The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $133.15. No work was done beyond an examination of the river, which showed that there were no objectionable snags. The appropriations amount to $13,000. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended...... June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended... (See Appendix V V 15.) $2, 284.72 133. 15 2, 151.57 16. Harbor at Olympia, Wash.-Olympia is situated at the head of Budds Inlet, which is badly shoaled up for a distance of 8,750 feet from the city. Vessels can reach the city at high tide only; to avoid this inconvenience, long wharves have been built, whose maintenance, owing to the teredo, is very expensive. It is proposed by the project submitted in 1891, under provisions of river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, to dredge a channel 250 feet wide and 12 feet deep at mean lower low water, from the heart of the city, at the Fourth Street Bridge, to deep water in Budds Inlet, at an estimated cost of $275,000. The first appropriation for the work, $35,000, was made by act of July 13, 1892. With the money now available, it is proposed to excavate a channel 125 feet wide and 6 feet deep at lower low water. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $2,313.26. The excavation of the reduced channel is well under way. Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892.. $35,000.00 2, 313. 26 July 1, 1893, balance unexpended... 32, 686. 74 $150.00 July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts... 32, 536.74 32, 686. 74 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. 240,000.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895 150, 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 V 16.) 17. Swinomish Slough, Washington.-This is a tidal slough, connecting Saratoga Passage and Skagit Bay on the south, with Padilla Bay on the north. It is an important highway for the smaller class of steamboats. In some parts, however, it is shallow and crooked, and the approaches to it are across shallow flats. The plan of improvement, submitted in 1891 under provisions of the river and harbor act approved September 19, 1890, is to dredge a channel 100 feet wide and 4 feet deep, from deep water in Saratoga Passage, across the Skagit Flats, through the shoals in Swinomish Slough, and across the flats in Padilla Bay to deep water; and to build wattled pile-dikes in Skagit and Padilla bays, to direct the tidal currents through the dredged channels. The estimated cost was $122,000. The first appropriation for the work, $25,000, was made by act of July 13, 1892. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $393.98. No work beyond a preliminary survey was done. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..... 23, 871. 02 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 V 17.) 97,000.00 97,000.00 18. Puget Sound and its tributary waters, Washington. This work was formerly known as the "Improvement of Skagit, Stillaguamish, Nooksack, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie rivers, Washington." In their original condition, these rivers carried water enough for steamer navigation, but were obstructed by snags, fallen trees, and log jams. They were the chief highways of the country. About their mouths were large areas of shallow water with tortuous channels, often obstructed by drift. The plan of improvement contemplates the removal of snags, logs, trees, and other obstructions to navigation. For this purpose a snag boat with complete outfit has been provided. This boat goes from one river to another as necessity requires. The amount expended prior to June 30, 1892, was $67,495.58. No permanent results were aimed at or obtained. The constantly recurring obstructions require to be periodically removed. The rivers were kept open and navigation rendered much safer. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, was $7,998.28. A great number of obstructions were removed, and navigation was thereby greatly benefited. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 25,000.00 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 V 18.) 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. Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, and reports thereon submitted through the division engineer, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Chetco River, Oregon.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of September 16, 1892. 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. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 92, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 19.) 2. Rogue River, Oregon, from Grants Pass to the mouth.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 10, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 51, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 20.) 3. Navigable tide-water channels of Coos River, Oregon, with a view to remove snags, logs, and other obstructions.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 17, 1892. He considers that these navigable channels are worthy of improvement by the General Government to the extent of removing the existing obstructions; a survey is not deemed necessary, as conditions are constantly changing and sufficient information is at hand for the preparation of an estimate of the cost of improvement. It is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the improvement is worthy of being made to the extent of removing the snags and bowlders mentioned. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 42, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 21.) 4. Inner navigation of Alsea River, Oregon.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 10, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is worthy of improvement by the United States. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement is estimated at $1,000. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 53, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 22.) 5. Nestugga River, Oregon, as far as Woods.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 10, 1892. He considers the river worthy of improvement to the extent of removing the dangerous reef of rocks extending from the headland at the south of the harbor throat about 100 feet directly into the channel. It is, however, the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that Nestugga River, as far as Woods, is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 97, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 23.) 6. Upper Columbia River, Washington, from the international boundary to Rock Island Rapids.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 12, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that there are two portions of the river within the limits named that are worthy of improvement by the General Government-one from Little Dalles to the international boundary line, a distance of 15 miles, and the other from the head of Rock Island Rapids to Foster Creek Rapids, just above the mouth of the Okanogan, a distance of 90 miles. Capt. Symons estimates the cost of a survey necessary for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement of the latter section at $4,000. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 39, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 24.) A report upon a survey of Columbia River from the international boundary to the mouth of Okanogan River, under provisions of act of September 19, 1890, was made by Capt. Symons March 15, 1893. (See p. 440.) 7. Kootenai River from Fry, Idaho, to international boundary line.— Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 12, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the river is worthy of improvement by the General Government. Capt. Symons estimates the cost of a survey to determine accurately the number of snags to be removed at $400; but he states that as new snags are constantly coming in and old ones are occasionally carried away, such a survey would not necessarily give a correct idea of the work necessary at any time in the future. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 93, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 25.) 8. Spokane River, Idaho, from Post Falls to Lake Coeur d'Alene.Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of September 7, 1892. He considers this section of the river worthy of improvement, to the extent of providing an all-the-year navigation for boats drawing 3 feet of water, provided a careful survey, which is estimated to cost $600, shows that the improvement can be made at moderate cost and without seriously interfering with vested interests. The division engineer considers the locality worthy of improvement to the extent of a survey, which shall determine whether or not it shall be practicable and expedient to make the river navigable by a dam at Post Falls. In the judgment of this office the locality is not at present worthy of improvement by the United States. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 79, Fiftysecond Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 26.) 9. Snohomish River, Washington, from its mouth to Lowell.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 14, 1892. He considers that the "Old River," one of the sloughs forming the outlets of Snohomish River, is worthy of improvement by the United States to the extent of removing all snags, piles, dolphins, etc., obstructing navigation. A survey to determine the amount of work to be done would cost $250, but such a survey seems scarcely necessary; it is difficult to make a close estimate of the cost of such work, and a general estimate can be made as well without the survey as with it. If this improvement could be provided for under the appropriation for improving Puget Sound and its tributary waters, the work could be done with the Government snag boat Skagit, which is used in clearing the various navigable rivers entering Puget Sound. The division engineer considers that the river is worthy of improvement to the extent of removing the obstructions that could be handled by the Skagit. The views of these officers are concurred in by this office. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 103, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 27.) 10. Everett Harbor, Washington, including mouth of Snohomish River.Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 12, 1892. It is his opinion and that of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that the locality is not worthy of improvement by the General Government. The report was transmitted to Congress, and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 47, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 28.) 11. Nooksack River, Washington, with a view of removing obstructions, straightening channel to prevent jams and the filling of Bellingham Bay with deposits of earth.-Capt. Symons submitted report of examination under date of October 13, 1892. He states that all requisite work for the removal of obstructions and straightening of channel to prevent jams in Nooksack River can be properly provided for under the regular appropriations for improving Puget Sound and its tributary waters; and he considers that work to prevent the filling of Bellingham Bay by detritus brought down the Nooksack is an improvement worthy of being undertaken by the United States. It is the opinion of the division engineer, concurred in by this office, that Nooksack River is worthy of improvement by the General Government to prevent shoaling in Bellingham Bay. The cost of a survey necessary for preparation of proj ect and estimate of cost of the work is estimated at $1,000. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 32, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix V V 29.) IMPROVEMENT OF WILLAMETTE AND LOWER COLUMBIA RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES, OREGON AND WASHINGTON. This district was in the charge of Maj. Thos. H. Handbury, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Harry Taylor, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mouth of Columbia River, Oregon and Washington.-The project under which this work is being carried on was adopted in 1884, and slightly modified in regard to the manner of completing it in 1893. It contemplates providing and maintaining a navigable channel across the Columbia River Bar having a depth of 30 feet at low tide. This is to be accomplished by directing the water which flows over the sand spit at the south of the entrance so that it will be concentrated upon the bar where the resultant currents may scour away the sands and produce the desired depth of channel. The work now in process of construction, by which this result is to be accomplished, consists of a hightide jetty which starts from the shore near Fort Stevens, on the South Cape, and extends in a westerly direction, with a slight curve to the south, out across Clatsop Spit for a distance of 44 miles to a point about 3 miles south of Cape Disappointment. The jetty is constructed of rock, resting upon mattresses 40 feet wide and from 2 to 5 feet thick, laid upon the sand. When finished the level of the top of the jetty at the shore end will be 12 feet above the mean low-water plane; from thence, for a distance of about 2 miles, it slopes to a height of 10 feet, and from thence to the end to a height of 4 feet. There will be 4 low-tide groins on the north side of the jetty, two of which will be 1,000 feet each in length, one 600, and the other 500 feet. The material thus far has been placed in position from a jetty tramway upon piles driven along the line of the jetty, and about 24 feet above the level of low tide. The tramway is a double track 3-foot gauge railroad, the tracks being 13 feet between centers and 28 feet above the plane of mean low water. The material is landed at the wharf from barges and transported to place over these tracks, which are built in advance of the main work. Before the commencement of this work the channel or channels over this bar were very capricious in location and variable in depth. The depths were usually from 19 to 21 feet, and the channels varied in number from 1 to 3 and in location through nearly 180° from Cape Disappointment to Point Adams. |