National Republican., 1883-04-30
RIVERS AND uARBoRs.
Something About the EHpenditures-The
Plans OF the Engineers Approved.

Plans OF the Engineers Approved.
The act of Aug. 2, 1882, making appropria-
tions for the construction, repair, and pres
ervation Of certain works on rivers and har-
bors and for other purposes" (lfnown as the
river and harbor bilD, provided for an OK
pendituro of $1s,73s,s75 upon A32 separate
works of improvement.
The plans of the engineers have been ap-
proved by Secretary Lincoln, and the works
ordered in all but nine cases in which the
appropriations aggregated $31s,000: The
principal items of this amount are $4,000
for the improvement and protection Of the
navigablo channels of tho Sacramento and
Father rivers" and $4,000 "for improving
the Kentucky river, Kentucky, by the ereo-
ton of a lock and movable dam at Beattys-
vile at the junction Of three forks" The
latter sum has not beon expended, for the
reason that tho act making the appropria-
tion conferred no authority to purchase site
for the lock and dam.
Secretary Lincoln declines to authorize tho
expenditure Of the $4,000 included in tho
first item, because the improvement and pro-
lection Of the channels Of these rivers by the
erection of restraining barriers upon tho
Yuba, American, and Bear rivers, tributaries
of the Sacramento and Feather to hold back
the flow of dolritus, caused by hydraulic min
ing, would involve the expenditure within
the next eight years of n million aud half
of dollars with doubtful results, and would at
best prove but partial remedy If hydraulic
mining should continue. Tho remaining
seven item of appropriation aggregate $685.
OOO the expenditure Of which has not been
ordered by the secretary because in each in
stance the amount is deemed wholly INSULT
cient to accomplish the results desired. Work
under tho above appropriations has therefore
been deferred TO await future action by con-
| gress.
The amounts appropriated for river and
harbor improvements at 1876 different points
| will be expended by June 30 1883, and as no
provision for continuing these works was
made at the last session of congress opera
| tions will be suspended at that date.
OF the total amount appropriated by the act
of August, 1882, Gen. Wright, chief of en-
gineers, estimates that about $5,225, 900 will
remain unexpended at the end of the fiscal
| year June 30, 1883, and will be available to
continue the works Of improvement at 237
points.
The amounts which will remain June 30
unexpendcd, and to the credit of these works
| of improvement, respectively, will vary from
500 to S950000, the latter sum being for the
improvement of the Mississippi river, and
the dates at which it is estimated these sums
will have been expended cover the period
from July, 1888, to June 30, 1884.
On the list of works which will thus be
continued during the next fiscal year an i'm
provement of the harbors at Portland, Me-,
Portsmouth, N. H., Newburypoft, Boston,
and Nantucket, Mass; Providence river, r.
L. the breakwater at New Haven Conu.; the
Hudson river Buttermilk channel, Gowanus
bay the harbors at New Rochelle and Port
Chester New York Raritan bay, N. j.; the
Delaware river and Delaware breakwater (;
the harbor at Baltimore, Nd; Cape Fear
river, Potomac river, the ship channel, Gal
weston bay the Mississippi river improve
ments; improving the falls Of the Ohio; the
general improvement of Kentucky river
Harbor of Refugee, Grand Marias, Michigan,
and the harbor at Milwaukee; improving the
Illinois river, the Saut st. Marie river, Michi-
gan, and the harbors at Cleveland, Buffalo,
Toledo, Charlotte, N. Y. oswego, and Oak
land, Cal.
In addition to the unexpended balances of
the appropriations made by the act of 1882,
there still remains balance fS601 ,257 of the
appropriations of previous years, which will
eventually become available for the specific
objects for which it was appropriated, no part
of which is likely, however, to be expended
during the present fiscal year. Ofthis amount
100000 for improving Harlem river, N. Y,
awaits the acquisition Of the right of way by
commissioners of tho supreme court of the
state of New York for the proposed canal OF
cut to connect the Harlem and Hudson rivers