Statement of imports to, and exports from, Snake River points, by steamboat, for year ending June 30, 184. [Furnished by Auditor Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.] STATEMENT BY FRANK T. DODGE, SUPERINTENDENT RIVER DIVISION OF OREGON RAILROAD AND NAVIGATION COMPANY, OF THE RIVER FLEET AND ITS ROUTES. PORTLAND, OREG., July 15, 1884. DEAR SIR: The following is a list of our boats on the Upper Columbia and Snake rivers, and their carrying capacities. They can navigate those rivers anywhere be tween Celilo and Priest Rapids and the month of the Grande Ronde during favorable stages of water, but they are principally engaged in carrying grain, &c., from Lewiston and points below to Riparia, where one branch of the railroad terminates. They also carry wheat from points on Snake River, about 35 miles above Ainsworth, to the railroad at the latter place. From the exhaustive and finished presentation of the subject by Captain Powell and Lieutenant Symons, I conclude that the Columbia River above the mouth of Snake River is worthy of improvement, but I would recommend that the necessary operations be preceded by such a survey as will enable me to deduce plans of improvement from a general study of the whole situation. I estimate that such a survey as far up as, and including the Priest Rapids obstruction, will cost $12,500. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. A. JONES, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. Major of Engineers. LETTER OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: The estimates received at this office for the surveys required under the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, being in excess of the funds available for that purpose, it has become necessary to make a reduction in all estimates submitted. You will please, therefore, revise your estimate for the survey of the Columbia River, between the mouth of the Snake and Priest Rapids, submitted with your report of November 12, reducing it to the least amount required for a survey with a view to the improvement of the 12 miles of the river at Priest Rapids, and limiting yourself to such an examination of the river between the foot of those rapids and the mouth of the Snake as will enable you to submit an estimate of the cost of clearing the few obstructions that are said to exist in that stretch of the river. REPORT OF MAJOR W. A. JONES, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Department letter of 1st instant, requesting a revision of my estimate for the survey of the Upper Columbia River, confining operations to the 12 miles at Priest Rapids, and making minor examination of the river below as far as the mouth of Snake River. My estimate was based upon the cost of surveying the reach at The Dalles. It seems to me that the question of improving the Columbia River is so important, the river of such volume and extent, that it will be well to go a little slow in presenting projects for improvement and have them based on considerably more knowledge than we now possess. Such knowledge can only be obtained by thorough surveys. I shall at a proper occasion present a project for making a complete survey as far as the boundary line, with the establishment of gauges at a number of points, so that we may get some idea of the probable effects of our operations. At the same time there is a strong demand for immediate relief from the country above Priest, Cabinet, and Rock Island rapids, which might be met by clearing out rocks in the reaches between them, leaving portages at those points. Perhaps some means of pulling boats up these rapids by lines may be devised. I will therefore modify my estimate so that it will enable a rapid survey to precede operations under Captain Powell's project, as set forth in his annual report for this (current) year. For this purpose I estimate that the sum of $6,000 will be required. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. W. A. JONES, Major of Engineers. TT 10. SURVEY OF COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS. The time has arrived when further progress in the improvement of the Upper Columbia and Snake rivers must be preceded by a careful survey. The Columbia has now been surveyed as far up from the sea as the mouth of the Willamette, at the Cascades, and at the Dalles; and the survey of Priest Rapids will soon be completed. It is perfectly obvious that any further projects can only be intelligently guided by a good survey. I cannot too strongly urge the necessity for this survey. These are rivers of commanding importance, and it is quite time that they should be studied by the light of careful surveys, such as are now in progress upon the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The distances to be surveyed are about 630 miles on the Columbia and 137 miles on the Snake, as far as Lewiston, making a total of 767 miles. At $150 per mile, the cost would be, in round numbers, $115,000. This can be advantageously expended in two annual installments of $40,000 and one of $35,000. I have, therefore, to recommend that there be appropriated for the year ending June 30, 1887, the sum of $40,000, for the survey of Colum bia and Snake rivers. APPENDIX U U. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT—INCREASING WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON-ERECTION OF FISHWAYS AT THE GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC. REPORT OF MAJOR G. J. LYDECKER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Washington Aqueduct. 2. Increasing the water supply of the city of Washington. 3. Erection of fish-ways at the Great Falls of the Potomac River. OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith reports of operations on the Washington Aqueduct; increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C.; and erection of fish ways at Great Falls of the Potomac, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. J. LYDECKER, Major of Engineers. UU 1. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT. During the summer and fall of 1884 the work of macadamizing the Aqueduct road, which has been in progress for several years past, was extended to the point at which it diverges from the line of the conduit, about 2 miles by the road from the site of the dam, and inlet to the aqueduct, at the Great Falls. Some stone was also placed on the worst parts of the road beyond that point over distances aggregating about 1,500 feet. The total expenditure of broken stone for the above work and for scattering repairs on parts of the road previously improved was about 2,000 cubic yards. At the end of August the water-level at the Great Falls Dam was 5 inches below its crest. Repairs were made to the temporary brush and stone dams at the head of Conn's Island, by which a larger flow into the Maryland Channel was induced, and the water-level raised to an elevation of 1 inch above the dam. The water-level during the year varied between a maximum of 2.33 feet above the crest of the dam to a minimum of 0.4 foot below it, the total fluctuation being only 2.73 feet. In December a wire screen 15 feet long and 6 feet deep was placed across the inlet to the aqueduct at the falls, to prevent the inflow of drift and other floating matter. In the spring of 1885 an overflow weir was constructed at the receiv ing reservoir to carry off storm waters. It is of masonry, 76 feet long, with its crest at an elevation of 146.5 feet above high tide. The efflu. ent gate at this reservoir was also thoroughly repacked. The work above outlined comprises the principal operations of the year, beyond the usual routine involved in the care of the aqueduct and distribution of the water supply. The report of Capt. T. W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, which is transmitted herewith, describes somewhat more in detail the operations of the year, and supplies certain statistics of interest, from which the following items are taken, as indicating the amount and character of water supplied. The outflow from the distributing reservoir during the twenty-four hours commencing at 6 a. m. on the 26th of June, 1885, was 25,219,194 gallons. This is the amount drawn off by the mains during that period, and shows the amount so taken as averaging about 140 gallons per capita of the population of Washington and Georgetown. The corre sponding amount last year was 24,827,013 gallons. The average of mean monthly pressures in the supply-mains at crossing of Rock Creek was 31.72 pounds per square inch. The time corres ponding to this average pressure is 9 a. m., at which time the flow through the mains is ordinarily a maximum. The pressure last year was 32.13 pounds, and the year before only 30.87 pounds. At the effluent gate of the distributing reservoir the water was clear during 211 days, slightly turbid 20, turbid 53, and very turbid 81, differing in this respect but slightly from its general condition during the preceding year. The total amount appropriated on account of the Washington Aque duct from September 30, 1850, to June 30, 1885, is $3,925,157, of which $80,000 has been from the revenues of the District of Columbia. Of the total amount appropriated, $3,455.38 has reverted to the United States Treasury, leaving $3,841,701.62 for the net cost to the United States for the aqueduct and its maintenance from 1850 to June 30, 1885. Since 1878 one-half of the amounts appropriated have been contributed by the United States and the other half by the District of Columbia. The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885: Amount appropriated by act of July 5, 1884 ... $20,000 00 20,000 00 40, 000 00 $18,610 77 20,000 00 20,000 00 20,000 00 The amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, is.. The amount named above as required for the next fiscal year is that which long experience has shown to be necessary for the annual maintenance and repairs of the aqueduct and its accessory structures. |