In the past fiscal year the removal of obstructions and construction of dams were carried on from June 7 until the end of the month by means of a steam-boat hired for the purpose. This work will be continued, and the funds probably will be exhausted by the end of July, 1889. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.... $5,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... 3,243.73 1,756. 27 July 1, 1889, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............ (See Appendix W 16.) 14,000.00 10, 000. 00 17. Big Hatchee River, Tennessee. This improvement was begun in 1880. The project contemplated the removal of logs, snags, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation from Bolivar, Tenn., to the mouth, about 240 miles, to render that portion of the river navigable for light-draught boats throughout the year. The improvement will not be permanent, as new obstructions form from time to time. Before improvement navigation was virtually suspended by reason of the obstructions. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $22,000, rendering the river navigable about seven months of the year. During the fiscal year a chopping party expended $1,989.02 in removing obstructions in the 55 miles above Rialto. The available balance will be applied to the removal of logs and snags from the channel. Economy would be subserved by expending in one season an amount sufficient to clear the river of obstructions, so as not to require further work for several years. Ten thousand dollars can be applied profitably to this purpose during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888...... $5,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... 1,989.02 July 1, 1889, balance available..... 3,010.98 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 W 17.) 18. Forked Deer River, Tennessee.-Work in South Fork was begun in 1883. The project contemplated the removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation from the mouth to Sharon, about 114 miles above, at an estimated cost of $19,250. Operations, however, were extended to Jackson, the head of navigation, 81 miles above Sharon. The work is not permanent, as obstructions are added from time to time. The amount expended on the South Fork to June 30, 1888, was $10,000. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $2,500 for continuing improvement of South Fork, $4,500 for the North Fork, below Dyersburgh, and $2,500 for the main river below. The removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., was carried on in all three streams during the fiscal year, but high water interfered greatly with operations in the main river. The amounts expended were $2,500 in South Fork, $3,862.85 in North Fork, and $1,616.36 in main river. Total, $7,979.21. On account of the numerous bridges obstructing South Fork no further improvement is deemed advisable at present, and after expending the balance available for North Fork nothing further should be required in it for several years, or until the main river has been put in equally good condition. The obstructed condition of the latter prevents navigation of the two forks for at least three months of the year, and $5,000 can be expended profitably in one season's work in the main stream. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $9,500.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... 7,979. 21 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 1,520.79 5,000.00 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 W 18.) 19. Water-gauges on the Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.-Section 5252 Revised Statutes authorizes and directs the Secretary of War to have water-gauges established and daily observations made of the rise and fall of the Lower Mississippi River and its chief tributaries at or in the vicinity of certain points named, and at such other places as he may deem advisable. The gauges were established in 1871, and, with a few exceptions, a complete record of the daily readings at all stations has been obtained from January, 1872. to the present time. By the terms of the statute the sum of $5,000 was to be available annually for these gauges. This amount, however, has not been appropriated regularly, and, as reported heretofore, it has been difficult to make the work continuous on this account. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $67,100. During the fiscal year observations were continued at all the gauges, and inspections and repairs made when the stages of water would permit. Nearly all the gauges require rebuilding, and this work will be done as soon as the water falls sufficiently. It is recommended that additional gauges be established at Fulton and Garland, Ark., and Shreveport, La., on Red River. Section 6 of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provides a permanent appropriation "for the purpose of securing the uninterrupted gauging of the waters of the Lower Mississippi River and its tributaries." 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, amount allotted for gaugings at St. Paul.. July 1, 1889, balance available...... $9,600.00 $7, 133. 71 8, 033.71 1,566. 29 9,600.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 (provided for by act of August 11, 1888) (See Appendix W 19.) EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Willard, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in these instances, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to their improvement: 1. Bogue Phalia, Mississippi, especially the part known as the Narrows, with view to its improvement.-(See Appendix W 20.) 2. Bayou Dorcheat, Louisiana, from Lake Bisteneau to the Arkansas line. (See Appendix W 21.) The required preliminary examination of Ouachita River, Louisiana and Arkansas, from its mouth to head of navigation, to determine the advisability and probable cost of its permanent improvement, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Willard, and reported by him as not worthy of permanent improvement, but worthy of further improvement under the adopted project, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusions reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey. (See Appendix W 22.) IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER; OF RIVERS IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS, AND THE BLACK, ST. FRANCIS, AND LITTLE RIVERS, IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Red River above Fulton, Arkansas.-The first appropriation was made by act approved August 5, 1886. Prior to this time this river was choked with masses of drift-wood, isolated snags, and logs, and many overhanging trees added to the difficulties of navigation. The origi nally adopted project contemplates high and medium stage navigation only; $6,911.50 had been expended up to June 30, 1888, removing nearly eight hundred dangerous low-water snags. By the act which became a law August 11, 1888, $3,000 was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $3,077.30 has been expended in the continuance of the original project, which carried the work to within 75 miles of the point in the river to which work was to be carried. Had the appropriation been made as a whole, work would have been completed within the estimate ($10,000); $2,000 is required during fiscal year ending June 30, 1891; $1,000 to complete the original project, and $1,000 to remove snags that have accumulated in the improved river out of the unimproved. July 1, 1888, amount available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. $88.50 3,000.00 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888........ 3,088.50 3,077.30 July 1, 1889, balance available................ 11.20 1,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project annually (See Appendix X 1.) 2,000.00 2. Little Red River, Arkansas.-The only improvements ever attempted upon this river were made in 1872. Prior to this work many overhanging trees and a large number of snags interfered with naviga tion in the lower reaches, and many bowlders obstructed flat-boat and raft navigation in the reach above the present town of Judsonia. Most of the overhanging trees and snags were removed as high as Judsonia and the bowlders remained untouched to the end of June 30, 1886. The act approved August 5, 1886, appropriated $3,000. The amount estimated as actually necessary was $8,400-$400 for the bowlders, $8,000 for dredging a channel through the shoals. Up to June 30, 1888, $612.90 had been expended in removing the bowlders and in care of the property. The balance, being inadequate to build a dredge, was held to await further action of Congress. By the act of August 11, 1888, the balance, $5,400, of the original estimate was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $5,008.90 has been expended in the continuance of the project. 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, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, balance available.. (See Appendix X 2.) $2,387. 10 5,400.00 7,787.10 $5,682.71 5,717.71 2,069.39 3. Removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas.-Prior to the first improvements, in 1833, shifting sand-bars, numerous drift-piles, and dangerous snags constituted the obstacles to navigation in the lower reaches, and gravel and rock shoals, with a few snags and many overhanging trees, constituted those of the upper. Except for a few special reaches, like the Fort Smith and Pine Bluff, the general plan of improvement has consisted in snagging operations, including the cutting of overhanging trees, in building wing-dams to improve the shoals, and in surveys looking toward plans for its permanent improvement. The appropriations to June 30, 1889, amount to $465,251.87. Of this there had been expended to June 30, 1888, $367,477.89. During the fis cal year ending June 30, 1889, $13,090.79 was expended in the coustruction of a new hull for the snag-boat Wichita and care of property and records. The water was not at a suitable stage for economical work after the completion of the snag-boat. The building of another light-draught snag-boat, after the model of the new Wichita, is recommended. The removal of obstructions will be continued with the amount on hand and the work on the maps will be completed. July 1, 1888, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. $248.67 25,000.00 25, 248.67 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $12, 853.79 13,090.79 July 1, 1889, balance available...... 12, 157.88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, annually (See Appendix X 3.) 35,000.00 35, 000, 00 4. Arkansas River, Arkansas.-By act of August 5, 1886, $75,000 was appropriated for continuing the improvement of Arkansas River, in accordance with the plan and recommendations contained in Appendix V 13, House Ex. Doc. No. 1, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, which provided that $8,000 be expended at Pine Bluff, $13,000 at Fort Smith, and $10,000 at Dardanelle, or so much thereof as may be necessary. The approved project for the expenditure of this sum is as follows: At Pine Bluff the $8,000 to be used in extending and repairing the dikes and or protecting the town front. At Fort Smith the $13,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike a little above the town to retain the channel along the city wharves. At Dardanelle the $10,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike above the town to remove the sand-bar now in front of the wharves. From Little Rock to the mouth, the balance, and so much as may not be required at the three places above specified, to be expended in the erection of permeable dikes at the worst places, looking towards the permanent improvement of the river to give at least a depth of 5 feet at extreme low water. By act of August 11, 1888, $150,000 was appropriated under this head, as follows: Improving Arkansas River, Arkansas: Continuing improvement, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the Secretary of War to enter upon project of improvement of said river as set forth in the report of the Board of Engineers on improvement of the Arkansas River from Wichita, Kansas, to its mouth, dated New York City, March sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, and contained in House Executive Document number two hundred and thirty-four, first session, Fiftieth Congress: Provided, That the Secretary of War shall expend the appropriation under this head with reference to the final improvement of this river as contemplated in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the year ending July first, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, and as authorized in the act for the improvement of rivers and harbors approved August fifth, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, and in House Executive Document number ninety, Forty-ninth Congress, first session, said methods to be applied as the Secretary of War may direct at such points between Wichita, Kansas, and the navigable mouth of the Arkansas River at its junction with the Mississippi River, as he may deem for the best interests of commerce. And all moneys now to the credit of different sections of the Arkansas River, other than the appropriations for the operating of the snag-boats, shall be avail ba for use under this head; and in future the engineer in charge of this work and the Secretary of War shall make report upon the progress and needs of this work under this head, instead of reporting upon disconnected projects, as heretofore. Nothing herein contained shall be understood to prevent the Secretary of War from applying any part or all of the funds previously appropriated for use at Fort Smith, Dardanelle, in Pine Bluff reach, or from expending not exceeding four thousand dollars to remove the bar in front of Van Buren, or from allotting not exceeding eight thousand dollars as a contingent fund for the expenditure in Pine Bluff reach. The approved project for the expenditure of this sum may likewise be summarized as follows: At Pine Bluff the same as above. At Van Buren the $4,000 to be expended in erecting a permeable dike at a suitable point, a little above the town, and upon the opposite side of the river, to contract the channel and prevent it from leaving the city wharves. From Fort Gibson, Ind. T., to the mouth of the river, the balance to be expended in the erection of permeable dikes, and in one instance, by rock excavation, at the worst places, or the places at which serious interference with the largest amount of commerce occurs, so far as the amount of the appropriation will permit, looking toward the permanent improvement of the river to give the channel as provided under the act of August 5, 1886, from Little Rock to the mouth; and an all-year-round |