2. Improvement of Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-During the past season much work has been done in excavating prism of canal, building lock-gates, finishing the masonry of the guard-lock, and in excavating rock at Montrose Chain. This latter work proved far more expensive than was anticipated, owing to disasters experienced from unprecedented foods, and also in the discovery from new surveys of 25,000 more yards of rock to be taken out than had been called for by the surveys made several years ago, upon which the estimates were based. Some 56,000 cubic yards of rock were taken out, and this portion of the work is nearly completed. Notwithstanding the numerous disasters, the rock was excavated by means of hired labor at about one-half of the usual cost of similar work done by contract. For reasons above stated, an appropriation of $275,584 was asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, to complete this improvement. Of this sum, $230,000 was appropriated by the act of August 14, 1876, leaving a balance of $45,584, to which should be added $40,000, estimated, for the maintenance of the canal during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, making, in all, $85,584. Operations for the completion of this improvement were necessarily suspended during the greater part of the present working season, until the appropriation of August 14, 1876, was made available. The consequence of this long suspension of operations has been unlooked-for injury to the work, to repair which, and to bring the work to its final completion, the officer in charge finds himself reluctantly forced to add to his former estimate the sum of $50,000, making in all the sum of $135,000, as required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Amount available July 1, 1875...... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix N 2.) $582,889 88 582,889 88 230, 000 00 95,000 00 135,000 00 3. Improvement of Rock Island Rapids, Mississippi River.-During the year 2,340.5 cubic yards of rock at Lower Chain and 305.44 cubic yards of rock at Saint Louis Chain have been removed. The insufficiency of the appropriation of August 14, 1876, will only allow the removal of some rock-patches at Saint Louis, Campbell's, and Duck Creek Chains during the fiscal year 1876–77. The work closing the improvement consists of excavating 2,500 cubic yards of rock at the foot of Moline Chain, for the final accomplishment of which, and for meeting all probable contingencies in completing the work, the officer in charge asks an appropriation of $50,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Amount available July 1, 1875.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... $52,432 03 46,702 87 5,729 16 25,000 00 50,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. 50,000 00 (See Appendix N 3.) 4. Improvement of Illinois River.-The project for continuing the work of improving the river by dredging and building dams, jetties, and training-walls was successfully carried on, but not entirely completed, owing to suspension of work caused by long continuance of floods in the river. The sum of $120,000 is asked for completing this improvement. Amount available July 1, 1875 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $113, 126 42 73,434 56 39,691 86 40,000 00 120,000 00 80,000 00 In consequence of petitions from the mayor and aldermen of Fort Madison and from the authorities of Burlington, Iowa, at the request of the Representative in Congress from that district, and by direction of the Secretary of War, Colonel Macomb was instructed to make an examination of those localities and submit a plan for the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi in their vicinity. (For his reports thereon, see Appendixes N 5 and N 6.) And also, in consequence of a petition from merchants of Dubuque, and owners of a large number of steamboats plying the Upper Mississippi, at the request of the Hon. W. B. Allison, Senator from Iowa, Colonel Macomb was instructed, by direction of the Secretary of War, to make an examination of the harbor of Dubuque, with the view of devising a plan for the preservation of the landing from injury arising from changes in progress in the channels of the river at that point. (For his report, see Appendix N 7.) PRESERVATION OF THE FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE FALLS-CONSTRUCTION OF LOCK AND DAM AT MEEKER'S ISLAND-IMPROVEMENT OF MINNESOTA RIVER. Officer in charge, Maj. F. U. Farquhar, Corps of Engineers. 1. Preservation of the Falls of Saint Anthony.-During the year the entire excavation for the concrete dike was made, and the dike itself completed, except the filling of the upper and lower passages; 8,377 cubic yards of concrete were put in place, and there remains about 3,000 cubic yards of concrete to be put in place to finish this portion of the work. The apron was repaired at a cost of $25,215.46, of which amount $1,500 were contributed by the citizens of Minneapolis. The following work will be carried out during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, if funds become available: 1st. The dike will be completed. 2d. The rolling dams on the ledge above the Falls in the main channel will be built. 3d. The excavations under the lime-rock above the dike will be filled with gravel; and 4th. An extension of the apron will be constructed on the east side of the main channel. An additional sum of $5,000 (being the balance remaining unappropriated of the estimate submitted in the last annual report) will be required during the next fiscal year. Amount available July 1, 1875..... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year endingJune 30, 1878 (See Appendix O 1.) $135, 106 76 132, 044 38 3,062 38 120,000 00 184,726 35 5, 000 00 2. Improvement of Mississippi River above Falls of Saint Anthony.-No work of improvement was carried on during the fiscal year, as the amount available from the appropriation made in 1874 was not sufficient, and it was deemed necessary to expend the total sum appropriated by the act of March 3, 1875, on the work at the Falls of Saint Anthony. The river was gauged for the purpose of determining the high and low water discharges. An additional appropriation of $55,000 is required. Amount appropriated by act approved August 14, 1876.......... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1878... 55,000 (See Appendix O 2.) $20,000 55,000 3. Construction of lock and dam on Mississippi River at Meeker's Island' Minnesota.-No work has been done here, as no funds were available' because the parties holding the land-grant have not made any accepta ble release as required by the act approved March 3, 1875. The State of Minnesota should annul the grant to the parties now holding the landgrant, and release the same to the United States. To carry on this work, a sum not less than $300,000 should be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. Amount available July 1, 1876..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix O 3.) $25,000 00 922, 121 46 4. Improvement of Minnesota River.-A contract has been made for removing snags, bowlders, and overhanging trees from the river and its banks. Under this contract all the snags and bowlders in low-water channel, and overhanging trees on the banks of the river, were removed between Mankato and a point 20 miles below It is not deemed necessary to commence the improvement of the navigation of the river until the lock and dam at Little Rapids are built. The expenditure of the last appropriation of $10,000 will be deferred until next season, when, should an additional appropriation of $50,000 be made, the lock and dam can be commenced, otherwise the available funds will be used in continuing the removal of snags, boulders, &c., below the point already reached. $9,620 84 Amount available July 1, 1875 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, lock and dam at Little Rapids Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, lock and dam at Little Rapids.... Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. 9,577 38 43 46 10,000 00 127,463 05 60,000 00 (See Appendix 0 4.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. To comply with provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1875, Major Farquhar was charged with the survey of Chippewa River, Wisconsin, the results of which were transmitted to Congress at its last session in a report which was printed in H. R. Ex. Doc. No. 68. (See Appendix O 5.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE TENNESSEE AND CUMBERLAND RIVERS, AND OOSTENAULA AND COOSAWATTEE RIVERS, GEORGIA. Officer in charge, Maj. Walter McFarland, Corps of Engineers, with Capt. L. C. Overman, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. Major McFarland was relieved from the charge of these works May 15, 1876, by Capt. W. R. King, Corps of Engineers. 1. Tennessee River above Chattanooga.-This improvement consists in deepening the channel at the numerous shoals by building stone dams to contract the waterway, in blasting rock from the channel, and removing sand-bars, so as to secure at least 3 feet of water at all stages between Chattanooga and Knoxville. Work of this character being difficult to contract for, the officer in charge has been directed to carry it on by hired labor. The progress during the fiscal year was satisfactory. That portion of the river be tween Chattanooga and Kingston, where the improvements are nearest completion, can now be navigated during the whole year by steamers drawing nearly 3 feet of water, and as the work is extended toward Knoxville, there is every reason to expect that the same success will attend it. Amount available July 1, 1875. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876... Amount appropriated by act approved August 14, 1876.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $35,856 27 27,994 26 7,862 01 15, 000 00 75,000 00 35,000 00 To the 2. Tennessee River below Chattanooga, including Muscle Shoals. end of the fiscal year the work completed in the enlargement and repair of the old canal is as follows: Earth excavation. Earth embankment.. Rock excavation Slope wall built.. Removal of old locks Grubbing and clearing.. This work is done by contract. 253,284 cubic yards. 111,484 cubic yards. 7,598 cubic yards. 575 cubic yards. 425 cubic yards. 84.6 acres. Colbert Shoals. The work in this vicinity, being similar to that upon the Upper Tennessee, is done by hired labor. It was much delayed early in the season by continued high water, but, nevertheless, a fair progress has been made in deepening the channel and in the extension of the dams so as to secure a sufficient depth of water. The estimate submitted by the officer in charge of the amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, includes work at this point as well as at Muscle Shoals. Amount available July 1, 1875 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. Amount available July 1, 1876, including $10,231.56 due on contracts.. (See Appendix P 2.) $499, 263 73 139,327 81 359, 935 92 255,000 00 3,304, 500 00 745,000 00 3. Improvement of Cumberland River below Nashville.-The workingseason of the fiscal year was very unfavorable for the prosecution of this work, channel-excavation having been almost impracticable during the whole year. The principal work of the season comprised building dams and excavating rock at Harpeth Shoals and Davis's Ripple. Amount available July 1, 1875 $25,356 86 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. 12,365 25 12,991 61 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 184,821 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. 75,000 00 (See Appendix P 3.) 4. Improvement of Oostenaula and Coosawattee Rivers.-This work was continued during the year until the balance of available funds was ex hausted. It consisted generally in the building of small riprap dams, the removal of rock, snags, and gravel from the channels and of overhanging trees from the banks. From examinations heretofore made it would require an additional appropriation of $13,200 to complete the work of improvement of these rivers as originally proposed. Amount available July 1, 1875.. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. Amount available July 1, 1876 .. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. (See Appendix P 4.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $7,552 05 7,529 99 22 06 13,208 50 13,200 00 To comply with provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1875, Major McFarland was charged with the following: 1. Examination of Little Tennessee River from the Chilhowee Mountains to the Georgia line, in Macon County, North Carolina. 2. Continuing survey of French Broad River from Henderson County line, Tennessee. 3. Examination of French Broad River from Knoxville to Leadvale, Tennessee. 4. Examination of Ocmulgee River, Georgia, from Macon to Covington. 5. Examination of Powell's River from the Three Forks, in Wise County, Virginia, to the mouth of Clinch River, Tennessee. 6. Examination of Clinch River from the mouth of Indian, in Tazewell County, Virginia, to the junction of Clinch and Powell's Rivers, Tennessee. 7. Examination of Clinch River below the mouth of Emery's River, and Emery's River above its mouth, for the removal of bars, Tennessee. The results of these examinations were transmitted to Congress at its last session, in reports which were printed in H. R. Ex. Docs. Nos. 141 and 188. (See also Appendixes P 5, P 6, P 7, and P 8.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION AT THE FALLS OF THE OHIO RIVER-SUPERINTENDENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. Officer in charge, Maj. G. Weitzel, Corps of Engineers, having Capt. Alexander McKenzie, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Improvement of the Falls of the Ohio.-During the year 613 cubic yards of rock excavation were made inside of the apron-dam at the head of the canal. Repeated rises in the river and misfortune arising from a large break in the coffer-dam, prevented more from being done. No further appropriation is required for this work. Amount available July 1, 1875 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.... (See Appendix Q 1.) $102, 459 32 12,710 02 89,749 30 2. Superintendence, management, and repair of the Louisville and Portland Canal.-During the year 3,233 boats have been passed through the locks, and 103,603 cubic yards of sediment have been removed by the dredges. The mechanics have been employed in repairs on all parts of |