The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28
SPEECH OF HON. THOMPSON CAMPBELL


or ILLINOIS,
Delivered in the House Of Representatives, July %,
1852.
The House having resumed its session, (eye.
ming SESSION. went into the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, on the river and
harbor bill, (Mr Obs in the chalr)
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Illinois, said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: AT an early day in the present
session | introduced a bill approprialing the sum
of 100000 for the improvement Of the Des
MONIES and Rock River Rapids in the Mississippi
river, which, on my motion, was referred to the
Committee Roads and Canals, and was, by
that committee, favorabIy considered, reported
back, and referred to the Committee of the Whole
House on the state of the Union. now propose,
sir, 10 occupy the time allowed me under the rule
in discussion of the merits of that bill, and the
principles it involves.
My object IN having it referred to the Commit
tee on Roads and Canals, instead Of the Committee
on Commerce, was twofold. In the first place.
desired to have the objects embraced in the bill
presented on their own merits. And in the second
place, desired to make an effort to separate the
improvement of rivers from the improvement of
harbors on the lakes. If could not succeed in
having separate bills for each particular object
might, perhaps, succeed in having appropriations
bors in another BILL These were my principal
reasons for having the dill in question referred to
the Committee ON Roads and Canals. And will
further take occasion to state frankly to this
House, that when | came to look over the Com
mltee on Commerce, discovered that there was
not single northwestern State represented in
that committee. The interests of the great North
west seemed to have been wholly overlooked and
dIsregarded in its formation. | do not intend to
charge that committee with partially in their BILL
leave that to speak for itself. But was more
willing to trust the interests of the particular re-
gion of country have the honor to represent,
TO committee where identical interests were rep
resented, than TO one that had not single mem
Der upon It who felt personal interest in objects
of Improvement similar to those embraced in the
bill referred to.
In the year 1897 Lieutenant Lee, an accom-
plished engineer, in obedience to orders from the
War Department, proceeded to survey the Des
Moines and Rock River Rapids, in the Mississippi
river, for the purpose Of reporting plan for their
improvement, and an estimate of their cost. The
Des MONIES Rapids are situated about two hun
dred miles above st. Louis and are about eleven
miles in length. The Rock River Rapids are
about one hundred and fifty miles above the Des
Moines. They commence about fourteen miles
above Rock Island, and extend to its foot MAX
ing, in all, about eighteen miles in length. These
rapids afford the only serious obstacles to the nav
igaiion of the Mississippi from the mouth Of the
Ohio to the Falls Of St. Anthony, a distance of
about one thousand two hundred miles In high
stage Of water, steamboats, of the largest size can
pass over them without serious difficulty but in
low stages of water the navigation of the river is
greatly impeded, and for steamboats, Of the class
which usually navigate the Upper Mississippi,
wholly obstructed.
Captain Shreve, who made report in 1885, as
to the best plan OF improving the rapids suggested
an artificial channel along the shore; but the sub
sequent and more thorough survey Of Lieutenant
Lee satisfied the War Department that the i'm
provement of the g natural channel, was not only
the least expensive, but by far the most prefera-
BILE and practicable and Mr.. Poinsett, in his CON-
munication transmitting the report to the Senate
expresses his approval Of Lieutenant Lees plan,
in the following strong and expressive language !:
"With the views of Lieutenant Lee, as set
forth in this report, TO the best method of inn
proving the navigation at these rapids the De-
partment fully eoneurs, and recommends the plan
for adoption
Besides, the experience Of all those who have
navlgated the Upper Mississippi confirms the pol
icy and practicability Of improving the natural
channel instead Of cutting artificial one.
have here statement, made by practical nav
igstors, valuable for the experience it brings to
bear as to the best mode Of making the improve
ment. The gentlemen whose names are attached
10 the statement all personally known 10 me
~.
in whose Judgments have the most implicit con-
fdence
ave- the undersigned, being now, and having
long been, engaged as practical navgators on the
Mississippi river, and being familiar with the
channel of said river the Dcs Moines and
Rock River Rapids, and with the true character
Of the distractions TO the navigation at those
points, unite in expressing the opinion that these
difficulties do not arise from the scarcity of water
at low stages 80 much ss from the crooked and
winding track Of the channel, and the projecting
points OF rock on the s'1cs OF the same and in the
bed Of the river
ave further unite in the opinion that the nav
igation may be easily and cheaply made safe and
available at all stages Of water by removing these
the channel in others.
IL. Moorehouse, M. s. b. Dubuque, James
McGinnis, Uriah Brock, (piIot,) George King,
Captain S. B. Wyoming, Henry Carson, Charles
Barger, M. 8. B, Danube, X. M. Henderson,
(clerk,) @. p. Cormsck and Henry Edison,
(pilots,) Simuel r.. Barlow, NJ. s. B. Lamartne,
Charles Milford, (pilot James McKell, (master,)
w. p. Hubbard, s. b. Glaucus, w. p. Hall,
.(pilot)
~" B1aLrseroN, October, 1851"
~ the purpose Of giving to the members OF
,h,s N,se, and to the country, an idea, however
~ nv the extent Of the trade and commerce
., eno ~ s.syppi above these rapids, and the
a', n :, ,tbst yearly passes over them,
from lnss'gen. g.ase. residing in the different
.ssippi which afford. the .,.., .,.s.n,
tina, can be produced IN i.,sr Is the proposition
TO which statement now beg IesVe aa' anu
Statistics from Gaisna, Illinois, funsss,,
oLAs DowLNe, Esq. w Nioa-
Number Of steamboat arrivals for 1851. .....,oe
A~x.acate tonpeQe of do..............5S R
Imports of lumber, shingles, hath, and
wood, in feet. ....................6 ,O2l ,5Ot
Valne Of same '..ss. 'NlS,SbJ w
yalue Of exports, same period -. u ,7O0,35S y
aInsurance by reason Of the rapids IS increased
one eighth Of per Of and s1s GUAR
ea :, I'd nv the delay, &C. IN low water, freight
sps increased one hundred per cent, and all sea
Is2,, ,se close Of navigation" H.,
Statistic s s s."m Dubuque, Io'oa, fvn''A'd r
G,orm,rs, Esq, M'yor, a,
Number Of steambo.s arrivals for iSSi'-''''s''