between Brashear City, Louisiana, and Galveston, Texas, are cutting a straight channel 12 feet deep from the deep water at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River through Atchafalaya Bay to the Gulf. This channel is well located, and its completion is of present importance to the commerce of Texas. A statement of the work already done and an estimate of the cost of the completed work are submitted. (See Appendix N 11.) 7. Calcasieu Pass is the outlet of Calcasieu Lake in Southwestern Louisiana, and the bar at its head is the only obstacle to prevent vessels drawing 5 feet from ascending to the town of Lake Charles, Louisiana, fifty miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Calcasieu River, Lake, and Pass constitute a natural outlet for the commerce of a considerable and productive portion of Louisiana, which will be greatly benefited by improvement of its navigation. The estimated cost of improvement is $15,000, if it can be made in connection with improvements on Sabine and Trinity Rivers, Texas, for which estimates have been rendered; if not, the estimate will be $40,000. (See Appendix N 12.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF MOBILE-SURVEYS AND EXAMINATIONS OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN ALABAMA AND WEST FLORIDA. Officers in charge, the late Major C. B. Reese, Corps of Engineers, to September 22, 1870; Captain A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers, to December 12, 1870; since which Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, with Captain Damrell under his immediate orders. 1. Improvement of Mobile Harbor and Bay.-Under the appropriation of $50,000 by the act of July 11, 1870, the contractor deepened Choctaw Pass to a depth of 11 feet and width of feet, thus giving a free passage for vessels drawing 10 feet at mean low water up the bay to the wharves of Mobile. On the 3d of March, 1871, Congress appropriating $50,000 more for this work, a contract was made for continuing it. This will open Choctaw Pass to a width of 200 feet and depth of 13 feet, and do something toward improving the channel through Dog River Bar. The amount required to make this last channel 13 feet deep and 250 feet wide is estimated by Colonel Simpson, exclusive of last appropriation and of cost of removing the upper and lower line of war obstructions, at $629,315 52. An act of the legislature of the State of Alabama, approved in 1869, created a commission for the improvement of the harbor and bay of Mobile, and directed the county commissioners to issue county bonds to be applied to that purpose. The commission during the year has been duly organized, and demand has been made upon the county commis sioners for bonds to the extent of $200,000. This commission has co-operated with the United States engineer officer in charge of the improvement of the harbor and bay, and has removed the upper line of obstructions, making a clear passage-way 600 feet wide; it has also contracted for the removal of the lower line of obstructions, and the work is now in course of execution; this has left the entire appropriation, made by Congress at its last session, available for payment for dredging. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. 20,714 76 $50,000 00 50,000 00 Amount available July 1, 1871 .... Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873 (See Appendix O 1.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS UNDER THE ACT OF JULY 11, 1870. 1. Examination and survey of the Coosa River.-The survey, begun in September, 1870, under the immediate charge of the late Mr. H. C. Fillebrown, was pushed forward with all dispatch up the river until December 29, 1870, when the work was closed for the season at the railroadbridge of the Selma, Rome and Dalton Company, near Wilsonville, Alabama, by the high stage of water in the river, the winter-rains having already set in. Mr. Fillebrown's preliminary report sets forth the practicability of the improvement of the river. The survey was transferred in June last to the charge of Major Walter McFarland, and is still in progress. (See Appendixes O and O 3.) 2. Examination of the Tombigbee River, Alabama.-This was made by Mr. H. C. Fillebrown, civil engineer. He states in his report that the river is susceptible of improvement by the removal of logs, snags, and other obstructions, and Colonel Simpson recommends an appropriation of $21,500 for this purpose. (Appendixes O 4 and O 5.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1871. 3. Mouth of Apalachicola River, Florida.-A survey has been carried across the bar at the mouth of the river to 11 feet of water. A prelimi nary examination has been made for the purpose of locating the best channel to be improved across the bulkhead, and other shoals in the eastern portion of St. George's Sound, to enable vessels to reach the city by the eastern pass between St. George's Island and Dog Island. A preliminary examination has also been made to determine the practicability and propriety of improving New Inlet, a new channel through St. George's Island, nearly south of Apalachicola, and almost in the prolongation of the natural channel across the bar at the mouth of the river. A report with maps and estimates is expected at an early day. (Appendix O 6.) 4. Chattahoochee River, below Columbus, Georgia. 5. Choctawhatchie River, Florida. 6. At the mouth of the St. Mark's River, from Spanish Hole to St. Mark's, Florida. 7. At Tampa Bay, Florida. Examinations and surveys at these last four localities have been deferred until the more favorable season of autumn. Preparations have been made for their prosecution, and the results will be submitted as soon as received. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS AND RIVERS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST SOUTH OF CAPE FEAR. Officer in charge, Major Q. A. Gillmore, Corps of Engineers, who has Captain Ludlow, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Improvement of the ship-channel in Charleston Harbor. With the $13,000 appropriated by act of March 3, 1871, for this object, it is proposed during the present fiscal year to remove the several wrecks named and described below, viz: 1st. The Palmetto State, an iron-clad gunboat, sunk in the mouth of Town Creek, just above the city, in 1865. 2d. The Charleston and the Chicora, two wrecks which lie nearly together in Cooper River, below Drum Island, off Marshall's wharf. 3d. The Patapsco, a single-turreted monitor, sunk in the channel-way in 29 feet of water, near Fort Sumter. 4th. The Beatrice and her companion, two wrecks lying close to gether, (near the inner mouth of the Beach Channel,) abreast of Sullivan's Island, upon the north side of Drunken Dick Shoal. For the further improvement of Charleston Harbor, the following sums are asked: For removal of the wreck near Fort Sumter... For dredging in Beach Channel .. For removal of wreck of the monitor Weehawken. Total .... 2. Obstructions in Town Creek, near Charleston, South Carolina.—These obstructions, consisting of the wrecks of a torpedo-boat and a dry-dock, have been removed, so as to secure a continuous depth of 9 feet at mean low water over the positions which they occupied. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871.... Amount available July 1, 1871... $7,500 00 4, 654 26 2,845 74 3. Improvement of the bar at the mouth of St. John's River, Florida.— A contract was entered into for this work under conditions which promised success, by which the channel across the bar was to be deepened, and, by raking, dredging, or otherwise, maintained to a minimum depth of 10 feet at low water, and a width of 80 feet. An increased depth of from 1 to 2 feet was several times attained; but, the appliances employed by the contractor being insufficient, the contract was finally annulled. The officer in charge proposes during the present fiscal year to deepen this channel according to the following plan, viz: To charter a suitable steamer for six months, and furnish her with a 9-inch centrifugal pump, two branches of 6-inch suction-hose, and a timber bin for holding the sand. The pump-engine to be connected with the steamer's boiler. The sand pumped from the bottom is to be discharged from the bin into deep water, either inside or outside the bar, as may be most expeditious. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871... Amount available July 1, 1871 $15,000 00 15, 000 00 30, 000 00 334 07 29, 665 93 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. 1 Savannah Harbor, Georgia, in compliance with provisions of act of March 3, 1871.-The details of the wrecks, cribs, and shoals which constitute the obstructions of this harbor were carefully examined from above the city to Tybee Roads. The final report and recommendations have not yet been received, but a thorough examination and survey of Back River and Savannah River from the city to the junction with Back River is recommended, and an estimate of $5,000 for that purpose is submitted. The recommendation is concurred in. 2. St. John's River, Florida, from the outer bar to Jacksonville, (act of March 3, 1871.)—This work was not executed during the past fiscal year, but will be commenced early next December, and completed in time for the results to be submitted to Congress at its next session. 3. Charleston Harbor, provided for in section 2, act of July 11, 1870.— An examination of the various wrecks in the harbor was made, and a careful investigation was had to determine the best method of securing an improved channel of entry. This involved some hydrographic work, more particularly in the Beach Channel. (See Appendix P 1.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE PATAPSCO BELOW BALTIMORE, OF THE SUSQUEHANNA BELOW HAVRE DE GRACE, AND OF THE POTOMAC BELOW GEORGETOWN; IMPROVEMENT OF RAPPAHANNOCK, JAMES, APPOMATTOX, ROANOKE, AND CAPE FEAR RIVERS, AND OF THE HARBORS OF QUEENSTOWN AND CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND. Officer in charge, Major W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, who has under his immediate orders Captain C. B. Phillips, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of the entrance to the harbor of Baltimore in Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay.-(In charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, until November 6, 1870.)—Operations had been suspended for want of funds some time previous to the 1st of July, 1870. By the act approved July 11, 1870, an appropriation of $42,900 was made. The dredges and scows, the property of the United States, were repaired as soon as practicable, and were worked during the remainder of the season in the Brewerton and Craighill Channels. At the close of operations the machinery was sold, and a contract for dredging was made on the 20th April, 1871. Up to the close of the fiscal year dredging was limited to the Brewerton Channel, where it was most needed. In this work Captain J. H. Cooper, the port warden, actively co-operated with two of the dredges under his charge. A further appropriation of $50,000 was made March 3, 1871. Under a contract for additional dredging, the improvement of the entrance will be greatly advanced during the remainder of the working season and the spring of 1872. The entrance should have greater width and depth than the means now available will give. Range beacons are much needed, in order that the Craighill Channel can be fully utilized by night as well as by day. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870.... Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871 Amount received from sales of property Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. Amount available July 1, 1871 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873. $42,900 00 50,000 00 19,550 00 20,453 30 92,010 58 200, 000 00 (See Appendix Q 1.) 2. Improvement of Susquehanna River, near Havre de Grace.-(In charge of Colonel J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, to November 7, 1870.)— An appropriation of $12,000 was made by the act of July 11, 1870. Under a contract with the American Dredging Company of Philadel phia, operations were begun September 20, 1870, in dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at low water, extending from near Fishing Battery light to the mouth of the dredged channel. The material of the old movable deflector was applied during the working season of 1871 in the construction of a fixed wooden dike, to concentrate the flow of the water below the railroad-bridge, as had been proposed and practically accomplished by the temporary movable structure built several years ago. The new fixed deflector will be completed before November 1, 1871, to a length of about 3,500 feet. A permanent dike should be built on the line of the present wooden structure. Expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1871. (See Appendix Q 2.) $11,253 35 7,283 05 50,000 00 3. Improvement of Potomac River.—(In charge, until November 10, 1870, of Major N. Michler, Corps of Engineers.)-An appropriation of $50,000 was made by the act of July 11, 1870, for the improvement of this river between the Long Bridge and Georgetown. After some delay a contract for dredging was made December 6, 1870, under which work has been continued in improving the Virginia or Georgetown Channel, giving it a width of 200 feet, and a depth of about 14 feet at mean low water. This channel will be completed during 1871. The location and extent of some dangerous rocks near Georgetown have been determined, whose speedy removal is very desirable. Nothing further now being required for the Virginia Channel, the propriety of improving the Washington Channel below Long Bridge deserves consideration, as well as of opening a channel from the Maryland draw of the Long Bridge to near Easby's Point. Amount appropriated by act of July 11, 1870... Amount expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1871.. Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1873... (See Appendix Q 3.) $50,000 00 26,568 54 23, 431 46 160, 000 00 4. Improvement of Rappahannock River, below Fredericksburgh.-A report on the improvement of Rappahannock River was made January 26, 1871. This report indicated that the principal obstructions to naviga tion consisted of bars formed by alluvial deposits, and, in a few cases, the remains of wrecks sunk for military purposes during the war. An appropriation of $15,000 was made for this river by the act approved March 3, 1871. One wreck near Fredericksburgh has been removed. The dredging of a channel 8 feet deep at low-water, through the Spottswood and Fredericksburgh bars, has been commenced, and will be completed during 1871. Arrangements for the removal of several other wrecks from the river has been made, which is to be accomplished during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. Amount appropriated by act of March 3, 1871... $15, 000 00 510 87 |