The expenditure of $62,509.58, up to June 30, 1885, has resulted in giving 4 feet of water in the channel except during low water as far as Jones old ferry, 27 miles above Geneva, and 2 feet of water in the channel as far as Pates Creek at a medium stage of water. During high water 5 feet can be carried to this point. The funds remaining on hand and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to the further improvement of the river in accordance with the approved plan. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by ac approved July 5, 1884. $772 27 15,000 00 15,772 27 July 1, 1885, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive $5,677 82 604 03 6,281 85 9,490 42 July 1, 1885, amount available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix P 11.) 50 000 00 15 000 00 12. La Grange Bayou, Florida.-La Grange Bayou extends about 2 miles in a northeasterly direction from the north side and near the head of Choctawhatchee Bay, and into it flows Cedar Creek, a deep stream from 90 to 160 feet wide, on which is situated the town of Freeport, 11 miles above the head of the bayou. The plan of improvement adopted was made pursuant to an exami nation of this bayou in 1881, under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, and contemplates the deepening of the channel through the bayou so as to admit the passage of vessels drawing 4 feet at mean low water. The work to be done by dredging. Up to the 30th of June, 1885, there has been expended on this work the sum of $2,000, allotted from the appropriation of $20,000 made by an act approved August 2, 1882, for the improvement of the Choctawhatchee River, Fiorida, the two improvements being closely related. The result has been to secure a channel 5 feet in depth at mean low water. The appropriation asked for is to be applied to the widening of the channel and removing the remaining obstructions. July 1, 1884, amonnt available $772 27 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 772 27 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... 5,000 00 5,000 00 (See Appendix P 12.) 13. Harbor at Pensacola, Florida.-This is a deep water harbor on the coast of Florida, within which is located an extensive naval establishment of the United States, and from which during the past fiscal year there cleared 430 steamships and sailing vessels, aggregating 280,354 tons. The plan of improvement adopted in 1881 contemplates dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water across the inner bar, for the temporary relief of the navigation of this harbor and the preservation of the site of old Fort McRee by the construction of suit able works of shore protection, with a view to retaining this position for defensive purposes and preventing further changes in the tidal currents through the continued abrasion of the shore at this point. The expenditure up to June 30, 1885, of $172,581.97 has resulted in obtaining a channel 120 feet deep in width and 24 feet in depth at mean low water across the shoal inside the bar, but this channel was not maintained by the tidal currents, and on June 30, 1885, was 21.8 feet in depth at mean low water, a gain of 2.4 feet over the depth existing when the work was commenced. An annual outlay of $50,000 will be necessary to maintain this dredged channel until the permanent improvement of this harbor shall have been authorized by Congress. The works of shore protection at the site of Fort McRee have been successful in stopping abrasion of the beach, advancing it 250 feet long on the south side of the south jetty at Fort McRee and advancing the 12, 18, and 24 foot curves of the western channel slopes fronting the shoreline at this point. The amount available and the appropriation asked for will be expended in the completion of the works of shore protection and in continuing the dredging of the inner bar. The funds on hand will be exhausted before the end of the present working season. July 1, 1884, amount available... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1885, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1885, amount available $29,817 90 55,000 00 84,817 90 $53, 017 61 9,382 26 62,399 87 22,418 03 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix P 13.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. It appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Captain Hoxie was charged with and completed the following: 1. Outer and inner bars at the entrance of Pensacola Harbor, Florida.Report transmitted to Congress, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 224, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix P 14.) 2. Clearwater Harbor, Florida.-(See Appendix P 15.) 3. Upper Oconee River, Georgia, from Skull Shoals to the Georgia Railroad Bridge.-(See Appendix P 16.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR OF MOBILE; OF WARRIOR, TOMBIGBEE, AND BLACK WARRIOR RIVERS, ALABAMA, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN MISSISSIPPI-IMPROVEMENT OF CHANNEL TO BILOXI BAY AND OF HORN ISLAND PASS. Officer in charge, Maj. A. N. Damrell, Corps of Engineers. Supervising engineer, Lieut. Col. D. C. Houston, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mobile Harbor, Alabama.—The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in March, 1880, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from the Gulf of Mexico to the city of Mobile of 200 feet width and not less than 17 feet depth at mean low water. The channel before was 200 feet wide through Choctaw Pass Bar, with not more than 13 feet at the shoalest part, and was obtained by dredg. ing under previous appropriations from 1870 to 1878, inclusive, amounting to $401,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $584,159.39, and has resulted in obtaining a channel with a minimum width of 125 feet and maximum width of 200 feet, a minimum depth of 163 feet and a maximum depth of 23 feet, from the 17-foot curve in Mobile River to the curve of same depth in the lower bay, a length of 26.33 miles. There has been a considerable improvement in the river above the dredged channel by the removal of wrecks. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to widening the channel, and it is expected the combined amounts will complete the project. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1884, amount available.... $374 57 200, 000 00 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 200,374 57 $112,962 44 11,571 52 124,533 96 75,840 61 240, 000 00 July 1, 1885, amount available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix Q 1.) 2. Warrior and Tombigbee rivers, Alabama and Mississippi.-a. Warrior River, Alabama.-The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1875, the object being to obtain a channel 4 feet deep and 80 feet wide at ordinary low water from its junction with the Tombigbee up to Tuscaloosa. The channel at that time was not navigable at low water. The improvement made already has given safe and easy navigation on a stage of water fully 3 feet lower than was formerly practicable, and now boats of 3-feet draught can run when the water is 1 foot above ordinary low water. The amount available and the appropriation asked for are to be applied to continuing the improvement, but with the project probably somewhat modified to accommodate a change in the character of the principal commerce of the river, and will probably complete the work. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884..... July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount available (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 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 Q 2.) $12,000 00 5, 168 19 6,831 81 65,000 00 65,000 00 b. Tombigbee River, from Fulton to Vienna.-The project for the improvement of the portion of the river between Columbus and Fulton was adopted in 1873, the object being to give good high-water navigation throughout by the removal of snags and overhanging trees. The channel before improvement was not navigable at all from Fulton down to Cotton Gin Port. From Cotton Gin Port to Aberdeen, about 35 miles, it was navigable for small barges only carrying about 125 bales of cotton. From Aberdeen to Columbus, about 65 miles, navigation was difficult when the river was 12 feet above ordinary low water. The projected improvement has been completed, and there is now easy navigation for steamers of 300 tons from Columbus up to Aberdeen when the water is 4 feet above ordinary low water, and from Aberdeen up to Fulton when it is 8 feet above. Two thousand dollars will be required annually to keep the channel in its improved condition. The project for the improvement of the portion of the river between Columbus and Vienna was adopted in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width 3 feet deep during ordinary low water. Before the improvement was commenced the channel was much obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and there was only 1 foot of water on some of the bars during ordinary low water. A very considerable improvement has been effected, and navigation is now possible on a 2-foot rise for boats drawing 3 feet. Over one-half of the work has been accomplished. The amount available and the appropriation asked for is to be expended in continuing the work by removal of snags and overhanging trees and the improvement of bars having less than 3 feet of water, and it is expected the combined amounts will complete the improvement. Two thousand dollars of appropriation asked is for preservation of improvement of Tombigbee above Columbus, now included in this sec tion. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 ... July 1, 1885, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ (See Appendix Q 2.) $10,000 00 6,087 99 3,912 01 27,000 00 27,000 00 c. Tombigbee River below Vienna. -The present project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1879, the object being to afford a channel of navigable width and 4 feet deep at ordinary low water from the mouth up to Demopolis, and 3 feet deep from Demopolis up to Vienna. Before the improvement was commenced the river was navigable from the mouth up to Bladen Springs, 143 miles above Mobile, during the entire year, but was obstructed by snags, and sand-bars caused detention by lack of water. From Bladen Springs up to Demopolis, 243 miles above Mobile, navigation was suspended about two months during low water. From Demopolis up to Vienna the channel was much obstructed by snags and overhanging trees, and the water was so shoal on the bars that navigation was only attempted on a considerable rise. A railroad bridge at Jones's Bluff also gave a great deal of trouble. A considerable improvement has already been effected, and now there is safe navigation, with 3 feet depth at ordinary low water, from the mouth up to Thompkins's Bluff, 197 miles above Mobile. With a 1-foot rise the depth can be carried up to Kirkpatrick's, 260 miles above Mobile, and with a 2 foot rise to Vienna. The amount available and amount asked for is to be applied to continuing the improvement according to the project, and will probably complete the work. The total amount expended on the Warrior and Tombigbee rivers is as follows: On Warrior and Tombigbee (below Columbus). . $313, 198 01 28,000 00 Total...... 241, 198 01 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 15,000 00 11,941 83 July 1, 1885, amount available 3,058 17 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 60,000 00 60,000 00 (See Appendix Q 2.) Tombigbee River above Columbus. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $382 57 382 57 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 8 3. Black Warrior River, from Tuscaloosa to Daniel's Creek, Alabama.— No project has been adopted for the improvement of this portion of the river, but a survey was made under an allotment from the appropriation for improvement whereon to base estimates and plans for the prosecution of the work. The amount of $2,978 was expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, which completed the survey. The amount available and the amount asked for are to be applied to prosecuting the work of improvement under such plans as may be adopted. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... July 1, 1885, amount available..... $50,000 00 2,978 00 47,022 00 198, 764 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix Q 3.) 4. Old Town Creek, Mississippi.-The project for this improvement, adopted in 1883, is to improve this stream for high-water navigation by *Included in Tombigbee from Fulton to Vienna. |