UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New Orleans, La., March 6, 1871. SIR: You are charged with the duty of making an examination and survey of the mouth of Trinity River, Texas, for the purpose of obtaining full and reliable information on which to base a plan and estimate for work of improvement, designed to deepen the main outlet of the river, so as to admit the entrance of vessels drawing 5 feet. You will first make an examination of the passes through which the river debouches into Galveston Bay; to ascertain the present condition as regards depth of water in each pass, and over the bar at its mouth; the length of each bar and its character; determine the volume of discharge through each pass by measuring a cross-section, and observing for velocity of current; further, observe the velocity of current over each bar. It is only deemed necessary to make an approximation in determining these points. Having collected the information indicated above, you will be able to decide on a practicable plan for making the desired improvement. Having decided on a plan or plans you wish to recommend, make a careful survey, to furnish all the data required for making an estimate of the probable cost of carrying out each plan. Lastly, all attainable information regarding facilities for obtaining labor and material for the work you recommend; also regarding the amount of commerce to be benefited by the work, should be collected. On completion of the field-work of the survey, you will return to New Orleans, and report to this office in writing, giving full account of the conduct of the survey, and such other information as this letter of instructions calls for; also giving your plans, estimates, and recommendations for the proposed work of-improvement. The report should be accompanied by charts of the survey, fully illustrating the plans you present. It is expected you will be able to charter a proper vessel, employ boatmen, and purchase provisions at Galveston. A small sailing-vessel, with accommodations for yourself and three men, will be most suitable for your purpose. The early completion of your field-work and economy of expenditure are desirable. The sum of $300 is furnished you to cover expenses on the field-work, excepting your own salary and mileage from and to New Orleans. CAPTAIN: In compliance with your letter of instructions, (prefixed,) dated March 6, 1871, I have completed a survey of the mouth of Trinity River, Texas, and submit herewith my report, accompanied by a chart of the survey: Trinity River debouches into Galveston Bay through three main outlets or passes, and into Turtle Bay, which is connected with Galveston Bay through several and comparatively insignificant passes or bayous. The whole of the delta thus formed, from the village of Wallaceville, which is located about two and a half miles above the heads of the main passes to the bays, is a low, marshy formation, elevated about 15 inches above the surface of the river, during its low-water stage, and, at every considerable rise in the stream, entirely overflowed. The bed of the river and the passes is of the same character as the banks. During floods, sand and lighter material is brought down from the upper river and deposited at the mouths of the several outlets, forming bars by the action of the flood-tides coming from the Gulf of Mexico through Galveston Bay. The material of these bars, as fast as deposited, is assorted, and the lighter portion cast back on the shores of the delta, while the sand is left as the predominating material of the bars. Pass A (see chart) is the only one now in use by steamboats and other vessels, as it presents the least obstruction of any to navigation. It was dug out by the United States Government in 1865, to facilitate the supply of fuel to the troops stationed in Galveston; it debouches into the strait connecting Turtle and Galveston Bays. It is obstructed by a bar at its debouche into the strait, which admits over it vessels drawing not more than 44 feet, which depth would be sufficient were it not for the extreme narrowness of the channel affording that depth. The crossing is 1,400 feet in length, 20 feet wide for 44 feet depth, and from that shoaling each side until, at a distance of 75 feet from the center, the depth is decreased to 1 foot. A number of logs adds to the obstruction. The most serious obstruction to the use of this pass is found where the strait debouches into Galveston Bay, in a bar which, for a distance of 2,500 feet, has for the average depth of water over it 3.75 feet. The middle or main pass was the one formerly used; it debouches directly into Galveston Bay; discharges a greater volume of water and with greater velocity than any of the others; its bar, however, is very long and shoal, giving for a distance of 3,500 feet only an average depth of 2.7 feet. These two passes are the only ones worthy of any attempt at improvement; and in deciding between them, I have been governed by considerations other than the ones usually made prominent, viz: volume of discharge and velocity of current. Considering the relative exposure of the bars at the two passes to the injurious action of southerly and easterly storms, which sweep up Galveston Bay, we find that Pass A is well protected by the high land opposite its debouche, and that an excavation through the outer bar can be secured by a comparatively cheap breakwater, serving at the same time as a guide for the current through the strait. At the mouth of Middle Pass there are no such advantages, considering the amount of excavation required at each, to give a channel 44 feet deep and 150 feet wide. The following figures show greatly in favor of Pass A, viz: Middle Pass Bar, 3,500 feet by 150 feet by 1.8 feet... Pass A, (inner bar,) 1,400 feet by 130 feet by 2 feet. Pass A, (outer bar,) 2,500 feet by 150 feet by 75 feet 35,000 cubic yards. 13, 481 10,453 23,934 cubic yards. There is further to be considered the commerce of Turtle Bay, which will be benefited by improving the entrance to the bay, and the interests of the settlement opposite to the mouth of Pass A, the port of a fine agricultural country on the east shore of Galveston and Turtle Bays, and a place of considerable trade; one of the beef-packing establishments alone packing 6,000 beeves per annum. The relative cost of improving the two passes is shown below, viz: Pass A, dredging 23,934 cubic yards, at 50 cents..... Breakwater at mouth, 10,000 piles, at 15 cents.. Breakwater on bar in bay, 12,000 piles, at 15 cents.. Total.. Middle Pass, dredging 35,000 cubic yards, at 50 cents.. $11,967 00 1,500 00 1,800 00 675 00 In favor of Pass A...... 1,558 00 In conclusion, I have to recommend that if any improvement be attempted, Pass A be selected for the work; that channels 150 feet wide and 4 feet deep be excavated through its inner and outer bars, and that the excavation be protected by pile breakwaters, located as shown on the accompanying chart. At the head of Pass A there is a raft formed about obstructions placed in the stream during the rebellion; these, however, do not impede navigation, and are useful in catching drift-wood, brought down the river in considerable quantities during floods, and closing the small outlets into Turtle Bay. The commerce to be benefited by the improvement I have recommended gives employment to nine steamboats making regular trips up the Trinity during the active season, and to twenty-five sailing craft, conveying to Galveston about 15,000 bales of cotton and about 2,000,000 feet of lumber per year. I make this only as an approximate statement, having been obliged to collect my information from various sources. No statement of return freight could be obtained. The following table, showing the observed depth, width, velocity, area of cross-section, and volume of discharge of the river and its outlets, is submitted, viz: In conclusion, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 1,140 GUSTAVE DYES, N 7. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, New Orleans, April 28, 1871. GENERAL: In compliance with your instructions, dated Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, July 23, 1870, I have the honor to report that I have caused to be made, under the personal supervision of Civil Assistant Gustave Dyes, civil engineer, a survey at the mouth of the Sabine River. The report of Assistant Dyes, and the chart which he has prepared to-accompany it, are forwarded herewith. The Sabine debouches through four passes into Sabine Lake, and thence into the Gulf of Mexico through Sabine Pass; the bar at the entrance to this pass usually affords 7 feet of water, and during continued southerly gales, 9 feet; the lake affords at all times 7 feet until near the delta of the Sabine River. Sabine City, located on the west bank of Sabine Pass, is the port of entry for all goods destined for the trade dependent on the navigation of the river; at this point transfer is made to and from the small steamers and sailing craft employed on the river. Without, at great expense, first improving the entrance to Sabine Pass, there can be no advantage gained by improving the entrance to Sabine River so as to admit the passage of vessels drawing more than 4 or 5 feet. Assistant Dyes estimates that, by deepening the entrance to the river to 5 feet, commerce will be benefited to the amount of about 15 or 20 per cent.; this depth has been assumed as the maximum required, and on that assumption Mr. Dyes bases his estimates for works of improvement. It is questionable whether the interest involved is of sufficient importance to warrant any attempt at improvement, since the entrance to the river is now 33 feet deep-a greater depth than is afforded by the Missouri River, above Fort Randall, for the greater portion of the year, to accommodate the vastly more important trade with Montana, which has forced the building of steamers to suit the river, not the improvement of the river to suit the steamers. On the supposition that it will be to the interest of the Government to improve the entrance to the river, Mr. Dyes submits a plan for the work. He first recommends dredging a five-foot channel across the bar, at the mouth of Middle Pass. This, he estimates, will remain open for about five years. To preserve it for a longer time, he recommends the use of converging jettees. Afterward, should it be deemed advisable, he recommends the closure of the cut-off and West Pass, and the revetment of the river banks to a point about one-half mile above the head of the passes. The recommendation is concurred in partially, viz: For the dredging of a channel across the bar at the mouth of Middle Pass. The other works recommended may be undertaken in the order in which they are named, should they be found necessary. For the work of dredging, Mr. Dyes estimates $13,033, or at 50 cents per cubic yard excavated. As I have before reported, owing to the small number of dredges on this coast, the demand for them in the neighborhood of the large cities, and the comparatively small amount of work recommended at the mouth of the Sabine, which will not tempt owners from equally lucrative, larger, and more accessible works, I do not think it safe to place dependence alone on contracting for such work, and therefore add to the estimate of Mr. Dyes enough to permit the purchase of dredge-boat, scows, and tug, should advertisement for contract-work fail to meet an answer, as has already happened, much to the embarrassment of work authorized on the inner bar at Galveston Harbor, Texas. With the estimate increased as I recommend, the work may be done by contract, if possible; if no offers for contract are made, then by purchase of dredging-machines, thus insuring the work against falling to the ground for want of money to carry it on. As I shall make the same recommendation for work at the mouth of Trinity River, Texas, and as one dredge and accessories can be made to answer for the two works, I estimate one-half of the expense for each, viz: The plan recommended is substantially the same as that recommended by Lieutenant Henry L. Smith, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, in 1853. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. W. HOWELL, Captain of Engineers, U. S. A. Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: You are charged with the duty of making an examination and survey of the mouth of Sabine River, Texas, for the purpose of obtaining full and reliable information on which to base a plan and estimate for work of improvement designed to deepen the main outlet of the river, so as to admit the entrance of vessels drawing 5 feet. You will first make an examination of the four passes through which the river debonchies into Sabine Bay, to ascertain their present condition as regards depth of water in each pass and over the bar at its mouth, the length of each bar, and its character, determine the volume of discharge throug each pass by measuring a cross-section, and observing for velocity of current; further observe the velocity of current over each bar. It is only deemed necessary to make a fair approximation in determining these points. Having collected this information indicated above, you will be able to decide on a practicable place for making the desired improvement. Having decided on a plan or plans you wish to recommend, make a careful survey to furnish all the data required for making an estimate of the probable cost of carrying out each plan. Lastly, all attainable information regarding facilities for obtaining labor and material for the work you recommend, also, regarding the amount of commerce to be benefited by the work, should be collected. On completion of the field-work of the survey, you will return to New Orleans and report to this office in writing, giving a full account of the conduct of the survey and such other information as this letter of instructions calls for; also giving your plans, estimates, and recommendations for the proposed works of improvement. The report shall be accompanied by charts of the survey, fully illustrating the plan you present. It is expected that you will be able to charter a proper vessel, employ boatmen, and purchase provisions for your outfit, either at Sabine City or Orange. A small sailing vessel, with accommodations for yourself and three men, will be most suitable for your purposes. The early completion of your field-work and economy of expenditure are desirable. The sum of $300 is furnished you to cover expenses in the field, excepting your own salary and milage from and to New Orleans. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Mr. GUSTAVE DYES, C. W. HOWELL, Captain of Engineers, U. S. A. Civil Engineer, New Orleans, Louisiana. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, CAPTAIN: In compliance with your letter of instructions (prefixed) dated January 23, 1871, I have completed a survey of the "mouth of Sabine River," and submit herewith my report, accompanied by a chart of the survey. Sabine River empties into Sabine Lake, (more properly Sabine Bay,) throngh four channels, two of which are the main outlets, viz, East Pass and Middle Pass; the other two, the Cut-o ffand West Pass, are branches of the latter. The shores of these passes, and of the river for several miles above them, are marshy flats, at low water being only from 0.5 feet to 1.3 feet above the surface of the stream, and at every rise being completely inundated. The soil is similar to that of the Louisiana marshes.(prairie-trees blente,) consisting of deposits of decomposed vegetable matter, interspersed with shells; the general level is occasionally varied by shell mounds. The country does not admit of cultivation. A few settlers have occupied the shellmounds for shingle-yards and trading-stations, to supply the numerous small vessels which navigate the river. With the exception of a few cypress trees and pig-nut hickories, there is no timber within sight of the passes, and but little south of Orange, a small town located on the west bank of the Sabine River, about twelve miles above its mouth. The beds of the passes are of a yielding, marshy nature, similar to their embankments, while the bars which obstruct their outlets into the lake are almost entirely composed of sand and shells, having only here and there a small strip of mud bottom, not more than two feet wide, marking the center of the channel. The current of the passes decreases greatly in velocity as it approaches the lake, and is felt but a short distance out; it deposits on the bars mud and sand. The mud during flood-tide is swept back to the shore, leaving the sand to consolidate with the shells, which are probably grown in place, and form the bar. There is but little driftwood brought down the river, and there are no log obstructions in any of the passes or on the bars. With the exception of the bars referred to, the river as well as the lake are in good navigable condition, admitting all kinds of vessels calculated to do a river business. The entire agricultural product of a large tract of country is conveyed to market via Sabine River. The channel now used by vessels is that through the Cut-off and Middle Pass. In 1861 the mouth of Middle Pass was obstructed by sunken flat-boats, (that being then the main channel,) and such improvements as have been since attempted have been made at the mouth of the Cut-off, which now gives a channel 0.5 feet deeper than that across the bar of Middle Pass.. The flat-boat obstructions referred to are now out of the channel, and will not be in the way of improvements projected at the mouth of Middle Pass. Middle Pass is by nature intended to be the navigable outlet of the Sabine River, and should it be deemed of importance to improve the entrance to the river so as to give admission to vessels drawing 5 feet, I recommend the work to be done at the mouth of Middle Pass. The plan of dredging a channel across the bar at the mouth of the pass is the only one which offers certain results, and is the one which I recommend. It may be found advantageous, after the excavation has been made, to partially protect it by piling, which shall combine the useful qualities of a breakwater to protect the excavation from the lake side, and of jettees, to concentrate the river discharge upon the bar. I have estimated for both, believing that by the use of breakwaters or jettees the stability of the channel will be greatly increased. Should dredging alone be resorted to, it is probable that the channel excavated will practically remain unimpeded for four or five years, since the sediment annually deposited by the river only amounts to about 0.09 feet. The nature of the soil forming the delta of the Sabine does not encourage a project |