6. Pease River, Florida.-This river rises about the center of Polk County, Florida, and flows southwest into Charlotte Harbor. For the last 12 miles of its course it has the characteristics of an estuary. The rest of the stream flows through a heavily wooded and sparsely populated country, and is much obstructed by fallen trees, snags, rocks, and· bars. It is subject to great changes of level. During the low-water season not more than 14 inches to 24 inches of water can be relied on. The project for its improvement adopted in 1881 is to improve it for high-water navigation by the removal from the channel of snags, overhanging trees, and loose rocks, between Fort Meade and the mouth, a distance by river of about 100 miles. Since the project was adopted the Florida Southern Railroad has been opened along the river, entirely changing the commercial conditions, and rendering a modification of the project advisable. The amount expended up to June 30, 1886, was $10,515.93. The river was cleared for a distance of 64 miles. As no regular commerce exists in the upper river, no practical benefit was derived from this expendi ture, and the river is again filled with obstructions. In the act approved August 5, 1886, $13,000 was appropriated for improving Manatee and Pease rivers, of which $5,000 could be expended on Pease River. As no practical benefit could be derived from expending so small a sum on the improvement of this river it was decided to reserve $2,000 with which to make a survey on which a project could be founded, and to expend the remainder in improving Manatee River. The field work of the survey has been nearly completed. It is believed that the existing commerce can be sufficiently accommodated by the river in its present condition and no appropriation is recommended for the coming year. Should the towns near the mouth of the river continue to grow as rapidly as they have so far since the opening of the railroad, sufficient trade may be developed to warrant the deepening of the channel at the mouth. The amount required for this work is estimated at from $27,000 to $55,000, according to the depth desired. As soon as the survey has been completed and the results plotted, a definite project with an estimate can be submitted. July 1, 1886, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886, $13,000, for Manatee and Pease Rivers, of which there was allotted to Pease River...... $484.07 2,000.00 2,484.07 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. $1,357.27 1,500. 81 July 1, 1887, amount available..... 983.26 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 O 6.) 25,000.00 7. Manatee River, Florida.-The portion of Manatee River under improvement is the last reach between Rocky Bluff and the mouth, a distance of about 12 miles. This has a mid-channel depth of from 7 to 20 feet. The general width is about three-fourths of a mile. At the mouth is a long shoal with a minimum depth of 8 feet, Between Palmetto and Manatee, about 6 miles from the mouth, is another bar covered by from 3 to 5 feet of water. The river was examined in 1881. An appropriation of $12,000 for its improvement was made in 1882. The project adopted had for its object to form a channel 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep at mean low water from Tampa Bay to McNeil's Point (Palma Sola). The appropriation was expended in 1883-1884, and a cut 2,150 feet long was made, varying in width from 35 to 60 feet, and having a depth of 12 feet. In the fall of 1887 this cut was found to have held fairly well, though it had been little used by deep-draught vessels. The least depth found in it was 9.9 feet. In act approved August 5, 1886, $13,000 were appropriated for improving Manatee and Pease rivers; $2,000 of this amount was applied to Pease River. Owing to the changed commercial conditions since the adoption of the project, brought about by the extension of the railroad to Tampa, the transfer to Tampa of the principal Gulf steamships lines, and the service of the smaller towns around Tampa Bay by coasting steamers from Tampa, the project was modified to provide for the passage of these lighter-draught vessels to all of the towns of the lower river, by the removal of the bar above Palmetto. A survey of this bar was made, and operations for its removal will commence in about six weeks. Fifteen thousand dollars, in addition to the amount on hand, are required to open a clear channel 8 feet deep to the towns of Manatee, Hendrix, and Ellenton, from which a large proportion of the total shipments from the river comes. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886, $13,000, for Manatee and Pease rivers, of which there was allotted to Manatee River .. $11,000.00 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1887, amount available $589.92 609.52 10,390.48 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... (See Appendix O 7.) 50,000.00 8,000.00 8. Tampa Bay, Florida.-The harbor of Tampa, at the head of this bay, was separated from deep water by a flat 2 miles wide. Through this was a narrow channel with an available depth of about 5 feet, formed by the waters of Hillsborough River. The present project was adopted in 1880, and has for its object the formation of a 9-foot channel from the 9-foot curve in the bay to the wharves at Tampa, in Hillsborough River, 150 feet wide in the bay and 200 feet wide in the river, at an estimated cost of $97,000. Up to June 30, 1886, $59,169.54 had been expended, giving a channel 8,000 feet long and varying in width from 60 to 150 feet and with a depth of 9 feet. On June 30, 1886, this had shoaled at various points through the action of the tidal currents. It then had a mid-channel depth of about 8 feet and a width of 60 feet. To complete the project, $73,000 more was required. In act approved August 5, 1886, $10,000 were appropriated for this work, and operations are now in progress. In the opinion of the officer in charge, the dredged channels in this bay will not be permanent without assistance from deflecting dikes. The cost of the dredging operations and of the dikes would be so great compared with the narrow and shallow channel to be obtained that the officer in charge recommends the modification of the project so as to keep the present channel clear by a small annual expenditure, and to make a permanent deep-draught harbor for the city in Old Tampa Bay. This harbor could admit vessels drawing 20 feet of water after a comparatively small expenditure of money. The amount on hand and the appropriation asked for will be used in accordance with the project. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886.. July 1, 1886, amount available.... $830.46 10,000.00 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. 10,830.46 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. $771.63 1,198.28 9, 632. 18 July 1, 1887, amount available........ (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix O 8.) 63,000.00 25,000.00 9. Withlacoochee River, Florida.-This river was examined with a view to its improvement in 1879. The original project was to improve the river by the removal of snags, overhanging trees and loose rocks, and by deepening some of the worst shoals and a bar at the mouth, so as to enable boats drawing 2 feet of water to navigate the river during half the year from the mouth of Hay's Ferry, a distance of 100 miles. This improvement has been extended to Pemberton Ferry. Up to June 30, 1886, $10,343.20 had been expended, and the river has been made navigable according to the project, excepting at the mouth and in the vicinity of Morriston's Shoals. By act of August 5, 1886, $3,000 were appropriated for this work. The river has been cleared between Lake Panasoffkee and Pemberton Ferry. Excepting at a point above Hay's Ferry, where there is not suffi cient depth at unusually low stages, this portion of the river can be navigated continuously. The work was done partly by contract and partly by hired labor. A marked increase in the volume of products of this region has followed the improvement of the river. A still greater increase would follow the completion of the work. The appropriation asked for will be expended in accordance with the project. The money now available will be used in the care of the public property. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities... $156.80 3,000.00 3, 156.80 $2,660.87 3,018.03 July 1, 1887, amount available...... 138.77 $10,400.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix O 9.) 10. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida.-The improvement of this harbor has been carried on from time to time under various appropriations made since 1872. It was obstructed by a shoal locally called the Bulkhead or Middle Ground, lying between Way Key and the main shipchannel; at several points in the main ship-channel the rock which everywhere underlies the harbor at a slight depth, by its outcropping, has decreased the general 12-foot depth of the channels to from 7 to 9 feet. The present project for the improvement of the harbor was adopted in 1883, and contemplates the formation of a channel 200 feet wide and 103 feet deep through these shoals. An appropriation of $5,000 was made in 1884 for work under this project. With this a cut was made partially across one of these shoals. This cut has remained clear. In the act approved August 5, 1886, $7,000 were appropriated for continuing this improvement. This amount is to be applied to reopening a cut through the Middle Ground and changing its direction so as to insure greater prominence. A contract has been made, but work has not been commenced. The amount of dredging required under the project, as estimated in 1883, is too small. The estimate of cost must be increased to $54,000 to complete existing project. The amount on hand and the appropriation asked for will be used in accordance with the project. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886. $7,000.00 liabilities outstanding July 1, 186 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. $269.59 282. 19 July 1, 1887, amount available...... 6,717.81 54,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O 10.) 11. Suwanee River, Florida.-A project for its improvement was adopted in 1880. It contemplates the formation of a channel 150 feet wide and 5 feet deep, from the Gulf through the bars at the passes as far up the river as New Branford (Roland's Bluff). From there to Ellaville the channel is to be 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep. Up to June 30, 1886, $17,940 had been expended under contracts in dredging in the east pass. A channel 5,835 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 5 feet deep at mean low water had been cut. By act of August 5, 1886, $5,000 were appropriated for this work. During the past fiscal year the channel between New Branford and Luraville was cleared and opened to the full size and width excepting at three points, where the channel has a minimum width of 35 feet and depth of 3 feet. Work was stopped by high water. The work done has rendered navigation throughout the year possible for boats drawing 2 feet of water between the mouth of the river and Luraville, 20 miles above New Branford. 8372 ENG 87————11 The balance available and the appropriation asked for are to be used in accordance with the project. July 1, 1886, amount available..... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 $60.00 5,000.00 5,060.00 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886... July 1, 1837, outstanding liabilities.. $2,694.07 3,050. 12 2,009.88 July 1, 1887, amount available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix O 11.) 32, 158.00 10,000.00 12. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation.-Wreck of steamer Dictator. This wreck was removed from the harbor of Tampa, Florida, under contract, for $2,500, approved July 22, 1886. Operations were completed September 28. After due advertisement the wreckage was sold at public auction November 11 for $160. (See Appendix O 12.) 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, Captain Black, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement: 1. Tampa Bay, Florida, including Hillsborough River up to the city of Tampa. (See Appendix O 13.) 2. Charlotte Harbor, including San Carlos Bay, Florida.-(See Appendix O 14.) 3. Clearwater Harbor, including Anclote and St. Joseph's bays and the narrows into Boca Ciega Bar, Florida.-(See Appendix O 15.) 4. Wakulla River, Florida, from its mouth to Wakulla Springs.-(See Appendix O 16.) 5. Channel from Haul-over, on Indian River, to Gilbert's Bar, Florida.(See Appendix O 17.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination, that the localities. were worthy of improvement he was charged with the survey of the following, the results of which will be duly submitted when received: 1. Punta Rassa Harbor, Florida. 2. Saint Augustine, Florida, for a deep sea channel on the outer bar. IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, GEORGIA, AND ALABAMA. Officer in charge, Capt. R. L. Hoxie, Corps of Engineers. 1. Apalachicola River, Florida.-The approved project for the improvement of this river contemplated securing a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water by removing snags and overhanging trees, as well as widening and straightening Moccasin Slough, the estimated cost being $80,333. The improvement may be considered as completed as projected, the river being in good navigable condition, and only requiring the removal |