Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-21
of the cost of the work at Arkansas Pass is
So ,052 ,543. The amount required for
completion Gin addition to the appropria-

or the cost OF the WORK at Arkansas lass Is
50 ,052 $40 The amount required for
completion Gin addition to the appropria-
ton of August IL !, 1888 y is ST All 1900.
To question three: The last appropria-
ton (of August IL, 1889 for Galveston
entrance will be entirely expended June
80, 1889.
To question four: The probable amount
that will be available July / 1889, for
Arkansas Pass is $50 900. #
To question five: The amount that can
be profitably expended at Galveston dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1890,
as stated in the annual report of 1888,
page 173, is 81 900 900.
To question six: The least amount that
can be profitably expended at Arkansas
Pass during the same period is
$500 900 annual report of 1888,
page 1860, but it would be far more bene-
fetal to the work, both rs regards the
ultimate cost and early completion, if
this amount were increased to $500 900.
To question seven and the remaining
questions, the effect in general of sup
plying insufficiently amounts at uncer-
tain periods for river and hdrbor 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 appli-
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-
ouslyeas well as continuously.
In this connection L inclose an extract
from, the ,last annual report of Major
Thomas H. HanburytSf the corps of en-
gineers on the progress Of the construc-
ton of the canal at tie cascades of the
Columbia river, Oregon, which will il
lustrate the subject under consideration.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
THoMAsitINCoLNC CASEY,
Brig .-Gen Chief of Engineers. >
MORE QUERIES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, Dec. u, 1888. I
General Casey, Chief of Engineers United States
Army:
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-
penditEre of a 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. GRAIN,
Member Congress from Texas
OFFICE OF THIS CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
UNITED STATES ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1888. }
Hon. William GRAIN United States House of
Representatives:
SRI 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-
tons in the last river and harbor act for
the year were very considerably below
these estimates. The estimates sub
mitted to the present. session of congress
for the year ending June 80, 1890, were
formed with the same end in view
and there is no reason known to demand
their reduction. The lateness at which
the appropriations for the year Guiding
June 80, 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 as the
season, will admit consistent
with the. proper conduct of the
works 1t is probable that with the eX-
ception of few works the greater part
of the appropriations will be expended
within year. Very respectfully, your
obedienb servant;i-
THoMAs LINCOLN CASEY,
Brigadier- General, Chief Engineers e.,
The subject of deep water was discussed
in an informal manner in oil its length
and breadth. Mr.. benson; represent
ing the Denver convention committee rs
proxy for Colonel Gresham, was present
and urged the Importance of early action.
,Phe replies of General Casey. to Mr..
Grain IS questions were carefully read and
considered, 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.
A spirit of earnestness was manifested
and another conference will be held
shortly.