The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-22
RIVER NDHARBOR WORK
POINTS FROM CHIEF ENGINEER WILL
SONS ANNUAL REPORT.
Condition of improvements in In
diana, and Estimate of the Nee
essary appropriations.
pectal to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Oct 21.-The report of
General Wilson, chief engineer of the War
Department, on the river and harbor work
of the past year and containing estimates
for next year was given out this evening.
Following is a summary of that part relat-
ing to Indiana:
The cost of completing the Improvement
of Indiana chute falls of the Ohio at Jeffer-
sonville according to existing project is
estimated to be $780, 1889. No work other
than the care of property and Office duties
was done during the last year. The total
expenditure on Indiana chute thus far is
s2lS, 39S.4S. In addition to $S5OO0O already ap-
propriated for the Improvement OF tle ~ntire
falls, it is estimated that s241s47 will be
needed to put the channel in shape to sat
isfy the requirements of commerce and nav
igation.
The utter uselessness of the work done
on the Wabash river above and below Vim
cennes unless the stream is systematically
improved from the mouth up, is subject
of comment. All told, $762 440 in govern
ment money has been spent on the Wabash
river, with nothing to show for it except
the locks, dam and abutments at Grand
Rapids, which Improvements only be
made Of value by additional costly improve
ments below that point. No plans for such
improvements are submitted and $4,000 for
account of the Wabash river next year is
asked for.
The paragraph relating to White river
reads as follows: 1.-The act of Aug. IS, 1894
made provision for resurvey of
White river, and Capt. j. G.. War
rem, corps of engineers, submitted
report thereon May IL, 1896. The
project presented proposes extension of the
thIce-toot depth now existing in the lower
thirteen miles OF the river to Blackburn sta
ton, forty-six miles above the mouth of the
river; Improvement of the East Iork so as
to afford a depth limited to two feet, and
improvement OF the West fork, to be effected
by the of locks and DAMS three of
which will be required to give a low-water
depth of two feet to the falls. The esti-
mated cost of the work mentioned is $549,-
917 In regard to the locks and dams pro-
posed for the West fork the local omcer
states that further examination will be re-
CURED tor their location, but by the loca-
ton of one OF them at or near Rocky Ford
ripple, forty-two and half miles from the
mouth of White river, certain of the reguIa-
ton works for the Last fork would he rem
dered superhuouS and the estimate dimin-
lsned correSpondlngly, making the total es-
tlmated cost Of the Improvement $46o, $40. In
addition to this, the CaVing of unstable
banks would render necessary an annual
penulture Tor snassIng and dredging of at
Ieast $o,UVU or an expensive system OIL BANK
protection Captain Warren remarks tnat
these nsures indicate that the cost of the
Improvement is tar IN excess OF what would
De justified by the present demands of COM
nerce, OF which he submits tnat
the Improvement OF W mite river should be
suspended until the navigation of the Wa
Dasn mas been so improved as TO afford an
Quiet Tor any traffic which may then be de-
veioped on White river. Tins opinion IS
concurred in by the division engineer The
report was transmitted 10 Congress ana
printed IN House document No. Il. r1tty-
IouItA Consl as, second session. (oee also
Appendix l. IL IL. y
I4le estimated amount required next year
Tor maintaining the Michigan City inner
harDor Is S',OUO. The engineer reports IIidt
$44U,NU can pe pronJaDiy EXPENDED during
the year on the ourer naruor and DreaA-
waters, ana that $l5S,613 viii be required 10
compete the pending scheme.
good portion OF General Wilson's
annual report IS devoted to fortifca-
TONS The estimates for coast defenSeS Tor
the years 1859 are follows: Gun and
mortar batteries, S5,oO0, 100 purchase of land
Tor fortihcations, $5OO.O protection, preser-
Vatlon and repair of fOrtlhcationS, 500 90;
preparation of plans for fortinCations, 5000;
sea walls and entertainments, $50, 900; tor
pedo es for harbor defense; for the pur-
chase of submarine mines and necessary APP
plances TO operate them for closing the
channels leading to our principal seaports;
for the needrul classmates, cable gallares,
etc, to render it possible to operate sub
marine mines, $4,000. Total. S., $4,000. Gen.
Wilson says that during the fiscal year end
ing June &c. 1897, there was expended on
river and harbor improvements $l3, 461, 1895.
For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1899, his
estimates are: Continuous work authorized
provided for by continuing contracts, S29-
452 1873.
An appropriation of $500, 600 is earnestly re-
quested to continue the purchase of neces-
sary sites for seacoast defenses. Congress
has authorized the contract system in work
on Notifications, but it is not approved by
General Wilson.