List of vessels crossing the bar at entrance to Coos Bay, Oregon, during the year ending December 31, 1904-Continued. UU 3. IMPROVEMENT OF COOS BAY, OREGON (DREDGING). The first appropriation for dredging in Coos Bay, in addition to the improvement at the mouth of the river, was made by the act of August 18, 1894, of $13,000, and a further sum of $14,390 was appropriated by the act of June 3, 1896. The status of this improvement, with further details, is given in the summary of this report. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1905. As reported in the annual report on improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor, Oregon, for the fiscal year 1903, a shoal had formed at the mouth of Pony Slough, in Coos Bay, and vessels drawing 9 feet were obliged to lighter their cargoes over the shoal. On recommendation, an allotment of $10,000 was made on August 5, 1903, from the emergency act of June 6, 1900, which was expended, and the results accomplished not being sufficient for the needs of navigation, a further allotment of $3,500 was made on May 17, 1904, for continuation of the work of dredging. At the beginning of the fiscal year dredging was in progress in Coos Bay at the mouth of Pony Slough, under allotment of $3,500 made on May 17, 1904, and continued up to August 24, when the funds had been exhausted. The amount of material excavated was 12,190 cubic yards, and the results of the dredging left a cut through the entire shoal about 100 feet wide and not less than 14 feet deep at mean lower low tide. At the close of the fiscal year soundings show that the dredged cut is shoaling in places and is beginning to give trouble to vessels. In May, 1905, complaint was made that the shoals opposite the town of Marshfield, through which a cut 150 feet wide and 13 feet deep at low water had been dredged in 1898-99, had shoaled to such an extent that delay was caused to commerce using the channel. On recommendation, an allotment of $5,000 was made from emergency funds, and at the close of the fiscal year a survey is in progress to ascertain the extent of the shoaling and the amount of material to be removed. On account of the inadequacy of the Government plant, it is proposed to dredge the cut by contract if favorable bids are received. The maintenance of the required depth of channel from the entrance to the bay up to Marshfield, the head of deep sea navigation, will no doubt require dredging from time to time, necessitating further expenditures. The maintenance of this channel, it is believed, should be made a part of the improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor (general improvement). No amount is therefore named in the money statement to be appropriated. Should the project for the construction of a dredging plant for the use of the various coast harbors, as recommended in a separate report, be approved, the plant could be used to good advantage in connection with this work. Money statement. July 1, 1904, balance unexpended... Amount allotted from appropriation for maintenance of river and harbor June 30, 1905, amount expended during fiscal year, for maintenance of July 1, 1905, balance unexpended August 18, 1894 APPROPRIATIONS. $13,000.00 9.75 June 6, 1900 (allotted). Total $3,692.65 5,000.00 8, 692.65 3,692.65 5.000.00 $10,000.00 3,500.00 5,000.00 45, 899.75 UU 4. IMPROVEMENT OF COOS RIVER, OREGON. The project for obtaining a channel 50 feet wide, free from obstructing bowlders and snags, from the mouth of the river in Coos Bay to the head of tide on the North and South forks, and the result of operations, are mentioned in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1900, pages 644-645, 4283-4284. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1905. No work has been done on the Coos River during the fiscal year. The last work done was in the spring of 1904, when the snag-scow was operated by hired labor and the stream thoroughly snagged. During the past winter snags have been washed into the river or have been exposed by the currents, and the channel will again require a thorough snagging. The river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, authorized for this work the expenditure of such amount as might be necessary of the funds now available for improving the entrance to Goos Bay and Harbor, and $3,000 has accordingly been allotted from the funds mentioned. It is proposed to do the necessary snagging with the Government snagscow during the coming low-water season. It is believed that the funds available will be sufficient for all purposes at the present time, but as the winter freshets usually bring into the channel numerous snags and trees, the same conditions will probably exist next year. It is estimated that with the present plant available the sum of $3,000 could be profitably expended, and this sum is accordingly named in the money statement, and should be appropriated for the work. Money statement. July 1, 1904, balance unexpended Amount allotted by river and harbor act approved March 3, 1905, from appropriation for Coos Bay and Harbor. July 1, 1905, balance unexpended (Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, Submitted in compliance with requirements of sundry civil act of APPROPRIATIONS. $458.75 3,000.00 3, 458. 75 3,000.00 June 3, 1896 March 3, 1899. June 13, 1902. April 5, 1905, allotted from "Improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor, general improvement' "" Total $5,000 3,000 2,000 3,000 13,000 In addition to the above-named there are several gasoline boats and launches in the stream owned and operated by farmers living in the valley. Owing to the formation of the country, transportation other than by water is at present impracticable. The stream is therefore used as a highway for transporting practically all the commerce and passengers of the region. UU 5. IMPROVEMENT OF SIUSLAW RIVER, OREGON. For further details of this work, with status of improvement, see summary of this report. OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1905. No active operations were carried on during the fiscal year other than those in connection with watching and caring for the Government plant used in construction and in making the transfer of the property to other works. The expenditures during the fiscal year were in great part due to the construction of a small survey steamer, the expense of which was borne in equitable proportion by the works on the Oregon coast south of the mouth of the Columbia River. The river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, provided for closing out the work and distributing the property on other works where active operations are in progress or proposed. This was accomplished during June, and at the close of the year the watchman's services had been dispensed with and the property all distributed except that which is unserviceable and which it is intended to bring to Portland for condemnation. ENG 1905 M-154 Money statement. July 1, 1904, balance unexpended. June 30, 1905, amount expended during fiscal year, for maintenance of improvement July 1, 1905, balance unexpended... July 1, 1905, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project......... September 19, 1890 June 3, 1896.. The following commerce was carried by vessels across the bar at the mouth of the Siuslaw River during the year ending December 31, 1904: APPROPRIATIONS. Steam Sail. $50,000 March 3, 1899. 27,000 Total COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. do Tons. Inbound. Outbound. Draft when Depth Net Character. Length. Breadth. of hold. fully ton- Tons. Feet. 89.5 121.0 77.5 Number of passengers arrived by sea, 112; departed by sea, 92. List of vessels crossing the bar at entrance to Siuslaw River, Oregon, during the year ending 145.0 82.6 107.0 57.5 94.8 85.5 71.0 80.5 148.0 56 170 20, 920 675 Miscellaneous.. Feet. 27.0 28.5 32.0 24.8 36.5 27.4 30.6 11.2 30.6 22.0 23.0 26.5 35.6 18.2 31.2 30.0 Articles. Total.. Times Times dearrived. parted. 5 Tons. 70 35 21,856 Times arrived and departed. 11 |