The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-17
RIVER AND HARB0R.
Reports Of the Military En-
gineers in Charge
The Work Being Done In California by
The Government.
Improvement Of Oakland Harbor-Dredg-
Ing the Sacramento and MOkelumne
RiVerS-EStimateS for New Work.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

Will Tue AMOUNT remaining on
hand at the close of the year, to advertise
soon for bids to widen the Oakla nd city
front channel to give at least three
hundred feet, which Is the width between
the Jetties This contract when made will
cover all the funds now available With
the money to be appropriated it is intended
to complete the jetties and to continue the
excavation of the tidal canal and protect its
banks where needed by a revetment Of
stone and to improve the channels. particu-
larly IN the upper part of the harbor, where
there has already been some developments
of business, and where extensive arrange
ments are in progress looking to further ex-
tension. Other projects are in hand await
ing the establishment of harbor lines
1t is expected that the coming year
will show an unusual increment Uf busi-
ness due to harbor improvements. The
want of agreement between the riparian
owners has thus far prevented the recon-.
mendation for the establishment OF harbor
lines, the most favorable locations being
depended upon for the cooperation of the
proprietors. Rather than establish all the
located lines. it has been thought advisable
to await the adjustment.of the conflicting in
ierests, which would permit the best posi-
tons to be occupied. Happily reconcilia-
ton of interests has just been made. and
the recommendation of harbor lines will be
one of the first matters to receive attention
in the coming year. The amount of the bal
ance yet uuexpended is S115,912 81; the
amount expended during the fiscal year.
S11S,6i5 50; July l, 1891, the balance avail
able, S6j, $50 IL the amount required for the
completion of the existing project is
$751; 900; the amount that can be profitably
expended in the fiscal year ending June 80,
1888, $500, 600.
SURVEY OF SAN FRANCISCO HARBoR.
Concerning the survey of San Francisco
Harbor, San Pablo and Suisun bays, the
Strait OF Carquinez aud the mouths of the
San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, he
says: The operations were confined to the
Office in the preparations of maps showing
the harbOr lines recommended for Port
Costa, Benecia and Vallejo, which were for
warded July last and approved by the War
Department in 1883. A hydrographic sur
vey was made, which includes 11O15 square
miles OF San Francisco Bay, of which map
was made. The bar and entrance, about
100 square miles, were not sounded. The
The following statement of the money
used is as follows: On June 80, 1891, the
| amount expended during the fiscal year wal
| $4,000. On July l, 1891, the balance avail
| able was S105339. The amount recon-
mended for the fiscal year is $4,000
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER.
Major Heuer's report says concerning the
| improvement of the San Joaquin River
I'm m tiuna bar hao
propriated S25S, ,750, of which TO date there
| has been spent S195, ,S4S 45. Previous annual
reports have recommended to cut off at
| Twenty mile Slough. an estimated cost of
| S65,G00. No appropriation has yet been
made for this purpose. Whenever cut-offs
| have been made they have been made self
| sustaining. Besides this, annual dredging
/ will be required in Stockton Slough to main
| tain this channel in good boating state In
| fact, in short time without it steamboats,
would be unable to reach Stockton. While
| II Is not known that any reductions in the
| rates of freight or insurance have been
| made in consequence of the improvements.
| II is probable that if they were discontinued
| material increase would soon follow with
| out any further appropriations depending
| on amounts appropriated aud the require
mentS cf commerce.
NEW WORK PROPOSED.
1t is proposed 10 continue the work in the
| following order. unless Congress should
| otherwise direct:
First-Dredging to maintain nine feet
| depth to Stockton, S24 900.
SecOnd-Making a cutoff at Twenty-mile
| Slongh, S65,000
Tnird-Increasing the cut at Head Reach
in width, depth, or both. S37,75O
Notwithstanding and wing dams, $4,000.
The above can be advantageously expended
| in the fiscal year ending June 80, 1893.
On July /, 1891, the balance available was
So, ,101 %; the amount required for the COM
| pletion OF existing project $780, $50.
MoKELUMNE RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
Concerning the Improvement of the Mo-
| kelumne River he says: OF the S130 ap-
| prOpriated, S12, ,457 62 has been expended no
| TO the present time. Complaints by steam
| boatmen have been made of shoal bar in
| the river, and of one or two abrupt points
near New Hope Landing, and of the drain
| age OF canal cut By private parties which
| opened into the river near New Hope Land
| ing and caused bar to form which made
| the landing of boats difficult. An examina-
ton was made aud showed their complaints
are not without foundation. The remedy is
| to compel the closure of the ditch by pile
ana brush dam, and remove by dredging
the sand-bar caused by it. Another OBJ
| struction is a point of land iutting out into
| the channel on the right bank of the river,
near New Hope Landing. This landing is
shipping point one Of the most important
being tongue of land between the river
| and the north fork, which is gradually but
constantly extending into the fork To
| make landing easy and safe coming
down Tie river, as well as to give more
| direct entrance for the river into the north
| fork, 1t would require the removal of this
| point OF land. The estimated cost of the
different works referred TO, which could all
| DE done adyantage0usly in one fiscal year,
| Is as follows: Pile and brush dam to close
nranHpa ,ui inn LAM hor
| $1,000; cutting off point near New Hope
Landing, including grubbing and purchase
| of land, S1100. Besides this, it will be
| again necessary during the fiscal year to re-
move the snags, which will lodge, and to
| again cut the overhanging trees, at a
| probable cost OF $1,000, making tho total
which can be advantageously expended on
the river during the fiscal year of $500.
SACRAMENTO AND OTHER RIVERS
The cost of the improvements of the Sac
ramento and Feather rivers has COW
cred the total appropriation of S495. 600
The smuggling heretofore done has been of
great benefit to navigation, without which,
In 1act steamboating on the Upper Sacra-
mento River would be impo ssble. Freight
and insurance rates have been greatly re-
navigation Is now safe. Bars will re-
1orm annually. and will have to be re-
moved. The boats plying above Sacra-
mento all belong to one company. Connec-
sion Win Tie Talir0ad is now the only
inducementfor further reductions In freight
rates. The snagging during the last fi,cal
| year was done under the immediate SUPER
vision oil Assistant Engineer II. l.. Demer-
Ill, and the work has been satisfactorily and
| well performed. Atpresent all that has been
attempted on these rivers is the temp orary
Improvement of the low water channels. and
Congress by Its appropriations has contelD-
plated nothing more. To even continue this
annual snagging must be carried on or
traffic in tie Upper Sacramento River
VIII he stopped. Attention is called to