The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-12-17
work a:=a probable expense Of 10000 o,

4
10000 dollars. Il is at this point. and
on the right bank of this river, tina,
another beautiful water power of grea,
extent and value arises, on the compile.
ton of this work. The distance across
to the power at Rock Island being. bu,
3 miles. This power is estimated to be
equal or nearly equal to that at Rock
Island for though its quantity Of water
is considerably less, its fall is about
feet greater, that of Rock Island being
about 6 feet. It's grounds for the &C.
commodation Of factory buildings are
spacious. high and dry and at all times
perfectly healthy, as is the whole coun.
try around.
This power may be divided into two
the other being about 8 feet fall, on the
left bank Of the main channel. at the
foot Of the canal. on Vandruffs island.
This second division however, would af.
ford an insufficient space for factory
buildings. and might be too low, damp.
and deficient in airyness defects, which
are entirely inapplicable to the site of
the right bank; which, excepting iha,
at Rock Island, is one of the finest and
most unexceptionable water powers in
the whole country. 1t may be safely
estimated at 300 run of stone the year
round. The back water Of the Missis-
sippi for a few weeks in June would af-
feet it. and the earlier spring freshe,s on
that river. might be brefer interruption
to the action of machinery. This power
belongs 10 the State, and to private in
dividuals.
But that on Rock Island belongs to the
United States. This island lies cas-,
and west in length; and neares, the
shore of the State Of Illinois, being a
part of the same; and being separated
by the mainland on the south. by an
arm of the Mississippi varying between
$50 and 600 feet in breadth. 1t is Ia
miles in circumference, about Q 3-4 miles
IN length from west to east. its greatest
breadth being 1869 Yards, and itS least
7Go yards. 1t contains between $50 and
500 acres Of the best land. ahon, one.
half cleared, and the other half covered
with timber not the best, but valuable
tor many purposes.
On the north side, or side Of the main
channel, it has 2 or Of the best land
ings, for the largest class of boats. 1t
differs from all the lower islands of the
Mississippi, as it never loses. or changes
form by the action of the river; being
fixed upon the same immense base Of
limestone rocks, which form the first
Instructions to navigation near the foot
of the upper rapids of the Mississippi.
Its surface, which is above the highest
freshets known to the Mississippi at this
point; is beautifully undulating but gen
orally rising from the lower to the up
per or eastern end, where i. is near
about 45ft. high above the ordinary water
level. and abou, IS feet high at its lower
or western extremity.
1t is on the south side of this island,
and on the south channel. washing that
side, that the water power alluded to is
located. 1t is understood from recent
measurement that the whole fall. mea-
sured with great exactness from very
short distance above the head of the
island. down to its foot is about feet.
few inches more or less ; and that this
fall was found at the ordinary height, or
general stage of the river during the
year. And it is known, that the great
annual freshe,s of June. which are alone
objectionable at this point, vary in height
between 5 and feet above the general
stage of the river; and that they do not
continue in general at any Objectionable
height longer than 3 weeks, at most.
We speak not now Of those extraordi-
nary freshets which may take place once
or twice in 20 years /; and which in this,
as in other rivers, battle all calculation;
but of the known, general, annual rise at
this point of the river.
The location for the dam would be
the best that could be desired; the foun-
dation being an immovable mass Of lime
stone; with limestone abutments on the
shores. and length Of dam of about $50
feet.
For the location of the dam there are
various positions affording equal advan-
tages as to construction none of which
giving less space below the dam, to the
foot of the island. than 5000 yards and
one Of which, giving similar space of
1000 yards, to the foot of the island !;
thus affording the amplest range for the
sites of the various mills necessary to
the largest establishment. Ali of which,
would have dry, airy. southern expo
sure; whilst the interior of the island
might be occupied by the necessary
storehouses. and village for the work
men; having the landings for Steam
boats on the opposite or northern side.
| From the feet fall, the width Of the
channel, and the quantity Of water at the
time Of the observation, a power of 400
run Of stone was estimated for the whole
year. This fall too, and the short con-
,inlance Of the freshets would admit Of
the use of the 5 feet diameter breast
wheels, under the greatest advantages
for about Ii months of the year. And if
| it were deemed advisable the newly in
vented wheel which is unaffected by
back water might be used the entire year.
/ +