ment, Major Mackenzie was charged with and submitted the following, which were transmitted to Congress and printed: 1. Sny Island Leree, Illinois, on the Mississippi River.-Report printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 225, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 14.) 2. Removal of the bar and obstructions at or near the mouth of Whipple Creek, in Quincy Bay, Illinois.-Report printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 84, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 15.) 3. Mississippi River in the vicinity of Guttenberg, Iowa.-Report printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 184, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 16.) PRESERVATION OF THE FALLS OF SAINT ANTHONY AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE FALLS-IMPROVEMENT OF CHIPPEWA AND SAINT CROIX RIVERS, WISCONSIN, AND OF MINNESOTA RIVER AND RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, MINNESOTA AND DAKOTA— RESERVOIRS AT THE SOURCES OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 1. Preservation of the Falls of Saint Anthony.-The present plan for the preservation of the falls, adopted in 1874, contemplated the construction of a concrete dike beneath the limestone ledge forming the bed of the river to prevent percolation through, and consequent destruction of, the soft underlying sand rock; the construction of rolling dams to keep the upper surface of the limestone ledge flooded during the winter, and a timber apron and wings to prevent recession of the crest of the falls and destruction of the dike. The dike was completed in 1876, and the other works by 1878. Since 1878 work has been confined mainly to the preservation and repair of the timber structures. Under the appropriation of $10,000, made by act of July 5, 1884, necessary repairs were made, during the fiscal year, to the main and east wing aprons. The timber work is generally in fair condition for the imme diate present, though ice and logs have worn off some of the 4-inch decking of the main apron, exposing to wear the next layer (8-inch) which is all that protects the cribs below it. The stone crib-filling under the main apron has settled since 1877, in some places having subsided 7 to 15 feet. Should the 8-inch plank, from any cause, give way, rapid destruction of the apron would probably follow. Many of the private dams upon which the flanks of the Government timber protection-work rest, are in bad condition to withstand floods, and, from the danger they stand in of giving way, menace the safety of the Government works. The condition of the falls at the close of 1884 is fully shown in a report of the officer in charge, of December 5, 1884, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 61, Forty-eighth Congress, second session, for which see Appendix A A 1. The occupation of about two-thirds the width of the stream by the dams, mills, &c., of the water-power companies, chartered in 1857, forcing nearly the full discharge of the river through a channel of 450 feet in width, narrowing down to 360 feet wide, and through a height of about 45 feet to act upon the comparatively soft bed of the river below the fails, accelerated the rate of recession of the limestone crest prior to completion of the apron, and renders the work of protection at the present time difficult and expensive. The officer in charge, after stating his opinion that the best plan to secure the preservation of the falls would consist in the removal of most, if not all, the mill-dams from the bed of the stream, extending the rolling dams from bank to bank, and largely extending the apron work, estimates that, should the Government adhere to the present plan of exterior protection, the cost of repairs and extensions immediately necessary would be $210,000, of which amount $150,000 could be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, toward extending the main apron along the front of Farnham and Lovejoy's Mill pond, protecting this front so far as necessary, removal of a portion of the point of rocks from the river near the lower end of the pond in order to reduce the eddy, repairing the main apron and east apron, continuing the line of submerged cribs across the bed of the river at the toe of the apron, and for general repairs. Total expended on the present plan and in maintenance and repairs of the works constructed under that plan to June 30, 1885, $414,540.71; in this amount, however, is included the sum of $10,000 for constructing log-sluice under specific appropriation for same by act of March 3, 1879. July 1, 1884, amount available .. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 18-4. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 . July 1, 1885, amount available.. $386 01 10,000 00 10,386 01 9,926 72 459 29 210,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A A 1.) 2. Mississippi River above Falls of Saint Anthony, Minnesota.-The present project, adopted in 1880, contemplates the improvement of the river mainly between Aitken and Grand Rapids by the removal of snags, bowlders, leaning trees, and bars, so as to afford from 3 to 5 feet depth of water for navigation. The cost is based upon the results of a survey made in 1874, the estimate for improving the extent of river from Conradi's Shoals (35 miles below Brainerd) to Grand Rapids being placed at $54,127. The last appropriation for this work was that by act of August 2, 1882. The small balance of funds available for the past fiscal year was applied mainly to removal of 620 cubic yards of bowlders from the channel of Grand Rapids. Steamers and flats can now ascend the rapids, the former at ordinary and the latter at low stage of water. Before the work of improvement commenced in 1880 boats drawing 2 feet of water frequently experienced difficulty between Aitken and Grand Rapids. The work thus far has given generally a 3-foot depth between those points, though bowlders and gravel yet remain requiring removal, and snags are always liable to form. The amount expended under the present plan to June 30, 1885 (including outstanding liabilities) is $34,748.10. The sum of $15,000, asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is to be expended in removing snags, leaning trees, bowlders, bars, &c., between Aitken and Grand Rapids, a distance of 160 miles. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... $951 43 699 53 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 251 90 $12.127 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of project, viz, improve- harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A A 2.) 3. Construction of lock and dam on Mississippi River at Meeker's Island, Minnesota.-The project for this work is given in the report of the Chief of Engineers for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, and the cost estimated at $922,121, the object being to connect with the improvement of the Mississippi River below Saint Paul, so as to secure steamboat navigation up to the Falls of Saint Anthony. No improvement of the river between Saint Paul and the site of the proposed lock and dam has been authorized by Congress. The act approved July 23, 1868, made a grant of 200,000 acres of public lands to the State of Minnesota to aid in constructing a lock and dam at this point in accordance with plan and estimate previously submitted. The act of March 3, 1873, appropriated "for construction of the lock and dam on the Mississippi River at Meeker's Island, Minnesota, according to the surveys and plans of the War Department, $25,000: Provided, That all rights and claims in and to the land grant made to the State of Minnesota for the above work by act approved July 23, 1868, shall be fully relinquished to the United States before any of this appropriation is expended." None of this appropriation has been used, the required relinquishment not having been made, and the appropriation has been lying unused for twelve years. July 1, 1884, amount available $25,000 00 25,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................. 922, 121 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A A 3.) 4. Chippewa River, Wisconsin.-This work consists in the construction of dams and jetties to narrow the water way and the revetment of banks, in accordance with the plan adopted in 1876, the cost of which was based upon results of a survey reported upon January 30, 1875. The cost was placed at $75,790; revised estimates, 1883, placed cost of complet ing necessary improvements at $19,476, thus bringing the estimated cost up to $132,476. Work during the past fiscal year consisted in the construction of 2 jetties opposite Durand, in all 1,000 linear feet in repairs to Flower Pot, Battle Island, and Dead Lake dams, and Three Mile Prairie revetment; also in removal of obstructions at Shaw's Rapids, Eau Claire. Wherever works have been constructed the low-water channel has been improved, a depth of 3 feet being generally maintained, where, before improvement, the depth seldom exceeded 18 inches. The improvement has been mainly confined to the extent of river between Durand and the mouth. The jetties at the mouth of the river have been of great benefit to raft and steamboat navigation in affording a stable channel, where before improvement was undertaken, there existed a broad bar with shallow, shifting channels. With the exception of some needed work at Shaw's Rapids, the improvements most needed are of the bars and crossings between Durand and the mouth of the Chippewa. The sum of $30,000, asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is to be expended in continuance of the present plan of improvement and principally between Durand and the mouth. Total of expenditures to June, 1885 (including outstanding liabilities), $96,289.37. July 1, 1884, amount available.............. 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, outstanding liabilities $1,107 11 15,000 00 16, 107 11 $14,376 48 14,396 48 1,710 63 July 1, 1885, amount available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of improvement per revised estimate. 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 A A 4.) 34,476 00 30, 000 00 5. Chippewa River at Yellow Banks, Wisconsin.-The project for this improvement was adopted in February, 1883; the cost, based upon the results of a survey reported upon January 30, 1875, and a revision of the same in 1883, placed at $96,000. Object of the work is to prevent the wearing away of the high sand-banks or bluffs bordering the river between its mouth and Eau Claire, and thereby relieve the Chippewa and the Mississippi below the junction of the two rivers from the masses of sand contributed by these banks. The protection work consists of revetment of brush, sand, and piles at foot of the slope. Total linear feet protected since commencement of work............ Total linear feet remaining to be protected 4,969 3, 145 14,575 Total amount expended to June 30, 1885, including outstanding liabilities.. $29, 703 41 The sum of $30,000 asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to be expended in continuing the protection, especially of Rumsey's and Mary Dean banks. July 1, 1884, amount available. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available $785 12 $483 86 4 67 488 53 296 59 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A A 5.) 66,000 00 30, 000 00 6. Saint Croix River below Taylor's Falls, Minnesota and Wisconsin.— The present project adopted in 1880 and modified, as to cost, in 1882, contemplates the removal of snags, bowlders, wrecks, leaning trees, and sand-bars between Taylor's Falls and Prescott, and the contraction of the low-water channel into one of nearly uniform width, especially at the bars and crossings, by means of brush and stone jetties, and dams of same material to close island chutes and secondary channels. Estimated cost, $83,450. The work during the past fiscal year has consisted in removal of 3,900 cubic yards of gravel from Catfish Bar, making a channel 600 feet wide, upon 400 feet of which width is a depth of 5 feet at low water; the training-dam at Hudson Bar was further completed for 1,000 feet. These bars are below Stillwater; above Stillwater a breach was closed in the left bank, above Harriman's Landing, and 133 sunken logs removed from channel between Taylor's Falls and Lakeland. Some few bars and crossings above Stillwater yet need improvement; below Stillwater the Hudson-Bar dam should be extended, and brush-dam built to maintain channel dredged at Catfish Bar. The work to date has resulted in a least depth of 3 feet on the improved bars above Stillwater, and of 5 feet on improved bars below that place generally. It may be said of the work done that at many places navigation has been made permanent where formerly it was uncertain, and that, in other places, it has been made practicable where before improvement it was impossible. Amount expended under present plan to June 30, 1885 (including outstanding liabilities), $54,117.32. The sum of $26,450 asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to be expended in continuation of the present plan, especially in extending Hudson-Bar dam, constructing training-dam at Catfish Bar, and closing secondary channel near Stillwater. July 1, 1884, amount available...... 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, outstanding liabilities.. $847 05 9,000 00 9,847 05 $6,926 05 38 32 6,964 37 2,8-268 July 1, 1885, amount available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix A A 6.) 26,450 00 26,450 00 7. Minnesota River, Minnesota.-No work was done during the fiscal year for want of funds. The last appropriation for this stream was $10,000, made by the river and harbor act of June 18, 1878. There has been expended (including outstanding liabilities), since the commencement of work, the sum of $117,467, in clearing the river of obstructions. This stream has no commerce worth reporting. No appropriation is asked. July 1, 1884, amount available.... July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix A A 7.) $4200 9.00 33.00 703, 868 00 8. Red River of the North, Minnesota and Dakota.-The present proj ect for the improvement of this river, adopted in 1879 and modified, as to cost of same, in 1883, consists in dredging the clay bars and removal of snags, &c., between Breckenridge and the Manitoba boundary line. During the past fiscal year dredging was continued to a point 32 miles below Grand Forks, 4,700 linear feet of channel having been excavated through the bars, the work covering 14 miles of river. |