Capt. Caster states: Irregular and inadequate appropriations will greatly increase the cost of the work and delay its completion, and it is therefore recommended that unless the total sum required for its completion, viz, $105,000, can be appropriated at one time no appropriation for the work may be made. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 41. (See also Appendix N 12.) 2. Brunswick Outer Bar, Georgia, to determine the feasibility and cost of deepening the same to 26 feet at ordinary high water.-The proposed improvement contemplates a chanel across the Outer Bar, opposite the entrance to St. Simon Sound, 300 feet wide and 26 feet deep at mean low water, to be obtained by the construction of two jetties and by dredging, the jetties extending eastwardly from St. Simon and Jekyl islands to points outside the bar, the least distance between the two jetties being 5,000 feet. The total cost of this work, in round numbers, is estimated at $2,700,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No, 34. (See also Appendix N 13.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN FLORIDA. Officers in charge, Capt. W. M. Black, Corps of Engineers, to November 20, 1891, with Lieut. D. DuB. Gaillard, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders to November 6, 1891; and. Maj. J. C. Mallery, Corps of Engineers, in charge since November 20, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. St. Johns River, Florida.-Operations for the improvement of this river have been carried on in conformity with a project submitted in 1879 by the late Col. Q. A. Gilmore, Corps of Engineers. The plan contemplates the formation of a continuous channel 15 feet deep at mean low water from Jacksonville to the ocean. The points where work is required are in a reach near Dames Point, 12 miles from the mouth, and on the bar at the mouth. Near Dames Point the mean low-water depth varies from 12 to 13 feet, with a tidal range of about 2 feet. The bar at the mouth is formed of sand. Before work began the mean lowwater channel depth across it varied from 5 to 7 feet, with a tidal range of 5.8 feet. The channel across the bar shifted continuously north and south through a mile range. The work was divided into two parts: (1) The formation of a channel across the bar at the mouth, by the concentration and direction of the tidal currents by two jetties, to start from the opposite shores of the entrance, and to converge, until, on the bar, their outer ends should be approximately parallel and 1,600 feet apart; and (2) the improvement of the Dames Point Reach, by dredging, and the construction of works of protection, under a project approved June 11, 1891, and approved in a modified form March 30, 1892. As the improvement at the mouth was at first most urgently needed, the five appropriations up to that of 1886, inclusive, aggregating $675,000, were made for improving "the channel over the bar at the mouth," under the estimate for that part of the total project. Since 1887 the depth on the bar has been greater than that in the Dames Point Reach, and the interests of commerce have demanded that work at the latter point should be started. Accordingly, the appropriations since 1888 were made for improving the river " from Jacksonville to the ocean, including the channel over the bar at the mouth," under the estimate for the entire project. The work of improving the channel at Dames Point is now being carried out by means of an appropri ation of $300,000 made by Duval County. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $865,146.99 had been expended. The south jetty had a total length of 7,147 feet. Of this 1,740 feet was built to the full height and capped; 4,680 feet was. above mean low water excepting a few gaps at the outer end, and the depth over the remaining 727 feet sloped from mean low water to 13 feet below. The total length of the north jetty was 10,165 feet. Of this 553 feet was built to full height and capped; 6,514 feet was above mean low water excepting a few gaps. The average mean low-water depth across the remaining 3,098 feet was 5 feet. Prior to 1886 the jetties were built by alternate layers of mattresses and rock. Since that date mattresses have been used in the foundation course only. A survey of the Dames Point Reach was made in 1889 and a survey of the Mile Point Bank in 1892. Work by contract under the appropriation of 1890 was continued. During the fiscal year 1891-'92 there were placed in the jetties 25,359 yards of mattresses, 28,577 tons of riprap stone, 1,343.4 cubic yards of shell, and 227.1 cubic yards of concrete. The south jetty foundation course has been extended 1,146 feet, and 920 feet of its superstructure raised to the level of mean low water. The north jetty foundation course has been extended 826 feet, 1,990 feet of its superstructure has been built to the level of mean low water, and 276 feet was capped with concrete blocks. The southward movement of the south channel has continued. The depth over the outer bar is now about 12 feet, as against 13 feet last year. Over the inner bar it is now 15 feet as against 11 feet last year. The area of the 6-foot curve on the bank at the mouth of the jetties has diminished very much, and the bottom slope towards the sea has become generally steeper. The width of the bar across the North Channel has decreased from 700 feet to 300 feet, and there seems a possibility of temporarily using this channel pending the opening of the South Channel across the bank under the influence of the prolonged south jetty. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended August 10, 1891, amount refunded by land-grant railroad.. $154, 853. 01 .88 154, 853.89 93, 448. 41 June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended... July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts. July 1, 1892, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 17, 153.50 112,500.00 129,653.50 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. 284,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... (See Appendix 0 1.) 2. Ocklawaha River, Florida.-The portion of the Ocklawaha River which it is proposed to improve, lies between Leesburg, on Lake Griffin, and the mouth, a distance of 94 miles. The channel width varies from 30 to 70 feet, and the depth from 5 to 9 feet. From the outlet of Lake Griffin, for a distance of 28 miles, the river is sluggish in current, has numerous bends, and is badly obstructed by floating islands and grass. For the remaining 58 miles the current is strong and the prin cipal obstructions are snags and overhanging trees. The approved project is to clear the channel between Lake Griffin and the mouth by removing snags and the worst overhanging trees, and by moving the floating islands out of the channel and staking them in place by piles. The amount expended on this improvement up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $2,455.68. Under the appropriation made by act approved September 19, 1890, a survey and map of the river were made and the channel was cleared of its worst obstructions from the mouth to the prairie, a distance of 60 miles. A total of 3,881 snags and 705 overhanging trees were removed, and 84 trees were trimmed. On account of the number of submerged snags being so greatly in excess of the estimate and the very low stage of the river, which prevented the boat going further up than the prairie, no work was done on the floating islands. The unprecedented low water developed a few shoals which it appears desirable to have removed, and more effective means being proposed for keeping the channel clear of floating islands, the officer in charge recommends a further appropriation of $15,000 and subsequent annual appropriations of $1,000 for maintaining the channel. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1892, balance available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 $7,544. 32 6, 320. 01 1,224. 31 949. 14 275.17 1,000.00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 ... 1,275. 17 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 O 2.) 6, 510. 90 3. Volusia Bar, Florida.-Volusia Bar is situated at the head of Lake George, and is formed by materials brought down by the St. Johns River and deposited at the point where the current of the narrow river loses its velocity as the bed widens to form the lake. The usual depth on the bar, before operations began, was from 3 to 43 feet, with a very crooked channel. At times this depth was diminished so much as to stop navigation entirely. The adopted plan of improvement was to contract the waters on the bar by the construction of two converging jetties formed of brush and stone, with a view to causing a scour to the depth of 6 feet. Should the depth caused by the jetties not be sufficient, recourse was to be had to dredging. Between the jetties on the bar lines of guide piles were placed to keep vessels off the jetties and to define the channel clearly. In 1887 it was decided to limit the channel depth sought to the 5 feet then obtained, on account of the evident shoaling in the lake beyond the jetties, and because that depth was sufficient for the requirements of the existing river commerce. Up to June 30, 1891, $25,495.87 had been expended, including liabili ties then outstanding. The jetties had been built to their full length and to a height suflicient to produce the desired effect; two lines of firmly set fender piles defined the jetty channel on the crest of the bar, and a straight channel with a minimum low-water depth of 5 feet had been obtained. In the spring of 1890 the crests of both jetties were found to have been lowered slightly, and several gaps had been made through them to a depth of 4 feet in one place. One hundred and ninety-seven cubic yards of rock was placed on the jetties, filling the lowest places. In December, 1889, one of the river steamers broke out one of the panels of the west pile-fender line. This has not been repaired. During the past low-water season the channel depth at the end of the jetties fell to 4.6 feet, and commerce was greatly delayed. The officer in charge reports that on account of the shoalness of the lake beyond the jetties any further increase of depth should be attained by dredging from time to time, as may be required. He states that this will require an annual outlay of $500, provided a contract can be made for the work. As it is very difficult to obtain dredging plant in this vicinity he recommends the construction of a suitable dredge for use here and in the Upper St. Johns River (for the improvement of which there remains an unexpended appropriation of $4,930), at a cost of $15,000. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended......... Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. Amount (estimated) required annually for maintenance of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O 3.) $504.13 394.04 110.09 1,000.00 1, 110. 09 1,000.00 4. St. Augustine Harbor, Florida.-The approved project is to protect the shores from erosion by the construction of groins of concrete and riprap on brush foundation mattresses. Two appropriations, aggregating $55,000, have been made for this harbor and have been expended in accordance with this project. Work under the first appropriation was begun in October, 1889, and ended in September, 1890. Work under the second appropriation was commenced in December, 1890, and ended in May, 1891. The amount expended up to June 30, 1891, was $50,887.88. Five groins in all have been built; one 341 feet long and another 523 feet long, on Anastasia Island, near the light-house; one 548.9 feet long, one 465 feet long, and one 415 feet long, on North Beach, near the point. During the year a sheet pile wing dam 327 feet long was built on the south side of Groin No. 4. The shore lines have continued to build out excepting in the vicinity of Groin No. 4 and on the west side of Groin No. 2, where slight erosions have taken place. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 (See Appendix O 4.) $4, 112. 12 2,832.52 1,279.60 10,000.00 11, 279.60 5. Northwest entrance, Key West Harbor, Florida.-A bar having a channel depth of 10.5 feet obstructs the northern entrance to this harbor. During storms the available depth is so much reduced that vessels bound to and from Gulf ports can not use it, but are compelled to make a detour of about 100 miles by Dry Tortugas to enter or leave the Gulf. An examination of the entrance, with a view to its improvement, was made in 1867 and again in 1881. In 1882 Congress made an appropriation of $25,000 for dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep across the bar. As was anticipated, the improvement was only temporary. In the act approved August 5, 1886, $2,500 was appropriated for a new examination and survey of the bar. This was made in December, 1886, and January, 1887. The bar was found to be formed and maintained by interfering tidal currents. The project for its improvement comprised the construction of one or more training walls, with dredg ing, if necessary. In the act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $25,000 for this work, with the proviso that the Secretary of War should appoint a board of three engineer officers, who should consider the subject and report on the advisability of continuing the work under the above project, and that he should submit the report, together with the views of himself thereon, to Congress at its next session. The final report of the Board was submitted in November, 1889, and printed as a part of Appendix P 4, Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1890. The Board was of the opinion that the work is of national importance. It recommended that the improvement be begun by the immediate construction of a jetty along the northeast side of the entrance. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $9,087.67 had been expended on the present project. Work under the appropriation of 1890 was continued until May 12, 1892, when the contract was completed. Twenty-six thousand eight hundred and twenty-one and nine-tenths cubic yards of stone was placed in the jetty during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, making a total of 27,982.2 cubic yards now in the jetty. The jetty has a total length of 6,888 feet, with an average width at the base of 25 feet and an average crest width of 10 feet, with a depth over it at mean low water varying from 2.5 to 10 feet, and averaging 5.5 feet. A deepening has occurred between the jetty and the main channel across the bar, producing a channel of a least width of 400 feet and a least mid-channel depth of 11 feet. The depth in the main channel across the bar has increased from 11.8 feet in 1889 to 12.5 feet. 75, 093.60 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 ..... 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 O 5.) 385,000.00 |