In a communication from him of the 19th October, (see Appendix I 13,) Lieutenant Colonel Raynolds urgently recommends that in rebuilding the hulls of the large snag-boats, which must soon be commenced, iron should be used, by which their draught can be reduced from 44 feet to 24 feet, and their efficiency be very much increased. For carrying this proposition into effect he submits an estimate of $150,000 for three of the boats. Table showing the work done by United States dredge and snag boats during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870 Amount expended from July 12, 1870, to June 30, 1871.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. (See Appendix I 1.) $150,000 00 150,000 00 181, 341 91 141, 169 97 750,000 00 2. Improvement of the White, Black, and Little Red Rivers, Arkansas.— The act of Congress of March 3, 1871, appropriates $10,000 for this purpose. The lightest draught snag-boat of the fleet will be sent into these streams as soon as it can be spared from its work on the Missouri and Arkansas. But this appropriation can only keep it at work for about two months, during which it can do but comparatively little service. (Appendixes I 9, 10, and 11.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. The following examinations and surveys embraced in the second section of the act of July 11, 1870, were completed during the year: 1. At St. Louis and Alton Harbors, Mississippi River, between Alton and the mouth of the Maremec River. The survey of the Mississippi River between these points, including the harbor of St. Louis, was necessarily incomplete, owing to the limited time and funds at command. To reach a satisfactory conclusion as to the plan for, and cost of, securing a permanently improved condition of the Mississippi River within the limits named, requires the thorough, systematic survey recommended by Lieutenant Colonel Raynolds and his assistant, Captain Allen. The recommendations of Colonel Raynolds to improve the harbor at Alton, by closing the channel west of Ellis Island, opposite Alton, by a cheaply constructed dam; to diminish the abrasion of the river-banks opposite the mouth of the Missouri River, by clearing Mobile Chute and the slough west of Maple Island of snags and other obstructions to the free flow of water, and to diminish the scour in Sawyer's Bend by clearing the Pocket Chute of similar obstructions, are all concurred in. The re-opening of Cabaret Slough is desirable, but until the detailed survey recommended is made, no proper project for this or for other works, except those named above, can be prepared. There was appropriated for the improvement of the Mississippi River in the vicinity of St. Louis, in 1836, $15,000; in 1837, $35,000; and in 18H, $25,000; in all, $75,000; and it appears from a statement in a report to the City Council of St. Louis, in 1869, that the city had expended for various works for the improvement of the harbor, up to that date, $840,121. (See Appendix I 2.) A detailed survey of Cabaret Slough is now in progress, under the immediate charge of Captain C. J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 2. At Osage River, Missouri. (See Appendix I 3.) 3. At Ouachita, Little, Missouri, and Petit Jean Rivers, Arkansas. See Appendixes I 4, 5, and 6.) 4. Surveys and examinations of the bars and other obstacles to navigation of the Cache, St. Francis, Little Red, White, and Black Rivers, Arkansas. (See Appendixes I 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.) The following examinations and surveys directed by the act of March 3, 1871, are now in progress: 1. Survey of White River from Buffalo Shoals to the mouth of James Fork, Missouri. 2. At Black River, Missouri, to Poplar Bluff. 3. At Current River, Missouri, from its mouth to Van Buren. 4. At Fourche la Faive River, Arkansas. 5. At Camden, Arkansas, to Trinity, Louisiana, on Ouachita River. 6. At Cuivre River, Missouri, from its mouth to Moscow Mills. 7. At Bayou Bartholomew, from its mouth to the Arkansas State line. An examination and survey of the Mississippi River near Vicksburgh has been made by Captain C. R. Suter, Corps of Engineers, with the view of determining the best means of stopping the threatened cut-off in the river in that vicinity. One of the effects of such cut-off will be to transfer the city-landing two or three miles below its present position. The evil threatened is one of great magnitude to Vicksburgh. The report was submitted to Congress March 6, 1871. (See Appendix I 12.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE OHIO RIVER. Officer in charge, Major William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers. Of the works in progress at the commencement of the fiscal year the dikes at Beaver Shoals, at Rising Sun, and at Warsaw, have been finished. The dike at Medoc Bar is not quite completed, the contractor for this work having failed to complete his contract in the specified time. Under the appropriation of July 11, 1870, contracts were made for building a dam to close the left chute of the river at Brunot's Island, near Pittsburgh, for building a dike at Twin Islands, and for dredging at Merriman's Ripple and Deadman's Island. The dike at Twins has been built, and the dredging at Deadman's has been completed. No regular snagging operations were attempted last year, but a number of dangerous obstructions were removed from the river, in cases admitting of no delay. Under the appropriation of March 3, 1871, contracts have been made for extending the dike at the lower end of the Upper Twin, and for building a daur to close the left chute of the river at Marietta Island. Contracts have also been made for the services of two light-draught steamboats to be employed in removing obstructions, one above and the other below the falls. Detailed surveys of places requiring immediate improvement are being made, to furnish data for the economical application of future appropriations. The officer in charge urgently recommends that larger appropriations than those of the last two years be made for the improvement of this great river, and is confident that the sum asked for can be expended with the greatest advantage during the ensuing fiscal year. Amount on hand July 1, 1870 .... Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 Allotted for surveys, &c. Received from sales Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871..... Amount available July 1, 1871 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873: For building dams above the falls. For building dams below the falls For new survey and inspection steamer (See Appendix K 1.) $40,547 61 50,000 00 50,000 00 3.000 00 207 00 68,280 07 75, 474 54 $144,500 00 195, 000 00 12,000 00 12,000 00 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. At the mouth of the Muskingum River, Ohio, in compliance with act of July 11, 1870. The object of this examination was to determine definitely the long agitated question as to which of the two channels of the Ohio River at Marietta Ísland should be closed in the improvement of the river in that vicinity. In view of the importance of the subject a board of engineer officers in session at Cincinnati were instructed to visit and report upon the questions involved, and in concurrence with their opinion, after careful consideration of the subject, directions were given for building a low-water dam across the Virginia channel of the river, a little below the head of Marietta Island. (See Appendixes K 2 and K 3.) The third section of the act of March 3, 1871, provides for the survey of the Monongahela River, from New Geneva, in Pennsylvania, to Morgantown, in West Virginia, and also a survey at the mouth of the Licking River as a harbor of refuge. These are in progress under the charge of Colonel Merrill. WATER-GAUGES ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND ITS PRINCIPAL TRIBU TARIES. Officer in charge, Major William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers. of water-gauges at the following points on the Mississippi River, viz, St. Louis, Cairo, Memphis, Helena, Napoleon, Providence, Vicksburgh, Red River Landing, Baton Rouge, and Carrollton; and at the following points on the principal tributaries, viz, at Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri: Rock Island, on the Upper Mississippi; Louisville, on the Ohio; Florence, on the Tennessee; Jacksonport, on the White; Little Rock, on the Arkansas, and Alexandria, on the Red River. Owing to the continued high water that prevailed throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, the work of establishing these gauges was necessarily postponed until the annual low-water period. They will all be estab lished by the close of the present month. BRIDGING THE OHIO RIVER. A board composed of Majors G. K. Warren, G. Weitzel, and W. E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, was constituted in compliance with the fifth section of the act of July 11, 1870, to examine all bridges now erected, or being erected, across the Ohio River, and to report whether such bridges do or will interfere with the free and safe navigation of the river, and if so, what modification of span and elevation will be required to prevent obstruction. Their reports upon this subject will be found in Appendix K 4. These reports were transmitted to Congress and printed. The act of Congress of 3d March, 1871, requires the Newport and Cincinnati bridge to be so constructed that the channel span of 400 feet, as then located, shall have, under that span, a clear headway at low water of 100 feet, and further requires the bridge to fulfill certain other conditions. The bridge-company having submitted to the Secretary of War a modified plan of the bridge, which, upon examination by the board of engineers named above, having been found to conform to all the requirements of the act of Congress, you approved the plan on the 23d August last, and the bridge-company was duly notified thereof. IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE FALLS OF THE OHIO, AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL—IMPROVEMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND RIVER. Officer in charge, Major G. Weitzel, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvements at the Falls of the Ohio.-Since the last annual report the work under contract for the enlargement of the entrance to the Louisville and Portland Canal, and the completion of the new locks, has been nearly completed. The guard-gates at the head of the canal have been completed. Section No. 1 of the prism of the canal has been enlarged, and about one-half the work on the enlargement of the remainder of the prism has been done. The construction of the new side-walls, where the old side-walls were removed to widen the canal; the construction of a passage through the draw of the railroad-bridge for high stages of water; the completion of the excavation in the new branch of the basin; the excavation of the ledge of rocks at the foot of the locks; the construction of the guidewall at the same point, and the construction of the dam from the head of Sand Island to the Indiana shore, have all been placed under contract, and these works are all in progress. The appropriation of $200,000 made by the act of January 18, 1871, and $250,000 made by the act of March 3, 1871, will be expended on these works. Amount estimated as the cost of these improvements (see last annual report) is .. Of which there was allotted from appropriations of 1868 and 1869 .... $1,243, 500 00 263,200 00 250,000 00 200,000 00 250,000 00 300, 000 00 1,263, 200 00 19, 700 00 This excess the officer in charge thinks attributable to the insufficiency of the means available to carry on the work with greater rapidity. Amount received during the fiscal year Expenditures during the same period Remaining July 1, 1871.. Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, and which can be profitably expended, and which will complete the work (See Appendix L 1.) $353, 200 00 258, 830 23 450,000 00 300, 000 00 2. Improvement of the Cumberland River below Nashville, Tennessee.Contracts have been entered into for removing the old pier-foundation at Nashville, and for removing the obstructions at Nashville and Gower's Island, and at Harpeth Shoals, as far as the means available will permit. The preparations for doing the work have been commenced, and the officer in charge believes that if the stage of the river proves to be favorable the work will be completed during the present season. Amount estimated as the cost of this work (see special report survey of the Cumberland River, of January 20, 1871)... Appropriated by act of March 3, 1871. Amount still required $248, 821 00 30, 000 00 No money was received and none expended during the fiscal year. Remaining July 1, 1871... Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 (See Appendix L 2.) SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Under the provisions of act of July 11, 1870, Major Weitzel was charged with the survey 1. Of the Cumberland River, from its mouth to the head of navigation. (See Appendix L 3.) 2. Of the Wabash River, from its mouth to the town of Wabash, Indiana. (See Appendix L 4.) Reports upon the progress of these surveys were submitted to Congress in February last, and the act of March 3, 1871, directed their completion. The officer in charge reports that the field-work of both will be com |