EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Homochitto River, Mississippi, from its mouth to the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railroad Bridge.-Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 7, 1892. He considers the river worthy of improvement within the limits specified; but it is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 140, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 16.) 2. Harbor of refuge on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, most suitable point at or near entrance into the old and new basins.-Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 10, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is worthy of improvement by the General Government. No survey is necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 138, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 17.) 3. Bayous Black and Terrebonne, with a view of connecting them between Southdown Plantation and Houma, La., and opening a shorter and safer inland water route from the Mississippi Valley, via Berwicks Bay, to Texas and Mexico.-Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 16, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the United States. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 158, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 18.) 4. Sabine River from Sudduths Bluff, Texas, to Logansport, La.Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 8, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river within the limits named is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 139, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 19.) 5. Channel through Sabine Lake from Sabine Pass to mouths of Sabine and Neches rivers, Texas.-Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 10, 1892. He considers the improvement worthy of being undertaken; and it is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the channel is in some degree worthy of improvement by the United States. Maj. Quinn estimates the cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement at $2,500. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 146, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 20.) 6. Neches River, Texas, from its mouth to Shooks Bluff.-Maj. Quinn submitted report of examination under date of December 22, 1892. He considers the river worthy of improvement below the mouth of Angelina River; and it is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by by this office, that Neches River up to the junction of the Angelina is worthy of improvement by removal of snags and overhanging trees. No survey is necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 156, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 21.) SECURING MOUTH OF BAYOU PLAQUEMINE, LOUISIANA, FROM FURTHER CAVING. This work was in the charge of Capt. John Millis, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. Bayou Plaquemine was formerly an outflowing branch of the Mississippi River, but the levee system on the west bank of the Mississippi was carried across the head of the bayou in 1865. It is now proposed to improve and deepen the bayou and establish navigable connection between it and the Mississippi by a system of locks at the head of the bayou. The west bank of the Mississippi at this point was formerly subject to rapid caving, threatening the site of the proposed locks. The project adopted for the improvement contemplates a system of submerged spur dikes, built of timber, brush, and stone. They run out at right angles to the general direction of the bank line, and are placed at intervals of about 900 feet. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, there had been expended $53,731.61. Five of the dikes had been finished. The completed work of protection now extends to a distance of 2,500 feet above and 1,500 feet below the site of the proposed locks, and within this distance the caving of the bank has been arrested. Some repairs are necessary to the completed bank protection. These repairs will be made during the coming season with funds and material now on hand. During the year $4,032.35 was expended on this work, leaving an unexpended balance, July 1, 1893, from the funds allotted to this improvement, of $27,085.46. The money statement is consolidated with that for the general improvement of Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana, page 244. (See Appendix T.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN TEXAS. This district was in the charge of Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, to February 8, 1893, and of Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers, since March 21, 1893, with Lieut. William C. Langfitt, Corps of Engineers, under their immediate orders, and in the temporary charge of Lieut. Langfitt from February 8 to March 21, 1893; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Entrance to Galveston Harbor, Texas.-The obstructions to deepwater navigation at this harbor have been the outer and inner bars. On the former the natural depth was 12 feet and on the latter about 13 feet, both at mean low tide. The present project for improvement at this locality was adopted in 1874, modified in 1880, and again modified in 1886, the object being to deepen the channels so as to admit sea-going vessels of the deepest draft. The projects prior to 1874 related to dredging operations on a small scale. The projects of 1874 and 1880 contemplated construction of jetties to deepen the channels on the bars; the former with a view to a depth of 18 feet. The modification of 1886 was with a view to a possible depth of 30 feet by means of jetties, to be supplemented, if need be, by dredg ing. These jetties to be of rock and to be built to a height of 5 feet above mean low tide. The cost of the modification of 1886 (the present project) was estimated at $7,000,000. The total amount expended under the foregoing plans, to include June 30, 1892, was $2,712,843.53, in addition to which there was expended $100,000, subscribed by the city of Galveston in 1883. It has resulted in a depth of 134 feet in the channel on the outer bar at mean low tide, and a depth of 21 feet where the inner bar was. The expenditure during the past fiscal year of $646,796.29 has resulted in obtaining 14 feet on the outer bar and 23 feet where the inner bar was, an increase in depth of three-quarters of a foot and 2 feet, respectively. The work during the past fiscal year has consisted in extending the south jetty 8,000 feet and building an apron 839 feet long at the sea end, which completes this jetty for the present. Work on the north jetty was commenced in April, 1893; 1,500 feet was completed and 2,100 feet was partially completed. The total of work done since operations began in 1887 is represented by 32,829 feet of south jetty, of which 32.000 is completed and 829 feet uncompleted, and 3,600 feet of north jetty, of which 1,500 feet is completed and 2,100 feet uncompleted. The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, is to be applied to the extension of north jetty and necessary repairs to south jetty July 1, 1892, balance unexpended............. July 14, 1892, repayment of amount of compromise in suit of J. H. Mooney Amount appropriated by sundry civil act approved August 5, 1892. June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year... $665, 156.47 118.00 450, 000, 00 1,000,000.00 2, 115, 274.47 646, 796. 29 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended........... July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 1, 328, 104. 33 1,360, 243. 30 July 1, 1893, balance available... 108, 234.88 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... 3, 650, 000. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix U 1.) 1, 000, 000.00 2. Ship Channel in Galveston Bay, Texas.-This is a channel dredged by the United States Government from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut, the latter terminating at a point 4.8 miles from Morgan Canal, an excavation across Morgan Point at the mouth of the San Jacinto River. Morgan Cut and Canal were formerly the property of the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company, but were purchased by the United States and the transfer was made May 4, 1892. The natural depth on the line of the Galveston Bay Ship Channel averaged 81 feet at mean low tide, with a depth in some places of but 7 feet; the ruling depth in Morgan Cut was 72 feet, and in the canal 17 feet. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1871, modified in 1877, and again modified in 1892. This latter modification became necessary owing to the acquisition by the United States of the Morgan Cut and Canal. The object of the improvement is to excavate and maintain a channel, 100 feet wide at the bottom and 12 feet deep, from Bolivar Channel to the San Jacinto River, a distance of 24.33 miles, thereby giving an outlet to the commerce of Buffalo Bayou, of San Jacinto River, of Trinity River, and of Cedar Bayou. A channel, having a least width of 100 feet and depth of 12 feet, was excavated from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut in 1888 and 1889, this being the first work that was done since operations were suspended in 1883. No dredging was done from July, 1889, to the end of the last fiscal year; consequently the channel shoaled to an average depth of 8 feet. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, on this improvement was $540,831.16, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the sum of $16,484.64 was expended in sloping the banks at Morgan Canal, which required the removal of 12,550 cubic yards of material, and in 'completing the revetment on the west bank of the canal, the length constructed being 1,959 linear feet. This work prevented further erosion of the banks of the canal. No dredging was done, the contractor's plant having met with an accident while en route to Galveston, and repairs were not completed at the close of the fiscal year. There was no change in channel depths from those previously reported. The project is not capable of permanent completion, it being estimated that the sum of $100,000 will be required annually to maintain the channel after it has been fully excavated to the required width and depth. 44 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 200,000. 46 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix U 2.) 3. Channel in West Galveston Bay, Texas.-The channels through West Galveston Bay were originally dredged in 1859 by the State of Texas to a depth of 5 feet, but during the storm of 1875 they shoaled to a depth of from 2 to 3 feet at mean low tide, and at the same time became too narrow to allow vessels to pass through them except at full tide. Subsequent storms probably caused further filling of the channels. The project for this improvement was adopted in 1892 and consisted in widening, deepening, and straightening the channel by dredging, so as to afford a least width of 200 feet and depth of 34 feet between the railroad bridges and San Louis Pass in the bay, and a least width of 100 feet and depth of 3 feet along Christmas Point, the channel to be marked by suitable beacons. The total estimated cost is $28,998.80. No money was expended on this improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, consequently there was no change in the condition of the channel, except possibly a further filling due to wind and currents. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $2,317.71, mostly in erecting beacons and inspecting dredging done by contract. The small amount of material removed by the contractor during the year, 2,928 cubic yards, was not enough to benefit commerce to any great extent. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. $15,000,00 2, 317.71 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended 12, 682. 29 July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities $220.00 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 11, 500.00 11, 720.00 962. 29 14,000.00 July 1, 1893, balance available.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project . 14,000.00 4. Trinity River, Texas.-The natural channel on the bar at the mouth was narrow and shoal. The project for improvement adopted in 1873 consisted principally in dredging. Between 1885 and 1889 no work was done, and the channel, which had been deepened in 1885 to 5 feet, had shoaled to 3 feet 2 inches. The project was modified in 1889, the modification principally cousisting in parallel timber jetties to effect the required deepening to 6 feet on the bar. The total expended to include June 30, 1892, was $56,119.68, at which time one jetty was nearly completed, resulting in a depth of 3 feet 6 inches on the bar and straightening the channel. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $627.25, and was used principally in making a survey with a view to preparing project for expenditure of amount appropriated for this work by the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892. The depth of 3 feet 6 inches over the bar has been practically maintained by the jetty previously constructed. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix U 4.) 22,500.00 22,500.00 |