The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 136, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix U 8.)

WESTERN RIVERS.

IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND WATERWAYS IN LOUISIANA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, AND TENNESSEE, TRIBUTARY TO MISSISSIPPI RIVER; WATER GAUGES ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND PRINCIPAL TRIBUTARIES.

This district was in the charge of Capt. J. H. Willard, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Red River, Louisiana and Arkansas.-This improvement was begun in 1828, and appropriations aggregating $535,765.50 were made between 1828 and 1852. Between 1841 and 1852 no appropriation was made, and a longer interval elapsed between 1852 and 1872, during which the results of former work were lost.

The present improvement commenced in 1872, at which time the upper river was closed by the great raft, extending from Carolina Bluffs, 33 miles above Shreveport, La., upstream 32 miles to within 4 miles of the Louisiana and Arkansas line, and added to by each flood. The falls at Alexandria were impassable at low stages. Navigation was affected seriously by the gradual enlargement of Tones Bayou Outlet, 19 miles below Shreveport, which depleted the main channel; and the river was obstructed by snags, sunken logs, wrecks, and leaning trees throughout its entire length.

The project of 1872 contemplated removing the great raft and closing Tones Bayou. Subsequently it was enlarged to include the removal of jams, snags, wrecks, leaning timber, etc.; opening and enlarging the channel through the falls at Alexandria, La.; deepening shoal places, and closing outlets and constructing and repairing levees to confine the river to the adopted channel, in order to improve and keep navigation open from Fulton, Ark., to the head of Atchafalaya River, Louisiana, a distance of 507 miles. Also to protect the banks at Alexandria and Shreveport from erosion, and to make a thorough and comprehensive survey on which to base plans and estimates for permanent improvement.

The amount expended from 1872 to June 30, 1892, was $987,413.99 (including outstanding liabilities of $107.12), resulting in great benefit to navigation. A channel was cleared through the great raft in 1873, opening to navigation 188 miles of river between Shreveport and Fulton, and, at high stages, about 138 miles above Fulton, and subsequent operations, aided by the current, secured a greater width and depth throughout the raft region, with a channel way constantly widening and scouring, from which little water is diverted except at flood stages; the low-water line having fallen more than 15 feet at head of the raft, diminishing to about 3 feet at Shreveport, while a similar reduction has been going on in the river below. Moderate estimates, made in 1872, showed that the removal of the raft alone resulted in an annual saving of at least $150,000 to the planting interest above, besides relieving to a great extent not less than 25,000 acres of productive lands from overflow. The removal of obstructions from the channel, clearing the banks, and prompt breaking of all jams and keeping the drift in motion during high water, have prevented renewal of the raft. No work for the closure of Tones Bayou has been done since 1882, when

the dam under construction was destroyed. That outlet, however, is filling up gradually with drift, which, in connection with the work done in the old raft region above and in the narrow river below, has caused the main channel to widen and scour until not less than two-thirds of the flood water is carried by Red River, where twenty years ago threequarters escaped through Tones Bayou or over the banks into Bayou Pierre. The rock excavation and dam at the falls of Alexandria, completed in 1885, increased the period of navigation about two months, and as a general thing permitted boats to pass the falls the year round, though with difficulty at low stages. The dam and training wall, built in 1884-'85, for protecting the bank at Alexandria, accomplished the purpose for which intended. The removal of snags and clearing the banks for the general improvement of the river were not begun until 1878, but since 1885 operations were confined chiefly to that class of work, reducing the danger of navigation from an average of about four steamboat wrecks a year to one in over three years. The Sale and Murphy Outlet, at head of the old raft, was closed in 1891 with a heavy earthen dam, which resisted the unprecedented flood of 1892 without sustaining serious damage and caused the channel of the river through the old raft region to scour rapidly. The survey of the river was carried from Fulton, Ark., to the mouth, and checked by a line of precise level from Delta to Shreveport, La., connecting it with the Mississippi and continuing down Red River from Shreveport to the mouth.

In the past fiscal year the removal of obstructions by means of snagboats was continued with benefit to navigation at all stages, and especially at seasons of low water. The river from Fulton, Ark., to mouth of Black River was worked over thoroughly twice, and the most obstructed portions were worked over after each rise and fall, reducing the risks to a minimum and enabling steamboats to make regular trips without hindrance. At Alexandria, La., 10,242 cubic yards of rock was dredged from the channel at the Upper Falls, improving that dif ficult piece of navigation and leaving only a small amount of dredging to be done to make it safe. The material excavated was transported to Alexandria, and the greater portion used in revetting the caving bank at the town front, which had been graded in advance; the remainder of the material was used in strengthening the crib dike built in 1884-'85 and for commencing a dike at foot of Beauregard street. For confining the river to the adopted channel, 273,385 cubic yards of levees was built by the United States during the year, which incidentally will protect valuable lands from overflow, in conjunction with a much larger amount of levee work done by the State of Louisiana and parish levee boards. Field work of the survey was limited to connecting high-water marks with the main line of levels and established benches, gauge observations, and examinations of local obstructions, cut-offs, outlets, levees, etc. At the office the construction of maps from information already obtained was continued during the year. The amounts expended during the year were:

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.

$1,676.32

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.....

July 1, 1893, balance available

90, 416. 42

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 800, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and

harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

(See Appendix V 1.)

2. Red River above Fulton, Ark.-The project for this improvement, adopted in 1886, contemplated removing snags, drift, etc., above Fulton, Ark., to the mouth of Kiamichi River, Indian Territory, about 138 miles to, give reasonably safe navigation at high and medium stages.

The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $11,779.26, with which a small hand-propelled snag boat was built and employed in the fiscal years 1888 and 1889 in removing obstructions. In the fiscal year 1891 the snag boat was sold to the work of improving Red River, Louisiana, and Arkansas, for $1,500, and the proceeds of the sale, with the appropriation of 1890,were applied to going over the work and removing snags, drift, and leaning trees, practically completing the project for safe navigation at high stages.

Under the act of 1892 the largest snag boat belonging to the improvement of Red River, Louisiana and Arkansas, was employed in removing obstructions to navigation from January 1 to March 11, 1893. It was found that great improvement in depth of channel had obtained by scour since the last work was done in February, 1891, and, although the stages were near extreme low water, the snag boat, 36 feet beam and drawing 30 inches, crossed the bars without difficulty. Work was carried from Fulton to the mouth of Kiamichi River, and consisted of clearing a safe low-water channel for the passage of the snag boat, which will widen and scour, that being all that could be done with the amount available.

Unless a single appropriation of $10,000 is granted for this part of Red River, to permit the systematic clearing of the banks and channel without interruption, no further work is recommended for the present. This amount could be expended advantageously for clearing banks of caving and sliding trees, to stop accumulations of drift, and in continuing the removal of sunken logs to permit the bottom to scour, and such work would benefit navigation below Fulton also by lessening the source of drift.

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 $10, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix V 2.)

3. Ouachita and Black rivers, Arkansas and Louisiana.-The improvement of Ouachita River commenced in 1871. Black River, the connecting stream between Ouachita and Red rivers, was added under the same head of appropriation by the act of 1884. The original project contemplated improvement by a system of locks and dams, but was abandoned on account of its cost as compared with the amount of commerce then reported. The present project contemplates removing snags, logs, wrecks, leaning timber, etc., and the improvement of shoal places between Camden, Ark., and the mouth of Black River, a distance of 341 miles. No estimate of cost is given, as the nature of the work requires that it be continuous.

The total amount expended to June 30, 1892 (including outstanding liabilities of $13.17), was $340,463.84, of which $226,875.97 was applied to operations under the project of 1874. An iron-hull snag boat was purchased in 1875 and repaired with a new steel bottom in 1886, and a small wooden snag boat was purchased in 1888. From 1875 to the end of the fiscal year 1892 operations were carried on whenever funds were available, and consisted chiefly of the removal of wrecks, snags, logs, and tree slides from the channel, and cutting leaning timber, though an increased depth was obtained at some of the shoals by building stone and brush wing dams.

In the past fiscal year the snag boat Wagner worked over Lower Ouachita and Black River, and by the removal of obstructions improved navigation greatly between Monroe, La., and the mouth of Black River. A chopping party worked from Monroe to the Arkansas State line, putting that stretch of river in fairly good condition for navigation at stages when boats can run. The work will be resumed as soon as possible, to remove obstructions brought in by the recent flood.

Since the project for locks and dams was abandoned three examinations have been ordered and made with a view to slack-water navigation, the last in 1889, and the reports on all agree that work should continue under the adopted project until an increase of trade is developed sufficient to justify a large expenditure for permanent improve

A mount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 186, 500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix V 3.)

4. Bayous D'Arbonne and Corney, Louisiana.-The project for this improvement was adopted in 1884, and contemplated removing snags, logs, wrecks, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation from Stein Bluff, on the Corney Branch, to the mouth of D'Arbonne, 42 miles, at an estimated cost of $15,000. The river and harbor act of 1892 re

quired that operations be extended above Stein Bluff to the head of navigation on Bayou Corney, a distance of about 16 miles. The estimated cost of removing obstructions to navigation in the latter stretch is $7,000.

The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $10,874.94. Before the improvement commenced the bayou was navigable from six to seven months of the year. The work extended the period of navigation fully one month, enabled boats of double the capacity to make quicker time than those used formerly, with greater safety, reduced freight rates one-half, and extended navigation 16 miles up the Corney Branch. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, on account of the limited period of low water.

The work is not permanent, as new obstructions are brought into the stream from time to time, but it is believed that with the funds now available, $1,000 less than the estimate, the work below Stein Bluff can be completed so as not to need further attention for several years. complete the work to Cobb Landing, the head of navigation on Bayou Corney, it is estimated will cost $6,000.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended..........

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

July 1, 1893, balance unexpended....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867, and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix V 4.)

To

$125.06 4,000.00

4, 125.06

4, 125.06

6,000.00

6,000.00

5. Bayou Bartholomew, Louisiana and Arkansas.-This improvement commenced in 1881, the project contemplating the removal of snags, logs, wrecks, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation between Baxter, Ark., and the mouth, about 150 miles.

The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $32,651.90. Operations extended over the entire portion of the bayou included in the project, and some of the most obstructed parts were worked over two and three times, but not thoroughly in two seasons, as projected. However, the work performed at intervals has benefited navigation to a great extent. Before the improvement commenced the average duration of the navigable season was three months; now there is better navigation for about six months and boats of double the capacity make trips with greater safety in half the time, and rates of freight are reported to have been reduced 50 per cent.

Nothing was done during the past fiscal year on account of the limited period of low water, but it is intended to resume work with a large party as soon as practicable.

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 10,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

(See Appendix V 5.)