was supposed to be mean low water. The rise and fall of the tide is represented on the map as being the same at Somerset and at Weir, 3.3 feet In our observations in 1:72, it was found to be about 54 feet at Dighton and 3.4 feet at Weir. It is quite certain that either the high or low water plane (or both) are incorrect in the lower part of the river on the Rosecranz map. In 1854 a bill appropriating money for this work passed both Houses of Congress but failed to receive the approval of the President. In 1868 a bill making an appropriation for this purpose passed the House but failed in the Senate. Under date of March 18, 1870, Maj. Jared A. Smith, United States Engineers, made, in obedience to instructions from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, a report upon the proposed improvement of this river from the plans already prepared. An appropriation was made by act of Congress, approved July 10, 1870, of $10,000. The work was placed under charge of Gen. J. G. Foster, United States Engineers. He advertised for proposals ou the 6th of September, 1870, but no satisfactory ones were received. He again, on the 8th of October, invited proposals for the work; the lowest received was at $1.50 per cubic yard. A contract was made but abandoned because the material was claimed as not dredgible. Again, on the 21st of February, 1871, General Foster invited proposals for the work. The lowest proposition was at $5 per yard, work to be commenced on or before July 1, 1871. On the 25th of May the charge of the work was transferred to Gen. George Thom, United States Engineers. The appropriation of $10,000 made in 1870, and that of $10,000 made by act approved March 3, 1871, were expended in dredging a channel through the "Needles," the most troublesome shoal. On the completion of this General Thom had a survey of the worst shoals made, and he estimated the amount of material to be removed to secure 9 feet depth at mean high water to Weir as 31,000 cubic yards. This amount was about twice as much as estimated by Captain Dutton and by Major Smith, but their estimates had been for 4 feet depth at mean low water, which would give but about 74 feet at high water. This improvement was transferred to Gen. G. K. Warren's charge July 1, 1872. During the season of 1872, surveys were made of the most troublesome parts of the river, and observations for the rise and fall of the tide at several points along the river between Dighton and Weir taken. From these tidal observations it was found that at low tide there was a fall in the water's surface of about 2.2 feet in the 6 miles between Weir and Dighton, and that after the tide had run out for a short time, the river assumes the character of a fresh-water stream, and near low water it is a fresh-water river, with pools and shoals; the depth in it depending chiefly upon the drainage supply from the river above. When there is a freshet in the river the flood tide is barely perceptible at Weir. These conditions produce a very strong ebb current, which, with the narrow channel and rocky shores, prevents any attempt being made to navigate except at or near high water, and the vessels are towed up and down between Dighton and Weir. The tugs start with their tows from Dighton as soon as the tide is high enough for them to get over the shoals in this part of the river, in order to reach Weir at or near high water, which occurs about 45 minutes later at Weir than at Dighton. If they did not start from Dighton until high water they would not reach Weir until after the tide had commenced to fall, so that they would be likely to strike on the shoals in this part of the river. To secure 9 feet draught to Weir it was necessary to make a greater depth in the lower part of the river so that vessels could start from Dighton long enough before high water to enable them to reach Weir by high water. To accomplish this the depth of channel improved was increased to 10 feet in the river below the "Needles." Detailed reports of this improvement have been made from year to year and are printed in the annual report of the Chief of Engineers. This improvement, giving a depth of 10 feet in the lower part of the river and 9 feet in the upper part, so as to secure 9 feet draught to navigation at high water and a width of 60 feet in its narrowest part, from Dighton to Weir, was completed last sea son. There has been expended on this work since its commencement the following amounts: To secure "11 feet depth at mean high tide from Dighton to Weir," is supposed to mean a navigable depth of 11 feet. To make a depth of 11 feet that will be available it will be necessary to have 12 feet depth from Dighton up to the "Needles" for the same reasons that required 10 feet here to secure 9 feet available depth. The estimates which follow are for a channel 11 feet deep from the bridge in Taunton to the lower end of the "Needles," and 12 feet deep from there to Dighton, both at mean high water. The widths proposed are 60 feet from the bridge to the ship-yard, a straight and narrow portion of the river; thence to Berkley bridge, 80 feet wide in the straight portions and 100 feet in the bends, and from this bridge to Dighton, 100 feet wide. The shoals improved since 1870 have been carefully surveyed so that reliable estimates can be made for further improvement; but in those portions in which there was 9 feet depth at mean high water no surveys have been made since that of Rosecranz, in 1852. I have noted in the estimates where made from maps made recently, and where from Rosecranz's map. The prices estimated are lower than those paid for the previous work, but the difficulties attending it will be much less. We have a good channel of 9 feet depth, free from bowlders. In the beginning of the improvement dredging could be done only at or near high water, and the material dredged was towed away with great difficulty. ESTIMATES. From the Weir bridge in Taunton to the ship-yard (from Rosecranz's map), 11,000 cubic yards sand and gravel, at 60 cents.. Peter's Point to Cobb's wharf (our survey), 8,900 cubic yards mud and sand, at 20 cents.... Berkley bridge to Peter's Point (our survey), 9,232 cubic yards sand and gravel, at 30 cents.... Berkley bridge shoal (our survey), to be dredged to 12 feet at mean high water, 12,300 cubic yards, chiefly sand, at 30 cents... Below the "Needles," in vicinity of Briggs's wharf (Rosecranz map), 1,800 cubic yards gravel and pebbles, at 60 cents.. Burt's shoal (our survey), 510 cubic yards gravel, pebbles, &c., at $1... For 800 feet below this shoal (Rosecranz map), 3,000 cubic yards gravel, pebbles, and sand, at $1... Pond Rock shoals (our survey), 6,620 cubic yards gravel, pebbles, and bowlders, at $1 From Brothers' shoal to Pond Rocks shoal (our survey), 21,753 cubic yards of gravel, pebbles, and sand, at $1. From zine works to and including the Brothers' shoal (our survey), 14,473 cubic yards sand and gravel at 60 cents.. $6,600 00 8,683 80 21,753 00 6,620 00 3,000 00 510 00 550 00 5,785 0 1,080 00 3,690 (0 2,769 60 At Peter's Point there is 530 cubic yards of ledge in the proposed channel, to be removed. 530 cubic yards of ledge, at $10.. In addition to this dredging there is probably 3,000 cubic yards of bowlders scattered along the sides and bottom of the proposed channel to be removed. 3,000 cubic yards, at $5.. From Cobb's wharf to 12 feet depth below (Rosecranz map), 10,000 cubic yards mud and sand, at 20 cents 1,780 00 2,000 00 15,000 00 5,300 00 The dredged material has heretofore been deposited chiefly in the vicinity of Grassy Island, near Dighton. This ground is nearly filled with dumps, so that hereafter all material will have to be carried about 2 miles further down, or about 8 miles from the upper end of the improvement. But one tow of dump-scows can be taken down in a day. If the improvement is undertaken, it should be begun at the lower end of each section at the same time, if the appropriation is large enough to warrant it. In this way the whole improvement could be completed in three years; the expense of superintendence would be less, and the advantages to commerce the sooner realized. Taunton is a city of 18,630 inabitants (1870). It is largely engaged in manufactures, having forty-one corporations and firms, whose monthly pay-roll exceeds $1,000 each. The capital invested in manufactures is $4,617,500, with a monthly pay roll of $208,900, amounting to about $2,500,000 in a year. The following is a list of the shipping owned in and hailing from Taunton: Of the above, 12,400 tons have been added since 1870. The commerce on this river for the year 1878 is given in the annual report to the Chief of Engineers, June 30, 1879, as follows: An appropriation of $6,500 to complete the printing and binding of the catalogue of the library of the Surgeon-General's Office. FEBRUARY 2, 1880.-Referred to the Committee on Printing and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 30, 1880. SIR: I have the honor to transmit to the Senate copy of a communication from the Surgeon-General of the Army, of this date, inclosing an estimate of the amount ($6,500) required to complete the printing and binding of the catalogue of the library of the Surgeon General's Office, and to recommend the subject to the favorable consideration of Congress. ALEX. RAMSEY, Secretary of War. The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. WAR DEPARTMENT, SURGEON-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., January 30, 1880. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith estimates, amounting to $6,500, for funds needed to complete the printing and binding of the two volumes of catalogue of the library of the Surgeon-General's Office, authorized by the following clause of the appropriation bill for sundry civil expenses of the government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, approved March 3, 1879: "For printing and binding the first and second volumes of catalogue of the library of the Surgeon-General's Office, twenty thousand dollars, to be immediately available." The estimates originally sent in by this office for the printing and binding of these two volumes were for $25,000, and were based upon the most reliable information it was then possible to obtain from practical printers who estimated the cost. The amount was reduced in the Appropriation Committee to $20,000. About 500 pages of the first volume have now been printed, and upon them the chief clerk in the office of the Public Printer has made an estimate for the cost of printing and binding each of the two volumes. It will be perceived that, according to the estimate, the cost of printing and binding the two volumes will be almost exactly that originally estimated by this office. In addition to this, however, in order to secure a |