Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-21

plan Of Colonel Lee should be adopted and
showing the amount that Congress should appro-
pirate for the accomplishment of this object. My
other colleague Mr.. WENTWORTH states here in
opposition to this, that there is another part Of
the report which calls for the appropriation Of
$4,000. That appropriation Of $4,000, sir,
contend, is utterly inadequate TO any useful pur-
pose as connected with the completion of the
work in accordance with the original estimates,
and in accordance with what common justice de-
mands should be DONE but it is for the purpose
of making these new surveys which, believe
are useless, and which may defeat the objects OF
the appropriation. We have surveys here made
by accomplished men; and we have appropria-
tons here recommended to us very recently, and
by competent authority, and why not adopt themf
But let me say, as | said yesterday, that this
plan Of Colonel Lee is pronounced by all the
steamboat men upon the river as the best which
can be adopted / have in my hands letter
from one of the most experienced navigators upon
that river, going to show that it should be adopt
ed His letter is as follows:
GALENA, ILL, December II, 1853.
DEAR Sin In answer to your inquiries in rela-
ton to the Improvement of the rapids of the Mis-
.sissppi, can only say, that / know of no FEAST
BILE plan other than that reported by Lieutenant
now Major r. X. Lee, to General Gratiot, Chief
Engineer United States Army, in 1888. 1t is
comprised in a report of the Secretary OF War;
Senate Document No. 1870, Of the Twenty-fifth
Congress, second session. Five years constant
employment, in all stages of water over this part
of our river, has confirmed me in the opinion that
it is the only mode by which efficient and perma-
nent improvements can be made. There is
not single change from the plans submitted by
Major Lee that | could suggest. The channel
requires the same work now that it did then.
There has been no change, or likely to be for the
vi 10th mir Ia fba riv Hny
over bed of limestone, cut up into pools No
better idea or description of the nature of the
distractions, or what work is necessary to remove
them, can be found than in Major Lees details
and maps The improvements if made as he has
suggested, would place rs great depth of water
over the channel as has been over many of the
sand-bars above and below them this season, say
four feet. The surveys made this year are gener-
ally looked upon as being as useless as resur-
vey of the Capitol would be- in order that MEM
bers might ascertain its location. Time and mo-
ney both wasted--cR bono 1t has always seemed
to me, that the plan of operating on both rapids
at the same time was injudicious. The charac-
ter of the work submarine blasting, removing the
debris, boulders, &C.. being the same, similar
boats, materials, tools, &c. are required conse-
quently double the expense would be incurred in
thus operating, and the ultimate loss to the Gov
eminent or contractor after the completion of the
work, (which, if prosecuted in accordance with
Lees plan, would be permanent, requiring no
repairs or alterations,) would be in the sale or
disposal of two sets Of boats, &C., instead of
And should the Department persist in its present
course and attempt to operate by contract, would,
as you will readily perceive greatly increase the
expense. We cannot expect to see much greater
progress made than has been effected in the past
two seasons. Unless the Department determines
to take the work in hand and place it under
charge of some efficient officer of the engineers,
some competent civilian, do not believe much
more will be done than what has already been
complished-defning the position of rocks and
chains, the locality of which we are perfectly
familiar with Ii Major Lee, for instance, could
be placed in charge of these improvements, be-
leye they would be more effectually and econom-
ically prosecuted than by adopting any other
course. l name Major Lee, (having no personal
acquaintance with him, as in my opinion far
better acquainted with the character of the OBJ
structons, and the requisite means to be taken
to remove them, than any other officer 1t has
ever been my opinion, that operations should be
commenced on the upper or Rock Island rapids,
for the following reasons 1t will require much
shorter time to improve them the "chains" are
shorter, and the average Of water deeper, there
being generally twelve inches more water in the
upper than in that of the lower rapids.
From this state of things arises the fact that
there are no facilities, other than those used by
the steamboat, and belonging to her, used in
transporting freight consequently, any steamboat
freighting from port above them can only trans
port the quantity of cargo in her huh and barges
as will permit her safely to cross them. But so
soon as she arrives at Rock Island or Davenport
she can then commence taking in additional
go, and frequently to much larger amount than
all she could cross the rapids with, and after
taking in a fiH load proceeds on to Montrose, on
the head of the lower rapids, the master being
well assured that he will find sufficient number
Of "rapds Lighters to transport his whole cargo
to Keokuk. Should the water be so low or the
"rochs so high as to prevent him crossing with
his steamboat, he can reship his freight and send
forward his passengers TO ST. Louis on boats that
arc engaged in the Keokuk trade" Now, apply
this state of facts to freight destined for ports
above St Clair, (head Of upper rapids,) say a
large part Of Illinois, Iowa. Wisconsin, and all OF
Minnesota and what is the result? A steamboat
cannot take in for any port, in the section above
named, larger quantity Of freight than she is
enabled TO cross the upper rapids with, although
this may not be onc-fourth of her actual capacity
while on the lower rapids, from facilities there
offered she has passed over to her all she can
swim under, and which she may transport to the
foot of the Rock Island rapids. Here, If she has
more freight for ports above than she is enabled
10 90 over with, she must either double trip it"
or store her freight. The removing of the OBJ
structions on the upper rapids would open up for
us uninterrupted navigation from Montrose to ST.
Anthony, a distance of six hundred miles; where
as, now, a boat cannot transport her full tonnage
but one hundred and fifty miles, say from Mont
rose to Davenport; land from thence to ST. An
thony, four hundred and fifty miles, she can only
transport the quantity she can ego over" the
upper rapids with. You are, however, too ia
miliar with all these facts for TO enlarge upon
them and give in detail all the inconvenience
that we who reside above the rapids are subject
ed TO. Any person familiar with the commercial
usages Of the country above the rapids is aware
that | have as much freight as can cross the
rapids WITH is a sufficient and valid reason for
not taking freight, although it might be in stu
alton where it would be totally lost or destroyed
were it not shipped upon the boat then refusing"