proposed, but a 2-foot clear channel at low water could be obtained and was all that the present commerce of the stream required. The original estimate was increased $29,000. (See Annual Report for 1887, Appendix Q 2, p. 1336.) The amount expended on this work up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $26,067.38. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1892, was such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate safely on a 3-foot stage above low water from Jackson to Carthage. The results obtained by the improvement of this section of the river during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, are an increased depth on account of removal of snags, sunken logs, and trees, and an increased width of at least 10 feet of the channel on account of trimming off points. There is a large reduction and saving in freights and insurance rates. 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...... Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement $182.62 5,000.00 5, 182.62 185. 11 4,997.51 2,400.00 2,400.00 12. Pearl River, between Edinburg and Carthage, Miss.-The original condition of this portion of the river was such that navigation at low water was impossible, and even during high water it was difficult and dangerous. The minimum width of the channel was 20 feet; the minimum depth at low water was 8 inches. The project for the improvement of this portion of the river, adopted in 1884, was to afford a high-water channel from Edinburg to Carthage, a distance of 243 miles, for six or eight months of the year, at an estimated cost of $13,464. The amount expended on this work up to June 30, 1892, was $12,375.70. The condition of this part of the river on June 30, 1892, was such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate with comparative safety from Edinburg to Carthage on a 41-foot rise above ordinary low water. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $2,351.89, and resulted in an increased width of 10 feet and an increased depth of 1 foot. The project is completed. 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 ........... Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement $2,374.30 500.00 2,874.30 2,351.89 522.41 500.00 500.00 13. Bogue Chitto, Louisiana.-The channel at present is not navigable at ordinary low water, it being obstructed by snags, logs, fish-traps, etc. The minimum width of the stream is 120 feet and that of the channel 80 feet; the minimum depth is 3 feet. The project for the improvement of this river, submitted in report of examination provided for by river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a 3-foot channel during the greater part of the year by the removal of logs, snags, fish-traps, etc., from the mouth up to Alfords Bridge, at an estimated cost of $55,000. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $1,000, and was applied to preparation of plant for the work. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $2,072.40, and was applied to the construction of a snag boat and a barge. There is no change in the condition of the river, the work of improvement not having been begun. 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 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 Q 13.) $4,000.00 5,000.00 9,000.00 2, 072.40 6, 927.60 45,000.00 20, 000. 00 14. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation.-April 22, 1893, an allotment of $3,000 was made from the permanent indefinite appropriation provided by section 4 of the river and harbor act of June 14, 1880, for the removal of the wreck of a sunken dry dock in Mobile River, Alabama. The work has not yet been done. (See Appendix Q 14.) EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mississippi Sound, outside of the range of islands off the Mississippi coast, with a view of making an entrance for vessels (Ship Island Harbor).-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination for deepening entrance of Ship Island Harbor, the locality intended by the act, under date of May 9, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the improvement is worthy of being made by the United States. Maj. Damrell suggests, however, that before anything is done at Ship Island it would be well to await the result of efforts being made to secure Congressional action looking to the improvement of Horn Island Pass. No survey is needed for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement. (See Appendix Q 15.) 2. Back Bay, Biloxi, Miss., north of the town of Biloxi and up to town of Handsboro, with a view of removing bars.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 10, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not at present worthy of improvement by the United States. (See Appendix Q 16.) 3. Channel at mouth of Old Fort Bayou, Mississippi.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 11, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not at present worthy of improvement by the General Government. (See Appendix Q 17.) 4. Bar at the mouth of Wolf River, Mississippi.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 11, 1893. It is his opinion. and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not at present worthy of improvement by the General Government. (See Appendix Q 18.) 5. Bar at the mouth of Jordan River, Mississippi.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 11, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not worthy of improvement by the United States. (See Appendix Q 19.) 6. Pearl River from Edinburg to Lake Burnside, Mississippi.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 11, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river in this section is worthy of improvement by the General Government up to Yates Bridge. (See Appendix Q 20.) 7. Diversion of Pearl River near Jackson, Miss., through Tan Yard Branch.-Maj. Damrell submitted report of examination under date of May 9, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the proposed diversion is not worthy of being undertaken by the General Government. (See Appendix Q 21.) INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. The act of Congress of March 3, 1875, amended by acts of June 19, 1878, and March 3, 1879, made provision for the construction, by James B. Eads or his representatives, of jetties and other works in the South Pass of the Mississippi River, to secure and maintain a channel through the pass 26 feet deep, and through the jetties 26 feet deep and 200 feet wide at bottom, with a central depth of 30 feet; an annual payment of $100,000 was provided for the maintenance of such a channel for twenty years after first obtaining it by the works built. The required channels were secured in July, 1879. The object of the examinations and surveys of the South Pass, the expenses of which are now provided for by the permanent indefinite appropriation made by act of August 11, 1888, is to determine if the channel is maintained as required by law and to enable the inspecting officer to issue the certificates required for the quarterly payments. The officer in charge of these surveys is Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers, whose annual report thereon and on work done during the year is submitted as Appendix R. The principal work on the jetties during the year consisted in the construction of wing dams and repairs to the inner lines of jetties. Some additions were made to the outer line of east jetty. Considerable shoaling took place at the head of the passes during high river, and eventually extended into South Pass, causing the depth in the channel at a point 13 miles below the head of the passes lighthouse to become less than the required "navigable depth of 26 feet" for a period of twenty-six days. This district was in the charge of Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Chefuncte (Tchefuncte) River and Bogue Falia, Louisiana.—Previous to improvement these streams were obstructed by snags, logs, and overhanging trees. The bar at the mouth of the river had a depth of water of about 4 feet at the lowest stage. The project for the improvement of the river was adopted in 1880, and contemplated the removal of obstructions in the channel and the dredging of the bar at its mouth, and was modified in 1884 so as to provide for the building of a breakwater across the bar. With the first two appropriations of $1,500 each, made in 1881 and 1882, the obstructions were removed below Covington, and part of the unexpended balance was used for constructing 820 feet of the breakwater, but the bar at the mouth was not dredged, as it would be likely to reform. To prevent this or retard its reformation the officer in charge in 1884 recommended building a breakwater extending 2,500 feet into the lake and then dredging a channel through the bar. The original estimated cost of the improvement was $5,460, but this did not provide for building the breakwater. Under the appropriation of $2,500 made in 1886, channels 5 feet in depth and 30 to 60 feet wide were cut through the bars on the Bogue Falia between Old Landing and Covington, giving better navigation for schooners to and from Covington. Under the appropriation of $1,000 made in 1890, work was commenced in October, 1891, with the Government snagging plant and hired labor. The river was cleared of logs, snags, impending trees, and other obstructions, from Madisonville to Old Landing, and from the latter place to Covington, on the Bogue Falia, as far as the available funds would permit. Work was discontinued November 30, 1891, and the plant laid up at Madisonville. The total amount expended on these streams to June 30, 1892, was $6,289.26. The river was then navigable for steamers drawing 5 feet, to Old Landing, about 12 miles above its mouth, and then for the lighterdraft schooners to Covington, about 2 miles farther up on the Bogue Falia. The bar at the mouth of the river has a depth of about 5 feet at low water. No work was done during the year just closed, beyond repairing the plant, the cost of which was $469.48. 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 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 S 1.) $210.74 1,000.00 1,210. 74 469.48 741.26 1,000.00 2. Tickfaw River and its tributaries, Louisiana.-When the project for improvement was adopted the Tickfaw River and its navigable branches were obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and trees. Congress authorized an examination of this river in 1879. A project was submitted in 1881 to clean out the river and its principal tributaries, the Natalbany, Blood, and Pontchatoula rivers, by removing the obstructions, at an estimated cost of $10,230. To June 30, 1891, the appropriations made by Congress in 1881, 1882, 1886, and 1888, aggregating $7,000, had been expended. Twenty miles of the Tickfaw, and the Natalbany to Springfield, the head of navigation, had been improved. Work was also done on the Pontchatoula as far as it was thought advisable, and the Blood River had been cleaned out as far as navigable. Under the appropriation of $1,000 made September 19, 1890, work of removing the obstructions that had reformed since 1889 was commenced September 14, 1891, with hired labor and the use of the Government snagging plant, which had but recently finished work on the Amite River. Operations were discontinued in October of that year. Snags, overhanging trees, and logs were removed from the Tickfaw, Natalbany, and Blood rivers, the latter being cleared to the head of navigation. The extent of channels improved on the three rivers was about 39 miles. To the close of the year ending June 30, 1892, there had been expended on these streams the sum of $7,777.96. The work done has resulted in a very material increase in the commerce of the river. Most of the shipments are made direct to New Orleans. Under the appropriation of July 13, 1892, work was commenced at the mouth of the river on December 20, 1892. The results of operations during the fiscal year was the improvement of about 30 miles of channel by removing obstructions, at a cost of $1,018.34. Obstructions will continue to form in all these streams, and the improvement, therefore, is not permanent. It is estimated that $1,000 will be required annually to keep the channels in good condition. 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 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 S 2.) $222.04 1,000.00 1, 222.04 1, 018. 34 203.70 1,000.00 |