The Arkansas banner., 1845-02-12
ll,440

Appropriation for present fiscal
 year, S18O. .0o0
 It Is estimated that this will be nearly ex- pended The estimate for the next fiscal IS S240,000. This amount will probably be appropriated
 In looking over the report, we find that the expenses of running snag boat one year IS iittle less than its original cost, The to. tai cost of building snag boat is laroe dou- ble snag baot $25,000; single lipht dra,oh,. $l0,000
 Il is proposed 10 build another larue dopb- le snag boat, and two light ones for the ron. ing year.-The fleet will then consist of elght active boats and two or three trans pofls. These will be removed from river to rlver' and place to place, according to ths climate and stage of water, Whie a. Lou lsvllle, we visited the Hercules and Kite, lying at New Albany, nearly finished. For the kind of boats, they are of very superior workmanship Captain Tyson of the Her. euies, has been from tic first in this bushes, and, Tn fact, was the most efficient agent in the operations of Capt. Shrevc upon Red River He explained to us the mode of op- eration employed.
 The Hercules is the strongest boat we ever saw, though not the largest. It's length IS l50 feet, and it's breadth 72 feet IL las reverse shear of l6 inches. Ii is four boil CTS ot 42 inches diameter and % feet long. It has two engines connected together.-- The boat draws three feet inches water The apparatus for raising snags is in the midst, In the space between two boats, con- nected by haYy timbers and heavy platform. First comes the butter, whose duty 1t is to out do'cn the rampant snags, sawyers and planters, which have their roots embedded Tn the river and the upper part raised in the ar. The butler IS huge cross-wood work lined with iron, which connects the bows of the two twin boats. l. is composed of very heavy timbers, carefully fixed on the boats. When sawyer, with it's roots in the river, throws it's head above, steam Is put upon inc boat, and butter Is run furiously against the planter. Often the effect is such as to throw the planter entirely over, making sumncr- set An idea may be formed of the danger and power ot these imbedded trees, when such machine as this is necessary to throw then down.
 The apparatus for pulling up the snag is different. double frame work arises a midships, one part parallel to the other, on these are geared great wheels which turn an iron shaft. On this shafi winds the iron chain which being fastened to the snag is wound up by steam power. This iron shaft IS cast, and weighs 10000 lbs The main purchase chain is q inches in diameter..- Notwithstanding the great strength of this chain we were shown a link which was snapped in too, by q snag, as easily as a twip in the hands.
 We have said enough in the above descrip- ton to show what great dangers and difficult tles bese the navigation of Western rivers. and what an arduous service is that of tha United States officers engaged in this busi- ness.
 The improvements in progress on the up- per Ohio are of a different character. There snags are less frequent, and the impending trees are nearly all destroyed. The great obstacle IS the Sand Bars, which make out from the points and Islands. The remedy for this IS the erection Of wing dams-which jutling out from the shore at proper points. force the current into the channel, and thus deepen il. Captain Sanders reports 27 ariag ddms, now in course of construction. The one at Meigs Island between Steubenville "'' " hScihsf 10 eoiiiJle ana entirely S..c- cesslul. The dam at Captina Island has been increasing, and deepening the channel. The dam at Trap is successful in deepening the channel at White Ripple. We therefore conclude, that when lhe improvements on the upper Ohio are complete, the navigation will be open at all seasons.
 From the retrospect we have given above, 1t will be seen that the great work Of imprc- wing Western waters is fairly begun, and 1t IS only necessary for Congress 10 keep consistent course to accomplish most ben eficial work for Western Commerce.
  VERY EXEMPLARY FoLKs-Itis said there IS oordwalner in Lynn, so temperate that he will not use punchl Also young lady who IS so much opposed to all bondage that she cannot conscinntiouslv bind sIioesi
 GAMiNc.--It is quite possible that wise and good man may be prevailed on to game; but t is impossible that professed aamester should be a wise and good man-Larate
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