During the low water of last season boats drawing 18 inches of water could ascend as far as Corvallis. The total amount appropriated for this work to the end of the fiscal year since the present project was adopted is $124,000. At the commencement of the present fiscal year there was a balance on hand of $6,464.42. The work done during the season consisted of snagging operations, covering the river from Portland to Ingrams Bend, 2 miles below Harrisburg, a distance of 150 miles, and in concentrating the water over shoal places by closing chutes and building wing dams. This work was done by the crew of the United States snag boat Corvallis. During the season there were 577 snags removed and 940 feet of wing dams was built, which resulted in giving 2 feet at low water as high up as Salem and extending the period for navigation above that point fully a month. This work, however, is but temporary, and in the nature of things much of it may have to be done over again. The whole of the funds available for work under this appropriation was not expended at this time, when it might have been to good advantage to the upper portion of the river. A small portion was held in reserve to relieve any urgent necessity that might arise upon the river below Oregon City. 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 U U 4.) 6, 464. 42 3, 350.49 3, 113.93 *30, 000. 00 33, 113.93 5. Cowlitz River, Washington.-The project for the improvement of this river, which was adopted in 1882, contemplates the removal of sand bars, rocks, snags, overhanging trees, and other obstructions in the channel from its mouth to a point about 50 miles above. Work has been done to Toledo, 30 miles above the mouth. The ruling depth at low water prior to this was 14 inches. It is now 30 inches, when the low water can be kept concentrated on one or two troublesome bars. The original estimate was $5,000 for the first year and an annual expenditure thereafter of $2,000 per year. The total amount that has been appropriated for this work is $19,000. The snag boat Corvallis was sent into this river September 23, and worked there until the end of October. Her operations extended to Toledo. Fifty snags and sunken stumps were removed from the channel and a wing dam 400 feet long was built at Toutle River Bar. It extends from the right bank of the Cowlitz obliquely downstream, and concentrated the water so as to give a navigable channel at that place. The dam was built of short piles driven into the gravel, with logs and brush held down by gravel and rock. The work was done by the crew of the boat. The work was discontinued on account of a rise in the river. It could not be economically prosecuted at that time. A crew was shipped for this boat and sent into the river again June 23. The work to be done at this time is the building of wing dams at Keegans Bar, about 3 miles below Toledo, for the purpose of increasing the depth of water at that point. At the end of the year, June 30, this work was in progress. This work will exhaust the balance of the ap propriation of 1890 that is now available. * Of which $3,000 is to be used in improving Yamhill River. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 (See Appendix U U 5.) $3, 917.27 1,901.96 2,015. 31 3,000.00 5, 015. 31 6. Youngs and Klaskuine rivers, Oregon.-The project for this improvement contemplates the removal of snags, sunken logs, and overhanging trees from Youngs River as far up as the lower end of the cutoff, a distance of 7 miles, and also from the channel of the Klaskuine as far up as Kamm's Wharf, a distance of 2 miles. The latter river emp. ties into the former 6 miles above Youngs Bay. The estimated cost of this improvement was $1,600. The total amount appropriated for the work has been $1,600. The total amount expended is $1,206.79, which has resulted in a channel of 7 feet depth at high tide to the limits named. The balance now available, $393.21, will be sufficient to complete the project. No work was done during the year. No further appropriation is asked. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1892, balance unexpended (See Appendix U U 6.) $393.21 393.21 7. Gauging waters of Columbia River, Oregon and Washington.—The object of these gaugings is to ascertain and keep a record of the fluctuations of the Columbia River, with the view to gathering information that may be useful in works of improvement on the river, and also by gauges established at various points to indicate to pilots, captains, and others interested in navigation the stage of water on crossings and places of difficult navigation. A self-registering tide gauge has been in operation at Astoria, Oregon, and one at Cathlamet, Wash., during the entire year. Daily sheets from the Astoria gauge were exhibited on a bulletin board in that city. These show the stage of water and condition as to roughness on the bar at the mouth of the river, and are of great service to commerce. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended. June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended.. (See Appendix U U 7.) $962.32 516.00 446.32 EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS, MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED SEPTEMBER 19, 1890. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Maj. Handbury, and reports thereon submitted through Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Pacific Division. It is the opinion of Maj. Handbury and of the division engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, Maj. Handbury was charged with and has completed their survey and submitted reports thereon. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-second Congress, first session. 1. Willamette River, Oregon, for improvement of navigation at Clackamas Rapids and Ross Island and near city of Corvallis.-The proposed improvement at Ross Island contemplates closing the middle and east chutes at that locality by dams to a height of 4 feet above low water, and to assist the erosion thus caused in the west chute or channel by such dredging as may be necessary to form a channel 100 feet wide and 14 feet deep at low water. It is also proposed to improve the bar about a mile above the head of Ross Island, in front of the town of Sellwood, by dredging a channel through it 100 feet wide and 14 feet deep, and by constructing a contracting dike about 400 feet long from one or the other bank. The estimated cost of the work proposed at these locali-. ties is as follows: The proposed improvement at Clackamas Rapids contemplates removal of the old dam at the head of the rapids; construction of a dike to a height of at least 10 feet above low water, extending from a point just above the junction of the right bank of Willamette River with the left bank of Clackamas River 6,000 feet down the Willamette, so as to turn the current of the Clackamas more nearly parallel with that of the Willamette and impound the detritus brought down by the Clackamas on the shoals below its mouth and inclosed by the dike; and construction of a dike 6 feet high and 800 feet long to contract the channel at Jennings Shoal at the foot of the rapids. The total cost of this work is estimated at $78,000. Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engi neers, Division Engineer, Pacific Division, states that a preferable plan would be to store the débris in the Clackamas before it reaches the Willamette, and that before the work is begun an examination should be made to determine if this is practicable. The proposed improvement at Corvallis contemplates clearing the chute in the first bend above Corvallis of obstructions, such as fallen trees and driftwood, and cutting away trees and underbrush along its banks, so as to provide a passage for the water during high stages, and thus improve the regimen of the river in this vicinity. The cost of this work is estimated at $5,000. The total estimate of cost of the work proposed in the Willamette River at these localities is as follows: 138, 900 Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 28. (See also Appendix U U 8.) 2. The Lower Willamette and Columbia rivers, Oregon, with a view of securing 25 feet at low water from Portland to the mouth of the Columbia.— The project presented in Maj. Handbury's report of September 8, 1891, as amended by reports of the division engineer, dated October 5, 1891, and of The Board of Engineers, dated October 14, 1891, is submitted as the project for this work required by the act of September 19, 1890. The improvement proposed contemplates the formation, by dredging, dike construction, etc., of a channel 25 feet deep from Portland to the Pacific Ocean, at an estimated cost of $772,464. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 38. (See also Appendix U U 9.) 3. Columbia River, from the mouth of Willamette River to the upper limits of the city of Vancouver, Washington, with a view of establishing a ship channel. The improvement proposed contemplates diverting the current which passes behind Hayden Island into the main channel of Columbia River, so as to scour away the shoal now existing along the northern side of the island, which obstructs navigation by deep-sea going vessels. The work recommended to be done to accomplish this object consists in closing the chute behind Hayden Island by a dam having a height of 4 feet above low water, a width of 6 feet at top and 25 to 30 feet at base in the deepest water, and a length of 3,000 feet, the banks at the two ends of the dam to be protected for a distance of 250 feet against erosion at high water. The cost of this work is estimated at $33,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 36. (See also Appendix U U 10.) SUPERVISION OF THE HARBOR OF NEW YORK. Supervisor, Capt. Frederick Rodgers, United States Navy. The office and functions of the supervisor of the harbor of New York were established by act of Congress approved June 29, 1888, entitled "An act to prevent obstructive and injurious deposits within the harbor and adjacent waters of New York City by dumping or otherwise, and to punish and prevent such offenses." Under the provisions of section 5 of the act a line officer of the Navy is designated to discharge the duties created by the act, under the direction of the Secretary of War. On May 23, 1889, the Secretary of War directed that all communications in connection with these duties should be addressed to him through this office, and on February 1, 1890, he further directed that the powers conferred upon him by the act should be exercised through the Chief of Engineers. The report of the supervisor of the harbor describing the operations in his charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, is submitted as Appendix V V. The estimate of funds required for this service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, is given in the above-mentioned report as follows: ESTIMATE OF FUNDS REQUIRED FOR SUPERVISION OF THE HARBOR OF NEW YORK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1894. For pay of crew and maintenance of steamer Argus.. For pay of inspectors, deputy inspectors, office force, and expenses of office.. $20,000 For pay of crew and maintenance of steamer Nimrod.. 10,000 10,000 90,000 For pay of crew and maintenance of two steam tugs to be purchased or constructed. 24,000 Total. 154,000 The attention of this office has been called (see correspondence in the matter appended to the report of the supervisor) to what is believed to be a common practice by vessels entering New York Harbor of dumping ballast in the approaches to the harbor and bay off Sandy Hook, sometimes within and sometimes without the 3-mile limit to which the jurisdiction of the United States and of the supervisor of the harbor extends. In this way it appears that attempts are purposely made to avoid the jurisdiction of this Government. It is believed that in the course of time the continual deposit of large quantities of this material near the entrance of the harbor will be a source of danger and inconvenience to navigation, and measures should be taken to prevent such deleterious deposits within 15 miles of the Sandy Hook Light-ship, or in less than 16 fathoms of water. To prevent such dumping, especially beyond the 3-mile limit, the following act, which will, it is believed, accomplish the object desired in a legitimate manner, is proposed and recommended for passage by Congress: AN ACT to prevent the dumping of ballast or other bulky material in the approaches to New York Harbor and Bay off Sandy Hook. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any vessel or vessels from which may be dumped or discharged ballast or other bulky material in the approaches to New York Harbor and Bay within fifteen miles of the Sandy Hook Light-ship, or in less than sixteen fathoms of water, shall not be allowed by the collectors of customs to receive passengers or cargo or clear from New York or any port adjacent to New York Harbor and Bay for the period of six months from the time of the commission of such dumping or discharging of ballast or other bulky material. SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of the supervisor of the harbor of New York, appointed and acting under the provisions of an act entitled “An act to prevent obstructive and injurious deposits within the harbor and adjacent waters of New York City by dumping or otherwise, and to punish and prevent such offenses," approved June twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, to detect by proper measures any vessel or vessels which may dump or discharge ballast or other bulky material within the limits specified in the foregoing section of this act, and upon being satisfied of the commission of such act or acts to report the same to the collectors of customs at ports adjacent to New York Harbor and Bay for action by them in pursuance of the provisions in the said foregoing section; and the provisions of the said act approved June twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, and the jurisdiction of the said supervisor of the harbor of New York, are hereby extended, so far as they are applicable and consistent with the provisions of this act, to embrace the waters included within the limits specified in section one of this act. SEC. 3. That the collectors of customs at any or all the ports adjacent to New York Harbor and Bay, upon receipt of information from the said supervisor of the harbor of New York that any vessel or vessels have dumped or discharged ballast or other bulky material within the limits specified in section one of this act, are hereby authorized and directed not to allow said vessel or vessels to receive passengers or cargo or clear from the respective ports within six months from the time of commission of such dumping or discharging of ballast or other bulky material, as provided in section one of this act. MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION. The Mississippi River Commission was organized under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 28, 1879. Commissioners, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, president; Lieut. Col. Chas. R. Suter, Corps of Engineers; Major O. H. Ernst, Corps of Engineers; Henry L. Whiting, Assistant U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; B. M. Harrod, Robert S. Taylor, and Henry Flad. The report of the Commission for the fiscal year up to May 31, 1892, relating to surveys of the entire river, and works of construction and improvement, etc., in Mississippi River between the mouth of Ohio River and the head of the passes, is submitted as Appendix W W. Estimates of funds for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.-The Mississippi River Commission submits.the following estimate of the amount required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, for carrying on continuously the work of improving Mississippi River in accordance with the provision in the river and harbor act approved July 13, 1892, which authorizes the Secretary of War to enter into additional contracts, or to purchase material and do the work otherwise than by contract, for the continuous prosecution of the improvement, to be paid for as appropriations may be made from time to time: For improving Mississippi River between head of the passes and the mouth of Ohio River, including salaries, clerical, office, traveling, and miscellaneous expenses of the Mississippi River Commission.. $2,665, 000 |