HH I. IMPROVEMENT OF FALLS OF OHIO RIVER AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. A condensed description of the original condition, outline of projects, and references to more detailed information will be found on page 484 of this report. Operations during the fiscal year were limited to drilling, blasting, and removing disrupted rock from that part of the enlargement at the head of the Louisville and Portland Canal, east of the former cross dam. On account of high water and ice, and the dredging plant being required so continuously for canal work, only 17,571 cubic yards, scow measure, disrupted rock were removed during the year. The two compressor scows worked between July 6 and September 17, 1903, and one compressor scow from November 2 to November 13, 1903, the work done being as follows: In removing the disrupted rock, three dredges worked at irregular intervals between July 10 and December 12, 1903, removing 17,571 cubic yards, scow measure, disrupted rock. During the winter season, repairs were made to the compressor scows and to the steamer Wave Rock. During a thunderstorm July 11, 1903, while the crew of drill scow No. 2 was drilling and loading holes, 9 of the 26 loaded holes, each containing 2 pounds dynamite, exploded, probably caused by lightning striking the exploder wires. The scow was sunk, but was only slightly injured; the crew was not injured. The items and quantities of work accomplished, as well as that remaining to be done on June 30, 1904, to complete the enlargement at the head of the canal, as proposed in the approved project, are shown in the following tabular statement: a Of these blasts 128 were used in breaking up pieces of rock too large for dredges to handle. b Also 15, 531.8 cubic yards disrupted but not removed. No appropriation for the additional work for Indiana Chute recommended in the report of a Board of Engineer Officers, approved December 30, 1901, has been made. Money statement. July 1, 1903, balance unexpended June 30, 1904, amount expended during fiscal year, for works of improve ment. July 1, 1904, balance unexpended July 1, 1904, balance available.......... $32, 962. 46 25, 045. 71 7,916. 75 703.61 7, 213. 14 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 557, 569. 79 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1906, for works of improvement, in addition to the balance unexpended July 1, 1904.. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sundry civil act of June 4, 1897. 350,000.00 Commercial statistics are given in the report for operating and care of the Louisville and Portland Canal. HH 2. OPERATING AND CARE OF LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL, KENTUCKY. Description of original condition and references to former reports, documents, etc., will be found on page 489 of this report. The project and estimate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, approved July 24, 1903, provided as follows: It is proposed to operate the canal and locks and to make such repairs as may from time to time become necessary to maintain them in good navigable condition; to operate the dredging outfit as needed in clearing the canal and locks of deposit, etc., brought into them by high water; to make such repairs to the towboat, dredges, buildings, walls, slopes, paving, roadways, bridges, fences, and other Government property as are necessary to maintain them in good serviceable condition. Under this project and the estimate submitted therewith, the operations during the fiscal year, in addition to the usual work of passing traffic and ordinary current repairs incident to care and preservation, were as follows: From the canal and entrances thereto and from the lock chambers there were dredged during the year 161,920 cubic yards mud; and in addition there were dredged for the city of Louisville and for the Byrne & Speed Coal Company, at their expense, 17,770 cubic yards mud, $245.63 for the use of plant being collected from the latter company and deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States. The dredges also removed from the channel below the locks 3,570 cubic yards, scow measure, disrupted rock. The two drill scows working in the channel below the locks disrupted 2,636.9 cubic yards rock, measured in place. A new blacksmith shop was constructed by contracts. The slope revetment at Ninth street was done by hired labor. The boiler and engine house on south side of locks at the middle gates, which was badly damaged by fire on November 20, 1903, was repaired. On September 13, 1903, in raising and lowering the automatic gate, all the hold-down bolts of the lower leaf, two of the adjoining hinges, one section of hollow quoin, and fifteen of the sixteen hinges at the apex were broken. The repairs made necessary by this accident are practically complete. The details of the various items of work done during the fiscal year are set forth in the report of Mr. J. H. Casey, assistant engineer, appended hereto. Following are the statements of expenditures, collections, etc., for the year, together with a comparative statement of traffic and commerce passing Louisville, Ky., from 1877 to June 30, 1904: Summary of expenditures on account of operating and care of Louisville and Portland Canal, fiscal year 1904, showing general items and amount expended under each heading. 1903. COLLECTIONS. Aug. 6. Louisville and Evansville Packet Company, for use of dry dock.... $84.59 Nov. 28. Louisville and Evansville Packet Company, for use of dry dock.. Mar. 4. Louisville and Evansville Packet Company, for use of dry dock.. Dec. 16. W. F: Nugent & Bro., for use of dry dock... 1904. Jan. 4. Louisville Cement Company, for rent of land... Jan. 13. Union Cement and Lime Company, for rent of land Mar. 24. Speed Elevator Company, for rent of land.. May 16. Byrne & Speed Coal Company, for use of dredging plant. Total.. 125.00 55.42 55.83 36.25 30.00 5.00 86.25 125.00 245.63 848.97 All of the above collections were deposited to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States. Statement of traffic through the Louisville and Portland Canal from July 1, 1903, to Total number of lockages during the past fiscal year, 2,329. |