July 1, 1884, amount available $1,924 46 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 20,000 00 21,924 46 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 $12, 247 71 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 1,277 96 13,525 67 8,398 79 = 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 36,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix T T 3.) 4. Cowlitz River, Washington Territory. The project for this improvement, adopted in 1880, consists in wing-dam construction, bar-scraping, and snagging operations to secure light-draught navigation up to Toledo, a little more than 30 miles above the mouth. The original estimate for this work was $3,000 for construction in the first year, and an annual expenditure thereafter of $2,000 for maintenance by snagging operations. The total appropriation to date is $6,000. The amount expended to end of fiscal year is $5,988.13. During the year 300 feet of wing-dam have been constructed, and the channel has been maintained in tolerably good condition. It is proposed to apply the sum asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, to channel maintenance, wing-dam construction, and shore protection. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $2 73 2,000 00 2,002 73 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... 1,990 86 July 1, 1885, amount available... 11 87 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 3,000 00 3,000 00 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. 6,000 00 (See Appendix T T 4.) 5. Lower Clearwater River, Idaho.-The present project, adopted in 1878, is to make a channel through rock reefs and cobble-stone bars from Lewiston, at the mouth of the river, to North Fork, a distance of 40 miles, to secure a low-water channel depth of 4 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $15,000, and has resulted in improvement more or less complete over the lower reach of 30 miles. In view of the expensive character of the work it is considered advisable to temporarily defer further operations, and hence no appropriation is asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. (See Appendix T T 5.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF JULY 5, 1884. The following locality was examined by the local engineer in charge. and not recommended for improvement. His report thereon was trans mitted to Congress at its last session and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 71, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. 1. Snake River between Lewiston and mouth of Boisé River, Idaho.— (See Appendix T T 6.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination by the local engineer, that the localities were worthy of improvement by the General Government, Major Jones was charged with and completed the following, the results of which were transmitted to Congress and printed: 1. Cœur d'Alene Lake and River, Idaho.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 178, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix T T 7.) 2. Saint Joseph's River, Idaho.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 178, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix T T 7.) 3. Lewis River, Washington Territory.-Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 174, Forty-eighth Congress, second session. (See also Appendix T T 8.) The officer in charge reports no survey of the above necessary to prepare projects for improvement. 4. Columbia River above mouth of Snake River, Washington Territory.A survey is now in progress and will be continued as far as the limited allotment from the general appropriation of July 5, 1884, for surveys will admit. For report on a preliminary examination made to comply with this provision of the act, see Appendix T T 9. The officer in charge recommends a thorough survey of the Upper Columbia and of the Snake with a view to the preparation of plans for their improvement. The distances to be surveyed are about 630 miles on the Columbia and 137 miles on the Snake. He estimates the total cost at $115,000, the time required for completion being about three years, and that the sum of $40,000 could be profitably expended for this purpose in the next fiscal year. (See Appendix T T 10.) EXAMINATIONS, SURVEYS, AND CONTINGENCIES OF RIVERS AND HARBORS. For examinations and surveys for improvements, and for contingencies, and for incidental repairs of harbors, for which there is no special appropriation, an appropriation of $150,000 should be made, of which sum $50,000 for surveys and $100,000 for contingencies, including incidental repairs of harbors. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT-INCREASING WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON-ERECTION OF FISH-WAYS AT THE GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC. Officer in charge, Maj. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, with Capt. T. W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. 1. Washington Aqueduct.-The appropriation for this year was $20,000, one-half of which was contributed from the revenues of the District of Columbia. It has been applied mainly to the usual routine work required for the care and preservation of the aqueduct and the maintenance of the water supply, and to such local improvements and repairs as could be undertaken with the small sum appropriated. The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885: The amount required for maintenance and ordinary repairs, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is $20,000. In addition, the officer in charge of the work submits a project for certain improvements at the receiving reservoir, which appear to be highly desirable as a means of avoiding all dangers of pollution to the water supply. The estimated cost of the proposed work is $130,000. He also asks for authority to condemn and acquire a small parcel of land near the inlet to the aqueduct at the Great Falls, in order that it may no longer be used, as heretofore, in such manner as to endanger the purity of the water supply at that point. The estimated cost of acquiring and properly fencing in this land is $1,000. The question of purity of supply is a vital one, and the means proposed for its accomplishment are com mended to the earnest consideration of Congress. (See Appendix U U 1.) 2. Increasing the water supply of Washington, District of Columbia.-The project for this work comprises, first, the extension of the dam at the Great Falls of the Potomac across Conn's Island and the Virginia channel to the Virginia shore, and the completion of the whole to an elevation of 148 feet above mean high tide at the navy-yard, this eleva tion being about 15 inches above the crest of the old dam across the Maryland channel of the river; second, the extension of the aqueduct by a tunnel 20,715 feet long, from the terminus of the conduit at the Drover's Rest (distributing reservoir) to the site of a new reservoir near Howard University; third, construction of a new reservoir at that place capable of holding about 300,000,000 gallons; fourth, making the necessary main connections for taking the water from the new reservoir into the system of supply-mains for the city. Contracts for work on the dam, tunnel, and reservoir were entered into in the fall of 1883, and at the beginning of the last fiscal year operations were well under way on all parts. Progress during the past year has been such that the work at the dam will probably be completed during the fall of 1885, and the money available is sufficient for that purpose. On the tunnel the excavation was completed for a total distance of 13,500 feet, leaving 7,215 feet remaining to be excavated. The contract now calls for having the work completed by June 30, 1886, but this is not likely to be accomplished at the present rate of progress. The funds for carrying on the work will be exhausted by or before February 1, 1886, and unless an additional appropriation is made available by that date operations will have to be suspended, causing thereby not only delay in bringing the increased supply of water to the city, but also considerable increased cost. The officer in charge estimates that the additional appropriation required for completing the work is $395,000, and submits a detailed estimate in relation to the same. It is recommended that the sum above named be appropriated, and that the necessary steps be taken in the early days of the next session of Congress to provide against any interruption to the work. At the reservoir about three-fifths of the excavation has been completed, and a corresponding progress on the other parts of the work, the total estimates allowed to contractors for work done during the year being $146,275. The officer in charge submits an estimate for completing the work, showing that an additional appropriation of $160,000 will be required for that purpose, exclusive of cost of keeper's house, feneing, &c., and it is recommended that such appropriation be made at the next session of Congress. The work for making the main-connections was completed as far as can be done until the affluent gate-house at the new reservoir is completed, when final connection of the large 75-inch main will be made at that point. The balance available for this work is $2,993.88, and will probably be sufficient for its purpose. The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885: 3. Erection of fish-ways at Great Falls of the Potomac River.-Plans for this work had been furnished by the United States Commissioner of Fisheries, as required by law, in June, 1884, but it was found that their application would involve the use of patents owned by the McDonald Fish-way Company, for which the company claimed a royalty of $12,000. The claim was finally waived by the company, and contract for carrying on the work was made May 21, 1885. But little beyond a bare beginning had been accomplished up to the close of the last fiscal year. The following is a money statement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885: Amount available July 1, 1884 Amount expended during the year. Amount unexpended June 30, 1885 Amount available June 30, 1885... Outstanding liabilities, including retained percentage.. $47,848 92 208 80 47,640 12 46,403 37 1,236 75 No estimate is submitted for an additional appropriation, as from present indications the balance on hand will be sufficient to complete the work. (See Appendix U U 3.) IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF PUBLIC GROUNDS IN THE DISTRICT OF BUILDINGS AND Officer in charge, Col. A. F. Rockwell, U. S. Army, from July 1, 1884, to June 1, 1885; since that date. Lieut. Col. John M. Wilson, Corps of Engineers, Colonel, U. S. Army. In addition to the work performed for maintaining in good condition the improved public reservations, extensive improvements have been made at Folger Park, Washington Circle, Garfield Park, and the reservation on South Carolina avenue between Fourth and Sixth streets. An additional plant-house was constructed in the nursery south of the Monument Grounds. Additional gutters and drainage facilities were provided in the Smithsonian Grounds. Attention is invited to the detailed report of the officer in charge and to his estimates and recommendations for the coming fiscal year. The estimates are as follows: For improvement and care of public buildings and grounds $183, 800 48, 940 For compensation of persons employed upon public buildings and grounds. For rent of office public buildings and grounds. (See Appendix V V.) 12,000 500 500 900 246, 640 PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHARTS OF THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. Under the supervision of this office the following engraved plates of the Lake Survey have been electrotyped: Eagle River, Lake Superior. Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior. Ontonagon Harbor, Lake Superior. Agate Harbor, Lake Superior. Copper Harbor, Lake Superior. Portage Lake and River, Lake Superior. Huron Island, Lake Superior. Marquette Harbor, Lake Superior. East Nebish Rapids. Thunder Bay, Lake Huron. Tawas Harbor, Lake Huron. Straits of Mackinac. Lake Ontario Coast Chart No. 3. Saint Lawrence River, No. 1. During the year 5,086 charts were issued, under the supervision of Lieut. Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers. Amount appropriated by act approved July 7, 1884, for fiscal year 1884-'85. $3,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year. 1,555 11 1,365 70 2,920 81 3,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year 1885-'86... Amount required for survey of Northern and Northwestern Lakes for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, namely, for printing and issuing charts for the use of navigators and electrotyping copper plates for chart-printing.... 2,000 00 (See Appendix Y Y.) MILITARY AND GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS. The new outline map of the United States, on a scale of 500000, has been engraved on stone and an edition printed. The hill-work prepared for the map of the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi has been photolithographed and an edition of the map printed with the mountains in colors. |