The navigable channel lies between Fort Macon Point on the west and Shackleford Point on the east, and nearer the former, since the date of the earliest surveys. The normal width of the entrance was about 2,200 yards. A tendency to erode Fort Macon Point was checked, shortly before the war, by five spar-jetties of stone, of which (in 1881) two remained intact, two had settled, and one had disappeared. Shackleford Point had never been protected, and showed a tendency to wear away, thus opening a wider passage and perhaps endangering the depth on the bar by reducing the velocity of flow of the tidal currents. Although the deep channel had remained for sixty years fixed in posi tion near Fort Macon Point, the bar had undergone great changes. The usual direction of the channel outside the point had been nearly south, but was liable to be diverted toward the east. In the former position Shackleford Point was liable to erosion; in the latter it was restored. In 1881 the depth on the bar was apparently greater than in 1821, when the opening was 650 yards narrower; so that the depth on the bar appears to depend on other canses than this erosion. Within the harbor the only natural change since 1821 was the shoaling of the channel from Fort Macon Point eastward to Core Sound. The original project, adopted in 1881 and modified in 1884, for the improvement of this harbor, was to protect Shackleford Point by a system of jetties at right angles to the shore. The amount expended thereon to June 30, 1883, was $37,930.61, by which date there was built one jetty 535 feet in length, starting from the point, another one inside 100 feet long, and also some sand-fences. The action of these has been very satisfactory, building out the shore for several hundred feet by causing an extensive filling of sand. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $5,870.43. This was applied to building and repairing sand-fences, and also to raising and strengthening the large jetty. Some work was done preparatory to crowning this jetty with a concrete wall 6 feet wide by 3 feet high, with cross-joints every 20 feet to prevent cracks in settling above high water, and blocks at least 6 by 3 by 4 feet, thence to low water, all laid in place by means of cheap wooden caissons. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $20,000, which it is proposed to expend in further protecting Shackleford Point. As this work is somewhat experimental and progressive in character, no estimate can be made at present for its entire and permanent completion. Work of a similar nature and bearing has been done, and more will be required, to protect Fort Macon Point, opposite. July 1, 1883, amount available.. $22,069 39 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $5,870 43 Amount "applied to the improvement of the line of inland navigation from Beaufort to New Berne" by act of August 2, 1882 5,000 00 10,870 43 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 20,000 00 (See Appendix L 13.) 14. Improvement of the lines of inland navigation from New Berne to Beaufort Harbor, North Carolina, via Clubfoot, Harlowe, and Newport rivers, North Carolina.-There is no navigation by this route. The project adopted in 1884 for its improvement is to dredge a channel 30 feet wide at top and 5 feet deep at mean low water, in Clubfoot, Harlowe, and Newport rivers, connected by the New Berne and Beaufort Canal, which belongs to a private company. The amount expended thereon up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, is $194.40, and was applied to advertising for proposals for dredges, in order to commence work in accordance with the project. A contract has since been made for this purpose, and the work of dredging will be commenced shortly. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $10,000, and will be applied to n.aking a navigable channel by dredging. The plan and estimate for the entire and permanent completion of this work is given at length in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 63, Forty-eighth Congress, first session, and in Appendix L 36 of this report. July 1, 1883, amount available (see money statement for Neuse River and July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available.... $10,000 00 $100 65 93 75 194 40 9,805 60 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix L 14.) 491, 330 00 10,000 00 15. Trent River, North Carolina.-The original condition of this river was as follows: There was no navigable channel above Quaker Bridge, owing to snags, shoals, &c. Below this the channel was very much obstructed by logs, snags, overhanging growth, &c., and good navigation existed only at high stages. The original project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1879 and modified in 1880, its object being to secure a navigable channel, at least 3 feet deep at all stages, from its mouth to Trenton, at the head of navigation, by the removal of snags, logs, shoals, &c., at a total estimated cost of $22,000. The expenditures to June 30, 1883, have aggregated $23,597.38, and have produced good results. The amount expended for dredging, removing logs, snags, &c., in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $8,402.62, and resulted in affording a channel navigable at all seasons, 3 feet deep and not less than 30 feet in width, above Quaker Bridge, below which the channel is 9 feet deep and at least 50 feet wide, except at one point, where it is proposed to widen it by dredging. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, is $10,000. It is proposed to expend this in further improving the channel by widening it, &c. As this work from its nature is not susceptible of entire and permanent improvement, no accurate estimate can be made for it. An annual expenditure of $2,500 will be required for its maintenance. July 1, 1883, amount available $8,402 62 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. 8,402 62 10,000 00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 10,000 00 (See Appendix L 15.) 16. Contentnea Creek, North Carolina.-When this improvement was commenced there was practically no navigation on this stream. An occasional flat-boat, hand-propelled, brought down or took up such articles as were shipped down the Neuse River, to which it is a tributary. The project for improvement contemplated clearing out snags, logs, &c., to Stantonsburg, a distance of about 75 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, is $19,129.88, with which the stream was cleared and a channel 30 feet wide and 3 feet deep secured, for about two-thirds of the year, to Snow Hill, about 40 miles from its mouth, over which small steamers run regularly. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, there was expended $870.12, with which logs, snags, &c., were removed. There can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, $10,000, which it is proposed to apply to clearing the stream up to Stantonsburg. In addition, to make the improvement what it should be, the mouth and its immediate vicinity, for about 1 miles, needs dredging and diking. This work will probably cost $30,000, but additional examinations will be necessary to determine with sufficient accuracy the manner and cost of the improvement. No estimate can be made for the entire and permanent improvement of this work, as it is not susceptible of it. Like all rivers of this character, a small annual expenditure will always be required to maintain it. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. $870 12 870 12 5,000 00 15,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 10,000 00 (See Appendix L 16.) 17. Cape Fear River, from Wilmington to Fayetteville, North Carolina.— Before the improvement the channel for some 60 miles below Fayetteville was obstructed by numerous snags and an almost continuous succession of sand-shoals, and navigation rendered dangerous by overhanging trees. The project for the work contemplated the clearing of the channel and banks, and the construction of jetties to contract the water-way and scour a channel through the shoals. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, was $27,801.41, with which the greater portion of the river was cleared of snags, &c., and leaning trees pulled back from the banks. During the year ending June 30, 1884, the amount expended was $14,701.13, which by jetty construction and removal of obstructions secured a fair channel for the steamers navigating this river. It is proposed to devote future appropriation to the construction of jetties where needed and to such clearing of the channel and banks as may be found necessary from time to time. The sum of $5,000 can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, with which it is proposed to continue the work as commenced. It is estimated by the officer in charge that a small appropriation, say $5,000, will be required annually to maintain the work, as it is not susceptible of permanent completion. July 1, 1883, amount available.. $32,198 59 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $14,691 13 14,701 13 July 1, 1884, amount available.... 17,497 46 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 5,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix L 17.) 22,497 46 5,000 00 18. Lillington River, North Carolina.-Before the improvement was commenced navigation was almost impossible, except for small boats. The original project contemplated the clearing of the river of snags, &c., and cutting off projecting points at abrupt bends to enable vessels to pass them. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, is $2,898.90, with which dredg ing was commenced and the channel and banks were partly cleared of obstructions. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, $3,101.10, which resulted in securing a good navigable channel from 30 to 32 feet in width and from 6 to 10 feet in depth from the mouth of the river to Lillington. No more work is required at present. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 (See Appendix L 18.) $3,101 10 3, 101 10 19. Yadkin River, North Carolina.-Originally there was no navigable channel whatever, as the river was obstructed by numerous shoals, rock ledges, and mill-dams. It was contemplated to improve the portion of the river from the North Carolina Railroad Bridge near Salisbury up to the foot of Bean Shoals, a distance of 643 miles, over which it was proposed to obtain a low-water channel the entire year from 24 to 3 feet in depth and of ample width for the trade seeking it. To ac complish this the project was to blast and remove the rock, construct jetties, and take out the mill-dams. Up to June 30, 1883, there was expended $44,128.11, which resulted in securing an indifferent channel from 40 to 70 feet wide and from 2 to 23 feet in depth, for eight months of the year, up to Barnes's Shoals, 16 miles. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, there was expended $9,573.29, which was applied to that part of the river between the North Carolina Railroad Bridge and Swicegood's mill-dam, 21 miles, in the construction of wing-dams and the removal of rock ledges, which resulted in further improving the channel. It is proposed to apply a sufficient sum, about $4,671.85, of the funds available to completing this portion of the work, to which part it is necessarily restricted until right of way through the dams above it is granted or secured without cost to the United States, or specific legislation causes the removal of them, as heretofore reported. No action has been taken as yet, but it is probable that the right of way will now be acquired in due time, as the act of July 5, 1884, provides That the sum of $6,000, authorized by the act approved June 14, 1880, to be expended for the removal of dams in Yadkin River, North Carolina, may be used by the Secretary of War for acquiring the right of way by removal or otherwise of such dams as may be necessary for the contemplated improvement, the said right of way or removal to be obtained by agreement with the parties interested, or, in event of failure, to make a reasonable agreement, by condemnation, as provided for by the laws of the State of North Carolina. Therefore, under the existing circumstances, no stated amount can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, and no estimate can be made for the entire and permanent completion of the work of improvement above Swicegood's mill-dam. July 1, 1883, amount available...... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1853.. July 1, 1884, amount available... (See Appendix L 19.) $32,871 89 9,573 29 23,298 60 20. New River, North Carolina.-The act of August 2, 1882, appropriated $5,000 for this river, which amount was not deemed sufficient to justify beginning work at this point, since the danger attendant upon taking machinery to it, which can only be done by going to sea and entering through a shoal and dangerous inlet, would cause dredgeowners to charge a prohibitory price for the work, the estimated cost of which, if all done under one contract, is $40,000. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriated $5,000 more for this work, making $1,000 now on hand. Under the existing circumstances, as above stated, it is not considered advisable to begin work until a sufficient sum of money is available for the purpose. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... $5,000 00 5,000 00 5,000 00 10, 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 L 20.) 30,000 00 15,000 00 21. Great Pee Dee River, South Carolina.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1880 and modified in 1881, its object being to secure a navigable depth of 9 feet from the mouth of the river, at its confluence with the Waccamaw, to Smith's Mills, a distance of 46 miles, and a depth of 3 feet to Cheraw, a further distance of 103 miles, at an estimated cost of $25,520. The natural channel had, at favorable stages of water, about these depths, but was so much obstructed by snags, logs, fallen and obstructing trees as to be extremely difficult and dangerous to navigate. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, is $18,827.47, which has resulted in enabling the three steamers navigating the river to reach Cheraw for a small portion of the year during high stage, and Gardner's Bluff, the head of navigation, at all times; forty-eight schooners, with a load draught of 12 feet, go up the river some 75 miles above Georgetown. There were no expenditures in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, except that of $18 for care of property. |