Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-22

CORRESPONDENTS OF THE APPEAL,
WASHINGTON, November 20-The fol-
lowing is an abstract of the last annual re-
port OF Gen. Newton, chief of engineers,
ou the improvement Of the harbor and
bay at Galveston, Tex
The present pre- ect for improving the
entrance to Galveston harbor was adopted
in 1880. The estimated cost was about
81 ,S25, coo. Up to June 80, 1885, the
amount expended, including 100000 of
Galveston city funds was 5 ,576, 900. The
estimated cost OF comp pleting the present
project is 81 100000, and sn appropriation
of S750,000 is asked for the next year.
| The Pre- jact f)r widening and deepening
the ship channel in Galveston bay had
| cost, up to last June, S287 900. At that
| date the amount available for continuing
| the work was 100000, which was being
| held IN reserve till the proposed transfer
of the franchises, etc, of the Buffalo Bay
| ship Canal Company to the United States
| should be made.
Concerning the improvement of the en-
trance to Galveston harbor, Gen. Newton
| says that at the time the report was pre-
pared the work at the harbor, as far as
| finished, was being examined under in
| structions from the Board of Engineers,
which has been directed to make report
| thereon. The report of the Board of En-.
| eineers has not yet been received at Wash
| ington.
| That part of the detailed report of Major
| S. NJ. Manifold, the officer in charge of
| the river and harbor improvements in
| Texas, which refers to the work at Gal
| ves ton is, for some reason, withheld from
publication for the present.
The report Of Major Manifold on the
remainder OF the river and harbor improve
ment5 in Texas is Substantially IS follows:
The annual grants for the improvement
of Buffalo bayou have been so small, in
proportion to the extent of work, that the
progress is slow.
The estimated cost of completing the
existing prof is S2SI 200. An i'm
mediate appropriation OF 100000 is re-
commended.
At the mouth of the Brazos river it is
doubtful whether the Improvement can be
made complete and permanent, and esti-
mates will vary accordingly, The present
estimate is $685., 600, and the sum of $780,
600 is asked for the coming year.
In 1879 the cost of the proposed i'm
provement of Pass Cavaleo was estimated
at 100000. The work has been carried
on more or less steadily, at total xpense,
up TO last June, of over $260,000. The
estmits cost OF completing the work is
S750,000, of which sum Major Mansfield
recommends that 100000 be appropriated
at once.
The improvement of Arkansas pass and
bay has progressed favorably, and up to
June 81, 1885, $l95, COO had been expend-
ed for the works. The estimated cost of
completing it is $4,000, of which it is
recommended that $500, 900 be appropria-
ted for the coming year.
The pass at Brszos Santiago is so sit
uated as to be entirely exposed to heavy
storms. The cost of building jetties and
an interior dam was estimated, in 1881, at
S6S0,000. Up to June 80, 1885, the amount
expended was about $.20, 900, and the es-
timated cost OF completion is nearly
$500,0OU. An appropriation of $20i, 900 is
asked
In 1882 project wss made for the i'm.
provement of Sabine Pass, at an estimate
cost of S3,I7S,000. The ietties are being
pushed sesward as fast as funds permit
The work is costing less than the original
estimates, but would cost still less were
the appropriations larger. The engineer
in charge thinks it would be economy to
appropriate 81 10000 a year till the work
is completed. The amount expended up
to Juns 80, 1885, was a. little less than
Si0J,C00. The estimated cost of compile.
tion is -, 100000.
The Neches river is not susceptible to
permanent Improvement, end until com
merce increases it is not at present deemed
advisable to expend more money upon it