The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, was $2,496.58. With this amount the ordinary expenses of operating the lock and repairing and caring for the structures and property were defrayed. The principal repairs were to the emptying valve, which had become loose on its shaft; to the gates, which were resheeted; and to the guide crib and dam. In addition, minor repairs were made to various parts of the system.

At the close of the year the lock is in good working order.

The depth at pool level over the lower sill, which is the shoalest part of the lock, is 4 feet. When the pool below is drained down by reason of leaks in the dam below, the depth will be less. For twenty-one days last year the navigable depth was less than 2 feet.

During the year navigation was suspended for sixteen days due to low water in the pool below, and for twenty-five days due to ice and floods.

The commerce that has passed Lock No. 5 since it was opened to navigation, and which has consisted almost wholly of timber, has been as follows:

5. Great Kanawha River, West Virginia.-[This work was in the charge of Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, to May 1, 1899.]

This river flows through a region rich in mineral wealth, especially coal and salt. It was originally divided into a number of pools separated by shoals of gravel and coarse sand, which were the principal obstructions to navigation during the low-water period of each year, there being but a few inches of water on the shoal places at such times. Navigation was practically suspended in summer.

The original project, adopted in 1873, provided for removing large bowlders from the channel, excavating channels through the shoals, and constructing riprap dams and dikes, the object being to increase the 'depth of water on the shoal places so as to enable towboats to use the stream for a longer period each year than its natural condition permitted. The modified project, adopted in 1875, provided for obtaining the depth of 6 feet of water all the year round throughout the whole river, 96 miles, by the construction of locks with movable dams from the mouth in the Ohio, at Point Pleasant, W. Va., up to Paint Creek, about 79 miles above Point Pleasant, and locks with fixed dams above Paint Creek, the declivity of the river above Paint Creek being too great to permit of the advantageous use of movable dams. The original estimated cost of this improvement was placed at $4,153,000. This sum was somewhat reduced by reducing the total number of locks and dams from 12 to 11, one of the locks and dams originally estimated for in the lower portion of the river having been found, after more detailed examination, to be unnecessary. The original project also provided for three locks with fixed dams in the upper part of the river; only two of these have been constructed, Nos. 2 and 3, the construction of No. 1 having been dispensed with until its necessity shall become more apparent. By dropping these two locks and dams from the original project the original estimate was reduced by about $600,000. However, the revised

estimate of 1892 (Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1892, pp. 20422044) showed that $1,305,700 still remained to be supplied by Congress in order to complete the project. This amount was appropriated by the acts of July 13, 1892, March 3, 1893, and March 2, 1895. The estimate of 1892 was made, however, before the exact site of Lock and Dam No. 11 had been selected, before a thorough knowledge of the amount of dredging between locks was had, and before the existence of the law limiting a day's work of a Government employee to eight hours. A revised estimate was therefore found necessary in 1896, and the amount of it, $273,000, was appropriated in the sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. It is thought the project may be completed without further appropriations.

Up to June 30, 1898, there was expended under the original project of 1873 $50,000, and under the modified project of 1875 a total of $3,888,545.23. The work accomplished resulted in removing the worst natural obstructions to navigation, the purchase of a towboat and a dredge, the dredging of channels at various points, the construction, complete, of Locks and Dams Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, No. 11 being almost complete; also the construction of a telephone line connecting the office of the assistant engineer at Charleston, W. Va., with the different locks and dams.

The expenditures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, have resulted in opening three locks and dams to navigation, viz, No. 9 on July 1, No. 10 on July 7, and No. 11 on October 11, 1898. Nos. 9 and 10 were finished during the previous fiscal year.

In addition to the work of completion of No. 11, which was finished under contract on October 8, 1898, a large amount of miscellaneous work has been done during the year, such as building lock houses, tool houses, shops, etc., and clearing channels in the pools with dredge and crane boat.

On June 30, 1899, navigation was continuous from the head of the slack-water system to the mouth of the river in the Ohio at Point Pleasant, W. Va. The channels in the pools had been cleaned with the dredge and crane boat, the miter-sill depth having been reached, but some work still remaining to remove rock along the shore below Lock No. 11. Lock houses still remain to be built at certain of the locks, and a new crane boat and tender are to be constructed.

The maximum draft which can be carried at the shoalest part of the slack-water system at mean low water is 6 feet.

Commercial statistics are given in the report for operating and care of locks and dams in Great Kanawha River.

July 1, 1899, balance unexpended...

July 1, 1899, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.

July 1, 1898, balance unexpended.

June 30, 1899, amount expended during fiscal year

July 1, 1899, outstanding liabilities...

(See Appendix G G 5.)

July 1, 1899, balance available.....

210, 812. 37

6. Operating and care of locks and dams in the Great Kanawha River, West Virginia.-[This work was in the charge of Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, to May 1, 1899.]

The two finished locks with fixed dams, known as Nos. 2 and 3, in the upper portion of the stream, and the eight finished locks with movable dams, known as Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, in the river below Nos. 2 and 3, were constructed under the appropriations for improving Great Kanawha River, West Virginia. The location, etc., of the locks and dams is shown in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1896, Part IV, page 2247.

The years in which they were finished is given in this report for improving Great Kanawha River.

As these locks and dams have from time to time been opened to navigation, the maintenance of them has devolved upon the indefinite appropriation of July 5, 1884, for operating and care of canals and other works of navigation. Projects and estimates for this work are submitted annually.

At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, seven of the locks and dams were so maintained. The total disbursements up to that date had been $308,246.42, which had been used in the current work in operating and caring for the finished locks and dams, making renewals of those parts of the finished works which have deteriorated from use and exposure, and in dredging deposits from the lock chambers and entrances and some channels between locks originally formed by dredging under the appropriations for improving Great Kanawha River. During the year three locks and dams were opened to navigation and have since been maintained under this appropriation, viz, No. 9 on July 1, No. 10 on July 8, and No. 11 on October 11, 1898.

The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, was $34,547.44. With this the 10 locks and dams were maintained and navigation permitted without interruption except that due to natural

causes.

The commerce of the Great Kanawha River since 1889 has been as follows:

There has been a large increase in the commerce of this river since the improvement, by the construction of locks and dams, was begun in 1875. The principal commodity has been coal, although a great deal of timber has also been handled.

(See Appendix G G 6.)

7. Elk River, West Virginia.-[This river was in the charge of Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, to May 1, 1899.] The stream is one of the chief tributaries of the Great Kanawha, emptying into it at

Charleston, W. Va. Its course is tortuous, but the country through which it flows is rich in minerals and well fitted for agriculture and grazing. The stream was originally much obstructed by snags, rocks, overhanging trees, and was a succession of pools separated by rapids at shoals, over which latter, during dry seasons, there was but a few inches of water.

The project was adopted in 1878 (Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1876, Part II, pp. 166-176), and provided for improving the stream for bateau navigation by cutting sluices through the shoals. The estimated cost of this "open" navigation was placed at $100,000.

Up to June 30, 1898, $27,112.43 had been expended, which had resulted in the removal of snags, rocks, overhanging trees, the construction of cheap regulating dams to concentrate the water at some of the worst shallow places, and the making of narrow sluices through some of the rapids and shoals, so as to aid the transportation of country produce downstream in small boats and the return of the latter with merchandise, and also the floating of timber to market.

At that date the river was available for the class of traffic for which it had been improved. Work was practically suspended, as it was not deemed advisable to proceed further with the improvement until the removal of two dams which now obstruct the river. Condemnation proceedings against one had been instituted and the suit dismissed, as the price set upon the dam in the commissiouers' report was regarded as much in excess of its real value.

During the fiscal year Congress, in the act of March 3, 1899, directed the expenditure of the available balance of the funds. Preparations have been made to do this, and work will begin with the first favorable stage of water. The condition as to availability for commerce remains the same as at the close of the last fiscal year.

An indictment has been brought against the owner of the more obstructive dam, and it is hoped that the case will speedily be brought to trial.

A preliminary examination of the river was ordered in the river and harbor act of March 3, 1899.

The maximum draft which can be carried at mean low water over the shoalest part of the improved river is about 2 feet.

This commerce has consisted almost entirely of timber-logs, lumber,

[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 G G 7.)

$3,387.57 137.98

3, 249.59 27.76

3,221.83

69,000.00

8. Gauley River, West Virginia.-[This work was in the charge of Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, to May 1, 1899.] The country at the head waters of this stream and its tributaries is covered with forests of the finest timber. For the first 12 miles from its mouth in the Great Kanawha River, or junction with New River, the Gauley falls only 4 feet per mile; in the next 26 miles its fall is nearly 34 feet per mile, in a gorge, the hills on either side being several hundred feet high and almost perpendicular, and the stream full of bowlders, some very large, and so numerous as to justify the name of "Roughs of Gauley" which has been given that section.

The project was adopted in 1888 (report of examination dated December 26, 1887, Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1888, Part III, pp. 1761-1767), and provided for 2-foot navigation for bateaux carrying 8 to 10 tons, and for rafts of logs, sawed stuff, railroad ties, etc., from the mouth of the river to the foot of the "Roughs," about 12 miles, and for improving the condition of the "Roughs" for about 28 miles farther, by blasting down the huge bowlders which formed such formidable obstructions.

The sum of $11,337.42 was expended up to June 30, 1898, principally below the "Roughs," in providing and maintaining 2-foot navigation for bateaux and for rafts, and in commencing work at the "Roughs."

On account of the short season for economical operations and the inexpediency of dividing work between two seasons, authority had been granted to postpone the expenditure of the appropriation of $3,000 made in 1896. Subsequently it was decided to defer further work on the present project, owing to the change in conditions brought about by the construction of a railroad up the river. On this account nothing was done during the last year.

The commerce of the river is exclusively in saw logs, floating for a short distance to a mill above the "Roughs," but not passing down over them. In the last year it was about 25,000 tons.

There is some indication of a revival of the desire on the part of the logging interests to carry their timber to mills on the Great Kanawha River, and consequently to pass over the "Roughs" and the improved portion of the river. Should this desire continue, resumption of work may be deemed advisable.

The maximum draft at mean low water for the first 10 miles is about 3 feet; above that point, less than 1 foot.

July 1, 1898, balance unexpended....

June 30, 1899, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1899, balance unexpended

July 1, 1899, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1899, balance available......

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 G G 8.)

$3,662.58 21.93

3,640. 65

4.50

3,636. 15

60,000.00

9. New River, Virginia and West Virginia.-[This work was in the charge of Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, until May 1, 1899.] In its original condition, the navigable channel consisted of natural chutes through the ledges and shoals. The chutes were of varying widths, and there was rarely over 1 foot of water at such points.

The original project was adopted in 1876 (report printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1873, pp. 842-854), and provided for improving the stream from the lead mines in Wythe