ferred to is the natural channel of the river, and will be permanently the best if reopened and improved. The portion of the route below e, recommended by the board is unquestionably very objectionable on account of its abrupt bends. It was reluctantly adopted by the board, even after the rectifications proposed in their report. I now wish to expend the late appropriation of $50,000 in dredging in the south channel near the bluff bank, giving a width of 60 feet at bottom, and a depth of 6 or 7 feet at low water, increasing the depth still more if the funds allow, and leaving the city to continue their operations on Mr. Bird's cut through Puddledock Marsh. If the operations of the city give successful results, the improvement of the south channel will add to its usefulness-in fact is essential to it. If the operations of the city end in failure, the re-opened south channel could then be connected by an inexpensive cut, following the natural inclination of the river, with the portion of the present channel which, in Mr. Bird's scheme, is replaced by his cut through Puddledock Marsh. It is therefore requested that authority be given to advertise for proposals for dredging in south channel, commencing at its lower end, in accordance with the recommendation already made. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. A later report was made, as follows: WM. P. CRAIGHILL, Major of Engineers. I have to-day returned from Petersburgh, Virginia, and from a careful examination of the Appomattox River. The city authorities are confining their operations exclusively to the cut through the Puddledock Marsh. They have been working three dredges, and have nearly completed a cut 60 feet wide, and from 5 to 12 feet in depth at high water. The opinion of the board of engineers of September, 1870, concerning the Puddledock Cut, may be gathered from their printed report. My own opinion is and has been that that cut was altogether unnecessary. Now, however, that it is nearly completed, and as there seems a strong desire on the part of the community interested in the Appomatox that the cut should be fairly tried, and inasmuch as more than $100,000 of their money has been expended upon it, it seems best to permit its completion. The funds of the city are running low, and they are very desirous that the benefit of the expenditure of the money of the General Government shall be felt at an early day. Adhering to the recommendation of my report of May 2, for dredging in the south channel, I propose also to contract for doing a portion of the work in the Puddledock Cut. The city engineer estimates that, at the expiration of thirty days, (the time required for receiving proposals after advertisement,) there will remain about 25,000 cubic yards to be removed from that locality. If the United States assists with this portion of the work, in order to hasten its completion, which is very desirable if it is to be completed at all, and as the completion of this part of the work will liberate the three city dredges for the work in the south channel at an early day, I am inclined to make the recommendation now submitted. The recommendations of these reports were approved. Proposals have been called for accordingly, and it is expected to begin work actively on the river in a short time. Expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. $706 30 49,293 70 75,000 00 Q 7. Annual report on improvement of the Roanoke River, in North Carolina, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. An appropriation of $20,000 was made for this river by the act approved March 3, 1871. The survey made in the preceding winter showed that the river needed improvement, chiefly in the following particulars, viz: The removal of rocks below Weldon; of wrecks in Number. the lower portion of the river; of shifting bars at several points between Weldon and the mouth, and of snags and overhanging trees at many places. It was determined to use the appropriation in removing the most troublesome wrecks and other obstructions, which were placed in the stream during the late war; in taking out some of the worst rocks near Weldon, and to apply the balance of the money to cutting off snags and overhanging trees. Proposals were received May 18, of which an abstract is appended. They were all rejected, as the prices were deemed too high. A contract on reasonable terms was, however, made, under date of June 21, 1871, for removing a number of the most troublesome wrecks. Arrangements will be made for taking out, during the coming winter, some of the dangerous rocks near Weldon, and cutting off some of the snags, &c. A special report on the Roanoke River will be soon submitted. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871..... Available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872.. Required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873..... $220 75 19,779 25 25, 000 00 Abstract of proposals for removing obstructions in the Roanoake River, as per advertisement of April 18, 1871. Name. Residence. Price. Com- Commence. plete. Remarks. Annual report for fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, for improving mouth of Cape Fear River, North Carolina. An appropriation of $100,000 was made for this river by the act approved July 11, 1870. Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, immediately thereafter made a personal examination of the river below Wilmington, and recommended that "the first important step in any further attempt to improve the entrance of Cape Fear River is to renew the works for the closing of the small inlets in Zeke's Island, and the jettees for the preservation of the outer beach of that island." This recommendation having been approved, work was begun in Sep tember, 1870, and has been vigorously continued under the personal supervision of Mr. Walter Griswold, assistant engineer. The responsibility of this work passed into my hands November 7, 1870. A special report concerning it was made January 23, 1871, which was printed in Ex. Doc. No. 27, Senate, Forty-first Congress, third session. An additional appropriation of $75,000 was made March 3, 1871. This work is of a class where true economy requires the availability of a large sum of money, and very active expenditure of it. It is a breakwater, intended to close breaches between Smith's and Zeke's Islands, through which a large volume of water passes in and out, with the flooding and the ebbing tide. As the breakwater is extended, the space still remaining for the passage of the water is diminished, but the velocity of the water through the opening still left is greatly increased, and with this, its scouring power. The depth of the open channels are thus increased, and the expense of filling them proportionally. The estimate of my predecessor for the breakwater was $257,000. This amount would probably have finished the work, if at once appropriated and rapidly expended. That policy not having been pursued, more money will be required for the completion of the breakwater. A special communication will be shortly made on this subject, as also concerning the steps necessary for the further protection of Smith's Island, especially at its lower point, called the "Baldhead," and at other points where the island is very low and narrow, and in constant danger of breaches, under the joint agency of the sea and the winds. During the year just ended the breakwater and its superstructure have been extended a length of 607 feet, which includes the most diffi cult and tedious portion, owing to the great depth and velocity of the water. A much more rapid progress of the work, longitudinally, may now be expected. By the end of June, 1872, it will probably be more than 2,000 feet in length. Besides the construction of the breakwater, attention has been given to the maintenance of existing sand-bills and beaches, and the formation of new ones by the use of cheap catch-sand fences, which have succeeded well. Shrubbery and other vegetation suited to the locality has also been planted and cultivated to advantage with the same object. This work of improvement is in the collection district of Wilmington, North Carolina. The information given below is reliable, and pertains to the fiscal year just ended. The foregoing statements include nothing but direct foreign exports; the larger portion of cotton, naval stores, &c., which ultimately are shipped to foreign ports, are carried by coasting-vessels to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, &c., and are credited to those cities. That portion of these articles not intended for home consumption could be shipped direct to their destination if deeper water existed on the bars at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, so as to enable large vessels of greater draught to enter. Below is a statement of the exports from this district to all parts of the world during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. This statement is compiled from the records of the Chamber of Commerce of Wilming ton. The principal articles only are given: Below is a comparative statement of foreign and coastwise shipments from this port for the past fiscal year, compiled from the two statements above: Large quantities of iron, copper, and other metals, and coal, are found in the valley of the Deep River, and Upper Cape Fear River. These are of excellent quality, and are easily procured. Three important railroads converge at Wilmington. An appropriation of $150,000 is requested for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. Expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 Q 9, (1.) $102, 514 18 72, 485 82 150, 000 00 Annual report upon the improvement of Queenstown Harbor, Maryland, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. A survey of the harbor was made in November, 1870, the results of which were submitted in my report of January 2, 1871. The improvement needed was the dredging of a channel in Queenstown Creek, 100 feet wide at bottom and 8 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $9,500. An appropriation of $5,000 was made by the act approved March 3, 1871. It was determined to expend this appropriation in making a channel 8 feet deep, and as of great width as the funds would allow. Proposals were called for by advertisement of March 20, 1871. An abstract of those received is appended. A contract was made with Mr. John W. Parks, dated April 26, 1871. Work under the contract is now progressing favorably, and will be completed this season. If the amount of the original estimate had been appropriated in one sum, the work would have been thereby completed. To commence an improvement of this kind, and then suspend it for many months until a new appropriation becomes available, adds greatly to the total cost. Queenstown is situated in the collection district of Baltimore, which is the nearest port of entry. The report of January 2, 1871, which is printed in Ex. Doc. No. 60, Forty-first Congress, third session, (H. R.,) indicates the present and prospective commercial importance of this harbor. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870 ..... $2, 635 20 2,364 80 6,000 00 |