boats could only do the work that was pressingly needed, and could only be kept at work, the former for four months and the latter for one month during the year. There were 519 snags and 6 drift piles removed in the lower reach of the river, and 135 snags and 3 drift piles removed on the upper reach during the time they were operating. The work has been of great benefit, and has given entire satisfaction to those engaged in the commerce of the river. It is proposed to continue these operations from year to year as funds will permit. It is impossible to predict a time when operations of this character on these heavily wooded streams will cease to be required in order to render their navigation free and safe, since each recurring flood-water makes new deposits of snags in the -channel, which ought to be removed. With a view to the possible general improvement of the Arkansas River below Little Rock by dikes, &c., so as to afford, as near as may be, a uniform depth in the channel, the officer in charge renews the recommendation of last year for an appropriation of $21,000 for continuing the survey of the Arkansas River from Little Rock to its mouth, including the cut-off and outlet through White River. In addition to which he estimates that $30,000 could be profitably expended below Little Rock, and $16,000 between Little Rock and Fort Smith, in snagging operations during the year. July 1, 1883, amonnt available............. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.......... ... July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 ...................... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885................... $18,143 13 17, 121 19 1,021 94 36,000 00 37, 021 94 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 67,000 00 (See Appendix T 1.) 2. White and Saint Francis rivers, Arkansas.-The object of this work is the removal of snags and logs from the channel, and trees from along the banks which form or are likely to form obstructions to the free navigation of these rivers. Some work was done on the White River during the month of June, but the balance of funds available only admitted of three weeks' operations there, when the snag-boat Reese, engaged on this work, had to be laid up in ordinary, to await alditional appropriations. No work whatever could be done on the Saint Francis River, on account of insufficient funds. The officer in charge represents that the White and Saint Francis rivers are so dissimilar in character, location, &c., as to render it injudicious to ally them in providing for their improvement, while at the same time he regards the Saint Francis and L'Anguille as in every way susceptible of being considered together in appropriations and operations for their improvement and he recommends accordingly. He also states that the commerce of the Saint Francis has recently been divided, and that there is now a lower river trade, from the cut-off to the mouth, including the L'Anguille River, and an upper river trade, which is confined entirely to that portion of the river above the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad crossing. On the Lower Saint Francis River it is estimated that $6,000 could be advantageously expended in removing snags, logs, &c., which now obstruct the channel; in the execution of which work a lighter-draught snag-boat than such a one as can best work in White River should be used. The upper reach of the Saint Francis River is stated to be in a fairly good condition, and it is thought that no further work there is at present required. July 1, 1883, amount available.. Total amount appropriated to date, $154,000. $3,141 96 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..... 2,417 29 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 724 67 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 (White River, $35,000; 47,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885......... 47,724 67 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 41,000 00 3. Arkansas River at Pine Bluff and Fort Smith, Arkansas.-wing to the small balance of appropriation remaining available, no active operations could be undertaken during the fiscal year. The high water of February last caused considerable erosion along the entire front of the town, occasioning much apprehension, and, in reply to a resolution of the House of Representatives of April 29, calling for information, a special report from the officer in charge suggesting plans for protection was submitted and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 151, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. (See also Appendix T 3.) The appropriation of $55,500 by river and harbor act of July 5 will be applied towards the prevention of further inroads, by the construction of jetties at intervals along the bank, so as to arrest the course of the water and deflect it across the river to the opposite side. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. (See Appendix T 3.) $2,053 83 1,340 97 712 86 55,500 00 56, 212 86 4. Arkansas River between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Wichita, Kansas.-The object of the work under this head is the removal of snags and other obstructions in the channel, and the cutting of such trees along the banks as are likely to be carried into the river and form obstructions there. The United States snag boat Wichita was working on this reach of the river after August, 1883, until the winter season made it necessary to discontinue operations, when this boat was taken to Little Rock and laid up for the season. The early part of April found operations again renewed in the same field. An accident to the boat, however, occasioned some delay and cost for repairs just at the commencement of the present season of work. Repairs were made at reasonable cost and with promptness, considering the location of the accident-in the Indian Territory-and since then, up to the close of the fiscal year, the operations have been satisfactory. There were 391 snags and 2 drift-piles removed and 2,699 trees cut or deadened by this boat during these two short seasons of work. The officer in charge recommends that, in addition to snagging operations on this reach of the river, there should be some dikes constructed, in order to perfect the improvement and effect a deepening of the water over six troublesome shoals between the mouths of the Canadian and Grand rivers. It is estimated approximately that the entire cost of the improvement of these places will not exceed $40,000. At the same time a special survey of each locality, with a view to their improvement in the manner stated, is necessary in order to arrive at a more accurate estimate of cost. Total amount appropriated to date, $79,000. July 1, 1883, amount available..... $21,571 01 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..... 13,695 06 July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix T 4.) 7,875 95 5. White River, between Jacksonport and Buffalo Shoals, Arkansas.The object of this improvement is the removal of snags, logs, &c., from the channel, the overhanging trees, and others from the banks which are likely to affect the free navigation of the channel, and the contraction of the water-way so as to afford an increased depth in the channel at places. A small party did a little work on this reach of the river in the month of November, while bringing the boats and other plant from the reach above down to Newport, Ark., for storage during the winter. The officer in charge recommends a complete survey of the river from Forsythe, Mo., to the mouth, having in view a systematic and radical improvement to that place, a distance of 600 miles, which survey is estimated to cost $25,000, and which could be profitably expended in one season. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 $6,118 88 1,809 82 July 1, 1884, amount available...... 4,309 06 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884, for the whole river.. 35,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885... 39,309 06 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for the whole river.. (See Appendix T 5.) 17,000 00 6. White River above Buffalo Shoals, Arkansas.-The existing project for this improvement comprises the removal of loose rocks, the blasting of others, and the construction of dams at certain troublesome places, besides the removal of snags, logs, overhanging trees, &c. A small force, working with a United States plant, was operating on this reach of the White River during the months of August, September, and October, 1883. Buffalo, Red-Bud, and Summer Shoals were worked on during this brief period of operations, when, from the fact of the appropriation being about exhausted, they dropped down into the next reach into which this river's improvement is subdivided, and soon after arrived at Newport, Ark., and stored the property there for safe-keeping. No further work can be undertaken until additional funds become available. July 1, 1883, amount available $5,532 84 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883..... 4,654 47 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 878 37 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884, for the whole river.. 35, 000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 35,878 37 17,000 00 7. L'Anguille Kiver, Arkansas.-No work was done on this stream during the year. It is proposed to expend the funds available for this improvement in such removal of obstructions, in the short reach of 10 miles which comprises the navigable portion of this stream up to the thriving town of Marianna, as the exigencies of commerce may require. The officer in charge, after a personal examination of this river, in connection with an examination of the Saint Francis River made at the same time, recommends that they be considered together in the matter of providing for their improvement and conducting the operations on them, inasmuch as they are so closely allied in commerce and characteristics. July 1, 1883, amount available (See Appendix T 7.) $3,149 47 3,149 47 8. Black River, Arkansas and Missouri.-Operations were commenced the early part of August, between which time and the last of November, which comprised the entire season's operations, the following work was accomplished: 1,429 snags or logs removed, 2,480 trees cut, and 1,393 trees deadened. The property pertaining to this work was taken to Newport, Ark., for storage at the end of the season, the small balance of the appropriation that remained being insufficient for further operations. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. (See Appendix T 8.) $4,878 60 3,824 68 1,053 92 20,000 00 21,053 92 9. Saline River, Arkansas.-No operations were undertaken on this stream until the opening of the present season of work. Since then a small party has been engaged in the construction of a boat suitable for the prosecution of the work to be done, and the officer in charge expects that all the logs, snags, trees, &c., which form obstructions to the stream where steamboats are now at any time of the year justified in running will have been removed by the middle of September. The officer in charge reports a decided falling off in the commerce of this stream during the last year or two, which is attributed to the advent of railroads to the country bordering on it. The officer in charge submits no estimate for any further appropriation for this stream, since it is thought that, until the country immediately along the river bank becomes more improved, the commerce which would be tributary to the river will not justify it. July 1, 1883, amount available, $2,346 07 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. 1,713 25 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 632 82 Amount adpropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 5,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1835...... 5,632 82 5,000 00 5,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix T 9.) 10. Continuation of the survey of the Arkansas River from Wichita, Kansas, to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory.—A survey party commenced work in the field at Wichita, Kans., the latter part of March, where the necessary outfit had been provided, and to date have worked over all that portion of the river between there and a point somewhere in the vicinity of Tulsa, Ind. T. It is expected that the party will have reached Tulsa by the 10th of July, and that the entire work assigned them well be completed by the early part of August. (See Appendix T 10.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were, after preliminary examination, reported by the local engineer as not worthy of improvement and the work not a public necessity: 1. Little River and Saline Creek, Arkansas. (See Appendix T 11.) 2. Big Bayou Metre from its mouth up. (See Appendix T 12.) Upon a favorable report from the preliminary examination made by him, Captain Handbury was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 104, Forty-eighth Congress, first session: 1. White River, Arkansas, at the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Bridge, near Duvall's Bluff, with the view of removing obstructions from the channel. (See Appendix T 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE MOUTHS OF THE ILLINOIS AND OHIO RIVERS-IMPROVING HARBOR AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ALTON-MISSISSIPPI RIVER OPPOSITE THE CITY OF SAINT LOUIS, AND AT OR NEAR CAPE GIRARDEAU AND MINTON POINT-IMPROVEMENT OF OSAGE RIVER IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Maj. O. H. Ernst, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders First Lieut. F. V. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mississippi River, between the Illinois and Ohio rivers.-Work was carried on at Horsetail, Twin Hollows, Pulltight, Chesley Island, Jim Smith's, and Foster's Island. All of these works constitute parts of one connected whole, carried on under the general scheme of making the improvement continuous, beginning at Saint Louis and working down-stream, reducing the river to an approximately uniform width of about 2,500 feet, and protecting its banks from erosion. Horsetail. The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1873 and modified in 1879, the object being to afford a |