of the Yellow Banks were regarded as separate and distinct works until The act of August 11, 1888. Estimated cost of the consolidated improvement, including all expenses from the commencement, $272,487.72. Expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, as follows: On improvement of the Chippewa River.... Total........ $115, 712.72 30, 000, 00 145, 712.72 Before the improvement commenced the depth on the bars at low water seldom exceeded 18 inches, and the crossing at the mouth of the ver was extremely difficult at that stage, owing to the volume of the river joining the Mississippi through a number of channels of insufficient depth. These latter-named channels were contracted into one of good depth by means of long parallel jetties. Generally, wherever works for improvement were constructed by the Government the low-water depths were increased from 18 inches to 3 to 4 feet. And the general improvement not only greatly facilitated the passage of steamers and rafts, but also greatly reduced the expense of rafting manufactured ¡umber. Expended during the year ending Jun 30, 1889, $8,622.21. The work for the year consisted in construction of a long wing dam at Plum Island Flats, and in extensions of and repairs to existing dams, and in repairs of Yellow Banks protection. The effect of the work done at Plum Island Flats was to increase the original low-water depth of 18 inches to 3 feet. The sum of $30,000, estimated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is for constructing and completing dams and revetments between the Dells at Eau Claire and the mouth of the river, and for further protection of the Yellow Banks. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 18-9, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, balance available.... $1,037.28 10,000.00 11,037.28 $8,377.21 8, 622. 21 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix B B 3.) 2, 415. 07 115, 737.72 30,000.00 4. St. Croix River, Wisconsin and Minnesota.-The original project for improvement, adopted in 1878, was based upon a survey made in 1874 Then the river was at a high stage of water and but comparatively few obstructions to be seen. It contemplated removal of snags, bowlders, sand-bars, etc., and contraction of the low water channels from Taybor's Falls to the confluence of the river with the Mississippi into one of nearly uniform width. Estimated cost $21,758. At low-water, however, the channel had in many places but 2 feet of depth, and steamers and barges made their way as best they could amongst the obstructions; at times it was impossible for them to get over the shoal aces. The present project, adopted in 1880, and modified as to cost in 1882, is based upon a low-water survey made in 1879, and differs from that originally adopted only in amount of work to be done. Es timated cost, $83,450. Expended under original and present projects to the close of the fis cal year ending June 30, 1888, $82,362.32. The work peformed to tha date resulted in a least depth of 3 feet on the improved bars abov Stillwater and 4 to 5 feet on the bars below that place. Expended during the past fiscal year, $9,734.43. The work of th past year consisted in removing obstructons between Taylor's Falls an the month of the river, in constructing a wing dam at Hudson Bar, an in dredging at the same locality, and in extending the wing-dam a Catfish Bar. These bars are below Stillwater, and before improvemen was undertaken were formidable obstructions at low-water to the large raft and steam-boat navigation of the river. They now affor sufficient depth for the largest Mississippi River steamers which ascen to Stillwater, but the Hudson Bar Channel should be widened by dredg ing, and the channels at both bars be maintained by increase in wing dams. Some bars above Stillwater yet require improvement, and ob structions, as snags, sunken logs, wrecks, etc., should be removed a they occur. Generally, it may be said of this improvement that a many points navigation has been rendered permanent where formerly it was uncertain, and that in other places it has been made practicable where, before improvement, it was impossible. The sum of $20,000, asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is to be expended at Hudson and Catfish bars, below Stillwater, in iu proving several bars above the fatter, and in general removal of ob structions and maintenance of existing works. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, balance available.... $137.6 10,000. 10, 137.6 $9,692.11 9, 734. 13 403.23 34, 200, 66 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............ (See Appendix B B 4.) 5. Minnesota River, Minnesota. From 1867 to 1873, inclusive, Congress appropriated $77,500 for improving the Minnesota River. The appropriations were applied to removing snags and bowlders, so as to afford a least depth at low water stage of 2 to 3 feet. In 1874 a survey was made from the mouth of the river to South Bend, a distance of about 116 miles, to determine the practicability of improving the navigation by means of canals, locks, and dams. Based upon this survey, estimates were made for five locks and dams and removal of snags, etc., at a cost of $733,868.63, the cost of removing snags, etc., being therein placed at $34,585.10, including contingencies. Following this report, Congress made three appropriations of $10,000 each, by acts approved March 3, 1875, August 14, 1876, and June 18, 1878, which sums were applied to clearing the river of obstructions below South Bend. Expended to June 30, 1879, $117,467. Since 1879 no work for improvement of the river has been undertaken. Under the appropriations above named the removal of obstruc tions cleared the way over long stretches of the river between Minnesota Falls and a point abont 30 miles below Henderson. Little or no use was made of the improved channels, there being little or no steamboat navigation of the river. The rapidly caving banks of the stream cause snags and leaning trees to form, so that channels which were cleared of them ten years ago are more or less encumbered with them to day. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $10,000 for improving the Minnesota River, including protection of the banks opposite the borough of Belle Plaine. It appearing from an examination made in September last that the sum was inadequate for the purposes named its expenditure for work for improvement was deferred until the further wishes of Congress in the matter might be known. Total expended on the improvement to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, $117,467. Expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, $18.60. July 1, 1888, amount available, including that for outstanding liabilities ($9.00). Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 *$42.00 10,000.00 10, 042.00 July 1, 1-89, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of habilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 19, outstanding liabilities.. $18.60 27.60 July 1, 18-9, balance available 10, 014. 40 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. See Appendix B B 5.) 693, 868.63 25,000.00 6. Red River of the North, Minnesota and Dakota.-The project for the Improvement of this river from Breckenridge to the northern boundary line, adopted in 1877, and amended as to cost in 1883, consists in the removal of snags, leaning trees, and bowlders, and in dredging chanLels through the bars, at an estimated cost of $179,310. A revised estimate made in 1887 placed the cost of completing the improvement at $79,598.37. Expended upon this improvement, to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, $160.212.52, resulting in an improved channel, at h-water stage, due to removal of snags and overhanging trees, of 76 miles, between Fargo and Abercrombie; and an improved channel to afford 3 feet of depth at ordinarily low water for 80 miles north, by river, from Fargo; partially improved chaunels on Goose Rapids. 90 miles north From Fargo, due to removal of bowlders and dredging of bars; amelioration of navigation between Goose Rapids and Fargo by dredging, and feet of depth at ordinary low water for 62 miles, by river, north of Grand Forks. Before improvement the ruling depth upon bars between Moorhead and Goose Rapids, at ordinary low water, was but 14 feet, and below Grand Forks 2 feet, while between Moorhead and Abercrombie the Tavigation was at all times difficult. The improvement has largely increased the facilities for movement of grain by steam-boats and barges. Forty-two dollars, balance from former appropriations, deposited to credit of Measurer of United States, November 11, 1885. The work, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, consisted dredging on the lower half of Goose Rapids and in completing excav tion of bars for 62 miles north of Grand Forks. Expended during the past fiscal year $13,552.56, resulting in 3 for channels at ordinarily low water on the portion of rapids worked ove and betterment of the channels below Grand Forks for 62 miles. Remaining to be done: Excavation of bars between Breckenridg and Fargo; from a point 10 miles above the rapids to the middle of th latter; a small amount of excavation from the foot of the rapids to point 62 miles north of Grand Forks; dredging at the Pelican Bar 115 miles north of the Forks, and removal of overhanging trees, snag and bowlders at a number of points. The sum of $40,000 estimated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 189 to be applied, generally, towards completion of the improvement. July 1, 1888, amount available Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities $9,735, 20,000. 29, 735. $11, 679. 42 13,552. 16, 182. July 1, 1889, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... (See Appendix B B 6.) 59, 59. 40,000. 7. Surveys for reservoirs at the sources of the Mississippi, St. Croi Chippewa, and Wisconsin Rivers.-Nothing was done under this hea during the past fiscal year, no funds having been available for such worl Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B B 7.) $50,000.0 8. Yellowstone River, Montana and Dakota.-The project for improve ment is to work down the river from Glendive, building wing-dams an dams to close island chutes where necessary in order to confine th water generally to one channel, and to thereby increase the depth o the rapids and shoal places; also, to remove rocks and bowlders from the channels. The original condition of the navigable channel was bad and unsafe due to the existence of numerous swift rapids, to crooked and shallo channel at low water, and to the presence of rocks and loose bowlders By removing the latter at the worst places and by confining the wate to one channel so as to increase the depth on the rapids, the river ha been considerably improved for purposes of navigation. No wor other than repairs to and care of the plant has been done since 1883 owing to insufficiency of funds. At present the stream is not navigate by steamers. Expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 $106,808.29. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, including outstanding liabilities, $1,319,27, July 1, 1888, amount available.... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... July 1, 1889, balance available.................. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... $13, 260.98 1,319. 27 11,941.71 106,000,00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 25,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and barbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix B B 8.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 11, 1888. The required preliminary examination of Ice-harbor at or near Bismarck, Dakota, on the Upper Missouri River, was made by the local engi neer in charge, Major Allen, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement, with facts and reasons for such opinion. The Chief of Engineers, concurring in the conclusion reached in this instance, has given no instructions to make further survey with the view to its improvement. (See Appendix B B 9.) IMPROVEMENT OF TENNESSEE AND CUMBERLAND RIVERS, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN EASTERN TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY. Officer in charge, Lieut. Col. J. W. Barlow, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. H. E. Waterman, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Tennessee River.-(a) Above Chattanooga.-The examinations of this section of the river in 1830 and 1871, show the principal obstructions to he reefs, gravel-bars, and a few snags, brought down by the annual foods, but that the bed and banks of the river are subject to only slight changes; improvements when made are therefore practically permanent. The present project is to blast a channel through reefs, reduce sand and gravel bars, and to build up riprap dams to contract the water. way so as to obtain a safe navigable channel depth of 3 feet at low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1888, was $225,947.70, which has secured for commerce a lengthened season of navigation for steamboats, and an improved channel for the passage of rafts and flat boats. Of the forty-three obstructions work has been done upon at least twenty-nine of them, partially removing some and more or less improv ing others. A snag and tow boat was built for use upon the Tennessee and its tributaries. lu October last work was resumed at Soddy Shoals and continued at that point and White Creek Shoal until December. The snag-boat Weitzel was employed in December in clearing the channel of snags, overhanging trees, etc., between Chattanooga and White Creek, about 114 miles. Amount expended during fiscal year, including outstanding liabilities, was $5,135.87. July 1, 1888, amount available ... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $52.30 15,000.00 15, 052.50 liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, balance available ENG 89-16 $5,027.36 5,090.76 9, 961.54 |