Total expended under present project to June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $55,439.35. There was then a general depth in the improved channels of 3 feet at low water. A few snags and leaning trees offered some obstruction, but did not seriously interfere with navigation. During July, August, and September, 1891, work was carried on in removing snags and leaning trees between Grand Rapids and Aitken. For a number of years previous to the present season several steamers have navigated this portion of the Mississippi, carrying passengers and freight to the settlements and supplies for lumber camps. The opening, during the winter of 1889-'90, of the Duluth and Winnipeg Railroad, from Duluth to the Mississippi River, resulted in one steamer being withdrawn from the freight and passenger business, though at the beginning of the season of 1891 she was again put into commission. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance available... $7,592.27 5, 749.21 1, 843, 06 20.92 1,822. 14 2. Reservoirs at headwaters of Mississippi River.-The object of the reservoirs is to collect surplus water, principally from the precipitation of winter, spring, and early summer, to be systematically released so as to benefit navigation upon the Mississippi River below the dams. The reservoir project is the outcome of surveys and examinations made in 1869, 1874, 1878, and 1879. From the results of these examinations and further examinations made in 1880 the first cost of constructing reservoir dams in Minnesota and Wisconsin was placed at $1,809,083. The cost of land and other damages to result from construction and operation of the proposed dams was not included in that estimate, as they could not be predicted with any approach to accuracy. The present project consists in constructing reservoir dams at the head waters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, that locality having been selected for commencing the work, in consequence of an appropriation made by the river and harbor act approved June 14, 1880, for construction of a reservoir dam at Lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota, and for other reasons, given in Appendix Y to the Annual Report for 1886. By 1886 four of the reservoirs had been created. During May and June, 1891, men and materials were assembled for the construction of a fifth reservoir at Sandy Lake. Total expended on this work to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, including examinations at proposed dam sites, land damages, amounts paid to commissioners in attempted settlement of awards to Indians, and care and maintenance of the works, $619,850.20. During the past year the operations have been: Operating completed reservoir, continuing construction of Sandy Lake Dam, and acquiring title to lands, by condemnation proceedings, that will be subject to overflow by the Sandy Lake Dam. The reservoirs were operated 1885-'91, during the seasons of low water, to the benefit of navigation on more than 165 miles of the Mississippi River, viz, between Grand Rapids and Aitkin, 1304 miles, and from St. Paul to some distance below the confluence of the Missisippi and St. Croix rivers. ENG 92- -17 The officer in charge recommends appropriations for the operation and maintenance of the five reservoirs and for hydrological and meteorological observatious, to determine the effect of the reservoir water. The latter purpose is specially worthy of consideration, for the result of the observations extending over a period of several years would determine the true effectiveness of the reservoirs. 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 existing project.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 2.) *$95, 690.28 55, 908.67 39,781.61 9, 323.84 30,457.77 60,000.00 90, 457.77 1,034, 683. 50 3. Chippewa River, including Yellow Banks, Wisconsin.-The plan for improvement of the Chippewa River consists in revetment of caving bends and construction of dams and jetties from Eau Claire to the confluence of the Chippewa and Mississippi, a distance of 57 miles, to confine the low-water volume to a channel of nearly uniform width and depth. The general plan was adopted in 1877, and the work has been carried on in accordance with it, varying, however, more or less as to location and extent of dams, jetties, etc. The protection of the Yellow Banks consists in a revetment of piling and fascines, the latter to be crowned with rock. The object of the Yellow Banks protection is to prevent their erosion, and thus to relieve the channels of the Chippewa River and of the Mississippi below the junction of the two streams from the masses of sand contributed by those banks. The plan for protecting the banks was adopted in 1883. The improvement of the river and. the protection of the Yellow Banks were regarded as separate and distinct works until the act of August 11, 1888. Estimated cost of the consolidated improvement, including all the expenses from the commencement, $272,487.72. Before the improvement commenced the depth on the bars at low water seldom exceeded 18 inches, and the crossing at the mouth of river was extremely difficult at that stage, owing to the volume of the river joining the Mississippi through a number of channels of insufficient depth. These latter-named channels were contracted into one of good depth by means of long parallel jetties. Generally, wherever works for improvement were constructed by the Government, the low-water depths were increased from 18 inches to 3 to 4 feet, and the general improvement not only greatly facilitated the passage of steamers and rafts, but also greatly reduced the expense of rafting manufactured lumber. Localities remaining to be improved have a least depth in the channel of about 2 feet. No work, except slight repair, has been done at the Yellow Banks since 1883, when 4,978 linear feet of bank revetment had been com *In Annual Report, 1891, amount unexpended July 1891, was stated as $80,027.11. In February, 1892, the amount of $15,663.17 was transferred back to the appropriation from amounts set aside in 1882 for payment of awards to Indians. pleted and the piling for 3,275 feet had been driven ready for the backing of brush and stone. Total expended from commencement of operations in 1877 to June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $157,407.66. During the past fiscal year there has been constructed a sheer boom at Dead Lake Cut-off; a dam of brush and stone, 1,000 feet in length, and 500 feet of foundation (3 courses) for another dam, at Plum Island Flats. 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 existing project harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 3.) $9,435.87 7,721.89 1, 713.98 538.76 1, 175.22 5,000.00 6, 175. 22 100, 737.72 4. St. Croix River, Wisconsin and Minnesota.-The original project for improvement, adopted in 1878, was based upon a survey made in 1874, when the river was at a high stage of water and but comparatively few obstructions to be seen. It contemplated removal of snags, bowlders, sand bars, etc., and contraction of the low-water channels from Taylor Falls to the confluence of the river with the Mississippi into one of nearly uniform width. Estimated cost, $21,758. At low water, however, the channel had in many places but 2 feet depth, and steamers and barges made their way as best they could amongst the obstructions; at times it was impossible for them to get over the shoal places. The present project, adopted in 1880, and modified as to cost in 1882, and again in 1889, is based upon a low-water survey made in 1879, and differs from that originally adopted only in amount of work to be done. Estimated cost, $108,700. Expended under present project to June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $80,717.94. Total expended under original and present projects to June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $98,717.94. The effect of the work of improvement has been to secure a least depth of 3 feet on the improved bars above Stillwater and 4 to 5 feet on the bars below that place. Generally it may be said of this improvement that at many points navigation has been rendered permanent where formerly it was uncertain, and that in other places it has been made practicable where before improvement it was impossible. In the improved parts of the river above Stillwater there is a lowwater depth in the channel of 2 feet; below Stillwater there is a good channel with a least depth of 4 feet. The work of improvement during the last year has consisted in widening the channel over the Hudson Bar by dredging, in removing snags and sunken logs, and making minor repairs to Log House Dam. The work at Hudson enabled the raft boats, with their large tows, to more easily make the run over the bar. Expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, including outstanding liabilities, $1,743.08. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year $4,796.99 4, 747.55 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 existing project harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 4.) 49.44 10.46 38.98 8,000.00 8,038.98 18, 200.00 5. Minnesota River, Minnesota. From 1867 to 1873 Congress appropriated $77,500 for improving the Minnesota River. The appropriations were applied to removing snags and bowlders, so as to afford a least depth at low-water stage of 2 to 3 feet. In 1874 a survey was made from the mouth of the river to South Bend, a distance of about 116 miles, to determine the practicability of improving the navigation by means of canals, locks, and dams. Based upon this survey, estimates were made for five locks and dams and removal of snags, etc., at a cost of $733,868.63, the cost of removing snags, etc., being therein placed at $34,585.10, including contingencies. Following this report, Congress made three appropriations, of $10,000 each by acts approved March 3, 1875, August 14, 1876, and June 18, 1878, which sums were applied to clearing the river of obstructions below South Bend. Expended to June 30, 1879, $117,457. Since 1879 no work for the improvement of the river has been undertaken. Under the appropriations above named the removal of obstructions cleared the way over long stretches of the river between Minnesota Falls and a point about 30 miles below Henderson (16.7 miles above Shakopee). Little or no use was made of the cleared channels, as there was not sufficient water in the channel to permit navigation during the low-water periods. The rapidly caving banks on the upper section of this stream cause snags and leaning trees to form, so that channels that were cleared of them 12 years ago are more or less encumbered with them to-day. No expenditures have been made for the improvement of the lower part of the river, which affords much better facilities for river traffic than the upper part. From Shakopee to the Mississippi the river is deep except on two bars. There are few snags on this reach. The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $10,000 for improving the Minnesota River, including protection of the banks opposite the borough of Belle Plaine. It appearing from an examination made in September, 1888, that the sum was inadequate for the purposes named, its expenditure for work of improvement was deferred until the further wishes of Congress in the matter might be known. Total expended on the improvement of the whole river to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $117,532. (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 Z 5.) $693, 868.63 6. Red River of the North, Minnesota and North Dakota.-The project for the improvement of this river from Breckenridge to the northern boundary line, adopted in 1877 and amended as to cost in 1883, consists in the removal of snags, leaning trees, and bowlders, and in dredging channels through the bars, at an estimated cost of $179,310. A revised estimate made, in 1887, placed the cost of completing the improvement at $79,598.37. Before improvement the ruling depth upon bars between Moorhead and Goose Rapids at ordinary low water was but 1 feet and below Grand Forks 2 feet, while between Moorhead and Abercrombie the navigation was at all times difficult. The work to June 30, 1891, has resulted in opening a channel 3 feet deep at ordinary low water and 60 feet wide from Moorhead to a point 80 miles north, and a channel 4 feet deep at ordinary low water and about 70 feet wide from Grand Forks to a point 62 miles north by river; also in the removal of snags and trees between Moorhead and Abercrombie so as to afford safe passage for steamers between those points during high and medium stages of water. Total amount expended, including outstanding liabilities, to June 30, 1891, $198,932.58. Dredging operations in 1891 were continued to October 28 on the reach of river north of Grand Forks, and resulted in extending the dredged channels 22 miles. The excavated channels are 4 feet in depth at low water and aggregate 21,510 feet in length; 100,442 cubic yards of material was removed. 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 existing project.... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix Z 6.) $19, 158.83 17, 091.78 2,067.05 1,300.00 767.05 25,000.00 25,767. 05 9,598. 37 7. Gauging Mississippi River at or near St. Paul, Minnesota.-The Board of Engineers, to whom was referred the project for the application of $37,500 appropriated by the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, for reservoirs at headwaters of Mississippi River, recommended in their report dated May 24, 1887, "that such gaugings be made at or near St. Paul during the annual operation of the reservoirs as shall determine accurately the discharge at that point at critical periods." (Page 1692, Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1887.) The river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, authorized the gaugings, and provided for them as follows: And the Secretary of War shall cause such gaugings to be made at or near St. Paul during the annual operation of said reservoirs as shall determine accurately the discharge at that point, the cost of the same to be paid out of the annual appropriation for gauging the waters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. |