and only 2,006.7 cubic yards had been removed up to the end of June, 1893. The officer in charge recommends the construction by the United States of a suitable snag and dredge boat, for use in the rivers and harbors of the east coast of Florida, at a cost of $20,000. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year... $1,930.05 385.25 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended 4,544.80 July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts....... $822.27 3,377.73 4, 200.00 344.80 July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix O 2.) 33, 800.00 33, 800.00 3. Volusia Bar, Florida.-Volusia Bar is situated at the head of Lake George, and is formed of materials brought down by the St. Johns River and deposited at the point where the current of the narrow river loses its velocity as the bed widens to form the lake. The usual depth on the bar, before operations began, was from 3 to 4 feet, with a very crooked channel. At times this depth was diminished so much as to stop navigation entirely. The adopted plan of improvement was to contract the waters on the bar by the construction of two converging jetties formed of brush and stone, with a view to causing a scour to the depth of 6 feet. Should the depth caused by the jetties not be sufficient, recourse was to be had to dredging. Between the jetties on the bar, lines of guide piles were placed to keep vessels off the jetties and to define the channel clearly. In 1887 it was decided to limit the channel depth sought to the 5 feet then obtained, on account of the evident shoaling in the lake beyond the jetties, and because that depth was sufficient for the requirements of the existing commerce of the river. Up to June 30, 1892, $25,889.91 had been expended. The jetties had been built to their full length and to a height sufficient to produce the desired effect. Two lines of firmly set fender piles defined the jetty channel on the crest of the bar, and a straight channel with a minimum low-water depth of 5 feet had been obtained. In the spring of 1890 the crests of both jetties were found to have lowered slightly, and several gaps had been made through them, to a depth of 4 feet in one place. One hundred and ninety-seven cubic yards of rock was placed on the jetties, filling the lowest places. In December, 1889, one of the river steamers broke out one of the panels of the west pile-fender line. The officer in charge reports that, on account of the shoalness of the lake beyond the jetties, any further increase of depth should be attained by dredging from time to time, as may be required. He states that this will require an annual outlay of $500, provided a contract can be made for the work. Under the appropriation of July 13, 1892, the break in the row of fender piles has been repaired and dredging on the bar will be begun during the summer. 1,000.00 July 1, 1893, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for maintenance of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix O 3.) 1,000.00 4. Ocklawaha River, Florida.-The portion of the Ocklawaha River which it is proposed to improve lies between Leesburg, on Lake Griffin, and the mouth, a distance of 94 miles. The channel width varies from 30 to 70 feet, and the depth from 5 to 9 feet. From the outlet of Lake Griffin, for a distance of 28 miles, the river is sluggish in current, has numerous bends, and is badly obstructed by floating islands and grass. For the remaining 58 miles the current is strong and the principal obstructions are snags and overhanging trees. The approved project is to clear the channel between Lake Griffin and the mouth by removing snags and the worst overhanging trees, and by moving the floating islands out of the channel and staking them in place by piles. The amount expended on this improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $8,775.69. Under the appropriation made by act of September 19, 1890, a survey and map of the river were made and the channel was cleared of its worst obstructions from the mouth to the prairie, a distance of 60 miles. A total of 3,881 snags and 705 overhanging trees was removed, and 84 trees were trimmed. The unprecedented low water developed a few shoals which it appears desirable to have removed, and more effective means being proposed for keeping the channel clear of floating islands. A revised project has been adopted in 1892 calling for an additional expenditure of $15,000. The estimated annual cost for maintenance of the channel is $1,000. The $1,000 appropriated July 13, 1892, was expended in clearing the river of obstructions. Five hundred and seventy-four snags and 312 overhanging trees were removed, and 14 trees were trimmed. A fairly navigable channel exists at high water as far as the floating islands and at extreme low water as far as the prairie. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 15,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix O 4.) 15,000.00 5. St. Augustine Harbor, Florida.-The approved project is to protect the shores from erosion by the construction of groins of concrete and riprap on brush-foundation mattresses. Three appropriations, aggregating $65,000, have been made for this harbor, and two of them, amounting to $55,000, have been expended in accordance with this project. Work under the first appropriation was begun in October, 1889, and ended in September, 1890. Work under the second appropriation was commenced in December, 1890, and ended in May, 1891. The amount expended up to June 30, 1892, was $53,720.40. Five groins in all have been built; one 341 feet long, and another 5233 feet long, on Anastasia Island, near the light-house; one 548.9 feet long, one 465 feet long, and one 415 feet long, on North Beach, near the point. During the year 1892 a sheet-pile wing dam, 327 feet long, was built on the south side of Groin No. 4. The shore lines have continued to build out, excepting in the vicinity of Groin No. 4 and on the west side of Groin No. 2, where slight erosions have taken place. The act of July 13, 1892, appropriated $10,000 for this improvement. With this sum it is proposed to construct two additional groins and some necessary wing walls. Work on these groins is now in progress. Local changes having occurred, it appeared that the estimate of the existing project would not complete the needed protection, and accordingly a revised estimate has been adopted calling for an additional appropriation of $30,000. 30,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 30,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix 0 5.) 6. Indian River, Florida.-By act approved July 13, 1892, $15,000 was appropriated for Improving Indian River, Florida, between Goat Creek and Jupiter Inlet: Provided, That no part of the money appropriated shall be expended until the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company surrenders and relinquishes to the United States all the rights and privileges which it now holds under State charter along the entire route. The portion of the river named is about 81 miles in length and the channel is obstructed by numerous shoals with a low-water depth of from 2 to 4 feet. The Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company, a company duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida, has made a number (23) of dredged cuts across the shoals through this defective reach, making a continuous navigable channel 50 feet wide and 5 feet deep at low water, extending to Jupiter Inlet. The aggre gate length of the cuts made by this company is 39,500 feet. Under its charter the company "is authorized to own vessels and navigate the waterway; to levy tolls on its cuts and channels improved; and to operate telegraph and telephone lines." (Prospectus of company, January, 1890.) Steamers now run daily between Titusville and Melbourne throughout the year, and tri-weekly in summer and daily in winter between Melbourne and Jupiter Inlet. These boats are light-draft stern-wheel steamers with gross tonnage of about 150 tons, with a capacity of from 100 to 130 passengers. The approved project, submitted in report of examination made to comply with provisions of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, is to make a continuous channel 5 feet deep at low water and 75 feet wide, excepting in the bends, where it may be as wide as may be required. The approximate estimate of the cost of this work is $44,000. The canal company not having relinquished its rights and privileges, now held under the charter from the State of Florida, no work has been done. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. (See Appendix O 6.) $15,000 15,000 7. Northwest entrance, Key West Harbor, Florida.-A bar having a channel depth of 10.5 feet obstructs the northern entrance to this harbor. During storms the available depth is so much reduced that vessels bound to and from Gulf ports can not use it, but are compelled to make a detour of about 100 miles by Dry Tortugas to enter or leave the Gulf. An examination of the entrance, with a view to its improvement, was made in 1867 and again in 1881. In 1882 Congress made an appropriation of $25,000 for dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep across the bar. As was anticipated, the improvement was only temporary. In the act approved August 5, 1886, $2,500 was appropriated for a new examination and survey of the bar. This was made in December, 1886, and January, 1887. The bar was found to be formed and maintained by interfering tidal currents. The project for its improvement comprised the construction of one or more training walls, with dredg ing, if necessary. In the act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $25,000 for this work, with the proviso that the Secretary of War should appoint a board of three engineer officers, who should consider the subject and report on the advisability of continuing the work under the above project, and that he should submit the report, together with the views of himself thereon, to Congress at its next session. The final report of the board was submitted in November, 1889, and printed as a part of Appendix P 4, Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1890. The board was of the opinion that the work is of national importance. It recommended that the improvement be begun by the immediate construction of a jetty along the northeast side of the entrance. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $64,881.40 had been expended on the present project. Work under the appropriation of 1890 was continued until May 12, 1892, when the contract was completed. Twenty-six thousand eight hundred and twenty-one and nine-tenths cubic yards of stone was placed in the jetty during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, making a total of 27,982.2 cubic yards in the jetty. Work under the appropriation of July 13, 1892, was begun June 1, 1893. By June 30, 2,969 cubic yards of stone had been placed in the jetty, extending the foundation layer seaward a distance of 1,028 feet. During the year the crest of the jetty has been lowered by the action of the waves on an average of 0.5 foot. The total length of the jetty is 7,916 feet, having a depth over it at mean low water varying from 33 feet to 11 feet and averaging 6 feet. There is practically no change in the condition of the channel as reported last year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year................ July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities $118.60 75,000.00 75, 118. 60 7,277.74 67, 840.86 $8,699.05 66, 839. 03 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...... 58, 139.98 July 1, 1893, balance available .... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix O 7.) 1,001.83 385,000.00 385, 000. 00 8. Caloosahatchee River, Florida.--Before improvement the lower part of the river was so obstructed by oyster bars that the available channel depth was only 5 feet. About 17 miles above the mouth the river loses the characteristics of an estuary, and there are numerous islands and a broad shoal. The project adopted in 1882 called for the formation by dredging of a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep from the bay to Fort Myers, a distance of 17 miles. In 1886 this project was modified so as to include the improvement of the upper river as far as Fort Thompson by removal of snags and overhanging trees. Up to June 30, 1892, $27,577.41 had been expended on the improvement. A channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide existed between the mouth and Fort Myers. A narrow cut 5 feet deep had been made through the shoals at Beautiful Islands and partially protected by a training wall, and the worst obstructions had been removed from the river as far as Fort Thompson. Three thousand six hundred dollars was appropriated by the act of September 19, 1890, for completing the improvement. With this sum the remaining obstructions were removed from the channel between Fort Thompson and the Beautiful Islands. The cut at the Beautiful Islands Shoal and its protecting dike were extended, and the channel through the oyster bars at the mouth of the river was enlarged and marked. When work stopped there was a clear channel from the mouth to Fort Thompson, having a mean low-water depth of 6 feet as far as Fort Myers and a depth of 4 feet for the remaining distance. An annual expenditure of $1,000 will be required to maintain this. improvement. The act of July 13, 1892, appropriated $1,000 for this work, which sum is still held available for maintaining the channel, and will be expended in removing fallen trees and a small shoal near Beautiful Island as soon as the services of the snag boat are available. |