[Ninth indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, Washington, D. C., December 14, 1903. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. The estimate of cost of suitable regulating works above the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville, Ky., with a view to securing a pool level of 8 feet on the upper canal gauge, requested by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors in fifth indorsement hereon, and which accompanies this report, has been reviewed by the Board. It is estimated by the district officer that the improvement suggested by the Board will cost, in addition to the approved project, the sum of $219,000. Having in mind the amount and character of the present and prospective commerce involved, the extent of the river that would be improved, and the advantages to result from a large and commodious harbor at Louisville, the Board remains of opinion that the benefits to be expected from the proposed improvement far outweigh the estimated cost thereof, and that it is desirable for the United States to undertake this work, and the Board so recommends. For the Board: * * SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Louisville, Ky., December 1, 1903. GENERAL: In compliance with directions of sixth indorsement, * I have the honor to submit the following estimate for the works contemplated in the fifth indorsement on same paper. The works contemplated, as set forth in paragraph 6 of fifth indorsement, are: (1) Raising crest of Boulé dam across the Middle Chute; (2) closing Indiana Chute by a movable dam; (3) building a fixed dam from the Indiana shore to the Indiana Chute, all with crests 8 feet above the zero of the upper canal gauge. The object of these works is to secure a pool level of 8 feet at the head of the Falls of the Ohio. The existing Boulé dam across Middle Chute is not in good repair and will in a few years have to be renewed. For this reason it is thought advisable to construct a new dam instead of raising the crest of the old dam to the 8-foot level. The estimate for a new Boulé dam with crest at 8 feet is $75 per foot, making a total for 500 feet of $37,500. Indiana Chute at the entrance is 638 feet wide; this opening it is proposed to close with a Chanoine wicket dam with crest at 8 and sill at 1, upper canal gauge, the latter being the present reference. of the bottom at the entrance of Indiana Chute. It is proposed that this dam be raised and lowered from a service trestle of the usual type, the cost of which is included in the estimate for the dam. The maneuvering may be done also from a maneuvering boat, for which service one of the boats belonging to the Louisville and Portland Canal may be used, or a new boat may be provided later. It is estimated that such a dam, including abutments and service bridge, will cost $200 per linear foot, making for 650 feet (a slight increase in present width of entrance) a total of $130,000. A fixed dam from the Indiana Chute to the Indiana shore will be, approximately, 600 feet long. This dam should be of concrete, with crest at 8 feet. Based on the cost of the existing concrete dam south of Middle Chute, this dam will cost $25 per foot; or, for 600 feet, $15,000. To recapitulate, the cost of raising the crest of all parts of the cross dam to 8 feet, in addition to the estimate for the present approved project, will be as follows: 500 feet Boulé dam across Middle Chute, at $75.. 650 feet Chanoine wicket dam, including abutments, service bridge, etc., at $200.. 600 feet of concrete dam north of Indiana Chute, at $25 per foot.. Contingencies, 20 per cent Total... $37,500 130,000 15,000 36, 500 219, 000 No map is thought to be necessary with this report, as the inclosure to Major Derby's report of September 22, 1903, shows the location. of the different sections of the cross dam. Attention is respectfully invited to that report and inclosure. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. BURGESS, First Lieut., Corps of Engineers. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, CENTRAL DIVISION, Cincinnati, Ohio, December 5, 1903. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. G. J. LYDECKER, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Central Division. H H 12. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AT SAND ISLAND, OHIO RIVER, KENTUCKY. [Printed in House Doc. No. 251, 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 report dated July 26, 1902, by Maj. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination authorized by the river and harbor act approved June 13, 1902 at "Sand Island, in the Ohio River, with a view to ascertaining the desirability of acquiring a sufficient portion thereof for the mooring of boats or barges and the making up of tows passing through the Louisville and Portland Canal." The emergency river and harbor act approved June 6, 1900, ordered a preliminary examination, with a view to ascertaining the desirability of acquiring Sand Island, and report thereon, dated June 20, 1900, is printed in House Document No. 68, Fifty-sixth Congress, second session, and in the Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1901, page 2817. In this report the officer in local charge at that time, Capt. George A. Zinn, Corps of Engineers, expressed the opinion, concurred in by the division engineer, Col. Henry M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, that it was not desirable to purchase the island, "as it bears no relation to any project of improvement now in force or contemplated." The probable cost of purchasing the island was then given as $25,000. The present examination has in view the acquisition of a portion of the island for the purpose quoted above. In the opinion of Major Ruffner, concurred in by the division engineer, Col. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, it is not necessary or desirable for the United States to acquire any portion of Sand Island in the interests of navigation or commerce. This report has been referred for consideration by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, as provided in sections 3 and 14 of said act, and attention is respectfully invited to the Board's report of April 28, 1903, in third indorsement thereon. The investigation of the Board included a visit to the locality by a committee and the holding of a public hearing for all parties interested. For the reasons given in its report the Board believes that it is not desirable for the United States further to consider the purchase of any or all of Sand Island until other methods of providing mooring facili ties by artificial means shall have been thoroughly investigated. I concur in the conclusions of the Board. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. L. GILLESPIE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. Hon. ELIHU ROOT, REPORT OF MAJ. E. H. RUFFNER, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Cincinnati, Ohio, July 26, 1902. GENERAL: Having been charged by circular letter with the preliminary examination, in accordance with the river and harbor act approved June 13, 1902, of the following locality Sand Island, in the Ohio River [Kentucky], with a view to ascertaining the desirability of acquiring a sufficient portion thereof for the mooring of boats or barges and the making up of tows passing through the Louisville and Portland Canal the following is submitted: This subject was fully reported upon by Capt. George A. Zinn, Corps of Engineers, in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1901, pages 2817-2819, Part 4. The only difference between that and this requirement is that this examination looks forward to the acquirement of "a sufficient portion," and the prior one to the purchase of the whole island. Of course the operation of all fleets through locks requires mooring ground, and of course navigation is facilitated by having no charges for the privilege of mooring, but otherwise the acquirement of Sand Island, or of any portion of it, has no relation to the plan of improvement of the river. I have only to say that I fully agree with the ideas so clearly expressed in Captain Zinn's report, which covers the ground perfectly, and in my opinion no further examination or survey is required. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. H. RUFFNER, Major of Engineers. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, CENTRAL DIVISION, Cincinnati, Ohio, August 2, 1902. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. I concur in the opinions implied and expressed within, that it is not necessary or desirable for the United States to acquire any portion of Sand Island in the interests of navigation or commerce, and that no further local examination or survey is now required. G. J. LYDECKER, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Central Division. [Second indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, August 13, 1902. Respectfully referred to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors constituted by Special Orders, No. 24, Headquarters, Corps of Engineers, current series, for consideration and recommendation, as required by section 3 of the act of June 13, 1902. By command of Brig. Gen. Gillespie: A. MACKENZIE, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. [Third indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, Washington, D. C., April 28, 1903. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army. The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors has considered the within report of the district officer on a preliminary examination of "Sand Island, in the Ohio River, with a view to ascertaining the desirability of acquiring a sufficient portion thereof for the mooring of boats or barges and the making up of tows passing through the Louisville and Portland Canal," the indorsement of the division engineer thereon, and other data at hand, including a report upon a preliminary examination made in 1900. On April 3, 1903, a committee of the Board inspected the situation at Sand Island, and conducted a public meeting of parties interested in the matter of its purchase. At this meeting the owners of the island were represented, but were unwilling to name a price at which they would sell to the United States, or to part with a portion of the property without selling the whole. It appeared to the Board that title could be secured only at an exorbitant cost, or rather condemnation proceedings. While the advantage of mooring facilities immediately below the Louisville and Portland Canal to expedite the passage of tows through the locks is apparent, yet it is not plain that the purchase of Sand Island is the best means whereby these facilities can be furnished; nor does the Board consider that the United States should expend any great sum to this end. It appears not impossible that adequate conveniences may be provided by means of mooring cribs or dolphins at a cost which shall be reasonable and less than that of acquiring part or all of Sand Island. For this reason the Board believes that it is not desirable for the United States further to consider the purchase of any or all of Sand Island in the Ohio River until the alternative method of providing mooring facilities by artificial means shall have been thoroughly investigated. For the Board: H. F. HODGES, HH 13. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF POND CREEK OR RIVER, KENTUCKY. Printed in House Doc. No. 174, Fifty-eighth Congress, second session.] WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, Washington, December 7, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith reports dated July 26, 1902, and September 13, 1902, by Maj. E. H. Ruffner, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination of Pond River, Kentucky, ordered by the river and harbor act of June 13, 1902. In the opinion of Major Ruffner, concurred in by the division engineer, Col. G. J. Lydecker, Corps of Engineers, Pond River is not worthy of improvement by the General Government, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, which has reviewed this report under the provisions of sections 3 and 14 of the above-mentioned act, |