quired $294,792, of which there could be profitably used during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, $200,000. During the present fiscal year it is proposed to commence the watertight wall or dike recommended by the board of engineers. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873... $20,000 00 Amount in hands of officer, and subject to his check, (including $5,244.62 due on material not yet paid for).. 21,820 78 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 150,000 00 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. (See Appendixes H 1 and H 2.) 35,147 63 151, 488 53 200,000 00 2. Lock and dam at Meeker's Island, Minnesota.-No work was done, as the provisions of the act approved March 3, 1873, were not complied with by parties holding the land-grant until the spring of this year. Some borings will be necessary before a final estimate of the cost of this work can be made. From known data it is estimated that the cost of the lock and dam will be about $922,121.46, and if the work is to be prosecuted a sum of not less than $300,000 should be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix H 3.) $25,000 00 25,000 00 300,000 00 3. Improvement of Minnesota River, Minnesota.-The work during the fiscal year consisted in the removal of a large number of bowlders and snags from the river and a small amount of rock in place, which nearly exhausted the available funds. It is proposed to use the appropriation of June 23, 1874, for a detailed survey of the river, in order to plan and estimate the cost of improving the river by means of dams and locks. It is recommended that $60,000 be appropriated for a lock and dam at Little Rapids. Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874. Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. (See Appendix II 4.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT. $5,000 00 6,379 72 10,000 00 9,975 25 11, 404 47 60,000 00 Major Farquhar was charged with and has reported upon the following surveys provided for in the act of March 3, 1873 : 1. Galena River, from its mouth to Galena, Illinois. (See Appendix H 5.) 2. Red River of the North, from Moorehead to Pembina. (See Appendix H 6.) To comply with a request from the Board of Trade of Minneapolis, an examination was made in December last, under the direction of Major Farquhar, of the Mississippi River between St. Cloud and the falls of St. Anthony, with the view of forming an approximate estimate of the cost of improving the river between those points. For the result of this examination see Appendix H 7. IMPROVEMENT OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI BETWEEN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AND GRAFTON, ILLINOIS.-IMPROVEMENT OF DES MOINES AND ROCK ISLAND RAPIDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. Officer in charge, Col. J. N. Macomb, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Capt. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of Upper Mississippi River.-The steamer Montana, in charge of Capt. J. B. Davis, a river-captain of experience, was employed as heretofore in dredging sand-bars and rendering temporary aid to the navigation in advance of the permanent system to be projected for improving this section of the river. Until the plans for permanent improvement can be perfected in pursuance of surveys now in progress, it is recommended that the plan of temporary aid be continued as asked for by the engineer in charge. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873... Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 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. (See Appendix I 1.) $25,000 00 2,527 30 25,000 00 22,656 62 25,019 99 25,000 00 2. Improving Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-During the past fiscal year the work of improvement has consisted of earth and rock excavation from the prism of the canal, riprapping canal-bank, building dike, and making the excavation for the foundation of the guard-lock, and excavations of channels at entrances of the canal; this work having been done by Messrs. J. W. Kittle & Co., under their contract dated 30th Angust, 1873. Owing to difficulties under which this work was prosecuted, the time for completing the work embraced in this contract was extended to October 31, 1874. The contracts with Messrs. Dull and Williams for the lower lock, and Willard Johnson for the middle lock, were completed soon after the commencement of the year. Coffer-dams for excavations at the entrances to the canal, services at the middle and lower locks, repairing leak under the embankment, and the general finishing of the lower and middle sections, were in progress during the year by hired labor, and the purchase of materials in open market, under the direct superintendence of the engineer in charge, with the most satisfactory results. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $18,230.12 $400,000 00 percentage due on contracts not yet completed). Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 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.... 66,300 00 400,000 00 344,987 18 505, 807 10 480,000 00 (See Appendix I 2.) 3. Improving Rock Island Rapids, Mississippi River.-The improvements at Lower Chain, Duck Creek Chain, and under the head of at "various places" have been effected. Owing to the smallness of the last appropriation and the increased prices of excavation but 3,330 cubic yards can be removed, leaving 3,809 cubic yards to be taken out at the foot of Moline Chain, at various places on the rapids, and probably still a small amount at Lower Chain, for the final accomplishment of which, and for meeting all probable contingencies in completing the work, the officer in charge most earnestly asks an appropriation of $80,000. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $2,999 percentage due on contracts not yet completed)... $50,000 00 4,034 74 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874.... Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 (See Appendix I 3.) $50,000 00 51,694 04 52,340 70 80,000 00 4. Improving Illinois River.-Owing to the earnest request of the governor of Illinois, and others interested in continuing this improvement in accordance with the approved project of a lock and dam navigation, some four-fifths of the last appropriation were set apart for putting in the lock-bottom for the second lock; this is just below Copperas Creek. The remainder of the appropriation was devoted to dredging at those points most in need of such improvements, in advance of extending the lock and dam system below Copperas Creek. The amount of $150,000 is asked to be applied to this work in coming fiscal year. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE $95,000 00 3,719 19 75, 000 00 52,796 75 118,104 44 150,000 00 MOUTHS OF THE ILLINOIS AND OF THE OHIO, AND IMPROVEMENT OF OSAGE RIVER, MISSOURI. Officer in charge, Col. J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Capt. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement of Mississippi River between the mouths of the Illinois and Ohio Rivers. -Work between the Illinois and Missouri Rivers has been limited to the completion of the dam closing the slough behind Ellis Island, opposite Alton, to the height of 8 feet above low water. The materials were purchased in open market and the work done by hired labor. No specific appropriations are asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, the amount required being included in general estimate for improvement of Mississippi River between the Illinois and Ohio Rivers. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check.... Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 $3,021 82 15,000 00 3,021 82 15,000 00 Between the Missouri and Ohio Rivers work has beeu continued at Sawyer's Beud, of which 5,445 lineal feet is now sufficiently protected. The protection will be extended 600 feet the present year, leaving 4,515 feet to be done. At Venice, what is known as Long Dike has been raised to the height of 14 feet above low water, and the dike extended westwardly 600 feet. Work on the extension was incomplete at the close of the year, but its early completion was assured. Work was begun at Horsetail Bar, and at the close of the year a decided improvement was obtained, though the incomplete state of the works did not then assure a permanence of decided results. A dike 1,171 feet in length had been completed on the Missouri side, and two dikes on the Illinois side were in an advanced state of progress. The experience gained during the last two years renders the construction of dikes in the Mississippi a certainty at moderate cost compared with the value of the results attained. The system of construction is no longer experimental, but can be applied generally with assurance of success if skill, care, and forethought be exercised in the location of works and management of construction. Having passed the experimental stages, the improvement of the Mississippi can hereafter progress as rapidly as the means furnished will permit. The officer in charge estimates that $600,000 will be required for the year ending June 30, 1876, the appropriation of which sum is recommended. The triangulation of the river-bed from the Missouri to the Ohio, which was in progress at the beginning of the year, has been continued, and at the close of the year was nearly completed. In addition to the triangu lation special surveys were made at the several points where work is contemplated the present year. The extension of the triangulation to cover the valley proper, mentioned as important last year, is again recommended. The estimated cost is $50,000. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $2,712.35 percentage due on contracts not yet completed). Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 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 (See Appendix K 1.) $239,000 00 17,531 33 195,000 00 215, 347 62 236, 183 71 600, 000 00 2. Improvement of Osage River, Missouri.-Operations upon this river were carried on at Dixon's, Round Bottom, Burd's, Lockett's Island, Lockett's, General Bolton's, and Shipley's Shoals, the mode of improvement being the same as that followed during the preceding year, namely, the contraction of the stream by cross-dams, training-dikes, &c., and by excavating the channel. The materials used in the dams and dikes were logs, brush, and stone, and were purchased in open market. The work was performed by hired labor. Work thus far has resulted in an improvement of the river at the points named, a depth of 2 feet and more at low water having been obtained at most of them. The further sum of $25,000 was appropriated by the act approved June 23, 1874. It is proposed to expend the greater part of this amount in continuing the work upon the plan now in progress, using the balance, (say, $5,000, or so much of the whole as may be necessary,) for the thorough survey from Tuscumbia-to which point it had been carried and suspended-up the river toward Roscoe, a distance of 173 miles, with a view to the permanent improvement of the river by locks and dams, if such method should be found practicable. Estimates for the further prosecution of the work are delayed until the completion of the survey referred to for slack-water navigation. Balance in Treasury of the United States July 1, 1873.. $40,000 00 Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check 10,594 74 Amount appropriated by act approved June 23, 1874. 25,000 00 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 47,332 77 28,261 97 (See Appendixes K 2 and K 3.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE OUACHITA AND YAZOO RIVERS. Officer in charge, Capt. W. H. H. Benyaurd, Corps of Engineers. 1. Improvement Ouachita River in Louisiana and Arkansas.-Certain amounts of lumber, &c., intended for the foundations of locks at Buffalo Flats and Jack's Island, in Arkansas, and at Rock Row, in Louisiana, have been delivered. The crane-boat Ouachita was refitted and repaired and operated during the low-water season in removing the most dangerous obstructions to the navigation of the stream, though the frequent rises interfered somewhat with the work. During the coming season it is proposed to build and operate a new snag-boat. Applied to Louisiana. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873 Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1874 Amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876.. Applied to Arkansas. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. Amount in hands of officer and subject to his check, (including $460.50 percentage due on contracts not yet completed).. 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.. (See Appendix L 1.) $81,000 00 11, 254 07 30,755 15 61, 498 92 13,000 00 $35,000 00 13,573 05 30,486 49 18, 086 56 13,000 00 A resurvey of the river from Camden, Arkansas, to Trinity, Louisi ana, was made during the year, and a report thereon submitted to Congress at its last session, and printed in Ex. Doc. H. R. 259. (See Appendix L 2.) 2. Improvement of Yazoo River, Mississippi.-During the fiscal year nine wrecks were removed from the channel under contracts made with the New Orleans Wrecking and Salvage Company. Eleven more yet remain, together with many beds of sunken logs, forming serious obstructions to the safe navigation of the river. Balance in Treasury of United States July 1, 1873.. 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. (See Appendix L 3.) $35,000 00 5,000 00 39,023 06 976 94 75,000 00 IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, AND ARKANSAS RIVERS, AND OF THE WHITE AND ST. FRANCIS RIVERS. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles R. Suter, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas Rivers.-The snag-boats employed on this improvement have worked during the past year in the Missouri River from Kansas City, Missouri, to the mouth, three hundred and eighty-five miles, in the Mississippi River from Keokuk, Iowa, to Vicksburg, Mississippi, one thousand and five miles, and for five days by special detail in the Ohio River. The season of field-work was very short, and quite inadequate to the requirements of commerce. This was owing to the small size of the annual appropriation and to the necessity of applying a portion of it (act of January 23, 1873) to paying for a new iron-hulled snag-boat. Owing to a long and unusually high stage of water in the Ohio River, the contractor for this boat has not yet been able to complete it. For this reason no work was done in Arkansas River, which is not accessible to the large deep-draught boats hitherto |