EXPENDED UPON VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THE WORK. Road construction. New road To South Boundary. Near Norris... Near Fountain.. On lake shore (beach). Above Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River To Inspiration Point, being a part of the main belt line from Grand Canyon to Mammoth Hot Springs $5, 270.43 4, 911.08 3, 737.32 1, 440.37 Large bridges. $18,975.91 In the St. Paul office there has been completed a general relief mad of the Park and the Forest Reserve, compiled from latest data. (Scale, 1 inch 2 miles.) The subjoined report on the Park bridges is the result of a special examination ordered by me, and is here entered for record. FLOOD AND WASHOUTS, SPRING OF 1894. During my inspections in April and May, 1894, I became aware of an extraorninary volume of snow in the mountains that drain through the Park, that fell largely during the months of February and March. Early in May this snow had hardly commenced to move, and hence it was apparent that it would go off very rapidly, creating unusual floods, and I accordingly made such disposition as was possible to minimize the damage. A patrol party on snowshoes was placed in Spring Creek Canyon, and when the flood came they were able to control it completely, and no damage was done to the roadway through this weakest point in our line. Another party was placed in Gardiner Canyon, and another was put out where it could go either to Gibbon Canyon or Virginia Cascade and at the same time attend to repairs that were imme * Omitted. diately required. Another party was sent to watch the bridge over Lamar River, which was in a very critical condition. When the crash came it was far more severe than had been anticipated, and the mountain torrents, along the banks of which our roads frequently run, rose to heights far above any previous record. In some cases, where the banks of the torrents were the retaining walls of the road, the latter was more or less submerged and the retaining wall carried away. In Gardiner Canyon bowlders of great size could be seen rolling down the bed of the stream. Here the greatest damage was done. About 600 feet of retaining wall was carried away, and a bridge located in a double bend caused the river to cut a new channel, eaving the bridge along the bank on one side of it. In Virginia Canyon the roadway was entirely submerged, causing a damage that can be entirely remedied in about ten days. In Gibbon Canyon three washouts of the retaining wall occurred, which can be repaired fully in ten or twelve days. The bridges withstood the flood in a remarkable way. Several were wholly or partly submerged in raging torrents which ran around their extremities. The one over Lamar River spans a stream 156 feet in width and the current, running at least 12 miles per hour, brought large quantities of driftwood upon it. The watchman stationed here, with such assistance as he could get from Soda Butte ranch, was kept at work night and day cutting away this driftwood and letting it pass. The water ran over the top of this bridge and around both ends of it. The small rustic bridges across Blacktail Creek and East Gardiner River went out, but were replaced within a day. Co sidering the great mileage of the Park road system and its frequent location in gorges and canyons alongside the mountain streams, the damage done was comparatively slight. The passage of vehicles was not suspended for more than a single day, and within ten days travel was unimpeded over the whole road system; the Gardiner Canyou bridge being replaced by a low stringer bridge and a ford. It may safely be claimed that the damage was minimized by the precautions taken. Amount expended during fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, including outstanding liabilities, $36,000. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended. Money statement. June 30, 1894, amount expended during fiscal year July 1, 1894, balance unexpended. July 1, 1894, outstanding liabilities. Amount appropriated by act of August 18, 1894.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1895.... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. $38, 810.56 37, 170. 41 1, 640. 15 1, 640. 15 30,000.00 30,000.00 *130, 000. 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1896 150,000.00 REPORT OF MR. CHARLES A. HUNT, OVERSEER. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyo., July 25, 1893. MAJOR: I have the honor to make the following report upon the condition and character of bridges in Yellowstone National Park. The first bridge upon entering the Park is at the crossing of the Gardiner River. Log: 1 span, with support in 14 4 3 span King truss; log, except Good, except needs Do. At Golden Gate, 3 miles from Over Indian Creek, or Gardi- Over Willow Creek, less than Over Obsidian Creek, near Ob- (2) Over Gibbon River at Norris, 193 miles from Mammoth Hot Springs. One 8-foot, one 16-foot, and two 32-foot log bridges, built in 1884 over small creeks, near hot springs and about 1 mile down Gibbon Canyon from Gibbon Meadows. All in fair condition. According to estimate of 1889, which was too low. Location of bridge Length. Width. Character. Condition. Over Gibbon River, about 2} miles above Gibbon Falls. Over Gibbon River, about 12 miles above Gibbon Falls. Over Gibbon River, about 1 mile below Gibbon Falls. Over Firehole River, about 13 miles toward old Firehole Hotel, from Excelsior Gey. ser on old road. Over Firehole River, about 1 mile from Excelsior Geyser toward Upper Basin. Over Firehole River, abont 1 mile from Old Faithful toward Fountain. Over Firehole, about 3 mile from Old Faithful toward West Thumb. Over Firehole River, about 24 miles from Old Faithful toward West Thumb. Over Firehole River, about 34 miles from Old Faithful toward West Thumb, near mouth of Spring Creek. Over ravine, about 9 from Old Faithful toward West Thumb. Over small run, about 14 miles from junction of roads at West Thumb toward Upper Basin. Over head of ravine, about mile from junction of roads at West Thumb toward Upper Basin. Atoutlet of creek, about 2 miles from junction of roads at West Thumb toward Lake Hotel. Over creek, about 33 miles from junction of roads at West Thumb toward Lake Hotel. Over creek. about 4 miles from Thumb toward Lake Hotel. Over creek, about 9 miles from Thumb toward Lake Hotel. Over creek, about 10 miles from Thumb toward Lake Hotel. miles |