2 St. Mark's River and Bar at its mouth, Florida.-The improvement proposed consists of straightening the channel at the Devil's Elbow; removing rock obstructions and sand-bars, and deepening the channel through the bar opposite the mouth of Wakulla River, and removal of bowlders from channel in the immediate vicinity of Newport. Estimated cost, $39,000. (See Appendix P 17.) 3. The Channel between Tampa Bay and Old Tampa Bay, Florida.— The improvement proposed at this locality is for connecting the deep waters of Old Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay by dredged cuts 200 feet wide and 20 feet deep at mean low water, at an estimated cost of $63,000, of which amount $25,000 was appropriated by the river and harbor act of Angust 11, 1888. (See Appendix P 18.) It appearing from the report of the preliminary examination made by the local engineer that Sarasota Bay, Florida, 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 Black was charged with its survey, the results of which will be submitted when received. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, GEORGIA, AND ALABAMA, OF APALACHICOLA BAY, AND OF HARBOR AT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. Officer in charge, Capt. R. L. Hoxie, Corps of Engineers, until January 17, 1879, since which date Capt. P. M. Price, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Apalachicola River, Florida.-The approved project for the im provement of this river contemplated securing a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water, by removing snags and overhanging trees as well as widening and straightening Moccasin Slough. The improvement is completed as projected, but at Moccasin Slough and the Upper and Lower Elbows further work is necessary to make good navigation, and it is estimated that this work can be done for $5,000. To preserve the improvement already made, an annual sum of $2,000 is required for the removal of the accumulation of snags and overhanging trees. The balance available will be used for this work during the fall of 1889, and the appropriation of $2,000, asked for, will be applied to the maintenance of the existing improvement during the following year, and that of $3,000 to the improvement of navigation at Moccasin Slough and Upper and Lower Elbows. During the year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $929.17 has been expended. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available 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 Q 1.) $687.58 2,000.00 2,687.58 929. 17 1,758.41 5,000.00 2. Apalachicola Bay, Florida.-A bar existed at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, extending from one-half mile below the town of Ap alachicola, Fla., to the lower anchorage. The minimum channel depth of water over this bar was 33 feet. The plan of improvement was the deepening of the channel to 11 feet with a width of 100 feet (see Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1879, pages 823 and 824), at an estimated cost of $100,000. Up to June 30, 1888, the expenditure of $66,756.51 of the amount appropriated for this work had resulted in a channel-way 3,635 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at mean low water on the 18th of August, 1887. No work has since been done, and the dredged channel is steadily filling up, partly by the deposit of silt from the river and partly by the washing in of material from the sides of the cut by the bay currents. It is not thought that any dredged channel will be permanent, but it is probable that were the cut made 100 feet wide and 11 feet deep at one operation the silting would take place much less rapidly. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $20,000, which was insufficient to accomplish this, and it was therefore originally intended to hold this appropriation until another was made. An examination and survey made in March, 1889, however, showed that the channel had shoaled to a depth of 4 feet at mean low water and that the commerce of the port was so seriously inconvenienced that it was decided to expend the amount available. Proposals for dredging were advertised for on April 15, 1889, and opened on May 15, 1889. The only bid received was that of the Alabama Dredging and Jetty Company, of Mobile, Ala., at 243 cents per cubic yard. This bid was accepted, and it is expected that work will begin under the contract in July, and that a depth of 8 feet and a width of 100 feet will be obtained over the bar. During the year ending June 30, 1889, the expenditure has been $568.22 for expenses of survey and examination and for advertising for proposals. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding. $243.49 20,000.00 20, 243.49 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $568.22 571.72 July 1, 1889, balance available ... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix Q 2.) 19, 671.77 75,000.00 40, 000, 00 3. La Grange Bayou, Florida.-The plan of improvement adopted was made pursuant to an examination of this bayou in 1881, under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, and contemplates the deepening of the channel through the bayou so as to admit of the passage of vessels drawing 4 feet at mean low water, the work to be done by dredg ing, Up to June 30, 1888, there had been expended on this work the sum of $2,000, allotted from the appropriation of $20,000 made by an act approved August 2, 1882, for the improvement of the Choctawhatchie River, Florida. The result was the securing of a channel 5 feet in depth at mean low water, which has since shoaled to 4.9 feet. The act of August 5, 1886, appropriated $2,000 for this improvement. It was decided that this appropriation could be more profitably ex pended by holding it until an additional appropriation was made. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $3,000 for completing the improvement of La Grange Bayou, including Holmes River up to the town of Vernon. An examination and partial survey made in February, 1889, showed that the completion of the improvement at La Grange Bayou would cost about $12,000, and that the removal of the snags, logs, and overhanging trees from Holmes River would cost about $3,000, exclusive of the cost of the necessary plant. These facts being submitted to the Secretary of War, he directed that no further expenditure should be made from these appropriations. Holmes River can be most economically cleared of obstructions by employing the plant, with certain modifications, now being provided for the Choctawhatchie River, using it during the high-water stages of the latter river, when it would otherwise be laid up. The needed modification of this plant would cost $2,500. Should it be decided to improve Holmes River, it is recommended that it be associated with the Choctawhatchie River in such a way that the same plant can be used on both rivers. During the year ending June 30, 1889, the sum of $160.80 has been expended. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, balance available...... 4,839.20 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, for improving Holmes River only...... 5, 500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 3.) 4. Harbor at Pensacola, Florida.-In 1878 the channel was much obstructed by wrecks, and a survey made in 1879 showed a depth of 19 feet at mean low water, with about 150 feet width of channel across the inner bar. This depth was not sufficient to accommodate a large num ber of vessels seeking entrance to the port. The western shore of the entrance to the harbor, which is the site of old Fort McRee, was also fast washing away, and a large portion of the fort had disappeared. This widening of the channel was also causing it to shoal. The removal of the wrecks was begun in 1878. The plan of improvement adopted in 1881 contemplates dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water across the inner bar for temporary relief of the navigation of this harbor, and the preservation of the site of old Fort McRee, by the construction of suitable works of shore protection, with a view to retaining this position for defensive purposes and preventing further changes in the tidal currents through the continued abrasion of the shore at this point. The expenditure up to June 30, 188, of $213,130.02 had resulted in obtaining temporarily a channel 120 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water across the shoal inside the bar, and in stopping the abrasion of the shore line at Fort McRee. This channel was not maintained by the tidal currents, and on June 30, 1888, was reported to be about 22 feet in depth at mean low water, a gain of 2.6 feet over the depth existing when the work was commenced. The enforced cessation of work on account of no appropriation for the ENG 89-12 fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, resulted in further injury to the jetties and the postponement of relief to navigation. During the year ending June 30, 1859, $10,222.77 has been expended entirely on the work of shore protection. At the site of old Fort McRee, on account of the want of funds, the jetties were originally built with parallel piles filled with brush and stone. The toredo has destroyed the piles and the storms have washed away the stone and brush until now not more than 25 per cent. of the original jetties remain. These jetties are being repaired by placing stone weighing from 100 to 400 pounds on the old foundation until they reach a height of 12 feet below mean low water, and then placing on this foundation a structure composed of heavy concrete blocks to the height of mean high water. The available funds have not been sufficient to complete this work and also to do dredging profitably. The present depth on the inner bar channel is 21.2 feet at mean low water, showing a shoaling of eighttenths of a foot in the past fiscal year. The width of the channel diminishes continuously by the advance of the Middle Ground Shoal upon this northern border. An annual outlay will be necessary to maintain the dredged channel until a permanent improvement of this harbor shall have been authorized by Congress. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding. $1,869.00 35,000,00 36,869 98 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities $10, 222.77 12, 712 31 24, 157 67 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix Q 4.) 40,000.00 40,000.00 5. Choctawhatchie River, Florida and Alabama.-The river was origi nally so much obstructed by logs, snags, overhanging trees, and rock and land shoals, that its commerce was represented by the traffic of one steamer of 100 tons burden, making irregular trips between Geneva, Ala., and Caryville, Fla. The present plan of improvement was adopted in 1872, and modified in 1880, pursuant to an examination made under the act of March 3, 1879. It contemplates the improvement of the river from its mouth to Newton, Ala., an estimated distance of 252 miles, so as to obtain a lowwater navigable channel from its mouth to Geneva, and a navigable high-water channel from Geneva to Newton, Ala. The expenditure up to June 30, 1888, of $84,788.84, has resulted in giving a navigable channel at mean low water from the mouth of the river to Geneva, and a partially improved channel from Geneva to Pate's Creek, a distance of 25 miles (12 miles below Newton, Ala.). During the year ending June 30, 1889, $3,697.35 has been expended. The channel between Geneva and Caryville was cleared of its worst obstructions between July and November, 1888. In May, 1889, work was begun between Geneva and Newton, and is now being carried on. A contract has been entered into with M. A. Sweeney & Bro., of Jeffersonville, Ind., for the building of a new snag-boat for $4,800. It should be completed and delivered on July 10, 1889, and will then work between Geneva and Caryville until the funds available are exhausted. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding.. $2,211.16 10,000.00 12, 211. 16 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $3,697.35 July 1, 1889, amount covered by existing contracts. 4,800.00 9, 326.87 2,844.29 15,000.00 July 1, 1889, balance available.... 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 1857. (See Appendix Q 5.) 6. Escambia and Conecuh rivers, Florida and Alabama.-The river originally was much obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and rock shoals, and by a very shoal bar at the mouth. Steam-boat navigation was not attempted and rafts had much difficulty in passing down the river. The plan of improvement for this river, adopted pursuant to partial examinations and surveys made in 1878 and 1879, contemplates the removal of snags and sunken logs and other obstructions from the channel, closing cut-offs and cutting through rock shoals from the mouth of the river in Pensacola Bay to the mouth of Indian Creek, an estimated distance of 273 miles, for the purpose of facilitating the movement of timber down the river, affording at the same time facilities for steamboat navigation. The expenditure up to June 30, 1888, of $45,325.28 has resulted in dredging a channel through the bar at the mouth of the river and in the removal of obstructions to navigation, so that at the present time the river is navigable at ordinary stages for steam-boats drawing 5 feet of water from Ferry Pass to Skinner's Landing, a distance of 17 miles, and for boats drawing 3 feet, to the Alabama State line, and the river has been so far cleared of logs, snags, and overhanging trees that the lower 118 miles is in a good navigable condition for stages of water above a 2-foot stage. A new steamer has just been built at Pensacola to trade between Brewton and Andalusia on the upper river. A survey of the bar at the mouth of the river made in April, 1889, showed that considerable shoaling had taken place there, and that it will be necessary to remove about 6,000 cubic yards of material to restore the channel to a depth of 7 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $5,897.35 was expended upon this improvement. The result was the river has been cleared of all logs and snags and overhanging trees which were obstructions to navigation from its mouth to 81 miles above, and a survey was made of the bar at the mouth of the river to determine the amount of dredging that will be required to give relief to navigation; the trade of this stream at this point is confined exclusively to lumber. July 1, 1888, amount available, including liabilities outstanding.. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888........... $3,811.02 10, C00.00 13, 811.02 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities $5,897.35 6, 472.90 July 1, 1889, balance available 7,338. 12 |