this subject as I could get is contained in the accompanying letters from Hon. C. H. Grosvenor and from Captain Huntingtou. espectfully submitted. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. WM. E. MERRILL, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT LANSING H. BEACH, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. ZANESVILLE, OHIO, November 22, 1887. SIR: I have to submit the following report of work necessary to render the Big Hock hocking River navigable from its mouth to Coolville, a distance of 5 miles, including an estimate of the amount of money necessary to complete the same. To render this portion of the river safely navigable, a number of trees which are overhanging must be cut down, some snags and rocks must be removed from the channel, and a bar below the dam at the upper end of the proposed improvement will have to be dredged away. The items of work and their cost may be named and estimated as follows: It is believed that the proper expenditure of this sum will be sufficient to secure all that is desired of the proposed improvement, which is to enable the regular Ohio River boats to turn into the Big Hockhocking and run up to Coolville, when the former river is at a sufficiently high stage to allow them to make their regular trips. But few boats have attempted this in the past few years, owing to the danger to their upper works from overhanging trees and projecting limbs, which danger is aggravated by the narrowness of the river, it being but 100 feet to 200 feet in width. The snags and rocks are comparatively few, and can all be removed without trouble during low water. The principal expense of the contemplated improvement will be in digging away a small bar in the river about 1,200 feet below the dam at Coolville, but, as far as can be ascertained, this bar is composed of fine material, and its removal will not be attended with difficulty, although the price per yard has been estimated at 40 cents to cover the cost of disposing of the soil. The bar to be removed is about 800 feet long, 100 feet wide, and requires a cut of about 3 feet in depth. No estimate is made for tools or plant for use in removing the trees and rocks, as the prices allowed for doing the labor are considered sufficiently high to cover their cost. SIR: Your letter of November 5 is received. The preliminary examination of Big Hockhocking involves an examination of so much of the river as lies from Hockingport up to Coolville, a distance of 5 miles. The supposition is that by a small expenditure of money the overhanging trees may be removed, logs taken out, a small amount of dredging done, and it may be the removal of one rock called, as I recollect it," The Old White Horse," lying about half way from Coolville to Hockingport. It is believed that with this amount of expenditure by the Government the small packets plying between Parkersburgh, Pomroy, and Gallipolis may, during a good portion of the season, turn up Hocking that short distance and carry away products from a large flouring mill, now destroyed, but being rapidly rebuilt. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, LANSING H. BEACH, Lieutenant of Engineers. C. H. GROSVENOR. LETTER OF IRA B. HUNTINGTON. HOCKINGPORT, OHIO, October 31, 1887. SIR: Yours received some time ago in regard to slackwater navigation of the Hocking River. At the present time there is shipped from Coolville, 5 miles up, 100 barrels flour per day, 200 to 300 bushels feed, and, I think, 75,000 to 100,000 bushels wheat, and about the same of corn would come out of the river yearly. General merchandise, $50,000 per year in Coolville. As to the amount of coal that would come out I can not make any estimate, but a vast amount. Colonel, the general commerce of the Hocking Valley is immense, and would be increased to a large extent if we had the facility of water transportation. Fruit, wool, etc., is raised up the river in large quantities, also lumber, tan bark, etc. Col. C. H. Grosvenor, our Congressman, can give you an idea of what the commerce is. Our country is all in hopes the matter will be pushed forward, and the work will be commenced. I was away from home when your letter came. Hoping to hear from you again, I am yours, etc., Col. W. E. MERRILL, IRA B. HUNTINGTON. APPENDIX C C. IMPROVEMENT OF THE FALLS OF THE OHIO AND OPERATING AND CARE OF THE LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL-IMPROVEMENT OF WABASH RIVER, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS, AND OF TRADEWATER RIVER, KENTUCKY. REPORT OF MAJOR AMOS STICKNEY, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky. 2. Indiana Chute, Falls of the Ohio River. 3. Operating and care of the Louisville and Portland Canal. 4. Wabash River, Indiana and Illinois. 5. White River, Indiana. 6. Improvement of Tradewater River, Kentucky. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith the annual reports on the works under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. I was assisted by First Lieut. E. J. Spencer, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, until August 19, 1887, and by Second Lieut. William L. Sibert, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, until April 17, 1888. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. AMOS STICKNEY, СС 1. IMPROVEMENT OF THE FALLS OF THE OHIO RIVER AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. ENLARGEMENT OF UPPER PORTION OF LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. This work has been carried on during the year under three contracts; two for excavation and one for building wall. None of the work has progressed as rapidly as it should, and the time of all of the contracts has been extended. It is hoped that all of the work under contract will be completed by the 31st of December of this year. The report of Mr. G. W. Shaw, assistant engineer, is appended and exhibits the amount of work done. It is proposed to modify some of the details of the present plan of this work, without increasing the original estimated cost. The modification consists in lengthening the dam extending from the new canal wall north and east, and making a part of it of masonry with a number of large openings with bear traps and the remainder of concrete, instead of crib work, to be as shown on plan submitted to the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, June 30, 1888. The object of this modification is to provide means of keeping the harbor clear of mud, and to properly connect this work with the proposed work for improvement of the Indiana chute. It is also proposed to slightly modify the shape of the enlargement of the canal below the bridge to make an easier passage for boats. ENLARGING BASIN OF CANAL. This work, commenced in January, 1887, by the contractors, Gleason & Gosnell, has progressed slowly during the year, it being found necessary to make two extensions of the time for completing the work, which is now August 31, 1888. The shops and other buildings which had to be moved to make room for the enlargement of basin have all, with one exception, been placed in their new positions, and all of the shop buildings raised to conform to the new grade of the canal grounds and put in working order. The swinging bridge over the old locks was moved so as to place the pivot on the north side and give room for the slopes near the dry-dock. The report of Mr. J. P. Claybrook, assistant superintendent, is appended. The commercial statistics will be found in the report of the operations of the Louisville and Portland canal. Money statement. liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887 July 1, 1887, amount available.. July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1888, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1888, amount covered by existing contracts. July 1, 1888, balance available... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, including enlargement of canal basin... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1890 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor act or 1866 and 1867. 18,447, 05 150,000.00 168,447.05 855, 363.00 370, 000, 00 REPORT OF MR. GRANVILLE W. SHAW, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations on improv ing the falls of the Ohio River at Louisville, Ky., for the fiscal year ending June 30, The present project is the enlargement of the upper end of the Louisville and Portland Canal, which is being executed in accordance with the plans recommended by Lieut. Col. William E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, in his annual report for 1883, with some modifications suggested in his report for 1885. The work consists in the removal of earth, loose rock, solid rock, and an old stone wall and the construction of a new canal wall along the northern limit of the proposed enlargement. It has been carried on under four contracts, viz: With George W. Lewis, for excavation and removal of old river wall on the lower section; with John Molloy, for excavation and removal of old river wall on the middle section; with Gleason & Gosnell, for solid-rock excavation on the upper section, and with the Salem Stone and Lime Company for constructing the new canal wall. The contracts with Lewis and Molloy were executed July 1, 1885, the work to be completed by December 31, 1886. The lower section, George W. Lewis contractor, was finished to grade November 24, 1886. Two supplemental contracts have been executed with John Molloy, by which the date for completion has been extended to December 31, 1887, and December 31, 1888, respectively. The original contract with Gleason & Gosnell for the upper section was executed August 4, 1885, with the provision that the work was to be completed December 31, 1886. The time for completion has been twice extended, and is now December 31, 1888. The contract with the Salem Stone and Lime Company for the construction of the new canal wall was executed January 15, 1887. The time for completing the work has been extended from December 31, 1887, to October 31, 1888. Work on the middle section, John Molloy contractor, was begun on the 20th of May, 1887, and continued until the 19th December following. The earth and looserock excavation and removal of old river wall have been completed, except so much of the earth as the contractor has used for a dam around the upper end of his work. About 77 per cent. of the solid-rock excavation had been completed on June 30, 1888. On the upper section Gleason & Gosnell contractors, work was begun July 1, 1887, and continued until the 1st of December. There were no interruptions by high water and the season was a remarkably favorable one for the work. About 32 per cent. of the rock excavation has been completed to grade. The Salem Stone and Lime Company, contractors for the new canal wall, closed work for the season, by reason of severe weather and danger of high water, on the last day of November, 1887. The foundation courses for the entire wall have been laid and about one-half of the wall completed. The approximate quantities to be removed on the upper, middle, and lower sections and the amount of masonry in the new canal wall, were estimated as follows: The following quantities of excavation had been removed from the upper, middle, and lower sections, and masonry laid in new canal wall, on June 30, 1888: |