As a result of the work of the suag-boat during past years, accident and damage from snags, wrecks, and other similar obstructions hav become very rare. By the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was mad for operating snag-boats and dredge-boats on the Upper Mississipp River under an indefinite appropriation, the sum so expended not t exceed the amount appropriated in said act for such purposes. Th clause of the act regulating the annual expenditure for snag-boats an dredge-boats on the Upper Mississippi River is as follows: "For oper ating snag-boats and dredge-boats on Upper Mississippi River, twenty five thousand dollars." 2. Mississippi River from Minneapolis to Des Moines Rapids.-Prior t August 11, 1888, this work was carried on under appropriation for "improving Mississippi River from St. Paul to Des Moines Rapids. The act of August 11, 1888, extended the upper limits of the distric from St. Paul to Washington Avenue Bridge, Minneapolis. Under this appropriation is carried on the improvement of throng navigation. Work has been in progress under approved projects since 1878, and very favorable results have been secured, showing that with a continuance of the work under liberal appropriations the low water channel of the Mississippi between St. Paul and the Des Moines Rapids can be made comparatively safe, convenient, and permanent. The interests for which the improvement is being made are very large and important. During the past year work has been carried on by days' labor and use of Government plant between St. Paul and Prescott, in vicinity of Fountain City, West Newton Bar, Crooked Slough, between Otter Island and Nauvoo, in vicinity of Winona, Pontoosac, and Rock Island Rapids; and, by contract, in vicinity of Fort Madison and between Fairport and Muscatine. Temporary work in deepening channels by dredg ing was carried on at numerous points. There has been expended to June 30, 1889, for the permanent improvement of through navigation, the sum of $1,701,775.28, or $3,235 per mile. It is estimated that there can be expended to advantage during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, for the continuation of the improvement of the low-water channel of the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to Des Moines Rapids, the sum of $1,000,000. July 1, 188, amount available Received from sale of fuel.. 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....... $65, 225, 53 111.04 600, 000, 00 665, 336.57 $205, 473.97 302, 495.53 362,841.04 1, 000, 000, 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 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A A 2.) 3. Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-This work was commenced in 1866. The adopted plan provided for the building of a closed canal 8 miles long and for cutting an open channel in the rock bed of the river over the remaining 4 miles of rapids. The canal was opened in August, 1877, though not fully completed, and has been in operation since that time. During the past year the floating boom connecting outer canal-wall with upper draw-rest of Keokuk Bridge was constructed at a cost of $13,500, leaving $11,500 of the $25,000 appropriated for the purpose to be applied toward carrying out the existing project. A small amount of rock above grade in the open canal above Nashville was removed and the raising of the walls at lower lock and the construction of sluice at Sandusky were commenced. The work remaining to be done to complete project is the completion of sluices at Price's and Lamallee's creeks and of the raising of the lock-walls at middle and lower locks, a small amount of rock excavation in the open channel, construction of an office building at lower lock, and a small amount of embankment paving. There has been appropriated and allotted for this work the sum of $4,552,950. The net cost to the United States has been to June 30, 1889, $4,518,034.57. 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, 189, amount covered by existing contracts.. July 1, 1889, balance available $25, 240, 16 35,000.00 60, 240, 16 $26, 343.85 710.18 12,858.88 39, 912.91 20,327.25 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Saburitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A A 3.) 22,000.00 22,000.00 4. Operating and care of Des Moines Rapids Canal.-During the past year the Des Moines Rapids Canal was open for navigation two hundred and forty-five days, during which time there passed through it one thousand and twenty-two steam-boats and two hundred and eightyeight barges, carrying 22,880 passengers, 50,008 tons of merchandise, and 381,559 bushels of grain. There also passed through 118,508,045 feet B. M. of lumber, 26,333,320 feet of logs, 50,221,099 shingles, and 37,413,810 laths. The expenses of the year have been $38,885.37, and the estimated expenses for the coming year are $45,000. The expenses of operating and care of the Des Moines Rapids Canal are provided for by an indefinite appropriation made by act of March 3, 1881. (See Appendix A A 4.) 5. Dry dock at the Des Moines Rapids Canal, Mississippi River.-The approved project for this work provides for the building on the river side of the Des Moines Rapids Canal, above the middle lock, of a drydock 400 feet long and 100 feet wide, with gates giving an entrance into the canal 80 feet wide. The original estimate of cost was $125,000, which amount has been appropriated by Congress. There have been expended to date $122,992.55, leaving an available balance of $2,007.45, which is sufficient to complete the work at an early day. The large plant owned by the United States and the entire commerce of the Upper Mississippi River will be benefited by this improvement. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 188. July 1, 1869, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1889, balance available (See Appendix A A 5.) $16,250.00 $14,017.55 14, 242.5 2,007.45 6. Harbor of refuge on Lake Pepin, at Stockholm, Wisconsin.-On the breaking up of the ice in the spring of 1888, which occurred at high water and in a violent storm, the breakwater was much damaged. It was decided to rebuild the pier with sloping sides, which work was be gun August 23 and completed early in November, 1888. expended on this work to July 1, 1889, is $24,860.53. July 1, 1888, amount available.... The amount $5,929.06 5,789.59 139.47 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding June 30, 1888.. July 1, 1889, balance available.... (See Appendix A A 6.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Major Mackenzie, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such 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. Malone City Harbor, Illinois. (See Appendix A A 7.) 2. Mississippi River, the main slough at Hamilton, Illinois, to the end of securing a good and sufficient steam-boat landing at that point.—(See Ap pendix A A 8.) 3. Mississippi River at and near the head of Beaver Island, at Clinton Iowa, to determine what is necessary to remove the sand-bars there formed and forming, so as to make_navigable and protect the entrance to the west ern channel, and the channel itself that runs between Beaver Island and the Iowa shore. (See Appendix A A 9.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ABOVE THE FALLS OF ST ANTHONY-IMPROVEMENT OF CHIPPEWA AND ST. CROIX RIVERS WISCONSIN; OF MINNESOTA RIVER, MINNESOTA, AND OF RED RIVEI OF THE NORTH, MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA-RESERVOIRS AT THI SOURCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI-IMPROVEMENT OF YELLOWSTONI RIVER, MONTANA AND DAKOTA. Officers in charge, Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. W. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate order since April 9, 1889. Division Engineer since December 3, 1888, Col. C M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mississippi River above Falls of St. Anthony, Minnesota.-The pres ent project, adopted in 1880, consists in improvement of the river b ween Aitken and Grand Rapids, a distance of 165 miles, by removal suags, bowlders, bars, and leaning trees from the channels, and construction of wing dams, when necessary, to afford 3 feet depth during low-water stage, the cost being estimated at $54,127. Under the ap propriations of 1880-'81 and '82, the river between the points named was well cleared of large numbers of obstructions. But, between 1884 and 1888, and during the flood of the latter year, large numbers of snags and overhanging trees were formed. The appropriation, $10,000, by the act of August 11, 1888, was applied to removal of obstructions, and by the close of the fiscal year the improvement had been carried to a point about half way between Grand Rapids and Aitken, and, in addition, a number of bowlders were removed to within 20 miles of the latter point. Total expended to June 30, 1888, $35,000. Total expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, including outstanding liabilities, $8,668.17. Before improvement commenced in 1880 the stream between Aitken and Grand Rapids was so obstructed that navigation was difficult and at times almost impossible for steamers of lightest draught. There is now a general depth in the improved channels of 3 feet at low water, but there are many snags, leaning trees, bowlders, and masses of gravel yet remaining to be removed, as they contract the channels and thus interfere with the movement of steamers at any stage of water. Several steamers navigate this portion of the Mississippi, carrying passengers and freight to the settlements, and supplies for lumber camps.. The sum of $18,000, estimated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is for completion of the improvement between Aitken and Grand Rapids. This estimate adds $8,872.50 to the original estimate. July 1, 1888, amount available, including that for outstanding liabilities ($3.67) Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $3.67 10,000.00 10, 003. 67 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 18-8..... July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $7,610. 31 July 1, 1889, balance available 8, 668, 17 1,335.50 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... $18.000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1891 18,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B B 1.) 2. Reservoirs at headwaters of the Mississippi River.-The object of the reservoirs is to collect surplus water, principally from the precipitation of winter, spring, and early summer, to be systematically released so as to benefit navigation upon the Mississippi River below the dams. The reservoir project is the outcome of surveys and examinations made in 1869, 1874, 1878, and 1879. From the results of these examinations, and further examinations made in 1880, the first cost of constructing reservoir dams in Minnesota and Wisconsin was placed at $1,809,083. The cost of land and other damages to result from construction and operation of the proposed dams was not included in that estimate, as they could not be predicted with any approach to accuracy. The present project consists in constructing reservoir dams at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, that locality having been selected for commencing the work in consequence of an approp tion made by the river and harbor act approved June 14, 1880, for e struction of a reservoir dam at Lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota, a for other reasons, given in Appendix Y to the annual report for 18 By 1886, four of the reservoirs had beer created. Expended upon this work, to the close of the fiscal year ending Ju 30, 1888, including examinations at proposed dam-sites, hydrologi observations, land damages, amounts set aside as awards to Indian and care and maintenance of the works, $596,800.27. The reservoirs were operated, 1885-1888, during the seasons of lo water, to the benefit of navigation on more than 200 miles of the Miss sippi River, viz: Between Grand Rapids and Aitken, 165 miles, and fro St. Paul to some distance below the confluence of the Mississippi and S Croix rivers. Expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, in care and mai tenance of the works, and increasing the capacity of the Pokegan Reservoir, $14,673.26. During the past spring, and to the close of June, the reservoirs mai tained a boating stage on the Mississippi River between Grand Rapid and Aitken, the river between those points having received but litt rainfall. The sum of $80,000 (estimated) for the fiscal year ending June 3 1891, is to be expended in care and maintenance of the reservoir dan and dikes, in creating a reservoir at Sandy Lake, in connecting th three reservoirs above Grand Rapids by telephone, in constructing line of telegraph from the Pokegama Reservoir to Aitken, and in operat ing and maintaining the line. 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 ... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1, 174, 583. 54 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B B 2.) 80,000,00 3. Chippewa River, including Yellow Banks, Wisconsin.-The plan for improvement of the Chippewa River consists in revetment of caving bends and construction of dams and jetties from Eau Claire to the confluence of the Chippewa and Mississippi, a distance of 57 miles, to confine the low-water volume to a channel of nearly uniform width and depth. The general plan was adopted in 1877, and the work has been carried on in accordance with it, varying, however, more or less, as to location and extent of dams, jetties, etc. The protection of the Yellow Banks consists in a revetment of piling and facines, the latter to be crowned with rock. The object of the Yellow Banks protection is to prevent their erosion, and thus to relieve the channels of the Chippewa River and of the Mississippi below the junction of the two streams from the masses of sand contributed by those banks. The plan for protecting the banks was adopted in 1883. The improvement of the river and the protection |