Page images
PDF
EPUB

The work has heretofore been done under four contracts, three for excavating and removing materials and one for the construction of part of the new canal wall along the northern line of the improvement from Tenth street west. One of the contracts for excavation was completed in November, 1886. The other two contracts for excavation expired December 31, 1888, leaving on one about 20 per cent. and on the other about 68 per cent. of the rock excavation to be done.

The contractors for the new canal wall have completed about 87 per cent. of their work.

The officer in charge has been authorized to purchase a plant and finish the excavation work by hired labor. The greater part of this plant has been purchased, and the work will begin when the river reaches a favorable stage.

An agreement has been made with Mr. J. B. Speed for the transportation of the excavated material after it is loaded in cars.

The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $299,394.54.

Enlarging basin of canal above new locks.-This work has heretofore been carried on under contract with Gleason & Gosnell. The time for completion, after several extensions, expired December 1, 1888, and the officer in charge was authorized to purchase a plant and finish the work by hired labor. The plant is now in place and active operations will begin as soon as the stage of the river will permit.

The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $30,345.66.

July 1, 1888, amount available

Add amount covered by contracts July 1, 1838..

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of

[blocks in formation]

$18,447. 05 140.048. 41 150,000.00

308, 495, 46

$38, 235.66

17, 606. 65

11, 194. 42

67, 036.73

241, 458.73

855, 363.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ..
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 300,000.00
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix E E 1.)

2. Indiana Chute, Falls of the Ohio River.-The present project is to remove projecting points and reefs in the chute between the crossdam and railroad bridge, so as to produce a straight and unobstructed channel 400 feet wide, and to raise the guiding-dike, which extends along the north side of the chute from the cross-dam 500 feet west. The chute was originally very crooked and full of dangerous reefs and points. The work already done has resulted in an unobstructed channel 250 feet wide.

No work was done on this improvement during the past year on account of the high stage of the river.

The amount expended to June 30, 1889, was $116,043.30.

A more definite project for greatly improving this channel and making it available at lower stages of the river and relieving the Louisville and Portland Canal is now being considered by a board of officers of the Corps of Engineers.

July 1, 1888, amount available....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

$9,412. 44 15,000. 00

24, 412. 44

July 1, 1889, amount expended ding fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 188.

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..

$455.74
10.50

466.24

July 1, 1889, balance available.....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....
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 E E 2.)

23,946, 20

115, 000, 00 75,000.00

3. Operating and care of Louisville and Portland Canal.-During the fiscal year the canal was open for the passage of commerce, with the exception of 46 days. It was closed 42 days on account of high water and 4 days on account of the sinking of a loaded coal-boat in the lower lock, which had to be dredged out. During the year 6,838 vessels, representing an undertonnage of 1,815,986 tons, were passed through the canal.

Work on the revetment slopes at the locks, which was done under contract, has been completed with the exception of 861 square yards. It is proposed to carry this revetment around the point at the lower end of the locks to protect the lower engine-house, and to give a proper finish to the work. A drilling scow has been built and fitted with steam drills, to be used in the excavations of the channel just below the locks. The dredges, with steam-boat tender have been employed in removing mud deposited in the canal; 82,000 cubic yards of this material have been removed; the dry-dock was used 62 days for repairs to other than Government vessels. New floors have been put on two of the bridges across the canal. Necessary repairs have been made to lock machinery and operating plant. It is proposed during the coming year to replace the middle gates of the new locks, and prepare for the renewal of the guard-gates of both the old and new locks if it should become necessary; to excavate the channel below the locks; to build two new mud-scows, and to have the city's water-pipes extended to the locks to supply water for the use of employés.

The total receipts from all sources amount to $1,010.89. The estimated amount required for operating and maintaining the canal during 1889-'90 is $94,660.

(See Appendix E E 3.)

4. Wabash River, Indiana and Illinois.-This river has been separated into two portions with reference to its improvement, Vincennes, Ind., being the dividing point, and appropriations have been made for each division.

Below Vincennes.-The first appropriation for the improvement of this river was made in 1872. The present project is the removal of rock ledges, sand-bars, snags, and other obstructions, and the closing of chutes, with a view to obtaining a navigable channel of 35 feet depth from the mouth of the river to Vincennes, and the construction of a lock and dam at Grand Rapids, near Mount Carmel.

In the beginning of the year the contractor for furnishing stone for the lock at Grand Rapids failed, and it was necessary to make purchases of stone in open market. Work was begun July 7, 1888, and carried on, with numerous interruptions on account of high water and

lack of stone, until November 10, when it was suspended for the season. The stone purchased in open market was from the Salem Stone and Lime Company, and they were also awarded a contract for a further supply on April 23, 1889. Work on the lock will be resumed as soon as the stage of the river will permit. A low dam of loose stone was placed across a number of low places beyond the end of the Grayville levee, to prevent a cut being made by flood water. The levee is in good condition, but it is proposed during the coming season to place sloping spur-dikes in the upper bend to prevent the cutting away of the river bank at the narrow part of the neck upon which the levee stands.

The snag boat was in operation as long as the limited amount of funds would permit, accomplishing good results.

Work is contemplated during the next low-water season in the rock shoal between Mount Carmel and Grand Rapids. This shoal is a barrier to low-water navigation and has caused great expense and delay in getting material to the lock.

Amount expended to June 30, 1889, $195,023.77.

July 1, 1888, amount available.....

Add amount covered by contracts July 1, 1888.

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive

[blocks in formation]

$9,698.90 10, 365.77 60,000.00

80, 064. 67

$35, 084.63

4, 746. 47

July 1, 1889, balance available

11, 219. 41

51,050.51

29, 014. 16

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..
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 E E 4.)

221, 600.00 100, 000. 00

Above Vincennes.-The project for the improvement of this part of the river was the removal of snags and other obstructions, and the construction of wing-dams where necessary. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, snagging operations were carried on from September 25 to December 29, 1888, when the work was stopped on account of the exhaustion of funds. This work was of great service to navigation, but will have to be continued to materially benefit the commerce of the river.

The amount expended on this river above Vincennes to June 30, 1889, was $70,748.22.

July 1, 1888, amount available....

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888

$60.03 5,000.00

5,060. 03

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888...

$4,808.25

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..

6.85

4,815. 10

July 1, 1889, balance available

244.93

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....
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.

20,000.00

10,000.00

(See Appendix E E 4.)

ENG 89-17

5. White River, Indiana.-The project for the improvement of this river has for its object the obtaining of a depth of 34 feet at low water between the mouth and the railroad bridge above Hazleton. The principal obstruction has been a rock ledge, known as Kelly's Ripple, through which a cut 2,250 feet long and 75 feet wide has been made, the excavated material being used for dikes on the sides of the channel. The work of the past year has been directed to removing the previously blasted rock from the channel, and has amounted to 7,835 cubic yards, which finishes the cut to a width of 75 feet.

The bridge above Hazleton continues to obstruct navigation, and no improvement above that point is at present contemplated. The railroad company operating the bridge have been notified to make such changes as will permit free and easy navigation. They have also been notified to change the bridge across the river, about one-half mile above its forks.

The amount expended on White River to June 30, 1889, was $102,

272.48.

July 1, 1888, amount available...

Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888..

$2,348.26

5,000.00

7,348. 26

July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..

July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities..

$2, 120.74
3.75

2, 124. 49

July 1, 1889, balance available......

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......
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 E E 5.)

5, 223. 77 12,500.00 10,000. 00

IMPROVEMENT OF GREAT KANAWHA, ELK, AND GAULEY RIVERS, WEST VIRGINIA, AND IMPROVEMENT OF NEW RIVER IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.

Officer in charge, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, until March 30, 1889, and after that Capt. Thomas Turtle, Corps of Engineers. Lieut. G. J. Fieberer, Corps of Engineers, was under the immediate orders of the officer in charge from August 30 to November 22, 1888, and Lieut. W E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, temporarily under his immediate orders from January 12 to March 29, 1889.

1. Great Kanawha River, West Virginia.-This river flows through a fertile and picturesque region, filled with mineral wealth, especially coal and salt. It was by nature divided into a number of pools, some of considerable length and depth, separated by shoals of gravel and coarse sand, which were the principal obstructions to navigation in low water, there being often on them at such seasons but a few inches of water. In some of the pools were found shallow places, also obstructing navigation. There were also snags and loose rocks in the channel. The navigation above Charleston was more obstructed than below. Above, it was almost suspended in summer.

The coal and salt were generally sent out on rises, which enabled the boats to pass safely over the obstructions that otherwise would stop their movements entirely. The use of the river for the movement of these valuable products was therefore unsatisfactory and intermittent. By the agency and superintendence of a board acting under the State, first of Virginia and then of West Virginia, considerable improvement

in the river was from time to time effected, tolls being charged on the commerce for the payment of expenses.

The object of the improvement begun several years ago by the United States was to give a constant navigable depth of at least 6 feet throughout the whole length of the Kanawha to its mouth at the Ohio River, to be accomplished by large locks and dams. Those already built have been about 300 by 50 feet.

The peculiarity of most of the dams is that they can be lowered when the stage of the water in the river will suffice over the shoals. This gives them the name of "movable dams," and enables an open river to be had where the water is high enough.

Dams 3 and 2, both above Paint Creek, are fixed, as the declivity of the river in that section is too great to permit the advantageous use of the movable system.

Up to June 30, 1888, the amount expended was $1,941,250.05.

At that date Locks and Dams 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 had been completed. The amount expended in the year ending June 30, 1889, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, was $34,953.28.

Lock No. 7 was let at contract on November 26, 1888, and preliminary work was commenced in January, and the excavating for and the placing of the coffer dam, and the quarrying and cutting of stone is now in progress.

Had funds been available all the locks and dams needed for this improvement could have been begun at the same time and finished in three years, with much economy to the United States and with manifest advantage in the use of the improved water-way.

The development of commerce on this river has been very great since its improvement by the United States, although the project has been only partially executed for want of money.

It is regretted that delay in the preparation of the deeds for the site of Lock and Dam No. 8 has prevented the letting of work upon the lock up to this time, whereby this season has been practically lost to that work. Summarily the work for the past season has been as follows: Operating at two fixed dams and three movable ones, extending riprapping, building cribs at head of lock and completing lock-house at No. 2; work preparatory to changing filling-valves at No. 3; commencement of work at No. 7, including the construction of a lock-house; acquisition of site for No. 8, and advertisement for the lock; dredging by the Government dredge at Lock No. 2, from the approaches at Locks 3 and 5-at Harvey's Shoal, at Witcher's Shoal; repairs to plant; building new dump-boat; repairs to and extension of telephone line, and preparation of plans for No. 8 and for the lock-house thereat.

During the long-continued season of low water in 1887 the value of the improvement was shown in a very marked manner, as free and sufficient navigation was maintained through it over the improved part of the river, while navigation was entirely suspended below the lowest dam and above the upper pool.

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

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »