into two chutes, thus narrowing the river, one or both chutes would be found with deep water as far as the bar or island extended. At the head of the island, where the channel was yet wide, would be found the compact gravel-shoal, with shallow water; then, at the foot of the island or bar, where the river also was yet too wide, we would find the soft, shifting sand-deposit and shallow water. The remedy in this case is evidently to confine and narrow the river, to extend the forming of the island by dam and jetty, and then narrow the channel. Where the river has solid and secure banks, which is the case on the greater part of the river, either of one side or the other, then the channel should be thrown upon the side so secured; for it was invariably found that where the channel was so situated there was ample and deep water all along the bluff. Some few cases were found where the channel had been thrown away from the solid bluff to the opposite side, and it rarely happens that the river has a bluff on each near enough to form channel-width. The proper course in this case would be to secure the channel against the solid bluff, even at a greater cost, from the certainty of making it secure against change in the future. In but few cases were rocky reefs found, and these were mostly of the soft rock similar to that of the bluffs, and in detached masses. No reef of rock was found that seemed to offer any obstruction to uniform flow of the river. In the lower part of river, below Gainstown, where the banks are of more unstable nature, the improvement of the river will require the use of means to secure the banks from washing, in order to maintain the integrity of the channel. The entire river is much obstructed by snags and logs that are bedded in the main channel and chutes, the removal of which is, in many cases, all that is necessary at some of the bars and shoals. In other cases, the removal of the bedded logs and timber from the channel will allow the current to act on the sand, and thus deepen the channel all that is necessary. The impossibility of any enumeration of the logs, snags, and timber necessary to be removed, renders any absolute estimate of this item impossible. All that is offered as an estimate is a statement of number of logs distributed among the points requiring improvement in a ratio that is judged fair and in keeping with the observed evidences of such obstructions in that portion of the river. ESTIMATE OF COST. In regard to plan of structures necessary in the proposed improvement, the details must necessarily be determined for each case by the engineer when the work is to be executed; but the use of crib-dams and jetties are here estimated for upon the upper portion of the river, to be filled with gravel and protected by coverings of heavy masses of stone, and at the exposed ends of jetties and exposed points along banks to use brush and stone protection. For the lower river piling will be more suitable, using piling also for bank-protection, with brush and stone. Timber of good quality can be obtained at all points on the river; also suitable stone for the purpose from the river-bluffs at all points from Wetumpka to Gainstown. The prices used in this estimate are as follows: For the removal of logs and snags, $10 each. For square timber of oak or pine, $20 per thousand, board-measure. Soft rock or marl excavation, 75 cents per cubic yard. Solid-rock excavation, $2 per cubic yard. Brush and stone protection, $2.50 per cubic yard. In submitting estimate of cost two grades of improvement are proposed: the first for a channel of 4 feet depth and 200 feet minimum width; the second of 6 feet depth and 150 feet minimum width. The first plan contemplates such depth as may be easily secured, and at the same time the work may be made to lead in the direction of a more thorough improvement in the future. The second plan contemplates a work of improvement that will at once secure an approximation to the full capacity of the river at low-water stage. The 4-foot channel, it is believed, will serve tue present requirements of the class of steamboats used on the river, and the execution of this work would be the first step toward a more perfect work, looking to the future development of the full capacity of river, when the increased commerce and growth of new interests shall require it. As river-improvements of this character are always in a measure experimental, there is every reason to believe that in a case like this the full result may be obtained in some places in the effort to secure only the partial; I therefore think it but the exercise of proper prudence to recommend the application of means under the first grade of improvement. List of bars, shoals, reefs, and other obstructions to navigation upon the Alabama River, from Wetumpka to its mouth, with estimated cost of improvement, under two projects, one for a channel of 4 feet depth and 200 feet minimum width, and the other of 6 feet depth and 150 feet minimum width. Miles. List of bars, shoals, reefs, and other obstructions to navigation upon the Alabama River, &c.—Continued. Channel 4 feet by 200 feet. Miles. 302 Cypress Creek Bar. 3 301 Indian's Holy Ground. 15 50 No. Cu. yds. Cu. yds. Cu. yds. Cu. yds. Lin. ft. Dollars. ཙ་ཚེ No. Ou. yds. Ou. yds. Cu. yds. Cu. yds. Lin. ft. 30 3 50 200 Dollars. 2,055 50 200 2,275 15 600 100 100 250 298 Edward's Bar. 3,275 15 200 50 200 2,325 15 400 100 300 295 Edward's Shoal. 3, 550 5 50 200 2,075 5 100 300 3, 150 293 Tyus Bar 3 1,000 100 200 2,680 3,000 100 300 286 Bar above Benton. 4, 630 15 150 15 50 150 285 Big Swamp Creek 1,700 20 200 284 Benton's Landing. 200 80 80 283 Bar below Benton. 5 50 100 200 281 Wood's Lower Landing Bar 15 2,200 150 15 150 280 Morgan's Landing Bar. 279 Hooper's Bar 25 278 Upper Brother. 25 277 Lower Brother. 20 274 Old H-1 Bar. 3,755 10 100 10 50 200 272 Gardner's Island. 2, 125 40 200 600 7,000 40 1,000 300 800 9, 900 D. Solid-rock excavation. Brush and stone protection. Jetties and dams. Cost. Remarks. |