The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-21

i842, 1857 776, being S25,722 more than the orig-
nal amount subscribed Since lo42, the tolls be-
longing 10 the government have, oy an act Of the
Kentucky legislature what right or justice l
will not now say-been paid over TO the individual
to sink their stock at The rate of about
$3.50 per share; and in this way about twenty-five
hundred shares belonging TO individual stockholders
have been sunk. . '. ..l, .9.
They may be gathered, in the second place, from
the tolls paid bya steamboat OF two hundred and my
TONS for passing through this canal IN the lifetime OF
the boat which, on our western waters, averages
about Ave wears; these tolls in that time will
amount to a sum equal to the original cost Of the
boat This has been ascertained nom sad expert
ence.
And, thirdly from the price that the stock Of this
canal would now bring In the market, mad the pur-
chasers a sufficient guarantee that the general gov
eminent would do nothing TO improve the naviga-
ton over these falls. The stock would sell for 5000
per share-lhe original cost being 500 per share.
And the stock owned by the government would
sell for 81 100000 stated by the gentleman from
Kentucky, [hdr. THoaAssos, although II cost the
government but 1898, 500. U 20
These items are sufficient Of themselves, without
sdverting to others to show the magnitude Of this
obstruction to the navigation Of the Ohio and the
enormous tax il annually ley'ea of the pcof"e OF the
West ... #r..
will now appeal to gentlemen to bring this case
home TO themselves. Suppose such an obstruction
as these falls should exist at the entrance into the
bay Of Mobile, or the harbor Of Charleston, or any
other main harbor on the Atlantic seaboard what
would the gentleman say who represents the Mobile
district, and who will probably follow me in this de-
batel-wha, would the gentleman say who repre-
sents the Charleston distrlctS-what would any
gentleman say who represents district on the At
lantic in which is good harborS-what would they
say 10 proposition TO remove such an obstruction
by the geaeral governmenI--would either Of them
say that Congress had no power to make an aPpro-
praton for such an objeei-or, if it had the power
that Il would be improper to exercise IN suppose
neither; but rather that the gentleman representing
the district in which such an obstruction existed
would use his utmost eHdeayors TO have the same
removed speedily as possible by the general gov
eminent. To such | only wish to say, do unto
others you would wish 10 be done by.
The question that presents itself, after the con-
sideraon of these things, is what is the beat plan
for removing or avoiding this obstruction
The bill before US contemplates the purchase Of
this canal. The objections TO this canal are that IL
is not deep enough, nor wide enough, and that the
locks are too small. Boats are not only injured in
going through, but 1t takes them some hours to 60
through There IS also great danger in boat leav-
ing the lower end of the canal and going into the
river on account Of island Just below the lower
termination Of the canal.
Toremedy these defects, il is proposed 10 purchase
the individual stock Of this canal about 81 900 000
and then widening and deepening the cana, at cost
of 1856 1913 The objections 10 this course, are,
that il viii take two three years to enlarge the
canal, as proposed, during winch time the naviga-
ton will be suspended and that If enlarged to the
size suggested by Capt. Cram, in his report Of
1874, il will still be inadequate TO the exigences Of
the commerce and travel on that river; the travel
and commerce increasing so rapidly, that in a few
years one canal will not be sufficient TO pass the
boats wanting TO go through, without ruinous delay
Another objection is, that cheaper and far better
plan can be adopted, which would be to build a
dam near the foot of the falls, with two sets of
locks. ... ...t-....., pa.
Capt. Cram in his report refers to plan of ma.
king dam over the falls, just above Goose island
with locks and long siace through Goose island,
and extending below Rock island. The cost Of this
dam with locks, according to the estimate Of Capt.
Cram, would be 1903, 1875. But TO make dam at
this point, it would be necessary to have a long
sluice, which is estimated to cost 1891 ,579 Capt
Cram says of this plan: ....
This method of improvement at first view the msat
tempting Of all The comparatively ANAL estimate Of rs
probable cost, the examples Of successful i'm
thus far by locks and dams upon the Kentucky
method Of improving the falls Of the Ohio. But the full
merits defects OF those improvements have not yet had
time for development.
The objections to the suice have already stated
well as its advantages for keeping itself clear Of all de-
poses and need not be repeated The objections the dam
strong lst Although strongly built it would
be liable to injury from ice and drftwood I'd II would
be an obstacle to the natural navigation of the falls
port and at times those periods when the locks could not
be used conveniently being entirely submeged then there
would be liability of all navigation being stopped for
time 3D. II being transversely the stream, would
check the suspended silt and drift matter that has been
shown pass the falls in such immense quantities.
few years the harbor Of Lousv lie would probably
be seriously injured, II not entirely filled with deposte
Of mud inermixed with brush logs, trees, &c In ike
manner might expect the landing at Jacksonville,
the Indiana side, would be seriously injured 4h. The
locks would not be any easier access than those OF
other methods
proving the natural bed forced to the opinion that
work coming within any reasonable would be found
almost useless in few years from injuries deposes Of
mud and being choked with drift wood else such i'm
mense expense would have be incurred at every rise OF
water to clear the works from these evils that the tolls
would bear heavily upon the trade Again: the custody
expensive than constructed around the falls, and
would be times when boats would be detained for days
before the gates could be opened allow Of the passage
The risk to contractors in the process Of constructing
the work would be immense II would be impossible to
calculate this risk beforehand and is hi, risk that nigh
the calculations which have made OF the cost OF
these works to fall far short Of the reality in practice not
outstanding the utmost pains have been taken to arrive
at fair estimates"
Why Capt Cram should have selected this par
ticular spot for the location of dam, that to make
it of any use at all, would require suice canal
1913 feet wide and 44l3 feet long, and costing more
than the dam and its locks together, is more than
can account for. He has not given us any reasons
why he chose this particular spot. | must think
that the place selected was not the best that could
have been selected to make calculations and obser-
vations to the cost Of DAM its effect on the nav
igation, or upon the harbors at Louisville and JEFF
fersonville. .. ..'....... " .. a..
am strongly of the opinion, from conversations
with competent engineers, that dam can be built
just above the lower termination of the canal, that
will avoid most, if not ALL of Capt. Grams objec-
tons to dam built at the place designated by him
in his report. ...... 49, ..l... .... ......a
Allowing the highest estimate, it would not cost
dam and double set Of locks--S50O, 600. 1t would
require no sluce. Boats could pass up or down in
thirty minutes time, at all of the year, when
The river is at all navigabIe. The cost Of repair
would be trhng, and little silt would remain in the
locks from the force Of the current passing through
them.
Besides, think that the full merits Of this kinds Of
improvements across large streams have been amply
tested upon the Kentucky and Green rivers. Since
Capt. Cram made his report, three spring freshets,
with their ice and drift wood, have acted on these
dams, and the result has served to confirm the sue
cess anticipated from such improvements.
would not advocate the construction Of dam
anywhere near these falls il the effect Of such dam