of which was that the navigation was materially improved, the channel having been cleared of the worst obstructions and the water deepened at several of the shoalest crossings. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $3,460.87 was expended, principally in preparing plans, etc., for lock and dam, in gauging the river, and in repair of plant; efforts were also made to deepen the channel at Shipley Shoal, but sudden rises in the river prevented. No complaints were received of snags, etc., interfering with navigation, and the lower 60 miles of the river was for the greater part of the year in good navigable condition. New obstructions may be expected from time to time with each rise and fall in the river, and will require removal. The estimated cost of a lock and dam, with a lift of 8 feet 6 inches, which will give a depth of 4 feet for navigation on the lower river, is $187,244; of the amount ($50,000) appropriated by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, it is proposed to expend what may be necessary in gauging the river and acquiring the requisite land for the lock and dam and keeper's dwelling, and retain the remainder until the amount appropriated will be sufficient to build the lock, or $140,000. An appropriation of $110,000 is asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, of which amount it is proposed to expend $100,000 in constructing lock, and $10,000 in removing obstructions, dredging, and building wing dams when found necessary. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. Amount (estimated) required for completion of lock and dam $2,531.40 55,000.00 57, 531.40 3, 460.87 54, 070.53 20.67 54, 049.86 137, 244.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 110,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Y 5.) 6. Kaskaskia River, Illinois.—In 1886 Congress authorized an examination and survey of this stream with a view to its improvement. Formerly the mouth of the river was at Chester, Ill., but in 1881 a cutoff in the Mississippi occurred near the town of Kaskaskia, which moved the mouth of the river about 7 miles upstream. This benefited the navigation of the Kaskaskia, for the present mouth is at a point on the Mississippi River about 6 feet in elevation above its former mouth, and thus the back water from the Mississippi gives this much more depth at the same stage, prolonging the season of low-water navigation. At high water the river is navigable to New Athens; at low water it is obstructed by snags, shoals, and bars, and depends largely for its navigation upon the stage of the Mississippi. The least depth found at low water was about 9 inches, on what is called the "Nine-Mile Shoal," 6 miles above its mouth. The project adopted for the improvement consists in deepening the water over the shoals by dredging and excavating, and in the removal of snags and other obstructions found in the channel. Nothing has been expended on this improvement to June 30, 1890, nor was anything expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. With the money now on hand and the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, it is proposed to deepen the channel over the shoals, and remove obstructions from the mouth to Baldwin Bridge and thus complete the improvement as contemplated. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $6,000.00 6,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 4,500.00 4,500.00 (See Appendix Y 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN DES MOINES RAPIDS AND MOUTH OF ILLINOIS RIVER. Officer in charge, Maj. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. The general project consists in contracting the low-water bed of the river to an average width of 1,800 feet. All island chutes are to be closed by dams, and the river is to be contracted by wing dams where it is wider than the proposed low-water bed. The works are generally built of rock and brush, piling being seldom used. Caving banks and the heads of islands are protected. At times the low-water channel is deepened by dredging. Work was done last year at Cottonwood Island Reach, Sny Island Levee, near Scott Landing, foot of Hickory Chute, Buffalo Chute, and Clarksville Harbor, and in dredging in Quincy Bay. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended............ Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $25, 142.00 165,000.00 190, 142.00 68, 801.09 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.............. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 121, 340.91 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. $6,694.77 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 27,507.61 34, 202.41 July 1, 1891, balance available...... 87, 138.50 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 300, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 1.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Mississippi River at Warsaw, Illinois, with a view of removing bar, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Ruffner, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Ruffner, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is not worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 68, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 2.) IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND DES MOINES RAPIDS, AND OF DES MOINES RAPIDS; OPERATING AND CARE OF DES MOINES RAPIDS CANAL AND DRY DOCK. Officer in charge, Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Operating snag boats and dredge boats on Upper Mississippi River.— At the beginning of the fiscal year there was available, under act of August 11, 1888, the sum of $25,000. From July 16 to October 10, 1890, and from May 18 to June 30, 1891, the snag boat General Barnard was employed removing snags and other obstructions and assisting interests of navigation between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River. The snag boat J. G. Parke was not put in commission in 1890; but, in 1891, after receiving thorough repairs, she was employed in connec tion with the dredging plant from May 10 to 29 and was then laid up at Nininger until the close of the fiscal year. The dredge Phanix, towed from point to point by the snag boat General Barnard and tended by the steam launch Ada, was employed from July to the beginning of October, 1890, in removing wrecks, cribs, etc., and in deepening the channel at various localities. In 1891, during June, she was engaged in deepening the permanent channel at Nininger. The total amount expended for snag boat service on the Upper Mississippi River, between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River, to June 30, 1890, is $574,640. There has been expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $25,000. By the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was made for operating snag boats and dredge boats on the Upper Mississippi River under an indefinite appropriation, the sum so expended not to exceed the amount appropriated in said act for such purpose. The clause of the act regulating the annual expenditure for snag boats and dredge boats on the Upper Mississippi River is as follows: "For operating snag boats and dredge boats on Upper Mississippi River, twentyfive thousand dollars." The total amount of freight transported on the Upper Mississippi River during the calendar year 1890 was approximately 4,400,000 tons. June 30, 1891, amount drawn from Treasury under permanent appropriation. $25,000 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, amount available under permanent appropriation of August 11, 25,000 25,000 2. Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Des Moines Rapids.-Prior to August 11, 1888, this work was carried on under appropriations for "improving Mississippi River from St. Paul to Des Moines Rapids." The act of August 11, 1888, extended the upper limits of the district from St. Paul to Washington Avenue Bridge, Minneapolis. Under this appropriation is carried on the improvement of through navigation. Work has been in progress under approved projects since 1878, and very favorable results have been secured, showing that with a continuance of the work under liberal appropriations the low-water channel of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and the Des Moines Rapids can be made comparatively safe, convenient, and permanent. The interests for which the improvement is being made are very large and important. The amount of freight carried during 1890, including the logs and lumber floated in the river, aggregated, approximately, 4,400,000 tons. The original condition of the channel between the Des Moines Rapids and St. Paul was such that in low stages the larger boats were unable to proceed farther up the river than La Crosse or Winona; and, in many seasons, at points much farther down their progress was checked or seriously interfered with. In all such cases through freight was reshipped on small and light-draft boats or barges. The originally adopted project for the improvement, which has not been materially changed, proposed the contraction of the channel or water way by means of wing and closing dams, to such an extent as, by means of the scour thereby caused, to afford a channel of sufficient width and of a depth of 4.5 feet at low water, to be eventually increased to 6 feet. There was expended on the permanent improvement of through navigation to June. 30, 1890, the sum of $2,097,441.64, or $4,010 per mile. At that date and for several years previous, the condition of the channel was such as to permit the passage of the largest boats at the lowest stages through to St. Paul. During the past year work has been carried on by days' labor and use of Government plant between Minneapolis and St. Paul, between St. Paul and Prescott, in vicinity of Fountain City, Winona, Clinton, and Minneiska, at Rock Island Rapids and Montrose Harbor, and be tween Keithsburg and Des Moines Rapids; by contract, between |