ingly rich mineral section and the consumer, will without doubt greatly add to the commerce of the river. A comparison of the commercial statistics published last year with those collected this year, for the portion of the river where slackwater exists, shows the great increase in commerce that has already taken place during the past year. Those given in the last annual report were for six months only; considering the commerce as being doubled for the whole year, its estimated value is for the year ending June 30, 1883, $3,937,000. For the year ending June 30, 1884, it amounts to, as per return, $5,013,142.36, a gain of over $1,000,000." To indicate further the importance of this improvement, attention is invited to the report of Assistant Engineer Sublett, in which he estimates that the saving in freights alone, due to the present improvement, have been $50,000 to the people in the vicinity. During the present season, with the $250,000 appropriated by the act of July 5, 1884, and the balance remaining unexpended for the dam at Beattyville, it is proposed to do such additional work as is needed to complete the four locks and dams now in operation, to repair Lock No. 5, and construct Dam No. 5 and the dam at Beattyville, as soon as the land for the latter can be acquired. The land needed for Lock and Dam No. 6 will also be acquired, and the work will be advanced as far as the amount appropriated will permit. It is not believed that this can be carried beyond an accumulation of the stone required for the lock with the sum now available. A survey will also be made to definitely locate all the locks and dams necessary to extend slackwater navigation to Beattyville, with a view to obtain the necessary land for these additional works as soon as practicable, in order to avoid the delay that frequently occurs in such proceedings. These delays sometimes extend over a period of a year or more, and prevent the commencement of works that are needed for the development of commerce during that time, although an appropriation for the construction of the works may have been made by Congress. Attention is therefore invited to the necessity of some provision being made at an early date for acquiring the land needed for the sites of all the locks and dams, if the delays resulting from its purchase are to be avoided. Very considerable saving in the cost as well as in the time of completing this project can be effected by constructing several of the locks and dams together. In the estimate for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1886, it is proposed to complete Lock and Dam No. 6 and construct four other new locks and dams. The following papers accompany this report: 1. Report of Assistant Engineer Sublett. 2. Table of lockages at Locks Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4. 3. Commercial statistics for the portion of the river improved. 4. Commercial statistics of Beattyville, Ky. Money statement. July 1, 1883, amount available.. $107, 772 03 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, July 1, 1883... 33, 319 97 July 1, 1884, amount available..... 74,452 06 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. 250,000 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 324,452 06 .2,221 639 26 931,438 98 REPORT OF MR. D. L. SUBLETT, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I would respectfully submit the following report of operations on the improved portion of the Kentucky River for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884: The close of the last fiscal year found the slackwater system on this river in successful operation to Tyrone, in Anderson County, 84 miles above the mouth, and 191 miles above Frankfort. At this date the river had not arrived at a sufficient low stage to determine what damage, if any, the dams had sustained by the unprecedented floods in the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers in February, 1883. As the rivers approached the low-water stage, about July 20, Dams Nos. 1 and 2 were found to be leaking badly, and steps were at once taken to stop these leaks, which at No. 1 were found to be due to deficient upper slope and pile sheeting and to insufficiency of backing above the dam. The up-stream current, caused by backwater from the Ohio, had loosened up the backing above the dam, which was also, in a measure, the cause of the leakage. The leakage at No. 2 was practically due to the same cause. At No. 4, the old dam was found to be in a precarious condition, was leaking badly, and liable at any time to give away. Preparations were made, under your directions, to build an apron on lower slope, immediately below the old dam, the old and new work to be well tied together. The estimate for this work was $25,000. Active operations were begun July 21, and the work was completed October 4, at a cost of about $18,000, making virtually a new dam 528 feet long, 26 feet high, and 34 feet wide. There was expended in this work 30,154 pounds iron, 158,248 feet, B. M., sheeting, 38,246 linear feet 12 by 12 inch timber, 5,984 cubic yards riprap stone, engineering expenses and labor, $4,784.62. There was found to be, after last spring's floods, a very great filling up behind the breach or "cut-off" at No. 1. This filling up has now reached an elevation above the crown of the dam in the center. The lock-house at No. 1 has been flooded for two successive winters, and the foundations have been so damaged as to render a new lockhouse on high ground imperative. I consider it unsafe for occupancy. Navigation has been uninterrupted since the completion of Dam No. 4, in October last, except for twenty-eight days in January and February of this year, when it was suspended on account of ice and high water. The commerce of the river has rapidly and steadily increased since the completion of No. 4, and it is believed that with the completion of No. 5, which will open up to trade the counties of Anderson, Mercer, Woodford, and Jessamine, situated in the center of the Blue Grass section of Central Kentucky, that the commerce will be doubled. There are now four passenger steamers and two tow-boats regularly navigating this river, with a registered tonnage of from 50 to 250 tons. At this date, July 5, and at a low stage of water, there is 6 feet of water on all of the lower miter-sills, except at No. 2, which has 5 feet 8 inches, and the dams present no appearance of leakage. There has been no damage during the fiscal year of a serious nature to any of the works, yet there is considerable work that the experience of two winters' floods has demonstrated should be done to render the works secure against future disaster. There were made during the fiscal year 2,668 lockages without a single accident, which speaks well for the care and attention of the lock-keepers. Two coal barges were sunk this spring by hidden snags deposited during the winter. The permanent opening of the river to navigation for 84 miles has brought about a competition in freights between steamboats and railroads, which has resulted in a reduction of freights estimated to equal $50,000 per annum at a low estimate. Coal has been reduced from 20 and 25 cents per bushel to 10 and 14 cents. There is a saving on this item alone of $25,000 per annum to the people. The following is a summary of work done at the several locks during the fiscal year: LOCK NO. 1. Pool drawn down and upper slope double-sheeted and pile sheeting driven above the dam. Dam and beach backed with clay, brush, and stone. Dam raised on an average of 4 inches. Lock chamber and approaches dredged of mud, gravel, and sunken logs. Paving behind shore lock-wall repaired. A new cistern was built, Government lands surveyed, and corners marked by stone monuments. Lock-house foundations braced. Lower breach-crib repaired. Water-gauge erected. LOCK NO. 2. Lock-chamber and approaches dredged of mud, stone, sunken logs, and gravel deposits. Dam backed with gravel, stone, and brush. Well repaired, 7 pieces of sheeting replaced on dam. Water-gauge erected. Government lands surveyed and corners marked with stone monuments. LOCK NO. 3. Five cubic yards of rock removed from lower approach. Three pieces sheeting replaced on the dam. Water-gauges erected. Well repaired. Government lands surveyed and monuments erected. LOCK NO. 4. A new apron on lower slope built below old dam. Pile-driver's boat converted into a steam derrick. Store-house shingled, and shelter and blacksmith's shop built; four skiffs built. Government lands surveyed and corners marked by stone monuments. Water-gauge erected. All snags removed from the river from Frankfort to the Ohio River. LOCK NO. 5. Government lands surveyed and corners marked. Lock-house put in temporary repair. Water-gauges erected, and examinations made for a new site for dam. * Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. JAMES C. Post, No. 1. No. 2 No. 3. No. 4 D. L. SUBLETT, Corps of Engineers. Navigation statistics for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Commercial statistics for the lower portion of the Kentucky River, Kentucky, for fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. Commercial statistics of Beattyville, Ky., for fiscal year ending June 30, 1884. STATEMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, IN PRESERVING AND CONTINUING NAVIGATION UPON KENTUCKY RIVER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, September 18, 1884. GENERAL: In compliance with the Department letter of August 15, 1884, I have to submit a statement of the expenses incurred during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, in preserving and continuing navigation upon the Kentucky River, the only work of improvement I am in charge of which derives funds from the permanent indefinite appropriation provided for by section 4 of the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. The following is the itemized account: The foregoing does not include the extensive repairs that were made upon Dams Nos. 1 and 4, as this part of the work performed during the year was considered to be a portion of the original improvement. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. C. POST, Captain of Engineers. LOCK AND DAM ON KENTUCKY RIVER AT BEATTYVILLE, KENTUCKY. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., December 11, 1883. SIR: The river and harbor act of August 2, 1882, contained the fol lowing item: Improving Kentucky River, Kentucky, continuing improvement from mouth of river to Three Forks, $225,000, of which sum $75,000 shall be used for the erection of a lock and movable dam at Beattyville, at junction of Three Forks. The lock and dam referred to therein, not having been embraced in any project for the improvement of the Kentucky River submitted by this office, the necessary information in regard to its practicability and proper location, &c., could only be ascertained from a survey of the locality, which was undertaken accordingly. As the construction of the lock and dam could not be commenced until the authority of Congress for the purchase of the land for their sites could be obtained (the usual item for purchase of land, &c., having been omitted from the act of August 2, 1882), and as the subject was involved in some difficulty, it was deemed advisable, with your sanction, to submit the whole question to a Board of Engineers constituted to consider and report upon it. The report of the Board is herewith submitted, and it will be observed that after a full and exhaustive consideration of the subject, the conclusion has been reached that a permanent dam with certain movable part or parts apparently satisfies all the conditions required, and comes within the intention of Congress. It is of opinion that a lock is at present unnecessary, and that by omitting it the work can be accomplished at much less cost, and the people interested benefited at a much earlier date. The conclusions of the Board are concurred in, and it is recommended that the report be sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the information of the Committee on Commerce, and with request that the requisite legislation be had. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. G. WRIGHT, Brig. and Bet. Maj. Gen. Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. PRELIMINARY REPORT OF BOARD OF ENGINEERS. CINCINNATI, OHIO, November 19, 1883. GENERAL: The board of officers of the Corps of Engineers constituted by Special Order No. 146, dated Headquarters Corps of Engineers, Washington, D. C., October 30, 1883, "to take into consideration and report upon the application of the appropriation of August 2, 1882, for the erection of a lock and movable dam at the junction of the Three Forks of Kentucky River," has the honor to submit the following preliminary report: The Board met at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 13th of November, upon the call of the senior member. As the project for the construction of the lock and dam at this point originated with Congress without previous report or collection of data, the Board, after full discussion of its instructions, concluded it best to proceed to the proposed site, in order to ascertain the wants of the commercial interests of the locality, and enable it to decide upon those questions which it was necessary to determine before the local engineer could present a suitable project. These were, 1st, whether a lock is necessary at the present time, and 2d, whether a dam, partly movable or one with chutes, would come within the intention of Congress in passing the appropriation. Accordingly it visited Beattyville, located at the junction of the Three Forks, and after making an examination, and freely discussing with the citizens at a public meeting called for that purpose as to the needs of commerce, ascertained the following facts: The interests to be benefited by this work are principally coal, iron, and timber, which abound in great quantities and of excellent qualities, 5908 EN-109 |