14. Big Sunflower River, Mississippi.-Work in this river commenced in 1879. The project contemplated building wing dams to scour a channel about 40 inches deep at the bars, and the removal of snags, sunken logs, and leaning timber obstructing navigation. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $56,935.11. Operations during the fourteen years extended over the navigable part of the river from Clarksdale to the mouth, though little has been done above Faisonia since 1882, for the reason that it would have resulted in no benefit to commerce or navigation to clear the upper river and allow the lower portion to remain obstructed, the amounts appropriated at irregular intervals having been too small to permit work over the whole river. To obtain the greatest benefit with the means available, it has been the endeavor to keep the lower river open the year round and to extend navigation higher as the work progresses. Steamboat men report that before the improvement commenced the river was navigable for very light boats about six months of the year; now it is navigable to Woodburn the year round, but difficult and dangerous at low stages on account of shoals, snags, and sunken logs. Larger boats are used and make the round trip from Vicksburg (about 180 miles and return) in five days, while before the improvement it was unusual for a boat to make the trip under eight days. Freight rates are reported to be 50 per cent less. The lands along the river are being cleared and settled rapidly of late years, which is attributed in part to the improved navigation. In the past fiscal year the snag boat Meigs worked fifty-one days between the mouth and Faisonia and removed a large number of the obstructions to navigation. As new obstructions are added from time to time, it is impracticable to give a definite estimate for permanent improvement, but an appropriation of $20,000 can be expended profitably in one season of low water for improving and extending navigation of this stream, and will result in greater benefit and work of a more lasting character than can be obtained with a larger sum in small allotments at intermittent periods. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... $64.89 Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 5,000.00 5,064.89 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year...... 4,367.80 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 20,000.00 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 14.) 15. Big Hatchee River, Tennessee. This work commenced in 1880. The project contemplated removing logs, snags, leaning timber, etc., to render the river navigable for light-draft boats throughout the year from the mouth to Bolivar, Tenn., about 240 miles. Before work commenced navigation was virtually suspended by the obstructions. The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $29,821.52, rendering the stream navigable for light boats from seven to nine months of the year. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, as there was no boat that could be spared for the purpose, and the amount of funds available was too small to purchase or hire a suitable vessel. The small amount of commerce to be benefited is not commensurate with the cost of continuing this improvement, and it is not believed that an additional appropriation can be expended profitably. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended............... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1893, balance available... See Appendix V 15.) $2, 178. 48 3,500.00 5, 678. 48 2.56 5,675.92 16. Forked Deer River, Tennessee.—Work in South Fork of this river commenced in 1883. The act of 1888 added North Fork and main river under the general head of improving Forked Deer River. The project contemplated removing snags, logs, leaning timber, etc., obstructing navigation in South Fork below Jackson, North Fork below Dyersburg, and the main stream from the forks to the Mississippi. The amounts expended to June 30, 1892, were $12,500 for South Fork and $9,496.25 for North Fork and the main river. With these expenditures the two forks were put in fairly good navigable condition, and the removal of obstructions from the main stream enabled small boats to navigate it with greater ease and safety for a period of about eight months during the fiscal year 1892. Navigation of South Fork is carried on by flatboats, and before the improvement commenced about one boat in three was lost on account of the obstructions; now they make the trip in comparative safety and at less cost. The work in North Fork enabled boats to run at a stage 3 feet lower than formerly. The act of 1892 provided $3,000 for "completing improvement" of North Fork and the main river, but no work was done in the past fiscal year, as no boat could be spared for the purpose, and the amount of funds available was not sufficient to permit the purchase or hire of a suitable vessel. As soon as one of the snagboats of the district can be spared the work will be completed. In view of the limited commerce to be benefited, it is not believed that any further appropriation can be expended profitably. 17. Water gauges on Mississippi River and its principal tributaries.These gauges were designed to secure information from continuous records, with a view to protecting alluvial lands against overflow, improving navigation, and giving correct reports of the stages of water, for the benefit of river men and planters, and their establishment and the maintenance of daily observations was enjoined upon the Secretary of War by joint resolution of Congress, approved February 21, 1871. (Statutes at Large, Vol. 16, page 598.) The amount expended to June 30, 1892, was $92,205.73. Nineteen gauges were established originally, and under the portion of the joint resolution of 1871 authorizing gauges "at such other places as the Secretary of War may deem advisable," the following have been added, viz: At Nashville, Tenn., Cumberland River, in 1873; Shreveport, La., Garland, Ark., and Fulton, Ark., Red River, in 1890; and Donaldsonville, La., Mississippi River, in 1890. The gauge at Rock Island, Ill., was abandoned in 1879, and the one at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., in 1886, but a record at the latter place has been maintained by the Missouri River Commission. There are now 22 gauges maintained under this work, and, in addition to the extensions mentioned above, the service has been improved very materially of late years. In 1881 bulletins were erected at the stations on the Mississippi for the purpose of giving passing steamboats the stage of water and indicating whether the river was rising, stationary, or falling, and in 1890 these were replaced by larger bulletins, and the old ones repaired and used in extending the service to the tributaries. Since February 1, 1887, the gauges have been read and bulletins posted twice a day to secure greater uniformity and accuracy; formerly they were read only once a day. Records of the readings have been published by the Mississippi River Commission to the end of the calendar year 1892. The value of the records requires that they shall be accurate and continuous, and to provide for this, and enlarge and perfect the service, a permanent indefinite appropriation was made by section 6 of river and harbor act of August 11, 1888. It is recommended that section 6 of the act of August 11, 1888, be amended to grant a permanent appropriation of such amount as may be necessary to do the work, not to exceed in the aggregate for each fiscal year the sum of $12,000. That amount will provide for maintenance and perfection of the system, a judicious extension of the service by embracing other gauges now on the Lower Mississippi and principal tributaries, and establishing new ones at such places as may be found advisable; thus putting the gauges under one management and system of inspection with economy and advantage to the entire service; and permitting gradual level connections with a common reference plane, to give greatest value to the records. As the work at St. Paul, Minn., consists of discharge measurements during operation of the reservoirs at headwaters of the Mississippi, and as it is a different class of work without connection with the gauges on the lower river and tributaries, it is recommended that it be provided for by separate appropriation. 18. Survey of Cypress Bayou and the lakes between Jefferson, Tex., and Shreveport, La.-This survey was ordered by river and harbor act of September 19, 1890, to ascertain whether the navigation of the bayou and lakes can be materially and permanently improved by the construction of locks and dams, and, if found practicable, the probable cost thereof. The original estimates for the survey amounted to $12,000, but only $10,000 was appropriated, and owing to this insufficient amount and delays by high water the work was not completed. A report was submitted by Capt. Willard, the local engineer in charge, February 6, 1892, stating the progress made in the conduct of the survey, and the necessity for further consideration and investigation of the subject. The river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, appropriated $2,000 for completing the survey, which has been done during the past fiscal year. The plan for improving the lakes and bayous between Jefferson, Tex., and Shreveport, La., contemplates the construction of a dam, with waste weir across Sodo Lake, with entrance from Red River through Cottonwood Bayou by a lock with double gates, at an estimated cost of $375,000. But as the plan of improving Red River is carried out and the outlets closed along its right bank, the water supply of Cypress Bayou and the lakes will be limited to the natural drainage of their basin, with what might be let in from Red River through Cottonwood Bayou, or through sluices near by. In view of the limited amount of commerce to be benefited, the cost of operating and maintenance, and the fact that the probable life of the improvement can not be estimated, it is doubtful whether the work should be undertaken. EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of the following localities, required by act of July 13, 1892, were made by the local engineer, Capt. J. H. Willard, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Sulphur River from its mouth to Sulphur Station, Tex.-Capt. Willard submitted report of examination under date of May 16, 1893. He considers the river worthy of improvement by removing snags and other obstructions, with perhaps a small amount of dredging. It is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that this portion of the river is worthy of improvement to a small extent, by snagging, by the General Government. No survey is necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement. (See Appendix V 19.) 2. Little River, Arkansas.-Capt. Willard submitted report of examination under date of May 17, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not worthy of improvement by the United States. (See Appendix V 20.) 3. Ouachita River above Camden, Ark.-Capt. Willard submitted report of examination under date of May 17, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that this portion of the river is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. (See Appendix V 21.) 4. Cassity Bayou, Mississippi.-Capt. Willard submitted report of examination under date of May 17, 1893. He considers the bayou worthy of improvement by the United States as soon as the chartered rights of the Cassity Lock and Dam Company over this stream are revoked. It is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the bayou is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. (See Appendix V 22.) 5. Coldwater River, Mississippi.-Capt. Willard submitted report of examination under date of May 17, 1893. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is not worthy of improvement by the United States. (See Appendix V 23.) IMPROVEMENT OF ARKANSAS RIVER AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI. This district was in the charge of Capt. H. S. Taber, Corps of Engi neers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Removing obstructions in Arkansas River. - Prior to the first improvements in 1833, shifting sand bars, numerous drift piles, and dangerous snags constituted the obstacles to navigation in the lower reaches, and gravel and rock shoals, with a few snags and many overhanging trees, constituted those of the upper. Except for a few special reaches, like the Fort Smith and Pine Bluff, the general plan of improvement has consisted in snagging operations, including the cutting of overhanging trees, in building wing dams to improve the shoals, and in surveys looking toward plans for its permanent improvement. The appropriations to June 30, 1893, amount to $505,251.37. sum there had been expended to June 30, 1892, $410,446.10. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $22,073.54 was expended in snagging operations at or near low water, and in construction of snag boat. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. Received on account of sale of U. S. towboat C. B. Reese Amount (estimated) required for work annually. Of this $2, 028.43 20,000.00 20, 000. 00 42,028.43 22, 073. 54 19, 954. 89 4,322.58 15, 632. 31 35,000,00 70,000.00 2. Arkansas River.-Work during the past season has been carried on under four different acts of Congress. The appropriation made by act of August 5, 1886, except a small |