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MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION.

This Commission, organized under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1879, reports to and receives instructions from the Secretary of War through this office.

The Secretary of War transmitted to the House of Representatives, January 7, 1889, a supplemental report from the Commission of December 28, 1888, upon the present condition of the improvements on the Mississippi River, under its charge, and the results accomplished to date. This report was printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 64, Fiftieth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 1.)

The report of the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, embracing the following subjects, viz: (1) Surveys and examinations; (2) Construction; (3) Financial statement; and (4) Estimates, will be found in Appendix V V 2.

The estimate of funds required for the service of the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is stated in the above report as follows:

ESTIMATE OF FUNDS FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1891.
Sundry civil bill.

Mississippi River Commission.-For salaries, inspections, and traveling ex-
penses of the Mississippi River Commission; for printing and telegraph-
ing; for office expenses and miscellaneous

$35,000

River and harbor bill.

For surveys and examinations of the Mississippi River from the Head of the Passes to its headwaters, continuing survey.

For improving the Mississippi River from the Head of the Passes to the mouth of the Ohio River......

For work at

Hickman, Ky., continuing improvement ....
Greenville, Miss., continuing improvement
Vicksburg, Miss., continuing improvement..
Natchez, Miss., continuing improvement...
New Orleans, La., continuing improvement..
For rectification of Red and Atchafalaya rivers.

MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION.

150,000

4,000,000

111, 250

350,000

175,000

250,000

200.000

350,000

This Commission, organizedu nder the provisions of the act of July 5, 1884, reports to and receives instructions from the Secretary of War through this office.

The report of the Commission describing the o; erations in its charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, will be found in Appendix W W. The estimate of funds required for the service of the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is stated in the above report as follows:

ESTIMATES FOR WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1891.

Salaries of Commission, office and traveling expenses, surveys, perma

nent bench-marks, gauges, etc...

For improvements at Sioux City, Iowa

Omaha, Nebr....

$150,000

100,000

150,000

[blocks in formation]

For improvement of the river above Sioux City, Iowa.

For snagging operations below Sioux City, Iowa..

For general improvement of the river....

Total

HARBOR LINES.

$100, 000

150, 000

100,000

150,000

175,000

100,000

175,000

75,000

100,000

175,000

60,000

1,000,000

2,760,000

The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provides:

SEC. 12. Where it is made manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines is essential to the preservation and protection of harbors, he may, and is hereby authorized to, cause such lines to be established, beyond which no piers or wharves shall be extended or deposits made except under such regulations as may be prescribed from time to time by him.

Under the requirements of this section the Secretary of War has caused such lines to be established at the following localities:

HARBOR LINES AT MARQUETTE HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

It being manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines is essential to the preservation and protection of the harbor at Marquette, Michigan, he approved the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, that their establishment be undertaken, and that the subject be referred to a Board of Engineers.

A Board was accordingly constituted by his authority November 19, 1888, composed of the following members: Maj. Charles J. Allen, Maj. Chas. E. L. B. Davis, and Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers.

The Board assembled at Marquette November 27, 1888, and after making the necessary examination of the harbor, and such investigations as were required, submitted its report, with accompanying maps, dated January 12, 1889.

The report was submitted to the Secretary of War by the Chief of Engineers, with recommendation "that the line herein described for adoption and also represented in the accompanying map, No. 1, signed by the members of the Board, be established" "as the har

bor lines of Marquette Harbor, Michigan, beyond which no piers or wharves shall be built or deposits made."

This recommendation was approved by the Secretary of War January 20, 1889.

(See Appendix H H 12.)

HARBOR LINES FOR NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH HARBORS, IN VIRGINIA.

An advisory board to the State harbor commissioners of Virginia, in determining the harbor lines at Norfolk and Portsmouth, was, at the request of the governor of Virginia, appointed by the President of the United States in 1875, with instructions to report to the Secretary of War, and was in existence at the time that the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, took effect.

This Board was dissolved, by direction of the President, February 2, 1889, and a Board was constituted for the establishment of the harbor lines referred to, composed of the following members: Col. William P. Craighill, Lieut. Col. Peter C. Hains, and First Lieut. G. J. Fiebeger, Corps of Engineers.

The Board submitted a preliminary report, dated March 26, 1889, and accompanying map showing the harbor lines for the harbors of Norfolk and Portsmouth recommended by it. This report was submitted by the Chief of Engineers to the Secretary of War, March 29, 1889, with recommendation that the lines described and drawn upon the accompanying map be approved, and that such approval be noted on the face of the map. This recommendation was approved by the Secretary of War, April 10, 1889.

(See Appendix J 11.)

HARBOR LINES FOR SAVANNAH HARBOR, GEORGIA.

It being manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines in the harbor of Savannah, Ga., is essential to its preservation, upon recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, he directed that a Board of Engineer Officers be constituted to examine and report upon the same. A Board was accordingly constituted February 4, 1889, composed of the following officers: Col. William P. Craighill, Capt. William H. Bixby, and First Lieut. O. M Carter, Corps of Engi

neers.

The Board met at Savannah February 20, 1889, and having examined the harbor, and considered its importance, deemed it proper to submit a preliminary report, dated February 20, 1889, recommending that the Secretary of War direct that for the present no wharf or other structure be allowed to be built beyond the bulkhead lines suggested by Lieutenant Carter and shown on the tracing accompanying his letter to the Chief of Engineers January 23, 1889. This report was submitted to the Secretary of War with favorable recommendation, and was ap proved by him March 1, 1889.

The Board, after giving notice that it would hold a public meeting in Savannah, and requesting all interested parties to be present, gave the subject before it the full examination its importance demanded, and submitted its final report April 1, 1889, with accompanying tracing upon which the proposed harbor lines were drawn. This report was submitted to the Secretary of War April 24, 1889, with recommendation "that the lines selected be approved and that the approval be placed upon the tracing submitted." This recommendation was approved May 3, 1889.

(See Appendix O 12.)

HARBOR LINES AT RRUNSWICK HARBOR, GEORGIA.

It being manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines is essential to the preservation and protection of the harbor of Brunswick, Ga., upon the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, he directed that a Board of Engineers be constituted to consider and report upon the subject. A Board was accordingly appointed March 22, 1889, composed of the following members: Col. William P. Craighill, Capt. William H. Bixby, and First Lieut. O. M. Carter, Corps of Engineers.

The Board assembled at Brunswick March 30, where, in response to a notice from it, many persons, among them members of the city council, appeared. After conference with the persons present and an examination of the harbor and the data relating to it, the Board submitted its report, dated April 1, 1889, with accompanying tracing on which the proposed harbor line is drawn. The report was submitted to the Secretary of War April 24, with recommendation for approval, and was approved by him May 3, 1889.

(See Appendix O 13.)

HARBOR LINES OF NEW YORK HARBOR.

It being manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines for New York Harbor is essential to the preservation and protection of the harbor, on October 4, 1888, he approved the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers that The Board of Engineers stationed at New York City be constituted the Board to establish harbor lines for that harbor and its vicinity.

The Board submitted a report March 26, 1889, and tracing of harbor lines proposed by the department of docks for the city of New York, for East River between Fity-ninth street and Sixty fourth street, and recommended the project for approval, as the design will not encroach upon the lines which will be ultimately recommended by the Board.

Upon the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers the lines were approved by the Secretary of War April 11, 1889.

The Board also submitted a report June 4, 1889, and an accompanying tracing on which the proposed lines for the north and east shores of Staten Island, from New Brighton to Fort Wadsworth, are drawn, which lines were, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, approved by the Secretary of War June 21, 1889.

(See Appendix E 14.)

HARBOR LINES AT BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS.

It being manifest to the Secretary of War that the establishment of harbor lines is essential to the preservation and protection of Boston Harbor, he orally directed that the subject be referred to a board of officers of the Corps of Engineers to make the necessary examinations and investigations, and upon recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, which was approved by the Secretary August 13, 1888, a Board of Engineers was constituted to establish the harbor lines of Boston, Mass., composed of the following members: Col. Henry L. Abbot, Lieut. Col. George L. Gillespie, and Maj. William R. Livermore, Corps of Engineers. Subsequently (January 30, 1889), Lieut. Col. S. M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers, was added to the Board.

The Board submitted its first report, dated July 20, 1889, with accompanying tracing, upon which the harbor lines so far as determined have been drawn, and the lines were, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, approved by the Secretary of War, July 29, 1889. (See Appendix B 22.)

BRIDGING NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

The plans and locations of the following bridges authorized by acts of Congress, having been found to comply with the requirements of said acts, have been approved by the Secretary of War, and copies sent to the officers of the Corps of Engineers in charge of the river and har

bor districts in which the bridges are to be built, in order that they might supervise the construction so far as to see that the bridges are built in accordance therewith:

1. Bridge of the county of Laurens, Georgia, across the Oconee River, at or near Dublin.-Act approved June 18, 1888.

Plan and location submitted by the Ordinary of Laurens County, Georgia, May 16, 1888; approved by the Secretary of War August 17, 1888; copy sent to Capt. R. L. Hoxie, Corps of Engineers, August 24, 1888.

2. Bridge of Kansas City and Memphis Railway and Bridge Company across the Mississippi River, at Memphis, Tennessee.-Act approved April 24, 1888. (See Appendix W W 22, Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1888, pages 2514-2525.)

Plan and location submitted by the company August 3, 1888; approved by the Secretary of War August 23, 1888; copy sent to Capt. S. S. Leach, Corps of Engineers, September 25, 1888.

3. Bridge over the Menomonee River by the municipalities of Menomo nee, Michigan, and Marinette, Wisconsin.-Act approved July 29, 1886. Plan and location submitted by the Mayor of Menomonee, Mich., August 15, 1888, approved by the Secretary of War September 10, 1888.

Maj. Chas. E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, reports that the bridge has been built in accordance with the conditions and plans approved by the Secretary of War.

4. Bridge of the St. Louis Merchants' Bridge Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, over the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri.-Act approved February 3, 1887, and amendatory act approved September 10, 1888.

Plan and location submitted by the bridge company October 11, 1888; approved by the Secretary of War November 14, 1888; copy sent to Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers, December 5, 1888.

5. Bridge of the Yadkin Valley Railway Company across the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville, North Carolina.-Act approved June 6, 1858.

Plan and location submitted by the Chief Engineer of the railway company September 14, 1888; approved by the Secretary of War December 1, 1888; copy sent to Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, December 29, 1888.

6. Reconstruction of the bridge over the Ohio River at Steubenville, Ohio, by the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway Company, successors of the Western Transportation Company, who originally built the bridge in question in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of "An act to establish certain post roads," approved July 14, 1862.

The channel span as well as the other spans of the bridge were originally built in 1863-64 for a single-track railroad, but the increasing traffic demands that it be reconstructed for a double track, all the spans excepting the channel span having been so reconstructed during the past year. The rebuilding of the channel span will require during reconstruction scaffolding for its support to be placed in the channel, which for a period of about two months will obstruct navigation, and for this work the approval of the Secretary of War was asked. The subject having received his attention, and the officer in charge of the improvement of the Ohio River having recommended that the railroad company be authorized to rebuild the channel span, under the conditions that the channel span be erected "during the months of July and August, 1889," and that "all preparations be made so as to reduce the obstruction to the least period of time, giving proper notice by publication to the naviga tion interests of the fact that the channel will be obstructed during the ENG 89-24

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