Descriptions and elevations of bench-marks on the Missouri River, etc.-Continued. No. Description. Above Eleva- the mouth. 547 (5) 548 (4) Fort Randall. On south side of 2.1-foot elm, 425 feet from river, 125 feet below shal- On 1.5-foot water elm, on side of bluff, just east of wagon road lead- 845.456 Gauge B. M.-nail in cottonwood, on bank above gauge at Fort Ran. 842.705 550 (2) On 1.7-foot white elm, forked 2 feet from ground, 120 feet from river, 870.262 980.7 551 (1) 552 (91) On 6-inch twin white elm, 10 feet from bank, 30 feet from river, on side On 48-inch cottonwood, 100 feet from river, 150 feet above R. B. 676.. 555 (87) On 30-inch elm, 225 feet from river, at edge of prairie, lower corner 859.583 926.7 556 (86) On 12-inch cottonwood, 200 feet from river, 150 feet from foot of bluff, 860.653 1,002. 3 557 (85) 558 (84) 559 (83) 560 (82) 561 (81) On 30-inch cottonwood, on bluff side, 800 feet below R. 451.. 562 (79) 563 (78) 564 (77) Rosebud Landing. On 16-inch burr oak, 100 feet from river, on edge of bench, 100 feet G. B. M. On 12-inch cottonwood, immediately back of the Laroche On 24-inch cottonwood, one of two growing together at foot of bluff, 565 (76) On 24-inch elm, 125 feet from river, on south side ravine, three-fourths 900, 677 1,033.0 566 (75) Horizontal furrow in head of copper bolt set into south face of large 891.905 1,035. 2 Bijou Hills. 567 (74) 568 (73) 569 (71) 570 (70) On north side 36-inch cottonwood, 360 feet from river, in prairie 891.588 On 24-inch elm, 250 feet from river, 300 feet above R. 370.. 899.082 1,036. 1 1,037.0 On 18-inch cottonwood, 150 feet from river, on bluff side, 800 feet be- 909. 099 911. 448 1,044. 4 1,048. 9 575 (65) On 30-inch cottonwood, on bluff side, 100 feet from river, 500 feet be- 905. 295 1,049. 0 576 (64) On 12-inch cottonwood, 200 feet from river, on right bank of dry On 24-inch elm, on side of bluff, 200 feet from river, 500 feet above On 24-inch cottonwood, 200 feet from river, 500 feet below mouth of 913.517 1,055. 2 929.255 1, 059.3 -148 571 (69) 572 (63) 573 (67) Sonora Island. 574 (66) On 24-inch cottonwood, on bluff side where river comes to bluff, 500 On northwest side 36-inch cottonwood, 175 feet from high water On 24-inch cottonwood, on edge of bank, behind willow and sand On 18-inch elm, on first bench back from river, 90 feet from bank, 50 On 12-inch elm, 70 feet from river, 400 feet below R. 333, erroneously Descriptions and elevations of bench-marks on the Missouri River, etc.-Continued. On 15-inch cottonwood, on bluff side, 150 feet below R. B. 437. 921.552 1, 060. 920.323 1.061 581 (59) Brulé Agency 582 (58) On 30-inch elm, 500 feet from river, 400 feet below mouth of American On 14-inch elm, 90 feet from bank, in brush and timber, 1,000 feet 583 (57) On 18-inch cottonwood, in ravine, one of three large trees 125 feet back 924.297 1,067.9 584 (56) 585 (55) Chamberlain On 24-inch cottonwood, 500 feet from river, opposite Chamberlain, On 24-inch cottonwood, 400 feet from river, opposite Chamberlain, 586 (54) 587 (53) 588 (52) G. B. M. On 30-inch elm, 300 feet from river, 700 feet above Chicago, On 18 inch burr oak, 800 feet from river, in prairie, one of a group of On south side of 24-inch burr oak, 275 feet from river, at foot of bluff, 930. 719 1,073. 7 589 (50) 590 (49) Fort Hale. 591 (48) Horizontal furrow in head of copper bolt leaded into soap-stone bluff, North end, outer edge door-sill, main entrance, east side, Command- 941. 518 592 (47) On 36-inch cottonwood, on south bank Zephyr Creek, 100 feet from 937,370 1,063. 4 593 (46) Fort Thomp. son. On 12-inch elm, 200 feet from river, on west side of ravine, 400 feet 594 (44) 595 (43) Fish Creek. 596 (42) On 15-inch elm, on left bank Camel Creek, 400 feet from river, 550 On 36-inch cottonwood, on bank of dry creek, 400 feet back from R. On 18-inch cottonwood, 250 feet from high-water bank, near R. 195, 950.980 1, 098. 3 On 48-inch double cottonwood, 75 feet south of foot of plateau, 270 feet 603 (34) 597 (41) 598 (40) 599 (39) 600 (38) 601 (37) Cul-de-sac Island. 602 (35) 604 (33) 605 (32) Big Bend. 606 (31) 607 (30) 608 (29) On 30-inch cottonwood, one of a small grove on bluff slope, 1,600 feet On 14-inch elm, 250 feet from river, on bluff side, 600 feet below R. 154 "O" cut in top of bowlder, in ravine, 100 feet from river, at R. 149... 136 On 20-inch cottonwood. 55 feet from river, on edge of bench. 50 feet On 60-inch cottonwood, 300 feet from river, 1,500 feet below mouth On 72-inch cottonwood, 1,000 feet from river, 250 feet from high-water 609 (26) On 50-inch double cottonwood, on side of bluff, behind shore bar, 50 610 (25) 611 (23) 612 (22) 984. 549 1, 132.0 976. 659 1,132.3 982. 420 1,135.7 On 12-inch willow, growing from side of bluff, in ravine, 1,000 feet 983.701 1, 138.1 613 (21) 614 (20) D'Orion Island No. 1. On 40-inch cottonwood, 20 feet from south bank of Cedar Creek, 450 986. 116 1,133, 8 On southwest side 20-inch cottonwood. 130 feet from river, on lower 4 985, 979 1,140.2 615 (19) On 20-inch double elin, 60 feet from river, on bluff side, 350 feet be- On 20-inch cottonwood, 500 feet from river. 200 feet from high-water Descriptions and elevations of bench-marks on the Missouri River, etc.-Continued. No. Descrription. Eleva A bove the mouth. 616 (18) On 16-inch cottonwood, on north side ravine, just above R. 84, 120 617 (17) 618 (16) 619 (15) On 48-inch cottonwood, on bank of small stream, 1,500 feet from "O" cut into large granite bowlder, embedded in beach at foot of 620 (14) 621 (13) On 15-inch cottonwood, 300 feet from river, 300 feet below R. B. O "O" cut in top of large flat rock, under bank, one-quarter mile be On south side of 48-inch triple elm, 350 feet from river, just east of "O" on bowlder, embedded in beach, one-half mile below Rosseau, "O" cut in top of bowlder, embedded in dry runlet, 14 miles above On 72-inch cottonwood, branched into six stems, 250 feet from river, On 30-inch cottonwood, 170 feet from river, in cottonwood timber, just 1,006. 432 1, 157.9 995. 481 1, 158.6 1,000. 888 1, 160.4 1, 009. 992 1, 165. 9 1, 010. 018 1, 012. 278 4.1, 024. 615 1, 169.3 1, 170.5 1,019. 825 1, 172. 0 On 12-inch cedar, on bluff side, 200 feet from river, 500 feet below "O" cut in top of granite bowlder, on side of blaff, 600 feet below S. On south side 12-inch cottonwood, 5 feet east of east line of lot on On east side of 18-inch cottonwood, 50 feet west of G. P. Waldron's 1, 016. 689 1, 174.2 1, 015. 216 APPENDIX A 3. REPORT OF MR. JAS. A. SEDDON, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the physical data department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. As stated in last annual report but little remained to be done in the regular compilation of the data. This has been finished, consisting of the compilation complete with tabulations and reference maps of twenty-four cross-sections in the vicinity of Plattsmouth, and forty-nine cross-sections, with 22 miles of slope in the vicinity of Brownville. In addition to the regular compilation, eleven monthly cross-sections at Bismarck have been plotted on the regular cross-section sheets. Borings at Nebraska City previously compiled have been revised, and in part put in shape for publication. Also ten of the 1879 discharge observations on the Mississippi River, at Columbus, Ky., used in last annual report in connection with the Saint Charles sediment data, and in which errors were suspected, have been recomputed and found to have been in error about as there indicated. The yearly gauge sheets of 1886 for twenty regular gauges have been reduced and compiled with current histories. Also bridge gauge records received from Blair, years 1882 to 1887, and from Rulo, years 1883 to 1887, have been reduced and yearly gauge sheets compiled. The current gauge readings have been plotted as received for a check on the observers, and errors investigated. In the study of the data the following gauge relations were plotted: Sioux CityOmaha, 1820; Omaha-Plattsmouth, 1880; Plattsmouth-Plattsmouth Bridge, 1886 and 1887; Glasgow-Boonville, 1879 to 1885; Boonville-Jefferson City, 1884 to 1886; Boonville-Cedar City, 1881 and 1882; Jefferson City-Hermann, 1884 and 18-5; HermannSaint Charles, 1885. But as the general investigation of gauge relations and the va riations of discharge with gauge, mentioned in the last annual report, was making it more clear that mean discharge curves could not be relied on to determine the discharge without more light on the question of the shifting of these curves from time to time on the gauge scale, for this reason the special plotting of the Missouri River gauge relations was for the time stopped, and work in the main directed to several comprehensive collections of various classes of the data. Distances of bench-marks from the mouth were compiled for the revised list of "Bench-marks of the Missouri River, 1888." All available data in regard to bridges across the Missouri River were compiled, such as elevations of the extreme high waters at the bridge sites, clearance at high water, widths of spans, and actual water widths between spans at high and low water. A tabulation was made of all dates of ice closing and opening of the river from Sioux City to Saint Louis, with yearly and mean diagrams of same, for office record. These diagrams were made with the view of ultimately showing the mean climatic influences affecting the closing and opening of the river from point to point, though as yet the records do not uniformly cover a sufficient time for this. With the gauge and slope data collected, a comprehensive study of river profiles is in progress. At locations where gauges have been read the elevation of mean high water has been determined for points in a mean high-water plane; and with this a tabulation of the extreme high waters of 1884, where known, and of 1881 and 1883, has been made. Also a tabulation at each gauge of the height and duration of all the high waters above the mean high-water elevation, with diagrams showing the hydrographs of such crests referred to this as a datum plane. Also at all the gauges the mean normal low water has been determined for points in a mean low-water plane; normal low water being taken as the low water prior to the blocking of the river by ice, during which the low-water profile is very irregular. Between these points at the gauges it is proposed to fill out the profiles of mean high and low water from all the slope data that has been taken on the river, and to present with them profiles of bank elevation and extreme high waters as nearly as possible. The work of filling out these profiles is still in progress. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, First Lieut. THEO. A. BINGHAM, JAMES A. SEDDON, Corps of Engineers, Secretary Missouri River Commission. APPENDIX B. ANNUAL REPORT OF PRESIDENT MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, 1887 '88. MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, Saint Louis, Mo., July 10, 1888. GENTLEMEN: Work under the construction department of the Commission has consisted in repair, construction and care of plant, and in the construction of revetment work at Saint Joseph and Kansas City, Mo. All construction work was in progress at the date of last annual report and was continued during the remainder of the season as far as funds would allow. At Saint Joseph the rip-rapping of the revetment in lower Bon Ton Bend was completed by the placing of 557 cubic yards of rock, and some 3,000 cubic yards of rock were placed on weak points in the Elwood revetment. The steamer Alert and all the large barges were sent to Kansas City for use at that place. During the present season the whole point below the completed revetment at Bon Ton has cut away, and at the same time a very threatening change of channel has taken place above the Saint Joseph water-works. The effect of these changes has been to throw a strong current along the unprotected bank between Belmont and the head of the Elwood revetment. The protection of this bank should be undertaken as speedily as possible or the whole of the Elwood revetment will be washed out and lost. The nature of these changes is indicated on the map accompanying the report of S. Waters Fox, assistant engineer in charge of the Saint Joseph Division, to which reference is made for details, Appendix B 1. At Kansas City the unfinished revetment in East Bottoms was completed, its total length being 9,035 feet. Of this 2,900 feet were constructed during the present fiscal year and 635 feet of work of the previous season was completed. The incomplete work, done prior to June 30, 1887, suffered some damage during the high water of last summer which was made good in the fall, and there has been no further trouble. On September 22 work was begun at Little Platte Bend, and 4,500 feet of bank ta the lower end of the bend was protected. The only peculiarity of this work lay in the fact that the brush covering of the upper bank was omitted, the stone covering being laid directly on the graded bank. There is a considerable gain in economy by this method and the grading is more easily and effectually done. The work has stood well, but will require extension up stream to complete it. The dike across the slough at the lower end of the town was a most gratifying success. The accretions have been enormous, and are still going on. It will be advisable to raise the dike so as to bring them up to the level of the main bank more speedily, but I think that the East Bottoms work is secure against being flanked from this direction. During the flood of June and July, 1887, Pest Island and much of the bar in front of Kansas City were washed away. The sand thus carried off was dropped in the wide river in front of the East Bottoms and almost stopped navigation. When discovered it was too late to do anything even if funds had been available, and we were obliged to submit to the annoyance. One tow-boat was kept below the bar and one above; the barges being taken across both ways by the Melusina. To prevent a recurrence of this trouble, I think it will be necessary to put in silt-catching dikes, both in front of Kansas City and opposite East Bottoms, to remove this bar and prevent its reformation. This same flood caused additional small breaks in the Kaw Bend revetment, which were repaired in the fall, but further damage occurred this spring. Some of these latter breaks were repaired by the railroad companies whose tracks were endangered, but, as will be seen by Assistant Yonge's report, the lower point has been considerably eroded. I am greatly in hopes that this will obviate the trouble which I think is undoubtedly due to the great engorgement of the river at this point. The recession of the bank will open out the throat of the gorge and allow the water to escape more freely. At any rate nothing can be definitely predicted until a survey with cross-sections can be made at high water, for which funds are not now available. None of the other work on this reach or at Saint Joseph has shown any signs of weakness. All of the rock used on this reach was procured by hired labor at the Wayne City Quarry with the exception of a few hundred yards purchased at Quindaro. The brush was mainly procured at points below Kansas City. The rock had to be towed an average distance of 15 miles, and the brush an average distance of 64.4 miles-all up stream. This and the great difficulty of getting reliable labor has much enhanced the cost of the work. After the completion of field operations a low-water survey of the reach was made. All the plant used was hauled out on the bank at Quindaro, except the tow-boats which were wintered at Bushberg, near Saint Louis. For details see report of Assistant S. H. Yonge, division engineer, Appendix B 2. CONSTRUCTION OF PLANT. The fifteen new barges, alluded to in last year's report, were completed during the summer, but owing to low water in the Ohio, could not be brought out until this spring. They are now at Bushberg. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAS. R. SUTER, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, U. S. A., President Missouri River Commission. The MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION. APPENDIX B. 1. REPORT OF MR. S. WATERS FOX, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., June 30, 1888. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations under my charge, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. A map of the river in the vicinity of Saint Joseph, Mo., showing, approximately, the channel alignment and the changes of shore-line during the year, accompanies the report. The completion of the distribution of rock on the mattress constructed last year in Bon Ton Bend and the distribution of 3,000 cubic yards of rock on the Elwood revetment constituted the only remaining construction works contemplated by the project, for the expenditure of the available balance of the Saint Joseph allotment. Operations in the quarry were continued until July 23, producing 3,493.42 cubic yards of rock; this, with the balance of 131.45 cubic yards on hand July 1, was placed |