a width from 200 to 300 feet, a ruling depth of 5 feet, a surface current from 4 to 5 miles per hour, and a gravel bottom. Obstructions, as far as noticed, were two rafts, which partly blocked the river, and eight, snags.

The tidal section, 33 miles long, passes through alluvial bottoms bounded by low vertical banks; the bed is soft mud and sand; the width varied from 300 to 400 feet, and the surface current was about 4 miles per hour. As on the reach above, drift and snags constituted the obstructions.

Below the mouth the river has cut a channel 6 to 8 miles long through the tide flats of the bay, which are submerged at ordinary high water. This channel is free from obstructions.

The examination was made when the river was running full from heavy rains. On the length below Steven's Prairie a continuous current, having but few local changes, was the characteristic. No difficult rapids, slackwater reaches, or large eddies existed. Many minor obstructions which doubtless would appear at a low stage were not ob served. The falling river reaches a low stage in July, and remains until the fall rains set in; from that time the river is generally high, but subject to fluctuations and one or two freshets.

The removal of drift and snags will make the river navigable for boats of 3 feet draught throughout the year to the head of tide; for eight or nine months of the year to Kittle's Ranch, and only during the higher stages to Steven's Prairie.

Below the forks the river valley is from 6 to 9 miles wide; it is limited on the east by the upland which divides it from the valley of the Hoquim, and on the west by another upland, whose watershed on the opposite side is toward the ocean. Adjacent to the river the land is generally low and level bottoms, covered by a dense growth of vine maple and alder, interspersed with spruce. Occasionally the upland touches upon the river, and then it presents a vertical bank 20 to 30 feet high, of cemented gravel, and in a few cases stratified beds of soft clay or sand rock. For 5 or 6 miles above the river mouth the bottoms are overflowed during winter. The soil of the bottoms is a rich loam, and when cleared should make excellent farming land.

From the bottoms the surface rises gently on both sides to the upland, which is rolling and but little broken. Fir timber and some cedar are reported there, and also prairies where the soil is adapted for mixed farming or grazing. In a few cases the prairies are said to be gravelly. At the headwaters of the river good timber abounds.

Land surveys have been extended only to 1 mile above the forks. Up to within three months there was but one settler residing in the river valley. Recently three settlers have taken up claims. All the land within three-fourths of a mile from the river for 19 miles from its mouth, excepting school lands, was obtained some ten years ago in large blocks by private entry. In addition, large tracts back from the river have been purchased by private entry.

The Humptuleps has not been navigated at any time, and its country now is of no commercial importance. In my judgment, the river is not worthy of improvement by the General Government, and the work is not a public necessity.

The examination was made by Assistant Engineer P. G. Eastwick in December, 1882. Mr. Eastwick went up and returned down the river in a canoe with Indians, and remained several days in the vicinity, and afterwards examined the laud-survey records of the region.

DWAMISH RIVER.

The Dwamish is a stream 15 miles long, formed by the junction of the White and Black Rivers, and emptying into the head of Dwamish or Elliott's Bay, on the eastern shore of Puget Sound.

The White is the principal branch; it heads in the Cascade Mountains and flows northwesterly for a distance of some 60 miles to its confluence with the Black. The principal feeder of the White is the Green, a rapid mountain stream, which is received about 18 miles above the head of the Dwamish.

The Black River is 3 miles long; it drains Lakes Washington and Sammamish, and receives the waters of the Cedar River, a mountain stream about like the Green River.

Lake Washington is long, narrow, and moderately deep; it lies nearly parallel to Dwamish Bay, and a very few miles from it. The lake has an area of some 50 square miles. Sammamish Lake is much smaller, and farther east. The two lakes are connected at their northern ends by a small sluggish stream. The Black River outlet is at the extreme southern end of Lake Washington.

Of the three channels at the mouth of the Dwamish the main one is about 400 feet wide and 10 to 12 feet deep at low tide. The general width of the river is 200 to 300 feet; the ruling depth is 5 feet. Tide extends the whole length of the river. The banks are low and subject to overflow at times of higher freshets and spring tides. The river is very tortuous; the distance from the head to the mouth is one-half that measured along the stream.

The bottom land of the Dwamish and Lower White is from 1 mile to 2 miles wide. The soil is a deep, rich, alluvial deposit, except at the Dwamish mouth, where it is somewhat sandy. The greater part of the land has been cleared, and is cultivated; the remainder is covered with a dense growth of vine maple, alder brush, and cottonwood.

The flanking hills of the bottom rise abruptly to a heavily rolling upland from 150 to 300 feet high, and which is but sparingly cultivated. For nine or ten months of the year steamers of 3 feet draught can ascend as far as 15 miles on the White, and occasionally at higher stages to the mouth of the Green, 3 miles farther. During summer, when low stages occur, this draught cannot be carried above the Dwamish head. The Black River is shoal and narrow, and navigable only by light craft during higher freshets. Small steamers, formerly used in towing coal-barges across Lake Washington, were taken through the Black River.

The farmers of the valley depend mainly on the rivers for transporta tion; those on the east side of the Dwamish ship part of their products to market by the Columbia and Puget Sound Narrow Gauge Railroad. Wagon-roads have been constructed through the bottoms on each side of the Dwamish and White, except on the west side of the latter for a few miles near the junction. These roads are good in summer and early fall, but almost impassable for heavy wagons in winter.

All trade is with Seattle, on Dwamish Bay. This is a thriving and growing city, and the center of business on the sound.

A standard-gauge railroad is being constructed to connect Seattle with the division of the North Pacific Railroad which runs from the Columbia River to Puget Sound. This extension will cross the White River near the mouth of the Green, go down the right bank of the White, cross the Black near the Dwamish, and then follow the bed of the narrow-gauge.

The Dwamish and White have been navigated for several years. At present the Gazelle and Lily, both light-draught, are running from Seattle to the point, 15 miles up the White. Each steamer makes two round trips per week. In the fall and winter they have a fair business in carrying farm produce and a liberal amount of up freight. Navigation is impeded by many snags, whose roots are imbedded in the mud bottoms, and by a group of piles, whose broken tops are submerged, and which were formerly used to hold a log boom. In the eddies of some of the abrupt river bends existing snags prevent ascending steamers from taking advantage of good water when the river is high and the channel current swift.

The examination of the Dwamish River was made by Assistant Engineer P. G. Eastwick.

I have to report that in my judgment the Dwamish River is worthy of minor improvement, but that the work is not a public necessity. No additional survey is required for the preparation of an estimate and project for improvement. An improvement would consist in snagging operations, and its project would be similar to that already adopted for the Skagit, Stielaquamish, Nootsack, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie rivers, Washington Territory. These rivers empty into Puget Sound along its eastern shore. An appropriation for them of $20,000 was made by the river and harbor act of August 2, 1882. This is intended to be applied to the construction of a snag-boat. Ten thousand dollars for operating expenses have been recommended for the year ending June 30, 1884. An addition of $2,000 to this amount would pay for desirable, although not necessary, work on the Dwamish, and in amount equal to that intended for each of the other rivers named. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A.

CHAS. F. POWELL,
Captain of Engineers.

APPENDIX R R.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS OF WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT-INCREASING WATER SUPPLY OF THE CITY OF WASHINGTON-ERECTION OF FISHWAYS AT THE GREAT FALLS OF THE POTOMAC.

REPORT OF MAJOR G. J. LYDECKER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1884, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS.

1. Washington Aqueduct.

IMPROVEMENTS.

2. Increasing the water supply of the city of Washington, and erection of fish-ways at the Great Falls of the Potomac River.

OFFICE OF THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT,

Washington, D. C., August 11, 1884. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith my reports of operations on the Washington Aqueduct, and for increasing the water supply of Washington, D. C., and for the erection of fish ways at Great Falls, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. J. LYDECKER,

Major of Engineers.

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON,

RRI.

WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT.

There is but little to report in this connection, the purpose for which the money is appropriated involving only work of a routine nature as a rule, and varying from year to year only as the repairs required at differ. ent points become more or less extensive.

During the past year the principal work of repairs has been the removal of all the wood-work in the superstructure of the Aqueduct bridge over Rock Creek. In addition to this, the Aqueduct office was raised one story, and the building repainted throughout; this was done to supply the necessary office room for carrying on the work of increasing the water supply, without which it would have been necessary to obtain a separate office.