Report transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 241, Fifty first Congress, second session. (See also Appendix 0 18.) 2. Charlotte Harbor, Florida.-The improvement proposed contemplates the formation of a channel at least 15 feet deep and 200 feet wide, from the Boca Grande entrance to Punta Gorda, at an estimated cost of $468,000. If, however, as is proposed, the railroad is extended from Punta Gorda to Boca Grande, it will be necessary only to dredge a channel 23 feet deep and 300 feet wide from the Gulf of Mexico to the anchorage within the Boca Grande entrance, at an estimated cost of $35,300. (See Appendix O 19.) IMPROVEMENT OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN GEORGIA, FLORIDA, AND ALABAMA, AND OF APALACHICOLA BAY, AND HARBOR AT PENSACOLA, FLORIDA. Officer in charge, Capt. Philip M. Price, Corps of Engineers, having under his immediate orders Lieut. Charles L. Potter, Corps of Engi neers, to June 12, 1891, and Lieut. Wm. E. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, since June 1, 1891; Division Engineer, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Apalachicola Bay, Florida.-A bar existed at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, extending from one half mile below the town of Apalachicola, Fla., to the lower anchorage. The minimum channel depth over this bar was 3 feet. In 1879 a plan of improvement was adopted which contemplated the dredging through the bar of a straight channel 11 feet deep and 100 feet wide, to be afterwards increased to 200 feet if the first cut should produce results that would warrant it. Up to June 30, 1890, the sum of $85,009.63 had been expended on this improvement in dredging a straight channel through the bar at the mouth of the river, whenever funds were available, between the years 1881 and 1890. On account of inadequate appropriations the dredged cut has never exceeded 90 feet in width and 94 feet in depth, and has gradually filled up, partly by the deposit of silt from the river, and partly by the washing in of material from the sides of the cut by the currents produced by the tides and the prevailing easterly winds. The last dredging was completed in May, 1890, and at that time the channel was 8 feet in depth at mean low water, and had a maximum width of 90 feet. Since that time no dredging has been done. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $3,529.38 has been expended in making a survey of the mouth of the river and of a part of the bay. The report of this survey was submitted on May 15, 1891, and showed that there had been an average shoaling of about 14 feet in the dredged cut. It also appears from this survey that the Bulkhead Shoal, on which there is only 6 feet of water, now forms the most serious obstruction to the commerce of Apalachicola Bay. The recommenda tion of the officer in charge, that the funds now available should be expended in dredging a 9-foot channel through this shoal was therefore approved, and he was authorized to advertise for proposals for doing the work. The advertisement was published on June 10, 1891, and the proposals will be opened on July 15, 1891. If reasonable bids are received it is proposed to expend all of the available balance in this dredging. It is anticipated that by next year it will be essential, for the preservation of the commerce of Apalachicola Bay, to redredge the straight channel through the bar at the mouth of the river. It is estimated that the cost of securing the approved channel of 100 feet in width and 11 feet in depth will be $60,000, and the work can be more economically accomplished if this sum is appropriated at one time. 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 $1,990. 62 20,000.00 21,990.62 3,529.38 18, 461.24 3.50 18, 457.74 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 60,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 1.) 2. Apalachicola River, Florida, including Lee Slough.-An examination and survey of the Apalachicola River was made in the winter of 1872-73. The river was found to be obstructed by snags and overhanging trees. An accumulation of drift logs against piles driven by Confederate authorities during the war near Moccasin Slough had formed a dam across the river and forced a narrow and very crooked channel through its banks and into the river Styx. The approved project for the improvement of the river contemplated securing a channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep, at low water, by the removal of snags and overhanging trees, and widening and straightening the channel at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, at an estimated cost of $80,333. In 1888 an examination was made of the Cut-off, Lee Slough, and the lower Chipola River, and the cost of opening a channel 60 feet wide and 5 feet deep through it was estimated at $7,500. The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $2,000 for the "Apalachicola River, including Lee's Slough," and the improvement of the latter is therefore added to the original project. Up to June 30, 1890, the sum of $42,245.11 was expended on the original project. At this time the river was in a good navigable condition, except at Moccasin Slough and the Elbows, where further work is necessary to make navigation safe. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, the sum of $1,566.32 has been expended in the removal of snags, sunken logs, and overhanging trees from the Apalachicola River and from the Cut-off and lower Chipola River, which lead to Lee Slough. No work has been done on Lee Slough proper for the reason that with the amount of money available it would have been impossible to accomplish any useful result. It was necessary that the snag-boat should clear a channel through the Cut off and lower Chipola River in order to reach Lee Slough. When this had been accomplished it was necessary for the snag-boat to return to the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. The small amount of work done on the Cut-off and lower Chipola River has enabled steamboats to reach the landings above and below Lee Slough and carry out the orange crop. The country bordering on this slough is now attracting the attention of settlers, and would be rapidly developed if the Cut-off and Lee Slough and the lower Chipola River were so cleared of obstructions that the river steamboats would go through them on their regular trips. The river affords the only practicable means of transportation for the products of this country. The cost of opening Lee Slough is estimated at $7,500. The cost of improving Moccasin Slough and the Elbows is estimated at $5,000, and of the necessary snagging operations on the Apalachicola River, at $2,000. 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 $320.79 2,000.00 2,320.79 1,566.32 754.47 4.85 749.62 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 14,500.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 2.) 3. Flint River, Georgia.-Before the improvement was begun the river was only navigable, at low water, from its mouth up to Bainbridge, and the channel over this portion was narrow, crooked, and much obstructed by logs, snags, and overhanging trees. The present project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1873 and modified in 1879, the object of the original project being to afford a channel 100 feet wide and 3 feet deep at low water, from its mouth up to Albany, Ga., an estimated distance of 105 miles; and of the modification, to provide a navigable channel for light-draft steamers, at moderate stages of water, from Albany to Montezuma, an estimated distance of 77 miles. The expenditure up to June 30, 1890, of $136,203.77 has resulted in obtaining a navigable channel, having a low-water depth of 3 feet, and a width varying from 50 to 100 feet, from the mouth of the river nearly to Albany. Above Albany the river has been partially cleared of logs and snags, and, to a limited extent, of loose rock between Albany and Montezuma. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $4,017.07 were expended in the care and preservation of plant, and in continuing work under the approved project. Between the mouth of the river and Bainbridge, Ga., the river is now in a fair navigable condition, and only requires the annual clearing out of snags and logs brought in by the winter freshets. Between Bainbridge and Albany, Ga., a channel having a low-water depth of 3 feet and a minimum width of 50 feet has been secured, but in many places this channel is too narrow and tortuous for safe navigation, and should be widened and straightened. The work will consist mainly in drilling and blasting and removing rock from the marl and rock shoals. When completed the improvement will be comparatively permanent; but for the preservation of the improvement it will be necessary to maintain a snag-boat on the river, at an annual cost of about $5,000. On account of the recent construction of a railroad through that section of country, the small steamer which formerly ran between Montezuma and Warwick, on the Upper Flint River, has been sold, and is now employed on the river below Albany. As far as known no com mercial use is now made of the river above Albany, and there are no indications that any such will be made in the near future. It is therefore recommended that the requirement that " a certain portion of the appropriation for the Flint River shall be expended. above Albany, Ga.," may be omitted from future appropriation acts for the present. 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... $826.24 20,000.00 20,826.24 4, 017.07 16,809. 17 2,042. 48 14,766. 69 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1893 40,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 3.) 4. Chattahoochee River, Georgia and Alabama.-The river was origi nally much obstructed by logs, snags, and overhanging trees, and by a number of rock and marl shoals and sand bars, so that navigation was difficult and dangerous. Steamboats could only run by daylight, and not unfrequently laid on sand bars for weeks at a time waiting for a rise in the river. Very many were lost by striking logs and snags. The present plan of improvement adopted in 1873, and modified in 1882, contemplates a low water channel 4 feet in depth and 100 feet in width from Columbus, Ga., to Chattahoochee, Fla., a distance of 224 miles, by the removal of snags and other obstructions from the channel and overhanging trees from the banks; by the excavation of rock shoals, and by works of contraction and shore protection. Previous to the act of June 18, 1878, $70,000 was appropriated for the "Chattahoochee and Flint rivers," but the amounts apportioned to each river are not known. Up to June 30, 1890, $170,832.91 of the appropriations for the Chattahoochee River alone had been expended, and with its share of the combined appropriations had resulted in securing a fair navigable channel between Chattahoochee, Fla., and Eufaula, Ala., at all seasons of the year, and between Eufaula, Ala., and Columbus, Ga., at all times, except during low water. Steamboats now make regular trips with but few accidents or detentions, running by night as well as by day. The limited annual appropriations for this improvement have not been suffi. cient to maintain the works of contraction constructed, nor to extend or modify them as required. During the year ending June 30, 1891, $11,108.32 has been expended in maintaining the existing improvement, excavating rock shoals, and in repairing worn out plant. The most serious obstructions to the navigation of this river are at the Mound and Woolfolk's Bar, between Eufaula and Columbus. At both of these places the banks are caving badly, and the navigation is yearly becoming more difficult and dangerous. At low stages, boats have to be warped over the bars. There is also trouble at Francis Bend, above Eufaula, and at Kings Rock, about 200 miles below Columbus. If sufficiently large appropriations were made to permanently improve these localities it is believed that thereafter the navigation of the river could be maintained in good condition throughout the year by annual appropriations of $10,000, for the repair and maintenance of the work and for the removal of the annual accumulation of logs and snags brought in by the winter freshets. On account of high water it has not been practicable to make a detailed examination and estimate of the cost of improving these localities, but it is known that at least $75,000 can be profitably expended in this work during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893. 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..... $2,185.30 20,000.00 22.185.30 11, 103.32 11, 076.98 526.71 10, 550. 27 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 75,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix P 4.) 5. La Grange Bayou and Holmes River, Florida.-La Grange Bayou is situated on the north side and near the head of Choctawhatchee Bay, and into it flows Cedar Creek, a deep stream from 90 to 160 feet, on which is situated the town of Freeport, 14 miles above the bayou. The channel through the bayou was originally narrow and shoal, and obstructed by logs and drift. An examination of the bayou was made in 1881, under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1881, and an estimate submitted for dredging the channel so as to admit the passage of vessels drawing 4 feet at mean low water, at a cost of $19,994.30. In 1883 the sum of $2,000, allotted from the appropriation of $20,000, made by the act of August 2, 1882, for the improvement of Choctawhatchee River, Florida, was expended, mainly in removing snags and drift, and in dredging a small amount of mud from the shoalest part of the channel. Since then no work has been done. The act of August 5, 1886, appropriated $2,000 for this improvement. It was decided that so small a sum could be more profitably expended by holding it until an additional appropriation was made. The act of August 11, 1888, appropriated $3,000, for completing the improvement of La Grange Bayou, including Holmes River, up to the town of Vernon. An examination and partial survey, made in 1889, showed that the amount of $5.000, then available for the improvement, was not sufficient to complete it as required by the act, and the Secretary of War therefore directed that no further expenditures should be made. Before the completion of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad the town of Freeport was the center of trade for a large section of country surrounding it. This trade was mainly carried on in vessels plying between Pensacola and Freeport. Since the completion of the railroad, however, the commerce of Freeport and La Grange Bayou has diminished to such an extent that in 1889 there was only one store in Freeport, and but one schooner made occasional trips between that point and Pensacola. No necessity now appears to exist for the further improvement of La Grange Bayou, Florida, |