The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-17
coLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS.
The United States Engineers Doing splen-
did Work.

Washington, July 16.-Major ]. G. Post,
In charge of the river and harbor Inn
provements dn Oregon, has made his an
nual report to the chief engineer. Sew
eral important works are under his d.
rection, notably the mouth OF the Col
umbia River, the canal and locks at the
cascades, and the deep water channel
of the Columbia from Portland to the
sea.
At the mouth of the Columbia the pro-
ject contemplated a navigable channel
thirty feet deep at low water across the
bar. This work is being accomplished by
a single jetty. A channel 81 feet deep,
half a mile wide. and 81 feet for seven
eighths of mile, at low water, has
been secured. The work remaining to
be done consists Of completing a small
portion of the jetty and seeing to the
maintenance OF the channel. 1t is ex-
pected this work win be completed in
four months. The total amount appro-
pr.ated for this work has been $2,025, $50,
which will be sufficient to complete 1t.
1t was estimated at $S,n0,O00, and its
construction will therefore cost $1,6Si 500
less than the estimate. Major Post says
this remarkable exhibit has been prin-
cipal1y due to the fact that the appro-
priations from time to time have proved
sufficient to practically maintain cont.n-
uous operations. There Is a balance
available of $13O,466. The work was be-
gun in 1886.
The commercial statistics for 1895 show
total tonnage at Astoria of 750,445 tons,
and at Portland of 64S,6S3 tons. The deep
water channel to Portland contemplates
Is feet depth at low water, from Port
land TO the sea. The work during the
past year has been confined principally
to dredging to aid in creating and MAIN
tanning new channels, and relieving the
deposits of the extreme high water of
1894. At several points the channel was
shoaled to a depth of IS and 10 feet, but
these have been dredged and O. depth Of
q feet obtained. In 1891 the cost Of the
project was estimated at $722, ,464, mad
100000 has already been appropriated.
The great canal and locks at the Cas-
cades of the Columbia, which have been
under construction for fifteen years, are
nearing completion. The high water OF
last year seriously interfered with the
work, but since 1t subslded construction
has been rapidly prosecuted. The officer
says there is no reason why boats should
not be passing through before June 30
1896. The amount appropriated thus far
IS $S,448, 4O3; expended during the year,
s64O,O9S with contracts out for s5S8, ,461.
The canal will allow vessels of eight feet
draughlt to pass to the upper Columbia.
Another large project begun on the Col
umbia was the proposed boat railway at
The Dalles. A boat railway nine miles
long, has been graded and the curva-
lures are said to be much more favor
able than expected. Negotiations have
commenced to obtain the right of way,
but difficulty has been encountered aris-
ing from the exorbttant prices demanded
by individuals, and further complications
that some of the land needed for right
of way is occupied by the o. r. and N.
Co., while the fee rests in individuals.
The railroad company has indicated Sts
willingness to surrender a portion of the
night of way needed provided 1t Is sup
piled with other right Of way. The le-
gal questions have been submitted to the
attorney general, In the mean time, por-
lions of the night of way where 1t has
been possible to secure reasonable terms,
were obtained.
Work has progressed favorable on the
Upper Willamette River