6 feet in width. A cross-dam extending 583 feet from the right bank, and joining the head of the training dike, was also built at this point with the same base and slopes, but only having a height of 3 feet above low-water, together with a header 100 feet in length, built up the stream at right angles with the cross-dam and in continuation of the training-dike. The work at Round-bottom Shoal consisted in building a cross-dam and training-dike, the former being 480 feet in length and the latter 1,200 feet, the channel having a low-water surface of 80 feet in width. A cross-dam of 440 and a training-dike of 2,640 feet in length were completed at Burd's Shoal, together with the excavation of the channel, securing at this point a channel of 50 feet in width and over 2 feet in depth at low-water. The work at Lockett's Island Shoal was confined exclusively to deepening the channel by excavation by means of scrapers. The shoal being only 500 feet in length, a channel of 50 feet in width and 2 feet in depth throughout the entire length of the shoal was secured in a short time. At Lockett's Shoal, which is also only 500 feet in length, a channel of the same width and depth was excavated in like manner. A wing-dam having been built at the head of General Bolton's Shoal, on the left side of the river, by the State of Missouri, which had not effected an improvement of the river at this point, it was decided to locate the channel along the left bank of the river, tearing away 100 feet of the old dam, and using the balance for a portion of a cross-dam, and to build a parallel wall along the left bank 500 feet above and below the cross-dam. The lateness of the season, however, at which the work was undertaken prevented the possibility of doing more than to remove the 100 feet referred to, and to excavate a channel to the requisite depth along the line selected. This work was prosecuted until the weather suspended operations. Though not successful in obtaining a channel of 2 feet throughout the length of the shoal, a clear water-way of 50 feet in width was secured, with a depth of 2 feet for a distance of 1,300 feet, and 14 inches in depth for the remainder of the distance, 700 feet, which is 7 inches in excess of the depth at any point in the old channel. The construction of a training-dike 2,050 feet in length and a crossdam of 1,046 feet in length were commenced at Shipley's Shoal during 1872, but not completed in consequence of the lateness of the season. It was contemplated during 1873 to complete this unfinished work, and extend the training dike 1,100 feet farther down-stream, in order to reduce the velocity of the current, and, if possible, to remove a bar that had formed at the end of the dike. The foundation for this extension was partly excavated, but the approach of winter caused the extension to be abandoned, and the work confined to the completion and strengthening of that left unfinished at the close of the previous season. The result attained was the completion of 1,110 feet of training-dike and 400 feet of cross-dam, together with an up-stream prolongation of the trainingdike for a distance of 100 feet. At this stage of progress work was suspended, on account of the cold weather. An examination of the work in March, 1874, with a view to ascertain the effects produced upon the channel, developed the fact that the crossdam at this point was too high, causing, at high stages, too much water to be forced into the width assigned to the low-water discharge. To remedy this, operations were commenced as early as the weather and stage of the river would permit, and at the close of the year 250 feet of the dam had been lowered to a height of 13 feet above low-water. material thus removed was used for repairing and lengthening that por The tion of the training-dike unfinished at the end of the operations of 1873. This, with the aid of a break about 80 feet in width, which had occurred in the old portion of the dam, relieved the extreme current through the chute, and it was decided to discontinue the further lowering of the cross-dam. The up-stream prolongation of the dike constructed last season was also lowered to an elevation of 6 inches below the new level of the crossdam, the material taken being used in repairing and strengthening the dam at points where required. A sharp point on the left bank of the river was removed, which secured a straight channel at high water of a width of not less than 125 feet at any point through the entire chute. The channel was also relieved of 62 snags, and 120 trees were cut from the bank. The back-water of the Missouri suspended further work of repairing and finishing this dam on the 6th of June. Since that date to the close of the fiscal year a force has been employed in getting out the neces sary material for completing the work. For further information relating to the work of improving the Osage River I refer to the report herewith of Assistant Engineer W. S. Simp son. The act of Congress approved June 23, 1874, appropriated the further sum of $25,000 for continuing the work of improving the Osage River. My project for the expenditure of this sum was submitted to the Chief of Engineers on the 15th of July, 1874, and approved by him on the 21st of the same month. It involves the continuation of the same system of improvement already followed, namely, the scouring away of the shoals by wing dams and training-dikes, and the removal of snags and logs from the channel and leaning trees from the banks, using for the purpose, say, $20,000 of the appropriation, and the balance of $5,000, or so much of the $25,000 as may be necessary, for continuing the thorough survey from Tuscumbia (to which point it had already been carried from the Missouri River) up the river towards Roscoe, a distance of one hundred and seventy-three miles, with a view to the permanent improvement of the river by means of locks and dams, if the results of the survey should justify such a mode of improvement; the survey to be made as soon as possible, in order that a project might be submitted to Congress at the earliest moment. All the work contemplated under this appropriation will be performed, as under former appropriations, by purchasing material in open market and by hired labor. No estimates for the prosecution of the work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, are submitted with this report, these being delayed until the survey above contemplated has been completed and all the necessary facts ascertained. The collection-district in which the work is located is New Orleans. The nearest port of entry is that of St. Louis. Amount of revenue collected at the port of St. Louis for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874, was $1,434,224.75. Amount of commerce and navigation that would be benefited by the completion of the work is unknown. Financial statement. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 $40,000 00 10,594 74 25,000 00 47,332 77 28, 261 97 Report of Mr. W. S. Simpson, Assistant Engineer. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., July 1, 1874. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations on Osage River, Missouri, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874: On the 2d of June, 1873, orders were issued by you to my predecessor, the late Mr. George R. Eichbaum, to repair to Osage City, Missouri, and inaugurate a system of labor for the improvement of the Osage River. His instructions were to obtain, if possible, at all times a depth of water at the shallowest parts of at least 2 feet, at the lowest stage of the river. This was to be effected under a contract with Mr. Howard Cook, of September 21, 1872, as far as the same applied to the works, and by the construction, with hired labor, of cross-dams and training-dikes, and the use of such other means as his experience might suggest, to accomplish the purpose. On the 6th of June Mr. Eichbaum reached Osage City with his assistant, Mr. F. P. Schrader, ready to proceed to work; but found that the Missouri River had backed the water up the Osage as far as Round Bottom Shoal, to a depth of 10 feet, and up to the 15th of June the shoals of the Osage River above Round Bottom had from 5 to 8 feet depth of water upon them. On the 18th the Osage had slowly fallen so that the surface of the water at the head of Dixon's Shoal was 3 feet above low-water. The boats, tools, &c., were taken up to the head of Dixon's Shoal, and it was determined to commence operations at this point and work downwards, completing, if possible, all the neessary work between Dixon's and the mouth of the Osage first. A limited force was engaged, and work was commenced in cutting timber and brush and in quarrying stone for the proposed dam at this point; but the river again began to rise, and it was not until the 21st of July that the water was sufficiently low to allow the commencemeut of the continuation of the cross-dam and training-dike. During the previous season it had been determined by Maj. C. J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, and Mr. Blaisdell, the engineer in local charge of the improvement, and approved by Lieut. Col. W. F. Raynolds, then in charge of the Department, that the following plan of dam was the best suited to the improvement of this river. Mr. Eichbaum as mentioned in his diary, determined to follow the same in his improvement of this shoal, viz, “to build a training-wall parallel to one bank of the river at the shoal, forming a lateral canal of such a cross-section and length as at the stage of water immediately preceding that of low-water would have such a current that while boats would have no difficulty in stemming it, the channel would be maintained by its own scour after it had once been opened." I would state that this was the plan followed with a little variation for all succeeding dams built after this one. The dam at this shoal was built giving a width of low-water surface of 85 feet, and was located parallel to the left bank o the river, which made it necessary that the same should be on a slight curvature of 40'. The dam was built of logs, brush, and stone. Brush was first laid at a depth of 14 inches below the surface of the water, and when parallel to the current slightly inclined up-stream, in order the better to catch the inateerial carried down in freshets. The depth of water in which it was place varied from 0 to 34 feet; but when the water was not deep enough in every case, a bed was scraped out so that there should be a uniform depth of 14 inches from ihe surface to the top layer of brush. A single log, varying in character from 2 to 3 feet in diameter was laid on top of the brush and the ends beveled and pinned with wooden pins to a log at each end and similarly placed. Braces were then laid at intervals of a few feet, one end pinned to the log and the other cross-staked on the riverbed. Long brush was again placed on the braces and logs for the purpose of making the bearing-weight of the stone as great as possible. Gravel was then scaped on the brush from the channel to the depth of about 1 foot; stone was then thrown on the logs and brush thus arranged, and the stone then placed in the shape of rubble-work, so as to give the dike a height of 34 feet above low-water, with a slope of 1 to 1 on the side next to the channel, and on the opposite side a slope of 2 to 1, giving a flat surface on the top of 6 feet in width. Length of training-wall thus built at this shoal was 2,003 feet. In building a lateral wall parallel to the current it is necessary to have a cross-dam connecting it with the shore for the double purpose of confining all the water in the new channel and for security. One was built at the head of this wall, inclining some 4° up-strem from the shore and some 1,795 feet above the point where the old State dam had originally been placed. The greater portion of this cross-dam was built in water from 1 to 2 feet deep, and after the logs and brush were placed in position, in the same manner as in the trainingwall, (only that the braces were put more closely together and more securely fastened, rendered necessary to resist the current,) the stone was thrown on the logs and brush in the shape of rubble-work with the same base and slopes as in the training-dike, but only to the height of 3 feet above low-water. This dam extends 583 feet from the right bank and joins the head of the training-wall. At the junction of the trainingwall and cross-dam a header was built up the stream, at right angles with the crossdam, 100 feet in length, so as to form with the cross-dam a pocket sufficient to hold all the material in the shape of gravel and other débris which is brought down the river by the freshets, and to prevent the same from going into the new channel. The surface velocity of the new channel was found to be at low water 2.5 feet per second. While the work of construction of the dam was going on it was the original intention that the contractor for the excavation of the channel should at the same time perform the excavation needed in the new channel, so that the material excavated could be placed upon the dam, serving at the same time to both strengthen the dam and lessen the quantity of rock required, thus lessening the cost of the work. After repeated trials of his machinery, the contractor became convinced that his dredge-boat would not do the work required. Consequently, on August 7, he abandoned the work and removed his boat to Osage City, and on August 13 he made application to be released from his contract, which after application to the Chief of Engineers was granted, under authority dated September 2, 1873. The total amount of material removed by the contractor under his contract was 670 cubic yards. The failure of the contractor to perform his allotment of the work necessitated other arrangements. As the river at this time was at its lowest stage, (the surface of water at the head of Dixon's Shoal being only 0.5 above extreme low-water,) it was determined to proceed to the execution of the excavation of the channel by means of road-scrapers and teams. On the 16th of August, a supply of road-scrapers having been received, work was commenced upon the bed of the channel. After a trial it was found that the scrapers would not take hold of the material unless the same was first loosened from the bed of the river. Consequently a plow was brought into requisition, and at first was found would work very successfully, but afterward, when we encountered a muscle-bed in the middle of the channel, it was found, unless pressed down with great weight, that the plow would not take hold, asd when it did take hold, would require most of the time three teams of horses to draw it through. The bed of the river at this shoal consisted of hard sand and gravel intermixed with bowlders of stone very firmly imbedded in the same, and also of occasional muscle-beds, which rendered it very difficult to remove. It was by far the hardest of any of the shoals to dredge between it and the mouth of the river. I am satisfied that while the dredge built by the contractor would not work on this shoal, because of the hardness of the bottom and the flimsiness of his machinery, if he had tried the same upon any of the succeeding shoals, (except perpaps the shoal at Round Bottom,) it would have been successful. The work of construction of the cross-dam and training-dike at this point was finished on August 24, 1873, and the work of excavation on September 22, 1873. ROUND BOTTOM SHOAL. On account of the shortness of the season on this river during which we would be able to carry on the work of construction, (the most favorable ones not lasting longer than from the first of July to the middle of November,) it was determined to carry on the work of improving several shoals at the same time. As soon, therefore, as the timber-gang had completed their work of cutting sufficient brush and timber for the works at Dixon's Shoal they were moved down to the shoal at Round Bottom, one and one-half miles below that of Dixon's, and on August 7, 1873, the work of constructing a cross-dam and training-dike was commenced at this point. This shoal, thongh not as long, and with from 4 to 6 inches more water upon it than upon the shoal at Dixon's, still was regarded by steamboat-men to be more difficult to navigate than any shoal upon the river, on account of the old State dam which had been built here, causing a cross-current to such an extent as to compel boats at almost every stage of the water to run a line to enable them to get through in coming up and down the river. To cut off this cross-current it was determined to build a training-wall, 1,200 feet in length, parallel with the right bank of the river, thus securing a low-water channel-surface of 80 feet and a cross-dam 480 feet in length, built in the same manner as the dam at Dixon's Shoal. The surface-velocity of the current was found to be 3.3 feet per second, and I am afraid, from actual trial of the same, that it will be found expedient this season to increase the length of this training-wall several hundred feet, in order to reduce this velocity, which is too great for the smaller class of boats plying on the river. The training-wall and cross-dam were finished on September 11, and the excavation on October 14, 1873. On September 11, the death of Mr. George R. Eichbaum, the assistant in local charge of the improvement, having been reported to the office, I was directed by you, as per letter of instruction dated September 12, to proceed to Castle Rock and to assume local charge of the works lately under his charge. I arrived at Castle Rock on the morning of the 13th, and immediately assumed charge of the works. I found that Mr. Eichbaum had been seriously ill some two weeks previous to his death and unable to attend to any of his duties, during which time the works had been carried on under the supervision of his assistant, Mr. F. P. Schrader. Owing to the careful management of Mr. Schrader and his unwearied exertions, I found the works in a much better state than was auticipated. There had been no serious delay or interruption at any time. After making a careful examination of the works, I determined to carry them on in the same manner as had been arranged by my predecessor. Consequently, on September 14, I commenced the construction of a cross-dam and training-dike at Burd's Shoal, the next one below Round Bottom, and four miles distant. This shoal has only a depth of water upon it at the head of 8 inches when the river is at its lowest stage, and with a fall of only 2.006 feet per mile. The river at this point is also quite broad. After a thorough examination I determined to run a wall parallel with the left bank of the river, where the deepest thread of water was, and where also the deposited material was the lighest, so that the channel would have a low-water surface of 85 feet. I found it necessary to carry this wall to the length of 2,640 feet, so as to get it into deep water and to give a surface-velocity to water flowing through the channel of 2.5 feet per second. The cross-dam was at right angles to the training-wall, 440 feet in length, but built in the same manner as the works above. This work was finished on October 14, 1873, at which time the excavation of the channel was also finished, and we have now at this point a channel with a width of 50 feet, of over 2 feet in depth at the lowest stage of the river. LOCKETT'S ISLAND SHOAL. The next shoal below Burd's is that of Lockett's Island. This shoal is a small one, only some 500 feet in length, and with a depth upon it at all times of from 20 to 22 inches of water. The only improvement contemplated for this shoal was to dredge a channel through the same to the required depth of 2 feet. As soon as the excavation at Round Bottom Shoal was finished the force engaged at that point was moved to this shoal, and the work of excavation was commenced and carried on until October 24, when we had a clear channel the entire length of the shoal, 50 feet in width and over 2 feet in depth. The material of the bed of the river at this shoal, being only soft gravel and sand, was easily removed by the scrapers. LOCKETT'S SHOAL. The next shoal below Lockett's Island Shoal is that of Lockett's Shoal; distance from the former about one and one-half miles. As soon as the force engaged at Lockett's Island Shoal were through the excavation of that shoal they were removed to this point. This shoal, like the one above, is a small one, only about 500 feet in length and with a depth of water upon it at all times of from 20 to 22 inches. The only improvement contemplated for this shoal, like the one preceding it, was to dredge a channel through it to the required depth. The work of excavation was finished on November 2, and we now have a clear water-way of 50 feet in width and over 2 feet in depth. The bed of the river at this point consisted only of soft gravel and sand, and was easily removed by the scrapers. GENERAL BOLTON SHOAL. This shoal, distant from Lockett's Shoal some two and one-half miles, is one of the largest and shallowest upon the river, and has been made much worse by the attempts that have been made to improve the same in years past, first by a wing-dam, built by the State authorities at the head of the shoal, which was located on the left side of the river, and across the line of the deepest water, with the intention of forcing the water over upon the shoal, so that it would cut a channel around the head of the dam. This has had no effect except to scatter the water over the shoal and lessen the depth upon it. Mr. Livermore made a cut through this shoal around the head of the dam in 1871, and repaired the wing-dam; but very little of his work remains now, the cut having almost entirely filled it up. After a careful examination I determined upon the following plan for the improvement of the river at this shoal: to locate the channel along the left bank of the river, where the deepest thread of water was found, and where the deposited material was the lightest, tearing away 100 feet of the old dam, using the balauce for a portion of the cross-dam, continuing the same across the river, and to build a parallel wall along the left bank of the river, some 500 feet above and below the cross-dam. Owing to the lateness of the season and the unusual cold weather of the preceding two weeks I was afraid to undertake the whole of this improvement, and confined myself to tearing away the 100 feet of the old dam nearest to the shoal and excavating a channel to the required depth along the line determined upon, leaving it for another season to determine whether the rest of the works would be required or not. Work was commenced at this point on October 18, by tearing away the portion of the old dam nearest to the shore, and the work of excavation on November 3, and carried on until November 20, when, on account of the cold weather, work was suspended. We were not successful, for this reason, in getting a channel to the required depth of |