The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-09-02
RIVER AND HARB0R WORKS.

The annual report of Col. Gillespie,
engineer in charge of river and har-
Dor improvements in Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho, for the year end
ing June 80, 1880, has just been re-
ceived. Operations on the low
er Willamette and Columbia rivers
in Oregon from portland to the sea
are given in detail. The work of
timber construction, suspended in De
cember last, the report says cannot
be resumed until after the next low
water season. Col. Gillespie suggests
as still further improvement to the
entrance to the Willamette river the
construction of a small submerged
dam behind Nigger Tom Island. The
dredge used at Swan island having
been WON out, will be replaced be-
fore next low water season, by a
powerful and good dredge. The
money available for this improve
ment during the next fiscal year re-
port is SO small that the allotment for
renewing dredges will be limited to
the manufacture of machinery and
construction of new hull and appli-
ances. The past appropriations for
this work, including that Of March,
1881, have aggregated $5o5,s65 of
which amount there has been expend-
ed, up to June 10, 'sl, 1896, 1921. The
unexpended balance will be applied
in building and running the new
dredger during the present year and
purchase of material for their protec-
tion and preservation of existing inn
provements. The report recon-
mends an appropriation of 100000
for improvement of rivers, exclusive
of the bar at the entrance to the Col
umbia river.
| Referring to Etrade statistics, the
report says tfat the introduction of
large capital to be used in building
railroads through the productive
acres Of Oregon and Washington and
Idaho territories, to make connection
with the eastern system of railroads,
and developing coal and lumber in
terests, has caused a great increase
| in the value of imports over the Col
umbia bar and it is expected that
the commerce Of the northwest will
in the next five years, greatly in
crease. 1t is highly important, there
fore, that the Columbia and Villain
cite rivers should be kept in naviga-
BILE condition equal to the wants of
the growing commerce.
On the upper Willamette and
Yamhill rivers, $4,000 was expend
ed during the year in continuing inn
provements, and $9,22l was available
for future operations. 1t is estimated
that $3s, 900 is yet required to COM
plete existing projects. and an appro-
priation of $l0,500 is recommended
to continue these improvements du-
ring the fiscal year. In the upper
Columbia and Snake rivers, Oregon,
more than $4,000 was expended
during the year, and $4,000 is rec
commended as the. amount of appro-
priation for the next fiscal year.
The work of constructing canal
around the Cascades of the Colum-
bia, which will open freei navigation
to the Dalles, has been pushed for
ward vigorously during the year, and
Eearly $4,000 has been expended in
| it. There is still needed $1,224, 900
to complete the work, and $3.50, 600
is recommended as the appropriation
| for the ensuing year.
| On Improvement in Coos bay bar
Dor, Oregon, nearly 1926, 1000 was ex-
pended during the past year. Nearly
$4,000 was available at the CLOSE Of
the year, $902, 900 is still required to
complete the projected improvements
and sec, 900 TO be expended during
the fiscal year. On Yalaina bay
improvements $26, 900 was expended
during The last year. 1t is estimated
that &4l5, 900 is yet required to com
plete the work, and sec, 900 is asked
| tor the next fiscal year.