River Commission, on September 28, 1888, by direction of the Secretary of War. July 1, 1888, amount available.... July 1, 1×-9, amonut expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888............... July 1, 1889, balance available............... (See Appendix Y 1.) $2,748.25 765.45 1,982.80 2. Mississippi River, between the Ohio and Illinois rivers.-The original condition of the navigable channel of this portion of the Mississippi River, before the work of improvement was begun, was such that the natural depth at low water was in many cases from 3 to 4 feet and the water was scattered by islands which formed sloughs behind them, thus wasting the water available for low-water navigation. The project for improvement adopted consisted in closing these sloughs and by contraction works to concentrate the water between banks 2,500 feet apart, the object being to thus obtain a depth of 8 feet in the channel between St. Louis and Cairo and 6 feet between Grafton and St. Louis at standard low water, or at a stage corresponding to a gauge reading of 4 feet on the St. Louis gauge. The amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, was $3,648,150.11. The condition of the improvement at this latter date was such that a good channel of not less than 8 feet was maintained from St. Louis to Bushberg, a distance of 27 miles, as far as work had been carried up to that time. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $173,827.34. The work accomplished by this expenditure having been almost entirely done since the beginning of March, 1889, it has not been sufficiently long in place to state as yet what results it has produced in increasing the depth and otherwise benefiting navigation; but reasoning from analogy and from results produced heretofore by the same system and methods, it may be confidently stated that the results will be very beneficial to navigation in increasing the channel depth. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, work was done at the following localities: Horsetail. The work at this locality consisted in the repair of the hurdle, closing the chute to the east of Carroll's Island, which had been damaged by ice and partially burned down by hunters or fishermen during the winter; 450 feet of hurdle was built and the bank revetment at head of island repaired. This work may be considered as completed and has resulted in an average fill of about 12 feet over an area of 1,000 acres, has reduced the river to a width of 2,500 feet, and rendered it navigable for the largest boats, and removed one of the worst bars in the river ("Horsetail"), where trouble was always met with at low water. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $4,093.58. Twin Hollows.-The work at this locality consisted in the revetment of the artificial bank near the head of the works, which showed a tendency to erosion. The work was done on the west bank, and 115,450 square feet of protection, consisting of brush matress and stone, was placed in position, protecting a length of 1,570 feet of bank. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $7,817.65. Pulltight. The project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881. The river at this point has shown a decided tendency to make a "crossing" above the point originally projected, and a carefal study of the locality was made and works laid out in conformity with this tendency. Four hurdles were projected to be built from the east bank, in order to throw the river across the middle bar here exist ing. Work was begun on the two upper hurdles in March, the two lower having been built the previous year. These hurdles were nearly com pleted when they were badly broken about the last of May by drift brought down by a sudden rise, and work has since then consisted in their repair. These repairs were nearly completed at the end of the fiscal year. The effect of these hurdles can not be determined till low water, but from present appearances they will accomplish the desired result of cutting away the middle bar; 2,775 linear feet of hurdles were constructed here and extensive repairs made. The amount expended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $104,495.96. Jim Smith's.-The project for the improvement of this locality consists in the construction of contraction works. On account of the existence of a very persistent middle bar it was determined to further extend the hurdles in order to close the chute to the east of the bar, and concentrate the water in such a manner as to remove it; two hurdles were extended an aggregate distance of about 1,500 feet, when the plant was removed to Pulltight to assist in the repairs at that point. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $14,079.66, which also includes amount expended at Sulphur Springs. Sulphur Springs.-The work at this locality is contraction work, the hurdles extending from the east bank. The project for this locality contemplated the extension and repair of the hurdles. The plant being otherwise occupied, the only work accomplished was the wattling of hurdle No. 16 at the head of Foster's Island. The work at this locality has very much improved the lower crossing. Lucas'. The project for work at this locality was adopted in 1888. It consists in contracting the river width to 2,500 feet, and preventing the waste of water now flowing through the chute behind Calico Island. This is a new work; four hurdles were built here whose aggregate length is 7,170 linear feet; they have been constructed since March, 1889, and the effect of the work can not be absolutely stated until low water. It is the continuation of the general project which has succeeded above. Amount expended for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, was $67,427.60. A reference to the plates accompanying the report of the officer in charge will give a graphic representation of the progress and effect of these works. The amount expended during the year was $173,827.34, and the total amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $3,822,005.54. The original estimated cost of the work, as revised in 1883, was $16,997,100. The aggregate amount appropriated to June 30, 1889, is $4,039,600. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, is $3,648,150.11. 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, amount covered by existing contracts... July 1, 1889, balance available... $173, 827.34 17,980.74 32, 507.95 $95, 658.37 300, 000.00 395, 658.37 224, 316, 03 171, 342.34 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....$12, 957, 500. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and haibor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Y 2.) 600, 000. 00 3. Gasconade River, Missouri.-This river was greatly obstructed by snags, logs, and leaning timber, which materially interfered with navigation. Work was commenced on this stream in 1880, and the project adopted for its improvement consisted in the removal of the snags and logs and the cutting of leaning timber and the construction of contraction works at shoal crossings. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $37,438.03, and at that time the navigation was much improved. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $2,498.06 was expended in removing obstructions from the bed of the river and cutting down leaning timber from the banks, thereby rendering the navigation of the river much safer. The original estimate for the improvement of this stream was $50,000, of which $42,500 has already been appropriated, leaving an estimated amount of $7,500 to complete the project. This amount will probably be exceeded, as new obstructions are continually forming, and it will require a small amount each year to keep the channel open after the principal work has been done. July 1, 1858, 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.... $61.97 5,000.00 5, 061.97 2,498.06 2,563.91 ====== Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1831 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Y 3.) 4. Osage River, Missouri.-The navigation of this stream was very much interfered with by obstructions in the channel and shoal crossings. The original project, adopted in 1871, was to obtain a low-water navigation of 2 feet by means of dams and training-walls, but this was abandoned and a new project, consisting in the removal of snags and logs, cutting of leaning timber and constructing dams and training-walls at shoal crossings, was adopted. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $195,844.52, at which time the navigation was in a fair condition, the worst obstructions having been removed. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $4,248.52 was expended in extension and repair of dam and training wall at Hoskin's Shoal, in repairing dam at Moore's Flat, and in removing obstructions from 60 miles of the river. This improved the navigation at low water by increasing the depths over the shoals and making the navigation of the river much safer than formerly. No estimate was made for the improvement of this stream under the second project; an annual appropriation is, however, required to keep this stream in navigable condition by the removal of new obstructions that are brought down during the floods. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $4, 155, 48 5,000.00 9, 155. 48 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $4,248.52 4,650.02 4,505.46 July 1, 1889, balance available Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Y 4.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of the Grand River, Missouri, was made by the local engineer in charge, Major Miller, 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 Y 5.) St. Louis Harbor, Missouri, reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion is concurred in by the Chief of Engineers. The information at hand is sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, and no further report or survey appears to be necessary. The improvement proposed contemplates contraction of the width of the river from a point opposite Bissell's Point to a point 4,500 feet above the bridge to 2,000 feet. Estimated cost $182,000. (See Appendix Y 6.) The required preliminary examination of Missouri River at Miami, Missouri, was made by the local engineer, Major Miller, and his report thereon may be found in Appendix Y 7. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, having made a specific appropriation of $25,000 for the improvement of the Missouri River at this place, and as the Missouri River Commission has the work assigned to it by law, it was considered that no further action by this office was required. The act also provides for a survey of Osage River, Missouri, from its mouth to the first shoal, and five miles above the same, and to report an estimate based on such survey of the cost of constructing one lock and dam within the limits of said survey, and the effect upon the navigation of said river of constructing said lock and dam. Major Miller was charged with this survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE DES MOINES RAPIDS AND THE MOUTH OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. Officer in charge, Capt. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. The general project consists in contracting the low-water bed of the river to an average width of 1,800 feet. All island chutes are to be closed by dams, and wing-dams and the river contracted where wider than the proposed channel. The works are generally built of brush and rock. Piling is occasionally used. Dredging has been done to remove the sand from the crossings of the worst bars. Work under the present appropriation has been done at Alexandria, Mo., Canton and Smoot Chutes, Whitney's Bar, and the numerous islands some 4 miles above the mouth of the Illinois. Dredging was done near Hamburgh. The hydraulic dredge was partially used during the fall of 1888. An allotment of the appropriation for the repair of the Sny Island Levee has been used for that purpose, and that levee is now in as good order as when the disaster occurred in May, 1888. 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, 18-9 outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1889, balance available.... $327.05 200,000.00 200,327, 05 $90, 213.05 13, 922. 17 36, 502.68 140, 637.90 59, 689. 15 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 300,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 1. EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Clarksville Harbor, Missouri, was made by the local engineer, Captain Ruffner, and harbor reported by him as worthy of improvement. This conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, and the report of the result of the examination containing information sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary. The improvement proposed is the construction of a dam to close chute between Clarksville Island and the Illinois shore, and the building of a wing-dam from the Illinois shore above the head of the Estimated cost, $25,000. (See Appendix Z 2.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND DES MOINES RAPIDS, INCLUDING IM. PROVEMENTS AT SPECIAL LOCALITIES BETWEEN THOSE POINTSOPERATING AND CARE OF THE DES MOINES RAPIDS CANAL. Officer in charge, Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Operations of snag-boats and dredge-boats on Upper Mississippi River. At the beginning of the fiscal year there was available the sum of $1,911.34, to which was added by act of August 11, 1888, the sum of $25,000, making a total of $26,911.34, all of which was expended during the year. In September and October and parts of July and August, 1888, and in May and a part of June, 1889, the snag-boat General Barnard was employed removing snags and other obstructions and assisting interests of navigation between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River. The snag-boat J. G. Parke and dredge Phoenix were employed removing wrecks and deepening channels during portions of September, October, and November, 1888, and May and June, 1889. The total amount expended for snag-boat service on the Upper Mis sissippi River, between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri, to July 1, 1889, is $549,640. |