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In compliance with this law contracts have been made for the completion of the remaining locks and dams, 9, 10, and 11.

Locks and Dams 7 and 8 are nearly ready for use and will be in operation before the end of the calendar year 1893, thus adding 18 miles to the improved portion of the river.

No appropriation is asked for this river for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, as work has been so much delayed it is believed the money already available will suffice for that fiscal year. Some of the reasons are the following: Congress by act of July 13, 1892, provided for the completion of the improvement fixing a certain sum for the purpose, based upon an estimate made before the passage of the eighthour law. It has since been difficult to get reliable contractors to take the work within the limit. Delay has also been caused by the necessity of resorting to the tedious process of condemnation in procuring the land at new sites for locks and dams. The sites are, however, all now in the possession of the United States and good contracts are made for completing the remaining locks and dams.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.....

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

Amount appropriated by sundry civil act approved March 3, 1893

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June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year....

201, 923. 26

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended..
July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities..

730, 976. 76

$4,000.00

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 1,078, 742. 04

1,082, 742. 04

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H H 1.)

580, 700.00

2. Operating and care of locks and dams on Great Kanawha River, West Virginia. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, for this purpose was $19,564.91. (See Appendix H H 2.) 3. Elk River, West Virginia.-The Elk is one of the chief tributaries of the Great Kanawha, emptying into it at Charleston. Its course is tortuous, but the country through which it flows is rich in minerals and well fitted for agriculture and grazing.

The average low-water width is about 200 feet, with narrows at the rapids of about 150 feet in width and occasional portions of about 300 feet in width. The pools vary in depth from 3 to 10 feet, and are separated by rapids over shoals of cobblestones and gravel, on which there has been at low seasons a depth of but a few inches of water. The average fall per mile in the river from Braxton down is about 23 feet, but is not uniformly distributed, being greatest (about 4 feet per mile) in the central section and less (about 2 feet) in the upper and lower sections. Freshets of small height are of frequent occurrence, but rapidly pass off. The annual rise in the spring is about 10 or 12 feet. An extraordinary rise is sometimes had of 25 to 30 feet, but the duration is not great.

The approved project of improvement has been the removal of rocks, snags, overhanging trees, etc., and the making of narrow sluices through the rapids and shoals. The principal interests to be served are those of lumbering and rafting, but much country produce is also carried downstream in small boats, which return with merchandise, etc.

The work done was between Little Otter, 6 miles below Sutton, and Mink Shoals, 4 miles from the mouth of the river, embracing a distance of about 90 miles. It consisted mainly in clearing and widening the chutes and in building, altering, and repairing chute walls on the shoals. A passage for rafts was also made through four old and abandoned mill dams, a break in the Blue Creek Dam was repaired, and where required snags, leaning trees, and like obstructions were removed. The work was done between August 10 and October 27, 1892, with a force of hired laborers under the overseer employed on this part of the river last year.

A serious obstruction to the navigation of this river at some stages consists of several other milldams. The attention of the proper authorities has been called to these in compliance with the law.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.....

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 H H 3.)

$158.89

2,500.00

2,658.89 2, 574. 19

84.70

3,000.00

4. Gauley River, West Virginia.-Gauley River takes its rise in Webster County, W. Va., its tributaries having their sources in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. It is about 115 miles in length, flowing through Nicholas and Fayette counties in a southwesterly direction, sometimes nearly west, and near its mouth almost due south; it is entirely in the State of West Virginia. Its headwaters and those of its tributaries are covered with a virgin forest of the finest timber, with only clearings of a few acres here and there; and on the north side of the river, in Webster and Nicholas counties, some glades a few miles wide and in extent 20 or 25 miles, which give only a stunted growth, to break up this vast timber section.

For the first 12 miles from its mouth the Gauley falls only 4 feet per mile; in the next 26 miles its fall is nearly 34 feet per mile, in a gorge similar to that of New River, as seen from the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway between Kanawha Falls and Hinton, the hills on either side being several hundred feet high and almost perpendicular, and the stream full of bowlders of sandstone, some very large, and so numerous as to justify the people in calling this section the "Roughs" of Gauley. From the head of the "Roughs" near Hominy Creek, 2 miles above Hughes Ferry, to the Forks, about 57 miles, the fall is estimated at 5 feet per mile. The levels from the mouth of Gauley River to the mouth of Meadow River, 29 miles, are taken from Ellet's report on the Great Kanawha River, West Virginia, made in 1858; the remainder are estimated. The levels on Meadow River were obtained from the same

source.

Gauley River is 500 feet wide at its mouth, 350 feet wide at mouth of Meadow River, 200 feet wide at mouth of Cranberry River, 150 feet wide at mouth of Williams River, and 75 feet wide at the Forks.

Operations for the improvement of the Gauley River were instituted. after an examination made in 1878 in accordance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886. It was then pointed out that a valuable improvement of the 12 miles of river from the mouth to

the "Roughs" could be made at an expense of $10,000, and that a great advantage would follow the expenditure of $65,000 in the 26-mile reach called the "Roughs" in facilitating and cheapening the bringing to market of millions of feet of lumber of the most valuable and varied kinds.

The approved project has consisted in the removal of ledges and loose rocks and the making of channels through shoals of loose rock and bowlders from the mouth of the river to the "Roughs" to improve the navigation for boats and rafts, and in blasting down the very large bowlders in the "Roughs" to permit the more free passage of logs. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $5,737.32, with decided advantage to the navigation over the worst shoals below the "Roughs."

The amount expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, has been $2,964.80.

The work was commenced in July, 1892, and was closed in October. The portion of the river included in the operations was from the mouth to the "Roughs." Its navigable condition has been thereby decidedly improved to obtain a depth of 2 feet at ordinary low water. In the season of 1892 the water was exceptionally low.

The Kanawha and Michigan Railroad Company have practically completed their bridge over this river near the mouth, as have also the Chesapeake and Ohio Company their bridge over the river 5 miles

above the mouth.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

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 H H 4.)

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5. New River, Virginia and West Virginia.-The last appropriation was that of August 5, 1886, of which a balance remains of $2,341.79. In compliance with a recommendation of the local engineer, it was decided by the Secretary of War not to expend the existing balance at present.

There were no operations or expenditures in the year ending June 30, 1893.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad has constructed a bridge over the unnavigable portion of this river not far above its junction with the Gauley.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.
July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix H H 5.)

$2, 341.79

2, 341.79

159,000.00

IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN KENTUCKY AND WEST VIRGINIA.

This district was in the charge of Maj. D. W. Lockwood, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. W. L. Sibert, Corps of Engineers, to August 18, 1892; Lieut. James J. Meyler, Corps of Engineers, since October 19, 1892, and Lieut. H. E. Waterman, Corps of Engineers, since May 10, 1893; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Tradewater River, Kentucky.-This river was practically closed before the work of improvement commenced, by a rock bar near its mouth, and, higher up, by logs, snags, drift piles, leaning trees, and bars.

The present project, adopted in 1881, provides for clearing the river and its banks of obstructions and opening up a channel 40 feet wide and 24 feet deep during six months of the year, the improvement to extend 41 miles upstream from its mouth in the Ohio.

Up to June 30, 1892, $15,592.90 had been expended, resulting in securing a channel through the rock bar near the mouth of the river, and in removing obstructions in the channel and on the banks of the river for a distance of 41 miles, the distance covered by the present project.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, no field work was done, the amount expended, $145.75, being for care of property and incidentals.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended.

(See Appendix I I 1.)

$907.10

145.75

761.35

2. Lock No. 2, Green River, at Rumsey, Ky.-The deficiency act approved March 3, 1893, appropriated $65,000 for rebuilding this lock, which in 1892 was reported unsafe for navigation.

The project for this work, approved in 1893, calls for the construction of a new lock on the river side of the old lock, with certain changes of existing conditions to make them conform to location of lock.

The amount expended to June 30, 1893, was $1,645.39, and resulted in the commencement of the auxiliary dam and preparations for the general work.

Amount appropriated by deficiency act approved March 3, 1893
June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year...

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..

July 1, 1893, balance available

$65,000.00 1, 645. 39

63, 354.61

$1, 176. 42
27,086. 28

28, 262.70

35, 091.91

(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 II 2.)

105,000.00 105, 000. 00

3. Green River above mouth of Big Barren River, Kentucky.-In pursuance of the provisions of act of September 19, 1890, an examination was made of this portion of Green River, and the report thereon, with

project for the work proposed, was submitted to Congress as Appendix J J 15, Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1891. The improvement proposed contemplated the construction of two locks and dams, so as to extend slackwater navigation to Mammoth Cave, at an estimated cost of $361,346.40.

The river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, appropriated $50,000. towards the construction of Lock No. 5, the project for which provides for the location and construction of a lock and dam at the head of slackwater navigation on the river.

The amount expended to June 30, 1893, was $596.02, and resulted in a contingent selection of site near Honakers Ferry, about 12 miles above the mouth of Big Barren River.

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892
June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

(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 II 3.)

$50,000.00 596.02

49, 403.98

130, 673.00

130, 673.00

4. Operating and care of locks and dams on Green and Barren rivers, Kentucky. When the United States acquired possession of these improvements, December 11, 1888, navigation of the system was broken at Lock No. 3, Green River, the river wall of that lock having fallen into the river, the lower end of the land wall at No. 1, Barren, was badly cracked, and liable to fall at any time, and both walls of No. 2, Green River, were in a dangerous condition. The channel of the river was much obstructed by snags and slides.

The operations up to June 30, 1892, resulted in the rebuilding of the old river wall at Lock No. 3; the taking down and reconstruction of the lower half of the river wall at No. 1, Barren; the rebuilding of dams No. 1, Barren, and No. 3, Green, from the crest to foot of lower slope; the raising of lock wall at No. 1, Green; the building of guide cribs at Nos. 1, 3, and 4, Green, and No. 1, Barren; grading and paving behind the lock walls at the different locks, with the exception of No. 2, Green; and the building of seven lock-keepers' houses; also in the construction of a snag boat, dredge boat, and various barges and derrick boats required in the prosecution of the work.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $48,968.36 was expended, and resulted in general repairs to locks and dams, grading and paving lock grounds, construction and extension of guide and protection cribs, removal of snags, and dredging of lock entrances.

Navigation was temporarily suspended at Lock No. 2, Green, except for barges and rafts, on account of the dangerous condition of the walls. At present, crafts of every kind are permitted to go through the lock, but no person is allowed on them during transit.

(See Appendix I I 4.)

5. Rough River, Kentucky.-This river was originally very much obstructed by overhanging trees on the banks, and by snags, logs, etc., in the bed of the river. The lower 8 miles of the stream is affected by backwater from the Rumsey Dam (No. 2) on Green River, but above this point the stream has but little depth at low water.

The project for the improvement, adopted in 1890, is to clear the river of obstructions, to wit, overhanging trees on the banks, and

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