gation by the removal of rocks near Weldon and Halifax, and all wrecks, snags, and overhanging trees at various other points; and to dredge channels through the numerous bars and shoals. A part only of this project was adopted. The appropriation of $5,000, made August 2, 1882, was expended in repairing two dikes at Indian Highland Bar. A survey was also made to ascertain the changes which had taken place since 1871. The amount expended under the first project to June 30, 1884, was $45,000, and was chiefly for the removal of wrecks and blockades, and for blasting rock near Weldon. The first appropriation under the present project ($3,000 made July 5, 1884) was not sufficient to prosecute the work economically; it has been added to the appropriation of August 5, 1886. For the next fiscal year the engineer in charge asks $41,000. This sum might be expended in the improvement of Big and Little Rocky bars, about 36 miles below Weldon, and in operating the steam snagboat which has just been built for the Roanoke River. July 1, 1886, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.. $3,300.24 20,000.00 23, 300.24 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 $3,086.00 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities..... 6, 192.58 9, 278.58 July 1, 1887, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix K 16.) 14, 021.66 41,000.00 11,000.00 17. French Broad River, North Carolina.-The first project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1878, the object being to secure a channel 35 feet wide and not less than 23 feet deep at low water, between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals, a distance of 31.6 miles. The amount expended to June 30, 1882, was $37,780.22, with the following results: A survey of the river between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals; the improvement of the various shoals and rapids by means of rock and gravel excavation, and the construction of wing-dams for a distance of 26 miles below Brevard. The act of August 2, 1882, appropriated $5,000 for improving the river" from Smith's Bridge up." A survey from Smith's Bridge (near Asheville) to the foot of Long Shoal, a distance of 12.09 miles, was made in 1882, and a project adopted for securing a channel 30 feet wide and not less than 24 feet deep at low water for this distance. The estimates amounted to $76,000. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 1884, this part of the river was improved for a distance of 43 miles above the bridge, under a special act of appropriation. For the further improvement of the part of the river between Brevard and Big Buck Shoals $8,000 will be required, and for continuing the improvement between Long Shoal and Smith's Bridge, $40,000; total, $48,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1886. was $42,840.23, and during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $159.77 have been expended, making a total to June 30, 1887, of $43,000. 8872 ENG 87- -8 July 1, 1886, amount available...... $159.77 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886... 159.77 79,000.00 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 17.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF august 5, 1886. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Mr. Abert, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement: 1. Mattox Creek, Virginia.—(See Appendix K 18.) 2. Roanoke River from Clarksville, Virginia, to Eaton Falls, North Carolina. (See Appendix K 19.) The precise locality of the following could not be ascertained: 1. Hunter's Creek, Virginia.—(See Appendix K 20.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination, that the locality was worthy of improvement, he was charged with the survey of the fol lowing, the results of which will be duly submitted when received: 1. Patuxent River, Maryland, from Benedict to Hills Landing. IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBOR AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA-APPROACH TO NORFOLK HARBOR, VIRGINIA; CURRITUCK SOUND, COANJOK, AND EDENTON BAYS, AND NORTH RIVER BAR, NORTH CAROLINA-IM-` PROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CARO LINA. Officer in charge, Capt. F. A. Hinman, Corps of Engineers; supervising engineer, Col. W. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Harbor at Norfolk, Virginia.—The project for improvement, adopted in 1877, was to deepen and widen the channel at the mouth of the Southern Branch and along the Berkley and Portsmouth flats, in the harbor proper, and for the approaches to dredge a channel 500 feet wide and 25 feet deep at ordinary low water through the bars at the Western Branch and Sewall's Point. The revised project of 1885 is as follows: 1. To secure a channel not less than 25 feet deep and 500 feet wide at ordinary low water, by dredging from the deep water of Hampton Roads to Norfolk and the United States navy-yard on the Southern Branch, and also to secure a channel in the Eastern Branch at the same stage, not less than 22 feet deep with a width at least 300 feet at the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge, and gradually increasing to about 700 feet at its mouth, by dredging between said points; and 2. To ultimately dredge the entire area bounded by lines parallel to and 75 feet from the Port Warden lines to a depth not less than 25 feet at ordinary low water, from Fort Norfolk to the United States navy-yard, and not less than 22 feet deep from the mouth of the Eastern Branch to Campostella Bridge, and to construct a bulkhead at Berkley Flats. With slight modifications all operations have been conducted in accordance therewith. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $383,112.59, which resulted in a channel at least 25 feet deep and not less than 200 feet wide at ordinary low water, from the deep water of Hampton Roads to the United States navy-yard, and also a channel at least 22 feet deep and not less than 200 feet wide at same stage in the Eastern Branch up to the Norfolk and Western Railroad Bridge. Cursory examinations show that the former channel is good, except at Sewall's Point, where it has contracted somewhat and shoaled in places. The ruling depth is 24 feet, save near Buoy No. 2, where it is 21 feet at mean low water. It is possible that the contemplated survey of this reach will determine that this portion of the straight dredged channel will have to be abandoned for the natural channel further inshore, which deep-draught vessels now navigate. The Eastern Branch Channel has deteriorated slightly, the ruling depth being 21 feet at mean low water. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $49,151.34, which was applied to the building of a steam tender for use on this and other works and to the removal of 265,570 cubic yards of material, measured in scows, from the Southern Branch. This dredging resulted in a channel at least 25 feet deep and from 125 to 500 feet wide at mean low water, from its mouth to the upper end of the navy-yard. The small balance in hand will be applied to the care of property and to contingencies. To complete this work, so far as can be foreseen, will require the expenditure of $457,744.56, and this amount, in the opinion of the officer in charge, can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, in the general improvement of the harbor and its approaches by dredging and the construction of a bulkhead. In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that Congress be asked to word the next act so that the item for this work shall read, "Improving harbor at Norfolk and its approaches, Virginia," the same as in several previous acts. The portion of the approach to the harbor between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk is not included herein, as it is the subject of a separate report July 1, 1886, amount available... Amount received from an officer for fuel Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities oustanding July 1, 1886 ... July 1, 1887, amount available..... $1,887.41 33.75 50,000.00 51, 921. 16 49, 151. 34 2,769.82 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ 457,744.56 (See Appendix L 1.) 2. Approach to Norfolk Harbor and the United States (Norfolk) navyyard, between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk.—The original condition of the channel was good, with the exception of a bar opposite the mouth of the Western Branch, on some parts of which the ruling depth was only about 15 feet at mean low water. The project for the improvement adopted in 1878 was to dredge this bar for a distance of 4,800 feet to a width of 500 feet and a depth of 25 feet at mean low water. The amount expended on this work to July 5, 1884, can not be stated, as it can not be separated from the sum total of the general expenditures for the work of improving the harbor at Norfolk, Va., and its approaches, of which this was a part up to that date. The result obtained from the expenditures at this point to November, 1880, was a channel 4,400 feet long, 265 feet wide, and 25 feet deep at mean low water, which greatly facilitated navigation and commerce. This channel has since shoaled to 24 feet in places, and contracted considerably. No work was done in this locality thereafter until subsequent to the passage of the act of July 5, 1884, which appropriated $50,000 specifically for widening the channel. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $381.36, which was applied to surveying the locality in question and preparing map of same. A Board of Engineer officers was convened August, 1884, to prepare a project for the application of this appropriation. The Board reported a plan involving, in conjunction with dredging, the construction of a dike at or near Pinner Point, expressing at the same time doubts whether, under the phraseology of the law, any part of the money could be applied to a work of construction. However, the requirements of navigation demanding the widening of the channel as contemplated in the project already commenced and partly executed, by dredging, it was recommended that the existing appropriation be applied to widening the channel between Lambert's Point and Fort Norfolk by dredging along the eastern side thereof. This having been approved, the work was done accordingly. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, $46,768.64, which was applied to the removal of 469,944 cubic yards of material, measured in scows, resulting in a straight channel not less than 25 feet deep and at least 400 feet wide at mean low water, the entire length of this approach. Formerly the channel had an angle in it. This work has materially benefited navigation and commerce. There was expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $32,348.92, which was applied to the building of a steam tender for use on this and other works, and to the removal of 179,992 cubic yards of material, meas ured in scows, from the vicinity of Lambert's Point Light. This dredg ing resulted in a channel at least 25 feet deep and not less than 600 feet. wide at mean low water, from the main ship-channel to the Lambert's Point coal pier, about 1,000 feet. Soon after the completion of this dredging and as a proper precaution before commencing the proposed dike, the entire reach was resurveyed and a map of same made. This disclosed the fact that there existed a straight channel through it at least 25 feet deep and not less than 450 feet wide at mean low water, which had improved since it was dredged in 1885 and seemed to be self-sustaining. The officer in charge reported accordingly, recommending that the construction of the dike be indefinitely postponed and that the money therefor be applied to additional dredging. The matter was referred to a Board of Engineer officers and their report thereon was submitted to the Secretary of War, who directed on June 15, 1887, that— The money reserved for the dike will be held until the proper position of the dike can be determined, and the whole subject will be submitted to Congress at its next session. Accordingly copies of all papers relative to the foregoing are appended hereto. The amount that can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is $118,100, which it is proposed to expend in widening the channel along the eastern side by dredging. This will complete the project. It is suggested that in making the appropriation Congress authorize the expenditure of the amount now available and that asked in widening the channel of Elizabeth River towards port-warden's line on the eastern side between Lambert's Point Light and Fort Norfolk, including the shoals at Sewall's Point. The advantages and benefits to be derived therefrom will be a better approach to the harbor and the navy-yard and more room for anchorage. July 1, 1886, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 ... July 1, 1887, amount available $2,850.00 137,500.00 140, 350.00 32, 348.92 108,001.08 118,100.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... (See Appendix L 2.) 3. Archer's Hope River, Virginia.-Prior to the commencement of this work there existed a natural channel about 4 feet deep in the river, which could not be reached on account of the bar near its mouth, where it enters the James River. The original project, adopted in 1881, is to dredge a channel 6 feet deep and not less than 50 feet wide from the mouth to Williamsburgh, 5 miles above, where it is crossed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, is $9,874.79, which resulted in a channel 2,300 6eet long, 6 feet deep, and 50 feet wide at mean low water from the mouth up. This did not carry the channel over the bar, which is 700 feet longer. No material benefit to navigation and commerce has yet been realized. There have been no operations since. The small amount ($104.58) expended since June 30, 1884, has been applied to contingencies. The last examination, made in June, 1885, showed that the outer end of the dredged channel had shoaled about 1 foot, and that the inner part was in good condition. July 1, 1886, amount available July 1, 1887, amount available. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix L 3.) $20.63 20.63 9,400.70 4. Appomattox River, Virginia.-At the close of the late war the navigation of this river was in such a condition that the depth of water on more than one of the shoals did not exceed 6 feet at high tide, and this depth was diminished by 3 feet at low tide. The plan of improvement adopted in 1870 was to attain a depth of 12 feet at high tide, with as much width of channel as the river would bear. This plan has been steadily adhered to, constant progress being made towards its completion from year to year by the use of the money granted by Congress. The means depended on have been revetments, jetties, dams, and training walls, with resort to the dredge only when the needs of commerce required immediate work in the channel to give more width or depth than had been attained under the slower operation of the structures mentioned, of which the system has not yet been fully carried out for want of sufficient funds. Puddledock Cut, 2 miles long, has been enlarged, and |