Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-10-04

h.ve never, that know. been questioned; and
..vs,.l pilot. and captains have informed the
writer that according to their observation and
srnerience it was correct.
fn. Engineer who made this exploration was
y;.nf R. E. lee. The appropriation of $4,000
=. attained in 1894. Capt. Shreve was detail
80 .xrlore and advise the bureau Of engineers
= = IN best mode of expanding the money.
~. renort was not satisfactory. and this young
Es.s..ept was selected on account of his high
rsnus.tion Tor good judgment, skill, and ability
= ..eh matters, to make second exploration.
His report suggests to Gen. Gratiot, the head
II the bureau II that time, that the channel be
improved BY cutting off points and projections
- -, different places, most Of them, for short
s;.t.rcss. that the channel in two places be
w,dened by cutting of the sides; that loose rock
4. removed in some. places; and lastly, to get
avs, the Ia Males chain, he proposes to COM
meoee At the point referred to in former part
n ,h;s article. where the channel veers to the
Iowa shore, and excavate in straight line to the
nreyion, exploration Of the rapids had been
made by Capt. Shreve, in 1896. as have said,
who recommended the excavation OF an artificial
channel along the Iowa shore: To carry out
Inc Recommendation Of Capt. Shreve, and make
! channel 200 feet wide, would require the ex-
ovation Of |. 600 600 cubic yards Of rock; while
he whole Improvement of the old channel and
he La Molles chain, as recommended by Lee,
only requires an excavation of 94.S1l yards-and
irving good steam boat channel 200 feet wide,
and 4 the same time so far preserving the natu-
ri channel, as. probably, to make no percepti-
BE difference in the current of the river.
The cost Of this improvement, as estimated
by Lee, was only $l89,622. The recommends
ton Of Lee was weighed against that of Capt.
Shreve, BY Gen. Gratiot, and adopted. The
work was commenced. A steam boat, stone
boat, and machine boats, We're procured. and just
Is tea effort had been made, the whole work
was suspended, by order Of Mr.. Van Buren,, in
common with all other works Of internal inn
provement But Captain Adolphus Allen, (who
procured the appropriation Of $4,000 in 1884,
and who was in favor Of this mode Of improve
ment, and who now offers to do it for $3O,0OO,)
says ssenough was done by Lee to de-
monstrate the practicability of making the natu-
raj channel safe and easy to navigate"
As your correspondent 'sM'' disposes Of this
whole explanation and report, and the decision
Of Gen. Graiot in favor Of it, on the ground that
Lee was young Lieutenant in 1898, beg OF you
to insert the following extract from his report,
in Justice to him and Gen. Gratiot, who was not
% yosrs.
"TNe navigation being only imreded during
the low stages Of the river which is limited gem
orally from this cause TO not more than three
Of 4 character to admit Of removal, shall refer
only 10 the improvement Of its natural bed, as
being not only more practicable, but in my opn-
ion preferable to any other.
By Improving the most difficult passes first,
immediate benefit will be obtained the meeting
of boats will not be attended with the same dan
ger as e. they were confined to continuous
channel. as advantage may be taken OF the pools
before Alladed to, where the navigation is COM
als,v ID he pf 1nnUf nj a
mel being bat little diminished; the descent will
not be much increased, and, though rendered
more uniform, the velocity Of the current not
sensibly augmented. The increased area of the
channel wih be so small ia comparison with the
width Of the river, that the supply of water will
not Be preceptibly lessened. Besides, by OBJ
struetiag some Of the minor channels with the
stone excavated from that TO be improved, its
passage may be SO far retarded as to leave no
room fer apprehension on this head.''
But, says eM, ""since (that report) great pro-
gress has been made in this as well as other SCI
ences, and the whole system Of river improve
ment has been changed, Men onght to learn
something by experience; but there never was
system Of river Improvement. for each obstruc-
ton requires system of its own. Time has
shown the folly Of some Of Capt. Shreve's dams
in the Ohio cousin german to the dams which
IN" wants to put in our river) and the Cap
ences have progressed; but the laws Of nature
have been at dead stand STILL The laws Of
running water are the same now as then, and are
no better understood.
Next to the opinion of scientific Engineers |
would place that Of practical navigators-the
captains and pilots who are familiar with every
stone on these rapids. The testimony Of such
is singularly harmonious in favor Of Lees plan
for Improvement AM" conscious of this, i'm
peaches them as interested witnesses, in favor Of
making the matter worse. so as to increase
treights and pilots wages, &C. But he must re-
member that he lives in an age Of steam boats,
and that competition will secure the lowest rate
of freights consisten. with the nature of the
navigation; and instead Of putting in dams to
get rid OF skllul pilots, he should remember that
skill and long experience is required to navigate
other parts Of the river.
The testimoney Of these men not only fully
confirms the plan adopted, but they say the lit
Tie he Lieut.. Lee,) did do, has been Of great
service. The channel of the river has greatly
improved the last II years, by the action Of the
water on the rocks, which is constantly WIDEN
ing and deepening the channels; and. Judging
from the testimony of some of the old pilots,
tlxe will wear a good channel. At all events.
Capt Allen has some reason for undertaking
The estimate Of Lieut.. Lee.
: Having furnished description Of the real
character oil the lower rapids and shown the au-
thority upon which the opinion ssthat they may
Be improved, BY clearing out the present chan
mel rests, }" shall proceed in subsequent number
to answer the objections Of an" and consider
his project Of dams. s.
DAvEsroRr CosvESTioN.-Atth meet
ing held at the court house last Saturday,
80 delegates were appointed from this
county 10 attend The Rapids Improvement
Convention that is appointed at Davenport
on the 10Th Of October. After some dis
cussion resolution was adopted with but
one dissenting vote, in favor Of deepening
and widening the channel, as the most
proper mode Of improving the rapids.
By reference to the proceedings Of the
meeting, in another place, it will be seen
that the delegates will go prepared with
statistics, &C., to lay in claim for the
mprovement.-E. Madison Statesman.
A New French MrSIsrER.-We are
informed (says the Tribune) that NJ.
P'oussin's recall has been decided on by
the French Government, independent Of
his difficulty with the Cabinet at Wash
lngton. Mr. de Montholcn, the son Of
General Montholon, is said to be named