in order to deepen the water at the main (Baldhead) bar entrance. The projects of 1872 to 1885, as continued to date, proposed the extension of the New Inlet Dam 2 miles further down the stream, to prevent the further erosion of Smith's Island at the Swashes. The project of 1875, as continued to date, proposed the occasional use of dredging upon the outer bar to assist the tidal currents in gradually localizing, straightening, deepening, and fixing the bar entrances to obtain first a 12-foot depth at low water and then a 14-foot depth. The projects of 1874 to 1881 for the 20 miles above New Inlet, as continued to date, proposed dredging and occasional diking wherever necessary across shoals, so as to secure first a 12-foot channel 200 feet wide and afterward a 16-foot channel 270 feet wide at low water over this whole length. The total final cost of this work under the projects of 1870 to 1885 was estimated in 1888 at $2,120,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $1,851,001.74 had been spent in all upon the proposed improvements of 1870 to 1882 with great success, obtaining a 14 to 14.5 feet least depth of water at the main bar entrance and completing a channel of 16 feet depth and at least 185 feet width 28 miles further to Wilmington. This depth, combined with the average rise of tide of.4.5 feet at the bar and 2.5 feet at Wilmington, is such that vessels loaded to 16 feet draught (9.5 feet more than in 1871) can readily go from Wilmington to the ocean in a single tide and any day of the year. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $52,888.33, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in widening the existing channels to full width of about 250 feet at the four upper shoals, in maintaining the existing channel at Snow's Marsh and at the new channel across the ocean bar, in completing the dikes between the river and ocean sounds from New Inlet southward to Smith's Island, and in minor work. Recent surveys show successful results everywhere. After the improvement is finished its proper maintenance may cost from $5,000 to $25,000 per year for a few years, but the improvement should be fairly permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects of 1871 to 1885 up to June 30, 1889, is $2,105,000. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $8,963.86 245,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888..... 253, 963.86 $41, 963. 15 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.... July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts.. 10,925. 18 159, 283. 72 212, 172. 05 July 1, 1889, balance available 41,791.81 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,825,000.00 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 M 12.) 250,000.00 13. Yadkin River, North Carolina.-The middle third of this river, the portion extending from the railroad bridge near Salisbury, 643 miles upward, to the foot of Bean Shoal, is the only portion so far under improvement by the General Government. ENG 89-10 When placed under improvement in 1880, this portion of the Yadkin River had its navigation completely obstructed by rock ledges, fish and mill dams, and numerous shoals, with a greatest depth of 1 foot at ordinary low water on some of its shoals and ledges. The original project of 1879 proposed to secure a 2.5 to 3 foot steam boat navigation during the entire year over the 644 miles above the Salisbury Railroad Bridge. The total final cost of the work necessary to give the desired depth over the entire 643 miles, and during only mean winter stages of water (two-thirds of the year), was estimated in 1887 at $400,000. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $84,957.92 had been spent in all upon this improvement in securing a channel of 40 to 70 feet width, and from 2 to 2 feet depth, during mean winter stages of water (eight months of the year), from the Salisbury Railroad Bridge, 28 miles upwards, to above Hartley's Mill. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $7,149.83, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in removing rock and sand from the channel, in building rock jetties, and in surveys for remaining work. All work in the field was suspended from November to May on account of cold and high water. The funds now on hand will be used up before new appropriations can become available. The improvement, once thoroughly completed, should be comparatively permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889, is $97,000. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $2,042.08 10,000.00 12, 042. 08 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888........ $6, 178.79 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities 971.04 7,149.83 July 1, 1889, balance available... 4,892.25 10,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M 13.) 14. Harbor at Georgetown, South Carolina.-When placed under improvement in 1880, this harbor had an excellent and well-protected anchorage of at least 1 mile in length, 150 feet width, and 15 feet depth. A bar of about 2,850 feet in length and with only 9 feet depth of water was the only obstacle to an otherwise good 13-foot navigation from Georgetown, 13 miles to the ocean. The original project of 1881, as continued to date, proposed to secure a dredged channel of 200 feet bottom width and 12 feet low-water depth entirely through this bar. The total final cost of this work was estimated in 1888 at $42,000. These estimates are now raised to $44,500 for reasons stated in the report of the officer in charge. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $16,834.10 had been spent in all upon this improvement, giving a through cut entirely across the bar, with 12 feet low-water depth, and with a variable width of from 80 to 100 feet. During the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $7,008.53, was used in widening the existing channel to from 110 to 140 feet. Work was stopped during a large part of the year for want of funds. The channel, once thoroughly opened, will probably be permanent. The aggregate amount appropriated for these projects up to June 30, 1889 is $24,500. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 $165.90 7,500.00 7,665.90 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $6,953. 47 7,008.53 July 1, 1889, balance available..... 657.37 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix M 14.) 20,000.00 20, 000, 00 15. Winyaw Bay, South Carolina.-When placed under improvement in 1886 this bay had only 9 feet least depth upon its bar entrance, with a 12-foot channel the rest of the way to Georgetown. The original project of 1885 proposed to secure a permanent bar entrance from 15 to 20 feet depth at low water. The total final cost of this work was estimated in 1885 at $800,000 for a bar depth at 12 feet (and $2,500,000 for a bar depth of from 15 to 20 feet) at low water. Up to June 30, 1888, a total of $3,751.72 had been spent upon this improvement in making necessary preparations for beginning work as soon as the available funds shall be sufficient for advantageous use. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, an additional $3,228.54, including outstanding liabilities, was spent in preparations for work. A special examination and report upon this work (called for by the provisions of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888) were made during the year. The funds now on hand will be expended before new appropriations can become available. The channel, once thoroughly opened, will probably retain its depth permanently. The aggregate amount appropriated for this project up to June 30, 1889, is $118,750. July 1, 1888, amount available, including amounts covered by existing contracts Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive $14,998. 28 100,000.00 114,998. 28 $3,021.92 3,228.54 111,769.74 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... 2,381, 250.00 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 M 15.) 16. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. Under section 4 of act of Congress approved June 14, 1880, notice to owners of the schooner Laura J., wrecked and sunk in Bogue Sound near Beaufort, N. C., was duly published. Subsequently, in August, 1888, this wreck was removed level with the sand bottom of the sound. (See Appendix M 16.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF August 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Swift Creek, North Carolina, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Bixby, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix M 17.) At the following localities, reported by the local engineer as worthy of improvement, and this conclusion being concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, the result of the preliminary examination containing information sufficient to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further report or survey appeared to be necessary: 1. Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.-It is proposed that the inlet and its southern inside channel be dredged to a depth of from 12 to 15 feet to form a direct ocean outlet for the commerce of Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, and also to form an inlet to a refuge from the violent storms of Hatteras. The estimated total cost of the dredging necessary is from $100,000 for a depth of 10 feet to $280,000 for a depth of 15 feet. If it should be found necessary to provide training or protecting dikes (which is not thought probable), they could be built for $320,000, making a total for dredging and diking of $600,000.-(See Appendix M 18.) 2. Water way between New River and Swansborough, North Carolina.Improvement proposed is to provide a 3 or 4 foot navigable channel at high tide from Swansborough to New River at a total cost of $43,000.(See Appendix M 19.) 3. White Oak River, North Carolina.-Considered worthy of improvement for steam-boats from the ocean upwards, about 29 miles to near Sabiston's Bridge, and thence for flats, about 21 miles further to Collin's Ford, at a total estimated cost of $45,000.-(See Appendix M 20.) 4. Tar River, from Tarborough to Rocky Mount, North Carolina.-Estimated cost of improvement, $16,200, to be applied to removing snags and other natural obstructions.-(See Appendix M 21.) 5. Cape Fear River, North Carolina, from Wilmington to the ocean, with an estimate of the cost of its improvement, with a navigable channel twenty feet deep at mean low water.-The improvement proposed contemplates obtaining 20 feet depth at low water in the river proper and from 18 to 20 feet depth at low water on the bar by dredging at a cost of about $1,100,000, and if found necessary the construction of stone jetty to prevent swinging and shoaling of channel, at a cost of from $400,000 to $700,000. The maintenance of the 20-foot depth channel may require for annual dredging from $18,000 to $25,000.-(See Appendix M 22.) 6. Pasquotank River, above the mouth of Turner's Cut, North Carolina. Considered worthy of improvement for steam-boats between the ends of Turner's Cut (including about 1,500 feet of the Moccasin Tract), and for barges from the Moccasin Tract up about 5 miles to the Lebanon Bridge, at a total estimated cost of $9,000.-(See Appendix M 23.) 7. Mackey's Creek, North Carolina.-The improvement to consist of straightening and deepening the bar entrance from Albemarle Sound into the creek, by a short cut across a shoal. It is estimated that $10,000 will be sufficient to obtain a good 7-foot depth of channel and $15,000 for a 9-foot depth. The latter depth will meet all requirements for many years.-(See Appendix M 24.) 8. Trent River, from Trenton to Upper Quaker Bridge, North Carolina.The improvement proposed is to clear out natural obstructions from Trenton upward for small steam-boats over the first 30 miles, and for pole-boats over the remaining 13 miles up to the Upper Quaker Bridge. Estimated cost $13,000.-(See Appendix M 25.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that Shallotte River, North Carolina, is worthy of improvement, and the public necessity therefor being apparent from the facts and reasons reported, which are concurred in by the Chief of Engineers, Captain Bixby was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. Captain Bixby was also charged with preliminary examinations of the following localities, the results of which will be submitted when received: 1. Roanoke River, Virginia, between Clarksville and Eaton Falls. 2. Fishing Creek, North Carolina. 3. North East River, Cape Fear, North Carolina. IMPROVEMENT OF LUMBER RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, OF WACCAMAW RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, AND OF RIVERS AND HARBORS ON THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Officers in charge, Capt. Frederic V. Abbot, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.-The work of improvement in progress since 1878 comprises two jetties, composed of riprap stone resting upon a foundation-mattress of logs and brush, with a mattress hearting wherever deemed advantageous. The two jetties spring, respectively, from Sullivan's and Morris islands, and converge on curves in such manner as to cross the bar on parallel lines at a distance of about 2,900 feet from each other. The object of the work is to establish and maintain a channel across the bar of not less than 21 feet navigable depth at mean low water, where heretofore the available low-water depth has usually not exceeded 12 feet. The estimated cost of the original project was $3,000,000. This project was modified on November 10, 1888, by a special Board of Engineer officers, whose report is appended in Appendix N. The only change made in the original project being to increase the height to which the jetties are to be built. The total estimated cost is now for jetties up to low water, $4,380,500; for jetties up to 3 feet above mean low water, $5,334,580. This leaves $2,548,000 to be provided for the first height, and $3,502,000 for the second. Work during the past fiscal year began about the middle of June, 1889, and 1,291 tons of riprap stone were deposited on the outer end of the north jetty. No material changes in the condition of the jetties are reported. The head of Morris Island has cut away rapidly. On Sullivan's Island no marked changes have occurred. |