Report authorized.-By review resolution adopted by the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, June 27, 1945.

Existing project. The improvement of St. Petersburg Harbor authorized by Congress provides for an entrance channel 200 feet wide and 20 feet deep extending northerly about 5.5 miles from deep water in lower Tampa Bay, thence a channel 250 feet wide and 19 feet deep leading westward to the basin at the port of St. Petersburg, a distance of about 1 mile, and for a depth of 21 feet over an area 1,400 to 1,700 feet long and 900 feet wide in the port. In September 1945, as a war emergency measure to insure an uninterrupted supply of fuel oil to the electric plant of the Florida Power Corp., a basin in Bayboro Harbor about 1,300 feet long on the south and 700 feet long on the north and 800 feet wide was dredged to a depth of 12 feet. In 1943 Salt Creek was dredged to a depth of 10 feet over a width of 50 to 75 feet for a distance of about 1,500 feet from its mouth.

Plan of recommended modification of existing project.-The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors recommends modification of the existing project for St. Petersburg Harbor, Fla., to provide for an entrance channel 300 feet wide and 24 feet deep from that depth in Tampa Bay southwesterly to the present entrance channel, thence westerly along the alinement of the existing entrance channel to Bayboro Harbor; a 24-foot depth throughout the port of St. Petersburg and between the entrance channel and the Maritime Service south bulkhead, from 1,600 to 2,200 feet long and about 900 feet wide; a channel 100 feet wide and 15 feet deep in Bayboro Harbor along the southwesterly 300 feet of the Maritime Service bulkhead; a basin in Bayboro Harbor 12 feet deep, 700 to 1,400 feet long, and 800 feet wide; and a channel 12 feet deep, 75 feet wide, and 300 feet long in the mouth of Salt Creek; all generally in accordance with the plan of the district engineer and with such modifications thereof as in the discretion of the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers may be advisable.

Estimated cost to United States.-$208,300.

Local cooperation. The modification is recommended subject to the provision that local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will (a) furnish without cost to the United States, all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoil-disposal areas necessary for the initial construction and subsequent maintenance, when and as required; (b) hold and save the United States free from damage due to the construction works and subsequent maintenance; and (c) strengthen or move such municipal and privately owned structures as may be necessary to safeguard both the channels and adjacent lands and structures, all in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers.

Annual cost of maintenance.-$4,000 in addition to that now required.

Benefits. The evaluated annual benefits total $20,725, of which $14,400 represents savings to the Maritime Service training station in trucking and handling of supplies and in transporting trainees and administrative personnel to and from ships, $2,000 in savings in transporting passengers and coastwise cargo overland from Port Tampa, $400 is for the elimination of inconvenience and extra costs of shifting small vessels, $3,250 is the saving in the cost of transporting and handling 65,000 tons of sand and shell by making delivery by

barge, and $675 is for reduction of delays of barge tows and of minor damage and delays to other vessels including those of the United States Coast Guard. The benefit-cost ratio is 1.53.

Remarks.-The United States Maritime Service has a school at St. Petersburg valued at about $3,000,000. Its activities include the training of 1,000 merchant seamen in the fiscal year 1948. The 24foot channel improvement was requested by Maritime Service. A representative of the Maritime Service stated that the 24-foot depth would permit entry of its boats, the largest of which has an economical draft of 23 feet, which would result in savings of $1,000 a month in operation of the station. Approximately 60 percent of the benefits would accrue to the Maritime Service. The improvements would provide suitably for the United States Maritime Service training station and for the needs of present and reasonably prospective commerce of the harbor and is economically justified.

HORSESHOE COVE, FLA.

(H. Doc. 106, 81st Cong., 1st sess.)

Location. Horseshoe Cove is an indentation in the gulf coast of Florida about 18 miles southeast of the mouth of the Steinhatchee River and 10 miles northwest of the mouth of the Suwannee River. Report authorized.-By review resolution adopted by the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, November 8, 1945.

Existing project.-There is no Federal project for the improvement at Horseshoe, Fla. Local interests have provided an irregular channel 2 to 5 feet deep near and parallel to the shore at Horseshoe.

Plan of recommended improvement.-Adoption of a project for Horseshoe, Dixie County, Fla., to provide for a channel 6 feet deep and 75 feet wide from water of that depth in the Gulf of Mexico to and including an irregular-shaped basin of like depth at the village of Horseshoe.

Estimated cost to United States.-$194,000.

Local cooperation. The project is recommended provided local interests furnish assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will: (a) Furnish free of cost to the United States all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoil-disposal areas for the initial work and for subsequent maintenance, when and as required; and (b) provide and maintain, without cost to the United States, adequate public mooring facilities and utilities, including a landing with suitable supply facilities, open to all on equal terms.

Annual cost of maintenance to United States.-$5,000.

Benefits.-The annual benefits are estimated at $15,350, which includes $6,400 for elimination of lost fishing time, $4,500 for increased oyster production, $2,450 for reduced boat maintenance, and $2,000 for elimination of fish and oyster spoilage. The benefit-cost ratio is

1:2.

Remarks. The proposed improvement would eliminate practically all difficulties attending present navigation; permit use of larger boats suited to more diversified fishing, including charter boats for sports fishing; permit operation of recreational craft; and improve conditions adversely affecting the public welfare of the community.

LA GRANGE BAYOU, FLA.

(H. Doc. 190, 81st Cong., 1st sess.)

Location.-La Grange Bayou, Fla., is a shallow tidal arm of Choctawhatchee Bay on the Gulf coast of western Florida, about 70 miles east of Pensacola. It extends northeastward a distance of 2 miles from the north shore near the eastern end of the bay. Four Mile Creek is a narrow tidal stream affording natural depths of 7 feet or more from the upper end of the bayou to the head of navigation at Freeport, Fla., a distance of 1.5 miles.

Report authorized by.-The River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945.

Existing project. The existing project for La Grange Bayou provides for a channel 9 feet deep, 100 feet wide, and about 4.5 miles long from Choctawhatchee Bay to Freeport. The costs to the United States for the project as of June 30, 1947, were $64,151 for new work and $37,073 for maintenance. The Gulf section of the Intracoastal Waterway, with an authorized channel 12 feet deep and 125 feet wide, extends through Choctawhatchee Bay.

Recommended plan of improvement. To provide a channel 12 feet deep and 100 feet wide from that depth in Choctawhatchee Bay to the highway bridge across Four Mile Creek at Freeport, Fla., and for a turning basin of the same depth 200 feet wide and 400 feet long at Freeport.

Estimated cost to United States.-$99,000.

Local cooperation.-The improvement is recommended subject to the condition that local interests agree to furnish, without cost to the United States, all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoil-disposal areas for construction and maintenance of the improvement, when and as required, and hold and save the United States free from damages resulting from construction and maintenance of the improvement. The cost to local interests for land is estimated at $300.

Annual cost of maintenance to United States.-$2,500 in addition to that now required.

Benefits. The prospective general benefits are estimated at $9,137 annually, consisting of $4,937 in savings in transportation costs on petroleum products, $1,500 for reduction in damages to floating equipment, and $2,700 from the elimination of delays in handling barges. The ratio of benefits to cost is 1.4.

Remarks. Lack of sufficient depth in La Grange Bayou prevents the safe and economic use of standard floating plant loaded to the most economic draft. Also the lack of a turning basin contributes to congestion in the waterway, hinders loading operations, and results in hazardous towing practices. The deeper channel will permit the use of deeper-draft barges, compensate for extremely low tides, and result in lower unit transportation costs. The turning basin will reduce delays in maneuvering barges and eliminate use of the present hazardous method of towing stern first from Freeport to Choctawhatchee Bay. Improvement of La Grange Bayou is needed to provide adequately for navigation activities in the area and finds that prospective benefits justify the estimated expenditures necessary for the proposed work.

FLY CREEK, FAIRHOPE, ALA.

(H. Doc. 194, 81st Cong., 1st sess.)

Location.-Fly Creek, a small stream about 4.5 miles long, rises in Baldwin County, Ala., and enters Mobile Bay from the east at the town of Fairhope, Ala., 13 miles southeast of Mobile. The lower 1,200 feet of the stream is tidal.

Report authorized by.-The River and Harbor Act approved March 2, 1945.

Existing project.-There is no Federal project for improvement of Fly Creek. The improved channel in Mobile Bay, with a project depth of 32 feet, is located about 7 miles offshore from the mouth of the creek. Local interests have provided a channel in the tidal reach of Fly Creek 5 to 6 feet deep and about 25 to 30 feet wide, dredged several small slips, constructed minor terminal facilities, and constructed a timber jetty 150 feet long at the entrance, all at a cost of about $9,100.

Recommended plan of improvement.-To provide a channel 6 feet deep and 80 feet wide from deep water in Mobile Bay to and including a turning basin 6 feet deep, 130 feet wide, and 350 feet long located near the first bend in Fly Creek.

Estimated cost to United States.-$14,000.

Local cooperation. The project is recommended subject to the provision that responsible local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will (a) provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, rights-of-way, and spoildisposal areas necessary for the construction and subsequent maintenance of the project, when and as required; (b) hold and save the United States free from damages due to the construction and subsequent maintenance of the works; (c) provide at their own expense necessary mooring facilities, including a public landing with suitable supply facilities, parking areas, and an all-weather access road to the harbor facilities; (d) maintain the existing timber jetty at the mouth of the creek; and (e) establish a competent and properly constituted public body empowered to regulate the use, growth, and free development of the harbor facilities with the understanding that all such facilities shall be open to all on equal terms. The cost to local interests is estimated at $14,000.

Annual cost of maintenance to United States.-$2,000.

Benefits. Fifteen recreational craft, with drafts up to 6 feet, now based at Mobile would use Fly Creek if improved. The proposed improvement would, to a large extent, eliminate damage and loss, resulting from grounding and cramped conditions, suffered by many of the owners of the 45 craft now based in the creek. The benefits are estimated at $4,200 to the boats based at Mobile and $2,200 to those based in Fly Creek, a total of $6,400. The resulting benefitcost ratio from evaluable benefits is 1.25. Intangible benefits from use of Fly Creek as a harbor of refuge would be sufficient to materially enhance the benefit-cost ratio.

Remarks. The nearest other protected inlet on the east shore of Mobile Bay is at Weeks Bay, 16 miles south of Fly Creek. There is urgent need for a small-boat harbor on the east coast of Mobile Bay

in the vicinity of Fairhope to provide suitable accommodations and a harbor of refuge for the numerous recreational craft and fishing vessels which will operate in that locality. The estimated tangible benefits are sufficient to justify expenditure of the necessary funds.

PASCAGOULA HARBOR, MISS. (DOG RIVER)

(H. Doc. 188, 81st Cong., 1st sess.)

Location.-Pascagoula Harbor, Miss., is on Mississippi Sound, an arm of the Gulf of Mexico, 32 miles west of the entrance to Mobile Bay, Ala. The harbor proper extends 7 miles upstream from the mouth of Pascagoula River to its junction with Dog River, thence easterly 4 miles along the latter stream. The channel of Dog River in the lower 1 mile is through Beardslee Lake, thence through a series of sharp bends to mile 3.4. Adjoining the latter reach on the north are Robertson and Bounds Lakes.

Report authorized by.-Review resolution adopted by the Committee on Public Works, July 17, 1947.

Existing project.-The improvement of Pascagoula Harbor authorized by Congress provides for a through channel of the maximum dimensions that can be secured by the expenditure of $283,000, but not exceeding 25 feet deep and 300 feet wide across the outer bar at Horn Island Pass, thence 22 feet deep and 225 feet wide to the railroad bridge at Pascagoula, and thence 22 feet deep and 150 feet wide, increased at sharp bends, to a point on Dog River 4 miles above the mouth. The project south of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad bridge has been completed but no new work or maintenance has been performed on the project in Pascagoula and Dog Rivers above that bridge, as the channels in that reach have been adequate for navigation. Costs to June 30, 1947, have been $258,040 for new work and $1,227,688 for maintenance. The latest approved estimate of annual cost of maintenance is $5,000 for the outer bar channel at Horn Island Pass and $100,000 for the channels in the river and across Mississippi Sound.

Plan of recommended modification of the existing project. To provide for a channel 12 feet deep and 125 feet wide above State Highway 63 bridge through Robertson and Bounds Lakes and thence up Dog River to mile 4, in lieu of that part of the present project channel upstream of the State Highway 63 bridge over Dog River.

Estimated cost to United States. $41,000.

Local cooperation. The improvement is recommended provided that local interests give assurances satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army that they will: (a) Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, spoil-disposal areas, and rights-of-way necessary for construction of the improvement and its subsequent maintenance, when and as required; and (b) hold and save the United States free from damage due to the construction works. The canal would cross low, swampy land of negligible value and no cost for rights-of-way is included.

Annual cost of maintenance to United States.-None in addition to that now required.

Benefits. The annual tangible benefits are estimated at $10,580 of which $6,200 is savings in running time by pulpwood tows, $1,080 is savings in towing charges due to elimination of the necessity for breaking tows at the bridge, $2,060 is savings in wages by reducing