The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-09

removal OF the old dam, and It's probable eonse
From tho ocs adduced. as ebove, IL may be readily
inferred thai the removal OF tho dam will be attended W
frsui,s OF the following import, namely
"firsi Low-waler navigation only be had for boats
ooonl through 70 snthlsnd on 'be oumoer9pa nye ex
cep by passing upward om the lower end OF Cumberland
sand aud bsiwesn t'o sans and The Kentucky shore
That will be one OF the resulisyou have go around
this island.
reduced 10 such that the shoals, &c Suas
stand and he Sisters island, (our twelve miles above
difficult shoals Of shs obo. vii require extsGsiye works
in order TO render t:lein nasigabe in low water'
You have, according to previous part of this report,
head OF wafer OF about four feet III you draw of this
four feet OF water Why every gentleman will see at
once the effect that Will be produced upon The river
BY drawing il oil sou will create shoals, az i is stated
here, fom four 10 Twelve miles above which constituted,
prior 10 the erection OF this dam, one OF the greatest
obstacles to the navigation Of the river. That IS the
second effect which viii result from the removal OF the
| dam.
"Thrd The shoals between the Cumberland island
the Illinois shore which exceedingly formidable prior
10 the erecon OF the dam and s remain proyed will
require works large aud expensive scale In order to
river"
There is the very fact which have already stated
that the shoalsoet the Illinois shore and the island,
being uninproyed If you take this dam away, will be
reduced 10 low water and you will not be able to pass
them bat You will obyale that by concentrating
the water in the Kentucky shuie, which, as The gentle
man from Massachusetts lblr DAyIsJ has said. IS mar
row. and by concentrating The water IN that narrow shue,
u
the island and the Illinois shore All that so perfectly
plain that nobody deny it. But here is the fourth
consequences oil the removal ot this dam.
Fourth The ow.waicr channel from the foot of Cum
beland island upward de mouth Of the river. be
provided for anu kept open Ia order 10 insure navgabe
communication with this river 10 very low s'nges"
| That is of the effects which siated--that il you
scatter the water this mile and baf or two miles,
you diminish the depth. Lieut. Col Long tells you
that in order 10 get into the Cumberland river from be-
low you have to expend large sum oil money ior the
purpose OF Openlng the shuie.
hope this report WILDE considered satisfactory 10 all lis
bearings, and IT. the gentleman desires the whole OF II TO
be read hope il will be. II is very satisfactory, and
shows all the facts and think Ought to abide by H.
am satisfied. from local information, from letters that
have received that Is very important matter 10 I'M
prove this dam. And will remark that my information
is that will take DOUBLE triple and perhaps quadruple
the amount of money 10 remove the dam that II will take
to improve it,
/ And one remark upon that subject The reason why
1t costs much to remove il is that IN repairing
it you do not have TO dive TO the bottom 10 bring up the
gravel and rocks but in removing II you have to dive
after the stones al the bottom OF the rivers and every
body knows that the process OF removing the gravel and
rocks will great deal more than 10 bring gravel and
rocks from the shore 10 throw into the gap IT, therefore,
economy is be consulted, il will be vastly cheaper
nil up the gap than 10 undertake to take out the rocks
which deposited at the b1ttom and carry them 10 the
shore
! Mr. CASS. | want to inquire what is the amendment
moved by the senator from OHIO There was so much Of
my old friend +" noise and confusion" in the chamber
The PRESIDING OFFICER stated that il was 10 strike
out the words repar and Improvement and insert re-
moga."
Mr.. CASS. II is very obvious TO my mind that this
whole discussion confirms and more what has been
often said here Of The Of trying 10 administer in
stead ol leglslang Now here are different statements
made by gentlemen equally conveTsant with The stale OF
things here-one requiring that the dam shall be repaired
and The other that be taken awayand appeal TO the
wGoe Senate IL are competent 10 determine that ques
ton, and appeal again If II is not the duty ol the proper
department TO ascertain the acts aud how much money "a
required iof the purpose And, in my opinion, where an
nrEatian .ha ha ka mall
aud the bead OF the department should be held Tespons
BILE We should hold the head Of the department respon
sibe and he should hold the officers OF bis department
responsible for taking the correct either 10 repair
toe dam or remove IT, as the circumstances oil the ryer
require We not in condition TO administer. IL IS a
question OF administration Let grant the neces
sary appropriation, and hold the proper department
sponsibe Tor the pan adopted and the expenditure OF the
money That is the course Congress ought 10 take, and
/ that is the course ! hope they will take.
| Blr. UNDERWOOD. Allow me TO say that have
particle OF objection to that course But here IS the
report Of the engineer, which have Just read The bill
was referred TO committee the other day because OF the
want OF report and they have reported IL back with the
engineers report But II il will relieve the subject and
prevent tedious discussion, am perfectly willing 10 leave
1 Mr SHIELDS | was fayorably Impressed with tae
remark OF the senator from Michigao but the conmu
nicaons receive from my constituents Tell me that II
this dam is removed it viii nIuFe the channel 10 other
parts OF the river.
Mr. BELL. II will njure il above
| Mr.. SHIELDS. Il wl iniure II above as well as be-
low the island And 80 far am old from being BEN
eft to the Ohio river, except IN one particular Ponhe
point 10 which the gentleman alludes-ihe effect OF the
removal OF the dam destined 10 be permanently lnlu
rious both above and below. Now, am not prepared
to pake this statement my personal knowledge but
my constituents have given me this information. Bat j
Will ask the honorable senator from Kentucky this simple
question Is there any special feason Tor specific ap
preparation for this particular purpose and why would
no, general appropriation for the Improvement OF the
whoye river be better, including IN u this particular OBJ
ecil
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Shall | answer The question
now
Mr.. SHIELDS No, sir; not now. ] not pre-
paired oppose this bill an prepared 10 vote Tor II
no. W because the information have u OF such charac
satisfy that the removal OF this dam s des
iRed to be Injurious TO the navigation oi the ONO river
and that the only object is 10 divert the channel from
side OF the rlyer 10 attempt such diversion. Now
sir, The attempt made This dam erected for
that purpose, and has failed 10 accomplish it, and the
river has formed chanoel as 1t were, and the
whole object a. am told, Is now 10 remove this dam m
order 10 change the channel 10 where Il originally
Such legislation would be very singular, must say.
Bat what ask is this that this measure be postponed
untl egslste generally on the question OF western
rgcts There IS special reason Tor urging Il through
now, and IL ought to be nelodei in general BILL and
not brought forward special measure Besides, "
the House, and little afraid that gentlemen who
would for this may not perhaps aid us in carrying
Il through the other boJy when II goes there.
n the gentleman from Kentucky wishes TO reply, viii
not make motion TO lay the table; Otherwise IN
tended to DO 50 in order that might inquire more par
tculafy into ibis subject
| Mf UNDERWOOD. / ask the privilege of answer.
ing the question ptoponnded by my friend lie wants TO
know why il is not better to let hs matter remain Tor the
i e. AZ af fksD hap