The original project for the improvement of the river provided for securing a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep by the removal of snags and overhanging trees and widening and straightening the channel at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, at an estimated cost of $80,333. In conformity with the act of September 19, 1890, this project was in that year modified by adding thereto the securing of a channel 60 feet wide and 5 feet deep through the Cut-off, Lee Slough, and the Lower Chipola River, at an estimated cost of $7,500. The expenditure between 1874 and June 30, 1892, of $44,565.90 had resulted in clearing out the great accumulation of logs and snags and overhanging trees which originally obstructed the Apalachicola River, and in annually removing the new logs and snags brought in by the winter freshets. A partial improvement had also been effected at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, but navigation at these points was still difficult. A large quantity of drift and many overhanging trees were removed from the Cut-off and the Lower Chipola River, and steamboats were enabled to reach the landings above and below Lee Slough. Funds available had not been sufficient to do any work in Lee Slough itself, through which steamboat navigation was completely obstructed by drift, sunken logs, and trees. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the sum of $5,000 has been expended in removing snags, sunken logs, and overhanging trees from the Apalachicola River, the Cut-off, and Lower Chipola River, and in opening a practicable but narrow and crooked channel through Lee Slough. Steamboats can now, with some difficulty, pass through the Cut-off, Lee Slough, and Lower Chipola River on the upstream passage. These waterways afforded the only practicable means of transportation for the products of this section of country, which is being rapidly settled by fruit-growers, and it is very desirable that a sufficient appropriation shall be made to enable a safe channel to be opened through Lee Slough. The Cut-off is a navigable waterway about 3 miles long, connecting the Apalachicola River with the Lower Chipola River near the Dead Lakes. The Chipola River empties into the Apalachicola River about 14 miles below its junction with the Cut-off. "Lee Slough" is simply a local name for a portion of the Lower Chipola River, about 3 miles long (see map at page 1697 of the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1891). It is therefore suggested that the wording of the next appropriation for this river be changed from "Apalachicola River, including Lee Slough," to "Apalachicola River, including the Cut-off and Lower Chipola River," in order that the work required to be done may be correctly designated. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. $5,000.00 5,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 11,000.00 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 P 2.) 3. Flint River, Georgia.-Before the improvement was begun the river was only navigable at low water from its junction with the Chattahoochee River up to Bainbridge, and the channel over this portion was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by logs, snags, and overhanging trees. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1873 and modified in 1879, the object of the original project being to afford a channel 100 feet wide and 3 feet deep at low water from its mouth up to Albany, Ga., an estimated distance of 105 miles, and of the modification to provide a navigable channel for light-draft steamers, at moderate stages of water, from Albany to Montezuma, an estimated distance of 77 miles. Previous to the act of June 18, 1878, $70,000 was appropriated for the "Chattahoochee and Flint rivers," of which $18,000 was expended on the Flint River. The expenditure up to June 30, 1892, was $170,301.58. Above Albany the channel had been partially cleared of logs and snags and overhanging trees and, to a limited extent, of loose rock. Below Albany the river had been kept in good navigable condition between Bainbridge and the mouth by the annual removal of snags and drift brought in by the winter freshets. Between Albany and Bainbridge a practicable low-water channel had been completed through the rock shoals for a distance of 22 miles below Albany. Between this point and Bainbridge a partial improvement had been effected, which enabled boats to run at moderate stages of water. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $10,121.60 was expended in the care and preservation of plant, in the providing of motive power for the snag boat, and in continuing work under the approved project. Between the mouth of the river and Bainbridge, Ga., an estimated distance of 36 miles, the river is in fairly good condition, and requires little more than the annual clearing out of snags and drift brought in by the winter freshets. On this portion of the river the many steamboats plying on the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola rivers make regular trips and do a large business, and the maintenance of the navigation is, therefore, of great commercial benefit. Between Bainbridge and Albany, Ga., an estimated distance of 69 miles, the improvement consists mainly in excavating a channel through the many rock shoals and reefs and in depositing the excavated material in spur dams. The improvement, when completed, will be of a permanent character, but for its preservation and for the annual removal of the snags and drift it will be necessary to maintain a snag boat on the river, at an estimated cost of $6,000. A considerable river trade had been developed on this section of the river in consequence of the improvements already effected. The business will probably be much increased as low-water navigation is facilitated by further work. Above Albany for a distance of 38 miles to Warwick, Ga., low-water navigation is prevented by a series of rock shoals, on which the lowwater depth varies from 6 to 18 inches. The loose bowlders have been partially removed from the channel on this portion of the river. Experience in the work shows that a practicable and useful navigation of this portion of the river at moderate stages of water can probably be secured only by providing slack-water navigation, by the construction of locks and dams, at great expense. Between Warwick and Montezuma, an estimated distance of 39 miles, the improvement consists mainly in the removal of logs and drift and overhanging trees, and has been sufficiently accomplished to permit navigation at moderate stages of water; but no commercial use has been made of this section of the river since July, 1890, when the Montezuma Steamboat Company disposed of their small steamer. It is not believed that any commercial benefit has since been derived from continuing the improvement of the Flint River above Albany. Two bridges, without draw openings, at distances, respectively, of 16 and 41 miles above Albany, obstruct steamboat navigation, but no measures have been taken to require the owners of the bridges to provide them with draw openings for the reason that no complaints have been made against them. It is useless to continue the improvement above Albany, for commercial purposes, unless these bridges are provided with draw openings, and it seems to be an unnecessary hardship to compel the owners to provide draw openings to accommodate a commerce which does not now exist and of which there is no immediate prospect. For this reason, and on account of the improbability of being able to secure a satisfactory navigation without the construction of locks and dams, at a cost entirely incommensurate with any prospective commerce to be developed thereby, it is recommended that no further allotments be made, for the present at least, for the improvement of the Flint River above Albany, but that the whole appropriation be expended in continuing the useful and important work below Albany. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. $4,728.43 15, 000. 00 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year...... Amount that can be profitably expended below Albany 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 P 3.) 38,000.00 4. Chattahoochee River, Georgia and Alabama.-The river was originally much obstructed by logs, snags, and overhanging trees, and by a number of rock and marl shoals and sand bars, so that navigation was difficult and dangerous. Steamboats could only run by daylight, and not unfrequently lay for weeks at a time awaiting a rise in the river. Very many were sunk by striking obstructions. The present plan of improvement, adopted in 1873 and modified in 1882, contemplates a low-water channel 4 feet in depth and 100 feet in width from Columbus, Ga., to Chattahoochee, Fla., a distance of 224 miles, by the removal of snags and other obstructions from the channel and overhanging trees from the banks, by the excavation of rock shoals, and by works of contraction and shore protection. Previous to the act of June 18, 1878, $70,000 was appropriated for the "Chattahoochee and Flint rivers," of which $52,000 was expended on the Chattahoochee River. The expenditure of $243,545.87, up to June 30, 1892, had resulted in securing and maintaining a fairly good channel between Chattahoochee, Fla, and Eufaula, Ala., except at Rock Island, at all seasons of the year; and between Eufaula, Ala., and Columbus, Ga., except during low water, when considerable trouble was experienced at St. Francis Bend, Shell Creek, Upatoie, Woolfolk, and Mound bars, and at the shoals immediately below Columbus, on account of the lack of funds for keeping in repair and extending the contraction and shore protection works at those points. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $13,315.94 has been expended in snagging operations, and in the construction of shore protection and contraction works at Mound Bar, by which the low-water navigation at this point has been greatly facilitated. The available funds were not, however, sufficient to make the work of so permanent a character as is desirable. Several lines of steamboats now make regular trips, with but few detentions, and do a large passenger and freight business, between Columbus, Ga., and Apalachicola, Fla., and Bainbridge, Ga., on the Flint River. A large section of prosperous and well-settled country is entirely dependent upon the river for the transportation of its products and supplies. The limited annual appropriations for this improvement have not been sufficient to maintain properly the works of contraction originally constructed, nor to extend or modify them as required. At the Mound Bar the caving of the banks has been partly checked, and the channel improved by the work of the past year, but the revetments and spur dams will need strengthening and extension. At Woolfolk Bar the banks are caving badly. At the shoals below Columbus, Ga., which were formerly improved by the construction of a series of spur dams of light construction, the dams have been so damaged and washed away that great difficulty was experienced during the last year in passing over this part of the river. Unless sufficient appropriations are made for the renewal and extension of the works at this point, it is very probable that steamboats cannot be able to reach Columbus, Ga., during the next low-water season. Trouble is also experienced at low water at Francis Bend, Shell Creek, and Upatoie bars, above Eufaula, and at Rock Island, about 200 miles below Columbus. If sufficiently large appropriations were made to improve these localities by substantial works, it is believed that thereafter the navigation of the river could be maintained in good condition throughout the year by annual appropriations of $10,000 for the operation of an efficient snag boat, and for the maintenance of the contraction and shore-protection works. The hull of the snag boat Chattahoochee is nearly worn out, and can not be further repaired. The maintenance of an efficient snag boat is absolutely essential to the safe navigation of the river. The present snag boat will have to be practically rebuilt, at an estimated cost of $10,000, before another season. For the above reasons an estimate of $100,000 is submitted for this improvement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895: Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 100, 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. Between West Point and Franklin, Ga.-This section of 38 miles of the river consists of a series of pools, varying in length from one half to 5 or 6 miles, and separated by rock shoals and rapids, in some of which the fall is as great as 8 feet to the mile. In the pools the width of the river is from 300 to 500 feet with a channel nowhere less than 4 feet deep. At the shoals the river is much wider, with numerous islands, and low-water depths in many places of only a few inches. The bottom is generally of rock, and the banks are stable. There are few, if any, sand or gravel bars, and but few snags. The river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, provided for a preliminary examination of the Chattahoochee River between West Point and Franklin. This examination was made in November, 1890, and reports of results are printed at page 1756 of the report of the Chief of Engineers for 1891. The river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, provided for "improving Chattahoochee River, Georgia and Alabama; continuing improvement, twenty-five thousand dollars, of which five thousand dollars are to be used on that portion of the river between West Point and Franklin.” The project for the improvement of this section of the river, submitted July 26, 1892, and approved August 4, 1892, contemplates removal of the lesser rock shoals, sand and gravel bars, by excavation and by works of contraction; removal of overhanging trees from the banks, and snags, logs, and other obstructions from the channel, and the construction of locks and dams to overcome the more serious obstructions to give a minimum depth of 3 feet at low water in the channel between West Point and Franklin, a distance of 38 miles. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $2,759.61 was expended in procuring the necessary plant, in rock excavation at certain of the shoals above West Point, and in depositing the excavated material in training dams, and in making a survey for a short canal and lock around the 6-foot milldam at Bentley Mill. The available balance will be expended during the low-water season of 1893 in continuing rock excavation at the rapids above West Point. It is probable that the improvement will be carried to the foot of Potts Shoals, about 6 or 7 miles above West Point. A useful navigation through these shoals can only be secured by the construction of locks and dams. By the close of the present working season the improvement will probably have been carried as far as can be usefully done under the approved method, and no estimate is therefore submitted of the amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1893, balance available..... (See Appendix P 4.) $5,000.00 2,759.61 2,240.39 256.89 1,983. 50 5. La Grange Bayou and Holmes River, Florida.-La Grange Bayou is situated on the north side and near the head of Choctawhatchee Bay, and into it flows Cedar Creek, a deep stream from 90 to 160 feet wide, on which is situated the town of Freeport, 14 miles above the bayou. The channel through the bayou was originally narrow and shoal and obstructed by logs and drift. An examination of the bayou was made under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, and an estimate submitted for dredging the |