Abstract of proposals for hull for dredge, received in response to the attached advertisement dated July 7, 1887, and opened August 9, 1887, in the absence of Maj. Amos Stickney, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., by B. H. Cooper, clerk. Name: Mat. Cox. Date: September 12, 1887. Purpose and consideration: That the said Mat. Cox shall furnish one-half of the necessary labor and material, a separate contract being signed for the other half, and shall construct, and deliver at Mount Carmel, Ill., complete, a wooden hull for a dredge-boat. That the said Maj. Amos Stickney shall pay for the said wooden hull the sum of $1,990; one-half of said amount being paid under this contract, and the other half under the aforesaid separate contract. Report of MR. O. L. PETITDIDIER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. MOUNT CARMEL, Ill., July 2, 1888. MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report on improvement of White River, Indiana, during the fiscal year 1887-'88. No appropriation was made for the improvement of this river during the year 1887. The work done during the fiscal year 1887-'88 has consisted in continuing improvement at Kelly's Ripple, by removing, by means of a dredge, rock already blasted out in the chute, it being the aim to widen this chute until a clear width of 75 feet at low water is obtained. Unfortunately, when the dredge, which was in use at the lock-site at Grand Rapids on Wabash River, became available, the stage of water was such that the dredge could not be taken to Kelly's Ripple, so that no dredging was done during the first half of the tiscal year. In the mean time, the hull of dredge, which was nearly ten years old, had become so rotten and leaky that it became doubtful whether it could be kept afloat through the winter. A contract for a new hull for dredge was therefore entered into in August, 1887. The contract price for furnishing and delivering a new hull being, $1,990, one-half was charged to the Wabash River, as the dredge is used equally by both rivers. The hull was completed in December 1887, and delivered on February 6, 1833. The work of transferring machinery to the new hull was commenced on April 1, 1888, and continued until May 4, when the dredge was taken up to Kelly's Ripple. Work was resumed on May 7 on the cut which had been begun in the fall of 1836. this cut being nearly completed on June 20, when the dredge was started on its last cut, increasing the clear width of chute from 65 to 75 feet. On June 30 the last cut had been completed for a distance of 325 feet from the lower end of chute. The work done at Kelly's Ripple during the last fiscal year is as follows: Linear feet of cut dredged (about 12 feet wide)... Cubic yards removed.. Number of days worked with dredge Average daily progress: Linear feet.. Cubic yards.... 1,460 5,190 45 30.42 108.12 CONDITION OF THE RIVER. The river is not in as favorable a condition as desired, for, although the requisite depth of 34 feet, adopted in project of improvement, has been more than attained at Kelly's Ripple, which was formerly an impassable obstruction at low water, yet at low water there are many sand-bars where the channel depth will not exceed 2 feet, while numerous snags in the bends are a constant source of danger. I append the commercial statistics of the river from Hazleton to its mouth. It will be seen that the amount of navigation and commerce has become unimportant during the year. This is due to several causes, one of which is the continuous unprecedented low water of 1887; another the poor crops of last fall, so that the quantities of freight waiting for shipment were very materially reduced. The bad location of draw of railroad bridge, 2 miles above Hazleton, has also an influence in keeping out of the river the larger steam-boats. But, in my judgment, the depth of 34 feet, which the present project contemplates, even if it could be obtained without continuous works of improvement, is insufficient to allow steam-boats to compete efficiently with the railroads, and it is only after a greater depth of water, say 6 feet, has been obtained by means of locks and dams, that the river navigation can once more take its legitimate place. During the present year it is proposed to complete the improvement at Kelly's Ripple. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. AMOS STICKNEY, O. L. PETITDIDIER, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. Amount of freight carried on the White River during the fiscal year 1887-'88. Designation of freight. Unit of quan- Quantities. Logs towed by steam-boats Corn and wheat.... Logs handled by saw-mills, which have been handled by the water route from Hazleton Bridge to mouth of White River. List of steam-boats plying on, or which have made various trips on, White River, during the fiscal year 1887-'88. The project for the improvement of this river contemplates the formation of a clear channel at least 40 feet in width, with a minimum depth of 2 feet during eight months of the year, for a distance of 41 miles. Owing to the very small amount of funds available, about $550, very little work was done during the year, and that consisted of the removal of a number of obstructions, snags, tree-tops, etc., from the first 19 miles of the river. The river is in good condition to the Fish Trap Ford, a distance of about 24 miles from the mouth, though a few snags are yet to be removed. Money statement. July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1887, amount available liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887 July 1, 1888, outstanding liabilities.. $549.66 $160.12 18.00 178.12 Commercial statistics of Tradewater River, Kentucky, for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. APPENDIX D D. IMPROVEMENT OF GREAT KANAWHA AND ELK RIVERS, AND OF CONSTRUCTION OF HARBOR OF REFUGE AT MOUTH OF GREAT KANAWHA RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA-IMPROVEMENT OF NEW RIVER, IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA. REPORT OF COLONEL WILLIAM P. CRAIGHILL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, For the FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Great Kanawha River, West Virginia. | 3. Harbor of refuge at mouth of Great 2. Operating and care of locks and dams Kanawha River, West Virginia. on the Great Kanawha River, West 4. Elk River, West Virginia. Virginia. 5. New River, Virginia and West Virginia. EXAMINATIONS. 6. Gauley River, West Virginia; Meadow River, West Virginia. (For letter of transmittal, see Appendix I.) DD 1. IMPROVEMENT OF GREAT KANAWHA RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA. The object of the improvement has been to give a depth of not less than 6 feet all the year round throughout the whole river, 96 miles. The means are locks and dams. The locks are about 300 by 50 feet. The following table shows the present condition: One more site may be occupied above and several more below. Some dredging is also required in the pools, as well as the removal of snag, and rocks. Dam 2 was completed in 1887. The site of No. 7 has been owned by the United States for several years, but no work could be done upon it because of the failure of the appropriation bill of 1887. Mr. A. M. Scott has continued to exercise the local charge in his usual efficient manner. His report, which is appended, treats in detail of the operations of the year. As the improvement of the river has progressed the commerce on it, notably the shipment of coal, has greatly increased. The telephone line has been maintained between the central office in Charleston and the locks, and is used by night as well as by day, being found indispensable for the proper oversight and direction of operations as well of construction as of maintenance. A gauge reader has been kept at Kanawha Falls, near which place the Gauley joins the New to form the Great Kanawha River; and another at Hinton, where the Greenbrier empties into the New River. The compensation of these men is less than $10 a month each. They send to the central office daily reports by postal-card of the stage of the river at their respective stations, and by telegraph when there is a rapid rise. These reports are necessary as warnings to the central of fice in Charleston in order that such maneuvers of dams, etc., may be had in time as the height and duration of the freshets may require. For perfect security a similar station should be occupied at some point on the Upper Gauley, and perhaps also on the Elk. July 1, 1887, amount available Money statement. July 1, 1888, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1887..... July 1, 1888, balance available..... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889...... $102, 327.81 96, 432. 19 5,895.62 350,000.00 355, 895.62 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... 1,320,000.00 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 acts of 1866 and 1867. 500,000,00 Abstract of proposals for iron-work for Lock No. 2, opened at United States Engineer's office, Charleston, W. Va., at 4 p. m., July 1, 1887. |