During the fall of 1887, in order to strengthen the dike and to cause the accretions throughout its length to reach a uniform height, those parts of the dike where the deposit was light were filled in with hay rubbish, weighted with sand and refuse stone, at a cost of $365. If the funds had been available for the purpose it would have been desirable to raise the dike this spring to a stage of ordinary overflow, so as to cause further deposits on top of the present accretions. REPAIRS TO AND CARE OF PLANT. In order to be able to store the boats for the winter at Quindaro, Kans., it became necessary to extend the ways and to make considerable repairs, the total cost of which, including all expenses, amounted to $2,773.71. The laying up of the boats, 86 in number, began November 1 and was completed November 26, at a total cost of $3,424.53. The current repairs of the season consisted of general repairs to barges, including calking, tow-boats, steam-laurch Melusina, machinery, tools, etc., the total cost of which, including the cost of the maintenance of the machine-boat, administration, etc., was $5,023.88. The total cost of caring for plant throughout the whole year amounted to $8,293.85. SURVEYS. A partial survey of the reach was made in July, and a complete survey, including the sounding of 252 cross-sections, during November and December. All of the works constructed since the spring of 1885 in the vicinity of Kansas City were carefully examined during the past month, and, with the exception of the revetment in Upper Kaw Bend, before referred to, proved to be in good condition. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. CHARLES R. SUTER, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., SAM. H. YONGE, Division Engineer. ENG 88 -149 President Missouri River Commission. BRIDGING NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. Report of the Board of Engineers relative to the construction of certain bridges across the Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers. 2. Bridge across Staten Island Sound, 3. Report of Board of Engineers on Sen- 6. Bridge of the Chicago, Saint Louis 7. Free wagon bridge across the Cumberland River near the city of Nashville, Tennessee. 8. Bridge of the Ohio River Railroad 20. 9. Bridge across the channel of the De- 10. International bridge of the Sault Sainte Marie Bridge Company across Sainte Marie River. 11. Bridge of the Nebraska Railway Company across Missouri River at Nebraska City. 12. Combined railway and wagon bridge of the Omaha and Council Bluffs 21. 22. High bridge across the Mississippi Bridge of the Ohio Connecting Rail- nessee. Bridge of the Kansas City and Memphis Railway and Bridge Company across the Mississippi River at Memphis, Tennessee. 23. Reports respecting interferences with navigation by bridges, causeways, and other structures. W W I. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS RELATIVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN BRIDGES ACROSS THE MISSOURI, MISSISSIPPI, AND ILLINOIS RIVERS. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY, Washington, D. C., March 5, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to return herewith S. 275, a bill "to authorize the construction of bridges across the Missouri River between its mouth and the mouth of Dakota or James River, and across the Mississippi River between the port of Saint Paul, in the State of Minnesota, and the port of Natchez, in the State of Mississippi, and across the Illinois River between its mouth and La Salle, in the State of Illinois, and to prescribe the character, location, and dimensions of the same," and to state in relation thereto that it was referred to a Board of Engineers, a copy of whose report thereon, together with the accompanying papers, are here with submitted. It will be seen that the Board has given the subject full and careful consideration; has studied diligently and with great clearness the characteristics and regimen of each of the rivers concerned, and prepared in great detail a bill to meet the requirements of navigation and commerce and at the same time do justice to the bridge interests. The Board recommends as follows: That all bridges "over the Missouri River above the mouth of the Platte River shall be high bridges with unbroken ŝpans, all spans over the water-way to have a clear channel-way of not less than 300 feet, and a clear head-room of not less than 50 feet above high-water mark." That all bridges "over the Missouri River below the mouth of the Platte River, and above the mouth of the Kaw River, shall be high bridges with unbroken and continuous spans, having at least one channel-span of not less than 400 feet clear channel-way; all other spans over the water way to have a clear channel-way of not less than 300 feet, and all said spans shall have a clear head-room of not less than 50 feet above high-water mark." All bridges over the Missouri River below the mouth of the Kaw River shall be high bridges with unbroken and continuous spans, all spans to have a clear channel-way of 400 feet, and clear head-room not less than 55 feet above high-water mark. All high bridges over the Mississippi River above the mouth of the Missouri and over the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers shall have one or more channel-spans, each having not less than 350 feet clear channelway, and not less than 55 feet clear head-room above high-water mark, and the clear head-room under other than channel-spans may be less than 55 feet, provided that no part of the superstructure of such spans shall give a less head-room than 10 feet above high-water mark. All low bridges within the above-mentioned limits shall have two or more draw-openings of not less than 200 feet clear channel-way, and in addition to said draw openings all said low bridges shall have one or more fixed channel-spans, each having not less than 350 feet clear channel-way, every part of the superstructure of said low bridge to give a clear head-room of not less than 10 feet above high-water mark; provided that all spans of both high and low bridges shall be so located as to afford the greatest possible accommodation to river traffic, and the draw-openings of low bridges shall, if practicable, be located next or near shore; provided, also, that in case of a low bridge, if the physical characteristics of the locality so require, and the interests of navigation be not injured thereby, the lengths of the fixed spans or the number of the draw-openings may be reduced; provided, also, that for any two adjacent draw-openings of 200 feet each one draw-opening of 300 feet may be substituted, if the interests of navigation be not injured thereby; provided, further, that in low bridges over the Illinois and Des Plaines rivers two or more draw-openings of not less than 160 feet each may be permitted. Ponton bridges similar to the ponton railway bridge at Prairie du Chien, Wis., may also be constructed; provided such bridges shall be provided with a ponton draw giving not less than 400 feet clear channelway for each navigable channel of the river, and such other openings for passage of rafts and logs as in the opinion of the Secretary of War may be necessary, etc. Bridges over the Mississippi River between the mouth of the Missouri and northern limits of the city of Saint Louis shall be high bridges with unbroken and continuous spans having one channel-span not less than 500 feet clear channel-way, all other spans to have clear channelway of not less than 400 feet, all spans to have clear head-room of not less than 55 feet above high-water mark. Bridges between the Eads's Bridge at Saint Louis and northern limit of the city to be high bridges with unbroken and continuous spans, not less than 500 feet clear channel-way and not less than 55 feet clear head-room above high-water mark. The remaining portion, if any, over the river-bed to have not less than 300 feet clear channel-way, and may have such reduced head-room as may be determined by the Board of Engineers elsewhere provided for. Bridges over the Mississippi River between Eads's Bridge and mouth of the Ohio River to be high bridges with unbroken spans, one channel-span of not less than 650 feet in the clear, other spans to have not less than 500 feet clear channel-way, and all spans not less than 65 feet above high-water mark. It will be seen that the Board was unable to decide upon the width of channel-spans for bridges between the mouth of the Ohio River and Natchez, Miss.; but recommends that all other spans shall have a clear channel-way of not less than 600 feet, and that all spans have a clear head-room of not less than 70 feet above high-water mark. This office approves the recommendations of the Board so far as they apply to all bridges over the rivers enumerated in the bill, except the portion of the Mississippi River below Cairo. The Mississippi River Commission, in considering a bill to bridge this river at Natchez, recommended not less than 750 feet for the length of the channel-span, and in a report upon a bridge at Memphis, copy herewith, recommended a channel-span of 1,000 feet at that place, the lengths of these spans being determined by the existing local conditions and the necessities of navigation at the localities. The Commission also recommended that both of these bridges should have a clear headway of 75 feet above high water. This office is of the opinion that all bridges erected over the Mississippi, between the mouth of the Ohio and Natchez, should have at least 75 feet clear headway above high water. As the physical features of the river and its banks vary materially in this portion, it seems impossible to fix upon a length of channel-span which will be sufficient for navigation at all localities without requiring an unnecessary length at some, which would be an undue hardship upon the companies proposing to construct a bridge at these latter places. It is therefore deemed best to leave the length of the channel-span to be required for the consideration and determination, with the approval of the Secretary of War, of the Board of Engineers, provided for in section 19 of the proposed substitute for the bill. It is therefore recommended that section 18 of the same bill be changed to read as follows: SEC. 18. That all bridges authorized by this act over the Mississippi River between the mouth of the Ohio River and Natchez, Miss., shall be high bridges with unbroken and continuous spans, having at least one channel-spau of the width to be prescribed by the Board of Engineer Officers provided for in the following section (19); all other spans over the water-way to have a clear channel-way of not less than six hundred feet, and all said spans shall have a clear head-room of not less than seventy-five feet above high-water mark. In view of the importance of this report to the general subject of bridging navigable waters it is respectfully suggested that its printing be recommended. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. |