ing outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884, $49,085.42, which includes the construction of four new dump-boats. The standing estimate for operating and care, including ordinary repairs, is $40,000. The future expenses of the canal are provided for in the act of March 3, 1881, which authorizes the Secretary of War to draw from the Treasury from time to time such amounts as may be needed. Amount received from Treasury year ending June 30, 1884.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount not yet drawn from Treasury ... $47,000 00 $43,283 42 49,085 42 2,085 42 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 45, 000 00 (See Appendix X 11.) 12. Dry Dock at Des Moines Rapids Canal.-The project for this work provides for the building of a dry dock near the middle lock of the canal, 400 feet long by 100 feet in width, with gates of 80 feet opening. The estimate of cost is $125,000. During the year ending June 30, 1884, the following work was ac complished: Seven hundred and forty-five linear feet of the outer embankment was built and partially covered by riprap face stone. About 4,000 cubic yards of material were excavated from the chamber of the dock and removed to the lower end to form a platform for working and storage purposes. In order to make a water-tight connection with the rock bottom a ditch 6 feet wide was dug down to the rock and filled with clay puddle. Above the ditch the main embankment is built. July 1, 1883, amount available... $24,607 05 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.......... 22,583 55 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1836. (See Appendix X 12.) 65,000 00 65,000 00 13. Mississippi River at Quincy, Illinois.—The balance available for this work was expended in repairing and strengthening the two wingdams built in 1879 and in protecting the head of Island 427. A brush fence dam extending from Island 427 to the Missouri shore was also built. Work is still going on at this point under an allotment from the appropriation for improving Mississippi River from Illinois River to Des Moines Rapids. As future work in this vicinity will be provided for from the general appropriation, no further amount is asked for. July 1, 1883, amount available........... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 (See Appendix X 13.) $12, 491 22 12,491 22 14. Quincy Bay, Illinois.-The original project for this work was presented in 1879, and contemplated the expenditure of $224,000. The work proposed was the dredging of about 700,000 cubic yards of material, some shore protections, &c., in order to afford a large and safe winter harbor capable of accommodating all the vessels that may seek refuge there. The amount expended to date on this project is $45,000, which has resulted in the removal of 206,000 cubic yards of material and affords a depth of 4 feet at low water over an area of about 80 acres. No work was done during past year on account of lack of funds. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix X 14.) $202 11 202 11 154, 109 87 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge, Maj. A. Mackenzie, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Iowa River from Wapello to its mouth. (See Appendix X 15.) 2. Pecatonica River, from Argyle to Wayne, La Fayette County, Wisconsin. (See Appendix X 16.) TEST OF THE ADAMS FLUME. Preliminary arrangements for making a practical test of the flume invented by Mr. M. J. Adams for improving rivers have been continued under his "supervision and direction" during the year. Preparations for the test contemplated by Congress are still incomplete, and the unexpended balance ($139.80) of the $28,000 appropriated for it by the acts of March 3, 1879, and August 2, 1882, is, it is understood, deemed by him inadequate for continued prosecution of the work. PRESERVATION OF THE FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE FALLS-IMPROVEMENT OF CHIPPEWA AND SAINT CROIX RIVERS, WISCONSIN, AND OF MINNESOTA RIVER AND RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA-RESERVOIRS AT THE SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Officer in charge, Maj. Chas. J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 1. Preservation of the Falls of Saint Anthony.-The plan for the preservation of the falls, adopted in 1874, contemplated the construction of a concrete dike beneath the limestone ledge forming the bed of the river, to prevent percolation through, and consequent destruction of, the soft underlying sand-rock; the construction of rolling dams to keep the upper surface of the limestone ledge flooded during the winter; and a timber apron and wings to prevent retrocession of the crest of the falls and destruction of the dike, &c. The dike was completed in 1876, and the other works by 1878. Since 1878 work has been confined mainly to the preservation and repair of the timber structures. Owing to a lack of funds, no work was done during the past fiscal year. The last appropriation was made by act passed August 2, 1882. Considerable erosion has occurred in and about the east angle since 1881, mainly due to an attempt at tunneling under an adjoining millpond, and the deposit of material in the channel above the crest of the falls, by private parties. If the work is to be continued the sum of $50,000 will be needed for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, to be expended in extending the line of submerged crib-work at the toe of the apron, repairs to the timber-work in he angle, and general repairs. Amount expended to June 30, 1884 (including outstanding liabilities), under the present project.... $395,000 00 July 1, 1883, amount available... 1,461 22 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $938 38 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. 136 83 1,075 21 July 1, 1884, amount available...... 386 01 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 10,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 10,386 01 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (as corrected) Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 3, 1886 (See Appendix Y 1.) 74,792 00 50,000 00 2. Mississippi River above the Falls of Saint Anthony, Minnesota.—The present project, adopted in 1880, contemplates the improvement of the river mainly between Aitken and Grand Rapids by the removal of snags, bowlders, leaning trees, and bars, so as to afford from 3 to 5 feet depth of water for navigation. The cost is based upon the results of a survey made in 1874, and reported upon February 8, 1875, the estimate for improving the extent of river from Conradis Shoals (35 miles below Brainard) to Grand Rapids being placed at $54,127.50. Before the work of improvement commenced in 1880 boats drawing 2 feet of water frequently experienced difficulty between Aitken and Grand Rapids. The work thus far has given generally a 3-foot depth between those points, though bowlders yet remain requiring removal, and snags are always liable to form. The amount expended under this plan (including outstanding liabil ities) to June 30, 1884, is $34,048.57. The sum of $10,000, asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is to be expended in removal of snags, leaning trees, bowlders, and bars. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $6,031 80 $4,976 70 5,080 37 951 43 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, viz, im- 19, 127 50 10,000 00 3. Construction of lock and dam on Mississippi River at Meeker's Island, Minnesota. The project for this work is given in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, and the cost estimated at $922,121.46, the object being to connect with the improvement of the Mississippi River below Saint Paul, so as to secure steamboat navigation up to the Falls of Saint Anthony. No improvement of the river between Saint Paul and the site of the proposed lock and dam has been authorized by Congress. The act approved July 23, 1868, made a grant of 200,000 acres of public lands to the State of Minnesota to aid in constructing a lock and dam at this point in accordance with plan and estimate previously submitted. The act of March 3, 1873, appropriated For construction of the lock and dam on the Mississippi River at Meeker's Island, Minnesota, according to the surveys and plans of the War Department, $25,000: Provided, That all rights and claims in and to the land grant made to the State of Minnesota for the above work by act approved July twenty-third, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, shall be fully relinquished to the United States before any of this appropriation is expended. None of this appropriation has been used, the required relinquishment not having been made, and the appropriation has been lying unused for eleven years. No appropriation is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. July 1, 1883, amount available..... July 1, 1884, amount available.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix Y 3.) 4. Chippewa River, Wisconsin.-This work consists in the construction of dams and jetties to narrow the water-way and the revetment of banks, in accordance with the plan adopted in 1876, the cost of which was based upon results of a survey reported upon January 30, 1875. The cost was placed at $75,790; revised estimates, 1883, placed cost of completing necessary improvements at $49,476.35. With the balance of funds remaining from the appropriation of $35,000, by act of August 2, 1882, repairs were made to the east jetty at mouth of the river and Flower-Pot Dam extended and repaired. Where works have been constructed and maintained the low-water depth, which was originally about 18 inches, has been increased to about 3 feet. The sum of $25,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in continuing the work under the present plan. Total amount expended to June 30, 1884 (including outstanding liabilities), $81,902.89. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1883, amount available..... $6,523 13 $5,416 02 5,426 02 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 1,097 11 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 15,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 16,097 11 Amount (estimated) required for completion of improvement per revised estimate 34,476 35 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 25,000 00 (See Appendix Y 4.) 5. Chippewa River at Yellow Banks, Wisconsin.-The project for this improvement was adopted in February, 1883, the cost based upon the results of a survey reported upon January 30, 1875, and a revision of the same in 1883. Object of the work is to prevent the wearing away of the high sand-banks, or bluffs, bordering the river between its mouth and Eau Claire. The protection work consists of revetment of brush, sand, and piles at foot of the slope. Total linear feet protected since commencement of work.. Total linear feet partially protected Total linear feet remaining to be protected Total expended to June 30, 1884.. 4,969 3, 145 14,575 -$29, 214 88 The appropriation of $30,000 asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, to be applied in continuing the work as begun. July 1, 1883, amount available..... $16,879 30 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. $16,064 18 16,094 18 785 12 66,000 00 July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of revised estimate...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix Y 5.) 30,000 00 6. Saint Croix River below Taylor's Falls, Minnesota and Wisconsin.The present project, adopted in 1880 and modified in 1882, contemplates the improvement of the stream by the removal of snags, bowlders, and sand-bars between Taylor's Falls and Prescott. The removal of obstructions continued during the season of 1883. Before improvement was undertaken 2 feet of water was the ruling depth on the bars at extreme low water above Stillwater and below Stillwater less than 4 feet. Wherever work has been done 3 feet has been the ruling depth above Stillwater and 4 feet below it at low-water stage. There is much interruption to navigation in the upper half of this piece of river from the operations of the log-booms. The appropriation of $26,450, asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is to be applied to removal of obstructions to navigation below Taylor's Falls. Estimated cost of improvement as amended.. Amount expended before its adoption..... $83,450 00 18, 000 00 Total amount expended under present project to June 30, 1884, including outstanding liabilities..... 47, 161 27 July 1, 1883, amount available .......... 12,674 67 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... 9,838 73 26,450 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 26,500 00 (See Appendix Y 6.) 7. Minnesota River, Minnesota.-No work was done during the fiscal year for want of funds. The last appropriation for this stream was $10,000, made by the river and harbor act of June 18, 1878. There has been expended (including outstanding liabilities) since the commencement of work the sum of $117,467 in clearing the river of obstructions. The stream has no com |