above Long Bridge, with a view to reducing the deposit at that ity, was in progress. The outlet gates of the tidal reservoir at the of the Washington Channel had been completed, with the excepti the coping. The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $171,120. The construction of the sea wall was continued. The greater of the wall on the Virginia Channel front above the Long Bridge about two-thirds of that on the Washington Channel front below Long Bridge were completed. A new channel, 1,200 feet wide and 20 feet deep, was dredge contract through the bar in the Virginia channel above the 1 Bridge. Dredging to 12-foot depth in the Washington channel between 20-foot channel and the reclaimed area below the Long Bridge was tinued until February 1, 1892, when a part of the contractors' p failed, necessitating a suspension of work. The contractors have far failed to resume operations. The coping of the reservoir outlet has been laid. Anacostia River.-Under the provisions of the river and harbor of September 19, 1890, which made $20,000 of the $280,000 appro ated for improving the Potomac River available for the Anaco River, dredging operations have been in progress, and the channel been widened and dredged to 20 feet in depth at two localities. excavated material was deposited on the flats. Long Bridge.-The northerly end of the Long Bridge across Washington channel has been reconstructed by the Baltimore and tomac Railroad Company on plans approved by the Secretary of W the work being as yet incomplete, owing to the settlement of the ab ments. Reference is made in the report of the officer in local char to the necessity of rebuilding Long Bridge. In the event of a fres occurring when the Potomac River is full of ice, great damage is to expected. The piers of the bridge are of such faulty construction th an ice gorge would be probable, which would cause the water to ba up and overflow portions of the city front, and through the sewe above the bridge such portions of the lower parts of the city as may drained by them. Great damage was done by the freshet of Jun 1889, but greater damage may occur from a freshet of lesser magnitu if accompanied by an ice gorge. July 1, 1899, outstanding liabilities.. $703.00 July 1, 18982, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. 41, 183.00 41, 886. July 1. 189P), balance available ....... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 15, 172.6 200,000.0 215, 172.6 unt available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893..... Amour estimated) required for completion of existing project ...... 681,365.0 subunited in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts at 18188 and 1867. lee Appendix d 13 2 Away Ave at Mount Vernon, Virginia.-Before this improve ment was commenced the ruling depth over the wide flat between the main channel of the Potomac River and the wharf at Mount Vernon was but 4 feet at low tide. The original project, adopted in 1879, was for a channel 150 feet wide and from 6 to 7 feet deep, with a turning basin at the wharf of 150 feet radius. This project was amended in 1888 so as to provide for a channel 200 feet wide and a turning basin of 200 feet radius. On June 30, 1890, $14,500 had been expended and the channel was about 140 feet wide between the 6-foot curves, and from 60 to 100 feet wide between the 9-foot curves, the depth here varying from 9 to 12 feet. The turning basin was 360 feet wide, but was incomplete. The act of September 19, 1890, provided for the completion of the improvement, and operations have been conducted with this end in view. The channel has been dredged to a width of 155 feet, with a depth of from 8 to 10 feet, and the turning basin completed, the radius being 180 feet. The officer in charge regards the present dimensions of the channel as sufficient for navigation, and no further appropriations are recommended. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. (See Appendix J 2.) $502.86 502.86 3. Occoquan Creek, Virginia.-Occoquan Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters about 25 miles below Washington, D. C. Navigation was obstructed by four bars, which were improved between 1873 and 1880 by the expenditure of four appropriations, aggregating $25,000, giving a navigable depth of about 6 feet to Occoquan, the head of navigation, 4 miles above the mouth. In compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, a new survey was made in 1889, and the condition of the several bars found as follows: Lower Mud, about 3.5 miles below Occoquan. This bar is about 4,000 feet long and had a ruling depth of about 3 feet. The former dredged channel had filled in. Upper Mud, about 2.25 miles below Occoquan. The channel dredged in 1874-75 was found to have maintained its original dimensions, being about 50 feet wide and from 5 to 6 feet deep. Sand Bar, about one-half mile below Occoquan. The former dredged channel had filled in, the least depth being 4.2 feet. Occoquan Bar, a short bar opposite Occoquan. The channel dredged here had filled in, and the least depth was 4 feet. The project for the new improvement comprises the dredging of channels 6 feet deep and from 100 to 150 feet wide through the bars, with the construction of such dikes as may be required to maintain the depth secured by dredging. The first appropriation for the new work was made September 19, 1890. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $1,605.01 had been expended. The dredging of a channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide through the lower bar was then in progress, the condition of the work as regards facility of navigation being, with this exception, substantially the same as at the time of the survey of 1889. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the channel through the lower mud has been completed, the depth being 6 feet and the width from 100 to 150 feet, and a channel from 70 to 100 feet wide and 8 feet deep has been dredged through Occoquan Bar. At the last-named bar the depth was made 8 feet to anticipate probable shoaling from fres pending the construction of a dike proposed to be built under fi appropriations. The bars thus improved were the most serious obs tions, and the work done has afforded material relief to navigation July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1892, balance available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J 3.) 1 5,0 5, 1 30,00 4. Aquia Creek, Virginia.-Aquia Creek is a tributary of the Poto River, which it enters about 41 miles below Washington, D. C. stream is about 7 miles long, and in 1872 its navigation was chiefly structed by shoals between the mouth and the "Narrows," 4.5 in above. Here the creek takes the character of a wide bay, from 1, to 6,000 feet wide, while the depths of water ranged from 2 to 4 1 over an almost continuous shoal of soft mud. Above the "Narrow the creek is from 60 to 200 feet wide, with a depth of from 2 to 17 f the shoaler portions being near the head of navigation. The stream crossed by a bridge of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poton Railroad about 3 miles above the mouth, the draw of the bridge bei but 28 feet wide. From 1872 to 1878 appropriations amounting to $10,000 were ma by Congress, and the navigation improved by dredging a channel fr 40 to 50 feet wide and from 4 to 5 feet deep through the shoaler par of the creek, chiefly above the railroad bridge. A new survey of the creek was provided for in the river and harb act of August 11, 1888, and was made in 1889. The channel dredg from 1872 to 1878 was found to have maintained its dimensions betwe the railroad bridge and the "Narrows," but at other places it had fill in. The general depth of water in the creek remained substantially in 1872. Estimates for improving the navigation were submitted Jan ary 18, 1890, and an appropriation of $10,000 made by the river an harbor act of September 19, 1890. The project for the improvement, approved December 4, 1890, pr poses a channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep, dredged through th shoals where less than 6 feet is found between the mouth of the cree and the "Narrows." At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $500 had bee expended. A channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep had then bee dredged from Thorny Point, at the lower end of the shoal, for a dis tance of about 2,670 feet toward the railroad bridge. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the channel was com pleted up to the railroad bridge, a distance of 12,280 feet from the point of commencement, the full dimensions required by the project-80 feet in width and 6 feet in depth-having been secured. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $8,889.05, Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J 4.) $9,500.00 8,889.05 610.95 115.00 495.95 5,000.00 5, 495.95 25,000.00 5. Harbor at Breton Bay, Leonardtoun, Maryland.-The navigation of the head of Breton Bay was obstructed in 1874 by a shoal extending from the 9-foot curve in the bay to Leonardtown, a distance of about 1 mile, the least depth on the shoal being 5 feet at low tide. The original project, adopted in 1878, contemplated dredging a channel 150 feet wide and 9 feet deep through the shoal with a suitable turning basin at the wharf. In 1885 the project was amended to provide for a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep, with a turning basin 400 feet wide by 800 feet long. In 1890 the original project was resumed, as this appeared to be sufficient for the navigation of the bay. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $32,500 had been expended. The condition of the improvement at the close of the last preceding dredging operations (in March, 1889) was as follows: The basin at the Leonardtown wharf was 645 feet long by 370 feet wide. From the lower end of the basin the channel was 150 feet wide for a distance of 1,870 feet, and for a further distance of 1,380 feet around the turn at Buzzard Point the width varied from 185 to 280 feet. The depth varied from 8.5 to 14.6 feet. The channel between Buzzard Point and the 9-foot curve in Breton Bay had not been dredged. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $33,017.79 had been expended, and the dredging needed to complete the project was in progress. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the channel was completed from the 9-foot curve in Breton Bay to the Leonardtown wharf, in accordance with the original project, which was resumed in 1890. The channel is 9 feet deep and 150 wide, except at the turn at Buzzard Point, where the width was increased to 320 feet to facilitate the turning of steamers. The turning basin at the Leonardtown wharf is 600 feet long and 370 feet wide. No further work is required by navigation at present, and no further appropriations are recommended. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. (See Appendix J 5.) $4, 482. 21 4, 417.21 65.00 65.00 6. Nomini Creek, Virginia.-This stream is an important tributary of the Potomac, which it enters about 82 miles below Washington, D. C. Navigation was obstructed in 1872 by a bar of sand and oyster shells at its mouth, over which but 3 feet could be carried at low tide, and the dangers and difficulties of passing the bar were further increased by a rapid current and cross tides. After passing the bar 8 feet can be carried to Nomini Ferry, about 4 miles above the mouth. The original project for the improvement, adopted in 1873, provided for dredging a channel 100 feet wide and 9 feet deep through the The project was modified in 1879 by increasing the width to 150 and again in 1885 by increasing the width to 200 feet. In 1890 a ther modification was made, proposing the construction of two je parallel to the outer channel, retaining the width of dredging at feet. The total cost of this modified project was placed at $72, At the close of work in 1883 a channel about 100 feet wide and 9 deep had been dredged through the bar. During the suspensio work from 1883 to 1889 the cut was reduced in depth and width deposits of sand. In 1889 the outer channel was widened and redred on the westerly side for a width of 94 feet and a length of 1,470 1 the depths being from 8.9 to 13.8 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the channel at and side of White Point was dredged, the width attained being from 13 150 feet, and the depth 9 feet. A riprap dike was built inside W Point to check the cross tidal current. Up to June 30, 1891, $39,94 had been expended. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, no work was done, funds on hand not being sufficient for the prosecution of active ope tions. 20,000. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix J 6.) 7. Patuxent River, Maryland.-The present head of navigation on t Patuxent River is Bristol, Md., about 46 miles above the mout Prior to the commencement of the improvement navigation below Bri tol was obstructed by two mud bars (1) Swann Point Bar, about miles above the mouth, having a least depth of 7.8 feet, and (2) Brist Bar, at Bristol, having least depths in front of the two wharves of 7 and 4.2 feet. Two other bars below, viz, Pope Shoal (24 miles abov the mouth) and Warren Reach Bar (34 miles above the mouth), wer mentioned in the report of the preliminary examination as worthy survey, but they offer no obstruction to the present standard of nav gation. The original project was adopted in 1888, and contemplated dredging a cut, 200 feet wide and from 12 to 13 feet deep, through Swann Poin Bar and Bristol Bar, so as to secure a permanent channel about 100 feet wide and 12 feet deep at low tide. This project was modified in 1890 so as to provide for a channel 120 feet wide and 12 feet deep (the already dredged) at Bristol Bar and a channel about 100 feet wide and feet deep at Swann Point Bar, these last-named dimensions being regarded as sufficient for the present and immediately prospective de mands of commerce. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $9,816.66 had been expended. A channel, 120 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and 794 feet long, had been dredged at Bristol Bar, and a channel, 9 feet deep, about 100 feet wide, and about 2,250 feet long, through Swann Point Bar. This work completes the existing project, unless it should appear |