season to about 1 month, and thereby prevented any considerable progress on this work, as well as that at the head of the canal. The estimate for completing the existing project submitted in the statement below includes $688,191.34 for the work at the head of the canal, and $70,000 for that at the basin above the locks, making the total $768,191.34. 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, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... July 1, 1891, balance available $12, 018. 95 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix H H 1.) $161, 635. 08 60,000.00 221,635.08 28, 488.91 193, 146. 17 26,740.27 166, 405.90 758, 191. 34 300, 000, 00 2. Indiana Chute, Falls of the Ohio River.-The object of this improvement is to obtain a channel over the Falls which can be safely navigated by the largest tows when the river is at or above an 8foot stage by the upper canal gauge, whereby the great loss of time required for the passage of such tows through the canal and locks would be avoided; the principal features of the work include the excavation of about 60,000 cubic yards of rock from the proposed channel, the construction of lateral stone dikes aggregating in length about 3,700 feet, and of a concrete wall about 850 feet long. This chute was originally very crooked and full of dangerous reefs and rocky points; the work already done has cleared the channel of many of these so that a fairly navigable channel at the higher stages of water is secured. No work was done during the past fiscal year because of continuous high water throughout the year, it being impossible to carry on operations with the machinery now on the work except at very low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, is $116,104.30. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended....... 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 (See Appendix H H 2.) $23,885. 20 25,000.00 48,885. 20 10.50 48,874.70 113, 610.97 75,000. 00 3. Operating and care of Louisville and Portland Canal, Kentucky.— The canal was open to commerce throughout the past fiscal year, except on 79 days, during which it was closed by high water. Operations during the year included dredging 100,585 cubic yards of mud and sand from the canal and its approaches, the construction of two new scows, the partial construction of two new middle gates for the new locks, and the necessary repairs of boats, bridges, buildings, and machinery. The dry dock was occupied for the repairs of boats belonging to private parties during a period of 57 days 18 hours, and for repairs of craft belonging to the work, 20 days. The total receipts from all sources during the fiscal year were $962.49. (See Appendix H H 3.) 4. Wabash River, Indiana and Illinois.--The improvement of this river is carried on under two separate appropriations, one of which applies to that portion of the river below Vincennes, Ind., and the other to that above. a. Below Vincennes.-The first appropriation for this work was in 1872, and the project for work aims at securing a 3-foot low-water channel by excavating through rocky and sandy shoals, constructing dikes and dams to close secondary channels or contract the flow where necessary, removing snags, and the construction of a lock and dam about 2 miles above Mount Carmel, Ill., for removing the impassable obstructions to navigation extending a distance of about 10 miles, and known as the Grand Rapids. Operations during the year were chiefly on this lock and dam, though but little progress was made because the appropriation in the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, became available too late to be of much use during that season. Contract for all the stone required for the lock and the abutment of the dam were made, and most of it had been delivered at the close of the year. No other work was done during the year beyond the removal of a few dangerous snags, the extension of the Grayville levee 1,750 feet, and the construction of three new spur dikes at the same point. The appropriation now available will probably suffice to complete the lock and the abutment of the dam, but no advantage can be derived from these works until the dam is built. The estimated cost of the dam is $60,000, and the appropriation of at least this amount is necessary before starting any work on it, because having commenced the work it should be continued to completion without interruption. Shoals and snags constitute serious and in some cases total obstructions to navigation, and not less than $40,000 will remove them. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, is $258,203.04. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended .... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $11, 955. 34 60,000.00 100,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project b. Above Vincennes.-The object of the work and the project for operations are similar to those relating to the river below this place. There was no work done during the past year because there were not sufficient funds on hand at the beginning, and those appropriated by the act ap proved September 19, 1890, came too late to be used to advantage. Navigation on this section is greatly obstructed by snags and shoals. With an appropriation of $20,000 it is estimated that all the worst obstructions can be removed, and thereafter an annual expenditure of about $2,500 for the removal of snags would maintain the improve ment. The amount expended on this section to June 30, 1891, is $70,757.74. 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...... $251.78 5,500.00 5, 751.78 9.52 5,742.26 6.85 5,735.41 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 H H 4.) 5. White River, Indiana.-The present project of improvement aims at obtaining a depth of 33 feet at low water between the mouth of the river and Hazelton, Ill., at which place a railroad bridge formerly constituted a total obstruction to navigation; this bridge has been modified during the past year, and is now provided with a suitable draw. The principal natural obstruction on this portion of the river was a rock ledge about 2 miles above its mouth, known as Kelly Ripple; a channel has been excavated through the ledge, the excavated material being used to form dikes on the sides of the channel. Some additional excavation at the head of the cut remains to be done in order to complete the improvement. The river is badly obstructed by snags, which should be removed. No work was done on the river during the past year because the expenditure of the money available at the beginning was prohibited by law, until the bridges obstructing navigation had been changed so as to be obstructions no longer. The act approved September 19, 1890, removed this restriction, but it was then too late to commence work. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, is $102,324.68. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... $5, 205.66 30.34 5, 175.32 12,500,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix H H 5.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Wabash River, Indiana, from Terra [Terre] Haute to La Fayette with a view of removing obstruc tions of snags and bars and reëstablishing the navigation of said river between these cities, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Maguire, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Maguire, 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. 65, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix H H 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF GREAT KANAWHA, ELK, AND GAULEY RIVERS, WEST VIRGINIA, AND OF NEW RIVER, VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. Officer in charge, Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Great Kanawha River, West Virginia.-This river flows through a fertile and picturesque region, filled with mineral wealth, especially coal and salt. It is by nature divided into a number of pools, some of considerable length and depth, separated by shoals of gravel and coarse sand, which were the principal obstructions to navigation in low water, there being often on them at such seasons but a few inches of water. In some of the pools were found shallow places, also obstructing navigation. There were also snags and loose rocks in the channel. The navigation above Charleston was more obstructed than below. Above it was almost suspended in summer. The coal and salt were generally sent out on rises, which enabled the boats to pass safely over the obstructions that otherwise would stop their movements entirely. The use of the river for the movement of these valuable products was therefore unsatisfactory and intermittent. By the agency and superintendence of a Board acting under the State, first of Virginia and then of West Virginia, considerable improvement in the river was from time to time effected, tolls being charged on the commerce for the payment of expenses. The object of the improvement begun several years ago by the United States was to give a constant navigable depth of at least 6 feet throughout the whole length of the Kanawha to its mouth at the Ohio River, to be accomplished by large locks and dams. Those already built have been about 300 by 50 feet above Charleston and about 340 by 55 below. This The peculiarity of most of the dams is that they can be lowered when the stage of the water in the river will suffice over the shoals. gives them the name of "movable dams," and enables an open river to be had when the water is high enough. Dams 3 and 2 above Paint Creek are fixed, as the declivity of the river in that section is too great to permit the advantageous use of the movable system. Up to June 30, 1890, the amount expended was $2,046,775.42. At that date the finished works were locks and dams 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. An appropriation of $300,000 was made September 19, 1890. The following list of contracts indicates in a summary manner the principal work in progress during the fiscal year: Contract dated November 26, 1888, with Carkin, Stickney & Cram, for building Lock No. 7, to be completed November 1, 1891. Contract with C. Irwin McDonald, dated August 20, 1889, for building Lock No. 8, to be completed November 22, 1891. Contract with Munford & Reynolds, dated December 29, 1890, for the foundations of Dam No. 7, or immovable parts of the navigation pass and weir, and of a central pier and an abutment with shore crib and bank protection, to be completed December 31, 1891. Contract with C. Irwin McDonald, dated March 3, 1891, for the foundations of Dam No. 8, or immovable parts of the navigation pass and weir, and of a central pier and an abutment with shore crib and bank protection, to be completed December 31, 1891. The amount expended in the year ending June 30, 1891, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, was $135,895.23. Had funds been available, all the locks and dams needed for this improvement could have been begun at the same time and finished in 3 years with much economy to the United States and with manifest advantage in the use of the improved water-way. The development of commerce on this river has been very great since the improvement by the United States, although the project has as yet been only partially executed for want of money. During the seasons of low water the value of the improvement is shown in a very marked manner, as free and sufficient navigation is then easily maintained over the improved part of the river while navigation may be entirely suspended below the lowest dam and above the upper pool. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. -$250, 370.25 300,000.00 550, 370.25 135,895, 23 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 414, 475. 02 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. $4,000.00 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 346, 349. 19 350, 349, 19 64, 125.83 July 1, 1891, balance available.... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 670,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 500, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix I I 1.) 2. Operating and care of locks and dams on Great Kanawha River, West Virginia.-The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, has been $23,835.57. (See Appendix II 2.) 3. Elk River, West Virginia.-The Elk is one of the chief tributaries of the Great Kanawha. Its course is tortuous, but the country through which it flows is rich in minerals and well fitted for agriculture and grazing. The average low-water width is about 200 feet, with narrows at the rapids of about 150 feet in width and occasional portions of about 300 feet in width. The pools vary in depth from 3 to 10 feet, and are separated by rapids over shoals of cobblestones and gravel, on which there has been at low seasons a depth of but a few inches of water. The average fall per mile in the river from Braxton Court House down is about 2 feet, but is not uniformly distributed, being greatest (about 4 feet per mile) in the central section and less (about 2 feet) in the upper and lower sections. Freshets of small height are of frequent occurrence, but rapidly pass off. The annual rise in the spring is about 10 or 12 feet. An extraordinary rise is sometimes had of 25 to 30 feet, but the duration is not great. |