The minimum width of the river channel is 100 feet and the minimum depth 2.5 feet. The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a high-water channel from the mouth to the mouth of Bowie Creek by the removal of logs, snags, and overhanging trees, at an estimated cost of $25,000. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $4,597.86 and resulted in giving a high-water channel from Hattiesburg to Augusta, Miss., a distance of 40 miles. 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................ $5,000.00 4, 597.86 402.14 5,000.00 5, 402. 14 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 15, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 8.) 9. Harbor at Biloxi, Mississippi.-The original condition of the channel was such as to allow only vessels of 5-foot draft to enter the harbor. The present project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1882, the object being to afford a channel of entrance from Mississippi Sound to the wharves of Biloxi of navigable width and 8 feet deep, at an estimated cost of $55,000. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $34,148.64 and resulted in dredging a channel 9 feet deep at mean low water and 120 feet wide throughout. The present project is therefore completed. About $8,000 every 4 or 5 years will be ample for preservation of the improvement. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance unexpended (See Appendix Q 9.) $10, 851.36 10,851.36 10. Pearl River, Mississippi, below Jackson.-The original condition of the navigable channel of this portion of the river was such as allow navigation only during high water, and then it was difficult and dangerous. The minimum width of the stream was 190 feet, except through Holmes Bayou, which was only 65 feet wide. The minimum width of the channel was 65 feet. The minimum depth of the channel at low water was 13 feet. The original project for the improvement of this portion of the river was adopted in 1880, the object being to obtain a 5-foot channel at low water, at an estimated cost of $95,940. A clear 5-foot channel at low water was found to be impracticable, but a 2-foot clear channel could be obtained. This amendment to the original project was approved in 1885 and the estimate was increased $50,000. The amount expended on the work up to June 30, 1891, was $105,438.80. The condition of this part of the river on June 30, 1891, was such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate from the mouth, at the Rigolets, La., to Wheats Fields, Miss., 106 miles, all the year; from Wheats Fields to Columbia, Miss., 50 miles, on a 6-foot rise, and from Columbia, Miss., to Jackson, Miss, 159 miles, on a 7-foot rise. The results obtained by the improvement of this section of the river during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, are an increased depth of 10 inches at low water from the mouth up to Latons Bluff, 126 miles, and an increased width of 95 feet through Holmes Bayou. 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 for completion of existing project ..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 10.) $22, 686.20. 10, 823.43 11,862. 77 15,000.00 26, 862.77 20,000.00 11. Pearl River, Mississippi, between Carthage and Jackson.-The original condition of this part of the river was such as to make navigation almost impossible except in high water. The minimum width of the river was 100 feet; the minimum depth, at low water, was 1 foot; the minimum width of the channel was 40 feet. The original project adopted for the improvement of this river consisted in the removal of snags, logs, trees, etc., and was to afford a clear channel of navigable width, 5 feet deep at low water, from Jackson to Carthage, 105 miles, at an estimated cost of $21,000. A clear 5-foot channel at low water was found to be impracticable by the method proposed, but a 2-foot clear channel at low water could be obtained and was all that the present commerce of the river required. The original estimate was increased $29,000. (See Annual Report, 1886-'87, Q 2, page 1336.) The amount expended on this work up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $24,779.10. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1891, is such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate with comparative safety, on a 3-foot rise above ordinary low water, from Carthage down, 102 miles, and the remaining distance down to Jackson, 3 miles, on a 4-foot rise. The condition of the improvement on June 30, 1892, was such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate safely on a 3-foot stage above low water from Carthage to Jackson. The results obtained by the improvement of this section of the river are an increased depth of 2 feet, on account of removal of snags, sunken logs and trees, and an increased width of at least 20 feet of the channel, on account of trimming off points. There is also a large reduction and saving in freights and insurance rates. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is $1,288.28. Project completed. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance ninexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.. $1,470.90 1,288. 28 182.62 5,000.00 5, 182.62 Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement....... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 11.) $2,400.00 12. Pearl River, Mississippi, between Edinburg and Carthage.-The original condition of this portion of the river was such that navigation at low water was impossible, and even during very high water it was difficult and dangerous. The minimum width of the channel was 20 feet. The minimum depth at low water was 8 inches. The project for the improvement of this portion of the river, adopted in 1884, was to afford a high-water channel from Edinburg to Carthage, a distance of 243 miles, for 6 or 8 months of the year, at an estimated cost of $13,464. The amount expended on the work up to June 30, 1891, was $9,721.13. The condition of this part of the river on June 30, 1891, was such as to allow light-draft boats to navigate with comparative safety from Edinburg to Carthage, on a 4-foot rise above ordinary low water. The results obtained by the improvement of this portion of the river, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, are an increased width of 15 feet and an increased depth of 2 feet at low water. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...... 2,874.30 Amount (estimated) required for preservation of improvement. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 12.) 500.00 13. Bogue Chitto, Louisiana.—The channel at present is not navigable at ordinary low water, it being obstructed by snags, logs, fish-traps, etc. The minimum width of the stream is 120 feet and that of the channel 80 feet; the minimum depth, 3 feet. The project of the improvement of this river was adopted in 1890, the object being to obtain a 3-foot channel during the greater part of the year by the removal of logs, snags, fish traps, etc., from the mouth up to Alford's bridge, at an estimated cost of $30,000. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $1,000, was applied to preparation of plant for the work. There is no change in the condition of the river, the work of improvement not having been begun. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ..... 20,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Q 13.) INSPECTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOUTH PASS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Inspecting officer, Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers. The inspecting officer in his annual report hereto appended, reports but little construction work having been done at the Head of the Passes and in South Pass during the year. At the mouth of South Pass eight new wing dams were built, and twenty of the older ones repaired. A legal channel was maintained during the year at the head of South Pass, and "through the pass itself," but during a period of 32 days, from May 20 to June 20, both dates inclusive, such channel did not obtain "through the jetties" at the mouth of South Pass. During this period, however, there was a navigable depth of 28.1 feet. Over an area containing 14 square miles, lying immediately beyond the sea ends of the jetties, there was an average shoaling of 1.59 feet during the year. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.... July 1, 1892, balance unexpended ... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.... (See Appendix R.) $10,000.00 9, 200.90 799. 10 10,000.00 10, 799. 10 IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN STREAMS IN LOUISIANA, AND OF HARBOR AT SABINE PASS, SABINE RIVER, AND NECHES RIVER, TEXAS. Officer in charge, Maj. James B. Quinn, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Chefuncte (Tchefuncte) River and Bogue Falia, Louisiana.-Previous to improvement these streams were obstructed by snags, logs, and overhanging trees. The bar at the mouth of the river had a depth of water of about 4 feet at the lowest stage. The project for the improvement of the river was adopted in 1880, and contemplated the removal of obstructions in the channel and the dredging of the bar at its mouth, and was modified in 1884 so as to provide for the building of a breakwater across the bar. With the first two appropriations of $1,500 each, made in 1881 and 1882, the obstructions were removed below Covington, and part of the unexpended balance was used for constructing 820 feet of the breakwater, but the bar at the mouth was not dredged, as it would be likely to re-form. To prevent this or retard its reformation, the officer in charge in 1884 recommended building a breakwater extending 2,500 feet into the lake and then dredging a channel through the bar. The original estimated cost of the improvement was $5,460, but this did not provide for building the breakwater. Under the appropriation of $2,500 made in 1886, channels 5 feet in depth and 30 to 60 feet wide were cut through the bars on the Bogue Falia between Old Landing and Covington, giving better navigation for schooners to and from Covington. The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $5,500. At that date the river was navigable for steamers drawing 5 feet to Old Landing, about 12 miles above its mouth, and then for the lighter-draft schooners to Covington, about 2 miles farther up on the Bogue Falia. The river and bayou were somewhat obstructed with snag, logs, etc. The bar at the mouth of the river has a depth of about 5 feet at the lowest stage of the water. In October, 1891, the work of removing the most dangerous obstructions in the channel was commenced, under the appropriation of $1,000 made September 19, 1890, with hired labor, using the Government snagging plant, which had shortly before finished work on the Tickfaw River. The river was cleared of logs, snags, and impending trees from Madisonville to Old Landing, and from the latter place to Covington, on the Bogue Falia, as far as the funds available would permit, materially lessening the dangers of navigation. Operations were discontinued November 30, 1891, and the plant was laid up at Madisonville. The amount expended on this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $789.26. 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 S 1.) $1,000.00 789.26 210.74 1,000.00 1,210. 74 2. Tickfaw River and its tributaries, Louisiana.-When the project for improvement was adopted the Tickfaw River and its navigable branches were obstructed by snags, sunken logs, and trees. Congress authorized an examination of this river in 1879. A project was submitted in 1881 to clean out the river and its principal tributaries, the Natalbany, Blood, and Ponchatoula rivers, by removing the obstructions, at an estimated cost of $10,230. To June 30, 1891, the appropriations made by Congress in 1881, 1882, 1886, and 1888, aggregating $7,000, had been expended. Twenty miles of the Tickfaw, and the Natalbany to Springfield, the head of navigation, had been improved. Work was also done on the Ponchatoula as far as it was thought advisable, and the Blood River had been cleaned out as far as navigable. Under the appropriation of $1,000 made September 19, 1890, work of removing the obstructions that had re-formed since 1889, was commenced September 14, 1891, with hired labor and the use of the Government snagging plant which had but recently finished work on the Amite River. Operations were discontinued in October of that year. Suags, overhanging trees, and logs were removed from the Tickfaw, Natalbany, and Blood rivers, the latter being cleared to the head of navigation. The extent of channels improved on the three rivers was about 39 miles, and the sum of $777.96 was expended on this work during the year ending June 30, 1892. The improvement is not permanent, as obstructions will continue to form in all these streams, but an annual appropriation of $1,000 will keep them in good order." Although the improvement is not of a permanent or conspicuous character, the little which has been accomplished has resulted in a very material increase in the commerce of the river. Most of the shipments are made direct to New Orleans. 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 S 2.) $1,000.00 777.96 222.04 1,000.00 1, 222. 04 |