Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-03-19
The River Il nd Harbor Bill.

| Of Congress at. last dates. In watching
its progress we have deeply regretted
that tire several improvements proposed
in i. could not come up separately on
their own merits. This regret has been
occasioned by the violent opposition tina,
has been exhibited against several sections
OF the Bill. which has threatened its de-
feat as a whole. The Burlington Harbor
on Lake Champlain. the S, Louis Harbor,
the Hudson river and the purchase of the
Louisville and Portland Canal are the
most prominent among these contested
sections. Mr. Polk has however been
consulted and il appears tha, he will no,
veto The Bill provided the Louisville and
Portland Canal appropriation is left out.
!, is thought that the House will strike
out that SECTION.
As the Bill was reported. we believe
there was no specific appropriation con-
tanned in j, for the removal Of Instructions
in the Rapids Of the Upper Mississippi.
We have strong hopes. however, that our
Delegate will give them no rest on the
subject, until he has secured an appropri.
alton for this important object. The Pc
'iions that have already been forwarded.
and his own desire TO please his cons,itu.
ents, who are unanimous on this question,
will doubtless lead him to make strenuous
exer,ions. 1t appears to us if this ALSO.
lutely necessary improvement were bro'l
appropriately before Congress on its own
merits, an adequate appropriation would
he made.
The present season thus far shows most
clearly how much the prosperity of the
immense country above the mouth Of the
Des Moines is dependen, on The improve
men, Of these Rapids. The river is now
at its lowest stage and is gradually reced.
ing, without any prospect of the usual
spring rise. 1t is reported that there has
been no snow or rain of any consequence
above, so that the prospects for extensive
business look exceedingly gloomy.
We think Mr. CALHOUN himself-al-
though Mr. RHETr, and almost the whole
South oppose the river and hsrbor appro-
pvialion bill-from his expressed views
in relation to the nationality and absolute
necessity Of Tie undertaking, would 60 for
removing these distractions in this great
"inland sea- of ours, were it brought
before Congress as separate proposition
on its own merits.
We hope then. .ha, Gen. DopcE will
so introduce the subject before Congress
as TO secure majority in its favor without!
delay. We believe he can do it, and that
we may reasonably anticipate an adequate
appropriation which will sernre free
passage for boats from New Orleans to
Prairie du Chem, the present season.
We shall close ,his article by quoting
from the Report on Western Rivers.
which was made at the Memphis Con.
vention; and which we received by the
last mail The Committee say
"The Rapids in the Mississippi a, the
mouth of the Des Moines, and again, at
the head of Rock Island. about seventy
miles from each other, urgently require
the attention Of the general government.
AT these Rapids. the River spreads oui
to greater breadth than at other points
above or below, making the water
shallow. and the descent being great, the
channel crooked. and the current rapid.
boats. drawing more than two feet water.
are liable TO strike on the rocks. by which
they are either totally wrecked or greatly
injured. The Rapids are formed by
chains of rocks. running from shore to
shore. Between these chains. and above
and below the Rapids, the water is suffi.
cien,ly deep. For more particular des
criplion, we refer to the several reports
which have been made to the Engineers
department, from surveys by Capt. A. NJ.
Shreve and Capt, r. A. Lee. These
Instructions may be removed by cutting
channel. say one hundred and fifty or
two hundred fee, wide. by four feet deep.
through each chain. This would enable
the largest class of boats employed in low
water, to pass the Rapids at all times with
their cargoes. 1t is estimated that the
work wond cost. for The lower or Des
Moines Rapids. about two hundred thou.
sand dollars; and for The upper or Rock
Island Rapids abou! sixty thousand dol
lars.
"Some years ago, an appropriation was
made by the United States government
for improving these Rapids. The work
was commenced and prosecuted by Capt.
r. A. Lee, until the appropriation was
exhausted. Since then, nothing further
has been attempted: bu, the little then
accomplished was sufficient to prove the
practicabiity and utility of the undertak-
ing. Capt Lees plan was to follow the
channel, and deepen the deepest part Of
the river. Others, who have devoted
much attention to The subject. believe that
the work could be done for less money.
and in less time. and that it would give
great additional facilities to navigation if
the rocks were excavated, and the chan.
mel cut out along the Iowa shore.