distance, thence taking a southwesterly direction down a straight reach to Dickerson's Shoals, six miles below Newton. (See sheet No. 45.)

On entering this reach the channel is kept in close to the right bank by a rock-reef extending out from the left bank nearly all the way across the river, leaving only 6 feet of water. Below this reef to the foot of the reach the river has an average width of 350 feet, with a clear and unobstructed channel and deep water.

Dickerson's Shoals consist of a reef of loose rock and bowlders, extending in a diagonal direction across the entire width of the river, which is about 500 feet wide at this point, the channel over it being very crooked, with only about 18 inches of water. It will be necessary to remove the rocks at this place for a distance of about 425 feet in the direction of the current, making the quantity of rock to be removed about 4,700 cubic yards, which, at $3 per yard, would amount to $14,100. The fall over these shoals is .26 foot per hundred feet, the fall of the pool above being .045 foot per hundred.

About 300 yards below the shoal the river is contracted to a width of 250 feet for a short distance, when it again reaches a width of 300 feet one-half mile below, at which point it is again obstructed by a rock-reef, (see sheet No. 46,) extending clear across, leaving a narrow channel, with about 5 feet of water. It will be necessary to remove the rock for a distance of about 150 feet on one side of the channel, which will amount to about 400 cubic yards, the cost of which, at $3 per yard, will be $1,200. The current through here is quite swift, with a fall of 1.5 feet to the hundred feet, the fall of the pool above being only .065 foot per hundred. One-fourth of a mile below the river is again similarly obstructed, but with no definite channel through it. It will be necê-sary to remove the rock for a distance of 100 feet, requiring the removal of about 1,000 yards of rock, at a cost of $3,000. The fall over this reef is about .7 foot per hundred feet, while that of the pool above is only .033 foot per hundred. Continuing in a southerly direction, the width of the river is gradually reduced to 250 feet, which width it retains until it approaches a small rock island about one-fourth mile below, where it reaches a width of 400 feet. This island lies about midway of the stream, the channel passing between it and the right bank. Immediately below is another smaller rock island to the right of the channel, which, before reaching this point, is diverted to the middle of the river, after passing which we have a clear and unobstructed channel for half a mile to the Rope-Walk Shoals, seven and a half miles below Newton. (See sheet No. 48.)

The obstructions at this point consist of a mass of loose rock and bowlders, extending clear across the river, which is over 500 feet wide at this place. An attempt was made by the State government in 1835, and several thousand dollars expended, to improve this reef, by removing the rock from the middle of the river and piling it to one side, forming a sluice-way 100 feet wide and 300 feet long, the fall through which is about 2 feet, and the velocity 7.8 feet per second, a current entirely too swift for boats to encounter in such a narrow place with safety, going up stream.

I would recommend that this sluice-way be increased to a width of 200 feet, bị removing the rock for an additional 100 feet toward the right bank, using the same to obstruct the remaining portion of the reef, through which there is also a very swift current. To check this extreme velocity through the sluice-way it will be necessary to lessen the fall by constructing a wing-dam just below, extending from a small island about 150 feet froin the left bank to the opposite shore, a distance of 300 feet. This should be built about three feet above the low-water stage, which would give a height of 11 feet in the deepest water, the cost of which I estimate at $15 per linear foot, making the total cost $4,500. The amount of rock to be removed to enlarge the sluice-way will be about 4,500 cubic yards, which will cost about $13,500. In addition to the reasons given above for the construction of this dam, the further necessity of it becomes more apparent when we consider the fact that the enlargement of this sluice-way will cause a sufficient depression in the water-slope to affect the other shoals immediately above, requiring them to be excavated to a greater depth, which would involve an expense greater than the cost of the dam.

The fall in the pool above these shoals is about .02 foot per 100 feet, and that imme diately below .005 foot per 100.

After passing these shoals the river sweeps around to the southward, in a reversed curve, for half a mile, to Bull's Slough, gradually contracting its width until it reaches that point, where it is about 300 feet wide, and is again obstructed by a reef of rocks extending out from the left bank to the head of a long narrow island, lying close in to the right bank, the main channel passing in between that shore and the island. Just above the island is a small mass of loose rock which should be removed, the expense attending which should not exceed $1,000.

In addition, it would also be advisable to complete the partial obstruction made by the reef on the left side of the island, by damming it up with the rock removed from the above-mentioned point.

Continuing in a southerly direction for about three-fourths of a mile, the river has an average width of 300 feet, with a clear open channel, when it makes a turn to the

southward, keeping this course for half a mile with the same average width, here entering a bend sweeping round to the westward and passing Hopkins' Obstructions, (see index map, sheet 51,) nine and a half miles below Newton. These consist of a cluster of islands, the intervening spaces between which are grown up with cypress-trees, many of which have fallen, forcing the channel close over to the right bank, with 8 feet of water in turning the point, which for some distance around is badly obstructed by overhanging trees, which could be removed at an expense of about $250. About a quarter of a mile below, at the foot of the bend, the channel is turned over close to the left bank by a long reef projecting out from the right bank and continuing some distance down the river, and at the lower end of which the river has a width of about 300 feet, which immediately below is reduced to 300, continuing through a series of tortuous bends, with an unobstructed channel and a variable width for a distance of five miles, to Keating's Shoals, fifteen miles below Newton. (See sheets Nos. 57 and 58.) These shoals embrace three distinct reefs, about a quarter of a mile apart, extending clear across the river, without any defined channel over them. On the first reef it will be necessary to remove the rock for a distance of 400 feet in the direction of the current, and 100 feet in width; on the second, a distance of 150 feet, and on the third a distance of 300 feet, necessitating the removal of about 9,000 cubic yards of rock, which, at $3 per yard, will amount to $27,000. The fall at the upper and lower reef is .20 foot to the 100 feet, while at the middle one it is .40 foot, the intervening pools above and below having a fall of about .02 foot per 100. Continuing in a southwesterly direction with a free and unobstructed current one-half mile below, passing two long, narrow islands lying close in to the left bank, the river enters a long and tortuous bend, almost immediately passing the mouth of the Ichawaynochaway Creek, a bold running stream 159 feet wide at its mouth and 15 feet deep, the most prominent tributary of the river helow Albany.

One-half mile below the mouth of this creek we reach Maple's Chute, (sce sheet No. (,) an artificial cut-off made from one part of the bend to another about a mile below through a narrow neck scarcely 200 feet wide, giving an abrupt fall of .85 foot through this short distance, which was formerly distributed around the bend. Being at right angles to the bend, and further obstructed by a rock island lying about midway of the chute, the passage through it down stream is quite dangerous, and the current through it being so swift, it is almost impossible to stem it up stream. The head of the bend is now fast filling up, and very soon will be impassable. I recommend no improvement and make no suggestions as to the best means to adopt to overcome the evil results of this wanton destruction of this portion of the river, as the damage done is irreparable within reasonable limits of expenditure.

After passing through this cut-off the river again takes a southwesterly direction, and half a mile below passes Sycamore Shoals, (see sheet No. 61,) the river having an average width of 350 feet, with a clear channel to that point. There is abundance of water over these shoals, but a large bowlder, lying immediately in the channel, needs removal, which can be effected by blasting at an expense of $100.

Continuing in a southwesterly direction for half a mile we reach Hell-Gate Shoals and Rapids, eighteen and a half miles below Newton, (see sheet No. 62.) The river is here spread out to about double its usual width, and obstructed with loose rock and bowlders extending pretty much all the way across the stream, leaving, however, a very crooked channel close in to the left bank, which is further obstructed by rocky ledges extending out from points on that shore. There is sufficient depth of water over the reef in the middle of the river to give a good channel by removing some of the larger rock, and I recommend that one be opened there, and the crooked channel next to the bank, which is entirely impracticable for navigation, closed.

Immediately below the reef two long rock islands, lying midway of the stream, extend continuously down the river, the lower end of the lower island approaching the right bank in a bend which the river makes to the castward. The shore on either side lined with rocky ledges, and the current quite swift. The main channel, passing between the upper island and the right bank, is abruptly turned as it reaches the lower end of the island, passing between it and the lower island, again making an abrupt tar on the other side, and a short distance below passing close to a rocky point extending out from the left bank. I recommend that this channel be obstructed by a wingdam extending from the head of the upper island to the right bank, a distance of about 30 feet, forcing the current over to the other side, and compelling a scouring out of a good channel through the gravelly bottom to the lower end of the island, where it would unite with the old channel. The cost of this dam will be about $5,250. The expense attending the removal of the rock from the middle of the river, and the closag up of the old channel, should not exceed $3,000. The fall over this reef is about .37 foot per hundred feet, which would be reduced to almost nothing after the construction of this dam.

One-fourth of a mile below we reach the Winding Shoals, (see sheet No. 63,) which extend down the river for a quarter of a mile with a very crooked channel through them, the river having an average width of 350 feet. Just before reaching the head of

the shoal the channel divides, one branch passing close in to the left bank between that shore and a rock island, forming the head of the shoal, causing a washing away of that bank; the other, approaching the right bank and passing through the loose rock, forming the shoal. There is plenty of water on this side, and it will only be necessary to renove the rocks, which are quite large and considerably scattered, for a distance of about 300 feet, to get a good and easy channel. About one-quarter mile below, at the foot of the shoals, the river is again obstructed by loose rocks extending all the way across for a width of about 150 feet, similar in character to the upper part of the shoa!. The aggregate quantity to be removed from both places will not exceed 2,500 cubic yards, which will cost $7,500. Continuing in a southerly direction, the river has a clear open channel and a variable width for half a mile to Crawford's Point, (see sheet No. 64,) where there is a sharp bend in the river with rocky projections extending out from the banks, the one below the point from the left bank, the one above from the right bank; the latter is quite dangerous to boats descending the stream, and the extreme point of it, for a distance of at least 50 feet, should be removed, the cost of which will prob ably be about $2,500. Here the river again takes a southwesterly direction with an average width of 300 feet down a straight reach, passing Cheevertown about half a mile below, twenty-one miles from Newton.

A cross-section of the river was taken at this point, and the low-water area found to be 1,761 square feet; the high-water area 10,740 square feet. The difference between extreme low and extreme high water at this point is about 32 feet, an increase of 5 feet over the difference at Newton, due to the decreased high-water area of the river. It will be observed, by an examination of the profile, that the general fall of the river immediately above and below, exceeds that on any other portion of the river.

Continuing its southerly course for one mile with a clear open channel and an average width of 300 feet, the river suddenly bends to the eastward, and continues in a general southerly direction, alternately bending to the right and left, with a clear unobstructed channel for a distance of nine and one-half miles to Fodder Stack obstructions, thirty-one and one-half miles below Newton. (See sheet No. 74.) The river is here contracted to a width of about 130 feet, with a rocky ledge on either shore, and 10 feet in the channel. Immediately after passing through this narrow place, we reach very deep water, a basin of some 500 feet in width having been formed by the washing away of the right bank, through the action of an eddy, extending down some 300 yards, at the lower end of which a ledge of rocks appears, spanning the entire width of the river, leaving a narrow channel close in to the left bank, immediately after passing which a rocky point projects out from the left bank. This ledge of rocks, extending across the river, is a mixture of flint and limestone, and I recommend that about 100 feet of it, next to the channel, be removed, as also a portion of the points of rocks extending out from the left bank, immediately below; the total quantity of rock to be removed will be about 600 cubic yards, at a cost of $1,800. After passing this reef, the river continues in a sonthwesterly direction for about s mile and a quarter with an average width of about 300 feet, when it makes an abrupt bend to the northward, about midway of which the river is narrowed down to a width of about 200 feet, by a projecting point of rocks extending from either shore, with 14 feet in the channel. This sudden contraction of the river, known as Cross Chute, (see sheet No. 76,) has caused an eddy below and the consequent washing out of the left bank. Just below the chute is a small rock island lying close over to the right bank, with a long sand-spit extending out from it toward the chute.

After passing the island the river is again narrowed down to a width of about 300 feet, and takes a westerly direction for about one fourth of a mile, when it sweeps around to the southward, and keeps that general direction to the cotton-factory, a distance of about five and a half miles; from which point it continues, with the same general width and an unobstructed channel, through a long and tortuous bend, to Bainbridge, forty-one and three-quarters miles below Newton, and seventy-five miles from Albany. The total fall from Newton to this place is 53.4 feet, the difference between extreme low and extreme high water being 32 feet. Below Bainbridge we meet with no serious obstruction until we reach Lambert's Island, (see sheet No. 89,) about ten and a half miles below. This is a small rock island, lying midway of the stream, the current, just before reaching it, being abruptly turned over toward the left bank, which here projects, leaving only a width of 150 feet between the head of the island and that shore. This space should be increased by cutting away the left bank and rounding off this abrupt corner, which would give an easy flow to the current past the island. The amount necessary to be excavated is about 20,000 cubic yards of earth, which will cost about 30 cents per yard, making $6,000. A short distance below, at Munnerlym's Ferry, a cross-section of the river was taken, giving a low-water area of 3,520 square feet, and a high-water area of 22,307 square feet. At the month of the river a cross-section was taken, which gave a low-water area of 4,500 square feet. The high-water area ai this point was impracticable, as the country bordering the right bank is a dense swamp for some distance back. The fall from Bainbridge to Chattahoochee is 17.4 feet, making the total fall from Albany 103.6 feet. The difference between extreme low and extreme high water at this place is 25.37 feet.

Total estimate for whole river..

Add 15 per cent. for contingencies and superintendence.....

Grand total.......

Respectfully submitted.

160, 750

24, 112

184, 862

HENRY K. HODGES,

Chief Assistant in charge of Flint River Survey.

R 6.

EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF HARBOR OF CEDAR KEYS AND CHANNEL LEADING TO SAME, FLORIDA.

An appropriation was made for this examination and survey by an act of Congress approved June 10, 1872.

The duty was assigned to Col. J. H. Simpson, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., by letter from the office of the Chief of Engineers, dated June 18. 1872, which also called for projects and estimates for the prosecution of the work. These were submitted on the 2d and approved on the 23d of July, 1872.

July 24th Mr. Gustave Jaenicke was placed in personal charge, with Mr. Charles F. Geisinger as an assistant, and furnished with the neces sary instructions for the prosecution of the survey. Operations were commenced August 12, which was as soon as the parties could reach Cedar Keys and complete the necessary preparations. Field-work was finished on the 12th of December, and the maps and report during the following January. Mr. Jaenicke reports that at present there is 10 feet of water over the outer bar at low, and 12 feet at high, tide. His map. however, shows somewhat less, or a little over 9 feet. By his map, after passing the outer bar, there is 12 feet or more up to a point where the channel makes a curve, passing around to the eastward and northward of Harbor Key.

Throughout this bend the water is generally less than 11 feet deep. and in places there is less than 8; from the upper part of this bend to Cedar Keys there is a depth of at least 11 feet.

He proposes to improve this channel so as to give 12 feet of water at mean low tide throughout:

First. By dredging a cut through the outer bar from the 12-foot curve outside to the same inside, the cut to be 12 feet deep at mean low tide, and 150 feet wide, with a slope of 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot perpendicular.

Second. To dredge a channel across the bend, of the same depth and width, from the 12-foot curve above to the 12-foot below Harbor Key, and passing to the westward of it.

These two proposed cuts he carefully sounded and made frequent borings to determine the cost as accurately as possible.

He estimates for the first, or bar—

The removal of 32,589 cubic yards of material, at 50 cents per cubic yard.... $16,24 3 Contingencies, 10 per cent..

Total

And for the second, or upper cut—

1,629 47

17.923 9.

The removal of 210,142 cubic yards of material, at 50 cents per cubic yard. $105, 1 Contingencies. 10 per cent.

Total for both cuts

10,507 10

By his borings he found the bottom composed of a mixture of mud. sand, and shell down to about the proposed depth of 12 feet, when he encountered rock.

These channels can therefore be easily dredged. He is also of opin ion that they will keep open, as the currents, both ebb and flood, set in