REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS.

In conclusion, I beg to acknowledge my appreciation of the able services of Assistants Mack, Gordon, and Nicol, both in field and office.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. W. H. H. BENYAURD,

Corps of Engineers, U. S. A.

L 3.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE YAZOO RIVER, MISSISSIPPI.

An appropriation of $40,000 for this river was made by act of Congress approved March 3, 1873.

Upon the project for the improvement being approved by the Chief of Engineers, proposals were solicited for the removal of certain wrecks. The following is an abstract of bids received for removing nine wrecks from the Yazoo River, Miss.

The award was made to Mr. G. Andrews, president of the New Orleans Wrecking and Salvage Company, the lowest bidder. A contract was thereupon entered into, the work to be commenced September 1, 1873, and finished February 1, 1874. The contractor commenced work upon the day specified, and completed his work in a very satisfactory manner January 17, 1874.

Mr. Joseph Burney, assistant engineer, superintended the removal of the wrecks, and also made an examination of the river, to determine more definitely the location of the remaining wrecks and other obstructions to the safe navigation of the stream. His report is annexed hereto.

It will be seen that there are eleven wrecks remaining, forming obstructions, and in addition, many beds of sunken logs, which are, by far, the more serious of the two, besides overhanging trees that require to be cut down. Mr. Burney estimates that $120,000, extending over a period of four years, will be sufficient for the improvement of the river, by the removal of the above-mentioned obstructions. Experience gained last season in the removal of the wrecks by contract shows that the removal of the remainder, and also the removal of the sunken logs, could be done at much less expense by the Government owning and controlling its own boat than by letting the improvement out by contract. An appropriation of $75,000 could be advantageously expended in building à suitable boat and operating it for parts of two seasons. As no appro

priation was made for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875, and as the balance remaining on hand is very small, no work can be done during the present season.

Financial statement.

Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873..
Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.

Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

Amount available July 1, 1874

Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.

Report of Mr. Joseph Burney, Assistant Engineer.

VICKSBURG, MISS., June 29, 1874. MAJOR: I have the honor to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I have made a careful examination of the Yazoo River, with a view to its improvement. The Yazoo River is formed by the junction of the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha Rivers, three miles above the city of Greenwood, and runs, according to the township-maps, through the State of Mississippi to its junction with the Mississippi River, twelve miles above Vicksburg, a distance of one hundred and seventy-three miles. There are four classes of obstructions to navigation in the Yazoo River, viz:

1st. Sand-bars.

2d. Wrecks.

3d. Suags.

4th. Overhanging trees.

The bar forming the greatest obstruction is at the mouth of the river, and is of a very changeable nature; the location of the channel being often changed, but, as steamboats drawing 2 feet of water can pass at extreme low water, and those boats being sufficient for the business required at this season of the year, I submit no estimate for its improvement.

The second class of obstructions are the wrecks of steamboats sunk during the late war. Under your direction, last year nine wrecks were removed, which greatly improved the navigation of the river. There are eighteen wrecks yet remaining in the river; of these, seven form no obstruction, the remaining eleven are, to a certain extent, in the way of navigation, and any plan adopted for the thorough improvement of the river would require them to be removed.

Below I give a list of the wrecks, also an estimate for the removal of those in the way of navigation.

The above estimate is based upon the work being let out by contract. Government build a suitable steamboat, as estimated below, and employ its men in removing the wrecks, the estimated cost would be $30,000, and nearly $15,000 would be made.

The third class of obstructions are the snags, and are located as follows:

Snags.

Location.

$3,000 00

4,000 00

3,000 00

3,500 00

3, 000 00

4,000 00

3,500 00

4,000 00

4,000 00

4,500 00

4,000 00

40, 500 00 4,050 00

44,550 00

Should the own worka saving of

For the removal of the snags a snag-boat would require to be built. I estimate for three classes of boats, which would be suitable for this river.

1st. Iron stern-wheel steamboat 130 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 1 foot 9 inches draught, fitted up complete for wrecking and snagging; cost, $45,000.

2d. Wood stern-wheel steamboat of above dimensions and fitting; cost, $35,000. 3d. Crane-boat 95 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 1 foot 6 inches draught, fitted up complete for snagging; only cost $7,000.

The cost of executing the work required on the river, including cutting overhanging trees, I estimate by each description of boat to be as follows:

Two seasons' work, six months each, at $2,700 per month.
Removing eleven wrecks...

Engineering and contingencies...

Deduct value of steamboat after four years' service

32, 400 30,000

97, 400 9,740

107, 140 10,000

97, 140

By crane-boat, removing snags and leaning trees only:

Cost of crane-boat....

One boat for workman's quarters..

$7,000 700

Three seasons' work, six months each, at $2,200 per month.

39, 600

47,300

Engineering and contingencies 10 per cent.....

The fourth class of obstructions are the overhanging trees. I submit estimate for their removal:

4, 730

52, 030

Two boats fitted up complete, with accommodation for workmen
Tools, & c

Six months' work, at $1,500 per month.....

Engineering and contingencies....

$1,500

500 9,000

11,000

1, 100

12, 100

Upward of 100,000 bales of cotton are made annually in the Yazoo Valley, and the river runs through a well-settled country.

The five following counties chiefly depend on the river for their exports and in ports, viz:

Considering that the Yazoo River has never had any work done on it for the remova of natural obstructions, it is in a fair navigable condition. Last year $40,000 was appropriated for the removal of artificial obstructions, placed there during the war, and no other appropriation has ever been made for this river by Congress.

By appropriating $120,000, extending over a period of four years, a thorough improvement would be made on the river, which would be sufficient for many years to come. By appropriating $52,000, extending over a period of three years, the snags and overhanging trees could be removed. By appropriating $12,000 the overhanging trees could be cut down.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully,

Maj. W. H. H. BENYAURD,

Captain of Engineers, U. S. A.

JOSEPH BURNEY.

APPENDIX M.

ANNUAL REPORT OF MAJOR CHARLES R. SUTER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30,

1874.

ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Saint Louis, Mo., August 14, 1874. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report upon the operations committed to my charge during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. R. SUTER, Major of Engineers, U. S. A.

Brig. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

M 1.

IMPROVING MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, AND ARKANSAS RIVERS.

OPERATIONS IN THE MISSOURI RIVER.

The snag boats Long and De Russy were assigned to this field. The De Russy passed four times over her beat, which extended from Booneville to Kansas City, and twice over the portion of river between Booneville and Rocheport.

The Long passed twice over that portion of the river lying between Rocheport and the mouth. The operations of this latter boat were much impeded by the sickness prevailing among her crew.

Three months' snag-boat work was devoted to the Missouri, and as much good accomplished as could be expected, but the time available was quite inadequate to the work required. This must continue to be the case until the annual appropriations are increased.

The snag-boats Long and De Russy and snag and dredge boat Octavia were assigned to this field.

The snag-boat Long worked from Cairo to Saint Louis previous to entering Missouri River, and also after her return from that stream. During the month of September she was detailed, at the request of Maj. William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, to do a few days' work in the Ohio River.

In November she was transferred to the Lower Mississippi, working between Helena and Vicksburg, and was finally laid up December 31, 1873.

The snag-boat De Russy began work in the Mississippi in November; her beat extended from Cairo to Helena; she passed over her beat twice, and was finally laid up December 31, 1873.

The snag and dredge boat Octavia was sent to the Upper Mississippi, and worked four weeks during September and October.

Six months' work in all was devoted to the Mississippi, in accordance with the programme of operations approved by the Department.