gerous snags from Batesville to the mouth of the river, and made important additions to the plant. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, material was accumulated on the lower White River for the erection of dikes and the plant was increased and repaired. Early in the next fiscal year, repairs will be begun upon the dikes in the upper river and also work upon the construction of the dikes in the lower river, if the stage of water will permit. 6. Cache River, Arkansas.—The first appropriation made for this river became available August 11, 1888. Prior to this time the river was choked with logs, snags, and overhanging trees, and several shoals interfered with low-water navigation. The project proposes the removal of these obstructions from the town of Riverside, Ark., to the mouth of the river. Up to June 30, 1891, $7,000 had been expended carrying out the project. By act approved July 13, 1892, $2,000 was appropriated. This was expended carrying out the project. The boat was then sold to the appropriation "Improving Black River, Arkansas and Missouri,” for $2,000. This sum could not be expended on account of high water, but will be expended early in next fiscal year and will complete the original project. Further attention may be required as the country develops. Received on account of sale of U. S. snag boat Riverside Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.... $2,000.00 2,000.00 7. Little Red River, Arkansas.-The first improvements attempted upon this river were made in 1872. Prior to this work many overhanging trees and a large number of snags interfered with navigation in the lower reaches, and many bowlders obstructed flatboat and raft navigation in the reach above the present town of Judsonia. Most of the overhanging trees and snags were removed as high as Judsonia, and the bowlders remained untouched to June 30, 1886. By acts of August 5, 1886, and August 11, 1888, $8,400 was appropriated for removing the bowlders above Judsonia and dredging a channel through the shoals 3 miles below. After the work on the shoals had been nearly completed the dredge was sold, making $3,500 additional money available. Up to June 30, 1892, $11,191.07 had been expended removing the bowlders, building a dredge and barges, partial excavation of channel, cutting overhanging timber, removing a few logs and snags between Judsonia and Heber, Ark., and caring for the property, and, on a special project, making the work between Judsonia and Heber more effective, after the work at Bess Shoals had been completed. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the small balance of funds available was expended in care of property and records. The project is completed. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year. (See Appendix W 7.) $300. 12 300.12 8. Black River, Arkansas and Missouri.-Before any improvements were made upon this river navigation was practically closed by snags, logs, and overhanging trees, the snags and logs in many places forming shoals, and in other places rock and gravel shoals interfered with navigation. The original plan for improvement contemplated the removal of the obstructions and the improvement of the shoals by wing dams. A few of the sloughs were to be closed up so as to confine the water to the main channel. Up to June 30, 1892, $65,961.44 had been expended, the work of 1892 finally opening the river to Poplar Bluff, Mo., so that boats could reach that point during high and medium stages with reasonable facility. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the funds appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892, were utilized in operating a hand-propelled snag boat from Poplar Bluff, Mo., to the mouth, removing the most dangerous recently accumulated obstructions. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Received on account of sale of U. S. towboat Henry Sheldon. $280.96 4,500.00 5,000.00 9, 780.96 6, 178.28 3, 602.68 2.75 3,599.93 8,000.00 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 W 8.) 42,000.00 9. Black River, Missouri.-The first improvements attempted upon this reach of river were made in the years of 1881 and 1882. Prior to this work its channel was choked with snags and logs, and obstructed by overhanging trees, and in many places shoals interfered with its navigation at low water by any but very light-draft boats. The original plan for improvement contemplated the removal of the obstructions and the improvement of the shoals, the latter by wing dams. sloughs were to be closed up so as to confine the water to the main channel. Up to June 30, 1892, $19,904.41 had been expended in removing overhanging trees, trees that had fallen across the channel, dangerous snags and piles of drift, all of these items in formidable numbers, giving great relief to navigation. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.... (See Appendix W 9.) $95.59 95.59 10. St. Francis River, Arkansas.-Appropriations have been made for this river in connection with those for the White River. The first appropriation was made March 2, 1833, prior to which this river was choked with drift, logs, snags, and its waters spread out through a great variety of sloughs, while overhanging trees added to the difficulty of navigation. The originally adopted project was principally for snagging operations, and attempts have been made to close up some of the many sloughs. On July 5, 1884, the first separate appropriation was made. From that time to June 30, 1892, $27,956.86 had been expended in carrying out the approved project. By act approved July 13, 1892, $8,000 was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $3,795.61 was expended in the continuance of the project, in the execution of much-needed work between Madison, Ark., and the mouth of the river. High water prevented the economical expenditure of the balance. July 1, 2892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1893, balance available. Amount (estimated) required for work annually. $13.14 8,000.00 8, 043. 14 3,795. 61 4, 247.53 135.20 4, 112. 33 8,000.00 28,000.00 11. St. Francis River, Missouri.-The first appropriation made for this reach of river was that of act of August 11, 1888, $5,000. Prior to the work done with this sum, logs, snags, overhanging trees, and several shoals interfered with low-water navigation. The estimate, $7,300, proposed the removal of the shoals about 12 miles below Greenville and the removal of snags and other obstructions. The amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888, was inadequate. Up to June 30, 1892, $12,329.77 had been expended, cutting a narrow channel through the Big Drift and carrying out other provisions of the original project, combined with those of the project under act approved September 19, 1890, which, added to the original project, provides for a hand-propelled snag boat for use between the Sunk Lands and Greenville, Mo., including the building of the boat. This also removed a formidable array of obstructions from St. Francis, Ark., to the Big Drift. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the boat was sold to the appropriation "Removing obstructions in Arkansas River, Arkansas and Kansas," and the money thus secured expended in widening the channel through the Big Drift and in removing a few obstructions between there and the town of St. Francis, Ark. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. Received on account of sale of U. S. snag boat Missouri June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, balance available........... (See Appendix W 11.) $3,170.23 3,000.00 6, 170.23 3, 186. 24 2,983.99 48.69 2, 935.30 12. Little River, Missouri.-Before improvement this river was obstructed by snags, logs, masses of driftwood, and shoals, and was divided into two chutes. The project for improvement contemplates prolonging medium-stage navigation by closing one of the chutes and removing the obstructions enumerated from the other. Appropriations aggregating $8,000 were made for the improvement of this stream by acts of August 11, 1888, and September 19, 1890. This sum, with the exception of a small balance, was expended prior to June 30, 1892, in the construction of a dam 300 feet long across the right chute and the removal of the obstructions in the main channel. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year. (See Appendix W 12.) $20.52 20.52 13. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. On July 20, 1892, the wreck of the steamer John Matthews in the channel of the Arkansas River at Van Buren, Ark., which lay -half buried in water against the piers of the bridge of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company, was reported to the Secretary of War by that company as an obstruction to navigation and a menace to their property. This wreck was removed at a cost of $401.30. (See Appendix W 13.) 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, Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Saline River, Arkansas.-Capt. Taber submitted report of examination under date of January 24, 1893. He considers the river worthy of improvement to the extent of removing snags and other obstructions. It is, however, the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not worthy of improvement by the United States. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 236, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix W 14.) 2. Fourche Le Fevre River, Arkansas.-Capt. Taber submitted report of examination under date of January 21, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not worthy of additional improvement by the General Government at the present time. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 226, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix W 15.) 3. Current River, Arkansas.-Capt. Taber submitted report of examination under date of January 17, 1893. He considers the river worthy of improvement; and it is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that Current River, Arkansas, is "worthy of some small improvement by snagging." 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. 227, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix W 16.) EXAMINATIONS OF MEMPHIS HARBOR AND WOLF RIVER, TENNESSEE, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following-named localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Capt. S. W. Roessler, Corps of Engineers, and reports of the results submitted, with the views thereon of Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, the division engineer of the southwest division. 1. Harbor at Memphis, Tenn., including removal of bar forming opposite the upper part of the city, and bank protection along the city front.Capt. Roessler submitted report of examination under date of April 8, 1893 It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the removal of the bar opposite the upper part of the city is not worthy of being undertaken by the United States; and that the protection of the bank along the city front, although not at the present time immediately urgent, is worthy of being done by the General Government. The cost of the necessary survey for preparation of project and estimates of cost of improvement can be provided from funds under the control of the Mississippi River Commission. (See Appendix X 1.) 2. Wolf River, Tennessee.-Capt. Roessler submitted report of examination under date of April 11, 1893. He considers that no dredging in the river will be required this year, but that, if it should be required in the future, the work is worthy of being done by the United States; and he recommends that a survey be made, the cost of which is estimated at $100. It is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the mouth of Wolf River is worthy of improvement by a moderate amount of dredging. (See Appendix X 2.) REMOVING SNAGS AND WRECKS FROM MISSISSIPPI RIVER; IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE OHIO AND MISSOURI RIVERS, OF GASCONADE AND OSAGE RIVERS, MISSOURI, AND OF KASKASKIA RIVER, ILLINOIS. This district was in the charge of Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers, to March 4, 1893, and of Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, since that date; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Removing snags and wrecks from Mississippi River.-Before this work was inaugurated the navigation of the river was very much interfered with by numerous snags, logs, etc., which had lodged in the channel, and to which a new accession was brought down on each rise of the river, thus constantly adding new and unknown obstructions to those already there. A large number of wrecks, dangerous to navigation, also occupied the channel. For the removal of these obstructions appropriations were made as early as 1824, and the project adopted consisted in building boats suitable for removing the snags, etc., and operating them whenever the stage of water was favorable for the work and the funds were available. The total amount expended for this purpose can not be definitely given, as previous to the appropriation made by act of March 3, 1879, a general amount was appropriated to be applied to several streams as their needs required. From March 3, 1879, when the first specific appropriation was made, up to June 30, 1892, $834,260.77 had been ex |