Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-11-15

can be made al this time, exceeds in amour
three millions Of dollars annually, the Who'll,
Of which, passes these rapids. The delay il
lighting steam boats 10 enable them 70 pass
the rapids a, a lew stage of the river, and the
loss OF property on them, is believed 20 be e
quail TO len pc. cent. Oh the whole amount ship.
ped. 1t is not clone the citizens of this Terri.
tory who are interested in the completion o.
this important work: the people Of the State q
Illinois, residing on the borders of the Upper
Mississippi. are equally interested. This in
iItefes. pervsaes the wke!e coeR.ry on the Mis-.
lsissippi from, Sh Peters to tae Gulf or Mexico
Large appropriations have heretofore been
made by Congress for the removal of obstruc.
tons ia the navigation of the rivers in the
Western States, and surely the citizens OF this
Territory have equal claims Oh the justice and
patronage of the Government.
| By an act of the Congress of the United
State, approved March Sd, 1887, the sum OF
/ five thousand dollars. each, was appropriated
j for the erection of lighthouses at the months
| of each of the following rivers. tributaries OF
! Lake Michigan: Milwaukee, Manitoowoc,
Cheboygan. and Root Root, and al the en-.
trance Of Fox River iaio Green Bay. Under
the provisions Of the act Of Congress, referred
TO. it is made the duty Of the Navy Commits
sioners 10 report to the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, after they have caused an examination
to be made for the purpose OF ascertainlng
whether the safety of navigation requires any
additional facilities, what is most suitable for
each place designated. Should the Board OF
Navy Commissioners be Of the opinion that
the Improvements are not required to facilitate
the navigation of Lake Michigan, or that it is
inexpejent from any other cause, their opin-
ion with the facts are to be reported to Con.
gress. Engineers have heretofore been appoint
ed under the direction of the War Department
who have made surveys at the mouths of the
rivers mentioned, for harbors, and these re-
ports will show the practicabIity of their i'm
provemeni, and their importance and utility to
the public. 1t is fact well known, that near
ly the whole length Of Lake Michigan (the
western shore of the Lake, presents bold
bluff front, varying from fifty to one hundred
feet in height, rendering it extremely danger
GUS in storms, owing to the scarcity of bays
and natural harbors for the safety of vessels.
Extensive settlements are forming on the Dor
ders Of Lake Michigan; the shipping interest
on the Lake has greatly increased within the
last two years; and the consequent wreck OF
vessels and loss of lives and property may be
expected, until the construction of harbors, and
the erection Of light houses at the mouths of
the rivers mentioned. With the exception OF
the entrance of Fox River into Green Bay, this
bay is the best natural harbor on the western
borders Of Lake Michigan.---The construction
of pier, and the establishment of beacon
light. at Long Tail Point Cat the head of the
bay.) as well as the erection Of buoys to mark
the ship channel, are deemed to be Of the first
Importance to the safety of the navigation..--
From the increased commercial importance Of
the town Of Milwaukee, and its location near
the centre of the western shore of Lake Michi-
gan, at the mouth Of Milwaukee River, where
nature has done much towards making safe
harbor, II would seem that just regard for the
rights of the citizens of this Territory, residing
on the borders Of Lake Michigan, would urge
the Congress Of the United States as an act of
justice TO make liberal appropriation for the
construction OF aharbor at this important point,
which is absolutely necessary for the protec-
ton OF the lives and the security OF the proper
" OF our citizens engaged in the Lake trade.
Large appropriations were made at the last
session of Congress for the benefit Of twenty
OF the States Of this Union, for the building Of
lighthouses. light-boats, beacon-lights, and
the sum Of sixty-one thousand dollars was ap-
proprlated for the same purposes for tho Ter
rltory Of Florida, and the small amount Of
twenty-five thousand dollars alone appropria-
ted for this Territory, for the above purpose;
and that appropriation made contingent upon
the report Of the Navy Commissioners to the
Secretary Of the Treasury, and from him to
the Congress of the United States. Irecorr,.
mend to the Legislative Assembly the propri-
ely Of again addressing memorial to Com
gress, asking an increased appropriation for
tte construction of harbors, and the erection
OF light houses at the mouths Of the different
rivers, designated in the act Of Congress re-
Tered to-, as well as the necessary improve
nent IN the navigation Of Green Bay.
A survey has recently been ordered by the
war department, Of the Fox and Rock Rivers.
Ihe report OF the Engineers charged with that
duty has not been published; but, from the
pest information have been able to obtain,
their report will be favorable to the improve
ment OF both those rivers. The improvement
OF the navigation Of the Fox river, and the
connection of that river with the Wisconsin
river, by short canal of one and one-fourth
miles, are subjects Of vital importance to the
citizens of'this Territory, by opening COM
munication between the Mississippi and Lake
Michigan. A communication between the
Rock riverand the -Four Lakes, and from thence
TO the Wisconsin river, by canal Of sixteen
miles in length, is considered practicable with
but little expense. Steam boats have naviga-
ted the Wisconsin river during this season to
the portage Of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers,
without obstruction.
The organising and arlning the militia consid-
Or subject of the first importance to the safety OF
the frontier citizens OF this Territory. The mili-
tia of the Territory have been formed into two
brigades, composed offy regimental districts and
one battalion district. Elections have been held