Table showing the rate of fall in the water in the lower Clearwater River and in the lower part of the North Fork of the Clearwater.

[As ascertained from surveys made for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in August and September, 1871, by Philip G. Eastwick, assistant engineer.]

The survey was commenced at the mouth of the river and run up the right bank. During its progress the water was falling. The actual rate of fall is therefore somewhat in excess of the rates given in the above table.

Table of distances of prominent points on the Lower Clearwater River from the forks of the Clearwater and from its mouth.

GAUGING WATERS OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND PRINCIPAL TRIBUTARIES.

The self-registering gauge at Astoria was operated during July, Au gust, and September; the service was then suspended from want of funds. Subsequently the sheets were read and the results tabulated. When the gauge was first set up my attention was drawn to a sup

posed relation between a secondary movement of the pencil and the condition of the bar with regard to its roughness. To test the value of the gauge record in measuring the bar coudition steps were taken to obtain information from pilots about the sea and wind at times stated; this was kindly furnished, especially by Pilot Jessen, who made full notes when crossing the bar and offered them for the use named.

Each month's inspection of the rolls and notes impressed me that the record could be of value to the interests of commerce as a moderately accurate indicator of the bar condition, and this without interfering with the use of the gauge in tidal observations or in gauging the river's flow.

For further test, use was made of a self-registering gauge which had been set up at the wharf-landing of the Yaquina Bay jetty-work, where the circumstances of distance from the sea bar and protection against harbor waves were different from those at Astoria. The two places are 110 miles apart on the coast line.

After several months' observations had been obtained Assistant Engineer Polhemus was instructed to make a study of the secondary movement of the pencil on the rolls and of the notes, referring also to the Yaquina Bay engineer journal and to the Tillamook light-house journal for information about storms. Mr. Polhemus's report is herewith, and also a diagram showing the four most marked curves on the Astoria sheets. I have added to the report a table of the wind observations of the Signal Service at Portland for the three days including the date of each curve above. I have verified the examination and drawn from the report the following summary concerning the four characteristic curves given on the date of the most marked storm curve, April 12, 1883: The Columbia Bar is reported as breaking heavily; at Yaquina, that the sea was the heaviest of the season and as breaking in 9 fathoms; under the same date the keeper at Tillamook Rock recorded the gale as the heaviest of the season; the maximum wind velocities at Portland on that date and preceding one were 16 and 24 miles per hour. On the dates of the next noticeable storm curve, May 20 and September 16, notes were made of high seas; the maximum velocities at Portland were 9 and 15, and 11 and 4 miles. On August 28, during a good weather and smooth bar period, the curve is a very marked one and different from the other curves, showing more regular and decided jumps of the float, and at low tide as well as high; the cause is referred to distant earthquake shocks, whose occurrence was telegraphed at the time; the maximum wind-velocity was 6 miles, or the least of the series. In general it was found that a definite relation exists between the tide-gauge curve and the movements of the sea volume on the adjacent coast other than tidal movements.

Astoria, the port at the entrance, is 12 miles from the bar. Rough seas are expected to follow strong southerly gales; at the same time deep swells roll in from the west without winds on the coast, and heavy earthquake waves occasionally occur. Reliable information at Astoria of the height of the waves would be a valuable aid to navigation and to the salmon-fishing interest.

It is expected with the present appropriation to continue the investigation and on a broader basis, determining a scale for the location and tide float used, for reading closely the curve indications of the bar condition, to give information about the bar to pilots, masters, and fishermen calling for it, and to continue the use of the gauge for the purpose first intended.

The amount asked for next year is intended for the Astoria gauge

service and for establishing water-gauges at points above Astoria on the Columbia River and on its principal tributaries.

July 1, 1883, amount available..

Money statement.

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883....

$48.52

48.33

July 1, 1884, amount available......

19

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.

1,000.00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..............

1,000 19

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886.

5,00,00

REPORT OF MR. J. 8. POLHEMUS, ASSISTANT ENGINEER.

PORTLAND, OREG., February 22, 1884.

SIR: There are in the office 7 sheets from the Astoria tide-gauge giving the tides for nearly seven months, from March 6 to October 1, 1883. All of these have been carefully examined as well as Mr. Wilson's notes on the condition of the bar, obtained from bar pilots and others, especially those obtained from Pilot Jessen's log. When the sea is quite smooth the gauge-float moves uninterruptedly up and down the tube with the rising and falling tide, and the pencil describes a smooth curve on the record sheet.

It has been noticed, both at Astoria and Yaquina Bay, that when the bar is rough and a heavy swell on the ocean that a secondary oscillation of the water-surface near the tide-gauge is produced, amounting at times to 3 or 4 inches, with intervals of from 3 to 10 minutes. This is chiefly noticeable at times of high water, and causes the pencil to describe a serrated instead of a smooth curve.

The tide-rolls at Astoria for the months of June, July, and August show no appre ciable irregularity, and the ocean and bar during that time was noted as compara tively smooth by all bar pilots, and in the journal kept at Yaquina Bay by myself. During March there were four or five very rough days reported on the bar, on all of which a movement of the pencil is recorded on the sheet; the length from top to bottom of this small curve at times of high water is from 1 to 14-tenths of an inch, which indicates an oscillation of from 2 to 3 inches, with an interval of time of from 4 to 7 minutes,

On April 12 and 13 the most marked movement of the pencil occurred, being abont two-tenths of an inch, representing an oscillation of a little over 3 inches; the interval of time between the highest points in the secondary curve is about 10 minutes; the bar at the Columbia River is noted as breaking heavily at this time, and at Yaquina it is noted in the journal as the heaviest sea of the year. Off that place the swell was observed to break in 9 fathoms of water. The light-keeper at Tillamook light-house notes an especially heavy gale at this same time-heaviest of the season. While examining the Astoria curve, that at Yaquina for the same time was compared with it, and the journal of operations kept at Yaquina Bay consulted to see if the records there threw any light upon the subject.

The gauge at Yaquina, being close to the entrance, shows a more active and large Oscillation caused by storms, amounting in very rough weather to 6 inches, with an interval of from 3 to 10 minutes.

The records at Yaquina always corroborate those at Astoria.

This irregular movement of the pencil is not caused by the small waves and a too free communication between the interior of the tube and the water outside, as the interval of time consumed in rising and falling is too great, amounting sometimes to 10 minutes.

It operates on the float like feeble earthquake waves, and is probably caused by the systematic action of the breakers against the entrance. The intensity of the action would seem to be different for different localities, probably depending on the nearness to the entrance. It also depends on the size of the swell on the ocean and the height of the tide, being only shown indistinctly at the higher low waters when the bar is very rough.

At Astoria, when this movement is observed to be as much as one-tenth of an inch, with 4 or 5 minute intervals, or observed at all at low waters, the bar is undoubtedly very rough with occasionally extra-heavy breakers.

Earthquake waves often visit the coast. One can be observed on the sheet March 29, and a very marked one on August 27, which lasted for several days and was caused by earthquake shocks in Java; the most important pulsations followed each other at intervals of about 30 minutes, and the height of the highest wave from hollow to crest at the gauge was about half a foot; this agitation of the ocean lasted for about three days.

Very respectfully,

Capt. C. F. PoWELL,

J. S. POLHEMUS,
Assistant Engineer.

Corps of Engineers.

Wind observations at Portland, Oreg.-United States Signal Service.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS OF LEWIS, HUMPTULEPS, AND DWAMISH RIVERS, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Portland, Oreg., January 9, 1883. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the preliminary examinations of the Lewis, Humptuleps, and Dwamish rivers, Washington Territory, called for in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, and confided to my charge.

LEWIS RIVER.

Lewis River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River below the Willamette; it rises near the foot of Mount Saint Helens, of the Cascade Range, flows westerly, and reaches the Columbia 13 miles from the Willamette; it is formed by branches called the North and East forks, which unite 3 miles above the mouth of the main river.

The North Fork is the larger and more rapid branch. During mean and high stages small river boats can ascend to Cedar Creek, about 10 miles above the junction of the forks. There are three riffles and two shoals of light material on this part of the North Fork, which prevent navigation during low stages. Small settlements exist above Cedar Creek, but the stream is too rapid and obstructed by bars of heavy material to afford navigation. Valuable cedar and white pine as well as fir are reported to abound on the headwaters. As it is a mountainous stream, snow floods occur in summer, as well as rain freshets in winter. There is a small saw-mill at Cedar Creek.

The East Fork is smaller and more sluggish. Its average width is 100 feet. Tide extends 3 or 4 miles above La Centre. This place is the head of navigation, and is about 9 miles above the junction of the forks. At low stages, from lack of water, freight is taken to Pekin at the junction on flat boats and there loaded on the steamer. The East Fork is subject only to rain freshets.

In the region of the forks and on the lower stream the country is open, and comprises good prairies and fertile bottoms. During the Columbia floods of summer the bottoms are submerged.

The population of the valley is from 2,500 to 3,000, and is steadily in creasing. Productions consist of farm and garden produce, hay, fruit, and beef cattle. All trade is with Portland, Oreg. One steamer, the Latona, of 50 tons capacity, plies on the route. She makes three round trips weekly. Her owners are building a new and larger steamer for the trade. They decline to give any statement of the traffic, for the reason, it is thought, of preventing publication and attracting notice of its profit.

On the lower 6 miles of the river navigation is impeded and the use of large boats prevented by drift and snags. Steamboat people, and especially settlers, desire the removal of these obstructions.

I have to report that this part of the river and the North Fork as far as Cedar Creek are worthy of minor improvement, but that the work is not a public necessity:

No additional survey is required for preparation of an estimate and project. Work of improvement would consist in snagging operations and moderate scraping of bars, at an estimated annual cost of $1,000 for operating a steam snag-boat when used on the Lewis. A snag-boat is intended for the Lower Willamette and Columbia rivers, and part service on the Cowlitz, where the Government has entered upon an improvement similar to that named for the Lewis River. It could be used without disadvantage to those works for three to four weeks each year on the Lewis.

HUMPTULEPS RIVER.

The Humptuleps rises in the southern spurs of the Olympic Range, in Western Washington, flows in a southwesterly course and empties into Gray's Harbor on its northern side. The length of the river is esti mated to be from 50 to 40 miles; 24 miles from the mouth the river receives its principal tributary, called the East Fork.

Above the junction but little is known of the character of the streams. It is probable that the river there and the branch are altogether too small, rapid, and obstructed, for navigation.

Below the junction, for 4 miles, to Steven's Prairie, the current is still rapid, and bars and shoals of heavy material exist. Opposite the prairie there is a large shoal area, which, at the time of the examination, carried but 18 inches of water, while the depth in a narrow channel was 3 feet. This time was near the middle of the rainy season, and a heavy rain had lately occurred. During low and even medium stage the shoal must be bare, and the depth of a very narrow channel not over 14 feet at the best.

From Steven's Prairie to Indian Kittle's Ranch, 43 miles, the obstructions observed were two drift rafts, each of which nearly closed the river between banks.

From Kittle's to the head of tide, a distance of 12 miles, the river had