White's Ripple, (11 miles from Pittsburg.)-In last annual report a detailed statement of the condition of the dams at this place was made; the construction of the cross-dam and some dredging to widen the towboat channel was at the same time recommended. The contracts have since been made, but owing to the remarkably high water this spring but little work has been accomplished beyond quarrying the stone. During the fall of 1868, the work at dredging was done; 2,000 cubic yards of gravel having been removed, and although the dam is still unfinished, a material improvement has been made by the dredging alone.

The contractors will be able to finish boating the stone to White's Ripple during September.

Deadman's Island, (14 miles from Pittsburg.)-The difficulty at this point was, that by the land-owners having changed the course of the Sewickley Creek so that it came into the river opposite Deadman's Island, half a mile below the old mouth, a flood from the creek in August, 1868, filled out a bar at its new mouth.

The place had been difficult for tow-boats before on account of its crookedness, but was then much worse, ascending boats having to "warp" through at a four feet stage.

Owing to low water it was not until November 1 that the dredge-boat got fairly to work.

During the season 4,000 cubic yards were removed, and the channel made straighter and better than formerly. No additional work seems to be required at this point.

Logstown Bar, (18 miles from Pittsburg.)-The dam at this place was finished in July, 1868, and remains in good condition. It has greatly improved the navigation, more particularly for the coal-boat interest.

Line Island, (41 miles below Pittsburg.)-There is a small bar to the left, at the head of the channel at Line Island, which greatly narrows the navigable channel. The channel chute of the island is much less than the average width of island's channels. Owing to the high water this season the work at the removal of 500 cubic yards of this bar has not been commenced.

Beaver Shoals, (27 miles below Pittsburg.)-This difficult reach of navigation has long been a source of annoyance to coal-boatmen, and to all navigators. The channel for a mile or more was quite crooked, passing around gravel and boulder bars, which were often struck, causing many losses by sinking, &c. Captain Sanders, in 1844, proposed an improvement, and began work at excavating a channel close along the left shore. There is a natural "pocket" or channel along that shore for a considerable distance, but at the upper end it would require a large quantity of rock blasting to make it sufficiently wide to accommodate the commerce of the present day. A contract for a riprap dam to shut off the water taking down the left shore, (3,500 cubic yards,) and dredging, (11,000 cubic yards,) was made last fall. At the present time the stone for the dam is on the bank, and will be boated in as soon as possible. The dredge-boat, belonging to B. L. Wood, jr., began operations May 26, at the main bar at the upper end of Beaver Shoals. This bar was about 700 feet long, with an average width of 90 feet, and composed almost entirely of boulder; some of these measuring a cubic yard, while the average were too large for street paving purposes. Notwithstanding the natural difficulties of the place, and the almost continuous high water, interference of rafts and coal-boats which several times forced them to quit work, the work has proceeded well. At the present time, (August 10,) fully 8,000 cubic yards have been removed; some of which was taken from a bar at the lower end of the shoal. The machine is now at work

taking off a few lumps which were unavoidably left, after which there will be a comparatively straight channel through Beaver Shoals.

Brunot's Island, (3 miles from Pittsburg.)-In addition to the rocks which were taken out of "Rowley's Channel," at the mouth of the Charitiers Creek, in 1867, it was found advisable to dredge the channel to make it wider for tow-boats.

The dredge-boat employed at Beaver Shoals worked at this point early in the season; upon her return to Pittsburg, some lumps left at that time will be removed, when the navigation of Brunot's Island will be as easy as elsewhere on the river. Formerly, boats had to lay up in Pittsburg when there were ten inches to spare for them on any bar below.

Twin Island, (85 miles below Pittsburg.)-Since the last annual report a contract for 1,600 cubic yards of stone to repair damage to the long dam at Twin Island was made. Included in the estimate was the construction of a short dam to confine the waters at the shoal to the right of central bar, at the foot of upper island, as recommended in that report.

Some work was done upon this place last fall; a little stone has been placed at the foot of the upper island. This season the river has been too high, until recently, for the resumption of work. It is expected that all the stone authorized in the contract will be boated in during September. I have been unable to critically examine this place on account of the high water. The dam passes over a soft gravel bar for several hundred feet, and may require some stone in addition to that under contract. Dams in such situations require several years' time to become firmly settled.

Wheeling Island, (90 miles from Pittsburg.)-Wheeling Island was thoroughly surveyed last fall, and a map and a report upon several plans proposed for its improvement forwarded to the department. The difficulty in the navigation of the left and only regular channel at this island consists of a wide shoal bar at the upper end, opposite Jonathan's Gut Run, and another shoal below the Wheeling city landing, at the mouth of Wheeling Creek. Owing to the nature of the shoals above, at Burlington, it was not deemed advisable to resort to dredging as the only means of improvement at this place.

The quantity of water passing at the lowest period in 1868, called fourteen inches in the channel, I found to be 137,000 cubic feet per minute on the east or Wheeling side, and 43,000 cubic feet per minute on the west or Bridgeport side of the island; total, 180,000 cubic feet per minute. The proposed dam at the head of the island met with so much opposition by the citizens of Bridgeport, Ohio, that it was finally ordered to be constructed across the Ohio chute, below the covered bridge, leaving an unobstructed entrance to that town from above.

The dam is now in progress of construction. In addition to the dam, the lower bar at the mouth of Wheeling Creek will be improved by scraping, a contract for 2,000 cubic yards of dredging having been recently entered into for that place.

Cable's Eddy, (66 miles from Pittsburg.)-A contract for the removal of 150 cubic yards of rock, interfering with the coal-boat navigation at this place, was made last fall. The river has remained too high for the work until recently.

Captina Island, (108 miles from Pittsburg.)-At the date of last annual report it was recommended that 500 cubic yards of stone be applied to repair the dam at Captina Island. During the fall of 1868 a contract for repairs to that amount was made, and 180 cubic yards were

placed on the dam. The river has been too high this season to close the work; the work will be resumed immediately, and it is expected it will be completed by September 15.

Fish Creek Island, (113 miles from Pittsburg.)-At date of last annual report an additional quantity of 400 cubic yards of stone was estimated for repairs here. The contract for the work was awarded to the same parties that have Captina. The high water has interfered with the work, but it is expected the repairs will be done here during September. Grandview Shoals, (142 miles from Pittsburg.)-A dam was planned for the improvement of this shoal last year. This season a thorough survey has been made, and the dam located. It will require 4,800 cubic yards of stone. Owing to the high water the contractors do not hope to complete it before October 1. The dam will be built out from the Virginia shore, and will be about 1,800 feet long.

Sheets Ripple, (144 miles from Pittsburg.)-A survey of this place was made in connection with Grandview Shoals, and a similar dam located.

The contractor at this place has been unceasing in his endeavors to complete the dam at an early period, and will have it completed during the present season. The contract is for 4,800 cubic yards.

Petticoat Bar, (146 miles from Pittsburg.)-The dams at Petticoat Bar were finished in 1867. No additional work has since been found necessary. The channel at this point has been greatly improved.

Rowland's Race, (159 miles from Pittsburg.)-A contract for 1,200 cubic yards of dredging to straighten the channel at Rowland's Race was made last fall, since which time, on account of the high water, no work has been done. The contractor will begin operations as soon as his arrangements are completed.

Marietta Island, (167 miles from Pittsburg.)-A contract for 11,000 cubic yards of stone to close one of the chutes of this island was made last fall. If the Virginia chute be closed there will be a surplus sufficient for the construction of a low wing-dam at Carpenter's Bar, one and mile above.

Carpenter's Bar is really somewhat shoaler than either chute of the island, but it is believed that a dam at the head of Marietta Island will of itself greatly improve the place.

There is no trouble at Marietta, except during low water, so that a dam can be of little benefit to the descending coal trade. Naturally, the Virginia chute is somewhat the best. The citizens of Marietta object to a dam closing the Ohio chute, believing that the chute will close up with sand, and destroy the landing at their prosperous city. In this remonstrance they are seconded by the pilots and officers of all the regular packet lines engaged in the navigation of the Upper Ohio. Some of the Pittsburg coal-boat men, on the other hand, remonstrate against closing the Virginia chute, the one usually run by the coal fleets. Their objection is that they fear snags and sand-bars in the Ohio chute. I made a thorough survey of this place last fall, aided by Captain G. W. Rowley, United States consulting pilot, a man of excellent knowledge of the river, and of good judgment. These reports and maps furnish all the details showing the feature of the place. We have recommended, only on account of the town of Marietta, that a dam be built closing the Virginia chute. We believe that the bars complained of are not sufficiently high to interfere with coal-boat navigation, and that a dam will help to keep it cleaner. No plan by means of dredging alone seems at all advisable for the improvement of the shoals at Carpenter's Bar and Marietta Island.

About 10,000 cubic yards of stone have been quarried and delivered on the river bank this season, and are now ready for delivery.

Muskingum Island, (174 miles from Pittsburg.)-For reasons stated in last annual report the dam at Muskingum Island remained unfinished. The dam was not finished until November, 1868, and thus far requires no additional work. One noticeable effect of the construction of this dam was witnessed at Marietta, three miles above, the lower bar at the entrance to that town being improved several inches by the backwater. To further benefit that place it might be found advisable sometime in the future to build the dam at Muskingum Island somewhat higher, though the necessity for future work is not apparent for the purpose of general navigation.

Blennerhassett's Island, (185 miles from Pittsburg.)-In the last annual report a general description of the dams at Blennerhassett's Island was given. The contract for work here was closed in November last, at which time all the dams were in good condition. The dam at the head of the island was particularly troublesome to build, having sunk and washed so much during the progress of the work that the estimated quantity of stone was barely sufficient to shut off the water.

The river, so far this season, has been too high below Parkersburg to examine very thoroughly into the condition of the work, but it is believed no additional stone will be required upon the dam at head.

The semicircular dam on the right, at the foot of the island, (four miles below,) it is believed, should be built somewhat higher to prevent heavy coal fleets from drifting against it. The place will be reported upon as soon as possible. For low-water navigation this place has given no trouble whatever since the dams were begun, in 1867, prior to which time it was only next to Buffington Island, of the bad points in this part of the river.

Mustapha Island, (194 miles from Pittsburg.)-Rocks in the right chute of Mustapha Island will be removed as soon as the water permits; these rocks interfere with the low-water navigation. A contract was made last fall for the removal of 150 cubic yards.

Belleville Island, (202 miles from Pittsburg.)-A contract for 3,500 cubic yards of stone was made for Belleville Island last fall. About 1,300 cubic yards are quarried on the bank ready for delivery. The object of the dam is to shut off the water escaping to the left of the channel at the foot of the island. The water has interfered with the work this spring, but the whole will be finished this fall.

Buffington Island, (214 miles from Pittsburg.)-At Buffington Island it was estimated in last annual report that 3,000 cubic yards would be required to repair the dam closing the Ohio chute of the island, and in extending the long dam in the Virginia chute. A contract for that amount of work was made last summer, and by the end of the season 2,200 cubic yards of stone were placed in the dam. The remaining 800 cubic yards are now ready for delivery. At the same time a contract for 1,000 cubic yards of dredging was made. The coal fleets have great difficulty in passing between the bars without striking one or the other; a further contract of 4,000 cubic yards of dredging was made recently; none of this dredging has yet been done. It is believed that, with the work now finished and now under contract, this difficult place will be radically improved, both for the low-water and coal-boat navigation.

WORKS ON THE RIVER BELOW CINCINNATI.

Contracts for riprap dams at Medoc or Bosley's Bar, 448 miles from Pittsburg; Rising Sun Bar, 502 miles from Pittsburg; and Warsaw

Bar, 5241⁄2 miles from Pittsburg, were made in July of this season. At Rising Sun Bar and Warsaw Bar some dredging in the channel is under contract.

The successful bidders for these works have not yet completed their preparations for work, but it is expected that work will be in progress by the middle of September at all the points now under contract on the river.

In my general charge of the works in the field, I was greatly assisted by Captain George W. Rowley, United States consulting pilot. Captain Marshall Hays, an old experienced pilot, is also engaged aiding in directing and personally superintending the dredging operations.

NEW WORKS.

No funds are available for much more work than is described above. The list above embraces those points generally recognized as the most troublesome; but with their improvement comes the necessity for the improvement of places only a little worse.

The following points above Louisville are those now most urgently requiring improvements. The estimates have been carefully revised; the charts so far completed show all points above Louisville very perfectly; other minor points might be added, but, in advance of any appropriation, may not be necessary. To this estimate for the further extension of improvements on the Ohio River should be added a like amount for the Lower Ohio. The high water at the time of surveying much of the Lower Ohio has prevented as much accuracy in preparing estimates as in the portion above the falls. At the same time it seems not altogether improbable that a somewhat difficult system of improving the Lower Ohio may be advisable. Riprap dams at nearly all the points built in the Lower Ohio, during Captain Shreeve's time, are so much buried under the sand occasionally, that their effect on the navigation is sometimes the reverse of an improvement. The sand washing a channel occasionally over them, leaving the channel obstructed. At Flint Island, however, there is no sand, and the dams there could be repaired with advantage to the navigation of that place. At other points the occasional removal of the sand and obstructions, as logs, trees, &c., which cause it to settle in the channel will do much good. A system of lights for the improvement of the navigation at the Grand Chain, and erection of land marks at a few other points, is earnestly desired by river men. More specific recommendations will be made from time to time as the circumstances of the case will allow.

The sums named below represent the amount which could be profitably expended during another season of active operations: