Repairs. During the winter season the necessary repairs were made to the boat, consisting of overhauling all machinery, boilers and pipes, and supplying new fittings where needed; in patching the main deck and calking seams; in painting the entire outside of the boat, the kitchen, and machinery, and in making other necessary minor repairs. The boilers were inspected by a United States inspector of marine boilers. TOWBOAT EMERALD. The Emerald has been employed in acting as dredge tender, in miscellaneous towing, in making a trip to Wabash River and returning with the Green River quarter boat, in making an inspection trip, and in making several other short trips to various parts of the river. A synopsis of the work for the year is as follows: Repairs. During the winter season the necessary repairs were made, consisting of putting in new bucket planks in the wheel, overhauling the machinery, supplying new fittings where needed, and painting the outside of the boat. Sixty-eight new tubes were put in the boiler, after which the boiler was inspected. DREDGE NO. 1, GREEN RIVER. The dredge has been employed in dredging out the approaches at the various locks on Green and Barren rivers; in assisting in the construction of the lower shore crib and repair of dam at Lock No. 3, Green River, by dredging out the stone, mud, and timber below the water line of the old lower shore crib and in dredging rock below the dam for filling the new crib and dam; in removing the old lower river crib at Lock No. 1, Barren River; in dredging out the channel in Green and Barren rivers at various points, and in assisting in the repairs to the lower miter sill at Lock No. 4, Green River. A synopsis of the work accomplished is as follows: At Lock No. 2, Green River: Cubic yards of mud dredged from lower approach Cubic yards of stone dredged from below dam.. Cubic yards of gravel dredged from lower approach....... Cubic yards of mud dredged from lower approach Cubic yards of mud dredged from lower approach Miscellaneous dredging in Barren River: Cubic yards of gravel and mud dredged from Jones Hole... Miscellaneous dredging in Green River: Cubic yards of mud dredged at Honakers Ferry.. 200 3,282 340 3, 320 4,555 940 470 610 620 600 520 260 1,100 460 150 800 1, 150 75 Repairs. During the winter season the machinery was overhauled and all new fittings necessary were supplied; the decks were patched with new material and calked, some new sheaves were placed in the boom, a new dipper handle was framed and put in place, and the entire boat thoroughly cleaned and the outside repainted. REPAIRS TO QUARTER BOAT. The Green River quarter boat, which had sunk while in use on Wabash River, was returned to Green River in March. Work was immediately begun in overhauling the boat. It was placed on the ways at Bowling Green, Ky., where it was found that an entire new bottom was needed. This was put on and the bottom and gunwales thoroughly calked. This work was delayed somewhat on account of high water. The cabin, which leaned to one side, was straightened; shores and braces were put in; the doors and windows were rehung and glazed where necessary; the entire boat was thoroughly scrubbed and painted; and all other necessary minor repairs made. The repairs were completed about the 1st of May and the local office transferred to the boat. MISCELLANEOUS REPAIRS. Barge No. 4 was injured by a tree falling across it. A new deck and bottom were put in and the material taken from this barge was used in putting a new deck on barge No. 5. The machinery on both the derrick boats was overhauled and new fittings were supplied where necessary, the cabins and booms were painted, and the decks, gunwales, and rakes of both derrick boats, both scows, and four barges were patched and calked where necessary, and painted. All other machinery, tools, etc., have been kept in repair. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. H. BURGESS, Corps of Engineers. W. S. OVERSTREET, Master. H H 8. IMPROVEMENT OF ROUGH RIVER, KENTUCKY. A complete synopsis of the projects under which the improvement of this river has progressed may be found on pages 2599 to 2602, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1899. See also page 500 of this report. The work outlined in the existing project has been completed with the exception of snagging and removal of landslides, which class of work must be done from time to time as long as the sources of such obstructions are in existence. No operations were in progress during the fiscal year, and the only work proposed under the project for the future is the removal of snags, slides, and similar obstructions from time to time, as may be required to maintain the channel in good navigable condition. The funds now available being sufficient for the present, no additional appropriation is recommended. No contracts for this improvement are in force. For commercial statistics see report for "Operating and care of lock and dam, Rough River, Kentucky." Money statement. July 1, 1903, balance unexpended July 1, 1904, balance unexpended July 1, 1904, balance available.. $2,324.89 2, 324.89 17.27 2, 307.62 OPERATING AND CARE OF LOCK AND DAM ON ROUGH RIVER, KENTUCKY. The estimate and project for the operation and care of this lock and its appurtenant structures during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, contained the following items: Regular force Repairs, supplies, etc. Total. $750 450 1,200 Expenditures during the year were for payment of lock tender, messenger service between the lock and nearest post-office, minor repairs to cribbing, removal of heavy drift from the dam, removal of deposit from the lock chamber and upper entrance, and removal of snags, overhanging trees, etc., from the channel below the lock, the quantities of work done under the latter headings being as follows: Deposit removed from upper entrance to lock.. Overhanging trees removed... Floating snags removed Large bowlders removed .cubic yards.. 430 ..do.... 50 .number.. 10 .do.... 17 ..do.... 2 Summary of expenditures on account of operating and care of Rough River, Kentucky, during the fiscal year 1903, showing general items and amount expended under each heading. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Statements of traffic and commerce passing Lock No. 1, Rough River, Kentucky, from July 1, 1903, to June 30, 1904. For list of boats plying on this river see page 2686 of this report. Comparative statement of traffic and commerce at Lock No. 1, Rough River, Kentucky. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF LITTLE WABASH RIVER, ILLINOIS, FROM ITS MOUTH TO CARMI. [Printed in House Doc. No. 38, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session.] WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, December 1, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for transmission to Congress copy of a report dated September 3, 1903, by Maj. George McC. Derby, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination of Little Wabash River to Carmi, Ill., authorized by section 1 of the river and harbor act approved June 13, 1902. This report has been referred for consideration by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors as provided for in sections 3 and 14 of said act, and attention is respectfully invited to the Board's report of October 29, 1903, in third indorsement thereon. repo I concur in the opinion of the Board that it is not now desirable for the United States to undertake the improvement of this stream as proposed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. L. GILLESPIE, Ú. S. Army. Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, Hon. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War. REPORT OF MAJ. G. M'C. DERBY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Louisville, Ky., September 3, 1903. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report on an examination of Little Wabash River to Carmi, in compliance with the requirements of the river and harbor act approved June 13, 1902. This river was examined in 1892 and reported upon by Lieut. Col. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, as printed in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1893, page 2570. I have had the river below Carmi reexamined, and append hereto the report of Mr. G. W. Shaw, assistant engineer, who made the examination. The conclusion reached in 1892 was that the Little Wabash, a small tributary of the Wabash River, was not at that time worthy of improvement, but might become so if "the contemplated improvement of the lower Wabash should result in the establishment of any considerable regular traffic on that stream." The conditions on the Little Wabash and on the lower Wabash remain to-day about the same as they were in 1892. No substantial improvement has been made in the latter stream, and no considerable regular traffic has arisen. I am of the opinion that the Little Wabash to Carmi is not now worthy of improve ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, CENTRAL DIVISION, Cincinnati, Ohio, September 4, 1903. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, concurring in Major Derby's opinion that this river is not now worthy of improvement. G. J. LYDECKER, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Central Division. |