1,818 acres of land, being a portion of the lands acquired for the purposes of the settling basin. The proposed sale was authorized by the War Department under date of August 13, 1910, it being stipulated that the sale should be made by competitive bids. A proposed advertisement, with specifications, inviting bids for the land was submitted for approval to the department on September 9, 1910. At the instance of former owners of some of the land to be sold, the right to sell the interest of the United States therein was questioned, one of the claims being made that the interest of the United States in the land should revert to the former owners should the proposed settling basin be abandoned or eliminated from the project. The War Department therefore directed, under date of November 18, 1910, that action looking to the sale of the lands should be deferred in order to enable the claimants to submit their case to Congress with a view to obtaining legislative relief. The claimants having in the meantime applied to Congress and failed to secure legislative relief, consideration of the proposed sale was resumed by the War Department in March, 1911. On April 22, 1911, the subject was referred to the Attorney General, with request for opinion upon the merits of the claims that had been made at the instance of the former owners. The opinion of the Attorney General, dated April 28, 1911, was against claimants. The Secretary of War thereafter directed, on May 10, 1911, that the sale should be proceeded with in accordance with the act of June 25, 1910. It is proposed to invite bids for the land shortly after July 1, 1911, giving prospective bidders and others interested ample notice of the proposed sale. APPROPRIATIONS BY CONGRESS.1 June 3, 1896. Received from sales.. Total...... $250,000.00 150,000. 30 749.48 400, 749.48 ABSTRACT OF CONTRACT IN FORCE DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1911. Name of contractor: Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields; contract entered into August 31, 1909; work to be completed by December 31, 1910. The contract provided that the contractor should strengthen approximately 5,200 linear feet of the north training wall below Daguerre Point Cut, Yuba River, Cal., for the sum of $45,000. GENERAL PROJECT FOR CONTROL OF DEBRIS AND FLOODS IN THE SACRAMENTO AND FEATHER RIVERS. The closing paragraphs of a preliminary report or project submitted by the commission on June 30, 1907, and printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1907, part 3, pages 2262–2269, were as follows: In pursuance of these conclusions and in compliance with the requirements of the act of March 1, 1893, the commission recommends as follows: That for the direct improvement of navigation in the Feather and Sacramento Rivers and toward the controlling of débris and floods an appropriation of $400,000 be made by Congress, its expenditure to be contingent on the appropriation of an equal 1 In addition to the appropriations made by Congress the State of California has appropriated a total of $400,000 to pay one-half the expense of the Yuba River project. amount by the State of California; these sums to be devoted to the construction of two hydraulic dredges and to their operation and maintenance in accordance with the general terms of this report; provided, furthermore, that all rights of way for levees and spoil banks shall be furnished free of cost to the United States. Following the above, the Legislature of the State of California on March 1, 1909, appropriated $400,000 for the proposed work, and Congress, by act of June 25, 1910, appropriated $400,000 therefor. The $400,000 appropriated by the Legislature of the State of California has not been deposited in the Treasury of the United States as required under the terms of the act of Congress, approved June 25, 1910. It is understood, however, that the State authorities have arranged to make this deposit immediately after June 30, 1911.1 The act of Congress of June 25, 1910, stipulated that the work should not be begun until all rights of way needed for levees and spoil banks have been furnished the United States free of cost. The Sacramento and San Joaquin River Improvement Association, a corporation organized for the purpose of acquiring and turning over to the United States the necessary rights of way, has been engaged during the past year in acquiring title to the necessary lands. It appears that it will be necessary for the association to resort to condemnation proceedings in several cases. In the meantime plans and specifications for the two hydraulic dredges referred to in the commission's preliminary report of June 30, 1907, have been prepared and it is proposed to invite proposals at an early date for constructing and delivering the dredges. The sum of $855.13 was expended on this project during the past fiscal year, the same being for plans and specifications for two 20-inch suction dredges. Act of Congress, June 25, 1910. APPROPRIATIONS. Act of legislature of State of California, Mar. 1, 1909. Total.. Respectfully submitted. 400,000 JOHN BIDDLE, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. Captain, Corps of Engineers. 1 Deposited in Treasury of the United States July 1, 1911. APPENDIX C C c. AQUEDUCT BRIDGE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. BEPORT OF LIEUT. COL. W. C. LANGFITT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1911. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Washington, D. C., June 30, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, for the Aqueduct Bridge, District of Columbia. Very respectfully, W. C. LANGFITT, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. REPAIR OF THE AQUEDUCT BRIDGE ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER AT WASHINGTON, D. C. WORK OF THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1911. REPAIRS TO OLD PIERS. As there had been no unusual or severe freshets since the last examination and repairs were made, in May, 1910, no examination by diver was undertaken during the fiscal year. An inspection of the portions of the piers above water, made late in June, showed that considerable pointing up is necessary, particularly in the joints of the granite ice breakers at and near the water line. It is proposed to make an examination by diver during the summer or fall of 1911, when this pointing up will be done and such repairs below water as may be found necessary and feasible will be made. Attention is invited to the report of Capt. Warren T. Hannum, Corps of Engineers, for the fiscal year 1910, in which is explained the necessity for adopting a more radical method of repairing these old piers than is practicable with the funds available at present. Some one of the three methods suggested should be adopted at an early date. Considering economy, effect on river flow, present and prospective traffic, plan A, providing for new piers and superstructure, is recommended, the estimated cost of which is $950,000. 2933 APPENDIX D D D. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FILTRATION PLANT. REPORT OF LIEUT. COL. W. C. LANGFITT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1911. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Washington, D. C., July 20, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith annual reports for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1911, for Washington Aqueduct, District of Columbia, and Washington Aqueduct, District of Columbia, Filtration Plant, in my charge. Very respectfully, W. C. LANGFITT, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY. DDD I. Operations were carried on during the fiscal year under the following appropriations: 1. Maintenance and operation of the Washington Aqueduct and its accessories, act of Congress approved May 18, 1910. 2. Lining unlined sections aqueduct tunnels. 3. For the preservation and repair of Cabin John Bridge, including the installation of a metal lining, act of Congress approved March 2, 1911. 4. Reconstruction Conduit Road. 5. Assistant overseer's house at Great Falls. 6. Construction of the Metropolitan Southern Railroad and Washington & Western Railroad through Dalecarlia Reservation of the Washington Aqueduct. 7. Increasing the water supply, Washington, D. C. 8. For purchase, installation, and maintenance of water meters, act of Congress approved May 18, 1910. 9. Maintenance and operation of the Washington Aqueduct, District of Columbia, Filtration Plant, general, act of Congress approved May 18, 1910. 10. For the construction of works for applying a coagulant to the water supply and for the purchasing of a coagulant, act of Congress approved May 18, 1910. 11. Remodeling of the Georgetown Reservoir. 12. For continuation of parking grounds of McMillan Park, act of Congress approved May 18, 1910. 13. McMillan Memorial Fountain. 14. Emergency fund. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT. 1. MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION. The following operations were conducted during the fiscal year under the appropriation made for the maintenance and repair of the Washington Aqueduct and those parts of the water-supply system of |