Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-10
MILLIONS IN THE WATER.
More Details of the Work fn-the Rivers
and Harbors

"N'N "O"O l" UHO HoCdl year enueu june
30, says: "The experimental cut of 3;
feet depth, recommended to be dredged by
the Board OF Engineers in their report
for 1880, was dredged in September. 1889
in the bend below the lights of the Doc
river bar, Alabama, commencino
at cluster No. 5, at the north
end of the bend, and extend.
ing south 300 feet, with a width of 100
feet. This cut was sounded in October.
1882, and June, 1888, ana com.
parison of these soundings show
less depth on the sides and ends
of the cut with about the same average
depth along the centre, evidently owing
TO Irregularities of the bottom being i1
process of removal and the banks HAVING
assumed natural slope, but showed no
nlllng due to other causes. 1t is believed
from the results of this experiment that a
cnanheI OF TINS depth through the side of
cluster No. 81, just south of CaWley river.
would remain open and be comparativeIv
permanent with a width of 40 feet
with respect to the result of the work
already done, the engineer reports that
While before 1881 all vessels of greater draft
than 10 feet were compelled to anchor in
the lower part of the bay 2SI% miles from
mobile, and TO have their cargoes in and
out llghtered over the bar, since the chan
mel mas been opened even to a width of
only 10 feet, all vessels drawing from rs
to Is feet have proceeded to the
wharVes loaded with full cargoes.
ana passed through the channel without
aelay. lie also reports a careful sound
ing OF the outer bar during the past
spring, and that at mean low tide of II
Ieet there was found to be % feet of water.
winch he says shows that the gradual in =
crease OF depth referred to in his report
lor 1857 stIll continues. 1t is proposed
curing the present year to eXpend avail
NO. J, now being dredged, and
mus give channel with an
average width of 11O feet, which il is
thought can be accomplished by June.
1854. The original estimate of the cost of
TINS work was $4,000. of which there
mas been appropriated to date $3.50. 600.
III Is now estimated that $1,000 will be
required 10 complete the work, and til at
sum can be prOfitably expended during
the next year. The amount avsiiabi9
July /, 1888, was $3.50. 1877.
In the harbOr at Pensacola. Florida tho
iunds now available will be applied dur
ing the present year to continuing the
work on the Jetty and shore protection.
ana the work Of dredging the latter with
view to obtaining an Increased width
ana depth Of channel across the bar. The
act OF 1882 appropriated 81. 900 for this
work. and there remained unex-
pended July l, 1888. of this and
other appropriations $6G,3O5. 1t is esti-
mated that 500, 900 will be required for the
completion of the work and that that sum
can De prOhtably expended during the
next year. OF the future of the work the
engineer says: ''It will require watching
ana doubtless frequent appropriations to
meet unforeseen contingencies.
In the harbor at Key West, Florida. no
progress is reported during the past year.
III IS estimated that $4,000 will be re-
qulred TO complete the work. and can he
proftably expended during the next wear.
IN the ChattahOOchee river of Georgia
ana Alabama, the plan of improvement
cOntemplates a channel Of feet deDtb
ana 100 feet width. During the past wear
sna9s and oyerhanging trees were re-
moved. Some blasting was done and LOGO
linear feet of ietty was built. 1t is pro-
posed during the present year to clear the
entire length of the river of the snaes.
etc., under the channel at Little ITchee and
sleek Blum, repair the works wherever
needed and complete the Improvement
between Columbus and Bull creek. This
Improvement will not be permanent and
1t is estimated that an annual apDroDria-
tion OF $4,000 will be required to keep the
river III It's improved condition. The
funds available July /, 1888, were S2G. All.
III Is estimated that $lj0,000 will be re-
CURED to complete the work, and that
9lOo,UOO can be profitably expended during
the next year.
In the Flint river, in Georgia. the pro-
gect Is 10 open channel 100 feet wide and
. feet deep at low-water. As a result Of
Ihe work already done, steamers drawing
. ieet or water can pass at low water
from the mouth of Swift creek TO within
t?2 miles OF MonJezuma, an estimated
distance of 53% miles. During the nres
.ent year the work will be pushed forward
WIN the available funds in the direction
OF Albany. The original estimate of the
cost was $4,000. The amount ayaiIahIe
July l, 1888, was $11, ,272. and the amount
required for the completion of the work
was 1927, $50.
For the ApalachicOla river, Florida.
there was on hand July 1, 1888. 1923. II
IS estimated that an additional appropria-
ton OF $1,000 will complete the work and
can be expended during the next wear
For Apalachicola Bay the amount avail
able July 1, 1888, was $65S, and it is esti
mated that 500, 900 additional will com
plete the work, and can be prOfitably ex
pended during the next year.
The engineer says that as a result of
thc NOIk uOne IN Iampa Bay. Florida
there is now fair though somewhat mar
row channel, 8 feet in depth through to
the wharVeS at Tampa, except Mt two
places just above Spanish Town Point.
Where there is but ~ feet. The act of
1882 appropriated $4,000 for this work.
1t is estimated that $57, ,002 will be re-
qulred to complete it, and can be prOfitabIy
expended during the next wear. IL is
not known whether the improvements can
be made permanent.
For the Suwanee river, Fla, the amount
available July l, 1888, was $4,79O. 1t is
estimated that $42, 1873 will be required 10
complete the work; and can be expended
during the next year. The work will not
be.permanent, and a small annual appro-
priatiOn will be required to keep it in
good condition
For the ChOctawhatchee river in Ala
bama and Florida, the act of 1882 appro-
priated $4,000, of which 80, 100 were un-
expended July 1, 1888. 1t is estimated
that an additional appropriation of $66. 500
VIII be required to complete the work.
and that $4,000 can be expended during
the next year. The engineer reports that
the river is not susceptible of permanent
improvement, and that an annual appro-
priation of $4,000 will be required to keen
the improvement in good condition.
For the Cahaba river, in Alabama, the
original estimate of the cost of the i'm
prOvement was $4,000. The act of 1882
appropriated $4,000, and it is estimated
that $4,000 will complete the work. of
which sum 100000 can be proftably ex-
pended in the next year. An annual an
preparation thereafter of $4,000 will be
required to keep the improvement in good
condition.
In the TallapOosa river in Alabama no
work was done during the past year on
account of the high water 1t is said that
S25, 10 will be required to complete the
work, and that $4,000 can be profitably
expended during the next year. An an
nual appropriation thereafter of IS. 600
will be required TO keep the improvements
IN good condition.
For the Alabama river in Alabama. the
project is to obtain channel with depth
OF feet at low water, with a minimum
width OF 200 feet from the mouth of the
river 80 miles above Mobile to the city of
Wetumpka, Ala, at an estimated cost of
Y229, ~. There has already been appro-
priated for the work $l20,00O, of which
20,OOO was appropriated by the act of
1882. The amount available July 1, 1888,
was $l0,607. 1t is estimated that $780, TAI
will complete the work, and that 100000
can be expended during the next year.
For the Black Warrior river in Ala
bama an appropriation of $4,000 is asked
for the next fiscal year, and it is reported
that an annual appropriation OF $4,000
will be required TO maintain the improve
ment.
For the Tombigbee river. below Colum-
bus. an appropriation of 100000 is asked.
to be applied during the next year in
a 3-foot channel, not less than
80 feet wide between Columbus and vi
emma, and in improving 15 bars of the
least depth between Vienna and Demon |