During 1890 a few repairs were made to the plant, but nothing was done upon the dams, owing to high water, and nothing has been done this year so far for the reason it is very doubtful if, with all the runouts closed, a channel navigable at low water can be maintained over Little Devil Bar, which, under any circumstances, will certainly form again at each high water of the Atchafalaya. No funds are asked for next year. The amount expended on this stream to June 30, 1891, was $28,374.87. 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....... (See Appendix S 7.) $1,089.39 2,200.00 3, 289, 39 464.26 2,825.13 8. Bayou Teche, Louisiana.-This bayou is navigated ordinarily by steamboats throughout the year. Prior to 1886 navigation was obstructed by logs, snags, and impending trees, but money having been appropriated the stream was thoroughly cleared of such obstructions from Port Barre down. Since the completion of this work some further obstructions have found their way into the bayou, and in 1890 $5,000 was appropriated with which to accomplish their removal. Under this appropriation it is proposed to remove the logs, snags, etc., by hired labor, using the Government plant now laid up on the Bayou Courtableau. Nothing has yet been done on account of high water, but as soon as the water subsides sufficiently work will be commenced. 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 (See Appendix S 8.) $462.08 5,000.00 5, 462. 08 40.24 5, 421.84 9. Mouth and passes of Calcasieu River, Louisiana.-Previous to any improvement there was but 3 feet depth in the Calcasieu Passes. In 1874, 1883, and 1888 channels were dredged through the bars in Calcasieu Lake or at what is known as the passes of Calcasien River. As no permanent system of revetment was employed the dredged channel was soon obliterated. In 1888 an appropriation of $10,000 for continuing this improvement was made, but as at least $150,000 will be required to give anything like a permanent channel through the bars the money has been held for future consideration. In 1890 $75,000 was appropriated for the improvement of the mouth of the Calcasieu River, but as the work of jetty construction proposed was. in an exposed locality the amount was not deemed sufficient with which to commence operations economically and it has consequently been held for future increase. The early construction of a secure channel through the bars in Calcasieu Lake is urgently needed, as it will give water transportation for the products of the mills on Calcasieu River and result in a saving to the consumers of about $40,000 annually on this item alone. The improvement of the mouth of the river will afford a harbor of refuge and be an extension of the foregoing improvement. Upon the channels in Calcasieu Lake $150,000 can be expended profitably, and about $200,000 upon the improvement of the mouth also during the ensuing year. Up to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, $19,245.31 had been expended on this stream. 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 $9,977.00 75,000.00 84,977.00 41.60 24,935.40 525,000.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1893 350,000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix S 9.) 10. Harbor at Sabine Pass, Texas.-Originally the bar obstructing the entrance to the harbor of Sabine Pass had not 5 feet of water upon it. In 1878 and 1880 channels from 12 to 16 feet deep were dredged through it, but they soon filled up. In 1882 a project was approved for the improvement of the entrance by constructing jetties and dredging, if necessary. The estimated cost of this improvement was $3,177,606.50. Since the approval of this project there has been appropriated $1,098,750, of which amount there remains $300,000 to be expended this season under contract approved May 27, 1891. The east jetty has a total length of 17,100 feet; the outer 450 feet is foundation work solely. A section of this jetty at the outer end, 240 feet long, was given a width of 112 feet at the foundation, and was capped with rock weighing from 1 to 3 tons. Its crest was 4 feet above mean low water. The west jetty is 9,500 feet long. Its outer end lacks about 4,000 feet of being abreast of the outer end of the east jetty; 2,500 feet of this jetty is, properly speaking, but foundation work. The east jetty at its outer end has suffered some loss of height since the last examination in 1890, but whether this loss is owing to a subsidence or displacement of rock due to wave action can not be determined definitely. The 12-foot curve of depth has advanced some on the inside and the channel is wider. It has not changed its position much on the seaward side. The channel of 10 feet depth is continuous and about 1,000 feet wide. A good deal of shoaling has occurred behind the west jetty, and the shore has advanced some. Considering the incomplete character of the work the conditions are considered encouraging. A total of $1,120,422.44 has been expended to June 30, 1891, of which sum $800,422.44 was expended under the present project. 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, 1801, outstanding liabilities.. $1,268.94 July 1, 1891, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.... 270,000. 00 July 1, 1891, balance available $3,814.03 300,000.00 303, 814.03 5,486. 47 298, 327.56 271, 268. 94 27,058.62 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 S 10.) $2,078, 856. 50 1,000,000.00 11. Sabine River, Texas.-At the commencement of the improvement of the river there was a depth of 3 feet on the bar at its mouth and also above the town of Orange. Logs, snags, etc., above here interfered with navigation. To June 30, 1889, there had been appropriated for this work $34,700, of which $30,760.39 had been expended. In 1880 a channel 6 feet deep, 70 to 100 feet wide, was dredged through the bar. In 1881 several small cuts, to avoid bends obstructed with logs, were made above Orange. The dredged channel over the bar at the mouth is somewhat obstructed by logs, but the depth is now sufficient for present demands of navigation and commerce. An examination above Orange showed many snags in parts of the channel and a project was prepared and contract entered into for the expenditure of the remaining balance in closing both branches of Old River at the head of the Narrows with pile, brush, and earth dams, to throw all the water into the useful channel, and removing the snags, overhanging trees, etc. The smaller Old River channel was closed and most of the piles driven for the larger dam, when a sudden rise in the river washed out many of the piles in the latter. The river remaining so high that satisfactory work could not be done, the contract was extended to the next low-water season. Work was resumed in September, 1890, and the dams finished, as projected, in December following, completing the project. The amount expended on this stream to June 30, 1891, was $34,614.12. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended ... June 30, 1891, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1891, balance unexpended (See Appendix S 11.) $3,939. 61 3,852.73 86.88 12. Neches River, Texas.-Before this river was improved the bar at its mouth had only 3 feet of water over it, and snags and fallen trees obstructed navigation between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport. To June 30, 1890, $33,000 had been appropriated for this work, of which $28,842.16 had been expended. In 1880 a channel was dredged through the bar at the mouth of the river 5 feet deep and 30 to 60 feet in width. In 1882 the river between Yellow Bluff and Bevilsport was cleared of obstructions. The bar at the mouth had again shoaled, so that at extreme low water there was only a navigable depth of about 3 feet. The channel was dredged to a depth of 5 feet by the Government dredge, which had been at work at Calcasieu Pass, and the work was completed in May, 1889, since which time no work has been done. The improvement will not be permanent, as the bar will reform. July 1, 1890, balance unexpended (See Appendix S 12.) $4, 157.84 4, 157.84 13. Removing sunken vessels or craft obstructing or endangering navigation. The removal of wreck of the British bark Bruce, suuk in Ship Island Harbor, Mississippi, in December, 1890, was commenced, under contract with the Alabama Dredging and Jetty Company for the sum of $1,490, on June 19, 1891, and is now in process of execution. (See Appendix S 13.) EXAMINATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 5, 1884. The preliminary examination of Bayou Carlin, Louisiana, required by the act of July 5, 1884, was not made at the time, owing, as stated in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1885, page 244, to an uncertainty as to the locality intended by the act. Recent correspondence having elicited information as to the location of the bayou, the local engineer in charge, Major Quinn, made an examination of it and submitted report thereon, through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion. of Major Quinn, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement; but Colonel Comstock, for reasons stated, does not consider the improvement worthy of being made by the United States. The views of Colonel Comstock being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. (See Appendix S 14.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEY 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 Fisk, Major Quinn's predecessor, and reports thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, 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 of these localities were ordered. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fifty-first Congress, second session. 1. Shoals on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, near the Rigolets, known as the "Middle Ground," with a view of dredging a channel 10 feet deep and revetting sides of the same.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 111. (See also Appendix S 15.) 2. Bayou Chevreuil and Bayou Tigre, Louisiana, from Lake Des Allemands to points near Vacherie, Chigby and Malagay settlements in St. James Parish for removal of bars and other obstructions to navigation.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 182. (See also Appendix S 16.) 3. Bayou Terre Bonne, Louisiana, from Houma to Thibodeaux.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 110. (See also Appendix S 17.) 4. Bayou Black to connect with Terre Bonne, Louisiana.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 113. (See also Appendix S 18.) 5. Berwick's Bay, Louisiana, to the Gulf, with a view of obtaining a deeper channel.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 198. (See also Appendix S 19.) 6. Bayou Cocodrie, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 114. (See also Appendix S 20.) 7. Bayou Black, Louisiana, for connection between Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake.-Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 125. (See also Appendix S 21.) The required preliminary examination of Bayou Teche, Louisiana, from St. Martinsville to Port Barre, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement; but Colonel Comstock does not consider this reach of Bayou Teche worthy of being improved by the United States. The views of Colonel Comstock being concurred in by me, no further survey was ordered. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 280, Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. (See also Appendix S 22.) The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and reports thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that these localities are worthy of improvement. 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. The reports were transmitted to Congress and printed as executive documents of the Fiftyfirst Congress, second session. 1. Bayou Des Glaises, Louisiana, with a view of clearing the stream of obstructions from the Atchafalaya River to Cottonport.-The proposed improvement contemplates the removal of overhanging trees, at an es timated cost of $2,500. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 119. (See also Appendix S 23.) 2. Bayou Vermillion, bay and passes, Louisiana.-The proposed improvement contemplates clearing the stream of obstructions to such an extent as to allow 5 feet of water to be carried up to the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad, at an estimated cost of $25,000. Printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 273. (See also Appendix S 24.) The required preliminary examination of Mermenton (Mermentau) River, Louisiana, including its tributaries and course through Lake Arthur and Grand Lake to the Gulf of Mexico, was made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Fisk, and report thereon submitted through Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Southwest Division. It is the opinion of Captain Fisk, and of the Division Engineer, based upon the facts and reasons given, that this locality is worthy of improvement. This opinion being concurred in by me, Captain Fisk, was charged with its survey. His successor, Major Quinn, has completed this duty and submitted report thereon. The proposed improvement contemplates clearing the stream of obstructions from Viterboville to the mouth, and construction of a brush dam at Lower Mud Lake, at an estimated cost of $23,615.25; and the construction of jetties at the mouth, to give deep water over the bar, at an estimated cost of $781,210. (See Appendix S 25.) Captain Fisk was charged with the required preliminary examination of Sabine River, Texas, from where said river empties in Sabine Lake to Sudduth's Bluff, on said Sabine River. This examination is now in charge of Major Quinn, and report of the results will be duly submitted when received. |