11. Sabine River, Texas.-When the improvement of the river was commenced there was a depth of 35 feet on the bar at its mouth, and also above the town of Orange. Logs, snags, etc., above here interfered with navigation. To June 30, 1889, there had been appropriated for this work $34,700, of which $30,760.39 had been expended.

In 1880 a channel 6 feet deep and from 70 to 100 feet wide was dredged through the bar. In 1881 several small cuts, to avoid bends obstructed with logs, were made above Orange.

An examination above Orange showed many snags in parts of the channel, and a project was prepared and contract entered into for the expenditure of the remaining balance in closing both branches of Old River at the head of the Narrows with pile, brush, and earth dams, to throw all the water into the useful channel, and removing the obstructions, such as snags, overhanging trees, etc.

The smaller Old River channel was closed, and most of the piles driven for the larger dam, when a sudden rise in the river washed out many of the piles in the latter. The river remaining so high that satisfactory work could not be done, the contract was extended to the next low-water season.

Work was resumed in September, 1890, and the dams finished, as projected, in December following, completing the project.

The dredged channel over the bar at the mouth is somewhat obstructed by snags, logs, etc., but the depth is now sufficient for the present demands of commerce.

The amount expended on the improvement of this river to June 30, 1891, was $34,613.12.

After the obstructions in the river between its mouth and Sudduths Bluff are removed, about $2,000 will be required each year to keep the river in navigable condition.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

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 S 11.)

$86.88

86.88 5,000.00

5,086. 88

5,000.00

12. Neches River, Texas.-Before this river was improved the bar at its mouth had only 3 feet of water over it, and navigation was obstructed between Yellow Bluff and Bevilport by snags and fallen trees.

The project adopted for the improvement of this river called for the dredging of a channel over the bar at its mouth and the removal of obstructions from the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilport. To June 30, 1891, $33,000 had been appropriated for this work, of which $28,842.16 had been expended.

In 1880 a channel was dredged through the bar at the mouth of the river 5 feet deep and 30 to 60 feet in width. In 1882 the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilport was cleared of obstructions.

The bar at the mouth had again shoaled, so that at extreme low water there was only a navigable depth of about 3 feet. The channel was again dredged to a depth of 5 feet by the Government dredge, which had been at work at Calcasieu Pass, and the work was completed in April, 1889, since which time no work has been done.

The improvement will not be permanent, as the bar will re-form.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended. (See Appendix S 12.)

$4, 157.84

4, 157.84

13. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering naviga tion. The removal of the wreck of the British bark Bruce, sunk in Ship Island Harbor, Mississippi, in December, 1890, was commenced, under contract with the Alabama Dredging and Jetty Company for the sum of $1,490, on June 19, 1891.

The removal was completed on August 1, 1891.

The wreck was blown to pieces with dynamite, and it is believed that, through inexperience, the contractors lost something like $1,000 in car rying out the work. Nothing of value was recovered from the wreck.

The total cost of removing this wreck was $1,764.83, of which the sum of $1,666.38 was expended during the year just closed.

Sunken coal barge in Bayou Teche, Louisiana.-On March 5, 1892, it was reported that a coal barge had sunk in Bayou Teche, near Franklin, La., and formed an obstruction to the navigation of this stream. Its removal was authorized March 28, 1892, but owing to high water nothing further has been done.

(See Appendix S 13.)

EXAMINATION, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890.

The required preliminary examination of Sabine River, Texas, from where said river empties into Sabine Lake, to Sudduths Bluff, on said Sabine River, was made by local engineer in charge, Maj. Quinn, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Maj. Quinn, and of the division engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. The report of the preliminary examination containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further survey appears to be necessary at this time. The work proposed contemplates the removal of snags between Sabine Lake and Sudduths Bluff, at an estimated cost of $10,000. After the snags are removed $2,000 will be required annually to keep the river in good condition. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc No. 20, Fiftysecond Congress, first session. (See also Appendix S 14.)

SECURING MOUTH OF BAYOU PLAQUEMINE, LOUISIANA, FROM FURTHER CAVING, AND REMOVING SUNKEN VESSELS OR CRAFT OBSTRUCT

ING OR ENDANGERING NAVIGATION IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER BELOW NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

Officer in charge, Capt. John Millis, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers.

1. Securing mouth of Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana, from further caving.-Bayou Plaquemine was formerly an outflowing branch of the Mississippi River, but on account of its tendency to enlarge and because of apprehensions that the channel of the main river might be deteriorated thereby, the levee system on the west bank of the Mississippi was carried across the head of the bayou in 1865. It is now proposed to improve and deepen the bayou and establish navigable connection between it and the Mississippi by a system of locks at the head of the bayou.

The west bank of the Mississippi at the entrance of this bayou was formerly subject to rapid caving, threatening the site of the proposed locks. The project adopted for the prevention of this caving along the west bank of the Mississippi contemplates the construction of a system of submerged spur dikes, built of timber, brush, and stone. They run out at right angles to the general direction of the bank line and are placed at intervals of about 900 feet.

Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, there had been expended $49,699.26 on this work. Two of the dikes had been finished and the caving had been stopped in the vicinity of the completed work.

During the past year necessary repairs were made to dike No. 1, and three more dikes, Nos. 3, 4, and 5, were completed. The completed work of protection now extends to a distance of 2,500 feet above, and 1,500 feet below the site of the proposed locks, and within this distance the caving of the bank has been arrested.

During the fiscal year the net sum of $52,929.93 was expended on this work, leaving an available balance July 1, 1892, from funds allotted to this improvement, of $31,117.81. The money statement is consolidated with that for improvement of Bayou Plaquemine, Louisiana, page 219.

(See Appendix T 1.)

2. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation in Mississippi River, below New Orleans, Louisiana.-The wreck of an old dry dock lying in Mississippi River off Point Celeste, about 42 miles below New Orleans, was blown up with dynamite on hand, without extra expense, and no longer obstructs navigation.

(See Appendix T 2.)

IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS AND HARBORS IN TEXAS.

Officer in charge, Maj. Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. William C. Langfitt, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers.

1. Entrance to Galveston Harbor, Texas.-The obstructions to deepwater navigation at this harbor have been the outer and inner bars. On the former the natural depth was 12 feet and on the latter about 13 feet, both at mean low tide.

The present project for improvement at this locality was adopted in 1874, modified in 1880, and again modified in 1886, the object being to deepen the channels so as to admit sea-going vessels of the deepest draft. The projects prior to 1874 related to dredging operations on a small scale.

The projects of 1874 and 1880 contemplated construction of jetties to deepen the channels on the bars; the former with a view to a depth of 18 feet. The modification of 1886 was with a view to a possible depth of 30 feet by means of jetties, to be supplemented, if need be, by dredging. These jetties to be of rock and to be built to a height of 5 feet above mean low tide. The cost of the modification of 1886 (the present project) was estimated as $7,000,000.

The total amount expended under the foregoing plans to include June 30, 1891, was $2,273,920.90, in addition to which there was expended $100,000, subscribed by the city of Galveston, in 1883. It has resulted in a depth of 131 feet in the channel on the outer bar at mean low tide, and a depth of 21 feet where the inner bar was.

The amount expended during the past fiscal year was $438,922.63.

It has resulted in maintaining 13 feet on the outer bar and 21 feet where the inner bar was.

The work during the past fiscal year has been confined to extension of the south jetty. The extension consists of 4,600 linear feet of completed and 2,923 linear feet of uncompleted jetty, a total of 7,523 feet. The total of work done on this structure since operations upon it began in 1887 is represented by 26,923 feet of jetty, of which 24,000 feet is completed and 2,923 uncompleted.

The appropriation asked for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, is to be mainly applied towards construction of the projected north jetty. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

$1, 104, 079. 10

438, 922.63

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.

665, 156. 47

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities...

$19, 838.72

July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 618, 207.64

638, 046.36

July 1, 1892, balance available....

Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1892.

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893

27, 110. 11 450,000.00

477, 110. 11

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project............ 4,650,000. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894

Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix U 1.)

1,000,000.00

2. Ship channel in Galveston Bay, Texas.-This is a channel dredged by the United States Government from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut, the latter terminating at a point 4.8 miles from Morgan Canal, which is an excavation across Morgan Point at the mouth of San Jacinto River. Morgan Cut and Morgan Canal are works executed by the Buffalo Bayou Ship-Channel Company, chartered under the laws of Texas.

The natural depth on the line of the Galveston Bay Ship-Channel averaged 8 feet at mean low tide, with a depth at some places of but 7 feet.

The project for this improvement was adopted in 1871 and modified in 1877, the object being to excavate and maintain a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide at bottom, through Galveston Bay from Bolivar Channel to Morgan Cut, a distance of 18.9 miles.

Work upon the channel, which had been suspended in 1883, was resumed in February, 1888, and by July 20, 1889, a channel of 12 feet least depth and 100 feet width at bottom had been excavated to Morgan Cut.

No dredging has been done since July, 1889.

The total amount expended to include June 30, 1891, was $536,228.43. By that date the channel had shoaled so that its ruling depth was 9 feet. The amount expended during the past fiscal year was $4,602.73, mostly in repairs of beacons and in survey.

The ruling depth now is 8.6 feet.

The work of improvement of the ship channel having, in July, 1889, reached the point in the bay at which the southern extremity of Morgau Cut is located, the officer in charge, under instructions from this office, called upon the Buffalo Bayou Ship-Channel Company to execute its agreement of January 22, 1881, to transfer to the United States its works at Morgan Point. Congress, by act approved September 19, 1890, provided for the appointment of a commission of United States engineers ENG 92-15

to ascertain the value of any portion of the channel from Bolivar Channel to the point where the San Jacinto River enters what is known as Morgan Canal, which might have been constructed by the Buffalo Bayou Ship-Channel Company, the amount so ascertained and certified to be correct by the Secretary of War to be paid to the ship-channel company out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. The report of the commission was made December 4, 1890, and approved and forwarded to the proper Department for payment in January following. On May 4, 1892, payment having been made for the works, the latter were taken possession of for the Government and made free to navigation.

The acquisition of the works at Morgan Point added to the ship channel in Galveston Bay 4.8 miles of cut in the bay and 3,347 linear feet of canal across Morgan Point. The ruling depth in the cut is 74 feet; the depth in the canal is in excess of 17 feet. The addition of 5.43 miles of artificial channel to the Ship Channel in Galveston Bay rendered necessary a revision of the estimate for securing and maintaining throughout a least depth of 12 feet. The amount of the revised estimate is given in the full report of the officer in charge.

The project is not capable of permanent completion, it being estimated that the sum of $100,000 annually will be required to maintain the channel after it has been fully excavated to the required width and depth.

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

$50, 271.57

4, 602.73

45, 668. 84 95.69

45, 573. 15 40, 000. 00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893....

85,573. 15

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 269, 675. 44 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867,

(See Appendix U 2.)

3. Trinity River, Texas.-The natural channel on the bar at the mouth was narrow and shoal. The project for improvement adopted in 1873 consisted principally in dredging. Between 1885 and 1889 no work was done and the channel which had been deepened in 1885 to 5 feet had shoaled to 3 feet 2 inches. The project was modified in 1889, the modification principally consisting in parallel timber jetties to effect the required deepening to 6 feet on the bar. The total expended to include June 30, 1891, was $52,822.21, resulting in a depth of 3 feet 6 inches on the bar and straightening the channel. The amount expended during the past fiscal year was $3,297.47. One jetty has been nearly completed. It has maintained the depth of 3 feet 6 inches.

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893...

10,794.32