I annex a statement of the expenditures actually incurred at this lo cality during the fiscal year just ended, and estimates of the amounts which will be required during the current fiscal year and during the year 1885-'86: STATEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1883-'84. IMPROVEMENT OF ALLEGHENY RIVER, PENNSYLVANIA. No work was done on this river during the last fiscal year. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. For commercial statistics reference is made to my annual report of last year. ESTIMATE FOR 1885-'86. The chief work to be done on this river is to remove the great number of rocks, both on the banks and in the bed, which embarrass navigation. No definite statement can be made of the cost of this work, but $65,000 could be used to advantage. I am still of the opinion that the commerce of this river is sufficiently important to justify the construction of a lock and dam at or near Herr's Island, as recommended in several of my annual reports, but as no action has been taken on this recommendation I refrain from renewing the estimate for this work. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 . Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885............. $816 69 816 69 35,000 00 35, 816 69 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 65,000 00 A A 6. ICE-HARBOR AT MOUTH OF MUSKINGUM RIVER, OHIO. Owing to the exhaustion of funds, no work was done at this place during the last fiscal year. The great flood of February, 1884, buried the whole work under water, but did no damage except to upset our lumber piles, carry off some sheds, and cover everything with mud. The work is an exceedingly difficult one, and it is liable to great injury by floods, but after the close of the present year the danger will be greatly lessened, and the cost of completing the lock can be definitely stated. For the present I would ask an appropriation of $51,400, being the amount requested in my last annual report, less the appropriation made by the act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1883, amount available Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities. $7,916 96 $2,326 79 67 29 2,394 06 5,522 90 50,000 00 July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 . Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ..... 55,522 90 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 51, 400 00 A A 7. HARBOR OF REFUGE NEAR CINCINNATI, OHIO. This work consists of three dikes in the Ohio River at Four-Mile Bar, 10 miles above Cincinnati, designed primarily to catch and retain icefloes, and secondarily to improve the low-water channel. Two of these dikes are built, and a contract for the third dike will be made during the present season. It is estimated that the funds on hand will complete the work. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... $16,000 00 63 00 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 15,937 00 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. 17,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... 32,937 00 A A 8. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF TIONESTA CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 13, 1883. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit here with the report on the preliminary examination of Tionesta Creek, Pennsylvania, made in accordance with the requirements of the river and harbor act passed August 2, 1882. The report of Mr. J. V. Hoag, jr., the assistant engineer who made the examination, and the letter of Mr. Irwin, on the resources of the valley of this creek, are believed to contain all the information that Congress will need as a guide in determining on the advisability of making an appropriation for its improvement. I have therefore to report that no survey is needed and no further examination. The stream is only used for rafting and for water-power. The lower 21 miles are much obstructed by huge rocks and some abandoned boom piers, that are serious obstructions to rafting, and have caused the loss of many lives. It is estimated that these might be removed at a cost of about $1,000. While I believe that this would be a judicious expenditure, I do not feel authorized to state that the work is one of "public necessity." Accompanying this report is a printed map of Forest County, Pennsylvania, showing the whole length of Tionesta Creek, from a point 1 mile below Sheffield. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. WM. E. MERRILL, Major of Engineers. REPORT OF MR. I. V. HOAG, JR., ASSISTANT ENGINEER. PITTSBURGH, PA., October 18, 1882. COLONEL: Tionesta Creek is one of the mountain streams of Western Pennsylvania and is tributary to the Allegheny River. It has its origin in two forks or branches which unite at the town of Sheffield, in Warren County, Penusylvania. The industries of the valleys above and in the vicinity of these forks find an outlet by the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, which passes through this point. Below Sheffield the trend of the stream is to the southwest, for a distance of 34 miles, until it enters the Allegheny River on its left bank at the town of Tionesta, 152 miles above Pittsburgh. The characteristic feature of the valley is that of a low regular mountain gorge. Very little bottom land is found, and what there is has a soil too thin and poor for agriculture. The huge hillsides and frequent ravines of the tributaries are every where densely covered with large timber; and I am informed that these forests extend for miles, aud very fittingly give the name of the county. The stream has an average width of about 100 feet, and is remarkable as a mountain stream by the absence of any natural precipitous falls whatever. The decline of levels is regular, and is, I think, about 8 or 10 feet to the mile. The lumber trade is almost the entire industry, and the only interest relying solely on the navigation of the creek, which is only available during freshets. These freshets usually occur with regularity in the fall and spring, and their annual duration covers a period of about four months' time. In anticipation of these rises, timber is continually felled, hauled to the banks, marked with the brand of the owner, and promiscuously dumped into the creek, where it lodges until a rise of the water occurs. At these times gangs of men are employed in what is termed "the drive," which consists in following the course of the creek and releasing timber that may chance to gorge or lodge on the banks, and guiding it into booms that have been prepared to hold it. Much timber is, however, cut into boards, or otherwise dressed for the market, right where it is felled. This work is done by means of portable mills, which are very numerous throughout the different ravines. Lumber so prepared is hauled to the creek and there made into rafts 25 feet wide and 130 feet in length, containing from 20,000 to 40,000 feet B. M. After reaching the mouth of the creek nine of these rafts are lashed together, three abreast, and in this manner floated to Pittsburgh or points beyond. At five places on the creek, with intervals of not less than 5 miles, large saw-mills are operated, viz, Fox's, Buck Mills, Newtown, Nebraska, and Tionesta. At the first four mentioned fixed dams, with a lift of from 3 to 5 feet, have been erected. The water-power thus derived is increased by splash-boards. This is accomplished by the construction of a service bridge, which is built at a height of about 12 feet above the dam. This bridge supports the upper end of saplings, which are set at a slight angle from the vertical, with their lower ends resting against the crown of the dam. These saplings are about 4 inches in diameter, and they are placed at irregular intervals of 3 feet; ordinary 1-inch hemlock boards are then set on edge across them and the water is thus lifted from 3 to 5 feet higher. In time of freshets these splash-boards and saplings are removed, and lumber and timber, which has been made into rafts, is run over the dams. This maneuver is attended with some risk to life and property. In the pools formed by the dams piers are constructed, to give support to extensive booms, which are used to secure the loose logs brought down by freshets, and hold them safely at the mills, or until they are made into rafis for the lower markets. At a few points between Balltown, 21 miles from the mouth, and Tionesta, the water-way or bed of the stream is obstructed by huge rocks and abandoned piers. The principal and most noted of these obstructions is known as the "Panther" Rock. This rock is about 20 miles from the mouth of the creek and about 300 feet below the dam at Buck Mills. It is situated almost in the middle of the creek, and rises abruptly to a height of 10 feet above low water, and its contents will probably measure 200 cubic yards. Several lives have been lost at this rock by rafts breaking to pieces on it during freshets. While it is obvious that the removal of the more prominent of these obstructions would materially conduce to the safety of navigation, I do not think that a work of improvement of any magnitude can properly be undertaken without first making a radical change in the construction and operation of the existing dams, and such a change I believe to be more a matter for private enterprise than one of public necessity. I have estimated the obstructions, that might be removed with great advantage, to contain about 1,000 cubic yards, and an expenditure of $1,000 would doubtless accomplish all the improvement that is advisable. I came down the creek in a flat-boat, and at the several saw-mills named was furnished with the following statistics of annual product, which is principally hemlock, although much pine and some oak, cherry, ash, and other woods are obtained. Buck Mills.... Salmon Creek Company Lamentation Mills.. Newtown Mills.. Root and Watson Nebraska Mill and Pool Tionesta and scattering portable mills. Aggregate Feet, B. M. 2,000,000 3,000,000 450,000 3, 000, 000 3,000,000 12, 000, 000 20,000,000 43, 450, 000 The value of this timber at the mills at $8 per M. is $317,600. Pittsburgh, via the Allegheny River, is the principal market for this entire trade. Mr. T. D. Collins, of Nebraska Mills, to whom I am indebted for much of this information, estimates that there is timber enough to maintain this annual consumption for the next twenty-five years. Accompanying this report I forward a letter from Mr. Samuel D. Irwin, of Tionesta, present State attorney for Forest County, upon the resources of Tionesta Creek which he has been kind enough to send me. Mr. Irwin was for seven years county surveyor of Forest County, which embraces nearly the entire length of Tionesta Creek, and he is very familiar with it. I also inclose a copy of the most recently published map of this section, in which I have detected no error during the reconnaissance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Wм. E. MERRILL, U. S. Engineers. I. V. HOAG, JR., Assistant Engineer. LETTER OF MR. SAMUEL D. IRWIN. TIONESTA, PA., October 9, 1882. SIR: Understanding that you are making an examination of the Tionesta Creek from Sheffield, in Warren County, to its mouth at Tionesta Borough, Pennsylvania, with a view of examining the feasibility and advisability of its improvement as a highway as well as its resources, I write you my views at your request. The Tionesta is one of the most important creeks that empty into the Allegheny River. It is a swift stream that cuts its way through the hills (more properly mountains) throughout its entire course. Numerous small streams enter it from both sides among which are the Blue Jay, the Two Sheriffs, Fools, and Logan Creeks, Phelps's Run, Rob's, Salmon, Lamentation, and Bear Creeks, Ross Run, Jug Handle, Little Coon, and Big Coon Creeks, and John's Run. Many large saw-mills and lumber manufacturing establishments, which were formerly located on the main creek, have been abandoned, but in consequence of the growing lumber trade several of these mills have been rebuilt and improved machinery placed therein, while many new mills have also been built, both on the Tionesta and its tributaries. A large mill has been erected near Balltown by F. Henry and Company. The other mills of note are Buck Mills, about 20 miles from the mouth of the creek. Three miles below this point, on the south bank of the creek and near the mouth of the Salmon, there is located a large hemlock bark extract works, under the control of W. W. Kellett and Company, of Boston, Mass., erected, it is said, at a cost of over $30,000, which does a large business manufacturing hemlock extract for tanning purposes for exportation. Above it, on Salmon Creek, and about 1 mile up, is the large mill of the Salmon Creek Lumber Company, which cuts 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 feet each year, mostly hemlock, for which, as well as cherry, ash, beech, and other timber, it is noted. This company have 8,000 acres heavily timbered. Near the mouth of Salmon Creek there is a fine bed of most excellent fire-clay of a superior quality, which appears to be very deep, and it is said a company is preparing to work it. Newtown Mills, about 14 miles below the mouth of Salmon, manufacture a very large amount of lumber, mostly pine. These mills turn out large amounts of lumber yearly; Wheeler, Dusenberry and Company, proprietors. They have also a large body of hemlock and other woods of a valuable character. These mills have been there over thirty years, and such is the growth of timber that some of the tracts near the creek have been gone over three or four times, and still great amounts remain, the helmlock being scarcely touched, and pine abundant. This firm have over 10,000 acres, perhaps 12,000 acres. Years will pass before, even with modern improved mills and machinery, the different mills and lumber establishments can exhaust the timber on these large bodies, certainly not in this generation. The next mills immediately on the creek are at Nebraska, at the mouth of the Coon, and 6 miles above the month of the Tionesta, where there is also an iron bridge, flouring-mill, store, and quite a village and settlement, but by far the most important interest is the mammoth manufacturing mill of T. D. Collins, who has an improved saw-mill with planing-mill attachments. Mr. Collins has also been building of late years large barges designed for the coal trade on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; this is a new industry. It might be mentioned that at Oldtown and other points on the Tionesta large flatboats and barges are built each year, suitable for heavy transportation; besides this, many parties are engaged in getting out square timber for the lower markets, which is mostly run to Pittsburgh and sold there, suitable for heavy buildings, railroad bridges, &c. This is an industry in which many persons along the creek and its branches are engaged. Time and space forbid an enumeration of the different mills and lumbering establishments on the tributaries of the Tionesta, but I mention a few briefly: these are Gibson and Grove's mill, at the mouth of Lower Sheriff's Creek; Dr. Tawler's mill, on Salmon Creek, which does a large business in cherry, ash, and other valuable timber; Hunt's mill and the Red Brush mills of Root and Watson, which annually cut a large amount of pine and other lumber, and run it down the Tionesta; Shipe's mill, on the upper waters of Salmon Creek. Russell's mill, also, is a large and important one, and the new mill of Lawrence and Dale, on Lamentation Creek, and, farther down, the mill of Sheasley, on Little Coon Creek, are all active mills, turning out vast amounts of lumber for the markets below. The large establishments of Ford and Lacy, on Coon Creek, also do an extensive lumber trade annually. From these statements it may readily be imagined the importance of this creek as a highway for the people, its importance to the trade, in short, its value to the commercial world. That its free navigation is impeded by obstructions, both natural and artificial, has long been a source of regret to the lumbermen and others interested in its trade. That it can only be used during the spring and fall, and sometimes in the month of June, for the running of heavy boats and rafts, is also a matter of regret, and, |