b. Below Bee Tree Shoals, Alabama (225 miles).—This section of the river is generally navigable during the greater part of the year, though several obstructions render navigation difficult during the low-water

season.

No instrumental survey has been made of this section of the river, nor estimates and project submitted for its improvement, and it is very necessary that such a survey be made to obtain data whereon to base estimates and a project for the improvement of the Lower Tennessee. The work required to be done is channel excavation and construction of wing dams to widen, straighten, and deepen the channel at the principal obstructions.

The act of September 19, 1890, appropriated $25,000 for the preservation of Livingston Point, Kentucky, which, with two small islands, forms Paducah Harbor, at the mouth of the river. The plan of improvement adopted consisted in covering the wearing slopes of the banks with a revetment of stone and brush and the construction of a pile and stone dike along the crest of the weakest part of the point, where the Ohio cuts through at high stages of the river. Contract was made for building a part of the dike, including necessary shore protection, and work was begun in May, 1891.

The sum of $1,327.21, including outstanding indebtedness, had been expended in dike construction at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.

During the present fiscal year the work of dike construction and bank protection was continued under contract until September 23, 1891, when the contract was terminated. The dike on the Ohio side was built for a distance of 660 feet across the washout near the extremity of the point. The bank protection covers a length of 2,330 feet, the average width being 47 feet.

The amount expended during the fiscal year was $21,797.34.

Twenty-five thousand dollars has been allotted for work at Livingston Point from appropriation of July 13, 1892, for improving Tennessee River below Chattanooga, making an available amount for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, of $27,035.70. The amount (estimated) required for completing the existing project is $130,000.

The money statement is included in that for improvement of Tennessee River below Chattanooga, page 275.

(See Appendix B B 1.)

2. Hiawassee River, Tennessee. This stream rises in the Blue Ridge, in North Carolina and Georgia. It flows in a west-northwesterly direction, and enters the Tennessee River about 36 miles above Chattanooga. On examination made in 1874 the channel was found to be obstructed by rock reefs, gravel bars, snags, and overhanging trees.

The present project consists in narrowing the water way at the shoal places by building wing dams and excavating the reef and gravel bars and removing surface obstructions, so as to secure a channel 40 feet wide and 2 feet deep at ordinary low water from Savannah Ford to the mouth of the river, about 43 miles.

The amount expended to June 30, 1891, including outstanding indebtness, was $34,951.53, and has resulted in a partial improvement of the river, securing an increased depth in channel and the removal of sur face obstructions principally below Charleston.

Channel work was resumed during June, 1892, at Matthew Shoals; 65 overhanging trees were cut down, high water preventing work in channel.

The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $425.29.

Work on the dams will be begun as soon as practicable.

3. French Broad River, Tennessee.-This stream rises on the western slopes of the Blue Ridge, in North Carolina, and enters the State of Tennessee at Paint Rock, and after a course of 121 miles in that State joins the Holston about 5 miles above Knoxville, thus forming the Tennessee River.

By examinations made in 1871 and 1875 the river was found to be obstructed by rock reefs, sand and gravel bars, and surface obstructions, such as bowlders, snags, and overhanging trees. It was not deemed practicable to improve the river above Leadvale, but from this point to the mouth, a distance of about 90 miles, it is projected to remove all surface obstructions, and by excavation and the use of wing dams to secure for this distance a channel depth of 24 feet at ordinary low water. Above the mouth of Nolichucky River (Leadvale) to the boundary line of Tennessee and North Carolina a system of locks and dams is the only feasible improvement, but the amount of commerce does not warrant such an expenditure.

The amount expended to June 30, 1891, including outstanding indebtedness, was $41,301.11. This expenditure has resulted in the improvement of ten of the principal obstructions below Dandridge, by deepening and clearing the channel, constructing and modifying wing dams, and revetting the banks where necessary. At Seven Island Shoals the improvements have made upstream navigation possible at lower stages of the river. A general deepening of the channel from 6 to 10 inches has been obtained.

During the present fiscal year work was carried on at Bryant Shoals and Hanging Rock Shoals. At Bryant Shoals the old dam at foot of McCroskey Island was lengthened 50 feet, and two new dams built out from north bank, having a total length of 442 feet, to assist in reducing the gravel bars at foot of the island. A third dam, 306 feet long, was built across the chute south of the island, closing the chute and thus submerging and cutting a channel through the bar at the mouth of Pigeon River. At Hanging Rock Shoals the channel was changed from the north to the south side of Brabson Island without causing detention to boats. Eight dams were built, aggregating a length of 2,694 linear feet; a retaining dam, with two spur dams, at foot of Brabson Island; one dam, an extension of an existing fish-trap, and two new dams on south shore of island, and two dams from head of island to north bank, closing the old channel. The work has proved effective, but is not completed, additional dams being required. Operations were suspended early in November, the available funds being exhausted.

The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $8,129.70.

July 1, 1891, balance unexpended

June 30, 1892, amount expended during fiscal year..

July 1, 1892, balance unexpended

July 1, 1892, outstanding liabilities.

July 1, 1892, balance available

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892*

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893.....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B B 3.)

$8, 145.46 7,956. 07

189.39 173.63

15.76

15,000.00

15, 015. 76

88,000.00

4. Clinch River, Tennessee.-This stream rises in the Cumberland Mountains in Virginia, and after following a southwesterly course for about 400 miles, empties into the Tennessee River at Kingston, 104 miles above Chattanooga. About 230 miles of the river flows in the State of Tennessee.

An examination was made in 1875, when the channel obstructions were found to be rock reefs, sand and gravel bars, snags, and overhanging trees.

The present project provides for channel excavation, removing surface obstructions, and the construction of wing dams, so as to secure a safe navigable channel of 2 feet at average low water from mouth of river to Clinton, about 70 miles, and of 14 feet from Clinton to Haynes or Walkers Ferry, about 75 miles.

From Haynes to the Tennessee State line, 85 miles, the only work practicable is to remove the loose rock, and reduce the rock ledges, thus to assist flatboat navigation during "rain-tides."

The total amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, was $31,964.09, and has resulted in securing a reduction of the rock reefs, the removal of snags, drift, etc., brought down by the annual floods, and the construction of several heavy riprap dams above and below Haynes; a safe channel was secured at stages of the water from 2 to 3 feet lower than before the improvements were begun. Special advantages have been gained at Cloud Shoals, Hibb Shoals, Black Shoals, and Bletcher Shoals. Above Haynes, improvements were made at Hunter Shoals, Sycamore Shoals, and Hopson Shoals.

The amount expended during the present fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $3,472.99, which was used principally at Llewellyn Shoals and Youngs Island, in channel excavation and construction of riprap dams. Llewellyn Shoals are now reported as navigable at a stage of water 1 foot or 14 feet lower than before operations were begun in July of the present fiscal year.

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893..

4,037.71

*One thousand dollars of this appropriation is to be used in removing bar in Little Pigeon River.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... $11, 000. 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

(See Appendix B B 4.)

5. Cumberland River, Tennessee and Kentucky.-a. Below Nashville (191 miles).—An examination was made of this section in 1871, upon which the original project of improvement was based. The project was modified in 1888 by the recommendation of a Board of Engineers to improve navigation at the mouth of the river by the construction of a pile and stone dike, for which Congress made provision in river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. A survey was made of the Cumberland River below Nashville in 1889 "to ascertain if necessary to establish locks and dams."

In 1871 the obstructions were found to be of the same general character throughout, consisting of rock reefs, sand and gravel bars, bowlders, snags, and overhanging trees, and other surface obstructions. The project comprises the deepening of the channel by excavation and the use of wing dams; the removing of snags and surface obstructions, and the modifying of the channel at the mouth of the Cumberland, from Smithland to the deep waters of the Ohio, by the construction of a pile dike with crib superstructure.

The total amount expended to June 30, 1891, including outstanding indebtedness, was $267,257.10, and this expenditure has resulted in obtaining an increased depth at low water at some of the worst obstructions, and thereby securing a lengthened season of navigation, and from year to year the channel was cleared of snags and other surface obstructions.

During the present fiscal year, from July until December, the snagboat Weitzel was employed in clearing the river below Nashville, removing a large number of snags, sunken logs, and overhanging trees, and also two old sunken hulls, reducing rock points, sand and gravel bars in channel, and placing buoys on dams to mark their location at high-water stages.

From August to December the work of dike construction was continued under contract at mouth of the river; 1,081 piles were driven, and 10,045.45 cubic yards of stone, and 1,636.89 cords of brush, were placed in dike and as shore protection.

The amount expended during the fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $21,435.69, as follows: For "general improvement," $7,413.80, and for "at mouth of river," $14,021.89.

July 1, 1892, amount covered by uncompleted eontracts..

5, 370.91

5, 527.77

July 1, 1892, balance available

Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892

11, 934. 39 40,000.00

Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1893................

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867.

51,934.39

153, 000, 00

b. Above Nashville.-From Nashville to head of Smith Shoals (337 miles).—The present project is based on an instrumental survey of this

section made in 1883, and provides for the complete canalization of the river from Nashville to head of Smith Shoals, by the construction of 23 locks and dams below Burnside, and 7 locks and 2 dams at Smith Shoals, at an estimated cost of $7,500,000; of this amount $775,000 has been appropriated and the amount expended to June 30, 1891, including outstanding indebtedness, was as follows: For channel work $12,212.52, for canal work $64,927.93; total, $77,140.45, which sum was applied to purchases of sites of locks, dams, and lock-keepers' houses at Locks Nos. 1 and 2; construction of lock-keeper's house, building coffer dam and excavating pit of Lock 1, and payments on stone for masonry of lock and abutment, and contingencies pertaining to entire work under contract; and to rebuilding and refitting snag-boat Weitzel, clearing the channel of snags, reducing rock and gravel bars, and extending and repairing riprap dams to maintain the improvements already secured.

During the present fiscal year the channel was cleared of snags, etc., below the mouth of Caney Fork River by the snag boat Weitzel and the snagging party moving down the Cumberland River having completed the season's operations on the Caney Fork River; the cost of this work, $1,547.56, was paid for from the appropriation of August 2, 1882, for improving Cumberland River above mouth of the Jellico, Kentucky, and made available for this purpose by act of September 19, 1890. At the close of the year a steam-derrick boat and quarter boat were fitted up for snagging and repairing dams of the upper Cumberland; work was begun at Orchard Landing, 250 miles above Nashville on June 18, and on June 30 reached Neely Shoals, having worked over a reach of 24 miles of river. Operations in channel will be continued down stream. Examinations were made in June of the obstructions at Salt Lick Island, Holliman Island, and Bartlett Shoals, the channel being badly obstructed at those points.

Four contracts were in force during the fiscal year, and operations were continued upon Locks Nos. 1 and 2 and abutment of Dam 1 during the first half of the year, and the following work was done at Lock 1: One thousand four hundred and twenty-seven cubic yards of earth and 2,030 cubic yards of rock were excavated, and 4,447 cubic yards of masonry laid; at abutment, Dam 1, 5,093 cubic yards of earth and 10 cubic yards of rock excavated and 407 cubic yards of masonry laid; at Lock 2, 11,949 cubic yards of earth and 616 cubic yards of rock excavated. Continued high water caused a total suspension of operations from December until the middle of June, when the work of excavation was renewed at abutment of Dam 1.

The total amount expended during the present fiscal year, including outstanding indebtedness, was $66,357.86.

Actual operations having established the fact that solid rock can not be found for the foundation of Lock No. 2 at anything like the depths specified in the contract, and that the character of the site at the depths so specified is altogether too insecure for the masonry of the lock, the contract of February 24, 1891, with Messrs. Rich and Holmes, for building Lock No. 2, will be terminated, in accordance with its provisions for such termination. At the close of the fiscal year this matter was in process of adjustment.

The intent of the proposed system of locks and dams being to reach the coal fields and to develop the coal trade of the Upper Cumberland, and to provide a safe and uninterrupted channel for the same, the engineer officer in charge recommended that operations be begun at Smith Shoals, in accordance with the legislation of the act of Congress of September 19, 1890, appropriating money for work at that obstruction,