W 2. · IMPROVEMENT OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA AND DAKOTA. The small balance available at the beginning of the year did not permit the commencement of any new works in the unimproved portions of the river; operations were, therefore, confined to the repair of existing dikes in the vicinity of Glendive, and the completion of the reconnaissance of the river from Diamond Island to its mouth. Aside from the damage to the dike opposite Glendive by floating ice, the works heretofore constructed for the improvement of the river hve stood remarkably well, and will prove of great benefit to such river commerce as may be called into existence upon this river in the future. The principal obstructions to navigation at present are to be found below Glendive, and in consequence further work should be directed to the improvement of this portion of the river, which in many respects differs from that so far improved. The bed is composed of shifting sand and gravel bars, and is split up into many narrow and shallow channels at places; the banks are unstable, and under the influence of gorging ice are frequently broken through and new channels formed in unforeseen places; its improvement, therefore, presents a good many difficulties. Whatever system of improvement is adopted, the action of the ice cannot be ignored. If jetties are employed for contracting the river-bed, they are almost certain to be carried away by the ice, or cause an ice jam that will force a channel to cut out where not desired. In closing chutes the same difficulties exist, and it therefore becomes necessary to make provisions for the passage of the ice. It is likely that dredging in the gravelly portions of the bed would be about as efficacious as anything, although the dredged channels might not be very lasting. In the sandy stretches temporary obstructions would have to be relied on, and since dams for the closing of chutes could not be built to such a height as to completely prevent the flow of ice over them, and in consequence not of sufficient height to effect any material changes in the channels near them till a considerable silting in of the chutes had taken place, the improvement of this part of the river must necessarily be of a tentative character. Between Glendive and Diamond Island about fifteen dikes will be necessary, costing about $60,000 to build. Besides this there will be something like $25,000 worth of dredging on gravelly bars required. Below Diamond Island there are four shoal places, viz: At a point a mile above the Hay Field, at the Hay Field Bend, at Forsyth's Crossing, and at a point about 3 miles above the mouth. (See accompanying charts 1 to 4.) These shoals might be removed by temporary jetty constructions, which would not exceed $20,000 in cost. As no dredging apparatus is to be found in the vicinity of this work, the possession of a good dredge and a steam tow-boat would have to be secured, which together would cost $40,000; giving as the total approximate cost of the improvement from Glendive to the mouth the sum of $145,000. The commerce of this river is at present insignificant, but may assume important proportions as the country tributary to it comes under cultivation. Some immediate prospects of benefits to transportation are of fered in the project to ship up Missouri River freight to Glendive by railroad, and thence down the Yellowstone to Fort Buford, &c., giving a short down-stream haul to Fort Buford, instead of the 300 miles of upstream haul from Bismarck, as at present. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 $5,284 77 4,428 55 July 1, 1884, amount available ... 856 22 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1886. $100,000 00 REPORT OF MR. F. M. TOWAR, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to subunit the following report on the reconnaissance of the Yellowstone River from Diamond Island to its mouth. I left Saint Paul September 8, 1883, and proceeded to Glendive, Montana Territory. I there organized a party, obtained boats, camp outfit, and subsistence stores, and proceeded down the river to Diamond Island, the end of the survey of 1878. The party consisted of myself, a recorder, and 9 men. We arrived at Diamond Island September 14, and commenced at once on the survey of the river. All the distances were measured with a stadia, and an azimuth was observed every clear night, each successive azimuth agreeing very closely with the previous one carried along. The soundings were taken at a stage of from 0.8 foot above low water to that of 0.2 foot above, and before being plotted were reduced to a low-water stage. The survey was completed to the mouth of the river September 29, covering a length of river of 42 miles, and occupying 13 working days. Diamond Island is, you may say, at the point where the river changes from a gravelly to a sandy river, and consequently below this point the channel is much less permanent than above. There were four places on the stretch of river surveyed found to have less than 3 feet of water reduced to the lower stage, viz: At a point a mile above the Hay Field; at the Hay Field Bend; at Forsyth's Crossing, and at a point about 3 miles above the mouth. Stanley's Shoals usually have the least depth of water over them of any place in this stretch of river, but this season the channel there has a depth of 3.4 feet at the lowest stage. The banks along the river are from 10 to 20 feet high, and are composed of sand and silt, and are nearly all cut or caving banks, and when the banks cave in the coarse sand goes to the bottom of the river, while the silt floats off and is deposited on the bars below. About the only way of making a channel through these shoal places is by dredging, and a channel thus made will probably only remain until the next season of high water, when it will fill in and will have to be dredged out again. Since my return from the field, on October 8, the survey has been plotted and mapped on 12 sheets on a scale of 60. प Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. J. B. QUINN, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. F. M. TOWAR, APPENDIX X. MPROVEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN SAINT PAUL AND THE MOUTH OF THE ILLINOIS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS AT SPECIAL LOCALITIES BETWEEN THOSE POINTSOPERATING AND CARE OF DES MOINES RAPIDS CANAL. REPORT OF MAJOR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports of operations under my charge during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. A. MACKENZIE, X I. OPERATIONS OF SNAG-BOATS IN IMPROVEMENT OF UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Under this head of appropriation are operated the snag and dredge boats, whose duties consist in removing snags, wrecks, and other obstructions from the channel of the Upper Mississippi; cutting trees and |