The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL
As Reported by the House Commit
tee 1t Carries 500, 935. il5.
War Department Plan of Surveys
and Recommendation criticized
in the SystcE-AboIishmen of the
Missouri River Commission Urged.

The River and Harbor Appropriation
bill, reported to the House yesterday from
the Committee en- Rivers and Harbors,
carries cash appropriations aggregating
$22, 1872 III and authorizes continuing con-
tracts for $37, 142 7O4 to be appropriated
for hereafter, making total OF S59.935,-
AS. The total amount required for the
completion Of projects for river and har-
Dor works for which estimates have been
submitted by the War Department ap
proximates S3C0OCO. 600. The policy of the
committee in providing such large sum
under continuing contracts was with the
object of completing as rapidly as posi-
bic the more important projects. the work
under that system having proved not only
more expeditions, but more economical.
The present plan Of surveys and recon-
mendations for Improvements made by
the War Department, says the report Of
the committee shows a marked absence
Of uniformity. because the reports of the
engineers, located in different parts Of
the country, are based upon their re
spCctiye standards as to the merits OF
projects. With the object of securing
greater uniformity and to exclude from
consideration by Congress projects not
worthy of improvements the committee
has inserted a provision creating a board
of five engineer officers to pass on all such
recommendations and surveys and the ad-
visibility OF carrying out the projected
works.
When necessary the board is to make
personal inspection of localities The re
port of the board is to form a part Of the
records of the Chief Engineers Office and
is to be the basis for action by Con
gress. The creation Of this board, the
committee thinks, will secure greater
fairness TO all localities and tend to ex-
clude projects not warranted by the needs
of commerce.
Another section OF the bill authorizes
the President, by diplomatic negotiations
or otherwise. to enter into agreements
with view to securing suitable levels in
the Great Lakes and connecting waters
between the United States and Canada.
Any agreement of this nature must Of
necessity be international. 1t would be
in the power either of citizens of the
United States or of Canada, by the con-
struction of diverting works or power
canals, to lower channels absolutely es-
seatial for navigation. Information has
reached the committee to the effect that
the Canadian Government is ready to en-
ter into negotiations upon this subject,
and it is thought that agreements can be
reached which will readily solve this
problem in a manner for the mutual in
terest OF both countries.
Provision is made for repeating the au
thority for prosecuting the works at the
entrance &c Point Judith Pond, r. l.; the
harbor of ST. Augustine, Fla; the harbor
at Pensanuakee, Wis; New River, W. Va;
Cypress Bayou. La: Wolf Lake, Ind;
Chippewa River, Wis; Yellowstone River,
Mon, and the Boat Railway at The Dalles
Rapids and the unexpended balances, some
1000, are covered into the Treasury.
The committee also recommends the re-
peal of the act creating the Missouri River
Commission and places the work on that
river under the directiSI of the Secretary
OF War. The committee is Of the opinion
that the amount of commerce of this river, |
especially in that portion above Sioux
City, does not justify continuance OF the
heavy expenditures made heretofore. In
the year 1899 the tonnage of the upper
Missouri amounted TO but % CAL tons, and |
Of the lower river 263, ia tons, all but !
Il, 667 tons of which was sand carried less |
than two miles. The appropriations for |
the improvement of the river have been |
largely used for the protection Of its /
banks which the committee believes do |
not properly come within the jurisdiction |
of a River and Harbor bill. The eXpen- /
dltures Tor the river TO date nave exceeded |
81, OC0 600.
Of the larger ports. provision is made !
for thirty-five-foot channel from Boston I
20 the sea- the plan previously adopted /
being so modified that its width shall be /
ECO feet wide from the Charlestown Navy (
Yard TO President Reads, and 100 feet .
wide thence through Broad Sound to the /
ocean. Six hundred thousand dollars IS .
appropriated for beginning the work, and /
contracts not exceeding $1,000, coo are au-
thOriZed TO complete it.
For the deep water channel from New |
York to the sea 100000 is appropriated !
toward providing a depth of forty feet /
and width of 200 feet through Butter |
milk Channel, and in addition contracts |
not exceeding s. SOC. 600 are authorized TO |
complete the work. One hundred thou /
sand dollars is appropriated for the i'm |
provement of Arthur Kill between XIII |
Won Gull and Raritan Bay. with contracts /
not exceeding 1886 coo to complete the |
work For improving East River and Hell |
Gate 5000 GOO is appropriated
Toward securing a channel 30 feet deep |
and 600 feet wide from Philadelphia to |
the sea 5000 eco is appropriated and con- |
tracts for it's completion at cost Of not |
exceeding &, 4OO,0 coo additional are au-
thorized.