Dredge Delta.-This dredge left the fleet at West Memphis at 3 p. m. on August 10 and arrived at Linda at 4.30 p. m., August 15, where she lay at the bank until 12.15 p. m. September 20, awaiting a stage that would require dredging on Linda Crossing. Work on the lower end of this crossing was commenced at this time and continued until 1.40 a. m. September 23, when the main driving gear of the drum of the port hauling engine broke, rendering a suspension of operations necessary. The breaking of this wheel is attributed to the heavy strain required on the cable to force the suction head into the stiff mud encountered in this locality. After work had been suspended, a crack was discovered in one of the cast elbows which connect the jet pipe with the suction head. This was repaired by banding. For handling material of this character it is recommended that one of the dredges be equipped with cutters and walking spuds. Jets make no impression whatever on material of this character, and it is necessary to force the suction head through it by means of winding engines, subjecting engines and cables to excessive strains. Since it was found the broken gear wheel could not be repaired and a new wheel could not be procured within several months, this dredge was ordered to the fleet at West Memphis. She left Linda in tow of the steamer Sachem at 8 a. m. on October 7 and arrived at the fleet at 2 p. m. on the 8th. Dredge Epsilon.-This dredge left the fleet at West Memphis at 10.45 a. m. on the morning of October 28 and arrived at Fritz at 5 p. m. November 1. At 9 a. m. on November 9 the dredge was moved from the bank, and dredging was commenced on Fritz Crossing at 2.20 p. m. The work projected was completed at 9.30 a. m. November 19, when the dredge was moved to the bank to await a lower stage or deterioration of the channel. No further work was required, and the dredge left Fritz Landing at 9.45 a. m. December 15 and arrived at the fleet at 2.30 p. m. on the 17th. Dredge Iota. This dredge left the fleet at West Memphis at 6.30 a. m. August 14 and arrived at Fritz Landing at 6.20 a. m. on the 20th. She lay at the bank at this point awaiting a lower stage of water until September 20, when she was moved out on Fritz Crossing and dredging commenced. At 4 p. m. September 23 a satisfactory channel had been opened through the bar, and the dredge was again tied up to the bank, where she remained until 6.15 a. m. on October 20. On this latter date the dredge was ordered to Linda Landing and arrived at that point at 9 a. m. on October 21. Dredging was commenced on Linda Crossing at 1.30 p. m. the same day and continued until 8 p. m. on the 26th, when the work projected had been completed. The dredge was then moved to the bank and tied up to await a lower stage or a filling in of the channel. She was moved out on the crossing again on November 3 and commenced dredging at 12 noon. The work on this crossing was completed at 9.40 a. m. November 6, and the dredge was tied up at Linda to await a lower stage. The electric-light engine was completely wrecked by the shearing of the two crosshead bolts while running at full speed. The plant from the steamer Choctaw was installed on the Iota, pending the procuring of a new engine. The dredge was moved out on the crossing again November 18 to make a few cuts through the lower end. The work was completed the following day and the dredge was moved to the bank. No further work was required of this dredge, and at 11 a. m. December 18, she left the bank at Linda, and started for the dredge fleet at West Memphis, arriving there at 10.15 a. m. December 20. Dredge Kappa.-This dredge left the fleet at West Memphis at 9 a. m. November 11, and commenced dredging in Presidents Island Crossing at 9 a. m. on the 12th, after great difficulty had been experienced in sinking the mooring piles in the gravel. Work was continued until noon on November 20, when, on account of the rapid rise of the river, further dredging was rendered both unnecessary and impracticable. After cooling down the boilers, a crack was discovered in the third sheet in the outside boiler of the starboard battery. A patch was riveted on in order that the dredge might be in condition for service during the balance of the season. No further service was required of this dredge, however, and she returned to the fleet at 10 a. m. December 12. Dredge Henry Flad.-This dredge left the fleet at 8.35 a. m. September 25, with pontons and loaded coal barge in tow, and arrived at Corona at 9.45 a. m., September 26. The plant was placed and dredging commenced at 8.25 a. m. on the 27th. Work was continued until 1.50 p. m. on the 28th, when a rise in the river rendered further dredging unnecessary. She was then moved to the bank, opposite Corona, and tied up to await a lower stage. This dredge was again moved out on Corona Crossing on October 22, and dredging was commenced a second time at. 2.25 p. m. on this date. The work projected was completed on the 27th at 1.50 p. m., and the dredge was again moved to the bank and tied up at 9 a. m. On November 14 this dredge started for Luxora, and arrived at 7.25 a. m. on the 16th. Work on this bar was commenced at 9 a. m. on this date and completed at 9.25 a. m. on the 17th. No further work was required of this dredge and she returned to the fleet at West Memphis December 15. Channels not less than 10 feet in depth and of widths exceeding 250 feet were maintained through all bars during the year. This work has been in charge of Asst. Engineer F. H. Hilliard, superintendent of dredging, from whose annual report the foregoing has been largely taken. Based upon the usual suppositions that the width of each cut is the width of the suction mouth of dredge and that the side slopes of the channel are 1 on 21, the amount of material moved by the dredges during the season was 297,300 cubic yards. In 1905 this yardage was 197,847; in 1904, 2,149,734; in 1903, 891,098; in 1902, 813,380; in 1901, 1,666,465; in 1900, 1,145,558, and in 1899, 1,612,223. A statement of the cost of dredging operations from May 1, 1906, to April 30, 1907, is given in Table No. 3, and the depths over shoal crossings during the lowwater season, as found by the inspection party of the Search, are given in Table No. 4. SURVEY FOR 14-FOOT WATERWAY, MISSISSIPPI RIVER, FROM THE MOUTH OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER TO ST. LOUIS, MO. No work was done under this appropriation during the year. The following papers accompany this report: Money statements. Abstract of contracts in force. Commercial statistics. Statement of charts issued and sold. Appendix 1 A. Laws affecting the Mississippi River Commission, July 1, 1906, to June 30, 1907. Table 1. Highest and lowest gauge readings in 1906, Mississippi River and tributaries. Table 2. High-water gauge readings, Mississippi River, 1907. Table 4. Depths over shoal crossings, Mississippi River, low-water season of 1906. Plate 1. Comprehensive hydrograph, Mississippi River and tributaries, to June 1, 1907. Plate 2. Profile of the Mississippi River from Cairo to Head of the Passes during high water of 1907. Plate 3. Hydrograph of Mississippi River, Cairo, Ill., to Fort Jackson, La., June 1, 1906, to May 31, 1907. Respectfully submitted. MONEY STATEMENTS. Appropriation for improving Mississippi River. July 1, 1906, balance unexpended....... Amount allotted from appropriation by sundry civil Amount received as reimbursement for engineer Amounts transferred from allotments in charge of 66 Dredges and dredging" in the months named: October, 1906–. June, 1907_. Amount received in April, 1907, from sale of blueprints. Credited to allotment for "Surveys, gauges, and observations" in May, 1907--- $292, 735. 47 $302, 000, 00 324, 000, 00 292. 75 499. 08 1, 496. 58 1,060. 29 1,930. 20 1, 794.92 5.42 633, 079. 24 925, 814. 71 June 30, 1907, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1907, balance unexpended__ 394, 260. 10 531, 554. 61 23, 774.45 July 1, 1907, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 79,909. 64 103, 684. 09 July 1, 1907, balance available____ 427,870. 52 Appropriation for gauging waters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries.a July 1, 1906, balance unexpended_-- $2,742.63 Amount allotted by Chief of Engineers, July 2, 1906, from permanent indefinite appropriation made by section 6 of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, as amended by section 9 of river and harbor act of June 13, 1902__. 9, 100.00 11, 842. 63 June 30, 1907, amount expended during fiscal year____ June 30, 1907, amount reverted to Treasury during fiscal year- $7, 189.00 1, 753. 11 8, 942. 11 a The custody and care of the gauges maintained under this appropriation were assumed by the Mississippi River Commission February 11, 1901, on which date they were transferred to the secretary, under authority of Secretary of War, dated January 25, 1901. 9, 100.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1909, in addition to the balance unexpended July 1, 1907---Itemized statement of expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, submitted in compliance with requirement of section 6 of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888. Observations: Pay of permanent gauge observers__ Inspections and repairs: Inspection of gauges on Mississippi River by $3,600.00 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS EXPENDED UNDER THE SECRETARY, MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION, TO JUNE 30, 1907. Appropriation for gauging waters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries Allotments from general appropriations for examinations, surveys, and contingencies of rivers and harbors by acts of Allotted from specific appropriation by river and harbor act of August 11, 1888. Deficiency act of October 19, 1888 8,700.00 3,600.00 Allotments from permanent indefinite appropriation made by section 6 of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, for fiscal years, viz: 1890 1891 (less $3,518.34 withheld in United States Treasury under ruling that only $6,000.00 can be expended each fiscal year) – 1892 9,000.00 5, 181. 66 5, 100.00 Allotments from permanent indefinite appropriation made by section 6 of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, as amended by section 9 of river and harbor act of June 13, 1902, for fiscal years, viz : 1903 1904 1905 1906 $9, 100.00 9, 100.00 9, 100.00 9, 100. 00 Appropriation for waterway from Lockport, Ill., to St. Louis, Mo. Act of June 13, 1902 (river and harbor). Total $25, 000. 00 1,093. 40 26, 093. 40 Abstract of contracts in force June 30, 1907—Improving Mississippi River, Mississippi River Commission, secretary's office. Time stipulation for completion of contract waived for a reasonable period. |