The amount available and the appropriation asked for is to be expended in closing Farr Slough, situated 23 miles above the New Orleans and North Eastern Railroad Bridge, and the improvement of that section of the river above the cut-off towards Jackson as far as the funds available will permit, and will probably so improve that portion as to meet the present demand of the commerce of the river. 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...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. (See Appendix Q 10.) $1.45 13, 125.00 13, 126. 45 8,308.95 4,817.50 70,000.00 30, C00,00 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, Major Damrell, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement: 1. Noxubee River, Mississippi, to ascertain whether it can be made continuously navigable by a system of locks and dams or otherwise.-(See Appendix Q 11.) And it appearing, after preliminary examination, that the locality was worthy of improvement he was charged with the survey of the following, the results of which will be duly submitted when received: 1. Tombigbee River, to ascertain what improvement is necessary to make said river continuously navigable from Vienna, Alabama, to Walker's Bridge, Mississippi. INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officer, Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers. The inspecting officer in his annual report states that with the exception of three days during the month of March, 1887, when there was some temporary shoaling in the pass, about 13 miles below its head, there has been throughout the fiscal year a channel from the river into the jetties having a navigable depth of 26 feet. Between the jetties and out to deeper water in the Gulf there has been during the entire year a 26-feet deep channel, not less than 200 feet wide at bottom, containing a 30-foot deep channel of variable width. No dredging has been done in the jetties or pass or vicinity since February, 1883. The most important and beneficial change that has occurred during the year, is, that a good, straight channel was secured in October, 1886, in the prolongation of the axis of the jetties, probably caused by the completion of the inner jetties and a long period of high water with rapid current in the river, which produced a scour and widened and deepened what had been a very unsatisfactory channel. This new channel is 210 feet wide, 26 feet deep; it has a central depth of 30 feet, which is 60 feet wide in its narrowest place, The crooked, deep channel beyond the outer end of East Jetty is still in existence; the 26-foot channel is 260 feet wide, and the 30-foot channel is 170 feet wide. In the fan-shaped area beyond the ends of the jetties there has been during the year a deposit of sediment averaging 1.38 feet in depth. As this area embraces about 14 square miles, the aggregate fill on this area has amounted to about 1,750,000 cubic yards of material. During the year several steamers drawing less than 26 feet have been aground in the pass and near the jetties. Surveys made as soon as practicable afterwards showed in every instance that the vessels were not in the channel. The changes in depths and widths which have happened in the pass and jetties are those of ordinary occurrence. In some localities the channel has deepened, in others shoaled. The shoaling has generally occurred in the deeper parts of the pass and was not detrimental to navigation. The condition of the channel can only be obtained by actual surveys, which are made continuously, and results are reported monthly. The expenses of the surveys have heretofore been paid from the funds appropriated by Congress in the river and harbor acts. When such bills failed the working force was not paid, in one instance for seven months, until relieved by a deficiency bill. The failure of the last river and har bor bill to become a law, and no special provision having been made by Congress to pay for the contingencies of the required surveys at South Pass, leaves the work in the anomalous condition of requiring by law that the surveys and examinations be made, but makes no provision for their payment. This renders the surveys liable to cease as soon as the present available funds are exhausted, which will be at the end of August, 1887. It is believed to be for the best interests of the Government that special appropriations be made for continuing this work in compliance with law, instead of being dependent annually on the passage of a river and harbor bill. Special attention is invited to the necessity of authorizing the enforcement of rules and regulations for the navigation of South Pass. The present rules, as sanctioned by the Secretary of War, are sufficient, but have no legal force and therefore cannot be enforced. July 1, 1886, amount available .......... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 July 1, 1887, amount expended during the fiscal year, exclusive of liabili ties outstanding July 1, 1886 ... July 1, 1887, amount available $1, 172.50 10,000.00 11, 172.50 9, 670. 11 1,502.39 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 18,670.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix R.) IMPROVEMENT OF VARIOUS WATER-COURSES IN THE STATE OF LOUIS- 1. Tchefuncte River and Bogue Falia, Louisiana.-The river is navigable for steamers drawing 5 feet to Old Landing, about 10 or 12 miles above its mouth, and then for lighter-draught schooners to Covington, about 2 miles further up on the Bogue Falia. The bar at the mouth of the river had a depth of 44 feet on it at the lowest stage of the water. The project for the improvement of the river was made in 1880, and contemplated the removal of overhanging trees, logs, etc., in channel and the dredging of the bar at its mouth. The obstructions, such as overhanging trees, logs in beds, etc., were removed, but the bar at the mouth was not dredged, as it would be likely to reform. To prevent this, or retard its reformation, the officer in charge in 1884 recommended the building of a breakwater, extending into the lake for 2,500 feet, and then dredging a channel through the bar. With the two appropriations of $1,500 each made in 1881 and 1882 the obstructions below Covington were removed. Part of the unexpended balance was used for the construction of the breakwater extending 820 feet into the lake. The original estimated cost of improving the river was $5,460, but this did not include building a breakwater across the bar. The project, as modified in 1884, is estimated to cost $20,400. This has not yet received the sanction of Congress. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, $3,000 had been expended on this improvement, at which time the navigation had been improved for schooners to Covington in consequence of removal of snags and overhanging trees, and it is thought that the breakwater has retarded the drift of sand on the bar at the river's mouth. Twenty-five hundred dollars was appropriated by Congress in August, 1886, to improve Bogue Falia between Old Landing and Covington. Early in 1887 operations began, and channels were cut through the bars in this stretch of bayou 5 feet in depth and 30 to 60 feet wide, giving better navigation to schooners to and from Covington. To carry out the project for making the mouth of the Tchefuncte a harbor of refuge $19,000 will be required. Otherwise no money for the further improvement of this stream during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, is required. 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 (See Appendix S 1.) $2,500.00 1, 772.87 727.13 2. Tangipahoa River, Louisiana.-Before improvement the river was obstructed by snags, rafts, standing and overhanging trees. The prój ect adopted in 188Q was to remove these obstructions as far up as Connor's Bridge, 53 miles above its mouth, and get all depth possible without dredging. The river was navigable for 34 miles of this distance for vessels of very light draught. Congress has appropriated for the improvement of this river $11,500, and with this amount 41 miles of river was improved. The upper 7 miles of river worked over is now nearly as much obstructed as it was before work was commenced. Total expended to June 30, 1884, $6,786.02. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, this work was continued between Lanier's Bridge and the mouth. The upper 12 miles of the river has not been touched, and it seems useless to undertake to carry the improvement any further up stream, as there does not seem to be any increase of commerce, and the obstructions form nearly as fast as they are removed. Should any further appropriations be made, the money can be used in removing obstructions in the lower part of the river as they may form, but no recommendation for appropriation is made. No work has been done during the past fiscal year; no appropriation having been made since that of July, 1884. 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 S 2.) $1,700.00 3. Tickfaw River, Louisiana.-In 1889 Congress authorized an examination of this river. A project was submitted in 1881 to clean out the river and its navigable branches-the Natalbany, Blood, and Ponchatoula rivers-by removing logs, snags, trees, etc., at an estimated cost of $10,230. In 1881-'82-'86 Congress made appropriations aggregating $6,000, and 20 miles of the Tickfaw and the Natalbany, to Springfield, the head of navigation, have been impoved. Work was also done on the Ponchatoula as far as it was thought advisable. The Blood River was also cleaned out as far as navigable. Only a little wood and some saw-logs are carried or floated on this stream. The improvement is not permanent, as obstructions will reform in all these streams. Should any further appropriations be made, it will be applied to keeping these streams cleaned out. The work has been completed in accordance with the original project. The officer in charge calls attention to the fact that most of the obstructions in these rivers are caused by the careless felling of trees for lumber. 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........... (See Appendix S 3.) $3.72 2,000.00 2,003.72 1,713.68 290.04 4. Amite River, Louisiana.-Before improvement the river was ob structed by snags, sunken logs, and trees. One or two small steamboats and a few sailing vessels were employed in the commerce of the river. In 1880 a project was made to remove obstructions above Bayou Manchac, so as to get 5 feet depth, so far as appropriations would permit. Congress appropriated $8,000, and the improvement of 40 miles of river above Bayou Manchac was contracted for. The work was of little benefit to commerce. In 1881 $5,000 more was appropriated to continue the work. In 1883 the project was modified so as to improve the river below Bayou Manchac, and work was done upon about 8 miles of the river. In 1886 $2,000 more was appropriated to continue this improvement. This was applied to that portion of the river below Bayou Manchac, and principally between there and Port Vincent. Work was resumed in November, 1886, and completed in January, 1887, and the channel cleared. The improvement is not a permanent one, as new obstructions will reform from the caving banks. The estimated annual expenses of cleaning out this stream is $2,000. The original estimated cost of the work was $23,760; of which $15,000 has been appropriated and $14,666 67 spent. The officer in charge recommends that if any future appropriations be made for this river, they be so worded as to permit a portion of the funds to be applied to the improvement of the Bayou Manchac, which is a tributary of the Amite, and navigable for about nine months in the the year. This stream is badly obstructed by logs, snags, and overhanging trees, and at present has an annual commerce estimated at $136,000. To remove the present obstructions to its navigation will require about $2,500. 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 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (See Appendix S 4.) $1.99 2,000.00 2,001.99 1,668. 66 333.33 6, 205.00 6, 200.00 5. Bayou La Fourche, Louisiana.-The natural channel was much obstructed by snags, overhanging trees, shoals, and wrecks. The original project, adopted in 1879, had for its object the removal of these obstructions. The amount expended on this work up to end of fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $24,998.24. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, was $3,756.21 for care of property, gauge-readings, and continuing improvement. Much relief has been given to commerce by removal of snags, etc. No permanent relief for the difficulties of low water over numerous shoals can be had save by some rather costly improvement, such as that by movable dams and locks, plans and estimates for which have been made. The plan preferred by the engineer in charge is that for the canalizing of the bayou, connecting it with the Mississippi by a lock at its head. This improvement is estimated as costing $450,000, with $31,000 annual expense of maintenance, thus including $22,500 interest on original cost of $450,000, at 5 per cent. The saving of freight obtainable by having steam-boat navigation all the year round is estimated at $19,000. Congress has not yet considered the advisability of undertaking this improvement. July 1, 1886, amount available... July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886... July 1, 1887, amount available...... (See Appendix S 5.) $254.61 175.00 79.61 6. Bayou Terrebonne, Louisiana.-This work was examined by direction of Congress in 1879. The estimated cost of the improvement was $18,800, afterwards increased to $38,800, and was to consist of dredg. ing a channel 4 feet deep and clearing out all obstructions to Houma, Louisiana. The following amounts have been appropriated by Congress: in 1880, $10,000; in 1881, $8,800; in 1882, $7,000; in 1886, $10,000; total, $35,800. |