IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBORS IN THE FIRST CINCINNATI, OHIO, DISTRICT.

REPORT OF MAJ. GEORGE R. SPALDING, CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

FOR DESCRIPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS DISTRICT, SEE PAGES 1241 To 1247.

1. OHIO RIVER (GENERAL OPEN-CHANNEL WORK).

The following is a summary of expenditures on the general improvement of the Ohio River for the fiscal year:

Marietta Island Dam (168.9 miles below Pittsburgh).-To prevent further erosion of banks at Marietta Island and probable damage to the concrete dam across the back channel at the head of that island, 921.85 cubic yards of stone bank protection were placed under contract, at a cost of $1,751.52.

PERMITS AND HARBOR LINES.

Permits. The total number of permits granted during the year pertaining to this district was 15, of which 2 were for bridges, 2 for inclines, 3 for aerial wires, 1 for submarine wires, 5 for dredging, 1 for temporary cofferdam, and 1 for bank protection.

Harbor lines.-The usual work was continued during the year in the investigation of encroachments and of permits requested or authorized. Work of calculation of coordinates and preparation of

tracings of Point Pleasant, W. Va., harbor lines was carried on by the regular office force when time could be spared from other work.

The following tables show the work accomplished during the fiscal year by the U. S. dipper dredges Ohio, Oswego, Marietta, and Cincinnati. High stages of river during the year caused very unfavorable conditions for dredging operations. The construction of the new dredges Marietta and Cincinnati was completed after the beginning of the fiscal year. The dredge Cincinnati began active field operations on September 21, 1915, and dredge Marietta on October 25, 1915. Excavation made by U. S. dredges Ohio," Oswego," Marietta," and

66

"Cincinnati."

66

66

2 Work applied to construction of locks and done by the United States dredges at times when river stages were unfavorable to open-channel work. Operation and depreciation cost of the United States dredges while so engaged were paid for by the construction contractors.

Work performed by United States dredge Cincinnati at Memphis, Tenn. The dredge Cincinnati was loaned to the Memphis engineer district, and the operating and depreciation cost of the dredge was paid for by that engineer district.

The proportion of the above excavation made by each dredge is as follows:

This includes 107,390 cubic yards dredged from Memphis, Tenn., Harbor, at a cost of approximately $0.055 per cubic yard.

The following table shows the work accomplished by the U. S. hydraulic dredge Indiana. The dredging season was remarkable for high river stages, causing a suspension of operations of the dredge for a total of 57 working-days during the first half of the fiscal year. During latter half of the fiscal year alterations and improvements in the machinery and main pump were in progress, delaying the field operations until close of the fiscal year.

Excavation made by U. S. dredge “Indiana.”

Hired dredging plant.-Under an informal agreement with the
Fieger-Austin Dredging Co. the dredge Northern No. 2 was hired
at the rate of $145 per day. This dredge was employed on urgent
channel work at Dam No. 22, Ohio River, from October 21 to Novem-
ber 19, 1915. The excavation made by the dredge Northern No. 2
was 9,600 cubic yards, sand and gravel, at a total cost of $2,030, or an
average of $0.2145 per cubic yard.

July 11, 1844

Mar. 3, 1847

Mar. 3, 1849

Aug. 30, 1852

June 23, 1866

6, 479.25

651.76

90,000.00

$231,988. 96 Improving Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, and Ohio Rivers,
and snagboats and apparatus for improving western rivers.

Ice harbor mouth Muskingum River.

61, 876. 44

Do.

Name of contractor: M. A. Sweeney Shipyard & Foundry Co..
Amount and character of work: $63,490; construction of dipper dredge.
Price per unit: $63,490.

Name of contractor: Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works.

Amount and character of work: $64,414; construction of dipper dredge
Price per unit: $64,414.

Date of approval: January 24, 1914.

Date of beginning: January 31, 1914.

Date of expiration: January 31, 1915. (Extended.)

Completed.

Name of contractor: Charles Barnes Co.

Amount and character of work: $85,579; constructing two towboats.

Price per unit: $42,789.50 each.

Date of approval: March 24, 1915.

Date of beginning: March 27, 1915.

Date of expiration: January 27, 1916.

Completed.

Name of contractor: The Stacey Manufacturing Co.

Amount and character of work: $35,348; constructing and delivering four steel fuel flats and two steel barges.

Date of approval: October 1, 1915.

Date of beginning: October 18, 1915.

Date of expiration: April 8, 1916.

Per cent of completion: 54.

Name of contractor: Fowler-Wolfe Sheet Metal Works.

Amount and character of work: $9,855; installing boilers on towboats Miami and Guyandot.

Emergency contract dated March 17, 1916.

Date of beginning: April 11, 1916.

Date of expiration: November 8, 1916.

Per cent of completion: Shopwork only.