FIRST DISTRICT. (Cairo to foot of Island No. 40, 220 miles. Includes New Madrid and Plum Point Reaches. Officer in charge, Capt. Smith S. Leach, Corps of Engineers.) Since the last report no work has been done in this district beyond what was necessary for the care and preservation of plant, and such slight repairs to the works on Plum Point Reach as their condition seemed to require and the state of the funds permitted. A small break at the upper angle of the Osceola-Bullerton Dike was closed, with the immediate effect of filling up the excavation behind it, which had been caused by the scour of the current through the gap. The damage to the works during the past year has been slight, and has not materially impaired their efficiency. A considerable amount of pile-dike has been broken off at the 20-foot level from the decay of the material used, but the lower parts, with the foot-mats, remain, and the deposits which have formed behind them are unaffected. The revetment at Fletcher's Field was exposed at both ends by the caving of the unprotected bank above and below it, but has held its place with very little loss.* The main low-water channel through this reach is becoming well defined, both in position and in depth, while the secondary channels are being obliterated. The channel through Plum Point Cressing has not changed its form during the past season, through all stages of the river. (For details of the work and tabulated results of surveys see report of Captain Leach, Appendix E.) SECOND DISTRICT. (Foot of Island No. 40 to mouth of White River. Includes Memphis Reach and Har bor. Officer in charge, Capt. Smith S. Leach, Corps of Engineers.) The only works of improvement in this district during the past year have been the repair of a serious fault in the revetment of Hopefield Bend and the reballasting of a part of this revetment, and of that on the Memphis city front. This was completed in January, 1886, since which time no change has taken place in the condition of the work at either place. The amount expended was about $20,000. The effect of maintaining the bank in Hopefield Bend has been to cause the river to cut away the bar which was forming on the point below, and to transfer the stress of the current on the left bank to the southern part of the city front. The caving along this tract threatening serious loss, a sum of $60,000 has been subscribed by citizens and railway companies interested, and, by authority of the Secretary of War, plant has been furnished, to be used under direction of the Engineer officer of the district, in securing this front by a system of cribspurs, such as have been successfully tried at New Orleans. (For details see report of Captain Leach, Appendix F.) THIRD DISTRICT. (Mouth of White River to Warrenton, Miss., 220 miles. Includes Lake Providence Reach and Vicksburg and Greenville Harbors. Officer in charge, Capt. William T. Rossell, Corps of Engineers.) (1) Lake Providence Reach.-The only work of improvement during the past year has been the closing of gaps in the Baleshed and Stack *Recent examination shows that the Craighead Point revetment, which was supposed to have disappeared, is still in place and entire. Island system of dikes, by repairs and extension of existing works, and construction of one additional cross-dike, the whole amount expended being about $13,000. Examination shows in general satisfactory results from the works. Even where the dikes have disappeared, as at Duncansby, they had already accomplished the purpose for which they were built, and the channel secured by them is still maintained. The revetment at Pilcher's Point has, in many places, slipped out of sight, but the bank line has substantially retained its position. The Mayersville revetment has not succeeded in holding the head of the island. The least channel depth on the reach during the year has been 13 feet. (2) Vicksburg Harbor.-No work has been done here during the year. Examination shows that the cut through the bar, which was dredged in 1883 to the zero of the gauge, has been filled to an average depth of 7.5 feet. The revetment at Delta Point has suffered no material loss, and the shore-line is unchanged. (For details see report of Captain Rossell, Appendix G.) FOURTH DISTRICT. (Warrenton, Miss., to Head of Passes, 484 miles. Includes Harbors of Natchez and Vidalia and New Orleans, mouth of Red River, and rectification of Red and Atchafalaya Rivers. Officer in charge, Maj. Charles W. Raymond, Corps of Engineers.) The work in this district has been confined to the mouth of Red River, where the channel was kept open during the low-water season of 1885 by scraping and by temporary wing-dams, at a cost of $11,000. Examination of the spurs in process of construction in Gouldsboro' Bend, New Orleans Harbor, shows that since they were begun the 100foot contour has moved outward, and the other contours have become more regular. Their full effect, however, cannot be ascertained until the system is completely developed. (For details see report of Major Raymond, Appendix H.) LEVEES. No new levee work has been done during the year. From February to May, 1886, about $3,500 was expended in the fourth district in repairs to the sinking portion of Kempe Levee, at Potter's Slough. Numerous small breaks, due to insufficient height, occurred in the third district levees, between Cypress Creek and Arkansas City, during the flood of 1886. Breaks are also said to have taken place in the Long Lake Levce, second district. Elsewhere the Government levees have remained intact. The condition of levees along the entire alluvial valley is, briefly, as follows: Saint Francis Front.-(1) From Commerce to Bird's Point, 38 miles, which is the head of the flood escape into the Saint Francis Basin, there are no levees, and no estimates have been made for closure. (2) In the first district, Cairo to foot of Island 40, 220 miles, the levees have been neglected since their destruction in 1858; not more than 1 per cent. of the old system could be utilized in the construction of a new line. The estimate for a complete line is 8,910,000 cubic yards, at a cost of $2,300,000. (3) In the second district, foot of Island 40 to the Saint Francis River, 78 miles, about one-third of which is unleveed, it is estimated that to complete the line and raise all levees to 12 feet above high water of 1882 will require 1,634,000 cubic yards, at a cost of about $430,000. White River Front.-Saint Francis River to White River, 95 miles. Less than 20 miles of this front is unleveed, but much of the remainder has too low grades. It is estimated that the entire front can be closed to 2 feet above high water for about $150,000. The Long Lake Leveo is the only Government work. From White River to Arkansas River there are no lerces. From Arkansas River to Cypress Bayou, 25 miles, there are no front levees except a few miles more or less dilapidated. The south side of the Arkansas is leveed for about 8 miles above the mouth. Tensas Front.-Cypress Creek to Red River, 340 miles. On the south side of Cypress Creek, the Opossum Fork Levee extends back from the river and across to Amos Ridge, 7 miles, closing the head of the Tensas Basin. From Amos Ridge to Arkansas City, for new levees, closing breaks, and raising grade to 1 foot above high water of 1882, there are required 133,000 cubic yards. From Arkansas City to the Louisiana State Line there is required for enlargement of existing lines 526,000 cubic yards; for new levees, 976,000 cubic yards, the principal new work being at Panther Forest. Leland Vaucluse Matthews Bend.. Grand Lake...... Cubic yards. 272,000 78,000 179,000 173,000 232,000 From the Louisiana State Line to Warrenton the levees are at present in fair condition. There are, however, caving banks, which will ultimately necessitate new levees, for which the estimated amount is 1,027,000 cubic yards. The Wilton to Raleigh Levee is the most important of those threatened. From Warrenton to Red River the levees are believed to be above ordinary flood height, except at Diamond Island Bend (13,850 feet) and Bougère, with a small gap at Point Breeze. The estimate of the chief State engineer of Louisiana for the closure of Diamond Island Crevasse is 250,000 cubic yards, or, for a more complete line across Sargent's Point, 510,000 cubic yards. No estimates have been made for the other localities named. In addition, it seems likely that caving will render necessary the reconstruction of Kempe Levee. (See report of Major Stickney, M. R. C. An. Rep., 1885.) The grade of Lake Concordia Levee is still too low. On the Yazoo Front the energetic action of the State boards has kept the levees in fair condition, although much work remains to be done be fore that front is quite secure. Atchafalaya Front.-The Morganza crevasse is the only point that needs special attention. The estimate for closure is 270,000 cubic yards. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Appropriation for salaries and expenses Mississippi River Commission, act of July 7, 1884. * Work is in progress on this levec, and it will probably be completed during the season. Appropriation for surveys Mississippi River, act of July 5, 1884. Appropriations for improving Mississippi River, acts of March 3, 1881, August 2, 1882, and January 19 and July 5, 1884. Estimate of funds for the Mississippi River Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888 SUNDRY CIVIL BILL. For salaries and traveling expenses of the Mississippi River Commission, and for salaries and traveling expenses of assistant engineers under them, and for office expenses and contingencies... RIVER AND HARBOR BILL. For continuation of surveys of the Mississippi River, between the Head of For continuing the improvement of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Ills., Columbus, Ky Hickman, Ky.. ........ Memphis, Tenn Greenville, Miss.... New Orleans, La.............. Total...... $100,000 100,000 5,000,000 $61, 250 251, 250 25,000 148,500 608, 600 $1,094, GOO Q. A. GILLMORE, Colonel of Engineers, Bvt. Maj. Gen., U. S. A., CHAS. R. SUTER, Major of Engineers, U. S. A. Coast and Geodetic Survey. B. M. HARROD. R. S. TAYLOR. I expressed, in the report of the 'Mississippi River Commission for 1883, my opinion as to the approximate heights needed for levees to give protection against overflow along the Mississippi River. I think the estimate for levees given in this report totally inadequate for any efficient system. C. B. COMSTOCK, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. Hon. WM. C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. List of appendices accompanying the foregoing report. APPENDIX A.-Report of the Secretary of the Commission.... Page. 2697 2710 1. Discharge observations at Hampton Landing, Ark., 1878-79.. 2701 APPENDIX B.-Report of the Secretary of the Committee on Construction.... APPENDIX C.-Report of Capt. E. H. Ruffner on operations between Des Moines Rapids and the Illinois River... APPENDIX D.-Report of Maj. O. II. Ernst on operations between the Illinois and Ohio Rivers... 2719 2722 APPENDIX E.-Report of Capt. S. S. Leach on operations in the first district... 2724 APPENDIX F.-Report of Capt. S. S. Leach on operations in the second district... 2731 APPENDIX G.--Report of Capt. W. T. Rossell on operations in the third dis trict.... APPENDIX H.-Report of Maj. C. W. Raymond on operations in the fourth district.... 2736 2744 |