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consisted of a series of hurdles extending out from the Illinois shore, the object of the hurdles being to collect deposits of material brought down during floods and thus build up a new bank to the line desired. This work, which was accomplished by the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, caused extensive deposits of sediment along the line of hurdles and has resulted in considerable increase in channel depth with corresponding benefit to navigation.

Amount expended upon the work to July 1, 1892, $150,530.21.

No expenditure was made during the past fiscal year.

The full amount of the estimate for improvement of this part of the harbor has been appropriated. With the balance remaining it is proposed to repair damage that may occur to the hurdles from ice and drift and to extend them wherever found necessary to do so.

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

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

July 1, 1893, balance available

(See Appendix Y 3.)

$31, 469.79

31, 469.79 230.04

31, 239.75

4. Gasconade River, Missouri.-The navigation of this stream, before its improvement was undertaken by the Government, was seriously obstructed by snags, logs, and leaning timber, and at times almost suspended on account of numerous shoal crossings. Snags are liable to be found after every flood, which also carries more or less drift. The latter is apt to be deposited at the shoals or at other points, causing trouble to rafts and steamers.

Improvement by the Government began in 1880. The project adopted contemplated the removal of snags and logs from the channels, and of leaning timber from the banks of the river when necessary, and construction of wing dams and training walls to concentrate the flow of water upon the shoal crossing.

The amount expended to July 1, 1892, was $44,689.51, which resulted in placing the river from its mouth to Arlington, a distance of 138 miles, in good navigable condition; but the high water of that year carried many snags into the river that afterward had to be removed.

The work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, resulted in further facilitating the navigation.

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Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 10,000.00 Submited 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 Y 4.)

5. Osage River, Missouri.--The project for improvement of this stream, adopted in 1871, has consisted in removal of obstructions to navigation, as snags and leaning timber, and in deepening channels over shoals by means of dredging and construction of cross and wing dams, to concentrate the flow of water over shoal places. The first efforts were ex

pended in an attempt to deepen the water over the shoals by dredging. After this the method consisted in construction of wing dams and training walls, to regulate the width of waterway for the low-water discharge of the river. Snags and other obstructions found in the channel were also removed, and leaning timber was cut from the banks. The construction of a lock and dam near the mouth of the river was authorized by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890.

The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $211,701.72.

It resulted in benefiting the navigation from its mouth to Osceola, Mo., a distance of about 230 miles. The lower 60 miles of the river was the most benefited.

The work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, put the river in good navigable condition from its mouth to Grand River.

New obstructions may be expected from time to time with each rise and fall in the river, and will require removal.

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110,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 *65, 000.00 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 Y 5.)

6. Kaskaskia River, Illinois-The original condition of this river was such that navigation at low water was almost if not entirely suspended by reason of snags, shoals, and bars, and depended to a great extent on the state of water in the Mississippi River as to its duration. The least depth found, when the St. Louis gauge read 6.5 feet, was 9 inches, over what is called the "Nine Mile Shoal," 6 miles above its mouth, which virtually "blocked" the river at low water. At high water navigation was possible as far up as New Athens.

The first appropriation for improving the river was in 1890, and the project adopted for its improvement consisted in excavating a channel through the shoals of such depth as would insufre a low-water navigation of 36 inches, and in the removal of snags, and obstructions from the channel, at an estimated cost of $10,500. Congress, by act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $6,000 for improvement.

The river was not at a suitable stage to admit of performing work under that appropriation until the fall of 1891. The amount expended upon the work to June 30, 1892, was $5,760.48, resulting in a channel 75 feet wide and 36 inches deep through Nine Mile Shoal and a channel 60 feet wide and 34 inches deep through Evansville Shoal and the removal of a number of snags, to the benefit of navigation. A further appropriation of $4,500 was made by the act of July 13, 1892.

The work of the year consisted in removal of suags and other obstructions, thus further improving the navigation. The result of all the work done is that steamboats are enabled to navigate the stream at lower stages and for low-water seasons of greater length than formerly was the case.

* $10,000 in removing obstructions; $55,000 in constructing lock.

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This district was in the charge of Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. William V. Judson, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders since February 13, 1893; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Operating snag boats and dredge boats on Upper Mississippi River.— At the beginning of the fiscal year there was available under act of August 11, 1888, the sum of $25,000.

From July 14 to November 6, 1892, April 10 to May 2, and May 21 to June 30, 1893, the snag boat General Barnard was employed removing snags and other obstructions and assisting interests of navigation between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River.

The snag boat J. G. Parke, dredge Phonix, and a number of barges and dump boats were employed as a dredging and wrecking plant, August 10 to September 10 and October 26 to November 5, 1892.

The total amount expended for snag-boat service on the Upper Mississippi River, between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River, to June 30, 1892, is $624,640.

By the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was made for operating snag boats and dredge boats on the Upper Mississippi River under a permanent appropriation, the sum so expended not to exceed $25,000 annually.

The total amount of freight transported on the Upper Mississippi River during the calendar year 1892 was, approximately, 4,500,000 tons.

The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $25,000.

(See Appendix Z 1.)

2. Mississippi River between Missouri River and Minneapolis.-Under the head of "improving Mississippi River from the mouth of the Ohio River to Minneapolis," the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, allots $600,000 for work between the Missouri River and Minneapolis, and the sundry civil act of March 3, 1893, contains a further allotment of $866,666.67, available July 1, 1893, for the same purpose. Reports on general improvements between those limits are combined under the above head.

Under this appropriation is carried on the improvement of through navigation.

Work has been in progress under approved projects since 1878, and very favorable results have been secured, showing that with a continuance of the work under liberal appropriations the low-water channel of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and the Missouri River can be made comparatively deep, available, and permanent. The interests

for which the improvement is being made are very large and important. The amount of freight carried during 1892, including the logs and lumber floated in the river, aggregated, approximately, 4,500,000 tons.

The original condition of the channel between the Missouri River and St. Paul was such that, in low stages, the larger boats were unable to proceed farther up the river than La Crosse or Winona; and in many seasons, at points much lower down, their progress was checked or seriously hindered. In all such cases through freight was reshipped on small and light-draft boats or barges. The originally adopted project for the improvement, which has not been materially changed, proposed the contraction of the channel or waterway by means of wing and closing dams to such an extent as, by means of the scour thereby caused, to afford a channel of sufficient width and of a depth of 4.5 feet at low water, to be eventually increased to 6 feet by further contraction.

There was expended on the permanent improvement of through navigation to June 30, 1892, the sum of $3,601,622.52, or $5,044.29 per mile. At that date, and for several years previous, the condition of the channel was such as to permit the passage of the largest boats at very low stages through to St. Paul.

During the past year work has been carried on by day's labor and use of Government plant between Minneapolis and St. Paul, between St. Paul and Lake Pepin, between Minneiska and La Crosse, at Rock Island Rapids, between Keithsburg and Montrose, at vicinity of Des Moines River, Hannibal, Hickory Chute, Louisiana, and Reeds Landing; by informal agreement between Minneapolis and St. Paul and between Reeds Landing and Minneiska, and by contract between Reeds Landing and Minneiska, between Genoa and Prairie du Chien, between Glenhaven and Dubuque, between Bellevue and Savanna, between Dubuque and Clinton, and between Keokuk and Quincy. The work of the year has resulted in increased width and depth of channel at all the points mentioned.

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

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

Amount appropriated by sunday civil act approved March 3, 1893..

$197, 317.83

600, 000, 00 866, 666.67

1,663, 984.50 446, 138.30

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

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended

1,217,846. 20

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities..

$13, 135.97

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 267, 422. 78

280, 558.75

July 1, 1893, balance available....

937, 287.45

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 Z 2.)

866,666.67

3. Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-This work was commenced in 1867. The adopted plan provided for the building of a closed canal 8 miles long and for cutting an open channel in the rock bed of the river over the remaining 4 miles of rapids. The canal was opened in August, 1877, and has been in operation since that time.

During the past year a machine shop was built at Lower Lock and a small amount of repairs were made to the canal embankment. The work remaining to be done under approved project is the removal of a small amount of rock above grade in the open canal.

There has been appropriated and allotted for this work the sum of $4,574,950. The net cost to the United States has been to June 30, 1892, $4,554,519.39.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....

June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended....

(See Appendix Z 3.)

$5,842.43

3, 161.98

2, 681.45

4. Operating and care of Des Moines Rapids Canal and Dry Dock.During the past year the Des Moines Rapids Canal was open for navigation 237 days, during which time there passed through it 670 steamboats and 234 barges, carrying 10,846 passengers, 31,318 tons of merchandise, and 53,257 bushels of grain. There also passed through 80,190,519 feet, B. M., of lumber, 16,350,200 feet of logs, 29,121,020 shingles, and 28,896,260 lath. The dry dock was in constant use during the whole year. The cost of operating and care of the canal is provided for by an indefinite appropriation made by act of March 3, 1881. The amount expended during the year was $57,057.21. (See Appendix Z 4.)

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. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Hamburg Bay, on the Mississippi River, in Calhoun County, Ill.— Maj. Mackenzie submitted report of examination under date November 7, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the bay is worthy of improvement by the General Government to an extent justified by the interests concerned. The information now on hand and such additional surveys and examinations as can be made in connection with the improvement of the Mississippi River will permit the preparation, at any time, of project and estimate of cost of improvement at this locality. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 26, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 5.)

2. Mississippi River, Iowa side, from mouth of Iowa River to Burlington, to determine the best method of removing the bars and deepening the channel.-Maj. Mackenzie, in report of examination submitted under date of November 7, 1892, states that a "method of removing the bars and deepening the channel" of Mississippi River was adopted in 1878 and has been successfully followed since that time; that the section of the Mississippi River referred to is worthy of improvement; that work under the approved method mentioned has been in progress there for many years, and that surveys of portions of the section are being made continually in connection with such work of general improvement; no further survey is therefore required, and no special appropriations are needed for this work, it being practicable to allot such amounts as are necessary from the existing general appropriation for improving Mississippi River from mouth of Missouri River to Minneapolis. These views are concurred in by the division engineer and by this office. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 88, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix Z 6.)

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