most important links in the chain of inland water communication along the Atlantic coast. It connects Chesapeake Bay with Albemarle Sound and is composed of the following bodies of water: Elizabeth River, North Landing River, Currituck Sound, Coanjok Bay, North River, and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal. With the exception of the canal, which was constructed and is maintained by private enterprise, all are natural waterways. Before any improvement was undertaken by the Government there was over this route an indifferent channel 5 to 7 feet deep at low water, the navigation of which was obstructed by snags, overhanging growth, and sharp bends in all the rivers. The project adopted was to secure a channel 80 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water over the entire route, about 58 miles, by dredging, removing obstructions, and constructing a dike. Steady progress has been made toward securing this result, and at present the regular steamboat lines running between North Carolina ports and Norfolk and Baltimore 'employ vessels whose maximum dimensions are: length, 190 feet; width, 25.2 feet; draft, 8 feet, and tonnage, 421. In the river and harbor acts before that of September 19, 1890, three separate items were inserted for this improvement; in that of SeptemBer 19, 1890, one item was made to cover the entire route. The total expenditure up to June 30, 1891, was $235,089.89. Work was commenced on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River under contract in December, 1891, and completed in March, 1892, 32,308 cubic yards of material being removed. Nine shoals, having a total length of 7,950 feet, were dredged to not less than 9 feet deep for a channel not less than 50 feet wide. Another shoal 600 feet long was dredged 25 feet wide, and a width of 50 feet was removed from a point of shoal. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, upon this improvement was $8,742.39, which was applied to payments on contract, office expenses, etc. (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 K 7.) 49, 677.08 S. North Landing River, Virginia and North Carolina.-This river forms part of the "inland water route from Norfolk to Albemarle Sound" described above. Before improvement the navigation of this river was obstructed by shoals, over which the depth was 6 feet at low water, by snags, and by sharp bends. The plan of improvement adopted in 1879 was to secure a channel 80 feet wide and 9 feet deep at low water by dredging shoals and removing bends and obstructions. This project was completed June 30, 1884, at a cost of $49,777.34, and the desired channel obtained for a distance of 17 miles. Since $5.057.35 Las been expen fed on this river in removing su en Lave become detached from passing rats. There is still a small balance on hand be the continuation of wick, and to further appropriation is necessary. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN VIRG NORTH CAROLINA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. Offers in charge. Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, to Oe 31. 181. with Liect. Mason M. Patrick. Corps of Engineers, unde immediate orders: Lient. Mason M. Patrick. Corps of Engineer temporary charge from October 31, 1891. to January 1, 1892; and W. S. Stanton. Corps of Engineers, in charge since January 1, Laving under his inmediate orders Lieut. Mason M. Patrick, Cor Engineers, to April 21, 1892, and Lient. E. W. Van C. Lucas, Cor Engineers, since April 30, 1892; Division Engineer, Col. Wm. P. C hill Corps of Engineers. 1. Staunton Biter, Virginia.-The improvement has been restr to two sections, aggregating 65 miles in length and separated b interval of 204 miles. When, in 1579, the United States commenced the improvement o lower section. 31 miles long, from Randolph up to Brook Neal ekannel depth at about 18 rock ledges was only 1 to 2 feet, but where 4 to 5 feet at low water. The project of 1879, not since modified, was to secure a boat cha way 35 feet wide and at least 2 feet deep at low water throughout 314 miles. When, in 1883, the United States commenced the improvement of upper section. 234 miles long, from the Virginia Midland Railroad Br up to Pig River, the channel depth at about 20 rock shoals was abont 4 foot, and elsewhere about 2 feet at ordinary stages of wate The project of 1883, as modified in 1884 and 1887, was to secu batean channel way 14 feet wide and 13 feet deep over the entire To June 30, 1891, $44.500 was expended upon the improvemen the two sections. At that date the proposed channel had been obtained for 294 mil the middle part of the lower section, and for 183 miles of the u section, giving for the 313 miles of the former a fairly cleared cha for steamers of 2 feet draft and of about 25 tons burden, and ing navigation for pole boats fairly good over the entire upper sec up to Pig River. October 31 and November 9 the discontinuance of the improver recommended by the district engineer and division engineer, aproved November 10, 1891, by the Chief of Engineers. No work has been done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1 251 181. Adlance unexpended.... 81 102) amount expended during fiscal year 110 Actance unexpended 18 Westanding habilities LAM Dalance available $7,9 1 7,83 7,80 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... $50, 200.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 1.) 2. Roanoke River, North Carolina.-When the United States commenced its improvement, in 1872, its navigation by vessels of 10 feet draft (as great as can be carried through Albemarle Sound), was embarrassed by the wreck of a gunboat 6 miles and by war obstructions at two points 9 and 13 miles above its mouth; also somewhat obstructed for that draft by snags in the channel and by leaning trees 67 miles to Indian Highland Bar; thence, 62 miles up to Weldon, its channel depth on the bars was about 5 feet during eight months annually, but reduced to 2 feet during the annual season of extreme low water, and its channel was badly obstructed by snags, logs, stumps, leaning and overhanging trees. The original project of 1872 is to secure, at all seasons of the year, an unobstructed channel, with a least width of 50 feet, from the mouth 129 miles to Weldon, with a depth of at least 10 feet 67 miles to Indian Highland Bar, and of at least 5 feet 62 miles farther, to Weldon, by removing the war obstructions, snags, fallen and overhanging trees, sand bars, and ledges, by dredging, the construction of training dikes, and blasting, at an estimated cost of $269,000. To June 30, 1891, $119,040.37 had been expended upon the improvement. At that date the channel, for a width of 100 feet, from the mouth 103 miles to Looking Glass Bar, and the river to its full width thence 26 miles to Weldon, were well cleared of snags, logs, and stumps to the depth of 10 feet up 62 miles to Hamilton, of 5 feet thence 41 miles to Looking Glass Bar, and of 3 feet 26 miles farther to Weldon; but the river was badly obstructed by leaning and overhanging trees at all the bends from Jamesville 85 miles to Looking Glass Bar. The natural depth at extreme low water to the river bottom was not less than 10 feet 67 miles to Indian Highland Bar, and 5 feet 51 miles farther to Halifax, excepting at Spring Gut Bar, 35 miles below Halifax, where it was only 23 feet, while at Looking Glass Bar, 15 miles below Halifax, the 5-foot channel was narrowed to from 30 to 70 feet in width. At Halifax there was a bar, 2,450 feet in length, of rock and sand, with a depth of only 3.7 feet at extreme low water, and at the old railroad pier, 14 miles below Weldon, there was a sand bar 800 feet across with a depth of about 2 feet, while from the old Weldon Ferry there was a continuous ledge of rock 2,850 feet up to the old Weldon Landing, with only 1 foot of water upon it at extreme low stage; elsewhere from Halifax to Weldon the channel was 5 feet deep at extreme low water. With the amount applied during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, the full width of the river, from Edwards Ferry down 41 miles to Hamilton, has been entirely cleared of snags to the depth of 7 feet 24 miles down to Palmyra and of 9 feet the remaining 17 miles to Hamilton. 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 L 2.) $81, 3. Pasquotank Ricer, North Carolina.-When the United State gan its improvement in 1891 it had a good channel, nowhere less 7 feet deep from its mouth at Albemarle Sound, 36 miles, to the casin Track, with little or no obstruction 31 miles to Turners Cut its channel thence, 5 miles to the Moccasin Track, and the chann the Moccasin Track, which has a natural depth of not less than for 1,100 feet to the original entrance to the Dismal Swamp Canal badly choked with snags, logs, and stumps, and obstructed by hanging trees. And Turners Cut, an extension of the canal dug point on the river just below the obstructions to turn them, had sh by the caving of its sandy banks. The river above the Moccasin Track was obstructed like the 51 next below it. The present project, adopted in 1889, is, first, to clear the 5 mil channel up to and in the Moccasin Track to the canal for naviga by all vessels that can pass through the canal and enable the avoid Turners Cut, especially at periods of extreme low water; sec to thoroughly clear out the river 6 miles farther to Lebanon Bridg navigation by flatboats, at an estimated cost of $9,000. The amount expended under the project to the close of the f year ending June 30, 1891, was $2,340.28. At that Gate the Moccasin Track and a channel 60 feet wide, th down 24 miles to Richardson's Mills were thoroughly cleared, at channel of the same width fairly cleared through the other 23 mil obstructions to the lower end of Turners Cut, permitting the pas of all vessels which can pass through the canal. Since April 16, 1891, work has been suspended for want of funds July 1. 1897, balance mexpended.. June 20, 182, amount expe del during fiscal year Judy 1, 182, balance unADORŠAL July 1, 182, outstanding July 1, 1891, balance available. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. Imount avælable for fscal year ending June 30, 18:3.. (See Appendix 1. & $75 11 5 3,00 3,5 4. Matchups Crack, North Carolina.-When the United States bega improve it in February, 1892, its navigation was impeded by a bar a month i Albemarle Sound. The depth upon the crest in a somew ciremtuons channel was 7 feet. The project of 1889 is to dredge through the bar a straight cha about 2,100 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 9 feet deep at low water, m Hed in May, 189, by increasing the width to 140 feet. The estima cost was $10,000, Do June 30, 1891, $359, 48 had been expended upon this work. commenced. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, a straight channel 9 ↑ deep has been dredged through the bar 140 feet wide for a length 1,024 feet and 120 feet for the remaining 376 feet. 5. Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina.—In 1828, when the United States began to improve the inlet, vessels drawing 9 feet could cross the ocean bar at low water, but the channel thence into Pamlico Sound was not practicable for vessels drawing more than 5 feet. To 1837 the sum of $133,732.40 was expended, producing an increase of 34 feet in the depth in one of the channels to Pamlico Sound, and "a material increase in the number of vessels seeking this outlet from North Carolina ports to the sea," but the shoaling of the dredged channel and destruction of a jetty constructed to prevent it led to the abandonment of the improvement. In 1891, when the inlet was surveyed preparatory to resuming its improvement with the sum of $90,000 appropriated by the act of September 19, 1890, the depth in the channel on the bar was not less than 14 feet at mean low water and 4 to 6 feet in the channels thence to Pamlico Sound. The project of 1889 is to dredge a channel 300 feet wide and about 6,000 feet across the inner bar, at an estimated cost, if 10 feet deep, of $100,000; if 13 feet deep, of $190,000, and if 15 feet deep, of $280,000, with the possible construction of necessary protecting dikes, at an additional cost of $320,000, aggregating $600,000. To June 30, 1891, $1,747.71 had been expended. At that date the inlet had been surveyed, but the improvement had not been commenced. To June 30, 1892, no work has been done. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.. $55.56 July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 75,000.00 $88, 274.29 404.57 87,869.72 75,095.56 12, 774. 16 15,000.00 July 1, 1892, balance available ... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. (See Appendix L 5.) 27,774.16 6. Fishing Creek, North Carolina.-When the first appropriation was uade by Congress, September 19, 1890, for its improvement, its depth was about 4 feet at ordinary stages 38 miles to Bellamys Mills and its width 40 to 100, and occasionally 120 feet. The project of 1889 is to clear it of snags, logs, and overhanging trees to Bellamys Mills. To June 30, 1891, no money had been applied to the improvement, and no money has been applied to it during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, because the bridges over the creek have not been provided with draws as required by the law before any part of the money appropriated can be applied to the improvement. |