width was 145 feet. A very narrow channel of 20.6 feet could be traced through. The interruption to navigation for a vessel drawing 22 feet was 145 feet in length. With the exception of one small lump the 22-foot channel was 200 feet wide until a point was reached 1,270 feet from the present end of the east jetty; until a position is reached 170 feet northerly from the end of the east jetty the least width of the 22-foot channel was 120 feet. AUGUST 30, 1877. On the 30th day of August there was a 20-foot channel at average flood tide, which is the same as high tide of August 30, through the bar at South Pass and throughout the pass and between the jetties. Its least width was 192 feet. A practicable channel of 20.8 feet was found; the interruption to navigation for a vessel drawing 22 feet was 114 feet in length. Wherever found, that is with the exception of the interruption above noted, the 22-foot channel was at least 130 feet wide. The space lacking a 22-foot channel of the full width of 200 feet is about 900 feet in length. At low tide of August 30 these depths were lessened 1.1 feet. On August 29 a wide channel, 22.2 feet deep in its shallowest place, was found at the head of South Pass. SEPTEMBER 29, 1877. On the 28th of September there was a 20-foot channel at average flood tide through the bar at South Pass, and throughout the pass and between the jetties. Its least width was 230 feet. A practicable channel of 20.7 feet was found. The interruption to navigation for a vessel drawing 22 feet was 85 feet in length. Wherever found, that is with the exception above noted, the 22-foot channel was at least 110 feet wide. The space lacking a 22-foot channel of the full width of 200 feet is about 1,300 feet in length. At low tide of September 28 these depths were lessened 1.5 feet, and at high tide 0.7 feet. On September 25 a wide channel of 22.3 feet depth was found at the head of the pass. NOVEMBER 1, 1877. On the 31st day of October there was a 20-foot channel at average flood tide through the bar at South Pass, and throughout the pass and between the jetties. Its least width was 210 feet. A practicable channel of 21 feet was found. The interruption to navigation for a vessel drawing 22 feet was 430 feet in length. Wherever found, that is with the exception of the interruption above noted, the 22-foot channel was at least 160 feet wide. The space lacking a 22-foot channel of the full width of 200 feet is about 850 feet in length. At low tide of October 31 these depths were lessened 0.8 foot, and at high tide 0.5 foot. On October 24 a wide channel of 22.5 feet depth was found at the head of South Pass. DECEMBER 2, 1877. On December 1 there was a practicable channel 21.3 feet deep in its shoalest part throughout South Pass to the deep water of the Gulf at average flood tide. A line 22.4 feet in depth could be traced through the bar to deep water. The 20-foot channel was 212 feet wide and the 21-foot channel 120 feet wide at the narrowest contraction of each. The interruption to a practicable channel between 22 feet inside and the same depth outside was 90 feet in length. At low water of the day these depths were lessened 1.6 feet and at high water 0.4 foot. JANUARY 2, 1878. On January 1 there was a channel 22 feet deep for a width of 200 feet at its narrowest point at average flood tide from the main Mississippi River through the jettied prolongation of South Pass to deeper water in the Gulf of Mexico. At the head of the pass the 22-foot channel was at least 264 feet wide. A practicable channel 22.4 feet deep exists from the main river to the Gulf. High tide of the day was nearly the same at average flood tide. At low tide of the day these depths were lessened about 1.7 feet. FEBRUARY 4, 1878. February 2 there was a channel 22 feet deep at average flood tide from the main Mississippi River through South Pass jetties to deeper water in the Gulf of Mexico. Its least width was 190 feet. A practicable channel at least 22.7 feet deep existed from the main river to the Gulf. At high tide of the day these depths were lessened 0.4 foot and at low tide 1.9 feet. MARCH 4, 1878. March 4, 1878, there was a practicable channel 22.7 feet deep over South Pass bar, and from the main Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico at average flood tide. The tide remained on a stand, giving a depth of just 22 feet throughout the day, The 22-foot channel at average flood tide was at least 110 feet wide, lacking the ful width of 200 feet for a length of 270 feet so far as is known or within the limit of survey, which covered all areas where a narrow channel is suspected. APRIL 3, 1878. April 3 there was a channel 22 feet deep at average flood tide between South Pass jetties to deeper water in the Gulf of Mexico. Its least width was 70 feet, lacking a width of 200 feet for a length of 150 feet. A practicable channel with a least depth of about 23 feet existed throughout the main pass and between the jetties. At high tide of the day these depths were increased 0.5 foot and at low tide lessened 0.8 foot. At the head of passes a least depth of 21 feet at average flood tide was found on the 18th of March. At the present stage of the river about 22 feet can be carried through the d of passes at high tide. MAY 10, 1878. May 9 at average flood tide there was a practicable channel between the South Pass jetties, and over the bar near their sea end, 23.2 feet deep. The 22-foot channel was 210 feet wide. At high-water of the day the depths were three-tenths greater and at low-water seven-tenths less than at average flood tide. A channel 24 feet deep, 250 feet in width, might be obtained by the immediate removal of 6,000 cubic yards of the bottom, provided that no deposition of sediment should be made simultaneously. Between a depth of 24 feet inside of the bar and the same depth outside the distance is 180 feet. The length of channel lacking a depth of 24 feet for a width of 250 feet is 1,650 feet, including the 180 feet referred to just above. At the head of South Pass the same date at average flood tide, there was a practicable channel 22.9 feet in depth. The 22-foot channel had a least width of over 260 feet. At high tide of the day these depths were increased about 1.7 feet. The reading for low-water of the day is not known. Rough water on the bar has prevented an earlier statement this month. MAY 25, 1878. May 23 there was a practicable channel over South Pass bar at the ends of the jetties with a minimum depth of 22.3 feet, if the pilot can avoid a small lump west of the deeper channel having on it 21.5 feet. The deepest line of water along a curve had a minimum depth of 23.2 feet. JUNE 4, 1878. June 3, at average flood tide, there was a practicable channel 22.2 feet deep throughont South Pass and between the jetties to deeper water of the Gulf. The least width of the 22-foot channel was 100 feet. At high tide of the day these depths were increased 1.0 foot and at low tide 0.8 foot. Between 24 feet depth inside of the bar and the same depth outside the distance was 110 feet. The length of channel lacking a depth of 24 feet for a width of 250 feet was 1,100 feet. By the immediate removal of 4,400 cubic yards from the bottom, a channel 24 feet deep, 250 feet in width might be obtained. June 3 a practicable channel 22.9 feet deep was found at the head of passes at average flood tide. At high tide of the day this depth was increased 1.6 feet and at low tide 0.5 foot. JUNE 20, 1878. June 19 there was a 22-foot channel at average flood tide throughout South Pass and between the jetties to deeper water in the Gulf. Its least width was 160 feet. At high tide of the day this depth was increased 0.4 foot and at low tide lessened 0.6 foot. Between 24 feet depth inside and the same depth outside the least distance was 180 feet. The length of channel lacking a depth of 24 feet for a width of 250 feet was 870 feet. JULY 4, 1878. July 2, at average flood tide, there was a channel over South Pass bar 21.9 feet deep. having a least width of 150 feet. At high tide of the day depths were increased 1 foot, and at low tide lessened one-half a foot. Two small lumps, or one larger, if they connect, prevented the existence of a channel 23 feet deep at average flood tide. FINANCIAL. Amount available from appropriation for "Examinations and surveys at 1878 Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1878.. Amount available July 1, 1878 Amount required for fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. Estimate of funds required for examinations and surveys at South Pass of the Mississippi River for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. Pay of eight first-class seamen and two steam-engineers, and provisions. Repairs to old steam-launch Renewal and repair of row boats, cost of surveying apparatus, &e Materials for running launch and conducting surveys-oil, rope, buoys, Coal for launches and office. Stationery and supplies for drafting, tide-gauge paper, &c. Photolithographing Freight, telegrams, and express charges. Office rent Two water-level observers. Total for 1879-'80..... Very respectfully, your obedient servant, $9,875.00 5,400 00 2.050.00 1,530 00 1, 130 00 1,000 00 720.00 1,230 00 580 00 450 00 300 00 300 00 240 00 24, 805 00 M. R. BROWN, Captain Engineers, U. S. A. ACTING CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. |