The age-herald., 1901-11-04

@AA--F-- nual report of Brigadier General c. L. cIlepsie. chief of engineers. U- s A.. contains rhe following reports from en- sineer officers on the improvement Of Alabama streams.
 Tennessee River-chattanOoga. Tenn. to Riverton. Ala. (zs7.s milesl. The origi- nal condition of the river from Chatta- nooga to Browns Ferry was unfavorsble to navigation. the channel being ob- structed by rock resfs bars. powders. and projecting rocky points. permitting the passage of vessels from six to nine months annually. From Browns Ferry to Florence it was nayigahle only at unusual high-water stages. owing to the Instructions known as Big and Little Muscle shoals Navigation between Flor ence and Riverton. Ala. was limited to about six months annually. owing to the Instructions known as Colbert and Bee Tree shoals
 The existing project of improvement ls as follows:
 OO By blasting and dredging to remove existing Instructions to navigation at Ross Towhead. in the mountain section. at Bridgeport and Gunterxville. and else where on the river.
 @ Building a canal 145 miles long. D to 1z0 feet wide. and feet deep to per nit navigation past the river obstruction known as Big Muscle shoals. and ca nal H miles long to enable vessels to avoid the obstruction known as the Elk River shoals.
 f9 Constructing at Little Muscle shoals a canal about miles loty and $ feet deep.
 fD Constructing a canal miles long. I5o feet wide. and feet deep. past the Colbert and Bee Tree shoals oostruetons-
 The total amount expended to June Ss ie00, was s4 627. =s5A-
 This expenditure has resulted m tns completion of the Bug Muscle shoals and Elk River shoals canals and their ap- breaches at a cost of SS1Sl. 7sSo. and in the improvement of Little Muscle shoals by excavation and the construction or wing dams. whereby it's navigation was greatly improved; but as the results shoy that the requisite depth could not be obtained in this manner. the new pro feet for a canal at Little Muscle shoals vas adopted October g. 1SSo-
 In like manenr the Bee Tree and Col bert shoals were temporarily improved at a cost of s62sz2l- This was before rhe adoption of the present project for the lateral canal
 The masonry of the lift lock at Col
  bert Shoals has been completed. and the right of way for the canal has been pur- chased and paid for.
 At several localities the channel depth at low water is less than feet and at four localities it ranges from to Is feet
 The appropriation of March & 1888. pro vided funds for the survey of that DOT ton of the river which had not hereto fore been mapped. This portion lies be- tween Shellmound. short distance above Bridgeport. Ala. and the head of Browns Island short distance below Decatur. The total length of this part of the river Is 1s6 miles. This survey was completed March g. 1901
 At Colbert shoals. owing to the small balance of funds on hand. the work was limited to quarrying stone for guard lock of canal and preservation and care of property.
 July l. 1900. balance unexpended sS5.oSe. .ss June 30. 1901. amount expended
 during fiscal year ----..-.--.--- &os- n July 1, 1901, balance unexpended 1s,07s- s July l. 1901. outstanding habili-
 ties -------. ooaS--i July I. 1901. balance available. 1aH7.ol Amount (estimateD required
 for completion of existing
 project ....... ...-.... .....-..--sS1zz.ss-1 -1 Amount that can be profitably
 expended In fiscal year ending
 June S0 10o2 for works of
 Improvement and for main
 tenance. in addition to the
 balance available July 1 1eol-. eo0.ooo. co Submitted in compliance with
 requirements of sundry civil
 act of June L 1897. and of sec
 ton of the river and harbor
 act of 1S9e-
 Alabama River. Alabama-This river. from wetumplxr. lon the Coosa river. which II miles below joins the Ta1ls- poosa to form the Alabama proper) to It's junction with the Tomhigbee. forms a sss-mile link in a waterway SIS miles long, from the Oostenauaa and Coosawat- tee rivers. Georgia. to the Gulf of Mex leo. Of this waterway. the whole of the Alabama and over 80 miles besides is now navigable-
 This river was originally so obstructed by logs. snags. overhanging trees and shoals. many with depths of but a5 feet. that navigation was practically at low stages only by day
 The project, as amended in 1881. con templates a low-water channel feet in depth. to be secured by means of the re- movaI of snags and overhanging trees. contraction works. blasting, dredging and shore protection
 The estimate submitted in 1881 amount ed ssss PSI. and was based upon an as sumption that slooeoo should be provided annually. Ten thousand dollars annually was the estimate for maintenanee. in ciuding snagging-
 The amount expended 10 June g. iso9 was ss54o460A
 The maximum draft that could be car ried through the channel at low water June S0, 1901. was feet
 The commerce of this stream Is tm- portant. consisting principally of cot ton. cotton seed. fertilizers grain lun- her. shingles. naval stores slaves. and d large quantity of miscellaneous freight of all descriptions. estimated for the past fiscal year as 1ls.sst tons. valued at sS- y7s.ooo.
 July 1. lsoo. balance unexpended sass ss Julne so 1901. amount expended
 during fiscal year ....-----.---- lAtn-1 Julv l. Isul balance unexpended A{2-U July 1. 1901. outstanding haoin-
 ties ..-..... ----.-.----. -------- A--s'o-t- Juiy 1, 1901, balance available 1S1iI-os July 1. 1901. amount covered by
 uncompleted contracts 10oSo-W Amount (estimateD required
 for completion of existing
 project ..s.. ..-....... .......... lsSssl.o co Amount that can be proftably
 expended in fiscal year end
 ing June Se. 1Sa2 for works of
 improvement and for main
 fenance. in addition to the
 balance available July I. 1So1.. Slo10. co