In 1879 the project was modified to provide for a width of 150 feet in the channel. The large increase of trade which followed the opening of the new channel called for an amended project, which was submitted in 1882. This amendment consisted in the enlargement of the width to 200 feet, and the dredging of a tidal supply channel and the sinking of mats to divert cross-currents which obstruct navigation and tend to fill the main channel. The appropriations have been barely sufficient to keep the channel navigable, and it is difficult and dangerous at night and during the prevalence of northeast and northwest winds. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $32,500. At the close of the work in 1883, a channel was dredged 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep from the 9-foot curve outside the entrance to the creek to White Oak Point, a distance of 4,400 feet. No dredging was done from 1883 to 1889. During this interval this cut was reduced in width and depth by deposits of sand at several places, and the channel has shoaled to the depth of 72 feet above the upper end of the cut. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $4,310.80 was expended, which re-opened a channel 94 feet wide through a sand, shell, and gravel bar lying at the mouth of the creek for a distance of about 1,470 feet. The depths in this cut vary from 8.9 feet to 13.8 feet at mean low water. From the beginning of operations to June 30, 1889, $36,810.80 has been expended. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... July 1, 189, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of habilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities. $5,000.00 $3,615.57 4,310.80 689.20 July 1, 189, balance available 35,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix L 4.) 5. Harbor at entrance of St. Jerome's Creek, Maryland.-The outer bar in the bay has a length of 2,193 feet from the 9-foot curve in the bay to Corsey's Point in the creek. The least depth of water on it before improvement was 2.8 feet; the average depth in the channels to the ponds used by the Fish Commission for hatching oysters was half a foot. The length of the inner channel to the wharf of the Fish Commission is 3,742 feet. The project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, and contemplated dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water through the outer bar at the mouth of the creek, and a chanDel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep through the south prong of the creek, the material therefrom to be thrown up in a dike so as to form a pond for the purposes of the United States Fish Commission. The channel through the outer bar was made navigable and the ponds were formed. The preservation of the depth on the outer bar is doubtful. The United States Fish Commission has abandoned the station. This harbor is situated at a desirable point for a refuge for oyster boats. Up to June 30, 1889, $25,635.11 was expended. July 1, 1888, amount available $1,36 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 49 July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 5.) 26,00 6. Rappahannock River, Virginia.-The principal obstructions to igation before the improvement were Fredericksburg Bar, havi depth at low water of 4 feet, and Spottswood bar, 6 miles below F ericksburg, having a depth of 6 feet, besides five bars having dept about 8 feet, within the distance of 12.6 miles below Fredericksb and two bars between Port Royal and Tappahannock, at distanc about 33 and 61 miles from Fredericksburg, having depths of ab feet. The project for the improvement was adopted in 1871 and was n fied in 1879. It provides for a channel 150 feet wide and 10 feet at Fredericksburg Bar; channels 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep thr the bars between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, 30 miles below, channels 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep through the two bars bet Port Royal and Tappahannock, where a larger class of vessels mu provided for. Between March 3, 1871, and June 30, 1879, $90,500 was expe upon the first project. The amount expended upon the present project from June 14, to June 30, 1888, is $96,642.44. At that date the channel-depth for miles below Fredericksburg, the distance improved, was not less 8 feet at low water, and the width about 100 feet. Below this stea have less difficulty in navigating the river. The amount expended during the fiscal year ended June 30, was $2,943.62, making the total expenditure upon the present p to that date, $99,586.06. The expenditure in 1889 was mainly for removing snags, repa dikes, and protecting the banks. The condition of the channel depth and width is about the same as on June 30, 1888. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888, $15,000, less $3,000 for Urbana Creek July 1, 189, outstanding liabilities liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of 2,769.28 174.34 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 7,000.00 9 July 1, 1889, balance available 2 179 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... mount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 30 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. Rappahannock River, Virginia, at Urbana Creek, a tidal tri thereof. Before improvement the navigation was obstructed by at the mouth, over which but 6 feet of water could be carried. The present project was adopted in 1879. It provided for a channel through the bar 150 wide and 10 feet deep at low water. The plan was extended in 1883 to include the removal of a bar in the harbor, and in 1888 to provide for the addition of works intended to prevent the dredged channels from filling. The amount expended to June 30, 1838, is $15,500. A channel 120 feet wide and 10 feet deep was excavated through the bar at the mouth, and the bar in the harbor was excavated to a depth of 10 feet and a width of from 80 to 300 feet. On June 30, 1888, the channel through the bar at the mouth had filled in on one side so that its width was reduced from 120 to 90 feet. The depth remained 10 feet. There was expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, in examination and preparation for resuming work, $150, making a total of $15,650 expended to June 30, 1889. The condition remained about the same as on June 30, 1888. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1883 $3,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... 150.00 July 1, 1889, balance available 2,850.00 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Sabmitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and 16,080.00 5,000.00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 6.) 7. Totusky River, Virginia.-The obstructions to the navigation of this river consisted of two bars, one at its mouth, which forms a part of the wide flat between the outlet of the river and the navigable channel of the Rappahannock, having a least depth of 4 feet, and the other about 24 miles above the mouth, known as Booker's Bar, having a ruling depth of 3 feet. Ten thousand dollars was appropriated up to August 2, 1882. This sum has been expended in building and repairing a longitudinal dike 2,117 feet in length, the effect of which has been to scour out the chanel to a depth of 34 feet at low water. 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 L 7.) $12,000.00 8. Mattaponi River, Virginia.-This stream empties into the York River at West Point, Va. It is navigable at low water as far as Walkerton, 40 miles above West l'oint, for vessels drawing 9 feet; small steamers can go as far as Aylett's, 12 miles further, and it can be made navigable for barges to Mandy's Bridge, 26 miles above Aylett's. Previous to the commenceent of the improvement the river was obstructed by three or four bars, and by snags, wrecks, and overhanging trees. The original project for the improvement of this river, based on a connaissance in 1875, was adopted in 1880, the object being to provide a channel 40 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low water, by the removal of sags, drift, wrecks, and overhanging trees, and by dredging through bars. ENG 89-9 In 1884 an examination was made of the changes which had tal place in Robinson's, Latané's, and Line Tree bars, and in 1885 the p ect was amended to authorize the construction of dikes at Robins and Latané's bars, to preserve channels to be dredged with a bot width of 40 feet and depth of 6 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $13,183.30. This s was expended in snagging operations and the removal of wrecks, and overhanging trees from Mundy's Bridge to near Robinson's Ba distance of about 34 miles, and in the construction of a portion of dikes proposed at Robinson's Bar. In 1883 the snags, drift, overhanging trees, and wrecks had been moved from Mundy's Bridge to Aylett's, a distance of about 24 m No work has been done on this portion of the river since that and it is probable that obstructions have accumulated. In 1888 snags, drift logs, stumps, and trees were removed from Ayl to Robinson's Bar, a distance of about 10 miles. This portion of river was not seriously obstructed by snags and trees on June 30, 1 Some trees obstruct navigation below Indiantown, otherwise naviga is believed to be unimpeded as far as West Point. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $1,046.54 has been expe in the construction of dikes at Robinson's Bar. The total amour pended to June 30, 1889, is $14,229.84. 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.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, balance available $ 3, 3, $720.71 325.83 1, 2. 23, Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix L 8.) 9. Pamunky River, Virginia.-The distance from Hanoverto West Point is 59 miles. The least depth from Hanovertown to Castle Ferry, 8 miles, is 13 feet. From New Castle Ferry to Tree, a distance of 8 miles, two bars only require improvement at pr these are Skidmore's, 11 miles below Hanovertown, with a least of 5.8 feet, and Spring Bar, 15 miles below Hanovertown, with depth of 5 feet. Over all the bars as far as White House (ab miles above West Point) 12 feet (nearly) can be carried. The present project was adopted in 1880, the object being to p a channel 40 feet wide and from 3 to 5 feet deep from Hanoverto New Castle Ferry, a distance of 8 miles, and 100 feet wide and deep at low water at Skidmore and Spring Bars. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $12,400.97, and duri fiscal year ended June 30, 1889, $241.05 has been expended, ma total to June 30, 1889, of $12,642.02. The only bid received for dredging under the appropriation of 11, 1888, was rejected on account of certain conditions imposed t The work will be readvertised in the autumn, when it is thongl reasonable bids may be obtained. July 1, 1888, amount available $99.03 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. 3,000.00 3,099.03 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..... $240.57 .48 241.05. July 1, 1889, balance available 2,857.98 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 13,000.00 8,000.00 (See Appendix L 9.) 10. York River, Virginia.-The Pamunky and Mattaponi rivers unite at West Point to form the York River, which follows a southeasterly course for 41 miles and empties into Chesapeake Bay. Its average width as far as Yorktown, a distance of 26 miles, is 14 miles. Prior to the commencement of the present improvement the navigation was obstructed by two bars; one at West Point, 2.1 miles in length, with a ruling depth of 15 feet at low water; the other at Potopotank Creek, 8 miles below, with a ruling depth of 18 feet at low water. With the exception of these two bars the depth of the channel was not less than 20 feet. The original project for the improvement of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to provide a channel 22 feet deep at low water and 400 feet wide through both bars, and also a basin of the same depth opposite the wharves at West Point, and connecting with the channel. Since the commencement of the work in 1880 the trade at West Point has largely increased and the depth of 22 feet at low water in the channel does not answer the present demands of navigation. Steamers now load at West Point drawing 24 feet. During the progress of the work in 1889 the Secretary of War directed January 4, 1889), at the request of the agents of the Piedmont Air Line Company (Richmond and Danville Railroad), that the project be modified to authorize, under the contract with the American Dredging Company, the deepening of the channel to admit the passage at low water of vessels drawing 24 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $95,348.62, which provided: (1) A channel through West Point Bar for a distance of 11,300 feet with a width varying from 100 to 230 feet and with a depth varying from 17.8 feet to 25.6 feet at low water; and (2) A channel through Potopotank Bar 105 feet wide with a depth of feet at low water. The only dredging at this bar was done in 1881. These channels have not the width nor depth sufficent to accommodate the present trade of York River, and freight brought by rail to West Point to be shipped to foreign ports. During the year ending June 30, 1889, $30,962.33 was expended at the West Point Bar, which gave a channel through the bar of a width varying from 161 feet to 257 feet, and a depth, exclusive of the center cut, of 22 feet at mean low water. Under the modification of the project by the Secretary of War, a cut 10 feet wide, in the center of the channel, and 24 feet deep was dredged through the bar, |