Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that Missouri River between Sioux City and Fort Benton is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Captain Powell was charged with the survey of these sections of the river and has submitted reports thereon. The following plan and estimate for improvement between Sioux City and Fort Benton are submitted: Completion of necessary work on rocky river below Judith, Mont.... $50,000 150,000 74,497 274,497 If bank protection at Pierre is undertaken, $25,000 additional will be required. Annual appropriations of $55,000 will be required, as follows: $50,000 5,000 55,000 (See Appendix D D 5.) The required preliminary examination of Missouri River, Montana, between Great Falls and canyon next below Stubbs Ferry, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Powell, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Powell, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement, and this opinion was concurred in by me. No new survey of this reach of Missouri River is necessary at this time; but in order to obtain use of the results of surveys hereto. fore made, an allotment was made for preparation of maps, and Captain Powell was directed to submit a final report with plan and estimate for improvement. The report will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF TENNESSEE RIVER ABOVE CHATTANOOGA, TENNES SEE, AND BELOW BEE TREE SHOALS, ALABAMA, OF CUMBERLAND RIVER, TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY, AND OF THEIR TRIBUTARIES IN EASTERN TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. George W. Goethals, Corps of Engineers, to March 18, 1891, and Lieut. John Biddle, Corps of Engineers, since April 11, 1891. 1. Tennessee River.-(a) Above Chattanooga, Tennessee (194 miles).Examinations of this section of the river were made in 1830 and 1871, and the principal obstructions were found to be rock-reefs, gravel-bars, and shoals having about 15 inches of water over them at low stages, also snags, etc., brought down by the annual floods. The original project was to blast a channel through the reefs, reduce the gravel and sand bars, and to deepen the water on the bars by the construction of wing-dams, thus contracting the waterway so as to secure a safe, navigable channel, 3 feet in depth at average low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding indebtedness, was $237,252.80, which expenditure has resulted in a lengthened season of navigation for steamboats and a safer channel for the passage of flatboats and rafts. Of the forty-three obstructions enumerated, channel work has been carried on to the extent of improving at least twenty-nine of them. Owing to the character of the banks these improvements are practically permanent. During the fiscal year work was continued at White Creek Shoals by extending the longitudinal dam and building a second spur-dam, making the entire length of dam 1,685 feet, with two spurs of 130 feet and 215 feet long, respectively. The result is that the obstructive bar at this point is satisfactorily removed. The channel at Soddy Shoals and vicinity was cleared of surface obstructions, and in June preparations were in progress for deepening the channel, and that work will be commenced in July. The survey of the Tennessee River from Chattanooga to the junction of the Holston and French Broad rivers, as provided for by act of September 19, 1890, First Lieut. John Biddle, Corps of Engineers, in charge, was commenced at mouth of French Broad River, 4 miles above Knoxville, and has been continued a distance of 35 miles to Concord, Tenn., which point was reached at the close of the fiscal year. The snag and tow boat Weitzel, having been rebuilt from the appropriation for improving Cumberland River, has been transferred to that stream, and another vessel, the McPherson, purchased for use on the Upper Tennessee and its tributaries. This steamer has been employed in towing quarter-boats, etc., from Chattanooga to the mouth of the French Broad for the survey party, and barges from winter quarters at Soddy Creek to Bryant Shoals, French Broad River, for the purpose of resuming operations at that obstruction. Amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $17,210.77, as follows: General improvement Survey from Chattanooga to junction of Holston and French Broad rivers . July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.... $12, 391.37 4,819. 40 4,319. 44 30,000.00 34, 319. 44 14, 800.74 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. 19, 518.70 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. 2, 410. 03 July 1, 1891, balance available...... 17, 108. 67 69,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 69,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (b) Below Bee Tree Shoals, Alabama (225 miles).--This section of the river is generally navigable during the greater part of the year, though certain obstructions render navigation difficult during the low-water season. The principal obstructions are met at Big Bend Shoals, Wolf Island Shoal, Beech Creek Shoals, Duck River Shoals, Johnsonville Bar, and several others of minor importance. The character of the work required is the removal of loose and solid rock, sand and gravel bars, snags, and overhanging trees, and the improvements desired can be made at moderate expenditure. A careful, detailed examination of these several localities and a general instrumental survey of the river below Bee Tree Shoals should be made whereon to base plans and estimates. The snag boat Weitzel was engaged in November and December in removing surface obstructions from Florence to the mouth of river. The act of September 19, 1890, provided for the preservation of Liv ingston Point, Kentucky, which, with two small islands, forms Paducah Harbor at the mouth of the river. The work of revetting the wearing slopes of the point and a construction of a pile and stone dike was contracted for March 30, 1891, and the work is progressing satisfactorily. Nine hundred and thirty-four cubic yards of stone and 210 cords of brush were used for bank protection, and 358 piles, 55 waling pieces, 62 iron rods, 1,125 cubic yards of stone, and 3033 cords of brush were used in dike construction. The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness not covered by contract, was $1,327.21. The money statement is included in that for improvement of Tennessee River below Chattanooga, page 287. (See Appendix E E 1.) 2. Hiawassee River, Tennessee.-This stream enters the Tennessee River about 38 miles above Chattanooga. On examination in 1874 it was found to be obstructed by rock-reefs, gravel-bars, snags, and overhanging trees. The present project consists in the deepening of the channel by excavation, and the construction of wing-dams so as to secure a navigable channel 40 feet wide and 2 feet deep at average low water, as high up as Savannah Ford-a distance of about 43 miles-and the removal of all snags, bowlders, overhanging trees, and other surface obstructions. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding indebtedness, was $34,971.95, and has resulted in clearing and improving the channel of the river to a limited degree, at some thirteen of the principal obstructions. The appropriations have been too small to allow of extended plans for any radical improvement. No work was done nor disbursements made during the fiscal year. The work of clearing the channel of surface obstructions and repairing the wing-dams will be resumed as soon as practicable. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended $86.51 1,500,00 1,586.51 38.04 1,548. 47 July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix E E 2.) 3. French Broad River, Tennessee.-This stream rises on the western slopes of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina, and enters the State of Tennessee at Paint Rock, and after a course of 121 miles in that State joins the Holston about 5 miles above Knoxville, thus forming the Tennessee River. By examinations made in 1871 and 1875, the river was found to be obstructed by rock reefs, sand and gravel bars, and surface obstructions such as bowlders, snags, and overhanging trees. It was not deemed feasible to improve the river above Lead vale, but from this point to the mouth-a distance of about 90 miles-it is projected to remove all surface obstructions, and by excavation and the use of wing-dams to secure for this distance a channel depth of 2 feet at ordinary low water. Above the mouth of Nolichucky River (Leadvale) to the boundary line of Tennessee and North Carolina, a system of locks and dams is the only feasible improvement, but the amount of commerce does not warrant the expenditure. The amount expended June 30, 1890, was $37,435.56, thereby securing a marked improvement at ten of the principal shoals, especially at Seven Island Shoals, making up-stream navigation at that point possible at lower stages of the river than heretofore. A general deepening of the channel from 6 to 10 inches has been obtained and the channel cleared of snags and other surface obstructions. The steamer McPherson was purchased and paid for, in part, for use upon this stream. In May preparations were made for renewing operations at Bryant Shoals, and in June 195 cubic yards of loose rock was removed from channel, and 495 cubic yards of stone quarried, and 195 cubic yards of riprap dam built at that obstruction. The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $4,027.05. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, balance available $725.94 10,000.00 10,725.94 2,580.48 8, 145. 46 1,446. 57 6,698.89 102,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix E E 3.) 4. Clinch River, Tennessee.-This stream rises in the Cumberland Mountains in Virginia, and after following a southwesterly course for about 400 miles, empties into the Tennessee River at Kingston, about 110 miles above Chattanooga. About 230 miles of the river flows through the State of Tennessee. An examination of this river was made in 1875, when the channel was found to be very crooked, and obstructed by sand and gravel bars, by rough rock-reefs, and the surface obstructions usually found in mountain streams. It is deemed feasible to improve about 145 miles of its course in Tennessee by channel excavation and wing-dams, and the removal of such logs and overhanging trees, from time to time, as may prove obstructions to navigation. The present project consists in channel excavation, building wingdams, and removing surface obstructions, so as to obtain a safe, navigable channel of 2 feet depth at average low water from its mouth to Clinton-72 miles-and of 13 feet from Clinton to Haynes (Walker Ferry), about 75 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding indebtedness, was $31,000, which has resulted in clearing the channel of surface obstructions and in securing a longer period of safe navigation for flatboats and rafts. Active operations were resumed in June at Llewellyn Shoals, making necessary repairs of plant and temporary quarters. Forty cubic yards of stone was placed in dam, and two snags removed from channel. The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $978.14. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year $14.05 4,000.00 4,014.05 503.35 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 E E 4.) 3,510.70 474.79 3,035.91 15,000. 00 15,000.00 5. Cumberland River, Tennessee and Kentucky.-(a) Below Nashville.The present project for improving this portion of the river is based on an examination made in 1871. The obstructions were found to be of the same general character throughout, consisting of rock-reefs, sand and gravel bars, bowlders, snags, and overhanging trees, and other surface obstructions. This project comprises the deepening of the channel by excavation and the use of wing-dams; the removal of snags and surface obstructions, and the modifying of the channel in the Kentucky Chute of the Ohio, at the mouth of the Cumberland, by the construction of a pile-dike with crib superstructure. The total amount expended to June 30, 1890, including outstanding indebtedness, was $262,061.16, and has resulted in obtaining an increased depth at low water at the worst obstructions, thus securing a lengthened season of navigation. The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $5,498.65: for general improvement, $5,366.38; for "at mouth of river," $132.27; the work done being reducing the gravel-bar, modifying the longitudinal dam and building new spur riprap dam at Catlin Shoals; rebuilding the United States snag-boat Weitzel, and in clearing the channel of snags and overhanging trees between Smithland and Nashville, in January, as far as practicable. Payments for watching Unlted States engineer property and contingent authorized expenses formed a part of the above expenditures. If the project to canalize the Lower Cumberland be adopted and provided for, the engineer officer in charge urges the advantage of immediately constructing the first lock at Harpeth Shoals, which is still a formidable obstruction to navigation and in need of radical improvement. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $3,241.55 40,000.00 43,241.55 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... 16, 979.00 17,977.09 July 1, 1891, balance available..... 20,763.90 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 193,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 193,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. |