Hydraulic mining.-Under the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 5, 1886, directing that certain unexpended money for this improvement shall not be used until the Secretary of War is satisfied that hydraulic mining hurtful to navigation has ceased on these rivers. and their tributaries, steps have been taken looking to the institution of legal proceedings for the suppression of such mining where found to exist. July 1, 1886, amount available July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. $189, 392.76 $65,059, 24 65, 191. 79 124,200.97 July 1, 1887, amount available .... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1889 40,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix S S 3.) 4. Petaluma Creek, California.-The project adopted in 1880 had for its objects to straighten the estuary by cut-offs, and secure, by dredging for about 8,000 feet below Petaluma, a channel with 3 feet at low water and 50 feet wide. The channel before improvement was bare at low water and very crooked. Work was stopped in May, 1884, the original project having been carried out with the expenditure of $27,656.91, leaving a balance available of $2,343.09. Since that date, nothing having been done, the dredged channel has so filled that it is again nearly bare at low water. The benefits of the cut-offs still remain. It is proposed, with sums available and asked for, to restore the channel to its condition in May, 1884, and as the necessity for dredging will continually recur no estimate of cost of completion is submitted. July 1, 1886, amount available.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix S S 4.) $2,343.09 2,343. 09 2,000.00 5. Humboldt Harbor and Bay, California.-The project for the improvement of the bay was adopted in 1881, and had for its object to secure, by dredging, a channel 13 feet deep at low water and 200 feet wide, to the upper end of Eureka Wharves, with channels 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep at low water to Arcata and Hookton. This was amended in 1882 by the addition of a training-wall to level of low water, extending from the South Spit in a northwesterly direction. Originally the bay channels had minimum depths of 7 feet to Eureka and 6 feet to Arcata and Hookton. The channel across the bar varied widely in position, and in depths from 8 to 16 feet at low water. The amount expended to June 30, 1886, was $80,136.36, in dredging and in examinations bearing on proposed improvements of bar channel. In June, 1884, the dredging had resulted in securing the desired depths in the bay channels; but for want of recent surveys their present condition is not precisely known. The channel to Arcata is reported as maintained, but along the front of Eureka Wharves and across the shoal below, it has reverted to its original condition, or deteriorated. The act of August 5, 1886, provided that no money should be expended until the United States had received, free of expense, a title to the land desired on the South Spit. Arrangements have been made by which the owners of the land above high water desired on the South Spit will convey the same to the United States free of expense. The title to the tide lands, which is also necessary, was attempted to be conveyed to the Government at the last session of the State legislature, but the act, and the patent under it, were both erroneous in not following literally the description by metes and bounds as furnished, and it is thought effects no conveyance whatever. The sums available and asked for are to be expended in establishment of buildings and wharves, accumulation of plant and material, and commencement of training-wall. July 1, 1886, amount available... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.... July 1, 1887, amount available...... $62, 363.64 75,000.00 137, 363. 64 748.33 136, 615. 31 537,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix S S 5.) 6. Colorado River, Nevada, California, and Arizona.-No work has been done upon this river during the fiscal year for want of funds; the public property belonging to the work was sold at auction and the proceeds turned into the Treasury. No appropriation is asked for the next fiscal year. (See Appendix S S 6.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENT, TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 5, 1886. The required preliminary examinations of the following localities were made by the local engineer in charge, Captain Payson, and reported by him as not worthy of improvement: 1. Mouth of Smith's River, California.-(See Appendix S S 7.) 2. Crescent City Harbor, California, with a view to a sea-wall from Battery Point to Flat Rock.-(See Appendix S S 8.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER, OREGON AND WASHINGTON TERRITORY; OF THE ENTRANCES то COOS AND YAQUINA BAYS; OF MOUTH OF COQUILLE RIVER, AND OF UMPQUA RIVER, OREGON; AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS EMPTYING INTO PUGET SOUND AND GRAY'S HARBOR, WASHINGTON TERRITORY-CONSTRUCTION OF CASCADES CANAL, COLUMBIA RIVER— WATER-GAUGES ON COLUMBIA RIVER. Officer in charge, Capt. Charles F. Powell, Corps of Engineers, with Capt. Willard Young and Lieut. Edward Burr, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders. Supervising engineer, Col. G. H. Mendell, Corps of Engineers. 1. Mouth of the Coquille River, Oregon.-The project is to build a halftide jetty or deflecting dike about 3,400 feet long, from the left bank, inside of the old mouth, for affording a channel to the sea through the former north cape, and 10 feet deep at mean low water. The mean raise of tide above the reference plane is 4 feet. The natural channel was long, shoal, and rendered extremely dangerous by numerous rocks. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1887, is $41,386.88, including outstanding liabilities, and has resulted in the construction of a jetty 1,626 feet long. The jetty channel was opened five years ago, and has since held with little variation in position and depth; it is short, direct, free from dangerous rocks, and 6 feet deep at low tide, or about double the former depth. Jetty extension is in progress. The amount asked for is to complete the jetty to the projected length, and to make it permanent by heavy ballast and riprap. July 1, 1886, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 $197.87 20,000.00 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 20, 197.87 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities... $10, 119.94 13, 517.47 6, 680.40 July 1, 1887, amount available 114,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix T T 1.) 2. Entrance to Coos Bay, Oregon.-The project adopted in 1879, and subsequently extended, is to build a half-tide jetty or deflecting dike, about 2,400 feet long from near Fossil Point, inside of the entrance, towards Coos Head, exterior to the entrance, for affording a direct channel of 14 feet depth at mean low water, and one less exposed to heavy seas and of easier access under storm winds than the ordinary natural channel. The mean rise of tide above the plane of reference is 5.6 feet. The natural channel sometimes carried not more than 7 to 8 feet low-water depth. The amount expended to June 30, 1887, is $132,220.58, including outstanding liabilities. It has resulted in the construction of 1,825 feet of incomplete jetty, partly in deep water, affording for the last four and a half years a straighter and more stable channel than formerly existed, and during the last twenty-one months a deeper channel and one better protected from the heaviest seas. Quarry operations were conducted last year in order to have a supply of stone in readiness. It is expected this year to lay a foundation course of stone, by contract, in advance of the jetty and for two-thirds its intended length. The appropriation asked is to follow the advanced course by a low dump from land and to raise the present part to low tide. July 1, 1886, amount available............... $538.25 Amount received by transfer of property to other improvements 583.50 33,750,00 34, 871.75 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $3,842. 44 3,961.33 30, 910. 42 July 1, 1887, amount available..... 436, 250.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................... (See Appendix T T 2.) NOTE. No bids having been received in response to advertisements for continuing the work at this place, the amount to be expended being too small to induce parties to enter into contract, and it not being deemed judicious to undertake the work with hired labor for the same reason, a recommendation of this office that the funds available be held to await further action of Congress was approved by the War Department October 12, 1887. 3. Umpqua River, Oregon.-The project for this work is to apply the balance of the appropriation of the act of March 3, 1871, in rock removal at five reefs near and below Scottsburgh for a low-water channel 3 feet deep by 50 feet wide, for aiding small screw-vessel navigation from Scottsburgh down-stream. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1887, is $4,834.65, exclusive of outstanding liabilities, and has resulted in increasing the controlling depth through the reefs from 1 foot, which formerly existed, to 2 feet. The amount asked for is to complete the project. July 1, 1866, amount available... Amount received by transfer of property to other improvements. $720.53 162.80 883.33 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886 $869.29 July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities.. 43.66 912.95 2,000.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... (See Appendix TT 3.) 2,000.00 4. Entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon.-The project is to build a hightide brush and stone jetty about 4,000 feet long, on the south side of the entrance, with shore protection, to close a rock obstructed channel, for the purpose of providing a central free channel not less than 12 feet deep at mean low water. The mean rise of tide above the plane of reference, 7.1 feet. Of three natural channels of a best depth of 7 to 10 feet, which existed at different times, two of them are obstructed by dangerous rocks. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1887, including outstanding liabilities, is $192,626.53, and has resulted in the construction of 2,517 feet of jetty and 450 feet of shore protection. The channel is now less shifting and generally deeper, and is deflected permanently from the south rocks, through which the deeper water sometimes ran. A low-water controlling depth of 13 feet was found in early July, 1887, but this was at the season for favorable depths. Last year the entrance was surveyed, a series of current measurements at and off the entrance taken, the tidal volume of the bay measured, and extended borings made at the bar to better determine the elevation of its hard bottom. Better facilities for jetty work were made and contracts entered into for stone and other material. The raising and extension of the jetty are in progress. July 1, 1886, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886... July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of July 1, 1887, amount available.... $1,637.73 75,000.00 76, 637.73 $29,778.30 4,382.59 34, 160.89 42, 476.84 308,970.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project (See Appendix T T 4.) 5. Mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon and Washington Territory.— The project of this improvement, adopted in 1884, is to afford a channel 30 feet deep at mean low tide by a low-tide jetty, about 4 miles long and of a partly tentative character, from near Fort Stevens, on the south cape, to a point about 3 miles south of Cape Disappointment. The natural channel is generally divided; the bar channels are changeable in location and depth. Of late years the main bar channel has carried from 19 to 20 feet at low water, with insufficient width; 26 feet are required in a wide, direct, and stable channel, and 30 feet are desir able for the deep vessels needed by the Columbia River trade, on account of the heavy seas of the locality. The amount expended on the project to June 30, 1887, is $132,966.39, including outstanding liabilities. Needed accessory structures for jetty work have been built, plant obtained, and the jetty made for 1,420 feet. An extension of the jetty is in progress-the work has not advanced far enough to have any effect on the bar channel. The appropriation asked is to extend the part, which will have been built with present funds, over a wide swash channel, 13 miles ahead; it is very desirable to close this outlet. The new section of jetty to and over the outlet, it is expected, will considerably improve the bar channel. July 1, 1886, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved August 5, 1886 $1,433.61 187,500.00 188,933. 61 July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. July 1, 1887, outstanding liabilities. $28,868.55 34, 974. 30 July 1, 1887, amount available 153,959, 31 [Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1889.... 3,422,500.00 1,200,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. See Appendix T T 5.) |