Part 6 (1/2)

”Just as the purpose of the improvements of these channels was to bridge the distance from deep water to deep water” says Arthur McGuirk, special counsel of the Dock Board, in a report of February 23, 1921, to the Board, ”so is the purpose of the Navigation Ca.n.a.l to bridge the distance from the deep water of the river to the proposed deep water channel of the lake.”

In the annual report of the chief of engineers, U.S.A., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, are listed the following waterways improvements and ca.n.a.l developments being made by the Government:

”Operating and care of ca.n.a.ls, $3,596,566.20.

”Cape Cod ca.n.a.l, purchase authorized, river and harbors act, August 8, 1917, cost not exceeding $10,000,000, and enlargement $5,000,000.

”Jamaica Bay channel, 500 feet width, 10 feet depth, to be further increased to 1,500 feet width entrance channel and 1,000 feet interior channel, maximum depth of 30 feet, length of channel 12 miles. Approved estimate of cost to United States not to exceed $7,430,000. River and harbors act of June 25, 1910. House doc.u.ment No. 1488, 60th Congress.

”Ambrose channel, New York harbor, appropriation new work and maintenance, $4,924,530.88, year ending June 30, 1919.

”Bay Ridge and Red Hook channels, $4,471,100.

”Locks and dams on Coosa River, Alabama-Georgia, $1,700,918.21.

”Channel connecting Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound, act of June 13, 1902, original project, for construction and maintenance total cost $7,809,812.42.

”Black Warrior river, 17 locks, Mobile to Sanders' Ferry, 443 miles.

Total to date, $10,101,295.54. Indefinite appropriation.

”Sabine Pa.s.s, act of June 19, 1906 and prior, channels, turning basins and jetties, March 2, 1907, and previously, total appropriations, $1,875,506.78.

”Trinity River, Galveston, north, 37 miles locks and dams. Act of June 13, 1902, house doc.u.ment 409, 56th congress. Estimate cost complete ca.n.a.lization of river, revised 1916, in addition to amounts expended prior to rivers and harbors act of July, 1916, in round numbers $13,500,000. Estimated annual cost of maintenance, $280,000.

”Houston to Galveston s.h.i.+p ca.n.a.l, act of July 25, 1912, and July 27, 1916. Cost, $3,850,000. Annual maintenance, $325,000.

”Rock Island Rapids (Ill.) and LeClaire ca.n.a.l, rock excavations, etc., act of March 2, 1907, dams, 3 locks, etc., to June 30, $31,180,085.62 and $130,158.03 for 1 year maintenance.

”Keokuk, Iowa (formerly Des Moines Rapids ca.n.a.l), old project (act of June 23, 1866), $4,574,950.00.

”Muscle Shoals Ca.n.a.l (Tennessee River), 36.6 miles, depth 5 feet, $4,743,484.50. Exclusive of cost of nitrate plant.

”Locks and dams on Ohio River, act of March 3, 1879, to act of March 2, 1907, including purchase of Louisville and Portland ca.n.a.l, $17,657,273.78.

”Estimated cost of new work, widening Louisville and Portland ca.n.a.l and changes in dams, $63,731,488. Annual maintenance covering only lock forces and cost of repairs and renewals, $810,000. Act of June 25, 1920, house doc.u.ment 492, 65th congress, first session. Also act of March 4, 1915, house doc.u.ment 1695, 64th congress, second session.

”s.h.i.+p channel connecting waters of great lakes, including St. Mary's river (Sault Sainte Marie locks), St. Clair and Detroit rivers, locks and dams, total appropriations to June 30, 1919, $26,020,369.68.

Estimate new work, $24,085.

”St. Clair river, connecting Lakes St. Clair and Erie, shoalest part was 12-1/2 to 15 feet. Improved at expense of $13,252,254.00. Estimated cost of completion, $2,720,000.

”Niagara river, $15,785,713.07.

”Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor, $4,492,809.80.

”Seattle, Lake Was.h.i.+ngton s.h.i.+p ca.n.a.l, in city of Seattle, from Puget Sound to lake; original project, act of August 18, 1894. Double lock and fixed dam. Length about 8 miles. Total appropriation to date, $3,345,500.00.”

These are only some of the larger projects. Of course there are a great number of such works, all over the country, constructed and maintained by the United States, sometimes alone, and again by co-operation with local authorities.