The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-11-06
Thc Rapids.


Ss--- sz.1------.=4-=---
~ rhc Rapids. 1875 @Es 4't4
81. I'VE had INDUCED the hope that something
would have been done, during the past session
8of Congress, towards the improvement of the
Lower Rapids, which, during low water, are
quite serious; obstruction to the navigation Of
the Upper Mississippi. Many thousands OF dol
lars were appropriated Tor the purpose OF facli'-
tatinr and rendering more secure the navigation
of the Atlantic coast and our northern lakes, and
lin many cases, we venture to atfirm where there
avas much less necessity for any expenditure
than in the instance before u.s., We are not in
lclincd to enter any special complaint because of
such appropriations, for we have. no doubt much
the, greater portion of them were needed-We
only regret that We are so unfortunate as to be
entirely beyond the pale of Congressional provi-
sion. h8ft1iss SIS E & lssafa:s,sg.- ~...
81 1T il needless, in this vicinity, to say word
upon the imperative necessity of doing some
thing to rid ourselves of this impeachment to the
intercourse between the upper and lower por-
tions Of our river. All who have any business
upon il, have been made to feel very sensibly
bthe full weight ofethe burden itimposes upon all
that section of country lying north Of US. The
appearance of our wharves, at the present time,
compared with them month since, would, of
itself, prove a sufficient commentary upon the
evil effects Of past lisuessness upon this I'M
portant subject. The high prices of freight, the
equally exorbitant charges for passage at all
points aborc the rapids, cannot but, prove very
convincing arguments, to those, at least, who
have been subjected to them, in favor OF improv-
ing the rapids SO that the river will always be as
passable there as any where above. lhis can
be done, there is n o doubt, and that, too, with
out any very heavy expense. This expense, we
conceive, should be borne by the whole country,
more properly, than light house at Chicago, or
"a custom house ut t.Lous. The "occan river
E O,ll n pt,avY podp Ia n
without any further delay, and we trust all OF
those who more immediately bear the burden
the obstruction imposes, will put their shoulders
to the wheel and push the measure through tlrfe
What say our Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota friends above? Will they urge this
anpon the subject If they acM but determine to
hare the rirer made narigabte at oil times, 1t 'eM
be done. I'll.
We clip the foregoing remarks from the Bur
lngton Telegraph, of recent date. We, too,
among thousands Of others, had long since in
dulged hope that something would be done to-
wards improving the navigation of the ''ocean
stream" as it is beautifully and not inapPropri-
ately termed, but like all others who have indulg
ed such hopes, we have been doomed to be dis
appointed. Nor have we been among those who
have borne their chagrin in silence. We have
called upon our immediate Repre- sentatives in
Congress time after time, to insist, aye, to insist
that something be done FOR our immediate inter-
-ests, by improving this stream, but we have new
er had the qualification Of being able to bear tes-
timony to their willingness to comply with the
reiterated calls of their constituents upon this
, all-important subject. We have often wonder
ed why, or how, they could sit and listen to
long -winded speeches in both houses of Con-
gress, and never make earnest attempt to at
tend to the business upon which they we've de-
puted by Observation-Disclosures make on at
tempt which would look like determination to
succeed; for succeed they would, had they pre-
scented determined resistance to less important
objects, till their just demands in this regard had
!. had been complied with. .s 49,. 81.
-oR We are aware, that to many our language will
seem hursh, that to others it will appear impo-
litic; but we have been in the honest habit Of a.
vowing our sentiments without calculating con-
sequences. Our duty to the people, who look to
us for record Of passing events, makes it ne
cessary for us to proclaim the truth, regardless
to do right. When We have done this, we have
done our WHOLE duty. s"".
1t is right that the navigation of the MISSISSIPPI
pi be improved. Our Agents in Congress have
promised to do all they could towards procuring
g National aid, either by grants of land, or by a
direct application Of pecuniary aid from the trea
ID snry, for this purpose, Have they done so?
Il Have they exerted themselves as they might
have done, as they ought to have done, they
pledged themselves to do? They have not, and
We tell them so, boldly, fearlessly, unhesltating
sisly. We tell them that they had but to act in
earnest with others who would be willing to
unite with them, and the object was accomplish
ed. It can be done yet by proper exertion, but
it could have been done more easily at the
cent session of Congress, than 1t can at the ap-
preaching session. Let the press speak out the
feelings Of the people upon this subject, and ere
another year shall be added to the past the rap
ids Of the Mississippi will have received the at
q tention Of the Federal Government
SENSIBLE REsoLUTIoNs.-A female society 4
soue1uhere down east nassad the follow;no CON