In February, 1883, the Ohio Valley was visited by the highest flood ever known exceeding at Cincinnati, the historic flood of 1832 by 2 feet 4 inches. It was supposed that this was the climax for at least one generation, but in the same month of 1884 the river again overflowed its banks, and at Cincinnati it exceeded the flood of 1883 by 4 feet 8 inches and the flood of 1832 by 7 feet 0 inches.

The following table gives a comparative exhibit of the heights of these floods at the various points on the Ohio River where regular gauge readings are taken:

WORK DURING 1884-'85.

The approved project for work during the coming season, contemplates the completion of the Davis Island Dam, of the dike at the foot of the Grand Chain, and of a guiding dike at the head of the Indiana Chute of the Falls of the Ohio. These were the only works embraced in former projects that were incomplete at the opening of the fiscal year. The following new works are to be let by contract:

In addition to these localities, my attention has been specially called to the following as needing improvement:

All of the above are troublesome localities that ought to be improved at some future time. At many of them we have no detailed surveys, and therefore I cannot now submit estimates of the cost of the necessary improvements at all of the places named.

The deficiency will be supplied during the present summer and autumn, but as this report cannot be held back to await the result of these examinations, I am under the necessity of submitting a general estimate of the amount that can profitably be expended on the Ohio during the next fiscal year, which I place at $1,000,000.

Money statement.

July 1, 1883, amount available....

July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive

of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities....

July 1, 1884, amount available

Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884

$111,213 37

$82,926 08

9, 205 29

92, 131 37

19,082 00

600,000 00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885

619,082 00

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886 1,000,000 00

PLAN AND ESTIMATE FOR A LEVEE TO PREVENT OVERFLOW AT JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, OF FLOODS IN THE OHIO RIVER.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,

UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., May 12, 1884.

SIR: In reply to the reference to this office of the following resolution of the Senate of the United States of March 1, 1884–

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to furnish to the Senate any information in his possession, or which may be attainable, as to the effect any dam or other Government works in the channel of the Ohio River near Jeffersonville, Ind., has upon the flood-line of the river in times of great freshets. Also, what effect such floods have as to cutting off communication with the quartermaster's depot at that place. Also, as to the practicability and probable cost of constructing a levee to prevent the overflow of said city of Jeffersonville and the approaches to the quartermaster's depot

I have the honor to submit herewith a copy of a report, with accompanying map, received from Lieut. Col. William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, to whom the resolution was referred by this office for remark thereon, in which the inquiries of the resolution are severally answered.

Lieutenant-Colonel Merrill explains that the Government works on the Ohio River at or near Jeffersonville can have no influence upon the flood line in times of great freshets, and reports that the construction of a levee to prevent the overflow referred to in the resolution is perfectly practicable at a cost of about $50,000.

The resolution is herewith returned.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN,

Secretary of War.

JOHN G. PARKE, Acting Chief of Engineers.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM E. MERRILL, CORPS OF

ENGINEERS.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Cincinnati, Ohio, April 19, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report upon the matters contained in the resolution of the United States Senate, dated March 1, 1884, referred to this office by your indorsement of March 5,

In order to show the exact condition of affairs during the flood of Feb

ruary last, I employed Mr. O. A. Clark, the city engineer of Jeffersonville, to prepare a map of the city, showing in blue the limits of the flood, and indicating the depth of water at the intersections of the prin cipal submerged streets.

With Mr. Clark's assistance I selected what seemed the best route for a levee, with an alternate location for its upper section, and directed him to run a line of levels on these routes, and to make estimates of the cost of construction. His map, profiles, report, and estimates are herewith submitted.

An examination of the map, and of the figures giving the depths of water, shows that almost all of the business portion of the city was submerged to various depths, the maximum at any street intersection being 11 feet. It also shows that both the upper and lower ends of the city were out of water, and that the problem of protection is limited to connecting these dry areas by a levee along the most favorable line. This line is found to be near the bank of the Ohio River, as the profile of the bottom land, upon which Jeffersonville is built, conforms to the general law of alluvial lands in being higher on the bank of the river than a short distance back. The route selected generally follows the a ey immediately in the rear of Front street.

In the resolution of the United States Senate, three distinct subjects of inquiry are named, upon which I will now proceed to report

in order.

"The effect any dam or other Government works in the channel of the Ohio River near Jeffersonville, Ind., has upon the flood-line of the river in great freshets."-The only Government works in the channel of the Ohio River near Jeffersonville, Ind., are the guiding dike at the entrance to the Louisville and Portland Canal, and the low dam across the head of the falls, which was placed there in order to increase the depth in the canal during low water, and to obviate the necessity of a large amount of rock excavation in the canal itself. The guiding dike is near the Kentucky shore and parallel to it, and it can therefore have no appreciable influence upon high water. The dam across the head of the falls has a total length of 2,930 feet, of which 660 feet is movable and is let down below the bed of the river whenever the water is at ordinary boating stages. The crest of the fixed part of the dam is at the level of 5 feet on the upper gauge. As the reading of the flood of 1884 on the gauge at the head of the canal was 46.7 feet, it is evident that, at the height of this flood, there was a depth of 41.7 feet of water on top of this dam, and as the dam does not make the slightest ripple on the surface when the gauge reads 12 feet, it is evident that it can have no influence at all upon floods that are 30 feet higher.

I have therefore to report that there are no Government works in the Ohio River at or near Jeffersonville, Ind., that have any influence upon the flood-line of the river in times of great freshets.

"What effect such floods have as to cutting off communication with the Quartermaster's depot at that place."-During the flood of 1884 the Quar termaster's depot at Jeffersonville was 7.83 feet above the flood-line, and had uninterrupted communication with the North by rail, but was wholly cut off from communication by rail with the South, and from communication by water in any direction. A species of communication could be kept up by skiffs and small flats, but no shipment of stores could be made, except at great cost and with exceeding difficulty.

"The practicability and probable cost of constructing a levee to prevent the overflow of said city of Jeffersonville and the approaches to the Quar termaster's depot."-It is perfectly practicable to construct such a levee

on the line indicated on the map, and its probable cost would be $50,000, as shown in detail in the annexed estimates.

It is proper to add that the city of Jeffersonville is liable to partial submergence from below, by backwater coming up the ravine of a small creek emptying into the Ohio just below the railroad bridge; but a slight raising of the embankment of the railroad, which crosses the bridge and goes to New Albany, would shut out this backwater, and it is understood that the city of Jeffersonville and the railroad company will combine to that end.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON,

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

WM. E. MERRILL, Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers.

REPORT OF MR. O. A. CLARK.

JEFFERSONVILLE, IND., April 15, 1884.

SIR: I have the honor to herewith transmit map of the city of Jeffersonville, showing that part of the city submerged by the flood of February 15, 1884, and the pro. posed route of levee from Mulberry street to High street, between Market and Front streets; also profile flat of the proposed route of levee, together with estimated cost of levee on said route. Also, profile flat of alternate survey on upper Market street, from Front to Market, along Watt, and from Watt to High street, together with estimated cost of levee on said route. The estimated cost of levee on this alternate survey is based on the necessity of raising Market street for the full width of street to the height of the proposed levee, which is to be 2 feet above the high water of February 15, 1884.

The line of proposed levee, as shown on map and indicated by red lines, is much easier constructed, as is shown by the estimated cost of same, and there will be no difficulty in securing the right of way from property owners along said route. The city of Jeffersonville will secure the right of way, if levee is constructed on this route, without cost to the Government.

The estimated cost of a levee on this route is based on your instructions to me, with side slopes, the natural slope of earth in water on the side next to the river, and the natural slope of earth on the reverse side, and 2 feet above the high water of February 15, 1884.

The Government depot was 7.83 feet above high-water line, as shown on map, yet the streets leading from Government depot to steamboat landing at the foot of Spring street, to Pearl street, and to Locust street, were submerged by the flood from 5 to 7 feet in depth; also, communication was cut off from railroad depot by streets being submerged. If a levee is constructed on the route indicated on the map by red lines, this difficulty would be obviated, and communication between the Government depot and the steamboat landing below Mulberry street would be effectually protected; also, communications to railroad depots going south would be preserved during the recurrence of such floods as those of 1883 and 1884.

The map illustrates fully the calamity which befell the city it represents; four-fifths of its ten thousand inhabitants were driven from their homes in midwinter, to seek shelter and protection as best they could, and had it not been for the aid extended by the Government, and the munificent donations of food and clothing contributed by sister cities of Indiana, and cities of other States, the calamity would have indeed been great.

At 9.30 p. m., February 15, 1884, the river reached its highest point, and remained standing about ten hours, registering 46 feet 7 inches by the mark, and being 20.5 inches above the high water of February 16, 1883; at 10 o'clock a. m. on the 16th, the river had fallen one inch. By February 17, at 9.30 p. m., the river had declined to 45 feet 4 inches, being an aggregated decline of 15 inches. On February 18 the river had declined in all, since the 16th, 34 inches; from this time the river declined steadily from day to day, until it receded to the danger line of 24 feet.

I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM E. MERRILL,

Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, U. S. A.

O. A. CLARK,

Civil Engineer.