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8. Sarasota Bay, Florida.-The total length of Sarasota Bay is 34 miles. The portion under improvement extends from Tampa Bay to Sarasota, a distance of 214 miles. The general available channel depth is 5 feet, but there are two reaches, aggregating 1 mile in length, where the available channel depth varies from 3.5 to 4.3 feet. The approved project contemplates the formation of a channel 100 feet wide and 5 feet deep at mean low water between the limits named above. As it is most economical to do this work with the United States dredge Suwanee, operations have been postponed until her services should become avail able. It is expected that work will be started at an early date. The appropriation of $5,000 made for this work in the act approved September 19, 1890, is the first for the improvement. .

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

$5,000,00

273.00

4,727.00

255.00

4,472.00

July 1, 1891, balance available.....

(Amount (estimated) required for completion 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.

5,000.00 5,000.00

(See Appendix O 8.)

9. Manatee River, Florida.-The portion of the Manatee River under improvement is the lowest reach, between Rocky Bluff and the mouth, a distance of about 12 miles. This had a midchannel depth of from 7 to 20 feet. The general width is about three-fourths of a mile. At the mouth was a long shoal with a minimum depth of 7 feet. Between Palmetto and Manatee, about 6 miles from the mouth, was another bar covered by from 3 to 5 feet of water.

The river was examined in 1881. The project adopted had for its object to form a channel 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep at mean low water from Tampa Bay to McNeil Point (Palma Sola). Owing to the changed commercial conditions since the adoption of the project, brought about by the extension of the railroad to Tampa, the transfer to Tampa of the principal gulf steamship lines, and the service of the smaller towns around Tampa Bay by coasting steamers, from Tampa, the project was modified in 1886 to provide for the passage of these lighter-draft vessels to all of the towns of the lower river by the removal of the bar above Palmetto.

Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $27,808.13 were expended on this improvement. A dredged cut was made across the bar at the mouth of the river, another cut was made across the bar between Manatee and Braidentown, and a survey and map of the river were made. The cut at the mouth had been nearly obliterated, but a channel 8 feet deep and of sufficient width existed from Tampa Bay to Manatee. In the act approved September 19, 1890, $6,000 were appropriated for continuing the improvement. The amount was insufficient to make any permanent improvement in the channel at the mouth, the only place where work is now required, and the money available is held until required elsewhere in the river or until further appropriations shall increase it to a sum sufficient for economical work at the mouth.

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.......
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 9.)

$191.87 6,000.00

6, 191. 87 73.80

6, 118. 07 7.75

6, 110.32

39, 000, 00 15,000. 00

10. Tampa Bay, Florida.-The harbor at Tampa, at the head of one arm of this bay, was separated from deep water by a flat 2 miles wide. Through this was a narrow channel with an average available depth of about 5 feet, formed by the waters of Hillsboro River.

The original project was adopted in 1879, and had for its object the formation of a 9-foot channel, 150 feet wide in the bay and 200 feet wide in the river, from the 9-foot curve in the bay to the wharves at Tampa, in Hillsboro River, at an estimated cost of $97,000.

Up to June 30, 1888, $69,068.54 had been expended. The work consisted entirely of dredging and rock excavation, and extended over a distance of 8,200 feet, making a cut varying in width from 200 feet in the river to 60 feet in the bay. On June 30, 1887, it had a depth along its center line of from 8.3 to 9 feet. The depth on the flats beyond the outer extremity of the cut is 7 feet. In 1888 the project was modified. Port Tampa, 9 miles from Tampa, on Old Tampa Bay, had become the deep-water port of Tampa. The modified project is to form and maintain a channel 8 feet deep in Hillsboro Bay and Hillsboro River to the city of Tampa, and a channel 20 feet deep and 200 feet wide from the outer bar to Port Tampa. In the act of August 11, 1888, $25,000 was appropriated for work under this project. At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, a cut had been started through the outer bulkhead at the entrance to Old Tampa Bay. The work, which was done under contract, had been greatly delayed and no useful result had been obtained. Work was continued under the contract until March 28, 1891. When operations stopped the cut through the outer bulkhead was 20 feet deep for a width of 100 feet and from 16 to 20 feet deep for the remaining width. The channel through the inner bulkhead had a mid-depth of 19.5 feet. In the act approved September 19, 1890, $25,000 were appropriated for continuing the improvement. A contract has been entered into for the work, under which operations will be started in August.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.......

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890..

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year..

$21, 853. 45 25,000.00

$46, 853. 45 22, 047. 45

24,806.00

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.

July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts

$52.75 21, 100.00

21, 152. 75

July 1, 1891, balance available

3,653.25

$10,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project......
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal yearending June 30, 1893 10,000. 00
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix O 10.)

11. Withlacoochee River, Florida.--This river is 120 miles long and has a normal width varying from 75 to 180 feet, though at numerous points a defined channel is almost lost in broad marshy lakes and cypress swamps. The low-water depth varied from 1 to 74 feet. Before improvement the river was so obstructed by loose rocks, snags, fallen trees, floating grass islands, and bars as to be practically impassable excepting in isolated reaches.

The river was examined with a view to its improvement in 1879. The approved project calls for the removal of snags, overhanging trees, loose rocks, and some of the worst shoals between the Gulf of Mexico and Pemberton Ferry, a distance of about 77 miles, so as to permit boats of 2-feet draft to navigate the river during one-half the year.

Up to June 30, 1890, $16,770.21 had been expended. The river was cleared and made navigable as called for by the project between Pemberton Ferry and Dunellan. More work will be required on some of the ledges before navigation is safe. Work is also required below Dunellan. There were no operations during the past fiscal year, as the services of the United States snag-boat were not available.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended.............

Amonut appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890.

June 30,191, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended.

July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities..

July 1, 1891, balance available

(See Appendix O 11.)

$1,729.79

5,400.00

7, 129.79

1,089.62

6,040.17 36.05

6, 004. 12

12. Harbor at Cedar Keys, Florida.-The improvement of this harbor has been carried on from time to time under various appropriations made since 1872. It was obstructed by a shoal, known as the Middle Ground, lying in the main ship channel opposite Way Key and by shoals elsewhere in the channel and at its outer extremity. At these points the general channel depth of 12 feet was reduced to from 7 or 9 feet by outcropping rocks with sand and shells.

The existing project for the improvement has for its object to form a channel 200 feet wide and 10 feet deep through these shoals. Work under this project has been carried ou under various appropriations made since 1884. The total expenditure up to June 30, 1890, was $15,434.33. A clear channel of the required depth from the Gulf up to Cedar Keys had been obtained. Near Buoy 12, and in the middie ground, the width was insufficient. Operations under the existing contract were continued at the middle ground until July 26. When work stopped the cut there had a width of 200 feet and a least depth of 9.5 feet. Along its east side the depth was 10 feet. In the act approved September 19, 1890, $2,500 were appropriated for this harbor, with the provision that a portion could be expended at Derrick Island Gap on the inside channel from Suwanee River. As it is most economical to do the work contemplated under this appropriation with the United States snag boat Suwanee, no operations were possible until her services ENG 91-13

should become available. It is proposed to start the work here in July, 1891.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890..

$6,917.74 2,500.00

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

(See Appendix O 12.)

9, 417.74 7,270.66

2,147.08

86.85

1,060.23

44,000,00

13. Suwanee River, Florida.-The length of river under improvement is 130 miles. From the Derrick Gap entrance to Branford, a distance of 80 miles, the width of the river varies from 250 to 300 feet, and its original low-water depth from 3 to 30 feet. It was but little obstructed excepting at the mouth. Between Branford and Ellaville the general width is 325 feet. It was obstructed by many dangerous rock shoals, crossed by crooked channels which had a low-water depth of from 1.5 to 3 feet, as well as by snags and overhanging trees.

A project for this improvement was adopted in 1880. It contemplates the formation of a channel 150 feet wide and 5 feet deep from the gulf (through the bars at the passes) as far up the river as New Branford (Roland Bluff). From there to Ellaville the channel is to be 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep.

Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, $27,360.17 had been expended on this improvement. A long cut, now partly obliterated, had been made through the shoals between the mouth and deep water of the Gulf of Mexico, and a practicable, but not safe, channel had been opened as far as Hudson.

During the past fiscal year operations have been carried on by the U. S. snag boat Suwanee, and the channel between Branford and Luraville has been widened and deepened so that a channel safe during medium and high stages, and fairly safe and 34 feet deep at the lowest stages, now exists as far as Hudson, 15 miles below Ellaville. Navigation is still obstructed by the shoals near the mouth and at the Derrick Gap entrance.

July 1, 1890, balance unexpended..

Amount appropriated by act approved September 19, 1890

June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year

$663. 13 3,000.00

3,663, 13 2,340. 20

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

July 1, 1891, outstanding liabilities.

July 1, 1891, balance available

1, 322.93 689.42

Amount (estimated) required for completion 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 1857.

(See Appendix O 13.)

633.51

24, 158. 00

10,000. 00

EXAMINATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS 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, Captain Black, and reports thereon submitted through Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engi neers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division. It is the opinion of Captain Black, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are not worthy of improvement. The conclusions of these officers being concurred in by me, no further surveys were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session.

1. The upper part of the St. John's River, Florida, from Lake Monroe southward, or in a southerly direction through the river and connecting lakes to the head of steamboat navigation.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 240. (See also Appendix O 14.)

2. St. John's River, Florida, from Jacksonville to Sanford, to obtain an estimate of the cost of deepening the channel so as to secure navigation for ocean steamers, and to report separately the cost of opening the channel of the river in the vicinity of Orange Mills.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 240. (See also Appendix O 14.)

3. St. Augustine, Florida, for improvement of channel so as to make a deep sea channel over the outer and inner bars.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 291. (See also Appendix O 15.)

4. Indian River, Florida, between Titusville and Jupiter Inlet.-This river is not regarded as worthy of improvement by the General Government until the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation Company surrenders and relinquishes to the United States all the rights and privileges it now holds under State charter along the entire route. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 168. (See also Appendix O 16.)

5. Channel lying north and west of the town of Cedar Keys, Florida, known as Boat or Number Four Channel.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 205. (See also Appendix O 17.)

The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Black, and reports thereon submitted through Col. Wm. P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southeast Division. It is the opinion of Captain Black, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement as specified. The reports of the preliminary examinations containing sufficient information to indicate to Congress the probable cost of the work required, no further surveys appear to be necessary at this time.

1. Peace [Pease] River, Florida.-It is the opinion of Captain Black that Pease River is not worthy of improvement above Fort Ogden; that it is worthy of improvement below Fort Ogden; that there is no pressing necessity at present for the improvement between Fort Ogden and Punta Gorda; and that the improvement below Punta Gorda is necessary only in connection with the improvement of the channels through Charlotte Harbor, between Boca Grande entrance and Punta Gorda. The Division Engineer considers the river worthy of improvement below, but not above, Fort Ogden. Captain Black states that

With the appropriation of $35,000 made in the act approved September 19, 1890, the channel will be deepened at the mouth of the river as far as the railroad wharf at Punta Gorda. Should the railway be extended to the deep water at Boca Grande Pass, I do not deem a further improvement of the channel here necessary.

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