and similar obstructions; and the navigable channel at Alexandria, La., was sufficient for the demands of commerce. The project for the improvement has contemplated removal of the great raft, closing Tone's Bayou, the removal of snags and other obstructions, the opening of a channel through the falls of Alexandria, and deepening of the water over shoal places. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $630,197.44. The work from 1872 to that time had greatly benefited navigation and commerce. The great raft had been removed, and about 150 miles of river above Shreveport opened to navigation. By means of snag-boats and shoreparties numerous obstructions were removed, the raft kept from reforming, and the river has been kept open from Fulton, Ark., to its mouth, and is navigable between those points almost the entire year. The opening of the channel through the falls at Alexandria, under contract of October 14, 1882, was but little more than one-fourth completed. Several ineffectual attempts had been made to close Tone's Bayou, but, owing to the determined opposition of the people in that vicinity to having the work carried out, nothing has, been done since early in 1882, when the dam then in process of construction was destroyed. During the year snag-boats and shore-parties have relieved the river of many dangerous obstructions, and kept it open for navigation. An immense jam of logs was removed from the old raft region in May, and a formidable obstruction averted by the promptness of its removal. The outlet known as Sale and Murphy's Canal was closed with a dam, but this was destroyed by high water in December. But little work was done by the contractor at Alexandria during the season. Some 3,500 cubic yards of rock were drilled and blasted, but only a small quantity was removed. At the lower falls 445 cubic yards of earth and rock were added to the dam. The work of protecting the harbor at Alexandria, La., directed by the last appropriation for this river, was well under way when stopped by a sudden rise of the river in December, and high water has prevented the resumption of work since that time. The United States steamer Florence sunk August 25, and was raised and repaired. The amount expended to June 30, 1885, is $699,095 98. With the balance available it is proposed to complete the projected work of protecting Alexandria Harbor, to care for the property belonging to the improvement, and remove jams during next winter and spring; but little if any work can be done during the coming low-water season. The appropriation estimated for can be profitably expended in continuing the removal of obstructions by means of snag-boats and shoreparties, completing the improvement at the falls of Alexandria, and $10,000 for extending the work for protection of the harbor at Alexandria. It is recommended that a complete survey of Red River be made from Fulton, Ark., to its mouth, and that $45,000 be appropriated for this purpose, in additon to the sum required for the improvement of the river. This survey, which was included in the examinations and surveys provided for in the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, but not undertaken for want of funds, would be of the utmost importance in determining future methods of improving the river. No estimate for the permanent improvement of the river can be presented, as new obstructions are continually added by caving banks, &c., and each flood brings down large quantities of drift from the up per river, the removal of which requires that the work be carried on from year to year in order to keep the river open to navigation. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1885, amount available...... $75,000 00 $62, 012 80 62, 027 67 12,972 33 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1877 (See Appendix U 1.) 90,000 00 45, 000 00 2. Survey of Bayou Pierre, Louisiana.-This was directed by river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, the object being to ascertain the advisability and cost of opening a navigable channel from Red River through Tone's Bayou and Bayou Pierre, to the point where the waters of the latter again join Red River. Several unforeseen circumstances have combined to make the cost of the survey exceed the original estimates, in consequence of which the amount appropriated was insufficient for its completion. The survey is about two-thirds completed, and it is thought that the remaining field work can be accomplished in about six weeks. As it is of importance that the survey be completed as contemplated, in order that the question of cost and advisability of opening this route may be definitely settled, it is recommended that the estimated amount required for its completion be appropriated. As this survey includes a portion of Red River, its completion as contemplated will somewhat reduce the cost of surveying the main stream. No estimate can be submitted of the cost of opening the Bayou Pierre route to navigation until the completion of this survey. $8,600 00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 7,936 15 July 1, 1885, amount available... 663 85 5,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix U 2.) 5,000 00 3. Cypress Bayou, Texas and Louisiana.-This improvement included the whole navigable channel from Shreveport, La., to Jefferson, Tex., via Sodo and Fairy lakes and Cypress Bayou. The first project consisted in cutting and dredging a good hign-water channel from Jefferson, Tex., to Red River, and the work was completed in 1880. Since then the timber has grown up again, and a steamer was employed during July, 1884, in removing a number of obstructions. The second project contemplated constructing a dam across the lake at Albany Point, and making a cut through to Red River at an estimated cost of $372,580, recommending that the funds be made available in one appropriation to successfully execute the work. This would give good navigation to Jefferson nearly all the year. No funds have been appropriated for this project. The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, directed a resurvey of the work to ascertain if the improvement could not be made upon some other plan than the above, and, with the small balance available, an examination was made and report submitted (see Appendix U 3), with the recommendation that the improvement be confined to straightening and making the present channel, cutting stumps therefrom, and reopening the cuts by dredging, which it is believed will secure safe navigation to Jefferson during seven or eight months of the year. The cost of this improvement is estimated at $18,000. The entire amount recommended for expenditure during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, is required in order to complete the work according to the project. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $93,193.51. July 1, 1884, amount available... $806 49 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 775 34 July 1, 1885, amount available..... 31 15 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 18,000 00 18,000 00 (See Appendix U 3.) 4. Cane River, Louisiana.--The first appropriation for this work was made by river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, and the funds appropriated were applied during the year to the removal of snags, logs, stumps, caved-in and leaning trees, and some rock, obstructing high-water navigation. The stream is only navigable during high stages of water in Red River, and the work of the past season has freed the channel to a great extent of obstructions, increased the depth of water during the navigable season, and enabled steamboats to make quicker trips. During the past season good navigation continued from December until May. This stream is an arm or high-water channel of Red River, extending from a point 2 miles below Grand Ecore, where it leaves the main stream, to Colfax, La., where it re-enters, and it is recommended that appropriations for future improvement be included in those for Red River, in which case necessary work can be done when and where the interests of navigation may require it. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 July 1, 1885, amount available (See Appendix U 4.) $2,500 00 2,350 31 149 69 5. Loggy Bayou, Lake Bistenau, and the Dorcheat, Louisiana.-The first appropriation for this improvement was made by river and harbor act approved July 5, 1884, and was applied during the past season to the removal of snags, logs, stumps, leaning trees, and brush obstructing high-water navigation. Sign-boards, indicating the cleared channel, were also set up in Lake Bistenau. This work has increased facilities for navigation by removal of obstructions, and the navigable depth in many places has been increased fully 3 feet. Boats were enabled to run to the head of navigation, near Minden, La., during six months of the past year. No estimate for permanent improvement can be submitted, as new obstructions are constantly added by sliding and caving banks, &c. With the amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, it is proposed to remove the obstructions to high-water navigation which will form by that time. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.... $5,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount available. July 1, 18-5, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 4,568 21 431 79 5,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 5.) 6. Ouachita and Black rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana.-The improvement of Ouachita River was begun in 1871. Black River, being the connecting link between Ouachita and Red rivers, was added under the same head of appropriation by the last river and harbor act. The present project contemplates the removal of wrecks, logs, snags, leaning timber, &c., obstructing navigation of the streams, and the improvemet of shoal places. The original project contemplated the construction of a series of locks and dams in the Ouachita River for slackwater navigation, but was abandoned in 1874, and the present project adopted. The amount expended under the present project to June 30, 1884, ineluding cost of iron-hull snag-boat and outfit, was $161,412.13, which has greatly benefited navigation by the removal of obstructions, and an increased depth of from 12 inches to over 3 feet has been gained over some of the shoal places. During the year the United States snag boat O. G. Wagner was employed about four months, from September to January, in removing obstructions from the channel and banks. The principal portion of this work was performed between Monroe, La., and the mouth of Black River. This work has greatly benefited navigation, as nothing had been done since 1882, and formidable obstructions had accumulated. In many places land-slides-some extending entirely across the stream-were removed, and also many other channel obstructions. Steamboat-men navigating the river express great satisfaction at this season's work. The two wrecks obstructing the harbor at Monroe, La., were also removed during the past season. Previous to any work of improvement large boats plied between New Orleans and Camden, Ark., about half the year. These boats now run to Camden from seven to eight months in the year, and smaller ones ascend the river as high as Monroe, La., during the entire year. The balance available will be required for the care and preservation of the property pertaining to this improvement during the next fiscal year. The amount asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can be profitably expended in continuing the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks of the stream and building and repairing wing-dams where necessary. Of this amount, however, $7,500 will be required for repairs of the snag-boat before it can be used again. No estimate for permanent improvement can be submitted, as the obstructions are continually forming and require removal from time to time. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 $15,000 00 13,809 19 July 1, 1885, amount available........... 1,190 81 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1887 $40,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix U 6.) 7. Bayou Bartholomew, Louisiana and Arkansas.-This stream is navigable only during high stages of water in the Ouachita River, of which it is a tributary. The improvement was begun in 1881, and the project contemplated the removal of wrecks, snags, overhanging timber, &c., obstructing navigation from Baxter, Ark., to the mouth, an estimated distance of 213 miles, at a cost of $26,862. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $11,878.30, which had resulted in the removal of obstructions between Baxter and Lind Grove, La., about 143 miles, enabling boats to run regularly to Baxter during high water. During the year the work was carried on by contract, and the obstructions were removed from the bayou for a distance of 66 miles up stream from its mouth, and consequently improving navigation in that portion of the stream and lessening the dangers thereof. The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, can be profitably expended in continuing the removal of obstructions from the channel and banks as heretofore. No permanent improvement can be effected, as new obstructions are continually forming, which will require removal from time to time in the interests of safe navigation. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. $1,121 70 5,000 00 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... 6,121 70 5,873 02 July 1, 1885, amount available .... 248 68 8,862 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix U 7.) 9,000 00 8. Bayou Bauf, Louisiana.-This bayou is navigable only during high stages of water in the Ouachita River, of which it is a tributary. The project for its improvement was adopted in 1880, and contemplated the removal of snags, logs, leaning timber, &c., obstructing navigation, between Wallace's Landing, La., and its mouth, a distance of 280 miles, at an estimated cost of $20,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $10,000, which was ap plied in 1881 and 1882 to the removal of obstructions below Point Jefferson. The removal of these obstructions gave increased facilities for navigation, and boats were enabled to run during high water to Point Jefferson, 19 miles below Wallace's Landing. During the year the work was carried on by contract. Removal of obstructions was begun at the mouth and continued up-stream a distance of 60 miles, when the available funds were exhausted. This work has greatly benefited high-water navigation in that portion of the stream in which it was performed. The bayou was navigable during the past year from November until June. An examination of three outlets of this bayou, near Point Jefferson, La., was made during the year, as directed by river and harbor act of |