List of vessels crossing bar at entrance of Coquille River, Oregon, during year ending December 31, 1903.

IMPROVEMENT OF ENTRANCE TO COOS BAY AND HARBOR, OREGON.

For information concerning the approved project for the improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor, Oregon, attention is invited to the summary of this report.

OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1904.

No active operations were carried on during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, except to make repairs to buildings, plant, etc., and in making resurvey of the harbor lines and planting about 30 acres of the lower portion of the north spit with Holland grass roots (Arundo arenaria).

The buildings belonging to the work at the north spit, consisting of office, quarters, storehouse, mess house, etc., have never been repaired since they were first erected in 1891. They were therefore in a bad condition, and to have them available for future operations authority was obtained and the necessary repairs made. The plant was also gone over, and such repairs as were necessitated by the long storage were made and some of the equipment was thoroughly overhauled for use in dredging at Pony shoal, under allotment from the emergency act. The planting of the Holland grass roots was continued during the months of March and April, and an area of about 30 acres was covered with plants taken from the previously planted area.

The resurvey of the harbor line was authorized under date of September 6, 1902, and a careful triangulation of the area covered has been made and checked. The field work was commenced in March and completed in May, and on account of dredging operations under the emergency act the map has not yet been completed. It is expected that all of the data pertaining to the survey will be completed and report made some time in July.

There has been very little change in the condition of the jetty on account of the action of the sea during the winter storms. The enrockment has been beaten down to about high tide for about 48 feet of its outer length, and in several short sections the rock has been beaten down or washed off the crest of the jetty to below low-water depth and to the level of the sands on the north side of the structure. There are no apparent changes in the shore lines about the root of the jetty. A depth of at least 17 feet on the crest of the bar has been carried throughout the year, and it is thought that there will be no further decrease for some time to come.

There still remains a balance of $50,945.38 from the appropriation of June 13, 1902, and it is proposed to make no further extension of the jetty until further funds are appropriated and the condition of the channel requires the expenditure. The old tramway and tracks are fast going to decay and they will be practically useless for further operations. This will entail an additional expense when work is resumed, and while at present no necessity exists for this resumption, no less than $100,000 should be available should completion of present project be taken up.

The construction of a small survey steamer for use on the coast harbors was authorized, and a contract has been made, under date of June 24, 1904, with the Willamette Iron and Steel Works, of Portland, Oreg., for its construction and equipment, at a cost of $24,490. The expense of building this boat is to be borne in equitable proportion by the different coast works.

The work of resurveying the harbor lines has been in charge of Morton L. Tower, junior engineer.

Money statement.

July 1, 1903, balance unexpended......

Deposited, account proceeds Government property.

June 30, 1904, amount expended during fiscal year, for maintenance of improvement.

$56, 579.93 263.48

56, 843. 41

5, 898. 03

July 1, 1904, balance unexpended..

July 1, 1904, outstanding liabilities

July 1, 1904, balance available...

50, 945. 38 337.72

50, 607.66

July 1, 1904, amount covered by uncompleted contracts..........

15,000.00

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,741, 412. 20

Formal.-Name of contractor: Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oreg. Date of contract: June 24, 1904.

Character of work: Constructing and delivering vessel.

Amount of work: One vessel.

Price: $24,490.

Approval: Notification of approval not yet received.

Dates of beginning and expiration: Vessel to be completed within one hundred and fifty days from date of notification of approval. (In force June 30, 1904.)

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

The following commerce was carried by vessels across the bar at the entrance to the bay during the calendar year 1903:

List of vessels crossing the bar at entrance to Coos Bay, Oregon, during the year ending December 31, 1903.

IMPROVEMENT OF COOS BAY, OREGON (DREDGING).

The first appropriation for dredging in Coos Bay, in addition to the improvement at the mouth of the river, was made by the act of

August 18, 1894, of $13,000, and a further sum of $14,390 was appropriated by the act of June 3, 1896.

The status of this improvement, with further details, is given in the summary of this report.

OPERATIONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 1904.

As reported in the annual report on improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor, Oregon, for the fiscal year 1903, a shoal had formed at the mouth of Pony Slough in Coos Bay, and vessels drawing 9 feet were obliged to lighter their cargoes over the shoal.

On recommendation, an allotment of $10,000 was made on August 5, 1903, from the emergency act of June 6, 1900, which was expended, and the results accomplished not being sufficient for the needs of navigation, a further allotment of $3,500 was made on May 17, 1904, for continuation of the work of dredging.

At the time of the first allotment (August 5, 1903), there was no available plant for doing the work and it was thought advisable to do it by contract. Proposals were accordingly issued on September 22, 1903, but the locality of the work being isolated from points where dredging plants were available, and the season being such that dredges could not well be towed to Coos Bay, no bids were received for doing

the work.

The plant previously used in connection with the improvement at the mouth of the river was overhauled, a new hull built, and some old machinery installed thereon for use in dredging. Two old scows were converted into dump scows and the actual work of dredging commenced on January 25. During the progress of the work continued stormy weather prevailed, which made operations very uncertain and expensive, and the results were not as satisfactory as they would have been under more favorable circumstances.

Operations were suspended on April 3, approximately 6,490 cubic yards of mostly pure ocean sand having been removed, and the depth over the shoal increased from about 9 to 11 feet at mean lower low water over a stretch of channel of about 100 feet.

The resulting depth not being sufficient for the needs of navigation, the dredge was again put into commission immediately on notification that additional funds were available. Dredging was again resumed in the early part of June and at the close of the month 3,720 cubic yards were removed from a stretch of 650 feet in length, making a channel 60 feet wide. A total of 10,210 cubic yards have been removed since commencement of operations in April.

A recent examination of the channel shows that the cut has maintained its depth since beginning work and it is thought that the balance remaining from the allotment of $3,500 will secure sufficient depth temporarly for all needs of navigation. To maintain the required depth of channel from the entrance of this bay to Marshfield, the head of deep-sea navigation, will no doubt require dredging from time to time, necessitating further expenditures. The maintenance of this channel, it is believed, should be made a part of the improvement of Coos Bay and Harbor (general improvement) and no amount is therefore named in the money statement to be appropriated.

This work has been in charge of Mr. Morton L. Tower, junior engineer.