Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-01-27
NUMBER IS.

- = : 3
, The largest class of steamboats, plyine on
the Upper Mississippi, during seasons Of
the year when the water is at nigh or
medium stage, and to those Of lighter
draught during all seasons Of the year
and youy. committee would therefore re-
commend that said work be commenced
and carried forward on such a scale as will
secure the ultimate attainment Of this OBJ
lJect. From the best information which
we have been enabled to obtain with refer
|ence to the character of the stream to be
improved, we conclude that the erection
OF one dam, say eight feet high, with .
lock Of suitable dimensions, for every eight
miles slopg the same, will constitute the
grea. ouls, and indeed, nearly all the ex.
pense OF puttInB II az Ill b
ltion here contemplated. The abundance
al Superior quality Of the stone which
can u obtained at all places in the bed
and bani4 Of that river, will very ma
|terially i!aoiitae the work. Owing to this
and other advantages, among which may
be mentloaed the low price of provisions
and the proximity OF excellent timber, it is
not antieipal ed that The prosecution Of said
work will be attended with very heavy
expense; and it would not be matter Of
much surprise 10 the Committee, should
the value o:f tie donation be found 10 ex-
coed, by o:le-third, the entire cost Of the
improvement.
1 The only obstacle worthy of particular
note, which: Will probably be encountered
in carrying on! this i'm portant project, is
in heavy SAID bar at the mouth Of the
Desinoines, extending some distance out
into the mississippi river. This would
render ii vary difficult, and perhaps inn
possible, TO- give free access to boats Of
any considerable draueht, except in sea-
sons of hisA water. But plan readily
suggests:itself by which this obstacle can
be wholly avoided. 1t is well known that
the confluence of the Deslnoines with the
Mississippi was originally at point some
four or 1--WE miles higher than at present;
consequently, dam of moderate height
thrown ACROSS the channel Of the Dss-
moiEes, I'm hediately below where it leaves
the cid cha nel, will turn that river into
the Missisfiphi at SO short q distance be-
low The :leweI Rapids in the latter, that
the accu1n Hat bn oil sand bar al that
poin: need ue'@r be apprehended. In ada
dition te this advantage, the plan here
suggeste:! Eo,Ad create at Keokuk such .
water powfr as TO make that town, at no
distant oaI an important manufacturing,
as well is J commercial city. 1t is believ-
ed .hat .hts change in the channel of the
Deslaoimes can be eaccled at much less
expense. than 10 clear out the sand bar at
its moulN bus should it even prove that
this conclusioIs is incorrect, the people Of
lows Will feel. pride, and will find their
INTEREST," building up thriving manu-
featuring and commercial town in their
own Stale, rather than contribute to the
growth OF a rival town at the mouth Of the
river IN le slissouri side. Should this
plan be al ended with cost of fifty thou
sand dolIars over and above the amount
required ar the necessary improvement
at the prasen:. mouth OF the river, it 10
believed tAat even in that case, the wa
ter power and other advantages resulting
!rom it, would in few years amply repay
the addito bal nost The above men ion-
ed obstacle is therefore very far from be-
ing an irsi peraLle barrier to the improve.
ment.
H. the discharge of the duty assigned
to the Commit lee, to inquire into the ex-
pedieucy Ct commencing the Improvement
under inside alion,by the erection of one
dam and loci in each county through
which said river passes, they have arriv-
ell at the, CONCLUSION that such course
would probably be both expedient and ad-
visa5le, as best calculated to promote the
interests o. the people in its immediate
vicinity, aad If The State at large. BY the
erection, at tiF outset of one dam for each
twenty-five miles, or ,hereabouts, the peo-
pie wit!iin.tLirty or forty miles of the ris-
err along its whole length, Will be very
materially benefited, and at the same time
the State will realize handsome revenue
from. the sale Of the water power at each
of those dams. If, on the contrary, the i'm
provems:lt be commenced at The mouth of
the river, and finished as it progresses, it
is obvious that sales of the water power
which would thus be created in one neigh
borhoods could not be made to one. sixth
the amount which could lie sold by the
former plAs, and that for number of years
tie people. Of the whole valley of the up
per Desncines would be deprived of the
benefits resulting from the mills and ma
chinery # various kinds which will go
into operation as t,asl as the dams are cree
ted.
s. soon after the erection ofthe first set
Of dams I'D locks as TIE money arising
FROM the tle Of lands, &C., will warrant,
the State lray proceed to the erection Of
as many Intermediate ones as may be
found NECESSARY and by This course of
procedure. we feel assured that the final
complexion Of the work would be effected
at al: earlier day, and with less cost, than
by confirming the operations at frs, 10 the
lower portion of the river. BY the cree
ton OF mills a. the the first set of dams,
the necessary lumber would be furnished
for the seebnd SET at cheaper rate than it
can otherwise be Obtained ana the OK
pense OF the work viii thus be ia some
measure reduced. This plan would also
afford otllcf facilities tending to reduce
the aggregate cost, which it is not deem.
| oil hora tn ,paption