APPROPRIATIONS.

Improvement of Grays Harbor, inner portion, between Aberdeen and the entrance to said

harbor, and Chehalis River, Washington.

Contractor: Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company.

Date of contract: October 10, 1903.

Date of approval: October 30, 1903.

Date of commencement: April 10, 1904.

Date of completion: July 28, 1904.

Supplemental articles of agreement approved February 23, 1904.
Contract completed: July 28, 1904.

Three hundred and sixty-one million nine hundred and fifty-nine thousand feet board measure of saw logs, valued at $2,352,798, were towed to the mills on Grays Harbor.

Twenty-six steam and gasoline vessels, with a total gross tonnage of 820 tons and maximum draft of 12 feet, were engaged in traffic on the river and inner harbor. Number of passengers carried, 54,436.

ENG 1905 M-158

W W 4.

IMPROVEMENT OF PUGET SOUND AND ITS TRIBUTARY WATERS, WASHINGTON.

The snag boat Skagit worked continuously throughout the year, with short interruptions for repairs. The streams worked on were the Skagit and its tributaries, the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Stilaguamish, Duwamish, and Nooksak rivers; Sullivan, Swinomish, and Hat sloughs. Trips of inspection and for examination and tests of drawbridges were also made. The work was of the usual characterremoving snags and log jams and cutting trees and brush on the banks. The river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, appropriated $20,000 for continuing improvement and for maintenance, of which amount so much as may be necessary may be expended in the removal of Star Rock, Bellingham Bay, and of rock obstructions at the entrance of Roche Harbor.

At the close of the fiscal year a project for the application of this appropriation had been approved. The regular snagging work was in progress, and preparations were being made to make surveys of Star Rock and the rock obstructions at Roche Harbor.

Snagging work was in local charge of Capt. E. H. Jefferson, master of the snag boat Skagit, during the year. The following is an extract from his annual report:

The boat has been in commission steadily, and at regular intervals during the year has visited the Skagit, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Stilaguamish, Nooksak, Duwamish, White, and Samish rivers, also the North Fork of the Skagit, Swinomish Slough, Sullivan Slough, Tom Moore Slough, Eby Slough, Hat Slough, and the Whatcom Creek waterway, clearing these streams of snag obstructions and overhanging trees, and examining the different and various bridges, log booms, and other structures. On the Swinomish Slough the work was principally that of assisting at repairing the dikes and removing the accumulation of driftwood from them.

Additional operations consisted of minor repairs to boat, tools, etc., to keep them in good working order.

Following is a summary of the year's snagging operations:

Total length of snags, 72,569 feet; largest diameter, 16 feet; smallest diameter, 6 inches.

Total length of trees, 12,924 feet; largest diameter, 4 feet; smallest diameter, 6

inches.

The rapid increase in the various industries connected directly and indirectly with the navigation of Puget Sound and its tributary waters, and proper safeguards for this navigation, call for an increased appropriation for the general supervision and maintenance of the navigable channels.

Money statements.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENT.

$1, 437. 11

July 1, 1904, balance unexpended .........
Amount appropriated by river and harbor act approved March 3, 1905.. 20, 000. 00

June 30, 1905, amount expended during fiscal year, for works of improvement..

July 1, 1905, balance unexpended
July 1, 1905, outstanding liabilities.

July 1, 1905, balance available.

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, for works of improvement, in addition to the balance unexpended July 1, 1905

Submitted in compliance with requirements of sundry civil act of June 4,

1897.

EMERGENCIES IN RIVERS AND HARBORS.

July 1, 1904, balance unexpended.

June 30, 1905, amount expended during fiscal year for maintenance of improvement

21, 437. 11

2, 807.50

18,629.61 391.20

18, 238. 41

a 75,000.00

$12,000.00

12,000.00

a The removal of Star rock in Bellingham Bay and of the rock at entrance to Roche Harbor, authorized by act of March 3, 1905, will also require additional appropriation.

Forty-seven million nine hundred and twenty thousand feet B. M. of saw logs, 6,000 linear feet of piling, and 38,762 cords of shingle bolts were floated down the Skagit River during the year. Total value, $428,056.

Two stern-wheel vessels of 358 total gross tonnage were regularly employed and 8 steam vessels of from 30 to 300 gross tons were irregularly employed in the traffic during the year.

Two hundred and twenty-four million feet B. M. of saw logs, 203,325 linear feet of piles and telegraph poles, and 2,150 cords of shingle bolts were floated down the river and towed to the mills during the year. Total value, $1,478,325. Fourteen steam vessels of from 10 to 300 gross tons and maximum draft of 7 feet were engaged at irregular times on the Snohomish River during the year.

Thirty-seven million five hundred thousand feet B. M. of saw logs, and 14,500 cords of shingle bolts were floated down the river during the year. Total value, $287,250. One stern-wheel vessel is engaged regularly in towing logs and one engaged in jobbing trade on the river.