that date mattresses have been used in the foundation course only. A survey of the Dame Point Reach was made in 1889. Work by contract, under the appropriation of 1890, was begun in February, 1891. Since that date 12,976.8 tons of rock and 14,783 square yards of brush mattresses have been placed in the jetties. The south jetty superstructure has been raised to the level of mean low water for 1,000 feet. The north jetty foundation has been extended 1,117 feet and its superstructure built up for 236 feet. In October and November, 1890, a small amount of dredging was done in the north channel over the bar and in the Dame Point Reach. Other work during the year included the construction of a storehouse and wharf and the construction of wings to the south jetty shore extension. During the year the favorable action of the jetties has continued. The 12-foot contour of the north channel was pushed seaward 2,100 feet. It is now distant only 700 feet from the outer 12-foot contour of the bar, with a minimum channel depth of 10 feet at mean low water between. The south jetty channel is also improved. The mean lowwater depth over the inner bar is now 11.5 feet and over the outer bar 13 feet, as against 8.9 and 11.2 feet of last year, with a straighter channel. Ward Bank, between the jetties, has entirely disappeared. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890. $23,094.51 170,000.00 602, 000, 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix O 1.) 2. Oclawaha River, Florida.-The portion of the Oclawaha River which it is proposed to improve lies between Leeburg on Lake Griffin and the mouth, a distance of 94 miles. The channel width varies from 30 to 70 feet and the depth from 5 to 9 feet. From the outlet of Lake Griffin, for a distance of 28 miles, the river is sluggish in current, has numerous bends, and is badly obstructed by floating islands and grass. For the remaining 58 miles the current is strong and the principal obstructions are snags and overhanging trees. An appropriation of $10,000 was made in the act approved September 19, 1890, for improving the river. A portion was spent on making a survey and map and in preparing a project. The remainder will be expended in removing the obstructions. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $10,000.00 2, 455.68 7,544.32 33.42 7,510.90 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, for maintenance.. Snòmitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and (harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O 2.) $7,510.90 1,000.00 3. Volusia Bar, Florida.-Volusia Bar is situated at the head of Lake George, and is formed by materials brought down by the St. Johns River and deposited at the point where the current of the narrow river loses its velocity as the bed widens to form the lake. The usual depth on the bar, before operations began, was from 33 to 4 feet, with a very crooked channel. At times this depth was diminished so much as to stop navigation entirely. The adopted plan of improvement was to contract the waters on the bar by the construction of two converging jetties formed of brush and stone, with a view to causing a scour to the depth of 6 feet. Should the depth caused by the jetties not be sufficient, recourse was to be had to dredging. Between the jetties on the bar lines of guide piles were placed to keep vessels off the jetties and to define the channel clearly. In 1887 it was decided to limit the channel depth sought to the 5 feet then obtained, on account of the evident shoaling in the lake beyond the jetties, and because that depth was sufficient for the requirements of the existing river commerce. Up to June 30, 1890, $25,481.77 had been expended, including liabili ties then outstanding. The jetties had been built to their full length and to a height sufficient to produce the desired effect; two lines of firmly set fender-piles defined the jetty channel on the crest of the bar, and a straight channel with a minimum mean low-water depth of 5 feet had been obtained. In the spring of 1890 the crests of both jetties were found to have been lowered slightly, and several gaps had been made through them to a depth of 4 feet in one place. One hundred cubic yards of rock were placed on the jetties filling the lowest places. In December, 18-9, one of the river steamers broke out one of the panels of the west pile-fender line. This has not been repaired. During the past low-water season the channel depth at the end of the jetties fell to 4.6 feet, and commerce was greatly delayed. The amount available will be used for raising low places in the jetties. The officer in charge reports that on account of the shoalness of the lake beyond the jetties any further increase of depth should be attained by dredging from time to time as may be required. He states that this will require an annual outlay of $500, provided a contract can be made for the work. As it is very difficult to obtain dredging plant in this vicinity, he recommends the construction of a suitable dredge for use here and in the Upper St. Johns River (for the improvement of which there remains an unexpended appropriation of $4,930), at a cost of $15,000. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended............. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.. July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1891, balance available.... $45.48 500.00 545.48 41.35 504. 13 168.75 335.38 (Amount (estimated) required annually for maintenance of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix O 3.) $1,000.00 1,000.00 4. Harbor at St. Augustine, Florida.-The approved project is to protect the shores from erosion, by the construction of groins of concrete and riprap on brush foundation mattresses. Two appropriations aggregating $55,000 have been made for this harbor, and have been expended in accordance with this project. Work under the first appropriation was begun in October, 1889, and ended in September, 1890. Work under the second appropriation was commenced in December, 1890, and ended in May, 1891. Five groins in all have been built; one 341 feet long and another 5231 feet long, on Anastasia Island, near the light-house; one 548.9 feet long, one 465 feet long, and one 415 feet long, on North Beach, near the point. They have all been successful in their operation and have built out the shore line in their vicinities. To complete the protection now contemplated, the engineer officer in charge states that but $10,000 (the difference between his estimate of May 24, 1890, and the amount appropriated) will be needed, in addition to the amount now on hand. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1891, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix O 4.) $1,692.14 20,000.00 21, 682. 14 17,570.02 4, 112. 12 149.68 3,962. 44 10, 000, 00 10,000.00 5. Northwest entrance, Key West Harbor, Florida.-A bar having a channel depth of 10.5 feet obstructs the northern entrance to this harbor. During storms the available depth is so much reduced that vessels bound to and from Gulf ports can not use it, but are compelled to make a detour of about 100 miles by Dry Tortugas to enter or leave the Gulf. An examination of the entrance with a view to its improvement was made in 1867 and again in 1881. In 1882 Congress made an appropriation of $25,000 for dredging a channel 300 feet wide and 17 feet deep across the bar. As was anticipated, the improvement was only temporary. In the act approved August 5, 1886, $2,500 was appropriated for a new examination and survey of the bar. This was made in December, 1886, and January, 1887. The bar was found to be formed and maintained by interfering tidal currents. The project for its improvement comprised the construction of one or more training walls, with dredging, if necessary. In the act of August 11, 1888, Congress appropriated $25,000 for this work, with the proviso that the Secretary of War should appoint a board of three engineer officers, who should consider the subject and report on the advisability of continuing the work under the above proj ect, and that he should submit the report, together with the views of himself thereon, to Congress at its next session. The final report of the Board was submitted in November, 1889, and printed as a part of Appendix P 4, Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1890. The board was of the opinion that the work is of national importance. It recommended that the improvement be begun by the immediate construction of a jetty along the northeast side of the en trance. The report further states: a may After this northeastern jetty is constructed, and from its effects a better judgment than is now possible can be formed as to what further work is expedient, second jetty on the west side of the bar channel, as recommended, become necessary after the one on the easterly side is constructed. become desirable to supplement jetties by dredging, and the project contemplates such work. It may The estimated cost of the construction of the northeastern jetty above recommended is about $500,000. That this expenditure will materially improve navigation over the worst portion of the existing bar channel, and will indicate the direction and extent to which further works may profitably be carried, can hardly be doubted. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $10,408.37 had been expended in the surveys and for the expenses of the Board of Engineers. An appropriation of $40,000 was made for the improvement in the act approved September 19, 1890. Proposals for the work were opened November 29, and a contract for carrying on the work was made. The contractor has been much hampered by difficulties attending the beginning of a new work in a new and distant locality. Up to June 30 only 1,160.3 cubic yards of rock had been placed in the jetty. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ..... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.. $17,091. 63 40,000.00 57,091.63 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. 1, 179. 30 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended 55, 912. 33 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $2,555.93 50,351.36 July 1, 1891, balance available............. 5,560.97 460,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix O 5.) 6. Caloosahatchee River, Florida.-Before improvement the lower part of the river was so obstructed by oyster bars that the available channel depth was only 5 feet. About 17 miles above the mouth the river loses the characteristics of an estuary, and there are numerous islands and a broad shoal. The project adopted in 1882 called for the formation, by dredging, of a channel 100 feet wide and 7 feet deep, from the bay to Fort Myers, a distance of 17 miles. In 1886 this project was modified so as to include the improvement of the upper river as far as Fort Thompson by removal of snags and overhanging trees. Up to June 30, 1890, $22,432.07 had been expended on the improvement. A channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide existed between the mouth and Fort Myers. A narrow cut, 5 feet deep, had been made through the shoals at Beautiful Islands and partially protected by a training wall, and the worst obstructions had been removed from the river as far as Fort Thompson. Three thousand six hundred dollars were appropriated in the act of September 19, 1890, for completing the improvement. With this sum the remaining obstructions were removed from the channel between Fort Thompson and the Beautiful Islands. The cut at the Beautiful Island shoal and its protecting dike were extended, and the channel through the oyster bars at the mouth of the river was enlarged and marked. When work stopped there was a clear channel from the mouth to Fort Thompson, having a mean low-water depth of 6 feet as far as Fort Myers and a depth of 4 feet for the remaining distance. An annual expenditure of $1,000 will be required to maintain this improvement. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended............... Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year $3,845.47 3,600.00 7,445. 47 7,298.86 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. 146. 61 125.00 July 1, 1891, balance available ..... 21.61 Amount (estimated) required for maintenance of existing project... 1,000.00 1,000.00 (See Appendix O 6.) 7. Channel of Charlotte Harbor and Pease Creek, Florida.-The portion under improvement lies between the Boca Grande entrance from the Gulf of Mexico and the wharves at Punta Gorda, 2 miles from the mouth of Pease Creek. The available depth at the entrance is 19 feet at mean low water. Immediately within the entrance there is an anchorage, with a depth of 18 feet and over. Between that point and Punta Gorda, a distance of 244 miles, the channel depth varies from 10 to 20 feet. In the act of September 19, 1890, $35,000 were appropriated for improving the channel between the limits named. Up to the close of the fiscal year $2,886.44 had been expended in making a survey of the defective portions of the channel, in preparing a project for its improvement and in making a contract for the work. Active operations under the contract have not yet been started. The approved project contemplates the immediate formation of a channel 12 feet deep and as wide as the funds will permit. The estimated cost of a channel 200 feet wide and 12 feet deep is $127,500; of a channel 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep, $468,000. Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890 $35,000.00 2,886. 44 July 1, 1891, balance unexpended... 32, 113.56 July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.. $20.06 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts 29,500.00 29,520.06 July 1, 1891, balance available... 2,593.50 (See Appendix O 7.) |