10 + Dak. National Republican Printing Atlantic and Pacific Tele-, graph Company. D. R. Anthony, Leavenworth, Kans. Advertising ......do Book for War Department library Advertising National Republican Printing ......do Mohun Bros J. E. Tourtelotte, colonel and George Tyng, Yuma, Ariz.... William H. Thornton 11 Atlantic and Pacific Tele Albert E. Cochran .do Books for War Department library Advertising .do Books furnished to Lieut. F. V. Greene for use in army. Book for War Department library Telegrams in February, 1879. Services as clerk to board on Army equipments. George W. McCrary, Secre. Traveling expenses while on public business. 11 J. A. Dapray graph Company. 13 14 15 M. Morrison.. 15 20 20 20 21 tary of War. 24 Express Printing Company, 26 26 San Antonio, Tex. Western Union Telegraph Co T. C. H. Smith, paymaster James J. Chapman M. H. Cooke Adams Express Company 31 M. Morrison. J. L. Lomax J. A. Dapray 31 Apr. 16 16 George W. McCrary, Secre- Copying Jesse Dennett, clerk district 18 William Scanlan, sheriff Cam ......do. Living Age for 1879 Manderfield & Tucker, Santa Advertising Fé, N. Mex. George W. Knox 23 Sundry laborers, as per pay Farrel & Co 25 Charles S. Cudlip. 26 Sundry laborers, as per pay. 28 roll. M. Morrison A. J. Kennedy. Atlantic and Pacific Tele- Telegrams in March, 1879.. J. McDonald 29 Sundry laborers, as per pay roll. 30 30 .do. 30 M. H. Cooke. Books and expenses for court-martial case of D. Photolithographing and printing Moving telegraph office from old War Department IN 10 00 72.00 54 24 4 25 6.80 26 H. T. Crosby 28 J. L. Lomax 29 M. Morrison. 31 Sundry laborers, as per pay. 31 31 roll. Western Union Telegraph Co. ..do 31 Daniel Leonard 31 Henry C. Griffith. 31 W. H. Brown 31 George W. Graves 31 Fred. W. Royce. June 2 Telegrams in April, 1879. Lumber, &c., for War Department.. Services as assistant engineer War Department do Services as telegraph messenger in May, 1879.. Sundry laborers, as per pay. Moving furniture, &c., from old War Department 16 George W. McCrary, Secre- Traveling expenses while on public business 36 48 265 75 2,500 00 19 32 7 50 107 70 300 00 11 25 Copying 36 68 Cleaning steps and halls in new War Department 120 00 Telegrams in May, 1879. 68 05 37 73 80.00 Services as telegraph messenger in June, 1879 60 00 10.00 97 50 Services as conductor of elevator, War Depart- 60 00 Services as messenger, June 4 to 30, 1879. 44 51 55.00 5610 $39, 186 33 30 Western Union Telegraph Co Telegrams in June, 1879. Total.. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, IN RESPONSE TO Senate resolution, December 3, 1879, relating to improvement of Taunton River, Massachusetts, with estimates of cost of same. FEBRUARY 2, 1880.-Referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 31, 1880. The Secretary of War has the honor to transmit to the United States Senate, in obedience to resolution of that body, dated December 3, 1879, calling for in formation relative to the improvement of Taunton River, Massachusetts, with estimates of the cost of such improvement, &c., a letter of the Chief of Engineers, dated the 28th instant, and accompanying copy of report of Lieut. Col. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers, furnishing the information required. The PRESIDENT of the United States Senate. ALEX. RAMSEY, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, SIR: I have the honor to return herewith the resolution of the Senate of the United States, dated December 3, 1879, directing" the Secretary of War to furnish the Senate with any information in his department relative to the improvement of Taunton River, in the State of Massachusetts, with estimates of the cost of such improvement as will secure 11 feet of water in said river at mean high tide from Weir Bridge, in the city of Taunton, to the mouth of said river," and, in obedience to its requirements, to submit the accompanying copy of a report on the subject from Lieut. Col. G. K. Warren, Corps of Engineers, which will afford the desired information. It will be seen that to secure a depth of 11 feet at mean high water to Weir Bridge will require about $94,000, and with an appropriation of this amount the improvement may be completed in three years. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, Brig. and Bvt. Maj. Gen., U. S. A. Hon. ALEXANDER RAMSEY, Secretary of War. IMPROVEMENT OF TAUNTON RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, Newport, R. I., January 24, 1880. GENERAL: In obedience to your letter of instructions of December 6, transmitting a copy of a resolution of the Senate of the United States in regard to the further improvement of Taunton River, Massachusetts, I submit the accompanying report, prepared by Assistant Engineer J. P. Cotton. This report has been prepared from the maps and records of this office and by consultation with parties interested in the further improvement. It gives an account of the present condition of the river; a history of what has heretofore been done to improve it; an account of the importance of the business interests involved; and an estimate of the cost of securing a navigable depth of 11 feet at mean high water up to Weir Bridge, in the city of Taunton. It will require about $94,000 and three years' time. Taunton River is in the Fall River collection district. The amount of revenue collected there in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, was $18,970.05. The amount collected last year is not known at this office. Respectfully submitted, G. K. WARREN, Lieut. Col. of Engineers, Bvt. Maj. Gen., U. S. A. Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, REPORT OF MR. J. P. COTTON, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. ENGINEER OFFICE, UNITED STATES ARMY, GENERAL: I have the honor to present the following report upon the further improvement of Taunton River, Massachusetts, so as to secure 11 feet depth at mean high tide from Weir Bridge, in the city of Taunton, to the mouth of said river," with estimates of the probable cost of doing it. Taunton River rises in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, about 30 miles above Weir, measured along its course. The influence of the tide is perceptible in the low-water season as far up as Squawbetty, or East Taunton, 5 miles above Weir, where are located iron works, that receive their coal and ore by water. These are shipped to Dighton on coasting vessels, and there transferred to barges of about 40 tons capacity, and towed to the works by a small stern-wheel steamer. A bridge without a draw, a short distance above Weir, prevents vessels going farther up the river were the depth sufficient. The name Taunton River is applied to it as far down as Fall River, 14 miles below Weir; but from Fall River to Somerset, a distance of 6 miles, it is a wide tidal estuary, with sufficient depth for the largest coasting vessel. At Somerset it is crossed by the Old Colony Railroad, with a draw bridge. From Somerset to Dighton, about 2 miles, there is sufficient depth. From Dighton to the Weir Bridge, in Taunton, a distance of 6 miles, is the part in which a greater depth is sought, and for this our estimates are made. This part of the river is in many places not more than 100 feet in width, and before its improvement was undertaken had not more than 1 foot depth at low water and the channel much obstructed by bowlders. As early as 1848 the town of Taunton with the individuals interested in the navigation of the river, began its improvement, by hauling the bowlders out of the channel and digging and scraping on the shoals with men and oxen. At that time a vessel carrying 30 tons was as large as could be taken up to Weir. In 1852, in accordance with an act of Congress, a survey of the river from Weir to Somerset was made by Lieutenant Rosecranz, United States Engineers. In December, 1853, Capt. George Dutton, United States Engineers, submitted a report of this survey, with estimates for a channel 60 feet wide and 4 feet deep at low water. This report was not published. The soundings on the map of that survey were reduced to a plane 10 feet below a bench-mark at Weir. This bench-mark we have been unable to identify. This plane |