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151 feet, and the controlling depth of water at the time of the 1916 survey was 15 feet, while the narrowest part of the route via Bayou la Rompe to Lake Chicot was in the Little Atchafalaya River between miles 68 and 711, where the average width is 163 feet, with a controlling depth of 17 feet. Under these conditions, with the entire discharge of the Atchafalaya River debouching from between levees at Butte la Rose, it is probable that the main outlet to the Gulf will go through the little Atchafalaya, Bayou la Rompe, and the lakes. This change might cause serious difficulties to steamboat navigation through upper Grand River to Bayou Plaquemine.

Transvalley profiles.-The profile along the Baton Rouge branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad from near Breaux Bridge to Bayou Maringuoin (see Pl. No. 1) shows that the elevation of the ground over 15 miles of the route is no less than 10 feet above mean Gulf level.

The transvalley profile from the head of Bayou Postillion on Grand River to Charenton on Bayou Teche (see Pl. No. 2) shows that almost the entire region between Grand River and Grand Lake along this line is less than 3 feet above mean Gulf level. The field sheets of the survey show no elevations more than 5 feet above mean Gulf level along Lower Grand River below mile 112 with the exception of narrow strips on each side of Belle River between miles 127 and 131. Practically the entire area subject to overflow south of Bayou Sorrel and Lake Chicot is less than 5 feet above mean Gulf level. The elevation of the 1916 high water is 6.2 feet above mean Gulf level in the lower end of Lake Chicot and 2.3 feet at Berwick Bay (Morgan City), giving a slope of 0.12 foot per mile.

The great delay in submitting this report was caused by the reduction in the office force, due to war conditions.

O

E. J. THOMAS.

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CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.D.298

BRAZOS RIVER, TEX., OLD WASHINGTON TO WACO.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

TRANSMITTING,

WITH A LETTER FROM THE ACTING CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON REEXAMINATION OF BRAZOS RIVER, TEX., FROM OLD WASHINGTON TO WACO.

NOVEMBER 14, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 13, 1919.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, a letter from the Acting Chief of Engineers, United States Army, of 11th instant, together with report of Col. C. S. Riché, Corps of Engineers, dated April 6, 1917, on a reexamination of Brazos River, Tex., from Old Washington to Waco, authorized by the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1915; also report of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors on the subject dated June 10, 1919.

Very respectfully,

NEWTON D. BAKER,
Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, November 11, 1919.

From: The Acting Chief of Engineers.
Tecretary of War.

Reexamination of Brazos River, Tex., Old Washington

to Waco.

1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report, dated April 6, 1917, by Col. C. S. Riché, Corps of Engineers,

authorized by section 14 of the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1915, on reexamination of the project for improvement of Brazos River, Tex., from Old Washington to Waco, "with a view to obtaining reports whether the adopted projects shall be modified or the improvement abandoned."

2. The Brazos River rises in the plains of western Texas and eastern New Mexico, flows in a southeasterly direction through the east central portion of Texas, a distance of over 1,200 miles, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles southwest of Galveston. *Old Washington is 254 miles above the mouth, and Waco 429 miles above the mouth. The present project for this section of river is based upon an item contained in the river and harbor act approved March 3, 1905, and contemplates securing a navigable depth of 4 feet at ordinary stage of low water for four months, and 3 feet for six months of the year, by constructing eight locks and dams and 103 miles of open channel work, at a total estimated cost of $2,915,000. (Estimate made in 1905.) The project was not adopted as a whole, but Lock and Dam No. 1, at Hidalgo Falls, was authorized by the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1907; Lock and Dam No. 8, by the act approved June 25, 1910; and Locks and Dams Nos. 3 and 6 by the act approved July 25, 1912. Locks and Dams Nos. 1 and 8 are completed, No. 3 is partially constructed, and No. 6 not yet fairly begun. The total expenditures on the present project to June 30, 1918, amounted to $1,397,858.07. Navigation is impracticable except in the pools above the two completed dams. The section of river below Old Washington has been improved to some extent under a project which provides for the removal of snags and overhanging trees, and for narrowing the river at its shoals by training walls and spur dikes, but there is no commerce or navigation except for a few miles above the mouth. The district engineer is of opinion that the improvement of Brazos River, Tex., from Old Washington to Waco, is worthy of being continued, at least to the extent of making a survey which he recommends. The division engineer is of opinion that, except for the completion and maintenance of the structures already undertaken, the improvements should be held in abeyance for the present and that no survey should be made.

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 June 10, 1919. The board states that while no recent estimate has been made there are sufficient data in hand to show that probably 8 locks and dams in addition to the eight contemplated under the existing plan would be required to completely slackwater the river between Old Washington and Waco, and that to canalize the section below Old Washington, which would be necessary in order to insure even fairly reliable navigation, would require approximately 12 locks and dams. It calls attention to the fact that the locks and dams already constructed have cost about $500,000 each. Even if such a project were carried out continuous navigation would not be provided, as the low-water flow is not sufficient to fill the pools. The chief object sought by those advocating this improvement is lower railroad rates, but the board is of opinion that this result would not follow the improvement owing to the indifferent character of the navigation that would be afforded. The board regards the improvement of the Brazos River as not economically feasible, as it would not

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