SAN ANTONIO RIVER, TEX. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SAN ANTONIO RIVER, TEX. OCTOBER 27, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 24, 1919. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, of 22d instant, together with report of Col. Spencer Cosby, Corps of Engineers, dated June 30, 1919, on a preliminary examination of San Antonio River, Tex., authorized by the river and harbor act approved July 27, 1916. Very respectfully, From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army. To: The Secretary of War. Subject: Preliminary examination of San Antonio River, Tex. 1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report dated June 30, 1919, by Col. Spencer Cosby, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination of San Antonio River, Tex., authorized by the river and harbor act approved July 27, 1916. 2. This river rises in a series of large springs in the city of San Antonio, Tex., and empties into the Guadalupe River about 12 miles from San Antonio Bay. No previous examinations of this stream with a view to its improvement by the United States have been made. Throughout the length of the river, pools and rapids alternate, and the average fall is 3.5 feet per mile. There is apparently no commercial navigation on the river, and it is used only at favorable localities by small craft, such as skiffs and small motor boats. In view of the many costly difficulties that would have to be overcome to secure navigation, and of the little demand or necessity for it, the district engineer expresses the opinion, in which the division engineer concurs, that this river is not worthy of improvement by the United States. 3. This report has been referred, as required by law, to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to its report herewith, dated September 23, 1919, concurring in the unfavorable views of the district and division engineers. 4. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports I concur in the views of the district engineer, the division engineer, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and therefore report that the improvement by the United States of San Antonio River, Tex., in the interests of navigation is not deemed advisable at the present time. W. M. BLACK, Major General. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS. [Third indorsement.] THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY: September 23, 1919. 1. The following is in review of the district engineer's report authorized by the river and harbor act of July 27, 1916, on preliminary examination of San Antonio River, Tex. 2. This river has its source in a number of springs in the city of San Antonio, flows in a southeasterly direction and joins the Guadalupe River about 12 miles above where the latter empties into San Antonio Bay. The river is composed of a series of rapids and pools, the average fall being 3.5 feet per mile and the depth 1 to 10 feet in the pools and a few inches on the shoals. The normal discharge is given as 100 to 150 cubic feet per second. There is no navigation on the river and apparently there is no record of any having existed in the past. In view of the many costly difficulties that would have to be overcome to secure navigation and of the small demand or necessity for it the district engineer is of opinion, concurred in by the division engineer, that San Antonio River is not worthy of improvement by the United States. 3. Interested parties were informed of the tenor of the district engineer's report and given an opportunity of submitting their views, but no communications on the subject have been received. 4. The normal discharge of this river is so small and the fall so large that it could not be made navigable by other means than the use of locks and dams at a cost clearly out of reasonable proportion to the probable resulting benefits. The board, therefore, concurs with the district and division engineers in the opinion that it is not advisable for the United States to undertake the improvement of San Antonio River, Tex. 5. In compliance with law, the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, water power, or other related subjects having any material bearing upon the improvement of navigation at this locality. For the board: W. C. LANGFITT, PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SAN ANTONIO RIVER, TEX. WAR DEPARTMENT, UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, From: The District Engineer. To: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army. (Through the Division Engineer.) Subject: Preliminary examination of San Antonio River, Tex. AUTHORITY. 1. This preliminary examination was made in compliance with the river and harbor act of July 27, 1916, and instructions to the district engineer from the Chief of Engineers, dated August 9, 1916. The act provides as follows: San Antonio River, Tex. EXAMINATIONS. 2. An examination of the San Antonio River, Tex., was made as directed during October, 1917, and the following data were gathered and compiled: 3. No examination or surveys of the San Antonio River have been made during recent years by the War Department. It is noted that the sum of $1,500 was appropriated for the purpose of making a survey during 1852, but no further record of this survey can be found. AVAILABLE RECORDS. 4. Discharge data of the San Antonio River and of San Pedro Creek at San Antonio since 1915 are available from the records of the United States Geological Survey. Records of the water taken from the stream for beneficial uses can be obtained from the records of the State Board of Water Engineers. 5. The War Department military maps from the headwaters of the stream to the mouth are available, as is also the United States |