officer in charge recommends that, in addition to snagging operations on this reach of the river, there should be some dikes constructed, in order to perfect the improvement and effect a deepening of the water over six troublesome shoals between the mouths of the Canadian and Grand rivers. It is estimated approximately that the entire cost of the improvement of these places will not exceed $40,000. At the same time a special survey of each locality, with a view to their improvement in the manner stated, is necessary in order to arrive at a more accurate estimate of cost. Total amount appropriated to date, $79,000. July 1, 1883, amount available.... $21,571 01 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 13,695 06 July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix T 4.) 7,875 95 5. White River, between Jacksonport and Buffalo Shoals, Arkansas.— The object of this improvement is the removal of snags, logs, &c., from the channel, the overhanging trees, and others from the banks which are likely to affect the free navigation of the channel, and the contraction of the water-way so as to afford an increased depth in the channel at places. A small party did a little work on this reach of the river in the month of November, while bringing the boats and other plant from the reach above down to Newport, Ark., for storage during the winter. The officer in charge recommends a complete survey of the river from Forsythe, Mo., to the mouth, having in view a systematic and radical improvement to that place, a distance of 600 miles, which survey is estimated to cost $25,000, and which could be profitably expended in one season. July 1, 1883, amount available.. $6,118 88 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 1,809 82 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 4,309 06 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884, for the whole river.. 35, 000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.... 39,309 06 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for the whole river.. (See Appendix T 5.) 17,000 00 6. White River above Buffalo Shoals, Arkansas.-The existing project for this improvement comprises the removal of loose rocks, the blasting of others, and the construction of dams at certain troublesome places, besides the removal of snags, logs, overhanging trees, &c. A small force, working with a United States plant, was operating on this reach of the White River during the months of August, September, and October, 1883. Buffalo, Red-Bud, and Summer Shoals were worked on during this brief period of operations, when, from the fact of the appropriation being about exhausted, they dropped down into the next reach into which this river's improvement is subdivided, and soon after arrived at Newport, Ark., and stored the property there for safe-keeping. No further work can be undertaken until additional funds become available. July 1, 1883, amount available $5,532 84 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.... 4,654 47 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 878 37 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884, for the whole river.. 35,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, for the whole river.. (See Appendix T 6.) 35, 878 37 17,000 00 7. L'Anguille Kiver, Arkansas.-No work was done on this stream during the year. It is proposed to expend the funds available for this improvement in such removal of obstructions, in the short reach of 10 miles which comprises the navigable portion of this stream up to the thriving town of Marianna, as the exigencies of commerce may require. The officer in charge, after a personal examination of this river, in connection with an examination of the Saint Francis River made at the same time, recommends that they be considered together in the matter of providing for their improvement and conducting the operations on them, inasmuch as they are so closely allied in commerce and characteristics. July 1, 1883, amount available (See Appendix T 7.) $3, 149 47 3,149 47 8. Black River, Arkansas and Missouri.-Operations were commenced the early part of August, between which time and the last of November, which comprised the entire season's operations, the following work was accomplished: 1,429 snags or logs removed, 2,480 trees cut, and 1,393 trees deadened. The property pertaining to this work was taken to Newport, Ark., for storage at the end of the season, the small balance of the appropriation that remained being insufficient for further operations. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... $4,878 60 3,824 68 July 1, 1884, amount available... 1,053 92 20,000 00 21,053 92 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. (See Appendix T 8.) 9. Saline River, Arkansas.—No operations were undertaken on this stream until the opening of the present season of work. Since then a small party has been engaged in the construction of a boat suitable for the prosecution of the work to be done, and the officer in charge expects that all the logs, snags, trees, &c., which form obstructions to the stream where steamboats are now at any time of the year justified in running will have been removed by the middle of September. The officer in charge reports a decided falling off in the commerce of this stream during the last year or two, which is attributed to the advent of railroads to the country bordering on it. The officer in charge submits no estimate for any further appropriation for this stream, since it is thought that, until the country immediately along the river bank becomes more improved, the commerce which would be tributary to the river will not justify it. July 1, 1883, amount available, July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. $2,346 07 1,713 25 July 1, 1884, amount available.. 632 82 Amount adpropriated by act approved July 5, 1884... 5,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1835...... 5,632 82 5,000 00 5,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 10. Continuation of the survey of the Arkansas River from Wichita, Kansas, to Fort Gibson, Indian Territory.-A survey party commenced work in the field at Wichita, Kans., the latter part of March, where the necessary outfit had been provided, and to date have worked over all that portion of the river between there and a point somewhere in the vicinity of Tulsa, Ind. T. It is expected that the party will have reached Tulsa by the 10th of July, and that the entire work assigned them well be completed by the early part of August. (See Appendix T 10.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. The following localities were, after preliminary examination, reported by the local engineer as not worthy of improvement and the work not a public necessity: 1. Little River and Saline Creek, Arkansas. (See Appendix T 11.) 2. Big Bayou Metre from its mouth up. (See Appendix T 12.) Upon a favorable report from the preliminary examination made by him, Captain Handbury was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as Senate Ex. Doc. No. 104, Forty-eighth Congress, first session : 1. White River, Arkansas, at the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Bridge, near Duvall's Bluff, with the view of removing obstructions from the channel. (See Appendix T 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE MOUTHS OF THE ILLINOIS AND OHIO RIVERS-IMPROVING HARBOR AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ALTON-MISSISSIPPI RIVER OPPOSITE THE CITY OF SAINT LOUIS, AND AT OR NEAR CAPE GIRARDEAU AND MINTON POINT-IMPROVEMENT OF OSAGE RIVER IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Maj. O. H. Ernst, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders First Lieut. F. V. Abbot, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mississippi River, between the Illinois and Ohio rivers.-Work was carried on at Horsetail, Twin Hollows, Pulltight, Chesley Island, Jim Smith's, and Foster's Island. All of these works constitute parts of one connected whole, carried on under the general scheme of making the improvement continuous, beginning at Saint Louis and working down-stream, reducing the river to an approximately uniform width of about 2,500 feet, and protecting its banks from erosion. Horsetail. The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1873 and modified in 1879, the object being to afford a channel not less than 8 feet deep. The natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep, and was tortuous. The amount expended during the year was $103,817.88. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $765,374.49, of which, however, but $540,308.18 has been employed upon the system adopted in 1879. It has resulted in securing a direct navigable channel with a depth of about 8 feet. Further work will be required to preserve these results, the amount of which is a matter of future contingency. Twin Hollows, west bank.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to afford a channel not less than 8 feet deep. The natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep in the shoalest parts. The amount expended during the year was $29,743.71. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $226,380.87, and has resulted in securing a navigable channel in which the depth during the year has not been less than 9 feet, but which is still tortuous. It is intended during the coming year to keep the work alrea y constructed in repair. Twin Hollows, east bank.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to stop the caving, which extended over a length of 8,400 feet of the bank, and the consequent deterioration of the navigation. Before the work was begun the caving was progressing at the rate of several feet per day. The amount expended during the year was $4,719.84. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $100,648.78, and has resulted in the protection of 8,725 feet of bank, of which about half is completed and the remainder well advanced. It is proposed during the coming year to complete the unfinished portion and to extend the entire work down stream in case the point of attack of the river be so altered as to make that necessary, as now seems probable. Pulltight. The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to afford a channel not less than 8 feet deep. The natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep in the shoalest parts. The amount expended during the year was $39,639.94. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $86,105.41, and has resulted, in connection with the works at Twin Hollows, west. bank, in securing a navigable channel in which the depth during the year was not less than 9 feet. Much further work will be required before the result can be considered permanent. It is proposed during the coming year to extend the works down-stream to connect with Beard's Island. Chesley Island.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to stop the erosion of the east side of the island and the consequent deterioration of the navigation, and also to close the chute west of the island in order to afford, in connection with the works at Jim Smith's, a channel not less than 8 feet deep. The bank was caving at the rate of several feet per day, and the natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep in the shoalest parts. The amount expended during the year was $16,100.47. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $63,501.86, and has resulted in the protection of the east side of the island for a length of 4,305 feet and in partially closing the chute, affording, in connection with the works at Jim Smith's and external causes, a navigable channel in which the depth during the year was not less than 8 feet. It is proposed during the coming year to complete the closure of the chute. Jim Smith's.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to afford a channel not less than S feet deep. The natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep in the shoalest parts. The amount expended during the year was $24,901.69. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $139,388.43, and has resulted in securing a navigable channel in which the depth during the year was not less than 8 feet. External causes contributed to this depth, which is not regarded as permanent without much further work. It is proposed during the coming year to reconstruct the works, which have suffered greatly from the failure of the appropriation last year, and to extend them down-stream. Foster's Island.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, its object being to stop the caving of the west side of the island and the consequent deterioration of the navigation. Before the work was begun the caving was progressing at the rate of several feet per day. The amount expended during the year was $38,516.84. The total amount expended to June 20, 1884, is $44,296.02, and has resulted in the partial protection of 5,864 feet of the bank. It is proposed during the coming year to complete the work by extending it up the face of the bank. The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, provides that the sums therein appropriated for the Mississippi River from the Des Moines Rapids to the mouth of the Ohio shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of War, in accordance with the plans, specifications, estimates, and recommendations of the Mississippi River Commission. July 1, 1883, amount available..... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 18:3.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 . Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885.. (See Appendix U 1.) .$185,276 43 $195, 245 58 189,891 07 5,354 51 520,000 00 525, 354 51 2. Harbor and Mississippi River at Alton. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1881, the object being to remove a shoal in front of the down-stream portion of the landing. There were no expenditures during the year. The total amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $67,324.70, and has resulted in entirely removing the shoal. To preserve these results some repairs are required in the dike, which it is proposed to make during the coming year from funds made available by Congress from the appropriation for the general improvement of the Mississippi between the Illinois and Ohio rivers. No further appropriation for this work is at present required. (See Appendix U 2.) 3. Mississippi River opposite the city of Saint Louis, Missouri.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1882, the object being to increase the available length of river front opposite Saint Louis by reclaiming the land occupied by Cahokia Chute; also to stop the erosion at high water of the Illinois shore in Cahokia Chute, and, furthermore, to perpetuate the good results previously obtained under a different project in the channel depth. Before the work was begun a considerable body of water passed through Cahokia Chute at the higher stages and a small body at low stage, preventing access to |