The record-union., 1891-07-17
Special to the REcoRp-UN1oN.


WASHINGTON, July 16-The annual re-
ports of the War Department engineers
were to-day made public.
Colonel Mendell reports concerning the
Improvement of Oakland harbor. 1t is
intended with the amount remaining on
hand at the close of the year to advertise
for bids to widen Oakland harbor from
the channel TO give it at least 300 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 bank where needed by revetment of
stone, and to improve the channels, par
ticularly in the upper part of the harbor,
where there has already been some de-
yelopments of business and where extern
slve arrangements are in progress, look
ing to further extension.
Other projects are in hand awaiting the
establishment of harbor lines 1t is ex-
pected that the coming year will show an
unusual increase of business, due to har-
Dor improvements. Want of agreement
between riparian owners has thus far pre-
vented recommendation for the estab-
Hshment of a harbor line, favorable To-
cations being dependent upon the CO.
operation of proprietors. Rather than es-
tablish all located lines, it has been
thought advisable to await an adjust
ment of the conflict interest which would
permit the best position to be occupied.
Happily a reconciliation of interest has
just been made, and a recommendation
of harbor lines will be one of the first
matters to receive attention in the COM
ing year. The balance of money unex-
pended is Sl15,9l2 81; amount expended
during the fiscal year, Sll 1854 50; balance
available, $50, $50 fl; amount required
for completion of the existing project,
S99l, 900; amount that can be profitably
expended IN the fiscal year ending June
so, 1898, $500.000.
Concerning the survey of the San Fran
cisco harbor, San Pablo and Suisun Bays,
the Strait of Carquinez and the mouths of
the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers,
he says operations were confined to the
Office, in the preparation of maps show
ing the harbor lines recommended for
Port Costa, Benicia and Vallejo, which
were forwarded and approved by the
War Department. A photographic sur
vey was made, which includes ITO! square
miles of the San Francisco Bay. of which
d map was made. The bar and entrance,
about leo square miles, were not sounded.
The sum of $4,000 is estimated for this
work.
Major Heuer's report says concerning
the Improvement of the San Joaquin
River, that up to the present time there
has been appropriated S25S, $50, of which
to date there has been spent S195, ,S4S 45.
Previous annual reports have recon-
mended a cutoff at the Twenty-mile
Slough at an estimated cost of S65, ,OO0
No appropriation has yet been made for
this purpose. Wherever a cutoff has
been made they have been made self
sustaining. Besides this, annual dredg-
ing will be required in the Stockton
sloughs TO maintain this channel in q
good boating state. In fact, in a short
time, without it, steamboats, would be
unable to reach Stockton. While it is
not known that any reductions in the
rate OF freight or insurance have been
made in consequence of the improve
ments, it is probable that if they were
discontinued such would be the case.
II is proposed to continue work in the
following order, unless Congress should
otherwise direct:
First-Dredging to maintain a nine
feet depth to Stockton, $4,000. Second
Making cutoff at Twenty-mile Slough,
S65,0N. Third-Increasing the cut at the
headreach in width, depth or both,
SS7,75O. Fourth-Snagging and wing
dams, $4,000.
The above can be advantageously ex-
pended in the fiscal year ending June 80,
1898. The amount required for the COM
pletlon of the existing project is S136, $50.
Concerning the Improvement of Mokel-
umne River OF the Sl3,000 appropriated,
Sl2,457 62 has been expended up to the
present time.
a complaint Of steamboat men has
been made of shoal bar in the river and
of one or two abrupt points near New
Hope Landing and of a drainage canal.
cut by private parties, which opens into
the river near New Hope Landing and
caused serious bar to farm, which made
the landing of boats difficult. An exami-
nation made shows that their complaints
are not without foundation. The remedy
IS TO compel the closure of the ditch by q
pile and brush dam and remove by
dredging the sandbar caused by it.
Another obstruction is point of land
jutting out into the channel on the right
bank of the river near New Hope Land
ing. This landing is a shipping point
and one of the most important on the
river, the point of land referred to be-
ing tongue between the river and the
north fork. 1t is gradually but con-
stantly extending into the fork. To
make landing easy and safe coming down
Che river as well as to give more direct
Tntrance for the river into the north fork,
Will require the removal of this point of
land
The estimated cost of the different
works referred to, which could all be
done advantageously in one fiscal year,
is as follows: Pile and brush dam to
close drainage canal, 81 200; removing
sandoar, 5000; cutting off point near
New Hope Landing, including grubbing
ana purchase of land, 81, 100. Besides
TINS II VIII be again necessary during the
fscal year TO rem ge the snags which
Will lodge there, apa TO again cut the
oVerhanglng trees at q probable cost of
5000, making the total which can be adj
vantageously expended on the river dur
ing the fiscal year, 50, 100.
For ~ +bo
and Feather Rivers the total appropria-
ton is S495, 600. The snapging hereto
fore done has been of great benefit to
navigation. without which, in fact, steam
boating on the upper Sacramento River
would be impossible. Freight and in
surance rates have been greatly reduced
in consequence of the work done. and
navigation is now safe. The snaps will
reform annually and will have to be re-
moved.
AS the boats plying above Sacramento
all belong to one company, competition
with the railroad is now the only induce
ment for further reductions in freight
rates.
The snagging during the last fiscal year
was done under the immediate SUPER
vision of Assistant Engineer III. /. De-
merritt. and the work has been Satisfac-
torily and well performed. At present
ALI that has ever been attempted on these
rivers is the temporary improvement Of
low-water channels, and Congress by its
APPROXIMATIONS has contemplated nothing
more. To even continue this, annual