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submit the following reports and maps relating to the survey of the Illinois River:

1. Report of Civil Engineer Assistant R. E. McMath, dated January 10, 1868, on the hydrographic survey of the Illinois River, from La Salle, Illinois, to the Mississippi River, during the summer and fall of 1867. (Appendix H.)

2. Report of Civil Engineer Assistant H. A. Ulffers, dated May 27, 1868, upon the field operations of the survey of the Illinois River, during the summer and fall of 1867. (Appendix I.)

3. Communication of Civil Engineer Assistant R. E. McMath, dated January 25, 1868, setting forth the extent of his dissent from the conclusions of General Wilson and Mr. William Gooding, upon their plan of the improvement of the Illinois River. (Appendix J.)

4. Copy of a communication of Civil Engineer Assistant R. E. McMath, to Major General Humphreys, presenting a theory for the improvement of rivers and bars, &c., dated September 18, 1868. (Appendix K.)

5. Remarks of Civil Engineer Assistant H. A. Ulffers upon the foregoing, dated June 23, 1869. (Appendix L.)

6. Report of Civil Engineer Assistant H. A. Ulffers, dated June 15, 1869, on the survey for the examination of sites for locks and dams on the Illinois River, during the fall of 1868. (Appendix G.)

7. General map of the Illinois River, and Illinois and Michigan Canal. Scale of two inches to the mile.

8. Profile of the Illinois River, and Illinois and Michigan Canal. Scale horizontal five thousand feet to the inch, vertical fifteen feet to the inch. 9. Hydrographic maps of bars and shoals of the Illinois River, below La Salle. Five sheets on a scale sixteen inches to the mile, and one sheet on a scale of four inches to the mile.

10. Cross sections of the valley of the Illinois River, in two sheets. Scale horizontal four inches to the mile, vertical forty inches to the mile. 11. Maps of localities for locks and dams on the Illinois River, below La Salle, with profiles and sections, in seven sheets. Scale of four, eight, sixteen, and thirty-two inches to the mile.

In concluding this report, I desire to express my high appreciation of the professional ability and fidelity with which my assistants, Brevet Major Charles J. Allen and Captain L. Cooper Overman, corps of engineers; Lieutenant E. F. Hoffman, United States Army; H. A. Ulffers, civil engineer assistant, (late brevet lieutenant colonel United States volunteers,) and George A. Keefer, E. Hudson Warrall, and William Hormuth, civil engineer assistants, have discharged the various duties assigned to them from time to time.

I take pleasure in acknowledging my obligations to them, and in commending them to the favorable notice of the Chief of Engineers. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. WILSON, Lieutenant Colonel and Brevet Major General U. S. A. Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Chief of Engineers, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D. C.

A.-Report of Captain L. Cooper Overman.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Des Moines Rapids Improvements, Keokuk, Iowa, June 29, 1869. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the condition and progress of the work for the improvement of the Des

Moines Rapids of the Mississippi River, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869:

SECTION WORK.

On the 30th of June, 1868, the contractors, Messrs. Henegan & Son, had performed the following quantities of their contract work: 109, 153 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal. 1,430 cubic yards of rock excavated from the prism of the canal. 25, 123 cubic yards of earth embanked from borrow pits. 1,307 cubic yards of material for lining excavated. 40, 268 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall borrowed. 127 rods of road built as new public road.

150 rods of road partially built as new public road.

11⁄2 miles of new line of railroad graded.

6.04 miles of superstructure of railroad changed.

This work had been distributed as follows:

At Nashville, 13,183 cubic yards of earth excavated from prism of canal; 1,430 cubic yards of rock excavated from prism of canal; 14,415 cubic yards of earth embanked from borrow pits; 14,494 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall from borrow pits; which material formed aǹ embankment in the river 2,750 feet in length, averaging ten feet above surface of water, and twenty-five feet wide, with slopes of one and one-half to one, protected on the outside by a riprap protection covering two and one-half feet thick, and extending seven feet above the surface of the water; average depth of water, two and one-half feet. At Sandusky, 38,218 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of canal; 6,000 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall from borrowpits; which material formed an embankment on the flats and in the river, four thousand feet in length, averaging thirteen feet high, and twenty-two feet wide, with slopes of one and one-half to one; protected on the outside by a riprap wall averaging two and one-half feet thick, and extending seven feet above the surface of the water.

At intermediate points between Nashville and Rickey's Point, 9,000 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall, from borrow-pits, which was used in forming the base or toe of the riprap wall, for 3,100 feet; said toe being six feet wide on top, with slope of one to one, raised one foot above the surface of the water; average depth of water, two and one-half feet.

At Rickey's Point, 38,707 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal; 6,852 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall from borrow-pits; which material formed an embankment, on the flats and in the river, 2,900 feet in length, averaging twelve feet in height, and twenty-five feet in width, with slope of one and one-half to one, protected on the outside for 1,200 feet with riprap wall, averaging ten feet above surface of water, and two and one-half feet thick. The toe of the riprap had also been extended eight hundred and fifty feet below the end of the embankment, averaging five feet wide at the surface of the water, and raised one foot above the surface of the water; average depth of water, two feet.

At Price's Creek, 15,594 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal; 3,925 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall from borrow-pits; which material formed an embankment on the flats and in the river, 1,900 feet in length, averaging nine feet high and thirty feet wide, with a slope of one and one-half to one, protected on the outside, for 1,000 feet, with riprap wall averaging two and one-half

feet thick, and six feet in height. The toe of the riprap wall had also been extended 1,300 feet below the end of the earth embankment, averaging five feet wide at the surface of the water, raised one foot above the surface; average depth of water, eighteen inches.

In new line of public road and railroad, 3,451 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal; 10,708 cubic yards of earth embanked from borrow-pits; 996 cubic yards of material for lining, from borrowpits; with this material a new line of railroad had been built for one and one-half miles, and its superstructure changed for 0.64 mile. Also two hundred rods of public road had been built and surfaced.

The whole amount of embankment constructed on the flats and in the river was 12,770 feet long; average height, ten feet, and average width, twenty-five feet; protected on the outside, for 11,500 feet of this distance, by a riprap protection two and one-half feet thick, and averaging seven feet above the surface of the river or flats. There was also 5,250 feet of toe built in addition to the above, averaging six feet wide, with slopes of one to one, one foot above the surface of the water. Depth of water, two feet.

From the 30th of June until October 26, 1868, the work progressed slowly and unsatisfactorily, and although the contractors were somewhat interrupted during this period by excessively warm weather, the main cause of delay was their incapacity and inability to perform their work. Not only were their prices too low, but they had not sufficient means and machinery to carry on the work in a degree commensurate with its magnitude. They were repeatedly notified, both verbally and in writing, of their neglect to fulfill the requirements of their contract, and were warned that unless great improvement in the quantity of work performed was made, a violation of their contract would be declared.

Accordingly on the 20th of October, 1868, no improvement taking place, and on a verbal statement on their part that they could do no better, upon recommendation of the engineer in charge, the contract between Messrs. Henegan & Son and the government was formally declared violated and abandoned by the Chief of Engineers.

For full report and details of the above I would respectfully refer you to my special report upon this subject, dated October 30, 1868; also letters to the department, dated October 30, 1868, January 18, 28, and 29, 1869, and monthly report of operations for October, 1868.

The whole amount of work performed by Messrs. Henegan & Son from June 30 to October 26, 1868, is as follows:

Grubbing and clearing one-half of section.

Bailing and draining one-half of section.

62, 515 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal. 2, 223 cubic yards of rock excavated from the prism of the canal. 5, 473 cubic yards of earth embanked from borrow-pits.

340 cubic yards of lining material.

21, 714 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall, (borrowed.)

200 cubic yards of vertical wall laid in cement.

133 rods of public road built.

0.10 miles of superstructure of railroad changed.

As this is nearly four months' work, it will not take much calculation to show how long it would have taken Messrs. Henegan & Son to finish their contract at this rate of procedure. Further comment is unnecessary.

The necessary authority having been received, it was determined, as for the best interest of the work, to continue the prosecution of it by 66 day's labor" until a new contract could be made, in order to keep the

laborers together and prepare the work for winter work. The necessary preparations were accordingly made, and from the 26th of October until the 24th of December the work was carried on by the government direct, without the intervention of contractors.

The whole amount of work performed from October 26, 1868, to December 24, 1868, both inclusive, being the time during which the government had possession, is as follows:

22, 225 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal. 4,816 cubic yards of rock excavated from the prism of the canal. 4,090 cubic yards of earth embanked from borrow-pit. 3,093 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap, (borrowed.) 0.703 mile of line of Keokuk and St. Paul railway changed.

Much time and labor were expended by the government during this period, in doing unprofitable but necessary work, left undone by the old contractors, and this fact will account in part for the comparatively small amount of work done, as compared with the expense account. For details I would respectfully refer to monthly reports of November and December, 1868. During the months of November and December the work was much delayed by unfavorable weather, unusually high water, and severe storms with alternate freezing and thawing, rendering the handling of earth almost impossible. The whole line of the canal was, however, left in good condition for winter work by the efforts of the government during these months.

Upon the failure of Henegan & Son, advertisements were immediately inserted in a limited number of newspapers, inviting proposals, and the bids were opened November 18, 1868, and J. J. Dull was declared the lowest bidder. The contract was duly awarded to him, and the necessary papers were signed December 12, 1868. (See abstract of proposals appended herewith.)

Immediately upon the signing of the contract Mr. J. J. Dull proceeded to make arrangements for commencing the work promptly upon the first of the year.

After some trouble he finally purchased the entire stock, machinery, &c., belonging to the old contractor, so that by January 2 work was resumed in full force.

During the month the progress made was satisfactory, considering the condition of the weather and the fact that it was the contractor's first month. The weather ever since has been unfavorable; rain and snow storms, accompanied by thawing and freezing weather, rendered the excavation pits almost impassable, and added to this the continued rains and mild weather caused the river to rise. Nothing of importance, however, occurred to delay the progress of the work, until the night of the 18th of February, when the water in the river became so high as to overflow and carry away a portion of the new bank between what is known as the "Ballinger Cross-bank" and "Grand-bank 132."

For particulars connected with this overflow, the cause, damage, &c., I would respectfully refer you to my monthly report for February, 1869. From that time until the end of the fiscal year the work progressed with tolerably satisfactory rapidity, consideration being had for the unfavorable condition of the weather and the high stage of water in the river. The latter caused much trouble by occasioning leaks in the bank at Nashville and at "Stott's Mill," thereby flooding the excavation pits and causing an entire stoppage of work for several days.

The first of these leaks occurred at Nashville on the 20th of April; the second at the same place, on the 5th of May; and the third and last at Stott's Mill pit, on the 9th of May. For full details of the above leaks

and supposed cause of the same, method of stopping, &c., I would respectfully refer you to my reports of operations for the months of April and May, 1869.

The entire amount of work performed by J. J. Dull, under his contract, up to June 30, 1869, is as follows:

Grubbing and cleaning,

Bailing and draining, .

50,380 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal. 33,064 cubic yards of rock excavated from the prism of the canal. 880 cubic yards of earth embanked from "borrow pits."

2,600 cubic yards of material puddled.

2,176 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap, (borrowed material.)

The above is for six months' work, and, considering the weather, the quantity is satisfactory, and fair proportion of the work necessary to complete the contract in the required time.

The total amount of work done by all parties on the "section work” up to June 30, 1869, was as follows:

24,4274 cubic yards of earth excavated from the prism of the canal. 37,533 cubic yards of rock excavated from the prism of the canal. 35,566 cubic yards of earth embanked, (borrowed material.) 67,515 cubic yards of loose stone in riprap wall, (borrowed.) 335 35 rods of new public road constructed.

100

144 mile of new railroad built.

This work has been distributed as follows:

At Nashville, an unfinished embankment has been built, extending down stream 3,500 feet in length, averaging ten feet above the surface of the water, twenty-five feet wide, with slopes of one and one-half to one on the outside, and one and one-quarter to one on the inside; protected on the outside by a riprap wall, averaging two and one-half feet thick, and extending seven feet above the surface of the water; and on the inside by a riprap wall for 2,600 feet, averaging ten feet in height. The prism of the canal has been correspondingly excavated by the removal of rock and earth.

At Sandusky and vicinity an unfinished embankment has been constructed in the river and on the "flats," 8,300 feet in length, averaging thirteen feet high and twenty-two feet wide, with slopes of one to one, protected on the outside for about 4,300 feet of the distance by a riprap protection, averaging seven feet above the surface of the water. The prism of the canal has been correspondingly excavated by the material removed.

At points between Nashville and Sandusky, between the up-stream end of the Sandusky dump and the down-stream end of the Nashville dump, (a distance of 6,400 feet,) the base or "toe" of the riprap wall has been placed in the river, and will average twelve feet wide on top, with slopes of one to one; average height above surface of water three feet; average depth of water two and one-half feet.

At Rickey's and vicinity, an unfinished embankment has been constructed on the "flats" and in the river, 4,500 feet in length, averaging twelve feet in height, twenty-five feet in width, with slopes of one and onehalf to one, protected on the outside for 3,000 feet of the distance by a riprap wall averaging ten feet in height and two and one-half feet thick. The base or "toe" of the riprap wall has also been extended 2,500 feet below the end of the bank, averaging five feet wide at the surface of the water, and raised one foot above the surface of ordinary low water; average depth of water, two feet. The prism of the canal has been correspondingly excavated by the material removed.

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