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The General Government assumed charge of the improvement in 1871, and the first efforts were expended in an attempt to deepen the water over the shoals by dredging; after this the method pursued consisted in training walls so as to regulate the width of water way suitable to the low-water discharge of the river. This method is still pursued. Snags and other obstructions found in the channel were also removed and leaning timber was cut from the banks. The construction of a lock and dam near the mouth of the river was also authorized by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890.

The amount expended to June 30, 1891, was $205,929.47, the result of which was that the navigation was materially improved, the chaunel having been cleared of the worst obstructions and the water deepened at several of the shoalest crossings.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $5,772.25 was expended in preparing plans for lock and dam, in gauging the river, in repairing plant, and in the removal of 66 snags, 342 trees, 42 drift piles from the bed and banks of the river. This latter work has cleared the river of obstructions from the mouth to a point 80 miles above, and it is now in good navigable condition for most of the year. New obstructions may be expected from time to time, with each rise and fall in the river, and will require removal.

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

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

Amount (estimated) required for completion of lock and dam .... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix X 5.)

$54,070.53 5, 772.25

48, 298. 28 481.13

47, 817. 15 50,000.00

97, 817. 15

110,000.00

6. Kaskaskia River, Illinois.-The original condition of this river was such that navigation at low water was almost, if not entirely, suspended by reason of snags, shoals, and bars, and depended to a great extent on the stage of water in the Mississippi River as to its duration. The least depth found, when the St. Louis gauge read 6.5 feet, was 9 inches, over what is called the "Nine-mile Shoal," 6 miles above its mouth, which virtually "blocked" the river at low water. At high water navigation was possible as far up as New Athens.

The first appropriation for improving the river was made in 1890, and the project adopted for its improvement consisted in excavating a channel through the shoals of such a depth as would insure a lowwater navigation of 36 inches, and in the removal of snags and obstructions from the channel.

No money was expended on this work up to close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the river not having been at a suitable stage since the appropriation was made to warrant starting work, consequently no change had occurred in the conditions of the river at that date.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $5,760.48 was expended in blasting a channel 75 feet in width in the clear, and of an average depth of 36 inches at low water, through the "Nine-Mile Shoal," also a channel through the "Evansville Shoal" 60 feet wide and 34 inches deep at low water, and in removing the snags found in the channel of

the river between those shoals. The result of this work was to enable boats to enter the river at lower stages of water than formerly and also to prolong the low-water boating season as far up as Evansville. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year....

$6,000.00 5,760. 48

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IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER BETWEEN MOUTH OF ILLINOIS RIVER AND MINNEAPOLIS, AND OPERATING AND CARE OF DES MOINES RAPIDS CANAL AND DRY DOCK.

Officer in charge, Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Operating snag boats and dredge boats on Upper Mississippi River.— At the beginning of the fiscal year there was available, under act of August 11, 1888, the sum of $25,000.

From July 1 to October 31, 1891, and from May 12 to 31, 1892, the snag boat General Barnard was employed removing snags and other obstructions and assisting interests of navigation between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River.

The snag boat J. G. Parke, dredge Phoenix, launch Elsie, and a number of dump boats were employed as a dredging and wrecking plant from July 1 to October 31, 1891, between St. Paul and Keokuk.

The total amount expended for snag-boat service on the Upper Mississippi River between Minneapolis and the mouth of the Missouri River to June 30, 1891, is $599,640,

By the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, provision was made for operating snag boats and dredge boats on the Upper Mississippi River under a permanent appropriation, the sum so expended not to exceed the amount appropriated in said act for such purpose. The clause of the act regulating the annual expenditure for snag boats and dredge boats on the Upper Mississippi River is as follows:

For operating snag boats and dredge boats on Upper Mississippi River, twenty-five thousand dollars.

The total amount of freight transported on the Upper Mississippi River during the calendar year 1891 was, approximately, 4,200,000 tons. June 30, 1892, amount drawn from Treasury under permanent appropriation

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year......

$25,000.00 25,000.00

July 1, 1892, amount available under permanent appropriation of August 11, 1888, for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893

25,000.00

(See Appendix Y 1.)

2. Mississippi River between Des Moines Rapids and mouth of Illinois River.-Operations in this district were in charge of Maj. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers, to January 16, 1892, when charge of this district was transferred to Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers.

Maj. Mackenzie presents a report, compiled from office records, on the work of the first half of the fiscal year. In 1892 very little work has been done, on account of high water.

Under this appropriation the improvement of through navigation is

chiefly carried on, although allotments have from time to time been made for special work. Work has been in progress under approved projects since 1878, and very favorable results have been secured, showing that with a continuance of the work under liberal appropriations, the low-water channel of the Mississippi River between Des Moines Rapids and mouth of Illinois River can be made easily navigable at all stages for the class of boats using the river.

The interests for which the improvement is being made are very large and important. The general project for the improvement proposes the contraction of the channel or water way by means of wing dams and dams closing side chutes to such an extent as, by means of the scour thereby caused, to afford a channel of sufficient width and of a depth of 4.5 feet at low water to be eventually increased to 6 feet. There was expended under this head of appropriation to June 30, 1891, the sum of $1,208,594.91.

During the past year work has been carried on by days' labor and use of Government plant in vicinity of Clarksville at Cottonwood Island Reach, at foot of Hickory Chute, above Hannibal, and between Canton and Lagrange, and by contract in Quincy Bay.

The river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, appropriated $600,000 for improving Mississippi River between mouth of Missouri River and Minneapolis, and authorized the Secretary of War to carry on the work continuously by entering into additional contracts, or otherwise, to be paid for as appropriations may be made therefor.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...
June 30, 1892, miscellaneous receipts.

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended....

$121, 340. 91 64.20

121, 405. 11 60, 541.35

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities..

60, 863.76

$153.82

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

28, 783.72

28, 937.54

July 1, 1892, balance available... (See Appendix Y 2.)

31, 926. 22

3. Des Moines Rapids, Mississippi River.-This work was commenced in 1867. The adopted plan provided for the building of a closed canal 8 miles long and for cutting an open channel in the rock bed of the river over the remaining 4 miles of rapids. The canal was opened in August, 1877, though not fully completed, and has been in operation since that time.

During the past year the work of protecting the outside slope of the canal embankment was continued and the raising of the middle lock walls was completed. The work remaining to be done under approved project is the removal of a small amount of rock above grade, the completion of the sluice at Prices Creek, and the completion of the protection of canal embankment.

There has been appropriated and allotted for this work the sum of $4,574,950. The net cost to the United States has been, to June 30, 1891, $4,550,130.83.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended..

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended...

(See Appendix Y 3.)

$10, 230.99 4,388.56

5,842.43

4. Operating and care of Des Moines Rapids Canal and Dry Dock.During the past year the Des Moines Rapids Canal was opened for navigation 234 days, during which time there passed through it 577 steamboats and 191 barges, carrying 10,260 passengers, 12,228 tons of merchandise, and 63,210 bushels of grain. There also passed through 140,654,084 feet, B. M., of lumber, 24,514,000 feet of logs, 61,141,137 shingles, and 39,476,926 lath. The expenses of the year have been $51,550.17 and the estimates for the coming year amount to $72,581.25. The cost of operating and care of the canal is provided for by an indefinite appropriation made by act of March 3, 1881.

July 1, 1891, balance on hand

June 30, 1892, amount drawn from Treasury under indefinite appropriation

$1.80

44, 000. 00

44, 001. 80 43, 968.92

32.88

7, 581.25

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year

June 30, 1892, balance on hand

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.... (See Appendix Y 4.)

5. Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Des Moines Rapids.Prior to August 11, 1888, this work was carried on under appropriations for "improving Mississippi River from St. Paul to Des Moines Rapids." The act of August 11, 1888, extended the upper limits of the district from St. Paul to Washington Avenue Bridge, Minneapolis. Under this appropriation is carried on the improvement of through navigation. Work has been in progress under approved projects since 1878, and very favorable results have been secured, showing that with a continuance of the work under liberal appropriations, the low-water channel of the Mississippi River between St. Paul and the Des Moines Rapids can be made comparatively safe, convenient, and permanent. The interests for which the improvement is being made are very large and important. The amount of freight carried during 1891, including the logs and lumber floated in the river, aggregated, approximately, 4,200,000 tons.

The original condition of the channel between the Des Moines Rapids and St. Paul was such that in low stages the larger boats were unable to proceed farther up the river than La Crosse or Winona; and, in many seasons, at points much farther down, their progress was checked or seriously interfered with. In all such cases through freight was reshipped on small and light-draft boats or barges. The originally adopted project for the improvement, which has not been materially changed, proposed the contraction of the channel or water way by means of wing and closing dams to such an extent as, by means of the scour thereby caused, to afford a channel of sufficient width, and of a depth of 4.5 feet at low water, to be eventually increased to 6 feet. There was expended on the permanent improvement of through navigation to June 30, 1891, the sum of $2,203,632.11, or $4,279 per mile. At that date, and for several years previous, the condition of the channel was such as to permit the passage of the largest boats at the lowest stages through to St. Paul.

Between Minneapolis and St. Paul (Omaha Bridge), there was expended to June 30, 1891, the sum of $6,147.99, or $559 per mile.

During the past year work has been carried on by days' labor and use of Government plant between Minneapolis and St. Paul, between St. Paul and Prescott, between Prescott and Lake Pepin, between Min

neiska and La Crosse, in vicinity of La Crosse, Crooked Slough, and Clinton, at Rock Island Rapids and Montrose Harbor, and between Keithsburg and Montrose; by contract, between Reads and Minneiska, at Prairie du Chien, and between Bellevue and Savanna; and, by informal agreement, between Minneapolis and St. Paul, between St. Paul and Prescott, in Cassville Slough, and at Port Byron Harbor. At several localities temporary and permanent channels were deepened by dredging. The work of the year has resulted in increased width and depth of channel at all the points mentioned.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended...

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year.

$411, 390. 86 274,936. 79

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended..
July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities

136, 454. 07

$302.72

July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted contracts

14,956. 76

15, 259.48

July 1, 1892, balance available.......

121, 194.59

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892*.

600, 000.00.

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

721, 194.59

Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1894 866, 666. 67 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix Y 5.)

IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER ABOVE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY, MINNESOTA; OF CHIPPEWA RIVER, WISCONSIN; OF ST. CROIX RIVER, WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA; OF MINNESOTA RIVER, MINNESOTA, AND OF RED RIVER OF THE NORTH, MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA; GAUGING MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT OR NEAR ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

Officer in charge, Maj. W. A. Jones, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. Hiram M. Chittenden, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. O. M. Poe, Corps of Engineers.

1. Mississippi River above Falls of St. Anthony, Minnesota.-The present project, adopted in 1880, consists in the improvement of the river between Aitkin and Grand Rapids, a distance of 1304 miles, by removal of snags, bowlders, bars, and leaning trees from the channels and construction of wing dams where necessary to afford 3 feet depth at lowwater stage, the cost being estimated at $54,127. In 1889 the estimate was increased to $63,000. Under the appropriations of 1880, 1881, and 1882, the river between the points named was well cleared of large numbers of obstructions. But between 1884 and 1888, and during the flood of the latter year, large numbers of snags and overhanging trees were formed.

The appropriation of $10,000 made by act of August 11, 1888, was applied to removal of obstructions between Grand Rapids and a point about half way to Aitkin, and in addition a number of bowlders were removed to within 20 miles of the latter point.

Before improvement commenced in 1880, the stream between Aitkin and Grand Rapids was so obstructed that navigation was difficult and at times almost impossible for steamers of lightest draft.

*This appropriation was made for improving Mississippi River between Minneapolis and mouth of Missouri River.

+ For continuing work between Minneapolis and mouth of Missouri River,

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