APPENDIX VV. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, SIR: The Missouri River Commission beg leave to submit herewith their annual report upon the operations committed to their charge during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. SURVEYS. This work has been carried on by allotments from the appropriations for improvement, there being no specific appropriation for the purpose. The only field work done consisted of a line of precise levels run from Saint Charles, Mo., to the Saint Louis city directrix to fix accurately the elevation of the Missouri River system of levels. In the office work has been continued on the reduction and compilation of all physical data in possession of the Commission, with a view to its publication. The survey of the Missouri River is still incomplete. The triangulation is still to be carried from Leavenworth, Kans., to Trover's Point, Mont., 1,520 miles, permanent bench-marks over the same distance, and also from Berlin, Mo., to the mouth of the river, a total distance of 1,652 miles. Topography and hydrography are required from Fort Pierre to Fort Benton, 1,100 miles. This work is of great national importance, and it is much to be regretted that adequate means have not been furnished for completing it. For details of work done reference is made to the report of the secretary of the Commission and its appendices. CONSTRUCTION. Under this head work has been carried on in the vicinity of Kansas City and Saint Joseph, Mo. These operations were in progress at the date of the last annual report and were continued until the practical exhaustion of the funds in the hands of the Commission. At Saint Joseph the revetment of Bon Ton Bend, constructed in the early part of the season, was completed by placing a covering of rock on the upper bank protection, and some 3,000 cubic yards of rock were also distributed over portions of the Elwood revetment. The greater portion of the plant was sent to Kansas City for use at that point. Recent changes in this reach indicate the immediate necessity of continuing the Elwood revetment up-stream to Belmont, and work will also be needed in the bend above the Saint Joseph Water-works. At Kansas City the revetment of the east bottoms was carried to completion, a total distance of 9,035 feet, of which 6,135 feet had been constructed earlier in the season. Work was then carried on in Little Platte Bend above Parkville, and 4,500 feet of bank was protected by revetment. In addition to this work some small repairs were made to the revetment of 1885 in Upper Kaw Bend, and the dike across the slough at the lower end of Kansas City was repaired and strengthened. This dike, put in to prevent a change of channel in front of the city, has been entirely successful. All the work of construction was carried on under great difficulties, owing to the scarcity of reliable labor. PLANT. The fifteen new barges in process of construction at date of last annual report were completed and delivered. For details of work see report of the president of the Commission and its appendices. SURVEYS AT SPECIAL LOCALITIES. No further work under this head was done during the year, but, in answer to a call for information from Congress, a special report was made upon the condition of affairs at Sioux City, Iowa, with estimate of cost of bank protection desired in that vicinity. (Published as Sen. Ex. Doc. No. 149, Fiftieth Congress, first session.) RECOMMENDATIONS. The funds in the hands of the Commission are now about exhausted, being only sufficient to provide for watching plant and public property for a few weeks longer. Under these circumstances the Commission can make no exhibit of work contemplated for the present season, as this must necessarily depend on the provisions of the river and harbor bill now before Congress. With regard to the year ending June 30, 1890, the Commission renew their recommendation that at least $1,000,000 be appropriated for con-. tinuing the general improvement of the river now in progress from Kansas City down-stream. This general appropriation should be in addition to such sums as Congress may see fit to devote to special localities. If less sums than the one recommended be appropriated annually it will be many years before the work can be carried far enough to show any results of value, and the cost will be greatly increased. No engineering difficulty has as yet presented itself to suggest any doubt as to the possibility of carrying the work to a successful conclusion, provided funds are supplied as asked for; but it is proper to state here that during the four years of its existence the Commission have received but two appropriations, aggregating $875,000 less, it will be seen, than their estimate for a single year. For continuing the survey of the Missouri River; for the examinations and observations required in a thorough study of the problem confided to them, and for salaries, traveling, and office expenses, the Commission recommend an appropriation of $150,000. They also renew their previous recommendation that the $15,000 appropriated for a survey of the Missouri River above the Missouri River Falls, at Fort Benton, be made available for the general survey of the river. The recommendations of the Commission for the year ending June 30, 1890, are recapitulated as follows: (1) Appropriation for the improvement of Missouri River from its mouth to Sioux City (2) Appropriation for surveys and examinations.... $1,000,000 (3) Appropriation for office and traveling expenses and salaries of Commissioners 120,000 (4) Re-appropriation for general survey of Missouri River of the item of $15,000 appropriated in the act of July 5, 1884, for survey of river above the falls... 30,000 15,000 Money statement. July 1, 1887, amount available.. Cash received from sales of fuel to officers.. $177,995.86 182.96 178, 178.82 July 1, 1888, amount expended during the fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1888. outstanding liabilities.. $155,637.68 July, 1, 1888, unallotted (appropriation for a survey of the July 1, 1888, balance available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... 15,000.00 170,712, 37 7,466, 45 1, 000, 000, 00 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1839.. Respectfully submitted. 1,007, 466. 45 Hon. Wм. C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. (Through the Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.) List of civilian engineers employed on work of river and harbor improvements in charge of Missouri River Commission from July 1, 1837, to June 30, 1888, inclusive, under the river and harbor appropriation act approved August 5, 1886. [Improving Missouri River from its mouth to Sioux City.J Name and residence. A. H. Blaisdell, Saint Louis, Mo O. W. Ferguson, Saint Louis, Mo* D. C. Humphreys, Lexington, Va*. ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, 1887-'88. MISSOURI RIVER COMMISSION, Saint Louis, Mo., June 30, 1888. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following annual report of the work in charge of the secretary of this Commission, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. CHARLES R. SUTER, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, THEO. A. BINGHAM, First Lieutenant of Engineers, Secretary. President Missouri River Commission, Saint Louis, Mo. SURVEYS. Except a little precise leveling no work was done during the year. The gap in triangulation still to be completed is from Fort Leavenworth, Kans., to Trovers Point, Mont., 1,520 miles. The gap to be filled with permanent bench-marks is about 1,787.5 miles, there being intervals still incomplete between Waverly, Mo., and the mouth of the river of 267.5 miles. The precise leveling, above referred to, was done to connect the elevations of the Missouri River permanent bench-marks with the Saint Louis City Directrix. Report to you of November 21, 1887, gives the results, and to it reference is respectfully made. (Hereto appended, marked Appendix A 1.) The list of Missouri River bench-marks, with their descriptions, elevations, etc., was revised, amended, and corrected to date, and an edition of 240 copies printed in May, 1888, at a cost of $0.67 per copy. It is hereto appended marked Appendix A 2. The fleet and plant used for surveys have been cared for on the Kansas City division, being utilized for construction work when so needed. PHYSICAL DATA. The compilation of the data on file has been completed. In addition to the regular ones, 11 monthly cross-sections of the river at the Bismarck, Dak., Bridge have been added to our files. |
