The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-23

opinions OF those chiefly interested in the navigation of
the river well OF oueefs chiefly nirnsed with the
work. ! suppose that with this explanation there can
be no objection. f
Mr., MERlWETHER would beg leave TO inform
the honorable senator from Ohio that il is not necessary
Tor me TO make myself acqu ained with the sentiments
oil those who navigate the river have myself navi.
gated the river twenty-five years, before aud since the
erection OF the dam Now, sir, the Cumberland river
goes into ihe Ohio about midway Of Cumberland island
the island being about three miles long the dam is
removed, descending boat, wishing TO 20 up the Cum
berland, must run mile ana half below Cumber-
land river, and come back mile and half whether she
Is loaded with freight with passengers SO with
boat ascending from New Orleans with freight or pas
sengers TO be left at the mouth OF the Cumberland river
destined or Nashye-she must 80 up mile and hall
upon the Kentucky side to reach the mouth OF the river
and then come down mile and half in order 10 pass
up the Ohio Now sir, if that dam ia to be removed. all
have TO say is that this will be the effect OF it. have
been upon the river Tor the last twenty-five years. and
these are facts which know 10 exist
Mr.. CHASE, As my honorable friend states, before
the dam was put up some difficulty occurred in getting
into the Cumberland and il the dam should be removed
this would again be the The great question les
What will upon the whole, most facilitate The naviga-
ton OF the Ohio and the Cumberland taken together
That is the question which propose by my amendment
10 refer TO the Secretary Of War.
Mr. BELL. There is another question to be consider
ed-Whch will answer the purposes of both rivers equal
ly well! The honorable senator from Kentucky did not
state the whole difficulty which would be occasoned, by
removing the dam in the channel to his own State
and to mine All the inconvenience pointed out by the
low stages OF water BY removing the dam you throw
bar across the river which at that point is unusually
wide, SO that The navigation Of the Cumberland will be
obstructed altogether. beg leave to remind the Senate
OF one fact, 10 which am happy TO have opportunity
10 allude great many gentlemen have asked for ap
preparations Tor the survey or Improvement oil particular
rivers or harhofs in their own Sales Now sir there
is the Cumberland You know, sir what river ii is
how beautiful and how useful. Yet there obsruc.
lions in very considerable portion OF il Yet. although
il is navigabie for hundred miles. and although
Nashville Is a "A
Tor it, did think my duty TO press Congress 10 make
an appropriation for the Iennessee-a still larger river,
with more distractions in it-and hope that still more
will be given for that river ere long But nave not
asked for one cent to be appropriated upon the Cumber
land, with lis navigation OF seven hundred miles which
lis OF The beautiful rivers in the world, and runs
through OF our richest and productive countries,
rising IN Kentucky passing through Tennessee and again
through Kentucky, and empiylng into the Ohio al this
point. Now, sir, ii that dam is removed, you throw
bar entirely the mouth OF the Cumberland river,
aud obsruct It's navga in low stages OF water which
would otherwise be open mention this additional
reason for repairing the dam rather than removing It,
The amendment was rejected.
Mr. DODGE, OF Iowa. move TO insert in line ooh,
Rock River rapids and" SO as 10 read For the improve
menl OF the Rock River RAPIDS and Des Moines rapids,
IN The Mississippi river &c and 10 increase the ap-
preparation from $50 900 to $1,000
Alr President, allow 10 say, in support OF the
amendment which have just offered, that j, is for the
removal OF obstruction 10 the navigation OF the Mis-
sssipp river. second only in importance TO that which is
properly called in The bill The Des Moines River rapids.
DON OeinR IN liver, so only
because OF their proximity 10 the mouths OF the Des
moines and Rock rivers termed by the French Les R0p
dss de Ia rivs Des Mones and Les Rapdss de Ia fiU
iere de la Roche.
Mr Presdest, the Committee on Commerce will bear
evidence that this oil Congress- the head OF
the Typographical bureau, Colonel Absr, estimated that
So600O could be most ayaniagcousy expended on the
Des MONIES rapids DUNG he remaining portion of The
present year and although he dd not recommend ap
preparation Tor the Rock RIVER rapids he stalled in his
communication upon this subject, thar, il were decided
m ~ n
ing amount OF appropriation Tor them would be required
that, If the amendment which have offered be adopt
ed will appropriate 900 less than the amount which
the head OF the Typographical bureau has estimated could
be benehcially expended during the present year upon
these two objects. AT the earnest solicitation OF my col
league and myself the Committee on Commerce unan-
mousy reported bill, which now on the Calendar ap
proprating So6 900 for the improvement OF The Des
Moines rapids-Sl6000 more than the House bill gives
us Every one who is acquainted with The Upper Mis-
sssippi knows the immense INJURY and loss winch these
noted distractions annually impose upon the commerce
and people OF the Mississippi valley
Sir, TO arouse pubic alteaiion 10 the importance OF
these rapids there held in the city OF Burlington,
during the past year, OF the largest and most en-
thusiastic conventions which have ever seen assem-
bed, and in which the five adjoining States and the Ter
ntory OF Minnesota were represented. II was conven.
lion without party and above party Its eloquent and
able memorial, read at the first days OF the session, has
not, trust, been forgotten. have here the original
reports, estimates, maps, and diagrams OF that accom-
plshed officer Major X h. Lee, now brevet colonel OF
engineers and TO show the nature OF these obsiFucuons
and the entire practlcaby OF tber removal, Deg 10 de-
tain the Senate whilst read 10 il extracts from
these reports;
The Upper Rock River rapids. distant about one
hundred and fifty miles from the Dss Moine commence
fourteen miles above Rock sand and extend to It's foot
Within this distance The Mississippi falls 257ip feet, de-
scendng rocky bed broken by reefs which at some
points reach entirely the river, aording at low
water shallow channel and projecting at Others from op.
posite Sides inteock and lom winding difficult, and
dangerous passage The fall ofthe river not regular but
like that at the Lower rapids, Is greater over the reels,
and less in the intermediate pools formed In like manner
by them. The velocity OF the current, varying WIN he
scent and continually checked by the rough bed OF the
river the winding the channel and the projection OF
the reefs though not as great as the fall would indicate, Is
still rapid, and in many places dficultto stem
"By examination OF map No. 2 you viii SEQ that the
main channel, by the action OF the water, is 20 DIS
tinctly ma rked that there be doubt the best
mode Of improving IL The depth OF water Is generally
sufficient and the difficulty consists In the short turns and
narrow passes between the reefs, which obge the boats
obquely and ncu the danger OF being
forced on the rocks.
The descending boats swept along by the curren run
the greatest Ttk and the ought 70 be so regulated as
to relieve them FAR possible. BY cutting OIL The pro
iectng points OF Of the edges and excavang through
Others, this danger will be avoided, and safe passage
formed"
This is what he says of the Rock River rapids; and as
the obstruction the Des Mones rapids greater, and
as tha, is the upon which Major Lee operated IN
1850, also wish 10 call attention to what he says IN
re.psct TO them
D.s MoIsEs RAriDs These rapids, situated abou,
hundred miles above ST. Louis commence just below
the Des MONIES garrison, and terminate about threequar
OF a mile above the village OF heOknk, and lour mics
above the OF the Des Mones river Between these
points the Mississippi n9ws with great velocity over an
irregular bed OF blue limestone reaching from shore to
shore, AZ all times covered wit water, aud through which
many crooked channels have been worn by the action
the LIS longitudinal slope being Uniform but