The total expenses incurred during the year were $16,792.04. Estimated expenses for 1891-92, $55,000. (See Appendix F F 2.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of mouth of Gunter's Creek at Guntersville, Alabama, with the view of ascertaining the practicability and approximate cost of so improving the same as to secure a safe landing above high water mark, was made by the local engineer in charge, LieutenantColonel Barlow, and report thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Lieutenant-Colonel Barlow, 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. 132, Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. (See also Appendix F F 3.) IMPROVEMENT OF OHIO, MONONGAHELA, CHEAT, ALLEGHENY, AND MUSKINGUM RIVERS; CONSTRUCTION OF ICE-HARBOR AT MOUTH OF MUSKINGUM RIVER, OHIO. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. Wm. E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Cassius E. Gillette, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Ohio River.-The general method followed in improving the navigation of the Ohio River is to secure additional depth at islands and sand bars by the construction of low dams across unused passages, and by building guiding dikes where the river is so wide, and shoal as to make it necessary to confine the current to a smaller cross section. The radical improvement of the river by movable dams has been begun by the construction of one movable dam at Davis Island, 5 miles below Pittsburg, and another is about to be begun near Beaver, 29 miles below Pittsburg. A snag boat and two dredges, all of them having iron hulls and owned by the United States, find constant employment in taking out snags and wrecks, and in dredging away gravel and rock bars that can not otherwise be removed. The first appropriation for the improvement of the Ohio River was made in 1827, and the total sum thus far appropriated for "Ohio River" is $5,790,000. This total includes the appropriations for the movable dams at Davis Island and Beaver, but it does not include the appropriations for "Falls of the Ohio." In addition to these direct appropriations, a portion of several combined appropriations for the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas rivers, aggregating $1,997,040.68, was expended on the Ohio River. The following is a summary of the work done during the fiscal year. The unusual high water that prevailed throughout the working season was very detrimental to all river work. Dam between Davis and Neville Islands.-The cut around the lower end of the dam was stopped by a high abutment, and minor repairs were made on the back slope, some of the paving of which had been washed out. Dike at the trap.-Some minor repairs were made on the lower slope of the dike, and some decayed timbers were renewed. Dam at Marietta Island.-The break in the dam was closed, and the dam was completed in December. After the spring floods had subsided it became necessary to repair the lower slope, where some filling had washed out. Dike at foot of Marietta Island.-A contract has been let for rebuilding the old dike, but work has not yet been begun. Dam at head of Blennerhassett Island.-A contract has been let for rebuilding the old dam at this place, and part of the island abutment has been completed. Dike at Eight Mile Island.-This dike is substantially completed, but the small amount of work yet to be done to carry out the contract had to be laid over on account of continued high water. Dike at Bonanza Bar.-This dike has been completed. Its effect on the channel has been very satisfactory. Dike at Cullum.-This dike was let last February and the work has been fairly started. Dike at lower bar at Rising Sun.-This dike was also let last Febru ary, and work on it has just begun. Dike at Madison.-This dike has been extended to full length, but the stone filling is yet incomplete. No work has been done on the superstructure. Dike at Flint Island.-The contract for this dike was let in February, and at the close of the fiscal year it extended into the river about onefourth of its intended length. Dike at Caseyville.-The work is completed as far as now contracted for. At some future date a timber cap should be placed on the existing substructure. Dike at middle of Grand Chain.-No extension of the dike was possible during the fiscal year on account of continued high water. Rock bar at mouth of Licking.-The contractor abandoned his contract after making a start. Throughout the remainder of the working season the river remained too high to do anything. Ice-pier at Kerr Run.-The contract was only let in May and nothing has yet been done. Ice-pier at Portsmouth.-Three sections of this pier have been completed. The contract for the fourth section was let in May and work has not yet been begun. Ice pier at Ripley.-The contract for this pier was also let in May and the work of construction has not yet been begun. Great Miami embankment.—The work of raising the track of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, where it crosses the embankment, has been completed, and a contract has been let for extending the embankment to its junction with the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. Embankment at Shawneetown.-The work of strengthening this embankment with earth has been completed, and the next step will be to contract for protecting it with riprap and paving. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended...... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $136, 648. 06 300,000.00 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..... 436, 649.06 119,590, 96 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... 317,057. 10 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. 9, 240.86 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... 169, 579. 29 178,820. 15 July 1, 1891, balance available............ 138, 236.95 ENG 91-19 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 $706,500,00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G G 1.) 2. Operating snag boats on Ohio River.-During 1890 the snag boat E. A. Woodruff worked from September 13 to November 24. The river was too high for satisfactory work, but she removed 204 snags, 3 steamboat wrecks, 11 sunken coal boats and barges, 2 flats, and 1 wharf boat. The total distance traveled was 2,641 miles. (See Appendix G G 2.) 3. Operating and care of Davis Island Dam, Ohio River.-This dam was built to test the adaptability of the system of movable dams to the peculiar conditions of the Ohio River, and to the special character of the commerce that navigates it. It was intended to be the first step in the radical improvement of the Ohio River, designed to give a minimum depth of 6 feet at all times except when ice was running. Incidentally this dam has been of great value to the city of Pittsburg by securing an ample depth of water in its harbor throughout the lowwater season. It has also been of immense benefit to the coal trade by enabling them to bring loaded boats out of the Monongahela River at any time. The natural harbor room of Pittsburg is very limited, aud before the Davis Island Dam was built the great bulk of coal barges were held in the Monongahela. In short rises the amount of coal that could be shipped south was absolutely limited by the number of barges that could be locked through the lowest dam in the Monongahela during the passage of the rise. Under present conditions this limit no longer exists, and all coal can now be shipped for which towboats are available. The past fiscal year was a remarkably wet one, and the dam was only up 82 days.. A heavy scour that developed below the dam was stopped by piling, sunken boats, and stone. (See Appendix G G 3.) 4. Movable dam in Ohio River near mouth of Beaver River, Pennsylva nia.-The first appropriation for this work was made September 19, 1890. During the fiscal year a definite site has been selected for this work, drawings have been prepared, and condemnation proceedings have been instituted to obtain the land required on both sides of the river. Until the site is secured the work of construction can not be begun. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended ... 650,000.00 Amount (estimated) for completion of existing project....... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G G 4.) $250,000.00 1, 381.23 248, 618.77 5. Monongahela River, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.-The 7 lower locks and dams on the Monongahela River belong to the Monongahela Navigation Company, and they create slack water from Pittsburg to Dunkard Creek, a distance of 88 miles. Locks and Dams Nos. 8 and 9, belonging to the United States, continue this slack-water to Morgantown, W. Va., a further distance of 14 miles, the distance from Pittsburg to Morgantown being 102 miles. During the past year 2 lock-keepers' houses were built, the guiding crib below the land wall was raised and extended into the bank, and some minor repairs were made. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance available.... (See Appendix G G 5.) 6. Operating and care of Locks and Dams Nos. 8 and 9, Monongahela River. There has been no stoppage to navigation throughout the year. The channel below No. 8, which had become shoal, was deepened by dredging. At Lock 9 the raising of the lock walls was completed. A bar thrown up in the winter against the lower end of Lock 8, obstructing the lower turbine well of the river wall, was removed by one of the United States dredges, and the same boat deepened the channel above and below Lock 9. $15, 917. 20 15, 115.54 The aprons of both dams were injured by floods, but the continued high water made it impossible to repair them. Some minor changes were made in the operating machinery on the lock, which have improved its efficiency. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended, appropriation for costs of condemnation 801.66 49.53 752.13 (See Appendix GG 6.) 7. Purchase of Lock and Dam No. 7, Monongahela River.-The case of The United States vs. The Monongahela Navigation Company for the condemnation of this structure, was heard in the circuit court of the United States for the western district of Pennsylvania in November last, and the value of the work was fixed by the court at $209,000. The navigation company took an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, where the matter is now pending. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (See Appendix G G 7.) Appropriation by act of September 19, 1890 For purchase of Lock and Dam No. 6 For costs of condemnation of Lock and Dam No. 6.. (See Appendix G G 8.) $3,533.87 3, 431.55 102.32 8. Purchase of Lock and Dam No. 6, Monongahela River.-Under the act of Congress no steps can be taken towards the condemnation of this lock and dam until the United States has acquired title to Lock and Dam No. 7. $162,000 5,000 9. Cheat River, West Virginia.-The object proposed on this river is to remove the rocks that obstruct the floating of timber, in order to bring into market the vast forests that lie on the headwaters of this stream. The length of obstructed river is 30 miles, and it is limited to the lower part of the stream, where it breaks through Laurel Ridge. Four mouths of work has been done, and about one-third of this part of the river has been made passable. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... July 1, 1891, balance available (See Appendix G G 9.) $13,000.00 5, 108. 15 7, 891.85 1,408. 35 6, 483.50 10. Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.-The work hitherto done on this river has been limited to the removal of rocks, of which there was a vast number in and near the channel, and to the construction of low dams and dikes of crib-work. Much benefit to navigation has resulted. The money thus far appropriated to the improvement of the Allegheny River amounts to $200,000. The dam at Cornplanter Islands has been nearly completed, and some minor repairs have been made on the dike at Red Bank. Arrangements have been made to build dams at Hickory and at Pithole Island. Injunctions have been obtained against parties encroaching on the Allegheny River within the limits of Pittsburg. 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 ................ $1,708. 18 20,000.00 21, 708. 18 3, 108.30 18,599.88 835.90 17,763.98 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 50,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G G 10.) 11. Dam at Herr Island, Allegheny River.-All the land that seemed to be required for this work on both sides of the river was purchased, and construction was about to begin, when suit was brought in the circuit court of the United States in favor of certain riparian owners who had been supposed to have no claim to compensation; the work of construction has necessarily been held back to await the termination of this suit. Meanwhile the lot purchased on the left bank for a lockkeeper's house has been filled up and the drawings of the work have been carried forward. In accordance with the request of the authorities of Pittsburg and Allegheny City the Secretary of War has ordered that the dam at Herr Island be made a movable one. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... $68, 954. 69 35,000.00 103, 954. 69 33, 306. 46 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 70, 648.23 524,500.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 200,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G G 11.) |