The San Francisco call., 1896-08-07
Millions of Dollars Worth Of
Work Retarded by Local
Dispute.
OTHER IMPORTANT PROJECTS.
Orders Issued in Washington for Coast
Work to Be at Once Pushed
Forward.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. O. Orders
have been issued by the War Depart
ment directing the commencement and
continuance of work on waterways on the
Pacific Coast. These orders are the result
of the approval by the Secretary of War
of matters submitted by the engineer Off
GERS stationed on the coast for the carry
ing out of river and harbor work in their
respective districts authorized by the last
Congress.
San Franciscans will be interested in
knowing that ono of the most important
projects on the coast-that in regard to
the improvement of Oakland harbor-has
not yet been started, on account of trouble
between Oakland and Alameda as to
points where the appropriation ought to
be spent. Oakland claims money should
be spent at certain points in Oakland,
while Alameda claims that funds should
be expended in improvement of places
within her Jurisdiction.
A number of complaints have been re-
ceived at the War Department in regard
to the matter, and work authorized by
many Congresses has been suspended,
pending settlement of this controversy
by the Secretary of War.
A number of papers are on file at the
department in regard to the project.
Colonel Mackenzie. acting chief of engi-
neers, is now considering them and will
make brief of the whole matter and sub
NIT 1t to the Secretary of War for use in
making continuing contracts to the ex-
tent OF $660,000. The contracts have been
drawn up and are now before Secretary
Lamont for his consideration. 1t can be
stated positively that they will not be
entered into until the Oakland-Alameda
controversy has been settled.
The work looking to the i'm provement of
Wilmin gton Harbor will not be inaugu-
rated until the Santa Monica commission
has submitted its report. Should the
commission make report in favor of San
Pedro Harder no work will be done on the
Wilmington project. The total amount
available for the Wilmington Harbor, in
cluding the amount expended from former
appropriations, is $50, ,457.
Besides Wilmington Harbor. Major C. E.
l. B. Davis of the Engineer Corps has
charge of three matters where improve
ment is authorized in the recent river and
harbor law, namely: San Diego Harbor,
San Luis Obispo Harbor and Napa River
For the improvement of San Diego Har-
Dor, Congress authorized an expenditure
of $144, 900, to be Immediately available.
The project for this work has been ap-
proved. In addition to this sum, S27, ,621
is available from last years appropriation,
making total of SIT, ,621 at the disposal
OF Major Davis for work at this place.
For continuing work on San Luis Obispo
Harbor, S61. .842 is available, $40, 600 of which
was appropriated at the last session.
Major DAVIS has at his disposal $4302 to
spend for the improvement of Napa River
Of this amount $4,000 is made available by
a recent law. The projects for San Luis
and Napa River have both been approved
and instructions have been issued direct
ing prosecution of the work.
Under the general supervision of Colonel
c. E. Gillette of the Engineer Corps three
Californian Improvements are to be
pushed to completion. This officer has
available from former appropriations
$122, 1868 for the improvement of Sacra-
mento and Feather rivers. The project
he submitted for the improvement of
Humboldt River, for which $225, 900 was
appropriated by the last Congress, has
been approved by the Secretary and neces.
sary instructions for pushing it have been
issued. Colonel Gillette also has at his
disposal SIS, ,199 for the improvement of
San Joaquin harbor and bay, $751; of
which was appropriated at the session Just
closed. This work will also be hurried.
Considerable work is to be done on the
waterways and harbors of the States of
Washington and Oregon. Projects have
been received and approved on several
waterways and narbors in the States
named and orders have been issued look
ing to their prosecution. The amount
available is placed opposite the name of
each project:
State OF Washington-Cowlitz River,
$4,000 appropriated, S3423 available; Che
halls River, $1,000 appropriated and avail
able; Upper Columbia and Snake rivers.
$1,000 appropriated and $7476 GA available !;
Wallapo River and harbor, $5552 available !;
Olympia Harbor. S32, 900 appropriated and
$S2. 423 available; waterway between Puget
Sound and Lake Union, $50. 900 appropri-
ated and -$170, 900 available; Snohomish
River Everett Harbor), $50, 1877 available /;
Puget Sound and tributary waters, $75 600
appropriated and $50, 500 available. The
river and harbor law contains a provi-
sion appropriating $4,000 for the improve
ment of Grays Harbor and entrance and
authorizes the Secretary of War to make
continuing contracts, aggregating 1000,
600. 1t is understood that the Secretary
will not direct the expenditure of the
$4,000 appropriated until the contracts
have been entered into.
For the State of Oregon improvements
have been ordered at these places: Mouth
of Columbia River, s7o.Ss1 available; Co.
lumbia River at Cascades, $4,000 appro-
priated and $231, ,347 available; Columbia
River at Three-mil Rapids, $3.50, 600 ap-
propriated and $244, 7SO available; Column
bia and lower Willamette River, below
Portland. 100000 appropriated and $104,-
184 available; Willamette River, above
Portland, and Yamhill River, $40, ,957
available ($16O.000 continuing contracts
authorized); Coquille River, $4,000 ap-
propriated and $4,000 available; entrance
TO Coos Bay and harbor, $95, 900 appropri-
ated and sos, ,s91 available; Siuslaw River,
$4,000 appropriated and S27.S3S available /;
Yaouina Bay, $4,000 appropriated and