IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. Officer in charge, Capt. William M. Black, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. D. Du B. Gaillard, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. St. John's River, Florida.-Operations for the improvement of this river have been carried on in conformity with a project submitted in 1879 by the late General Gillmore, colonel Corps of Engineers. The plan contemplates the formation of a continuous channel 15 feet deep at mean low water from Jacksonville to the ocean. The points where work is required are in a reach near Dame's Point, 12 miles from the mouth, and on the bar at the mouth. Near Dame's Point the mean low-water depth varies from 9 to 10 feet. The bar at the mouth is formed of sand. Before work began, the mean low-water channel depth across it varied from 5 to 7 feet, with a tidal range of 5 feet. The channel across the bar shifts continually north and south through a mile range. The work was divided in two parts, (1) the formation of a channel across the bar at the mouth, by the concentration and direction of the tidal currents by two jetties, to start from the opposite shores of the entrance, and to converge until, on the bar, their outer ends should be approximately parallel and 1,600 feet apart; and, (2) the improvement of the Dame's Point Reach. The estimated cost of the two parts is $1,306,500 and $120,000, respectively. As the improvement at the mouth was at first most urgently required, the five appropriations up to that of 1886, inclusive, aggregating $675,000, were made for improving "the channel over the bar at the mouth," under the estimate for that part of the total project. Since 1887 the depth on the bar has been greater than that in the Dame's Point Reach, and the interests of commerce have demanded that work at the latter point should be started. Accordingly, the appropriation in the act of August 11, 1888, was made for improving the river "from Jacksonville to the ocean, including the channel over the bar at the mouth," under the estimate for the entire project, of which $576,500 remains to be appropriated. On June 30, 1888, the south jetty had a total length of 6,667 feet, of which 4,100 feet were built to the level of mean low water. The north jetty had a total length of 6,585 feet, of which a length of 553 feet, including the shore extension, was at the full height and capped. With this exception, neither jetty has been built a full-sized cross-section. Both jetties are made of one or more layers of log or brush mattresses covered with riprap stone. Since 1886 oyster shells have been used as hearting. The total proposed lengths for the south and north jetties are 6,800 and 9,400 feet, respectively. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $670,957.13. At that time a straight permanent channel had been secured across the bar, having a least mean low-water depth of from 12 to 13 feet. The channel depth across the bulkhead at the inner end of the jetties was from 11 to 12 feet. Operations during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, comprised a survey of the Dame's Point Reach, on which to base a detailed project for its improvement, and the continuation of the work on the north jetty, under the contract with Mr. R. G. Ross, of Wilmington, N. C.; the foundation of the north jetty was extended 1,455.2 feet by brush fascine mattresses 120 feet wide, ballasted with stone, the narrow portion of the superstructure was strengthened and built up, and it was ex tended 1,065 feet by a mound of riprap stone with shell hearting. The length of the north jetty foundation is now 8,040.2 feet of the superstructure, built to the level of mean low water 6,697 feet. No work was done on the south jetty. During the past fiscal year the north jetty channel, which occupies the position which it is believed the permanent jetty channel will take, has widened and deepened considerably, and at the present time a distance of but 1,500 feet, measured in the direction of flow of the ebb current, separates its inner 12-foot contour from the 12-foot contour of the present jetty channel across the bar. The channel across the bar has also widened during the past year, the distance between the 10-foot contours on the edges of the bar channel being now 1,100 feet. The least width of this channel between 12. foot contours is 250 feet, and the least depth along its axis is 12.8 feet. The jetty middle ground, west of Ward's Bank, has continued to sboal, and now has a least depth of 9.8 feet on the crossing to the south jetty channel; but it is hoped that the extension of the superstructure of the north jetty will cause that channel to unite with the present bar channel. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $4,042. 87 175,000.00 liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts July 1, 1889, balance available 576,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... (See Appendix P 1.) 2. Volusia Bar, Florida.-Volusia Bar is situated at the head of Lake George and is formed by materials brought down by the St. John's River and deposited at the point where the current of the narrow river loses its velocity as the bed widens to form the lake. The usual depth on the bar, before operations began, was from 3 to 4 feet with a very crooked channel. At times this depth was diminished so much as to stop navigation entirely. The adopted plan of improvement was to contract the waters on the bar by the construction of two converging brush and stone jetties, with a view to causing a scour to the depth of 6 feet. Should the depth caused by the jetties not be sufficient, recourse was to be had to dredg ing. Between the jetties on the bar, lines of guide piles were placed to keep vessels off the jetties and to define the channel clearly. In 1887 it was decided to limit the channel depth sought to the 5 feet then obtained, on account of the evident shoaling in the lake beyond the jetties and because that depth was sufficient for the requirements of the existing river commerce. Up to June 30, 1888, $24,646.44 had been expended, including liabili ties then outstanding. The jetties had been built to their full length and to a height sufficient to produce the desired effect; two lines of firmlyset fender-piles defined the jetty channel on the crest of the bar, and a straight channel with a minimun mean low-water depth of 5 feet had been obtained. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, operations were limited to the necessary examinations, and repairs. At the last examination, made in March, 1889, the work was found to be in good condition, and the straight 5-foot channel had been well maintained. Since the improvement has been made boats have had no difficulty in passing this point. Operations during the coming year will be limited to the necessary repairs. The work can be maintained with an annual expenditure of $500. July 1, 1888, amount available $353.56 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888....... 500.00 853.56 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... 149.06 July 1, 1889, balance available ...... 704.50 Amount (estimated) required annually for maintaining work....... 500.00 500.00 (See Appendix P 2.) 3. Harbor at St. Augustine, Florida.-This is a new work. In compliance with the requirements of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, an examination and survey were made of "St. Augustine for a deep-sea channel on the outer bar," and the report of the results thereof was transmitted to Congress January 11, 1888, and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 87, Fiftieth Congress, first session. The project proposed for the improvement of the entrance is to concentrate the flow over the bar, and thus increase the scour by the construction of solid converging jetties, etc., at an estimated cost of $1,467,888. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $35,000 for improving the harbor, but directed that the subject be referred to a Board of Engineers, whose report was to be laid before Congress at its next session, together with the views of the Secretary of War and of the Chief of Engineers thereon. The report called for was duly submitted and is printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 138, Fiftieth Congress, second session. The Board "is of the opinion that the plan is well considered and promises success should funds be supplied with sufficient liberality to permit the work to be carried rapidly to completion." It is also stated that the harbor has fine interior facilities for becoming a commercial port, but that the bar being of shifting sand is difficult of improvement, that the estimated cost of the improvement is not excessive, that the work could be prosecuted to such an extent as to fix the channel and afford a probable increase of depth to 10 feet at mean low water for about $925,000. It is therefore the opinion of the Board that the improvement is an expensive undertaking which it would be inexpedient to attempt until demanded by pressing needs of commerce. A statement of the present status of similar works along the southern coast is then submitted. It concludes that it is for the wisdom of Congress to decide whether it is expedient to undertake the improvement of the harbor at this time. The Board recommends that the appropriation of $35,000 be expended in stopping the erosion of the shores at the entrance to the harbor. In all of the above views and recommendations the Chief of Engineers concurred. The funds available will be spent in checking the erosion, as recommended by the Board. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, balance available.... (See Appendix P 3.) $35,000.00 628.93 34, 371. 07 4. Northwest entrance, Key West Harbor, Florida.-A bar having a channel depth of 10.5 feet obstructs the northern entrance to this harbor. During storms the available depth is so much reduced that vessels bound to and from Gulf ports can not use it, but are compelled to make a détour of about 100 miles by Dry Tortugas to enter or leave the Gulf. An examination of the entrance, with a view to its improvement, was made in 1867 and again in 1881. In 1882 Congress made an appropriation of $25,000 for dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep across the bar. As was anticipated, the improvement was only temporary. In act approved August 5, 1886, $2,500 was appropriated for a new examination and survey of the bar. This was made in December, 1886, and January, 1887. The bar was found to be formed and maintained by interfering tidal currents. The project for its improvement comprised the construction of one or more training-walls, with dredging, if necessary. In the act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $25,000 for this work, with the proviso that the Secretary of War should appoint a Board of three Engineer Officers, who should consider the subject and report on the advisability of continuing the work under the above project, and that he should submit the report, together with the views of himself and the Secretary of War thereon, to Congress at its next session. A report was submitted and is printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 145, Fiftieth Congress, second session. The opinion of the Board, in which the Secretary of War and the Chief of Engineers concur, is that the work is one of national importance which it is expedient to undertake, and that the general method proposed promises success at a cost within reasonable limits, but that owing to the difficulty of the problem and the small sum which had been appropriated for its investigation, the data available were insufficient for fixing the details of the project. The engineer officer in charge was directed to obtain the additional information desired. The necessary field work was done in April, May, and June. As soon as the notes of the survey can be plotted a report will be submitted to the Board. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $25,000.00 $5,854. 13 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities 117.55 5, 971.68 July 1, 1889, balance available 19,028. 32 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, subject to revision.... 583,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 100,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 4.) 5. Caloosachatchee River, Florida.-Before improvement, the lower part of the river was so obstructed by oyster bars that the available channel depth was only 5 feet. About 17 miles above the mouth the river loses the characteristics of an estuary, and there are numerous islands and a broad shoal. The project adopted in 1882 called for the formation, by dredging, of a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep from the bay to Fort Meyers, a distance of 14 miles. In 1886 this project was modified so as to include the improvement of the upper river as far as Fort Thompson by removal of snags and overhanging trees. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, $13,809.92 had been expended under these projects. A channel of the required width, and having a least depth of 6 feet, had been formed below Fort Meyers, one of the worst reaches of the river, extending 44 miles above Fort Denaud, had been cleared of snags and overhanging trees, and a survey of the river had been made. Owing to the presence of an epidemic in the State, no operations on the river were possible before the end of 1888. During the winter of 1888-'89, work was prevented by an unu sually protracted season of high water. As the high-water season usually begins about July 1, field work has been postponed until the next low-water season. During the year a map of the river was made. Nine hundred and fifty-one dollars and twenty-six cents has been expended for engineering and office expenses and for plant. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $190.08 10,000.00 10, 190.08 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix P 5.) 951.26 9, 238.82 3,600,00 3,600.00 6. Pease River, Florida.-This river rises about the center of Polk County, Florida, and flows southwest into Charlotte Harbor. For the last 12 miles of its course it has the characteristics of an estuary. The rest of the stream flows through a heavily wooded and sparsely populated country, and is much obstructed by fallen trees, snags, rocks, and bars. It is subject to great changes of level. During the low-water season not more than 14 inches to 24 inches of water can be relied on. The project for its improvement, adopted in 1881, is to improve it for high-water navigation by the removal from the channel of snags, overhanging trees, and loose rocks between Fort Mead and the mouth, a distance by river of about 100 miles. In the Annual Report for 1888 the engineer in charge recommended the extension of the project to include the deepening of the channel at the entrance, so as to afford a depth of 11.5 feet at mean low water up to the railroad wharves at Punta Gorda. The estimated cost of clearing the upper river is $25,000, and of dredging at the mouth, $30,000. Up to June 30, 1888, $12,797.47 have been expended on this river. The only practical benefit from this expenditure is in a survey and map of the river. Snagging operations have been discontinued for several years owing to a lack of funds, and the channel opened has become |