Owing to the failure of the Forty-seventh Congress to make any appropriation for rivers and harbors, no field work has been done during the year, except a reconnaissance made by myself in July and August, 1883, between Pierre, Dak., and Fort Benton, for the purpose of obtaining a general idea of the unsurveyed portion, in order to be better able to judge of the organization that will be required for the work in future. At the beginning of the year the force employed was reduced to three men, the assistant in charge, one draughtsman, aud a watchman on the steamer Missouri at Sioux City, Iowa. At that date the large maps of the river from the mouth to Fort Randall had been finished, and the reduced sheet of the same had been published. Since then work has steadily progressed on the maps of the survey above Fort Randall, which are now about completed to Pierre, Dak., the highest point to which the survey has been carried. The reduced sheets have been printed, and there only remains to complete the large sheets some slight addition to the topography and the profile of the water-surface to be plotted. The reconnaissance alluded to was made from the pilot-house of a steamboat, and consisted principally of a comparison of the river as it appears at present, with a map of the same, compiled from surveys and sketches by Maj. C. W. Howell, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., and from information obtained from river pilots and other sources, showing the river as it was in 1867. Such changes in the river as could be seen to have taken place were noted, corrections made in the topography when discrepancies were observed, and copious notes as to timber, &c., made in the margins. This work was begun July 8 at Bismarck, from whence I took passage on a steamboat to Fort Benton, arriving at that place July 26. Returning, left Fort Benton on the 28th, arriving at Bismarck August 4. From there took the first boat to Pierre, which point I reached on the 18th, having been able to see nearly all the river between Pierre and Fort Benton, the boats being obliged to tie up at night on account of low water. It was observable that except at a few points the river has retained its general shape since the time the above-mentioned sketches were made in a remarkable degree, although the bends in the alluvial portions have of course all moved down stream. Radical changes of shape have taken place in a few localities, generally caused by cut-offs. There appears now to be as much timber, if not more (principally cottonwood), growing on the banks as when the maps were made. Most of the places that are shown to have been timbered then are covered with it now, the points and bottoms being mostly wooded near the shores all the way from the mouth of the Cheyenne to Grand Island, a distance of about 875 miles. From Grand Island to Fort Benton, about 120 miles, there is no timber near the river, and steamboats are obliged to carry a supply of fuel from below this portion of the river or purchase wood at $10 to $20 per cord. The valley of the river from Pierre up as far as the vicinity of Fort Peck, say 750 miles, is considerably wider than from Pierre down to Yankton, with more timber on the shores and more wooded islands. Consequently there will be required for the survey of that portion fully as large a party, and of similar organization, as has been required for the work thus far. Above Fort Peck both river and valley are much narrower than below, and it is probable that on this part one transit party may be dispensed with. The daily rate of progress attained in the last two years, however, being about the maximum that can be made with the levels under the required system of working, could not be materially increased without increasing the whole party to an unwieldy and uneconomical size. The necessity for navigable water in the upper river is becoming greater every year. New towns are springing up along the river all the way from Yankton to the Yellowstone. Especially is this the case between Pierre and Bismarck, and in consequence of the prospect of the opening to settlement at an early day of a portion of the great Sioux reservation on the west side of the river, and also of some of the smaller ones on the eastern side, a large immigration is coming into the country seeking available lands in its vicinity. The steamboat business between Yankton and Bismarck and intermediate points in 1883, I am told, was more than double that of the previous year. The total distance now covered by the survey, as appears from the corrected table of distance between Fort Randall and Pierre (a copy of which is hereto appended), 12 1,174.3 miles. The distance yet to be surveyed is estimated at 1,000 to 1,100 miles. The field work on this portion can be done in two seasons, if funds are available so that work can be begun on the opening of navigation. For this and for the completion of the maps I estimate that $100,000 will be required, and of this sum not less than $50,000 should be available March 1, 1885. The distance now to any point where work can be commenced is so great, and the cost of preparation being as great for a short time in the field as for a long one, ex cept in the one item of subsistence, it would not be an economical expenditure of money to organize a party for less than a full season's work. A river and harbor bill is now pending in Congress, but even if it should become a law in a few days it is not probable that funds could be had in time for more than two months in the field this season. Much inconvenience has been experienced heretofore for want of points the latitude and longitude of which have been determined, with which to correct the survey. The surveys of both 1881 and 1882 depend on the determination of Fort Randall, and between Fort Randall and Fort Benton, only two points-one at Bismarck and one at Fort Buford-have been definitely located. A small amount of the old appropriation for this work still remains, and I recommend that a small party be organized this season for the purpose of determining the position of a sufficient number of points between Fort Randall and Fort Benton to afford the needed connections. The steamer Missouri was hauled out on the bank opposite Sioux City, Iowa, in October, 1882, where she has lain ever since, blocked up above high water. She is reported to be in good shape and in good condition. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. CHARLES R. SUTER, Corps of Engineers, Ú. S. A. D. W. WELLMAN. No field work was done on this improvement during the year, the plant being stored with the Missouri River property for safe keeping. In the office some work was done in completing maps and other physical data. During the present season it is proposed to put a small party in the field to remove snags from the lower 70 miles of the river. This work is situated in the collection district of New Orleans, and the nearest port of delivery is Saint Louis, Mo. The nearest fort is Leavenworth, Kans. Amount of revenue collected at the port of Saint Louis, Mo., during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $1,549,400.58. July 1, 1883, amount available.. Money statement. July 1, 1884, amonnt expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $508 62 508 62 5,000 00 20,000 00 20,000 00 APPENDIX W. IMPROVEMENT OF MISSOURI RIVER FROM SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO FORT BENTON, MONTANA—IMPROVEMENT OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER. REPORT OF CAPTAIN JAMES B. QUINN, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Missouri River from Sioux City to Fort | 2. Yellowstone River, Montana and DaBenton. kota. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith my annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES B. QUINN, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. W 1. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER FROM SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO FORT BENTON, MONTANA. Early in May, 1883, preparations were under way for the commencement of operations upon that portion of the river above Bismarck, known as the Rocky River. The steamer Emily was put in good order, and on the 5th of June started up the river with working parties on board. By the time it arrived at its destination the river was at its highest stage, but no loss of time occurred on this account, since a good deal of work was necessary to put the working plant in order, as also for the accumulation of material upon the banks in the vicinity of the proposed jetties. The force was divided into two portions: one portion was to begin at Bird's Rapids and work from there up to Gallatin Rapids, the other portion to extend the work on up the river, and if possible improve the crossing at Shonkin Bar, a short distance below Fort Benton. The party left at Bird's Rapids constructed a riprap jetty 470 feet long just below the shoal, and removed a quantity of obtruding rocks from the channel, resulting in an increase in the depth of water upon this shoal of nearly a foot at low water. As soon as the work at Bird's Rapids was completed the party removed to Gallatin Rapids and completed the work for so long a time under way at this place. During the remainder of the season it was occupied in the removal of rocks from the channel at McGaney's Bar, Sliding Bluff Rapids, and Magpie Rapids, at which places a very great improvement was effected. The second party proceeded to Shonkin Bar, to make an attempt at its improvement. As this bar is composed of gravel and sand, it was believed it might be induced to scour out under the influence of suitably disposed jetties, but upon arrival at this point no suitable material with which to build the jetties could be found in the vicinity. An attempt was then made to get rock from the quarries above Fort Benton, but the steamer was unable to get within less than 9 miles of the quarry on account of shoal water, and further attempts to improve Shonkin Bar were for the time abandoned, and the party withdrawn to Kipp's and Pablo's Rapids, at which places a number of jetties, aggregating over 3,000 feet in length, were built; some rock was also removed from the channel, the entire work resulting in an increase of nearly 2 feet of water in the channel at these places. The improvement of the last two rapids extends the low-water navigation to Coal Banks Landing. Previous to the commencement of work in the river steamers could not ascend further than Cow Island during the low-water season. The navigable channel at low water had, therefore, been extended a distance of 84 miles, and the season of navigation to Coal Banks prolonged over two months. The work so far gives perfect satisfaction to the steamboatmen, who greatly desire its continuance. The steamboat business is again on the increase, a healthy downstream and local trade rapidly developing under the influence of the rapidly increasing population of the country tributary to the river. Below Bismarck, where little if any attempt has been made to improve the river, the local trade has caused a revival of the steamboat interest, and this interest appears to be flourishing in spite of the serious difficulties which it encounters in the snags and shifting sand-bars of this sandy portion of the river. The improvement of this portion of the river before the banks are thickly settled is very desirable, since it will be much less expensive to carry out any plan of improvement now than it will be when the question of damages to the property-holders along the banks demand consideration. In this connection I respectfully invite attention to a discussion of this subject in my last year's report, the estimates and recommendations of which are renewed. During the season of 1883 there was transported upon the river under my charge 23,595,144 pounds of freight and an unknown number of passengers. A large percentage of this freight was Government goods and supplies. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 .. July 1, 1884, amount available.... $63,917 36 47,474 92 16, 442 44 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 400, 000 00 |