[First indorsement.]

OFFICE DIVISION ENGINEER, SOUTHEAST DIVISION, Savannah, Ga., May 21, 1919. To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY:

1. The existing project for Tampa Harbor provides for the further improvement of the Seddon Island, Hendry and Knight, Tampa Northern, Sparkman Bay, and Ybor Estuary Channels to a depth of 27 feet and width of 300 feet, and Hillsboro River to a depth of 12 feet and width of 200 feet up to the Lafayette Street Bridge, a distance of about 2,500 feet.

2. The Seddon Island frontage is occupied by the Seaboard Air Line terminals. The Tampa Northern channel frontage is occupied by the Tampa Northern Railway terminals. The Hendry and Knight frontage is occupied by various industries and railroad terminals requiring deep water. Ybor Estuary Channel is not yet fully occupied, but commercial and industrial interests are beginning to utilize it, and the city of Tampa is preparing to develop a large public terminal thereon for deep-draft ships. It is believed that in a few years the Ybor Channel. frontage will also be fully utilized for deep-draft shipping.

3. Besides the deep-draft ocean-going shipping of Tampa there is considerable traffic carried on with the small Gulf and bay ports by means of moderate-draft schooners, steamboats, and power boats, and there are numerous small industries connected therewith, such as shipyards, oil supplies, lumber and other building material, machine shops, etc., that require a water frontage affording moderate depths. The deeper channels are too valuable to be utilized for the above purposes, and the existing frontage, only 2,500 feet long, on the 12-foot channel below Lafayette Street Bridge, is already fully occupied and crowded. Many such industries have been located on the left bank above the Lafayette Street Bridge on a frontage of about 6,000 feet, where they are hampered by insufficient depth of water. These industries, in order above the bridge, are: The Atlantic Coast Line freight yard and terminal, Southern Lumber & Supply Co., Poage & Co. shipyard, Tampa Sand & Shell Co., Parcell machine shop, Wiedeman-Fisher Co. sawmill, Standard Oil Co., Gulf Refining Co., Tampa Gas Co., Hillsboro River boiler shop, Favorite Line machine shop, Tampa Steam Ways Co., and Tampa Waterworks Co. pumping station. If the work should prove to be not unduly expensive it would seem that the desired improvement of this portion of the river might be justified. Above the Tampa waterworks plant at Seventh Avenue there appear to be no established industries or commerce that require deeper water.

4. So far as is shown by the borings on the accompanying map it appears that very little rock excavation would be required in securing a channel 12 feet deep and 200 feet wide, and the cost of dredging the soft material would probably be not excessive. The advisability of undertaking this work would depend largely on the cost, and it is, therefore, recommended that a survey be authorized with a view to the preparation of plans and estimates of cost for improving Hillsboro River from the Lafayette Street Bridge to the

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bend of the river opposite the Tampa Waterworks Co. pumping st tion, to the extent of providing a channel 12 feet deep, 200 feet wid and about 6,000 feet long.

THOS. H. REES,

Colonel, Corps of Engineers,
Division Engineer.

[For Report of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbor see p. 2.]

CONGRESS,

TANGIPAHOA RIVER, LA.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

TRANSMITTING

WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF TANGIPAHOA RIVER, LA.

OCTOBER 3, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 2, 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 yesterday's date, together with report of Mr. T. E. L. Lipsey, assistant engineer in charge, dated June 13, 1918, with map, on a preliminary examination of Tangipahoa River, La., 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 Tangipahoa River, La.

1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report dated June 13, 1918, with map, by Mr. T. E. L. Lipsey, assistant engineer in charge, on preliminary examination of Tangipahoa River, La., authorized by the river and harbor act approved July 27, 1916.