opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement. 1. Rio Grande River, New Mexico, from Embudo to El Paso, Texas.— (See Appendix V 9.) 2. For removal of raft on Guadaloupe River, Texas.-(See Appendix V 10.) 3. Mouth of Caney Creek, where it empties in Matagorda Bay, Texas.(See Appendix V 11.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer for removal of bar at mouth of Cedar Bayou, where it empties into Galveston Bay, Texas, that the locality is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Major Ernst was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. WESTERN RIVERS. IMPROVEMENT OF RED RIVER, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN THE STATES OF ARKANSAS AND TEXAS, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN THE STATES OF LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TENNESSEE, TRIBUTARY TO THE MISSISSIPPI-WATER GAUGES ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND ITS PRINCIPAL TRIBUTARIES. Officer in charge, Capt. J. H. Williard, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Red River, Louisiana and Arkansas.--The present improvement was begun in 1872. At that time navigation above Shreveport, La., was almost impossible on account of the great raft. Low-water navigation between Shreveport and Grand Ecore, La., was affected seriously by the gradual enlargement of Tone's Bayou outlet, which depleted the main channel of the river below. The entire river from Fulton, Ark., to its mouth was greatly obstructed by snags, sunken logs, wrecks, leaning trees, etc., and the channel at the falls at Alexandria, La., was insufficient for the demands of commerce. The project has contemplated the removal of the great raft, the closure of Tone's Bayou, the removal of snags and other obstructions, opening a channel through the falls at Alexandria, increasing the depth of channel at shoal places, and improving Alexandria Harbor. The work from 1872 to the end of the fiscal year 1888 consisted of the removal of the raft, preventing its reforming, and clearing the river of obstructions. The excavation at the falls of Alexandria was practically completed. The work for the protection of Alexandria Harbor was completed according to the project as far as the funds available would permit. This, in connection with the dam at the lower falls, has been of some benefit to the river bank at Alexandria. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $800,158.17. In the past year snag-boat operations have been continued when the stages of water would allow advantageous work. The river has been at a good boating stage the greater portion of the time, and this, coupled with the work performed, has rendered navigation good and comparatively safe, except for a period of less than six weeks. As soon as the water reaches a low stage a large amount of work will be needed, as the banks will cave and slide as the river falls, and the snags and stumps in the channel will become dangerous to navigation. The act of August 11, 1888, provided for continuing work in Cypress Bayou and the lakes between Shreveport, La., and Jefferson, Tex., and in Bayou Dorcheat (tributaries of Red River), by allotments of $5,000 for each of these water ways from the appropriation for this river. Heretofore, these have been provided for under separate heads of appropriation. Twelve-Mile Bayou, on the Cypress Bayou route, was cleared of obstructions in May, and the remaining work under the project for this stream, i. e., the removal of stumps from the channel through Sodo and Fairy lakes and a small amount of dredging, will be done as soon as practicable. Work in the Dorcheat line, begun in May, was still in progress at the end of the year, but probably will be finished in August. Survey of Red River.-This was begun in 1886 and continued until March, 1887, when the available funds were exhausted, the field work having been carried from Fulton, Ark., to Caspiana Landing, La., 44 miles below Shreveport. Operations were resumed in February, 18:9, and a precise level line has been run, along the railroad, from the Coast and Geodetic Survey bench at Delta to Shreveport, La., connecting the survey with that of the Mississippi; the survey from Fulton, Ark., to Shreveport has been gone over and permanent bench-marks and triangu lation monuments set. From Shreveport precise levels and tertiary triangulation have been carried down-stream for 62 miles. This work will be continued to the mouth, placing benches and monuments at points selected for secondary triangulation, making a close topographic and hydrographic survey on the way. The survey will then be completed by secondary triangulation from the Atchafalaya River to Fulton, Ark., connecting with the Coast Survey and Mississippi River system. 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.. $1,841. 100, 000, 00 101, 841. 8 $38, 948.95 39, 074. 73 62, 767. O July 1, 1889, balance available................ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 100, 000, 0 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 1.) 2. Cypress Bayou, Texas and Louisiana. This improvement includes the whole navigable channel from Shreveport, La., to Jefferson, Tex.. via Twelve Mile Bayou, Sodo and Fairy lakes, and Cypress Bayou. The first project consisted in cutting and dredging a high-water chan nel from Jefferson to Red River, which was completed in 1880, at a cos of $94,000. The act of August 5, 1886, appropriated $18,000 "to complete the improvement." The project for application of this amount contem plated rebuilding the dredge formerly used on this work, and by means of this boat to straighten and mark the present channel, remove stumps therefrom, and reopen cuts by dredging. The amount expended upon the latter project to June 30, 1888, was $17,661.71, with which the dredge was rebuilt and the work in Cypres Bayou proper, which included the principal amount of dredging, com pleted. That remaining to be done was straightening and clearing the channel of stumps through the lakes to Shreveport at a cost of $7,500. The act of August 11, 1888, provided $5,000 for continuing this work from the amount appropriated for "improving Red River, Louisiana and Arkansas," and the work is reported under this head. The balance available July 1, 1888, has been expended in connection with this allotment. July 1, 1888, amount available July 1, 189, amount expended during fiscal year (See Appendix W 2.) $338.29 338.29 3. Ouachita and Black Rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana.-The improvement of Ouachita River was begun in 1871. Black River, the connecting stream between Ouachita and Red rivers, was added under the same head of appropriation by the act of 1884. The present project contemplates the removal of wrecks, logs, snags, leaning trees, etc., obstructing navigation, and the improvement of shoal places between Camden, Ark., and the mouth of the Black River. The original project contemplated improvement by a system of locks and dams, but was abandoned in 1874 on account of its cost and doubtful utility. The amount expended under present project to June 30, 1888, was $193,912.13. Besides the removal of obstructions, an increased depth of from 12 inches to over 3 feet was gained at some of the shoal places. Resumption of operations in these streams was delayed by various causes, and nothing has been done for their improvement during the fiscal year. A light snag-boat was purchased and fitted up with machinery, etc., at a cost of $3,432.21, under provision of the act of August 11, 1888, and $732.82 has been expended for outfit of snag-boats. It is proposed to expend the available balance in operating the snag-boats during low water this summer and fall. No estimate for permanent improvement can be submitted, as ob structions are forming continually. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1829, balance available $20,000.00 4, 165. 03 15, 834.97 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 20,000. (0 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 3.) 4. Ouachita River, Arkansas, above Camden.-This is a new work. The project, based on examination made in 1887, contemplates removing snags, cutting leaning timber, and building brush dams at the shoals between Camden and Arkadelphia, Ark., at an estimated cost of $9,000. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $9,000 to complete the work, which will be applied to carrying out the project during the low-water season this summer and autumn. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 (See Appendix W 4.) $9,000 9,000 5. Bayou d'Arbonne, Louisiana.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1884, and contemplates the removal of snags, logs, wrecks, leaning trees, etc., obstructing navigation from Stein's Bluff to the mouth, 42 miles, at an estimated cost of $15,000, ENG 89-14 The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $7,000, which resulted in the removal of obstructions from about one-half of that part of the stream in which improvement is contemplated. In the past fiscal year operations were not commenced until June 18 after which date a light snag boat and chopping party were employed in removing obstructions, paying especial attention to the upper part in which no work had been done before. It is probable that the avail able balance will be expended by August 1. The work is not permanent, as new obstructions are forming con tinually. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $2,000.0 1,000.0 July 1, 1889, balance available ..... 1,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 6,000.0 4,000.00 (See Appendix W 5.) 6. Little River, Louisiana.-This is a new work. The project is based upon an examination made in 1887, which contemplated the improve ment of the portion of the stream between Catahoula Lake and Black River by the removal of sunken logs and leaning timber, at an esti mated cost of $2,500. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $2,500 for this purpose. A light snag-boat and chopping party were employed in removing the obstructions from May 23 to June 13, when operations were suspended by high water. The available balance will be applied to completing the project during extreme low water. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, balance available (See Appendix W 6.) $2,500,00 $1,701.60 1,708. 27 791.73 7. Bayou Bartholomew, Louisiana and Arkansas.-This improvement was begun in 1881, the project contemplating the removal of wrecks, snags, overhanging timber, etc., obstructing navigation between Baxter, Ark., and the mouth, a distance estimated to be 213 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $23,000. The work had extended nearly over the entire portion of the bayou included in the project and lessened the dangers of navigation. Before the improve ment commenced three months was the average duration of the navi gable season. Now it lasts six months and boats make trips in about one-third less time. Freight rates have been reduced about 33 per cent. Nothing was done during the fiscal year, but it is intended to employ the snag-boat and party working in Bayou D'Arbonne at the close of the year on this improvement as soon as practicable. Permanent improvement can not be secured, as new obstructions are forming continually. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $5,000,00 5,000,00 Amonnt that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 $5,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 7.) 8. Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana.-The project for improvement of this bayou was adopted in 1881, and contemplated the removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation between Wallace's Landing and its mouth, a distance of 280 miles. An examination of three outlets of the bayou near Point Jefferson, La., was made in 1884, and their closure recommended at a cost of $8,500. The amount of expenditures and outstanding liabilities to June 30, 1888, was $18,482.75. The removal of obstructions enabled boats to run to Point Jefferson, 19 miles below Wallace's, during high-water. Outlet No. 1 was closed. During the fiscal year 1888-'89 outlets Nos. 2 and 3 were closed, and the sand bar at Point Jefferson is washing away rapidly. Had the Outlets remained open the water ultimately would have left the main channel and navigation in Bayou Boeuf would have been destroyed. A chopping party and light snag-boat were employed in removing obstructions from Point Jefferson to the mouth, putting the bayou in fair navigable condition for the present. It is proposed to apply the available balance to continuing this work. No permanent improvement can be secured, as new obstructions are added from time to time. The appropriation herein asked for can be expended profitably in clearing the banks of timber, building brush wing-dams to scour the bars, and removing shore-slides and logs and snags from the channel. 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........... $197.25 6,000.00 6, 197.25 5, 219.73 977.52 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 7,500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 8.) 9. Tensas River and Bayou Macon, Louisiana.-The project for improvement of Tensas River was adopted in 1881, and contemplated the removal of logs, snags, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation from Dallas to its mouth, about 180 miles, at an estimated cost of $23,000. Bayou Macon, a tributary, was added under the same head of appropriation by act of 1884, and the project contemplates the removal of the same class of obstructions as in Tensas from Floyd to its mouth, about 130 miles, at an estimated cost of $17,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $11,000, $7,000 of which had been applied to improvement of Tensas River and the balance to Bayou Macon. During the fiscal year a light snag-boat and chopping party were employed in Bayou Macon February 1 to April 14, and in Tensas River April 15 to 22. Work in the former extended from Floyd to its mouth; in the latter it was confined to a stretch about 25 miles in length. Steamboat men speak well of the results, the master of the largest boat running in these streams stating that the run from mouth of Ma |