Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project annually $8,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix W 10.)

11. St. Francis River, Missouri.-The first appropriation made for this reach of river was that of act of August 11, 1888, in amount $5,000. Prior to the work done with this sum, logs, snags, overhanging trees, and several shoals interfered with low-water navigation. The estimate, $7,300, proposed the removal of the shoals about 12 miles below Greenville and the removal of snags and other obstructions. The amount appropriated by act of Angust 11, 1888, was inadequate. Up to June 30, 1891, $7,642.68 had been expended in cutting a channel through the Big Drift and carrying out other provisions of the original project, combined with those of the project under the act approved September 19, 1890, which, added to the original project, provides for a hand-propelled snag boat for use between the Sunk Lands and Greenville, Mo., said snag boat being built in this period.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $4,687.09 was expended in operations in accord with the combined projects, the removing of a for midable array of obstructions from St. Francis, Ark., to the Big Drift, a distance of about 70 miles. Work was suspended by high water and cold weather.

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....
(See Appendix W 11.)

$7,857.32 4,687.09

3, 170. 23 193.35

2, 976.88

12. Little River, Missouri.-Before improvement this river was obstructed by snags, logs, masses of driftwood, and shoals, and was divided into two chutes. The project for improvement contemplates prolonging medium-stage navigation by closing one of the chutes and removing the obstructions enumerated from the other.

The first appropriation ever made for this river was $5,000, act of August 11, 1888; $3,000 additional followed in the act of September 19, 1890. Up to June 30, 1891, $4,968.10 had been expended, carrying the work to within 20 miles of the lake, and building a dam 300 feet long across the right chute.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $3,011.38 was expended, removing snags, overhanging trees and drift piles over the portion not worked last season.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

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

$3,031.90 3, 011. 38

20.52

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

The required preliminary examination at Clarendon and the lower White River, Arkansas, to determine the effect of backwater from the Mississippi River and its cause and the means and cost of preventing injury therefrom, was made by the local engineer in charge, Capt.

Taber, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Capt. Taber, and of the division engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Capt. Taber was charged with and completed its survey and submitted report thereon, through the division engineer. Col. Comstock stated that the construction of levees along the Mississippi River below Helena, Ark., will prevent, as far as is practicable, injurious effects of the Mississippi River backwater on the White River. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 118, Fifty-second Congress, first session. Further information in regard to this matter being called for by resolution of the House of Representatives of March 4, 1892, a supplemental report by Col. Comstock, presenting an approximate estimate of $1,100,000 as cost of constructing sufficient levees along the Mississippi River from Helena to the White River, was, with the reports of the examination and survey, transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 163, Fifty-second Congress, first session. (See also Appendix W 13.)

REMOVING SNAGS AND WRECKS FROM MISSISSIPPI RIVER; IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN OHIO AND ILLINOIS RIVERS, OF HARBOR AT SAINT LOUIS, AND OF OSAGE AND GASCONADE RIVERS, MISSOURI, AND OF KASKASKIA RIVER, ILLINOIS. Officer in charge, Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers.

1. Removing snags and wrecks from Mississippi River.-Before this work was inaugurated the navigation of the river was very much interfered with by numerous snags, logs, etc., which had lodged in the channel, and to which a new accession was brought down on each rise of the river, thus constantly adding new and unknown obstructions to those already there. A large number of wrecks also occupied the channel and were very dangerous to the safety of passing boats.

For the removal of these obstructions appropriations were made as early as 1824, and the project adopted consisted in building boats suitable for removing the snags, etc., and operating them whenever the stage of water was favorable for the work and funds were available.

The total amount expended for this purpose can not be definitely given, as previous to the appropriation made by act of March 3, 1879, a general amount was appropriated to be applied to several streams as their needs required. From March 3, 1879, when the first specific appropriation was made, up to June 30, 1891, $810,760.77 was expended for this purpose. The navigation of the river has been very materially improved by this method and the danger to boats lessened.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $98,250 was expended. Two snag boats were employed between the mouth of the Missouri River and Natchez, Miss., removing obstructions. The boats worked for a total of 14 months, removing 3,389 snags, cutting down 20,571 trees, removing 30 drift piles, and traveling a distance of 13,043 miles. This work greatly benefited navigation and commerce.

The boats were thoroughly overhauled and repaired and placed in good working order. The new boilers ordered for the Macomb during the previous fiscal year were received and placed on the boat; a new butting-beam was also placed on this boat.

An annual appropriation has been made for carrying on this work.

Amount drawn under section 7, act of August 11, 1888..
June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1892, amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893....
(See Appendix X 1.)

2. Mississippi River between the Ohio and Illinois rivers.-The original condition of the navigable channel of this portion of the Mississippi River, before the work of improvement was begun, was such that the natural depth at low water was in many places from 3 to 4 feet, and the water was scattered by islands, which formed sloughs behind them, thus wasting the water available for low-water navigation.

The project adopted for improvement consists in closing these sloughs, and, by contraction works, the concentration of the water between banks 2,500 feet apart, the object being thereby to obtain a depth of 8 feet in the channel between St. Louis and Cairo, and 6 feet between Grafton and St. Louis at standard low water, or at a stage corresponding to a reading of 4 feet on the St. Louis gauge.

The amount expended up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $4,129,014.16 and the condition of the improvement at that time was such that but little trouble was experienced between St. Louis and Lucas Crossing, a distance of 30 miles, as far as the work of improvement had been carried on June 30, 1891, and then only at extreme low water. For stages of water above 4 feet on the St. Louis gauge there was generally a depth of at least 6 feet in the channel.

The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was $276,168.99, and was applied to repairing plant, and carrying on works at the following localities:

Alton. This work consisted in building an extension of 2,400 feet to the stone dike erected in 1882 and 1884, also in raising the crest of old dike 3 feet for a distance of 800 feet at its lower end. The object of the work was to prevent the further formation of a bar in front of the Alton landing and to wash away what had already formed. The work was commenced on August 10, 1891, and completed May 3, 1892. The effect of this work can not be determined until the next low-water season, as during the time of construction and since then, the Missouri River was higher than the Mississippi River, and in consequence backwater from the former so deadened the current that the work had but little effect on the deposit in the harbor. At least one high water from the Mississippi, when the Missouri is at a lower stage, is required before any material change can be expected. The amount expended on this work during the fiscal year was $49,948.78.

Rush Tower.-Work at this locality consisted in an extension of the general plan of improvement, so as to include this section of the river. Work was commenced just prior to the close of the previous fiscal year and was continued during the present one. A series of four hurdles, of an aggregate length of 5,920 feet, was built on the east side of the river at James Landing; another series of three hurdles, having an aggregate length of 3,790 feet, was built on the west side near Wilcox Landing, and the bank at Calico Island was protected for a distance of 4,000 feet.

The object of this work was to concentrate the water into one channel at low water, it being scattered through three or four. At the close of the fiscal year a high stage of water still prevailed, and the full effect of the work will not be apparent until next low-water season. The amount expended at this locality during the fiscal year was $181,066. Ste. Genevieve. The project for the improvement of the river at this

point had for its object the retention of the channel at Little Rock, the landing for Ste. Genevieve. To do this a series of three hurdles was built on the opposite side of the river, and they have been successful in obtaining the desired results. Work was in progress on these hurdles at the close of the last fiscal year and they were completed July 17. To induce a further fill, the wattling on the hurdles was raised to the 20foot stage during the month of March. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $31,422.71.

Surveys.-A resurvey of the river, from the head of Carrolls Island to the foot of the Rush Tower work and at Ste. Genevieve, was made for the purpose of determining changes in the banks and channel of the

river.

The original estimated cost of this work, as revised in 1883, was $16,997,100, of which amount $4,529,600 has been appropriated.

(Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 11, 942, 500.00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 t..

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

(See Appendix X 2.)

758, 333.33

3. Harbor at St. Louis, Missouri.-The St. Louis Harbor may be divided into two parts, the upper and the lower, the line of division being the Eads Bridge. The upper portion, included between the bridge and the northern limits of the city, is about 10 miles in length, of which the only part to be considered as at present included in the practical harbor is the reach between the Eads Bridge and the Merchants Bridge, 3 miles in extent. This reach was obstructed by middle bars and by shoals near the Illinois shore, which interfered with landings on that side and rendered navigation difficult. The lower portion, included between the bridge and River des Peres, is 8 miles long, and the channel is good at all stages of water, the landings being easily accessible at all points.

The project adopted for the improvement of the harbor consisted in contracting the width of the river between the Merchants and Eads bridges to an average width of about 2,000 feet by constructing a series of hurdles extending out from the Illinois shore, which would cause a new bank to be built up between them.

The amount expended in building these hurdles, up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $109,303.77, and at that time the effect of the work was quite appreciable, a considerable fill having taken place between the hurdles.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $41,226.44 was expended in building hurdle No. 5 of this system, which had previously been omitted on account of a ferry landing; in the extension of No. 8 to the

*This appropriation was made for improving Mississippi River between mouths of the Ohio and Missouri rivers.

+ For continuing work between mouths of the Ohio and Missouri rivers.

river line; in the repair of Nos. 6 and 7; in wattling Nos. 2 to 11, and in the sinking drift above the hurdles.

The effect of this work, as far as obtaining increased depths in the channel, can not be determined until the low-water season of next fall. Soundings have shown that a large fill has taken place between the hurdles and it is confidently expected that the work will do all that is required, especially after the unusual and prolonged high-water season of this spring.

The full amount of the estimate has been appropriated for this work. With the balance remaining on hand it is proposed to repair the damage caused to hurdles by ice and drift and extend them wherever found necessary.

4. Gasconade River, Missouri.-The navigation on this river was seriously interfered with by snags, logs, and leaning timber, and at times almost suspended by reason of shoal crossings. Its improvement was commenced in 1880 and the project adopted consisted in the removal of snags and logs from the bed of the river, in the cutting of leaning timber from the banks, and in the construction of wing dams and training walls at the shoals, to concentrate the water and thereby increase the depth.

The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $42,615.96, and resulted in improved facilities for navigation as well as in a prolongation of the boating season.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $2,073.55 was expended in repairing and raising dam at Pryor's Mill, which resulted in an increased flow of water around the left chute at that point and an increase in depth of 4 inches. The following obstructions were also removed from the bed and banks of the river between Arlington and the foot of Pryors Bend, thereby affording better facilities for navigation: 419 · snags, logs, etc.; 8 rack heaps; 1 bowlder, and 2,153 trees.

5. Osage River, Missouri.-Before any improvements were made the navigation on this river was rendered difficult by reason of numerous snags and other obstructions, and at times suspended, owing to insuf ficient depth of water over shoal crossings.

The first improvement of this river was undertaken by the State of Missouri, about thirty to thirty-five years ago, and consisted in an attempt to concentrate the water in a narrow channel over the shoals by means of wing dams built out from one or both banks, and thus deepen it.