The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1852.

SENATE.
CUMBERLAND DAM
MIR. UNDERWOOD moved the posiponement OF all
p,or orders for the purpose OF taking up Senate bill No.
Al being bill 10 provide ior the repair and improve
ment Of be dam at The head OF Cumberland island, in
the Ohio river.
The bill was accordingly taken up and considered as
MI CHASE | move to amend the bill by striking oui
me words repair and Improvement, aud inserting Ere
lnoval - =
This BILL MI President. contempaies an appropriation
OF $4,000 for the repair OF the Cumberland dam, which
Is ptely well known TO navigaiors the Ohio river
ecolect very well when this subject under consld-
eralon year or two ago. that the senator from Mis-
ssspp. lMr, DAVIS now longer here, stated, the
result personal examination which he had given 10 the
subject that the repair Of this dam would be greater OBJ
srclon to the navigation than the removal OF H. AT that
time was in favor OF the bill, or rather a iayof OF q
proposition OF the sort connected with the river and
harbor bill; but since that pelod have conversed with
persons engaged in the navigation OF the river 70 such an
extent that perfectly satisfied that the objections then
urged by the senator from Mississippi Mr. DAyI.l were
well founded and that the existence oil this dam IN The
river is of obstruction to navigation than lis
removal would be. The dam placed there under The
authority OF The general government and OF course having
created obstruction TO the navigation, II ought 10 be
removed the expense of the government But il
10 me that ought NOT TO be repaired We ought not TO
attempt work which Is subject, IN consequence oil the
peculiar condition OF that river to being constantly SWEEP,
away in part and thus charge the treasury with great
expense io repairs, when every time thai any portion OF
greater Than Nature itself has placed in the river. 1t is
Tor that that move 10 strike out the words Gre
pair and Improvement, and insert "removal and trust
tnal may meet with the concurrence OF the Senate
Mr.. DAVIS. MIR. President, doubt whether the hon.
orabe member from Ohio Mr. CHAsEl has acquainted
himself with the facts Of the case. II Is true that this
dam originally placed there by the general govern
ment, but il was not done without application the
part of those who navigated that rivers and il was not
placed there without supposion on the part OF Con-
gess that il would be useful and benehcalto the nayiga
AL NF tl.at tharn p.b-
stuction at this spot in the navigation for the want Of
sufficient depth OF wafer The spread itself out 10
unusual width, and there was an island near the spot
where the Cumberland river united with the OHIO They
built dam from that island TO the north shore, order
the water into the south channel of the river and
sweep away this bar, which constituted the obstruction
to the navigation, being formed OF accumulation OF
deposes from The Cumberland river Well, believe il
answered the purpose toleIaby well until l. gave way
But desire to state that while have not the particulars
Of an elaborate report this subject precisely IN my
mind yet think recollect enough OF II 10 enable me 10
say that since the construction OF this work. the obsa-
ces originally complained OF that side OF the channel
have from necessity increased, and the waters become
shallow and there is really more necessity Tor keeping
the south channel open al this moment than there was al
the time OF the original construction OF the work. II
reeoec the account, given IN relation to this mailer
when il submitted to the engineers department, is
substantially this: that the only mode of restoring a
convenient navigation is 10 repair the dam
The gentleman from Ohio Mr. CHAsEl seems TO sup
pose that the government is under obligation to
lake this dam away Why, sir |, placed there the
request and wish OF those who navigaied the river.
Still, If it be an obstacle TO navigation, have no par
ucuar ohieeuon 10 its being removed Al the expense
OF the government But | apprehend the senator
from Ohio is mistaken in his view OF the subject
that The people on that river would come here, as
soon as that dam was removed, and ask TO have II
replaced BY pressing the water into the south channel
which channel, that. together with the waters
Of the Cumberland river, would sweep through aud carry
!hs bar out Q, lhe way There is to DC sue an ooslae
you can. That happens IN nearly all cases where OBJ
sIuctons OF this sort attempted to be remeded by
engineers. But appfehend, Il the gentleman Will look
into the report OF The engineer he will hnd very clearly
proved that The best mode OF aiding aud assisting the
navigation Of The river is to repair the Old dam
Mr. DOWNS. ] entirely concur in The suggestions
made by the senator from Ohio, Mr.. CHAsRl that the
Proper mode OF improving the navigation OF the river is
10 the dam and think il the seaaor from Mas.
lchusctts [Mr. DAVID had the spot, had passed
it, many OF have, and knew the nature OF the
channel, he would have come 10 the same conclusion
MIR DAVIS, lin his seai.) have seen IT,
Mr. DOWNS The original purpose Tor which ihe
dam made has failed entirely, and the best way to
ge: clear OF the evil is to H. The object was 10
throw sufficient water into the south channel 10 make Il
naygable for boats But thai has failed entirely and Is
so lar stopped ~ a 10 become much shallo~eI
channel Than II before IL Is so much stopped
up, both below and above The mouth Of the Cumberland
fyer, that believe s used now except ~ high
water The channel through which have frequently
passed. and through which boats used 10 pass 10 low
water they never think Of using now at low water al
ALL II is not used AT all; and The only way to remedy
the evil is 10 remove the dam so that the channel where
the dam now stands can be restored TO what u was.
Since that dam made, material change has taken
place. The channel the other sisc o the ryer has
lsssened materially and seems to be entirely hlg up,
and probably II this obstruction removed Il would
MI np stu Further and the main channel would be on
lhe SIDE where toe dam is. AT any rate, 50 much
has that channel filled up that ii the dam restored,
hey would have TO dig out the soah channel, Tor u Is
no longer used for navigation at ALL except at high water
mnk therefore, that the proper course - TO remove
The dam entirely
MI UNDERWOOD. regret very much to be
obliged 70 differ with my ifend from Louisiana. MI.
DOWNS am, 10 be sure, not professional engineer,
bat AN inclined 10 think ii bad been brought up TO
that business, would have made right good one.
Mr.. CASS. Your arithmetic would have made you
70. tLaugbier1
ME UNDERWOOD. Mysuocess in little mathematical
attempts would have enabled to get along in that
branch 81 the business lolerabiy well, presume.
II has so hapPened that have passed frequently 10 low
Stages OF water by this dam, and my information dlfers
snirely from thai OF my friend from Louisiana. Mr.
DowSsl have passed up on the Kentucky shute,
@ y Is cael-the one the south side OF the river
add my information that that sbue al low water
was better than the other.
But il so happens that VIC have professional nforma-
Ion on the subject | hold in my hanl the report OF
Lieutenant Colonel Long, the engineer who examined
mo this matter in February last, and think where
Eehtlemen differ, they do here, they ocght TO allow
experts 10 speak, and be governed by what they say upon
he subject
Bat before read TO you passages oil that report.
allow me 10 state that know, from persona observation,
hal At the lower end OF the sand the perhaps
amle and half or two miles wide II spreads ont
hefe, as everybody knows, TO great width. The
ceposites from the Cumberland river have formed
mat Iaud and by the river spreading ogl II does.
gon have, al the lower end Of the island, you
Wi see by Lieutenant Colonel Longs report, sllal.
low, and you do not concentrate il you will not be able
70 20 up at any time when the water il low. And be