which resulted in again clearing the river of all obstructions like the aforesaid. The amount that can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $7,500, with which it is expected to still further aid navigation and commerce by dredging shoals and removing obstractions as they form. This is expected to complete the improvement as estimated, securing a channel 9 feet deep and 60 feet wide at low water. Small appropriations will be required from time to time in order to maintain the work, as it is not susceptible of entire and permanent completion, being a log-bearing stream. July 1, 1884, amount available.. $866 10 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884........... 418 50 July 1, 1885, amount available..... 447 60 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 7,500 00 7,500 00 (See Appendix L 10.) 11. Pamplico and Tar rivers, North Carolina.-The Pamplico River was originally obstructed by a war blockade of piling near Hill's Point, and also by stumps and shoals just below Washington. The Tar River was likewise obstructed by a war blockade of piling near Washington, and also by shoals and snags farther up, which made navigation difficult and uncertain. The original projects for the improvement of these rivers contemplated removing these obstructions, and also widening, deepening, and straightening the channel of the Pamplico River below Washington, by dredging. Previous to the act of June 14, 1880, the appropriation for them were distinct and separate. Since then they have been consolidated in one appropriation. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $45,666.33, and resulted in a channel 9 feet deep at low water, and from 108 to 175 feet wide, from the deep water of Pamplico River to Washington, 14 miles. Nothing further is desired except to widen the channel, which it is not proposed to do at present. On the Tar the work resulted in a navigable channel 3 feet deep at low water, from Washington to Greenville, 23 miles, the year round, and thence to Tarboro', 26 miles, only during high water. The amount expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $3,749.83, which was all expended on the Tar River and applied to the removal of logs, stumps, snags, and overhanging growth. A further slight improvement was effected thereby. There will be but a small balance on hand at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $5,000. It is proposed to apply this to continuing the improvement by removing snags, shoals, overhanging growth, &c., and the repair and construction of jetties, for the furtherance of navigation and commerce. The work of improvement contemplated in the original estimates upon the Tar River is complete, but more work is needed. It is not susceptible of entire and permanent completion, as the jetties require repairs, and logs, snags, &c., are constantly appearing. A continuance of its best possible condition requires an annual expenditure of $5,000 to maintain it. July 1, 1881, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $2,333 67 5,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 7,333 67 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. $3,749 83 1, 120 94 4,870 77 2,462 90 5,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount available..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 11.) 12. 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, 644 miles, over which it was proposed to obtain a low-water channel the entire year from 2 to 3 feet in depth and of ample width for the trade seeking it. To accomplish this the project was to blast and remove the rock, construct jetties, and take out the mill-dams. No locks were contemplated. Up to June 30, 1884, there was expended $53,701.40, which resulted in securing an indifferent channel from 40 to 70 feet wide, and from 2 to 2 feet deep for eight months of the year, the season of "winter water," from the North Carolina Railroad Bridge to Swicegood's Milldam, 21 miles. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, there was expended $8,574.65, which was applied to that part of the river between Barnes' Shoal and Swicegood's Mill-dam, 5 miles, in the construction of wing-dams and training-walls, and the removal of rock ledges. This resulted in further improving the channel for navigation at winter stage; at the lowest stage there is no continuous navigable channel, it being but 9 inches deep at one point, Boone's Ford. 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." It is questionable whether any of this will be necessary, as recent investigations of the local engineer show that the dams can all be best and most economically passed by wing-dams and training-walls, or by locks, as the case may be. Accordingly, this amount will be held for the present, and the balance of the funds available will be devoted to securing a navigable channel at least 24 feet deep and 60 feet wide at winter stages only from the North Carolina Railroad Bridge to Hartley's Mill-dam, 28 miles, by the construction of wing-dams and trainingwalls and the removal of rock ledges. It would be very expensive to make low-water navigation on this river in any manner; the commerce to be developed would not justify it. Locks must be resorted to from Douthet's Mill-dam up, in order to pass most of the mill dams. Below this point none are required. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $10,000. It is proposed to expend this in further improving the channel at winter stages. The advantages and benefits to be expected therefrom will be to lengthen the present channel. There are no commercial boats on this river, and but little prospect of any. The estimated amount required for the entire and permanent completion of the work of improvement in accordance with the approved and adopted project is largely in excess of the estimate, $81,674.85, originally submitted (see page 627, Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1879), the sum of $77,000 having already been appropriated and $62,276.05 spent to June 30, 1885, and only 213 miles (one-third the distance) partially improved, and this for only navigation at winter stages. The most difficult and expensive portion yet remains to be improved, even for navigation at winter stages. Of course, for navigation at low water, as projected, the expense would be much greater. July 1, 1984, amount available.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount available..... (See Appendix L.12.) $23, 298 60 8,574 65 14,723 95 13. Scuppernong River, North Carolina.-Before work was commenced on this river there was a bar at the mouth with about 5 feet of water thereon. The upper portion of the river was obstructed by logs, snags, stumps, overhanging growth, and projecting points at abrupt bends,] permitting navigation for small vessels only, and with difficulty. The original project, adopted in 1876, was to dredge the bar and make cut-offs at the projecting points, and also to remove the said obstructions to obtain a channel at low water 9 feet deep and 60 feet wide from its mouth to Spruill's Bridge, the head of navigation, 22 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1883, is $6,000 and resulted in completing the greater portion of what was projected, to the great benefit of navigation and commerce, leaving two cut-offs and four projecting points for future dredging. There have been no funds available since, until the passage of the act of July 5, 1884, which appropriated $2,000 for this work. The amount expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, is $23.12, which was applied to an examination of the river preliminary to the resumption of operations. This showed that the river is in good condition. As the work was not urgent and the plant to be employed was engaged elsewhere, no work was done during the year, but it is now (July 15) in progress. It is believed that the funds available will complete the work, which will be of quite a permanent nature, as this river is not subject to freshets of any magnitude. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... $2,000 00 outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available...... (See Appendix L 13.) $23 12 97 55 120 67 1,879 33 14. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The wreck of the schooner Lawrence, obstructing navigation in the Scuppernong River, North Carolina, was duly advertised, as her ownership could not be well founded. A party claiming an interest in her has promised to remove her shortly without expense to the United States. (See Appendix L 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following localities were examined by the local engineer in charge, and not recommended for improvement: 1. Perquimans River above Hartford [Hertford], North Carolina.-(See Appendix L 15.) 2. Green River, North Carolina.-(See Appendix L 16.) Reports on the above were transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. The above act also provides for an examination and survey of Pasquotank Kiver, North Carolina, above mouth of canal. The Chief of Engineers, in view of an evident error in the wording of this provision, has not considered himself authorized to direct a survey to be made as the law now stands. Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 98, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See Appendix L 17.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engi neer, that the locality was worthy of improvement by the General Government, Captain Hinman was charged with and completed the fol lowing, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 263, Forty-eighth Congress, second session: 1. Cashie River from its mouth to the town of Windsor, in Bertie County, North Carolina.-(See also Appendix L 18.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA. Officer in charge, Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers. Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Contentnea Creek, North Carolina.-This stream, prior to improvement in 1881, had a depth of about 3 feet, during nine months of the year, from its mouth in the Neuse upward about 75 miles to Stantonsburg, its practical limit of navigation; but its channel was completely blocked at all stages of water by sunken logs and stumps and by floating obstructions. Its steamboat commerce was nothing. The original project of 1881, as continued to date, proposes to secure a safe and unobstructed 3-foot navigation over this entire distance during the high water season of about nine months. Twenty thousand dollars was spent in all upon this improvement up to June 30, 1884, giving a roughly-cleared 3-foot navigation over the 45 miles from its mouth up to Snow Hill during the high-water season. In consequence of this a steamboat line has been permanently established upon the whole length thus improved, and two steamboats have made bi-weekly trips during nearly nine months each year, to the great benefit of the neighboring country, otherwise without transportation facilities for its products. The present commerce (excluding rafted goods) exceeds $400,000 per year, and is rapidly increasing. During the last year, up to June 30, 1885, $3,268.61 has been expended upon this improvement in more thoroughly clearing this portion of the river, and in proportionately increasing its commerce. It is estimated that $30,000 can be profitably expended upon this improvement during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, of which $20,000 will extend navigation 30 miles up to Stantonsburg by clearing the river of all dangerous obstructions, such as sunken logs and stumps, and in cutting down and pulling back from caving banks the trees which would otherwise soon fall into the river; and the other $10,000 will construct the diking needed near the mouth of the river to keep its water within the present improved channel. The extension of navigation to Stantonsburg will open up the richest part of the neighboring country to and greatly increase the river commerce. It is estimated that it will probably cost $20,000 more to complete the proposed and approved project of 1881, so as to secure a thoroughly. cleared 3-foot navigation during the nine commercially-busy months of the year, and that after this improvement has been made it will probably cost from $2,000 to $3,000 per year to insure the maintenance of the improved channel. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884............... July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. $5,000 00 $3,009 28 259 33 3,268 61 1,731 39 51,731 39 July 1, 1885, amount available....... (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending Juue 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix M 1.) 30,000 00 2. Trent River, North Carolina.-In 1879, before improvement, this river possessed a 6-foot to 8-foot roughly-cleared navigation from its mouth at New Berne up 21 miles to Pollocksville, and a lighter draught navigation 9 miles further to Quaker Bridge. Above Pollocksville the bars, snags, and trees prevented all navigation, except occasionally by small flat-boats during high freshets. Its commerce is estimated to have then been about $400,000 per year. The original project of 1879 and 1880, as continued to date, assumes that 6 to 8 feet of water can be carried at all stages of water from its mouth 21 miles to Pollocksville, and proposes to secure a thoroughlycleared 3-foot navigation, with at least 50 feet channel width at all stages of water, from Pollocksville 22 miles up to Trenton, the practicable limit of steamboat navigation, using the balance of the funds to improve the channel from its mouth 30 miles upward to Pollocksville and Quaker Bridge. Thirty-two thousand dollars was spent in all upon this improvement up to June 30, 1884, securing a moderately well-cleared navigation from New Berne 41.5 miles up to within 1.5 miles of Trenton, and in partially constructing a turning-basin at Trenton. In consequence of this improvement a steamboat navigation was permanently established over the entire distance cleared, increasing its commerce to about $500,000 (including rafted goods) per year. |