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tion of the same bars and of Pratt's Reach Bar was made in June, 1887, to observe changes.

(2) Repairs to dikes.-Repairs were rendered necessary by the cessation of work during the previous years. These repairs were made in September, October, and November, 1886. Sixty feet of Dike L at Fredericksburg were repaired at a cost of about $4.50 per linear foot. Sixty feet of the same dike were repaired at a cost of about 61 cents per linear foot.

Fifty-five feet of dike No. 4 were repaired at a cost of about $5.47 per linear foot.

Three hundred feet of the same dike were repaired at a cost of about 53 cents per linear foot.

One hundred and seventy-two feet of log dikes at Pratt's Reach and Castle Ferry bars were repaired at a cost of about 60 cents per linear foot.

One thousand nine hundred and thirty square feet, of mats were constructed to replace those destroyed.

(3) Removal of snags, etc.-Some dangerous snags and overhanging trees were removed between Fredericksburgh and Farley Vale. This work was begun in September, 1886, and was continued during April and May, 1887.

Number of snags removed.....

Number of trees cut or removed.

26

125

(4) Repairs of plant.-Repairs began in December, 1886, and were completed in March, 1887.

The pile-driver, including machinery, quarter-boat, and a large scow were put in a thorough condition for work, at a cost of about $677. A new scow was purchased for $150. cost of $25.

One row boat was built at a

(5) Bank protection.-The construction of brush protections began in April, 1887, and was suspended in May, 1887.

To assist in bank protection 10,026 willows were planted in April and May, 1887, at a cost of about 1 cent each.

(7) Appropriations.-The amount expended upon former projects was $90,500. The following appropriations have been made for the present project:

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These appropriations were made under the following general estimate for improving the river from Fredericksburgh to the 15-foot curve near Tappahannock, a distance of 64.5 miles.

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Ninety thousand dollars can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889.

A chart of Fredericksburgh and Pollock's bars accompanies this report.

Money statement.

July 1, 1886, amount available....

Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1885..

$1,101.30

20,000.00

July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.

$21, 101.30

July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities....

5, 259.49
120.57

5,380.06

15,721.24

July 1, 1887, amount available......

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... .. 194,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 90,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

STATISTICS OF TRADE.

For the year 1883 the total value of shipments and receipts at Fredericksburgh by water and rail, as represented by the committee of the city on commerce and naviga tion, was $4,700,150. This is the most reliable statement which has been received. There is believed to have been a slight increase in the trade of the city since that date, but satisfactory statistics are not at hand although they have been asked for.

K 7.

IMPROVEMENT OF TOTUSKY RIVER, VIRGINIA.

HISTORY OF OPERATIONS.

(1) Reference to reports.-A report of a survey made March 3, 1875, will be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, Part I, page 964.

(2) Description of original condition.-The Totusky is an affluent of the Rappahannock River, into which it empties 35 miles above its mouth. It is navigable for 5 miles to a point where it is crossed by the county bridge. A bar off the mouth, over which 4 feet can be carried at low water, and a bar in the creek over which 24 feet can be carried, were the principal obstructions to navigation. The range of the tide is 11 feet.

(3) Plan of improvement. The project for improvement consisted in building a dike 2,400 feet long at Booker's Bar in the creek, and in excavating a channel parallel with it, having a width of 60 feet and a depth of 8 feet at low water. No work was proposed on the bar off the mouth.

(4) Amount expended and results obtained.-Nine thousand five hun dred and ninety-nine dollars and eighteen cents have been expended in constructing a dike 2,117 feet in length. The depth on Booker's Bar has increased one-half foot from the effect of the current, but it will be necessary to dredge the channel to the dimensions proposed in order to obtain the required depth at once.

If Congress is disposed to complete the improvement, I would rec ommend the appropriation of $12,000.

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The work is in the collection district of Tappahannock, which is the nearest port of entry. The nearest light-house is Bowler's Rock, in the fifth light-house district.

Money statement.

July 1, 1886, amount available.....
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.

$400.82 400.82

12,000.00

12, 000, 00

STATISTICS OF TRADE.

The value of the trade when the work of improvement began was as follows:

Pine and other kinds of cord wood yearly.

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Staves and spokes..

Railroad ties.....

Ivy roots

Grain, all kinds....

.cords.. 35,000

40,000

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No reply has been received from parties interested as to the value of the trade at the present time.

K 8.

IMPROVEMENT OF URBANA CREEK, VIRGINIA.

HISTORY OF OPERATIONS.

(1) Reference to reports.-A history of operations to June 30, 1882, will be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, Part I, page 1029.

(2) Description of original condition.-This creek is a tidal tributary of the Rappahannock River, and for vessels proceeding up-stream is the only harbor of refuge on the right or south bank of the river for a distance of 60 miles. The obstructions consisted in a bar off the mouth, over which only 6 feet could be carried at low water, and a bar which contracted the channel in the harbor.

(3) Plan of improvement.-It was proposed to make a cut through the bar at the mouth, with a width of 150 feet and a depth of 10 feet.

This plan was extended in 1883 (see Report of 1884) to include the removal of the bar in the harbor.

The sand-spit at the mouth was re-enforced against the tides by a wattled dike.

(4) Results obtained and money expended.-Since the first appropriation, March 3, 1879, $15,500 have been expended. With this sum 58,729 cubic yards of material have been removed, at rates varying from 15 to 30 cents per yard. At the close of the work the channel at the mouth

was 120 feet wide and 10 feet deep, and the channel in the harbor had a width of from 80 to 400 feet and a depth of about 10 feet.

(5) Operations contemplated.-With $7,000, which will complete the estimate, the channel at the mouth can be extended to a width of 150 feet and the width of the harbor to 400 feet.

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Urbana is a port of entry in the collection district of Tappahannock, and is a land ing of the Rappahannock River boats of the Weems Line.

Money statement.

July 1, 1886, amount available..

July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1886 ...

$28.59

28.59

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.

7,000.00 7,000.00

STATISTICS OF TRADE.

The value of the trade when the work of improvement began was $128, 057. (See Annual Report for 1875, page 38.)

No reply has been received in response to circulars addressed to parties interested in regard to present value of trade and prospective advantages to be derived from the completion of the proposed improvement.

K 9.

IMPROVEMENT OF MATTAPONI RIVER, VIRGINIA.

HISTORY OF OPERATIONS.

(1) Reference to reports.-A report and estimate were submitted May 2, 1875. A full description of the part of the river which requires improvement, about 36 miles in length, and an account of the obstructions to navigation, will be found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1880, Part I, page 770.

(2) Description of original condition.-The Mattaponi River rises near Bowling Green, Va., flows southeast, and empties into York River at West Point, Va. It is navigable by small steamers at far as Aylett's, 56 miles, and can be made navigable for barges 25 miles above-as far as Mundy's Bridge.

From Mundy's Bridge to Aylett's snags obstructed the channel. From Aylett's to the head of Line Tree Bar, a distance of about 12} miles, the depths on the bars vary from 2 to 3 feet at low water. From the head of Line Tree Bar to the mouth the least depth is 6 feet at low water.

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