nection with the works at Jim Smith's, a channel not less than 8 feet deep. The bank was caving at the rate of several feet per day, and the natural channel was often not more than 4 feet deep in the shoalest parts. The ice during the winter had broken a gap in the hurdle designed to close the chute to the west of the island. This gap has been closed, and the revetment of the east side of the island is in good condition. The amount expended during the year was $9,117.55. The total amount expended to June 30, 1887, was $92,224.65, and has resulted in the protection of the east side of the island for a distance of 4,305 feet, and in closing partially the chute, affording, in connection with the improvement at Jim Smith's, a navigable channel of not less than 8 feet. It is not proposed to do any work here during the coming year unless repairs may be again required. Jim Smith's-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to afford a channel not less than 8 feet in depth. The natural channel was often not more than 4 feet in its shoalest parts. The amount expended during the year was $2,590.63, and the work consisted in the raising of the wattling to 16 feet above low water. The total amount expended to June 30, 1887, was $309,114.46, and has resulted in obtaining a navigable channel in which the depth during the year was not less than 8 feet. During the coming year the work proposed will be necessary repairs. Sulphur Springs.-The present project for the improvement of this locality was adopted in 1881, the object being to afford a channel not less than 8 feet in depth; it is in fact a continuation of the work at Jim Smith's. Work was begun in the fall of 1886, and continued during the spring of 1887. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $152,717.26. The total amount expended to June 30, 1887, was $152,717.26. The works are of too recent date to state that they have yet produced any effect, but will require another season to develop a decided benefit. The work for the coming year will consist in the continuation of this work down-stream. Bank protection at Cairo.-The work at this point consisted in the repair of the riprapping and the sinking of a mattress 544 feet in length. About 3,500 square feet of riprapping was repaired. The object of this work was the prevention of a threatened cut off into the Ohio River, which would have separated Cairo from the mainland. The work has succeeded in holding this point and the river has changed its course, so that there is no longer any danger, a large fill having been made along the threatened bank. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $8,045.51, and the total amount expended to June 30, 1887, was $160,439.32. During the coming season no work is proposed, unless some unexpected emergency should call for it. With the appropriation asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, it is proposed to carry out the projects heretofore adopted, that is, to make the improvement continuous, beginning at Saint Louis and working down-stream. The changeable character of the river renders it impracticable to give in advance the exact localities where work will be required. The original estimated cost of the work, as revised in 1883, was. The amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, exclu- $16, 997, 100.00 3,739, 600,00 3,328, 431.87 193,076.63 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. $193, 076. 63 200, 138.51 216, 173. 02 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1887, amount available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1889 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 2.) 13, 257,500.00 600,000.00 3. Gasconade River, Missouri.-This river was greatly obstructed by snags, logs, and leaning timber, which materially interfered with navigation. Work was commenced on this stream in 1880, and the project adopted for its improvement consisted in the removal of the snags and logs, and the cutting of the leaning timber. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $29,070.95, and at that time the navigation was much improved. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $5,353.44 was expended in continuing the removal of obstructions from the stream. During the coming season these operations will be continued as long as the funds available will permit. With the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, it is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions and to close some of the side chutes, in order to concentrate the water in the main channel of the river. The original estimate for the improvement of this stream was $50,000, of which $37,500 has already been appropriated, leaving an estimated amount of $12,500 to complete the project. This amount will probably be exceeded, however, as new obstructions are continually forming, and it will require a small amount each year to keep the channel open after the principal work has been done. 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...... $929.05 7,500.00 8, 429.05 5, 353. 44 3,075. 61 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 3.) 4. Osage River, Missouri and Kansas.-The navigation of this stream was greatly interfered with by obstructions in the channel and shoal crossings. The original project, adopted in 1871, was to obtain a lowwater navigation of 2 feet by means of dams and training-walls, but this was abandoned and no other definite project was adopted. The improvements have consisted in the removal of overhanging trees from the banks, and of snags from the bed of the stream, and the construction of wing-dams and training-walls. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $190,000, at which time the navigation was in a fair condition, the worst obstructions having been removed. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, $4,027.89 was expended in removing snags and cutting down leaning trees, which has been a great benefit to navigation. It is proposed to continue the removal of obstructions and make necessary repairs to dams, as long as the funds available will permit, and it is intended to expend the amount asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1389, in the same manner. An annual appropriation is required to keep this stream in navigable condition by the removal of new obstructions that are brought down during the floods. No stated amount can be given as required to complete the improvement. 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 $10,000.00 4,027.89 5,972. 11 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix W 4.) 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 Miller, and reported by him as worthy of improvement to a moderate extent and cost: 1. Kaskaskia River, from New Athens to its mouth, Illinois. And he was charged with a survey thereof to ascertain cost of improvement proper to be made, the result of which will be duly submitted when received. 2. Resurvey of Osage River from its mouth to Osceola, with view to movable locks and dams or other methods of improvement, Missouri.—The officer in charge reports this stream as not worthy of improvement by locks and dams, but in the manner heretofore pursued since 1872-no further survey is necessary.-(See Appendix W 5.) 3. The Mississippi River at Rush Island bend and Ivy Landing with a view to confining and deepening the channel. No report of an examination of this locality has been received. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER FROM SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO FORT BENTON, MONTANA, AND OF YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA AND DAKOTA. Officer in charge, Capt. Clinton B. Sears, Corps of Engineers. 1. Missouri River from Sioux City to Fort Benton.-The original condition of the navigable channel-way of the Missouri River above Carroll, Mont., was extremely bad in low water, the average depth being about 3 feet, the channel quite sharp in its turns, and filled in many places with projecting embedded rocks and loose bowlders. The por, tion below Carroll, down to Sioux City, was and is bad in low water, owing to unstable banks, shifting channel, moving sand-bars, and snags. The originally adopted project for the improvement was the removal of snags from the lower or sandy portion, and on the upper or rocky part the narrowing of the channel in wide places, reducing the slope and raising the water on the rapids by the construction of brush and gravel dams, the removal of rocks and loose bowlders, and the dredg ing of heavy gravel-bars, so as to give a navigable channel of 4 feet at low water. On this project there was expended up to June 30, 1886, $202,456.87. At that time the channel for purposes of navigation and commerce was much better than at any previous period, and vessels loaded to 33 feet could make their way to Fort Benton by careful pilotage and hard rubbing on the bottom. During the year ending June 30, 1887, there has been expended, including outstanding liabilities, $29,362.49 for repair of plant, which had been lying idle for over a year, and consequently had rapidly deteriorated; for care and preservation of property; for surveys; for transporting men and material to the field of operation preparatory to commencing work, and for outfit of tools, supplies, and subsistence, and at the close of the fiscal year dam construction had been begun. One hundred thousand dollars can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, with which it is proposed to clear out snags from Sioux City, Iowa, to Carroll, Mont., and above Carroll to continue the dredging of gravel-bars, removal of rocks and bowlders, and the construction of dams. The advantages and benefits to be derived are a safe navigable channel at all stages as far as snags are concerned, and a fair low-water channel for boats drawing 4 feet over the rocky portion of the river. The estimated amount required for the entire and permanent completion of the work of improvement of the portion of the river above Carroll, in accordance with the adopted project, is $250,000. For that below Carroll no project has been adopted other than snagging. July 1, 1886, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886... July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886. July 1, 1887, amount available 31,728.89 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (above I Carroll) ..... 250,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1889 100, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix X 1.) 2. Yellowstone River, Montana and Dakota.-The original condition of the navigable channel of the Yellowstone was bad and unsafe, due to the existence of numerous swift rapids, to crooked and shallow channel at low water, and to the presence of rocks and loose bowlders. By removing the latter at the worst places, by confining the water to one channel, and by increasing the water over the rapids, the river has been considerably improved for the purposes of commerce. Up to July 1, 1886, $98,306.74 had been expended thereon. At that date the condition of the improved river was much better than at present, as the dams have received no repairs since and are broken in many places. During the past fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, nothing has been expended in improvement owing to the inaccessibility of the work and the insufficiency of available funds. Fifty thousand dollars can be profitably expended during the year ending June 30, 1889, in carrying out the present project to secure a good navigable channel of from 3 to 4 feet from Glendive to the mouth 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........ $693.51 18,750.00 19, 443.51 2,912.68 16,530.83 106,000,00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.............. harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix X 2.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 5, 1886. The required preliminary examinations of the following locality was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Sears, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement: 1. James River, Dakota.-(See Appendix X 3.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN THE DES MOINES RAPIDS AND THE MOUTH OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER. Officer in charge, Capt. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers. The general plan of operations consists in contracting the low-water bed of the river to an average width of from 1,800 to 2,000 feet with a depth of 5 feet. All island chutes were to be closed by dams, and wingdams were to be built for reducing the width of the channel. Dredging has been done to remove the sand from the crossings of the worst bars. Work under the appropriation herein reported began in April for work near Turner's Island, Gilbert's Island, and Cap au Gris. A bar at the mouth of Hamburg was removed by dredging, and a steamer was purchased and machinery to put on it for use as a hydraulic dredge. With the amount on hand and that asked for it is proposed to continue the approved project. Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 .$150,000.00 liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. $54,735.24 130, 650. 06 July 1, 1887, amount available 19, 349.94 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 264, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Y.) |