gradually brought nearer together from New Baltimore towards Troy, so as to assist the entrance of the flood current and increase its height, their height to be kept approximately at the level of the tidal high water so as not to confine the freshets, the exact level, however, being left to be determined by experience as the work progresses. Second. That the dredge be used so far as necessary to open the channels above described, which the current should not be allowed to do, except very gradually lest accumulations dangerous to navigation be formed below. Third. Keeping, as far as practicable, the side reservoirs open to the passage of tidal currents by gaps at their lower extremities in order to increase the tidal flow. Fourth. Dumping all dredged materials in secure places, where it cannot be moved back into the channel by the current. Fifth. Constructing the dikes of timber and stone, in a manner to secure their permanency, at a minimum cost, the details varying with the locality, to be left to the discretion of the local engineer, to be so designed as to admit of having an increased height given to the dikes, if necessary. Sixth. To protect, when necessary, the banks and islands against the abrading action of the current's revetments." Seventh. That limits, beyond which no encroachments upon the channel should be made, be prescribed, and that any such encroachments be reported to the engineer in charge. The estimated cost of the improvement was $862,297.75, but after more reliable data had been obtained, in 1866 and 1867, a second estimate was made increasing the estimate $122,006.72, making the total estimated cost $984,304.47. This estimate was again increased in 1882 by $78,000, for the completion of existing works, a large amount of the appropriation intended for construction having been spent on repairs; and again in 1884 by $16,000, for the removal of a hitherto unknown rock in the overslough channel at Van Wie's Point, which brought the total estimate up to $1,078,304.47, although the amounts given in the annual reports, as the estimated cost of the improvement from 1868 to 1881, have been erroneously printed $984,304.47, and from 1882 to 1886 as $1,062,304.47. Of this amount $1,027,288 had been appropriated up to June 30, 1885, when the available channel depth between New Baltimore and Albany was 10 feet, except at one point, Beacon Island, where there was a depth of 8.8 feet; and 8 feet could be carried from Albany to Troy except at Coville's Folly and Patroon's Island, where there were 7.8 and 7.5 feet respectively at low water. These bars it has been reported have been subsequently dredged by the State of New York. The gradual and steady increase in the navigable depths obtained during the improvement of the Hudson River are very marked. In 1819 the available channel depth between New Baltimore and Albany was 4 feet at mean low water; in 1867 it was 74 feet; in 1878 and 1879 it was 83 feet; in 1885, 10 feet, except at the spot mentioned, which was subsequently dredged by the State. A table showing the depths from 1819 to 1879 may be found on page 691, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885. The improvement, as was originally expected, has also changed the tides of the Hudson. In the report of the Board of Engineers March 5, 1880 (Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1855, page 691), is stated: The tidal rise of the upper portion of the Hudson was many years ago 1.2 feet at Troy, 2.3 feet at Albany, and 3.7 at New Baltimore. The project of improvement adopted aims at increasing the tidal rise above New Baltimore, so as to gain, if possible, 1 foot at each of the places named. By doing so the rise will be lengthened, the ebb shortened, and the depth improved. On the next page of the report (692) is stated: Tidal observations [presumably in 1880] give No work in the river has been done by the United States since 1884, except to make a complete survey from Troy to New Baltimore, the report on which may be found in last year's Annual Report. The work remaining to be done under the original project is: The completion of the dike from Staats to Campbell's Island Dike, and from Schermerhorn Island to Shad Island; the proposed improvement between Shad Island and Mull's Plaat, New Baltimore; the improvement at Willow Island; the construction of a new dike to complete the line below Nine-Mile Tree, the extension of the dike at Mull's Plaat, and the removal of overslough rock at Van Wie's Point. The estimated cost of the completion of these works, by General Newton, in 1882, was $78,000, exclusive of the overslough rock, which was estimated in 1884 to cost $16,000, making a total required for the completion of the project of $94,000. The act approved August 5, 1886, reads, "Improving the Hudson River, New York, for continuing the improvements, $26,250, of which $15,000 may be used for a rock in the channel at Van Wie's Point"; which amount, with the $30,000 appropriation of July 5, 1884, makes a total amount available for the present fiscal year of $56,250. But the dikes are in such a dilapidated condition in many places that the whole of this amount will have to be applied to the repair of existing works instead of beginning new ones. In addition to this amount yet to be expended, more than $35,000 have been already expended up to the present time upon repairs of the works; so that really over $91,000 out of the total appropriations intended for original construction will have been necessarily expended on repairs of existing works when the present money available is spent, and this amount properly belongs to the construction fund yet to be appropriated. It is recommended that the amount of $78,000, estimated for the completion of the project in 1882, by General Newton, be appropriated, and also the $16,000, estimated to be required for the removal of the rock at Van Wie's Point; making a total of $94,000. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Value of imports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. Duties collected thereon. There are enrolled and licensed at this port vessels with a tonnage of $490, 103 00 85,862 21 68, 696 76 Money statement. July 1, 1885, amount available. Received from sales of fuel.... $31,570 74 39 36 31,610 10 July 1, 1886, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusiye of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1885 ... 3,091 70 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 94,000 00 35,000 00 E 2. IMPROVEMENT OF SAUGERTIES HARBOR, NEW YORK. The harbor of Saugerties is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 95 miles above New York, and is formed by the mouth of Esopus Creek. Some works of improvement have already been attempted by the inhabitants, but no permanent benefit has been derived from them. In 1883 a survey with a view to its improvement, ordered by act of Congress passed August 2, 1882, was made under direction of General Newton, whose report, dated November 28, 1883, may be found in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1884, Part I, page 716. This report shows that the mouth of the creek is obstructed by a bar 1,100 feet long, lying between the 6-foot curve in the Hudson and the 6-foot curve in the creek, with a minimum depth upon it of 3 feet at mean low water. Two projects for the improvement of this harbor were submitted, both providing for a channel 7 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, to be obtained by constructing parallel dikes and by dredging a channel between them; but the question which method would best accomplish the purpose was to be left until further examination could be made. A sketch showing the two plans proposed was printed in Senate Ex. Doc. No. 57, Forty-eighth Congress, first session. Dredging a channel 2,500 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 7 feet deep at mean low water, 55,654 cubic yards, in situ., at 25 cents $13,913 50 North dike, 2,600 feet, at $8 South dike, 800 feet, at $8 Total 22,800 00 6,400 00 43, 113 50 Erroneously stated in original report to be $5,338.28. The act of Congress approved July 5, 1884, appropriated $5,000 for the improvement of this harbor; but in view of the fact that the State of New York had undertaken to make some improvements there, it was decided not to begin work at once, but to wait until a further examination was made, and until it could be ascertained what plan of improvement had been decided upon by the State authorities. By act of Congress approved August 5, 1886, the United States appropriated a further sum of $15,000 for this work; making the total amount available $19,955.95. During the past year the State authorities have excavated 29,000 cubic .yards of material from the bar at the mouth of the creek, giving a channel 8 feet deep at mean low water and about 200 feet wide from the 8foot curve in the Hudson River across the bar to the 8-foot curve inside the mouth of the creek. This channel, however, leads directly out into the Hudson, at right angles to the shore line, and across the lines of both the north dikes proposed by General Newton, which both run in a gradual curve downstream, on the same general principle of construction as the Rondout dikes. It may, therefore, be necessary to first apply the available funds to beginning one of the proposed south dikes, after further examination determines which of them it is best to adopt. A carefully prepared statement of the commerce of Saugerties may be found on page 717, Part I, Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1883, since which daté none has been received. This work is in the collection district of Albany, N. Y., which is the nearest port of entry. The nearest light-house is at the mouth of Esopus Creek. July 1, 1886, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1887...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... $20,000 00 44 05 $ 4,955 95 4,955 95 15,000 00 19,955 95 26,419 80 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1888 15,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. E 3. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT RONDOUT, NEW YORK. Rondout Harbor is at the mouth of Rondout Creek, on the west bank of the Hudson River, between 80 and 90 miles above New York. The creek is a tidal stream for 3 miles above its mouth. Prior to 1871 improvements had been made by private persons and corporations, but no permanent benefits had been derived from them. A survey of the harbor was made by the Government in 1869, erroneously printed in last year's report to be 1871, with a view to its permanent improvement, when it was found that there was an available depth of about 7 feet in the channel. The project based upon this survey provided for the formation and maintenance of a channel at the mouth of the creek 100 feet wide and 14 feet deep, to be obtained by means of dredging and diking. Two parallel channel dikes were to be built outward toward and into the Hudson on a gentle curve down-stream, with a branch dike running upstream along the Hudson from the outer end of the north dike to protect it from running ice. The estimated cost of this work was as follows: Building the north dike, 748 yards long.. Dredging a channel 3,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 14 feet deep at low water, 48,000 cubic yards, at 30 cents. Contingencies... $41,600 00 34,400 00 59,600 00 14,400 00 22,500 00 172,500 00 Total...... The final length of the north and south dikes was, however, to be determined by the effects which they produced in the removal of the bar as they were gradually extended outward. In 1872, by reason of a reduction in the estimated length of the dikes, their estimated cost was reduced to $104,000. The project was essentially completed in 1880, and a history of the improvement with sketches may be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, Part I, page 494. At that date the north dike was about 2,200 feet long, the branch dike running up the Hudson was about 1,000 feet long, the south dike was about 2,800 feet long, with a spur to the light-house 330 feet long, and a depth of 13 feet at low water had been obtained between the dikes. The appropriation of $2,000 approved August 2, 1882, was applied to repairs. The dikes were refilled with stone where needed, fender-piles were placed at the outer end of the north dike, and 600 feet of the south dike was raised to the level of high water. The balance of this appropriation available July 1, 1884, was $706.03, which, with the appropriation of $1,000, approved July 5, 1884, was applied to cutting off 150 feet of the outer end of the south dike, and to dredging the channel and putting spring-piles along the dike. Although the project was practically completed, it was stated in my last Annual Report that the $10,000 still to be appropriated under the original estimate could be profitably expended in repairing the dikes and in widening the channel between them. Of this amount $2,500 was appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886, leaving a balance of $7,500 still to be appropriated. This amount will be applied to dredging and repairing the dikes, if necessary. Appropriations for the improvement of Rondout Harbor have been made as follows: In the original report upon this harbor in 1869 (see Annual Report of Chief of Engineers for 1869, page 394) it is stated "the amount of com |