The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-28
worthy of being undertaken by the cfofas

worthy of being undertaken by the United States.
 The Board ss net convinced, however. that the sum estimated bs the district officer is sufficient to carry out the project fully, but 1t believes that even if the projected depth of four feet 10 not fully realized for all tho year visor- ous prosecution of the work toward that end, under liberal appropriations. will result in benefits commensurate with the cost. The board also concnrs with the district officer and the divts- ion engineer that the improvement Of the Alabama and Coosa Rivers from Montgomery to wetumpka is not Jus- tifed by the commerce involved.
 Tn this report on the preliminary ex- animation the district officer has in- cluded m estimate of the cost of ac- compIishing the desired end. and places tho cost at $65O,000 for 4-foot chan neI from Montgomery to the mouth of the river, with $50,000 annually for maintenance.
 The work proposed consists of dredging, clearing the river Of snags and similar Instructions. and the con struetion of regulating works, and is such that the original construction and subsequent maintenance can hard ly be separated. large portion Of the work being practically continuous h its nature. For this reason am not willing to guarantee the completion of the desired channel with the e1pen- allure of the sum estimated for origi- nal construction. but believe that, if large concentrations be made avail able at the beginning, the work can be put In such a condition with tho estimate that, with suitable snbse- quent appropriations for maintenance. A navigation of grat value can be kept ha Vfu II views of the district engineer, and the hoard of engineers for rivers and har- bors that the Alabama River from MontRomery to the mouth is worthy of improvement by the United States.
 The work proposed contemplates the construction of large plant. which should be put in operation as soon as practicable in order to secure the re- suits desired within anything approxi- mating the sum estimated. TO this end large appropriations at the begin ming of the work are necessity. A continuation of small appropriations: insufficient for the construction or the necessary plant and sufficient only for the operation of small and mad enuate plant such as Is now m eS- istence on the river, will not accomplish the desired result, and in this manner the full estimated sum of S6b0,OOO may readily be expended without greater restit than the simple maintenance of inc pressnt conditions on the river.
 An estimate should not ordinarily be included in a report on preliminary examination, but should follow only upon an order from secretary of war. after consideration of that report. New ertheless. since. In this case. nc survey was reaured and the estimate could rsadiIv be prepared from data on hands I recommend that Captain cavanaugh's course in concluding this estimate in his report of the preliminary examina- ton he approved. and that his report he transmitted to Congress as cover ing both the examination and estimate of cost.
 Very respectfully.
 A. Mckenzie, Brig. Gen. Chief of Engineers, Q. s.
 Army.
 Hon, w. Fl. Taft Secretary of Wan