Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-19

as stated in the annual report of 1888,
page l73, is 81 900 900.
To question six: The.least amount that
can be profitably expended at Arkansas
Pass during the. same period is
5000 900 (annual report of 1883,
page 17G), but it would be far more bene
fetal to the work, both as regards the
ultimate cost and early completion, If
this amount were increased to $500 600.
l. To question seven and the remaining
questions, the effect in general of sup
plying insuffioiently amounts at uneer-
tain periods for river and harbor i'm
provements is undoubtedly to increase
their cost, the amount of increase de-
pending upon the nature of the work and
the object to be obtained.
These remarks are particularly appG-
cable to works that are undertaken for
the improvement of harbors upon sandy
coasts which are always of considerable
magnitude because of the character of
the work to be done and the natural de-
terioration consequent upon delay to-
gether with the movement of the
sand which tends to neutraliZe
partially constructed works or largely
increase their cost of completion. This
class of improvement, more than any
other, requires to be prosecuted vigor-
ously as well as continuously.
In this connection 1 inclose an extract
from the last annual report of Major
Thomas Fl. Hamburg of the corps of en-
gineers on the progress of the construc-
ton of the canal at the cascades of the
Columbia river, Oregon, which will il
lustrate the subject under consideration.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY,
Brig Zen. Chief of Engineers.
MORE QUERIES.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1855.
General Casey, Chief of Engineers United States
DEAR SIR-Will you kindly inform me
whether there is anything in the status of
the operations being conducted under
your general directions for the improve
ment of the rivers and harbors of the
country which would demand the eX-
penditure of q less sum of money during
the next fiscal year than the amount
which has been available during the
present fiscal year? Has not the apprO-
priatiOn for the present fiscal year been
expended as rapidly as local conditions
would authorize? Your obedient servant,
W. Fl. CRAM,
Member Congress from Texas.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF'OF ENGINEERS,
UNITED STATES ARMY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1888.
Hon. William Grain, United States House of
Representatives:
Sir-I beg leave to state, in reply to
your letter of the 18th inst, received on
the 18th, that in forming the estimates
for the present fiscal year ending June
80, 1889, the most economical admins
tratiOn of the works was as far as
possible taken into consideration as well
as average grants for each work during
the past few years, but the appropria-
tiOns in the last river and harbOr act for
the year were very considerably below
these estimates. The estimates sub
United to the present. session of congress
for the year ending June 80, 1890, were
formed with the same end i'll view
and there is no reason known to demand
their reduction. The Iateness at which
the appropriations for the year ending
June 30, 1889, we made prevented any
expenditure in the early part of the pres
ent fiscal year, but the appropriations
are now being expended as rapidly astrfe
season Will admit consistent
with the proper conduct of the
works. 1t is probable that with the ex-
ception of a few works the greater part
of the appropriations will be expended
within a year. Very respectfully, your
Obedient servant,
THOMAS LINCOLN CASEY,
Brigadier-General,, Chief Engineers.
The subject of deep water was discussed
i'll an informal manner i'll oil its length
and breadth. MIR. benson, represent
ing the Denver convention committee as
proxy for Colonel Gresham, was present
and urged the importance of early action.
The replies of General Casey to Mr..
Grain IS questions were carefully read and
copsidered, but there was no attempt
toward laying down any definite line of
policy.
Senator Coke informed THE GAZETTE
correspondent that the meeting was more
for the purpose OF hearing each others
opinions than to fix any plan for action.
\ spirit of earnestness was manifested
and another conference win be held
shortly.
THEY MEAN RTTSENFSG