1886. For more than one reason it seemed inexpedient to expend this appropriation in the year ending June 30, 1888. The portion of the river to which it is applicable is above Foster Falls, and these can only be passed by one or two locks. There was also strong reasons for doubt whether, considering the present development of that section of the country, the construction of such locks would be justifiable, even if the money were available. The construction of railroads near this stream had diminished very much the importance of the improvement of the portion above Foster Falls. After a careful reëxamination of the subject and a reconnaissance of the river and its vicinity, it was decided to postpone the expenditure of the appropriation until the will of Congress could be further ascertained. In the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, it was, however, directed that the balance should be spent in improving the river between Ivanhoe Furnace, in Wythe County, and the mouth of Wilson Creek. Operations in accordance with this direction were therefore commenced June 9, 1889, and continued until October 10, 1889. In 1885 there was a channel 2 feet deep and 20 feet wide from Ivanhoe Furnace to within 600 feet of the head of Wilkinson Shoals and Ledges, a distance of 3.9 miles. In 1889 this channel, with the same width and depth, was extended to the lower end of the approach to the Gulf, a distance of 5 miles from the initial point, with four-tenths of a mile further up the river, partially improved. There were no operations on the river in the year ending June 30, 1891, and therefore no expenditures in that fiscal year. The balance of $2,341.79 remains from the last appropriation, which was in August, 1886. In compliance with a recommendation of the local engineer, it was decided by the Secretary of War not to expend the existing balance at present. Up to June 30, 1891, the amount expended was $109,733.21. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix I I 5.) $2,341.79 2, 341.79 159,000.00 EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examination of Elk River, West Virginia, with a view of improving the same by locks and dams, was made by the local engineer in charge, Colonel Craighill, and report thereon submitted. It is the opinion of Colonel Craighill, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this improvement is not worthy of being under. taken by the United States. 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. 103, Fifty-first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix II 6.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA. Officer in charge, Maj. D. W. Lockwood, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. W. L. Sibert, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Tradewater River, Kentucky.-This river was practically closed before the work of improvement commenced, by a rock bar near its mouth, and higher up by logs, snags, drift piles, leaning trees, and bars. The present project, adopted in 1881, provides for clearing the river and its banks of obstructions, and opening up a channel 40 feet wide and 2 feet deep during 6 months of the year, the improvement to extend 41 miles upstream from its mouth in the Ohio. Up to June 30, 1890, $13,643.81 had been expended, resulting in securing a channel through the rock bar near the mouth of the river, and in removing the obstructions in the channel and on the banks of the river for a distance of 41 miles, the distance covered by the present project. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $1,837.65 was expended resulting in the removal of the ruins of an old dam at Nunn Ripple, and in clearing the channel and banks of obstructions that had formed since work closed the previous year. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (See Appendix J J 1.) $2,856.19 1,837.65 1,018. 54 2. Operating and keeping in repair locks and dams on Green and Barren rivers, Kentucky.-When the United States acquired possession of these improvements, December 11, 1888, navigation of the system was broken at Lock No. 3, Green River, the river wall of that lock having fallen into the river, the lower end of the land wall of No. 1, Barren, was badly cracked and liable to fall at any time, and both walls of No. 2, Green River, were in a dangerous condition. The channel of the river was much obstructed by snags and slides. Up to June 30, 1890, $201,138.34 had been expended, resulting in the removal of the old river wall at Lock No. 3; the construction of a cofferdam inclosing the site of the new wall and in the purchase of stone and cutting of same for it. At Lock No. 1, Barren River, a coffer-dam was built across the lower end of the lock pit, the broken wall taken down, and the stone purchased for its renewal; a part of the dam was also repaired. A new snag boat was built, a new dredge hull and a number of barges constructed. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $143,113.39 were expended, resulting in the completion of all repairs to lock and dam at Lock No. 1, Barren River, and in the completion of river wall at No. 3, Green River, and the reconstruction of a part of the dam. At Lock No. 1, Green River, the walls were raised to the same level throughout, the banks graded and drained, and guide walls above and below the lock built. Navigation, which was suspended January 2, 1888, by the falling of the river wall of No. 3, Green River, was reopened November 10, 1890. A large number of snags, etc., was taken from the river by the snag boat Wm. Preston Dixon. The estimate of the cost of operating and care, etc., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $93,980.77. (See Appendix J J 2.) 3. Rough River, Kentucky.-This river is very much obstructed by overhanging trees on the banks and by snags, logs, etc., in the bed of the river. The lower 8 miles of the stream are affected by back water from the Rumsey Dam (No. 2), on Green River, but above this the stream has but little depth at low water. The project for the improvement adopted in 1890 is to clear the river of obstructions, to wit, overhanging trees on the banks and snags, logs, and stumps in the bed of the river, and to locate and construct a lock and dam near the site of the old ones to carry slack water to Hartford. The amount of money expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $708.54, and resulted in the survey for the site of lock, dam, and lands; preparing plans for the lock, dam, etc.; in the construction of a quarter boat for working party, and the deadening of trees and removal of obstructions over 2 miles of the lower river. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1891, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix J J 3.) $25,000,00 708.54 24, 291.46 552.84 23,738.62 80, 556. 05 80, 556. 05 4. Kentucky River, Kentucky.-The condition of the river when the United States assumed charge of its improvements was as follows: The five locks and dams with their approaches, built by the State of Kentucky, were in a dilapidated condition, and the channel was much obstructed by snags and leaning trees. The project for the improvement, adopted in 1879, called for the necessary repairs to the five locks and dams and the extension of slackwater navigation for a draft of 6 feet, by the construction of additional locks and dams to Beattyville, a distance of 261 miles from the mouth of the river. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $1,163,077.34 had been expended, resulting in restoring the locks and dams to a navigable condition, clearing the channel and banks of obstructions, and the commencement of two new locks. Stone had been purchased by contract for Lock No. 6, 30 miles above Frankfort, and a part of the stone for the lock at Beattyville had been gotten out by hired labor. A railroad having been constructed to the junction of the North and Middle forks, and the immediate necessity for a lock at Beattyville thereby done away with, the general project was changed so as to defer the construction of this lock for the present and rearrange the old dam so as to give slack water to Lumber Point, junction of North and Middle forks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $49,378.33 has been expended, resulting in the construction of a cofferdam at No. 6; the construction of the abutment for the dam; excavating inside the coffer for lock; obtaining necessary plant for construction, and in partial completion of the modified project at Beattyville. ENG 91-20 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, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... $16, 267. 11 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J J 4.) $5,276.99 180,000.00 July 1, 1891, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 1, 674,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...... 500,000,00 185, 276.99 33, 460.40 151,816. 59 25, 927. 11 125, 889.48 5. Operating and keeping in repair locks and dams on Kentucky River, Kentucky.-The first allotment for this work was for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, at which time only four locks could be operated; these required extensive repairs at the time, and the dams and approaches were in a more or less dilapidated condition. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $294,550.76, and resulted in reopening Lock No. 5 to navigation, and placing the other locks and dams in a serviceable condition, the building of guide walls and approaches; the construction of one double and five single lock houses, and in grading, paving, and draining grounds about the locks. A new dredge boat, of the Osgood pattern, and two dump scows were constructed, and general repairs made to locks, dams, etc., and in addition the river was kept clear of snags. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $44,215.13 were expended, and resulted in the continuation of grading and paving about lock walls, the construction of a new stone abutment at Lock No. 2, the partial construction of two new lock houses, dredging approaches to locks, snagging, and general repairs to locks and dams. The estimate of the cost of operating and care, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is $40,770. (See Appendix J J 5.) July 1, 1890, balance unexpended........ 6. Licking River, Kentucky, from Farmer to West Liberty.-This stream was originally much obstructed by logs, snags, rocks, and leaning trees, as well as by fish dams constructed by private parties. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..... July 1, 1891, balance available The project for the improvement was adopted in 1888 and provides for removing the rocks, snags, and bowlders from the river bed. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $2,867.95, and resulted in the removal from the bed of the river of a large number of rocks, snags, etc., that obstructed both rafting and low-water navigation. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $1,600.91, and resulted in the further improvement of rafting and low-water navigation by removal of obstructions from the bed and banks of the river. $132.08 3,000.00 3,132. 08 1,097.41 2,034,67 503,50 1,531. 17 $11,680.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix J J 6.) 7. Big Sandy River, West Virginia and Kentucky.-When the United States commenced improving this stream it and its forks were much obstructed by rocks, bars, snags, and leaning trees. During the lowwater season navigation was practically suspended. The present project was adopted in 1878, and provided for improving the push-boat and rafting facilities of the river and forks by removing obstructions, etc. This was modified in 1880, to secure slack-water navigation by the construction of a test lock and dam near Louisa, Ky. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $213,827.36, and resulted in improving low-water navigation by the removal of rocks, snags, stumps, and logs from the channel and leaning trees from the banks of the river, and in the construction of a lock complete, near Louisa, together with the abutment for a dam. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $18,711.64, and resulted in deepening the approaches to the lock by blasting out the rock; constructing a part of the dam and purchasing a part of the timber for completion of same; also in filling in behind abutment, grading, etc. 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, amount covered by uncompleted contracts July 1, 1891, balance available.... (See Appendix J J 7.) $2,273. 15 Amount appointed by act approved September 19, 1890. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year 畿 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended........... $15, 202. 64 31,000.00 8. Levisa Fork, Big Sandy River, Kentucky.-This stream was originally much obstructed by rocks, snags, logs, and overhanging trees. Its improvement has been in progress since work on the Big Sandy was commenced under the project for the improvement of that stream. The present project was adopted in 1890 and provides for the removal of snags, logs, stumps, rocks, etc., from the river and overhanging trees on the banks. 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 J J 8.) 46, 202. 64 16, 468. 49 29, 734. 15 The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $18,250, and resulted in the material improvement of navigation; push boats at low water and rafting and light-draft steamboat navigation at moderate stages. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $1,348.24, and resulted in the removal of snags, rocks, logs, and stumps from the river bed. 9, 219. 21 20, 514.94 $2,500.00 1,348.24 1,151.76 2,500.00 |