The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $560.79, and resulted in the full improvement of 6 miles of river from Edinburgh down, so that light-draught boats can navigate that portion on a 4-foot rise above ordinary low water. 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, balance available.... Amounted (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix R 7.) $54.92 5,000.00 5,054.92 560.79 4, 494. 13 5,000.00 5,000.00 8. Pearl River, Mississippi, from Jackson to Carthage.-The present project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a channel of 5 feet depth and of navigable width throughout. Before the improvement was commenced navigation, even during high water, was difficult on account of snags and overhanging trees. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $20,749.02, and resulted in such improvement of 62 miles of river from Carthage down that boats of 3 feet draught of water could navigate this distance on a 4-foot rise above ordinary low water. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $2,207.71, and resulted in the improvement of 89 miles of river from Carthage down, so that light-draught boats can navigate this distance with comparative safety on a 3-foot rise above ordinary low water. July 1, 1888, amount available.... $0.9 Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. 2,500.00 2,500.9 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... 2,207.7 July 1, 1889, balance available 293.2 26, 500.0 5,000.0 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project - (See Appendix R 8.) 9. Pearl River, Mississippi, below Jackson.-The present project fo the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1880, th object being to obtain a channel 5 feet deep at ordinary low water, an of navigable width from the mouth of the river up to Jackson. Before the improvement the river was not navigable at all at lo water, and difficult at high water. The amount expended on the work to June 30, 1888, was $92,115.4 and resulted in the complete improvement of that section of the rive from the head of the cut-off near the head of West Pearl River down t the mouth at the Rigolets, a distance of 51 miles, and the partial in provement of the river from Jackson down to the cut-off, a distance 264 miles, The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $7,239.51, and resulted in the thorough repair of the plant, in reworking part of Homes Bayou; in closing West Pearl or Old River with willows, and the partial improvement of 25 miles of river from the head of the cut-off to Pool's Bluff, so that light-draught boats can navigate a distance of 76 miles from the mouth up all the year round. 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, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix R 9.) $9.55 15,000.00 15,009,55 7, 239.51 7,770.04 55,000,00 30,000.00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR act of AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Gulf Port Harbor, Mississippi, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Damrell, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix R 10.) At the following localities, reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, the result of the preliminary examination containing information sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary: 1. Bluff Creek, Mississippi, from its mouth to the head of navigation.— Estimated cost of improvement $1,000, to be applied to removal of logs and other obstructions from channel, and the removal of leaning trees. (See Appendix R 11.) 2. Leaf River, Mississippi, from its mouth to the mouth of Bowie Creek, near the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad.-The improvement proposed contemplates the removal of snags, logs, and gravel-bars at an estimated cost of $25,000. (See Appendix R 12.) 3. Chickasahay River, Mississippi, from its mouth to Enterprise.-This river is considered worthy of improvement by the removal of logs, snags, and overhanging trees from its mouth up to railroad bridge near Shubuta, at an estimated cost of $30,000. (See Appendix R 13.) 4. Bayou Chitta [Bogue Chitto], Louisiana.-Estimated cost of improvement $55,000 (not including necessary changes to seven bridges crossing the stream), to be applied to securing a channel for steam boats by removal of snags, logs, overhanging trees, and fish traps, and the closing of the west mouth. (See Appendix R 14.) The required preliminary examinations of the following rivers have been made by Major Damrell, and they are considered worthy of im provement. The surveys provided for by the act have not been completed; the reports will be submitted when received: 1. Sipsey River, Alabama, from the Tombigbee River at Vienna to Texas, with a view of easy transportation of coal. 2. Warrior River, Alabama, from Tuscaloosa to Demopolis, for deeper ing and widening the channel with a view of the easy transportation of coa 3. Tombigbee River, Alabama and Mississippi, between Vienna an Cotton Gin, with a view of obtaining continuous navigation. INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS OF TH MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officer, Capt. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers. The inspecting officer in his annual report states that the principa work undertaken during the year is the renewal of the concrete cap ping of the east jetty. The channel required by law has been maintained during the yea except for eight days, when there was a deficiency between 8,000 an 10,000 feet below East Point, rendering dredging necessary. The least depth during the year from river to sea was 27 feet, an the least width of the 26-foot channel was 210 feet. At the head of South Pass the least depth during the year was 30. feet; this is the present depth and at no time has the width of the 30 foot channel been less than 490 feet. Beyond the ends of the jetties the most direct 30-foot channel be came barely closed in May in consequence of a slight shoaling, but th one turning to the eastward maintained during the year and has depth of 33.8 feet, the 26 and 30 foot channels being 430 and 200 fee wide, respectively. No vessels have had any trouble in the pass or jetties during th year. Numerous violations of the rules regulating the navigation of Sout Pass were reported to the War Department during the year. The case were taken into court, but as yet no decision has been rendered. 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, balance available.... (See Appendix S.) $4.4 10,000,0 10, 004. 4 8,962. 1 1,042.2 IMPROVEMENT OF VARIOUS WATER-COURSES IN THE STATE O LOUISIANA-IMPROVEMENT OF SABINE PASS AND OF SABINE ANI NECHES RIVERS, TEXAS. Officer in charge, Capt. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Tchefuncte River and Bogue Falia, Louisiana.-The river is navigable for steamers drawing 5 feet to Old Landing, about 10 or 12 miles above its mouth, and then for lighter-draught schooners to Covington, abou 2 miles further up on the Bogue Falia. The bar at the mouth of the river had a depth of 4 feet on it at the lowest stage of the water. The project for the improvement of the river was made in 1880, and contem plated the removal of overhanging trees, logs, etc., in channel, and the dredging of the bar at its mouth. The obstructions, such as overhanging trees, logs in beds, etc., were removed, but the bar at the mouth was not dredged, as it would b likely to reform. To prevent this, or retard its reformation, the officer in charge in 1884 recommended the building of a breakwater, extending into the lake for 2,500 feet, and then dredging a channel through the bar. With the two appropriations of $1,500 each, made in 1881 and 1882, the obstructions below Covington were removed. Part of the unexpended balance was used for the construction of the breakwater extending 820 feet into the lake. The original estimated cost of improving the river was $5,460, but this did not include building a breakwater across the bar. The project, as modified in 1884, is estimated to cost $20,400. This has not yet received the sanction of Congress. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $3,000 had been expended on this improvement, at which time the navigation had been improved for schooners to Covington in consequence of removal of snags and overhanging trees, and it is thought that the breakwater has retarded the drift of sand on the bar at the river's mouth. Twenty-five hundred dollars was appropriated by Congress in August, 1886, to improve Bogue Falia between Old Landing and Covington. Early in 1887 operations began, and channels were cut through the bars in this stretch of bayou 5 feet in depth and 30 to 60 feet wide, giving better navigation to schooners to and from Covington. To carry out the project for making the mouth of the Tchefuncte a harbor of refuge, $19,000 will be required. Otherwise no money for the further improvement of this stream during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is required. July 1, 1888, amount available.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... (See Appendix T 1.) $127.13 127.13 2. Tickfaw River and its tributaries, Louisiana.-In 1879 Congress authorized an examination of this river. A project was submitted in 1881 to clean out the river and its navigable branches-the Natalbany, Blood, and Ponchatoula rivers-by removing logs, snags, trees, etc., at an estimated cost of $10,230. In 1881, 1882, 1886, and 1888 Congress made appropriations, aggre gating $7,000, and 20 miles of the Tickfaw and the Natalbany to Springfield, the head of navigation, have been improved. Work was also done on the Ponchatoula as far as it was thought advisable. The Blood River was also cleaned out as far as navigable. Only a little wood and some saw-logs are carried or floated on this stream. The improvement is not permanent, as obstructions will re-form in all these streams. With the appropriation of 1886 the work was completed according to the original project, but obstructions having re-formed in the mean time, it was necessary to use the appropriation of 1888, $1,000, for removing them. An annual appropriation of $1,000 will keep these streams in good order. July 1, 1888, amount available. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. Jaly 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, balance available $170.04 1,000.00 1, 170.04 1, 151.84 18.20 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix T 2.) $1,000.0 1,000. 3. Improvement of Amite River, Louisiana.-Before improvement th river was obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and trees. One or two sma steam-boats and a few sailing vessels were employed in the commer of the river. In 1880 a project was made to remove obstructions abov Bayou Manchac, so as to get 5 feet depth as far as appropriations woul permit. Eight thousand dollars was appropriated, and the improv ment of 40 miles of river above Bayou Manchac was contracted fo The work was of little benefit to commerce. In 1881 $5,000 more w appropriated to continue the work. In 1883 the project was modifi so as to improve the river below Bayou Manchac, and work was do upon about 8 miles of river. In 1886 $2,000 more was appropriated to continue the improvemen This was applied to that portion of the river below Bayou Mancha and principally between there and Port Vincent. Work was resum in November, 1886, and completed in January, 1887, and the chann cleared. In 1888 $5,000 was appropriated, of which $2,500 was made applic ble to Bayou Manchac by the terms of the act. Under this appropriation Bayou Manchac was cleaned out from mouth to Hereford, Landing, a distance of 9 miles, and the obstru tions that had re-formed in Amite River below the mouth of Manch were removed. The improvement is not a permanent one, as new obstructions w form from the caving banks. The estimated annual expense of keeping this stream clear is $2,00 The original estimated cost of the work on Amite River only w $23,760, of which $17,500 has been appropriated, and there has al been appropriated for Bayou Manchac $2,500. July 1, 1888, amount available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. 333 5,000 5,333 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1988.. 4,709 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 624 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 3,760 3,800 (See Appendix T 3.) 4. Bayou La Fourche, Louisiana.-The natural channel was much structed by snags, overhanging trees, shoals, and wrecks. The origi project, adopted in 1879, had for its object the removal of these structions. The amount expended on this work up to the end of fiscal year e ing June 30, 1884, was $24,998.24. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, v $3,756.21 for care of property, gauge-readings, and continuing impro ment. Much relief has been given to commerce by removal of snags, |