4. St. Croix Rixer, Wisconsin and Minnesota.-The original project for improvement, adopted in 1878, was based upon a survey made in 1874 when the river was at a high stage of water and but comparatively few obstructions to be seen. It contemplated removal of snags, bowlders, sand bars, etc., and contraction of the low-water channels from Taylor Falls to the confluence of the river with the Mississippi into one of nearly uniform width. Estimated cost, $21,758. At low water, how. ever, the channel had in many places but 2 feet of depth, and steamers and barges made their way as best they could amongst the obstructions; at times it was impossible for them to get over the shoal places. The present project, adopted in 1880, and modified as to cost in 1882 and again in 1889, is based upon a low-water survey made in 1879, and differs from that originally adopted only in amount of work to be done. Estimated cost, $108,700. Expended under present project to June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities, $74,455.94. Total expended under original and present projects to June 30, 1890, including outstanding liabilities, $92,455.94. The effect of the work of improvement has been to secure a least depth of 3 feet on the improved bars above Stillwater, and 4 to 5 feet on the bars below that place. Generally, it may be said of this improvement that at many points navigation has been rendered permanent where formerly it was uncertain, and that in other places it has been made practicable where before improvement it was impossible. In the improved parts of the river above Stillwater there is a lowwater depth in the channel of 2 feet; below Stillwater there is a good channel with a least depth of 4 feet. The work of improvement during the past year has consisted in dredg ing a channel through a bar at the lower end of the St. Croix boom (above Stillwater) and in widening the channel at upper and lower end of the Hudson bar (below Stillwater). The first improvement opened up a channel where boats engaged in the freight and passenger business had experienced considerable trouble. The work at Hudson enabled the raft boats with their large tows to more easily make the run over the bar. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $6,262. 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 July 1, 1891, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix B B 4.) $65.69 8,000.00 8, 065.69 3, 268.70 4,796.99 3,014.93 1,782.06 26, 200,00 26,200. 00 5. Minnesota River, Minnesota. -From 1867 to 1873, Congress appropriated $77,500 for improving the Minnesota River. The appropriations were applied to removing snags and bowlders, so as to afford a least depth at low-water stage of 2 to 3 feet. In 1874 a survey was made from the mouth of the river to South Bend, a distance of about 116 miles, to determine the practicability of improving the navigation by means of canals, locks, and dams. Based upon this survey, estimates were made for 5 locks and dams and removal of snags, etc., at a cost of $733,868.63, the cost of removing snags, etc., being therein placed at $34,585.10, including contingencies. Following this report Congress made three appropriations of $10,000 each by acts approved March 3, 1875, August 14, 1876, and June 18, 1878, which sums were applied to clearing the river of obstructions below South Bend. Expended to June 30, 1879, $117,457. Since 1879 no work for improvement of the river has been undertaken. Under the appropriations above named the removal of obstructions cleared the way over long stretches of the river between Minnesota Falls and a point about 30 miles below Henderson (16.7 miles above Shakopee). Little or no use was made of the cleared channels, as there was not sufficient depth of water in the channel to permit navigation during the low-water periods. The rapidly caving banks on the upper section of this stream cause snags and leaning trees to form, so that channels which were cleared of them 12 years ago are more or less incumbered with them to-day. No expenditures have been made for the improvement of the lower part of the river, which offers much better facilities for river traffic than the upper part. From Shakopee to the Mississippi the river is deep, except on two bars. There are few snags on this reach. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $10,000 for improving the Minnesota River, including protection of the banks opposite the borough of Belle Plaine. It appearing from an examination made in September, 1888, that the sum was inadequate for the purposes named, its expenditure for work for improvement was deferred until the further wishes of Congress in the matter might be known. Total expended on the improvement of the whole river to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $117,532. Expended during the year ending June 30, 1891, $0.79. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available.... $9,967.00 9,967.00 9.79 9,957. 21 693,868.63 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B B 5.) 6. Red River of the North, Minnesota and North Dakota.-The project for the improvement of this river from Breckenridge to the northern boundary line, adopted in 1877, and amended as to cost in 1883, consists in the removal of snags, leaning trees, and bowlders, and in dredg ing channels through the bars, at an estimated cost of $179,310. A revised estimate made in 1887 placed the cost of completing the improvement at $79,598.37. Before improvement the ruling depth upon bars between Moorhead and Goose Rapids at ordinary low water was but 1 feet, and below Grand Forks 2 feet, while between Moorhead and Abercrombie the navigation was at all times difficult. The work to June 30, 1890, has resulted in opening a channel 3 feet deep at ordinary low water and 60 feet wide from Moorhead to a point 80 miles north, and a channel 4 feet deep at ordinary low water and about 70 feet wide from Grand Forks to a point 62 miles north by river; also in the removal of snags and trees between Moorhead and Abercrombie so as to afford safe passage for steamers between those points during high and medium stages of water. Total amount expended, including outstanding liabilities, to June 30, 1890, $187,042.79. Continued low water throughout 1890 confined operations to repairing the fleets until the spring of 1891. Active dredging work was resumed early in May by placing both dredges in commission. Dredge No. 1 is operating at Pelican bars, 92 miles north of Grand Forks; Dredge No. 2 commenced 13 miles north of Grand Forks and is rapidly working over a river passed over in previous years toward Dredge No. 1. The excavated channels are 4 feet in depth and aggregate 8,310 feet in length; 44,535 cubic yards material was removed. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $11,889.79. 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, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B B 6.) $4,770.48 25,000.00 29, 770.48 10, 611.65 19, 158.83 3, 143. 76 16,015. 07 34, 598.37 34, 598. 37 7. Gauging Mississippi River at or near St. Paul, Minnesota.—The Board of Engineers, to whom was referred the project for the applica-cation of $37,500 appropriated by the river and harbor act of August 5,1886, for reservoirs at the head waters of the Mississippi River, recommended in their report dated May 24, 1887, "that such gaugings be made at or near St. Paul during the annual operation of the reservoirs as shall determine accurately the discharge at that point at critical periods." (Page 1692, Annual Report Chief of Engineers, 1887.) The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, authorized the gaugings and provided for them as follows: And the Secretary of War shall cause such gaugings to be made at or near Saint Paul during the annual operation of said reservoirs as shall determine accurately the discharge at that point, the cost of the same to be paid out of the annual appropriation for gauging the waters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. SEC. 6. That for the purpose of securing the uninterrupted gauging of the waters of the Lower Mississippi River and its tributaries, as provided for in joint resolution of the twenty-first of February, eighteen hundred and seventy-one, upon the application of the Chief of Engineers, the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to draw his warrant or requisition from time to time upon the Secretary of the Treasury for sach sums as may be necessary to do such work, not to exceed in the aggregate for each year the amount appropriated in this act for such purpose: Provided, however, That an itemized statement of said expenses shall accompany the Annual Report of of the Chief of Engineers. Gaugings were not made until the fall of 1889, although an allotment of $90 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, had been made. On ENG 91-18 account of the lateness in the season and the condition of the river, it was not deemed advisable to expend any of the money that year. The allotment of $600 made August 23, 1889, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, was applied to gauging the Mississippi River at St. Paul, and when necessary the Minnesota River at its mouth. There were in all 45 gaugings made during the months of September and October, 1889, and February and March, 1890. With the allotment of $900 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, 62 gaugings were made. 4,600.00 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 B B 8.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEY FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPIEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Major Jones, and reports thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Divis ion Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Jones, 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 were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Harbor at Hudson, Wisconsin, with a view to prevent the city being cut off from the navigable channel of the Saint Croix Lake, as a result of the Government dike now constructed at that point, and with a view to the feasibility of conducting the waters of Willow River past the city of Hudson into the navigable channel of the lake.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 268. (See also Appendix B B 9.) 2. Red River of the North, North Dakota and Minnesota, with a view of improving the navigation of the same by the construction of a lock and dam at Goose Rapids in said river.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 292. (See also Appendix B B 10.) 3. Creel's Bay, Totten Bay, and Minnewauken Shoals, in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, with an estimate of the cost of improving the same by dredging or otherwise, so as to re-establish the navigation of said lake.— Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 293. (See also Appendix B B 11.) The required preliminary examination of Red River and tributaries above Fergus Falls and Crookston, and of Big Stone Lake, Minnesota, with a view to improving navigation thereon by the erection of suitable dams, or by such other means as may be deemed best, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Jones, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Jones, 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, Major Jones was charged with its survey, the report on which will be submitted when received. EXAMINATION OF MISSOURI RIVER, FROM THE OLD MOUTH OF THE PLATTE RIVER, LITTLE POINT, TO A POINT OPPOSITE THE CITY OF LEAVENWORTH; ALSO OF THE RIVER AT THE CITY OF WESTON, MISSOURI, WITH A VIEW OF RETURNING SAID RIVER TO ITS ANCIENT CHANNEL, AND THE BEST PLAN OF ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. Charles R. Suter, Corps of Engineers. The preliminary examination of Missouri River at these localities, required by the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, was made by the local engineer in charge, and report thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Suter, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. (See Appendix C C.) IMPROVEMENT OF MISSOURI RIVER ABOVE SIOUX CITY, IOWA, AND OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA AND NORTH DAKOTA. Officer in charge, Capt. Chas. F. Powell, Corps of Engineers, since November, 1890; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engi neers. 1. Missouri River between the Great Falls, Montana, and Sioux City, Iowa. This work had been under the control of the Missouri River Commission. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, having made a separate appropriation for the river above Sioux City, to be expended in the discretion of the Secretary of War, the work was, November 30, 1890, placed in charge of Capt. Charles F. Powell, Corps of Engineers, under the supervision of the Chief of Engineers. The river above Fort Benton, the head of navigation, to the foot of the falls is seriously obstructed by numerous rapids and rocks. This part of the river is the tailing out of the Great Falls. No work has been done upon it and none is proposed. From Fort Benton to Carroll, Mont., called the rocky river, 168 miles long, the channel was originally obstructed by bowlders, short turns, and sharp slopes and insufficient low-water depth on bars for 30inch-draft boats. The original project was to remove obstructive bowlders. To this was added the building of cut-off and wing dams for causing scour of the bottom, or lengthening of the slopes by raising the water at their lower ends, or for both these objects; dredging was also added to the project. To June 30, 1890, $306,028.45 has been expended on this project. To that date the most obstructive bowlders had been removed and the bad rapids otherwise ameliorated, giving a 3-foot or deeper channel at the improved places, except at extreme low water. Previous to the adoption of the project named, work had been done on the rocky river and on the river above Great Falls under appropriations of $160,000 for improving the Missouri River above the mouth of the Yellowstone; the part done on the rocky river consisted of rock removal and the building of dams to raise the water on the bars. |