9. Tug Fork, Big Sandy River, West Virginia and 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. 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 $1,078.33, and resulted in the removal of snags, rocks, logs, and stumps from the river bed. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended....... 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 9.) $2,500,00 1,078.33 1, 421.67 2,500,00 10. Guyandotte River, West Virginia.-This stream was originally much obstructed by snags, logs, leaning trees, the remains of old dams, and milldams owned by private parties which required removal. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1878, and provided for the removal of existing obstructions, natural and artificial, so as to form a channel 30 feet wide, with a least depth of 18 inches, during 5 months of the year, and extending up the river a distance of 122 miles from the Ohio. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $14,373.45 had been expended, resulting in the partial improvement of the river for a distance of 119 miles, removing snags, logs, etc., from the channel and cutting passage ways through old dams. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $1,145.25 was expended, resulting in the removal of snags, etc., and in cutting through bars and ripples above Logan Court House to improve rafting navigation. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended............... $126.55 2,000.00 2, 126.55 729.55 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 1,397.00 July 1, 1891, balance available.... 981.30 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 5,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J J 10.) 11. Little Kanawha River, West Virginia.-This river, at the time improvements were commenced by the United States, was much obstructed by logs, snags, leaning trees, etc., above that portion controlled by the Little Kanawha Navigation Company. The original project, adopted in 1876, was for the removal of Beaver and Nailor Bend rocks, and for cleaning out snags and fallen trees. This was modified in 1880 by the adoption of an additional project for the construction of a lock and dam 2 miles above Burning Springs, W. Va. Up to June 30, 1890, $170,175.96 had been expended, resulting in placing the upper part of the river in a fair rafting condition, and so that during moderate stages light-draft steamboats could run as far as Grantsville. The masonry of the lock was completed and a lock house built. During the past fiscal year $15,245.01 were expended, and resulted in the construction of the abutment for the dam, the construction of 65 feet of the dam, and in filling in and grading behind lock wall. 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 11.) $1,561.26 $1,029.04 40,000.00 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended... 41, 029. 04 13, 713.75 27, 315.29 12. Buckhannon River, West Virginia. This stream was originally so obstructed by rocks and log jams that timber could be floated out only on a 12-foot rise. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.......... (See Appendix J J 12.) 5,409.29 21, 906.00 The project for its improvement, adopted in 1884, provides for the formation of a rafting channel 24 miles long, with a minimum width of 30 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1890, was $4,445.60, and resulted in clearing out some of the worst rocks and log jams. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $17 for individual expenses, no field work having been done. $44.40 1,000.00 1,044. 40 17.00 1,027.40 EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Major Lockwood, and reports thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Lockwood, 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. Big Barren River, Kentucky, above Bowling Green with a view of extending slack water navigation by additional locks and dams.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 15. (See also Appendix JJ 13.) 2. Russel's Fork of the Big Sandy River, Kentucky, with the view of removing obstructions from the same.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 29. (See also Appendix JJ 14.) The required preliminary examination of Green River, Kentucky, above the mouth of Big Barren River, with a view of extending slack water navigation on Green River, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Lockwood, and report thereon submitted through Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Northwest Division. It is the opinion of Major Lockwood, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. The report of the preliminary examination containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further survey appears to be necessary at this time. The proposed improvement contemplates the construction of two locks. and dams, so as to extend slack-water navigation to Mammoth Cave, at an estimated cost of $361,346.40. (See Appendix J J 15.) LAKE HARBORS AND RIVERS. IMPROVEMENT OF HARBORS ON LAKE SUPERIOR. Officers in charge, Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers, to December 31, 1890, with Lieut. Graham D. Fitch, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Lieut. Graham D. Fitch, Corps of Engineers, from that date to February 28, 1891; and Capt. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers, since February 28, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor at Grand Marais, Minnesota.-This small natural basin was not of sufficient depth or adequately sheltered for the purpose of general commerce, and as it was essential to have a harbor of refuge at this locality, it was proposed to provide the requisite shelter by building a pier out from Mayhew Point and to secure the necessary depth of water by dredging. A little dredging was done in 1879, and work on the pier commenced in 1880. The available anchorage area having full 16 feet depth is at present 15.1 acres and will be about 22 acres at close of present contract. The quantity of material dredged during the year was 29,929.1 cubic yards. The pier is 350 feet long and in fairly good condition. The total expenditure to June 30, 1890, was $93,675.49. 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 .......... $5,985.82 $1,324.51 22,350,00 23.674.51 785.66 22, 888.85 20, 156.00 2,732.85 $22, 319. 40 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix K K 1.) 2. Harbor at Agate Bay, Minnesota.-This is a shipping port for iron ore, and when the breakwater piers are built will form a harbor of refuge. It is 27 miles east of Duluth. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1887, and contemplates the erection of two piers projecting from the headlauds of the bay and inclosing about 109 acres of water area. The eastern pier is to be 1,000 feet long and the western one 900 feet. Work upon the east pier was commenced in 1887 and at the date of the last annual report 550 feet of it had been built. The contract now in progress will complete 200 feet more. The beneficial effects of the work done are greater than were anticipated, the tranquillity of the harbor has been greatly augmented, and vessels are no longer obliged to put to sea during storms, but can find saftety under the shelter of the break water. Amount expended to June 30, 1890, $35,519.79; amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $736. 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.. $1,980. 21 25,000.00 26, 980. 21 736.00 26, 244. 21 23,400.00 2, 844. 21 181, 708.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix K K 2.) 3. Harbor at Duluth, Minnesota.-The original project for the improvement of the harbor, adopted in 1871, consisted of a breakwater in Lake Superior, outside of Minnesota Point, in continuation of one already commenced by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. This breakwater was destroyed by a storm in 1872 and abandoned. In 1873 Congress provided for maintaining the canal through Minnesota Point, which had been constructed by the city of Duluth, and for dredging channels in Superior Bay to the Duluth docks. Work under this project was continued until 1881, at which time the piers of the canal had been repaired and somewhat extended, a harbor basin dredged of moderate capacity, and a narrow channel dredged in Superior Bay from Duluth to deep water at Connor Point. The amount expended under this projoct was $270,651.81. The present project was adopted in 1881 and modified in 1884 and 1888, the object being to preserve the piers bordering the canal, dredg ing an inner harbor to accommodate vessels drawing 16 feet of water, channel parallel with the Park Point dock line 100 feet wide, channel east of Rice Point 200 feet wide and 17 feet deep, and channel on north shore of St. Louis Bay 200 feet wide, 17 feet deep. The amount expended under present project to June 30, 1890, was $538,533.70, and has resulted in increasing the dredged area of harbor basin to about 104 acres, exclusive of private dredging, removing shoals from area previously dredged, giving the whole dredged basin a minimum depth of 16 feet, deepening the Blast Furnace Channel to a like depth, maintaining the canal piers, and commencement of channels east of Rice Point and on north shore of St. Louis Bay. The Blast Furnace Channel was abandoned upon the establishment of the new dock lines. Work during the past year consisted in enlarging the new channel east of Rice Point to a width of 110 feet throughout its length of 8,460 feet and beginning the enlargement of the channel on the north side of St. Louis Bay. This season's work is expected to give the latter channel a width of about 100 feet. The amount of material dredged from the former channel was 234,366.4 and from the latter 90,530,9 cubic yards. The canal piers are in a poor condition, and the entire work needs to be replaced with an improved and permanent structure. The harbor basin and connecting channels will eventually require deepening to 22 feet. The channels recently commenced should be I completed at an early date, both for the accommodation of commerce and as a matter of economy. The ruling depths in the portions of the harbor dredged by the United States are Feet. In canal 17 In the inner basin, or harbor... 16 In channel on north shore of St. Louis Bay for a distance of about 12,900 feet.... 14 In new channel east of Rice Point. 16 July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year... July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1801, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 1,267.51 41, 324.83 $14,015. 92 100,000.00 114, 015. 92 51, 182.19 62, 833.73 42,592,34 20, 241.39 July 1, 1891, balance available.... 224,526.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix K K 3.) 4. Harbor at Superior Bay and St. Louis Bay, Wisconsin.-Originally the natural entry to Superior Bay was obstructed with shifting bars having at most but 9 feet depth of water over them. The citizens of Superior attempted to remedy this by constructing piers to confine the outflowing waters of the bay, and this work was taken up by the United States in 1867, and has successfully maintained since then a ruling depth of 16 feet between the piers. The piers are 350 feet apart, and a good deal of dredging has been necessary to obtain the required depth between them and the channels leading to Connor Point and the Quebec Dock and a new connecting channel in St. Louis Bay. The original project of 1867 has, therefore, been modified from time to time to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing capacity of the vessels visiting this port, the last modification being made by act of Congress approved August 5, 1886, which added improvement of channel in St. Louis Bay. |