The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-04-19


{ War, made in compliance with resolution
f the Senate in relation to the work done under
he appropriations of 1859, for the improve
nent OF Western rivers and Harbors.
Among this collection of documents we ind
report from Capt. J. Barney, in relation to the
Dubuque Harbor, which we copy below
Dubuque, September 1, 1858.
CorosE1:-l have the honor TO furnish the
following history Of my operations for the past
wear. in relation TO my duties as agent for the
United States for the improvement OF the
harbor of Dubuque, Iowa, for the upper rapids
of the Mississippi, and to build dredge-
boat
received the appointment as agent, for the
above named wnrks, on the 22d September
1852, and ,greeaby to orders from the t"Po-
graphical Bureau repaired to DUBUQUE, maze
the necessary examinations, "rep"ried inc con
dition Of things and the work to be DONE. and
FOR the cuts above water "in n
formi,v with thu understanding at the Office OF
the colonel Of the corps of Typographical engi-
neeTs."
These cuts were necessary for the enlarge
ment and improvement, Of the Cut on which
former appropriations have been expended under
the sanction Of the Typographical Bureau
found by reference the map of the sur
veys had made in the year 1874, and criu-
cal examination of the islands and river opposite
the city, tina, some modification and additions
10 the plan sane Toned by The bureau would be
necessary, in order to make the improvement
Of nature more permanent and suitable 10 the
rapidly increasing importance Of the city.
The current of the Mississippi from some
cause had, within the preceding few years,
taken more direct course across from the WIS
consin andlIlinois shore, as to impinge against
the outer island with much greater velocity
about 200 yards above The outlet of the harbor.
and had washed away nearly one hundred feet
of it both above and below the outlet.
The material from this abrasion had formed a
bar about $50 yards from the outer island, visit
bic at low water tor an extent of 200 yards, and
about para | To the shore. The head OF tins
bar was Just opposite the upper side "f the out
let, and made it very difficult for boats descend
ing The river to make an entrance TO the harbor,
particularly 81, as he velocity IF the current
at III 8 place was nearly 25 miles per hour.
In addition to the Improvement made under
the appropriation of the general government
the cit,z ms of Dubuque had made an excava-
ton of 100 feet in wild through Bass island,
imme dlately opposite the outlet, which excava'
ton was theh completed TO within two ie.t "'
low water mark; and the piles, which had been
| au, in lile across the 81 ugh immediately
| opposite, had all been remaved
From the changes which had taken place
Inferred, that the river continued t. encroarf
| upon the islands the bar nigh. extend upwards
! and make the entrance by he present Quite
! still more difficult. | therefore recom'nen ef
that Cut through the outer island shnult
he made from a point opposite the Gu
through Bass island, and extending the
point where it inlpinged against the QUITE
island. also suggested that the lower Gu
through Bass island should be perfected, 81
that The entrance could be made by boats com
ing up the river through this cut, and thei
egress could be made by the upper cuts; and b.
boats going down, the entrance could be made
| nv the upper and egress bv the lower cuts.
Onthe 18th October, 1852, concluded
contract for removing the earth above water ne
cessary for the engagements of the entrance
of the outlet aud Gu, throu .h Bass island, ant
forwarded copy Of the same to the Top gra
phical Bureau.
| The contractor was, however, not abe !
| finish his work. owing 10 an unusual rise
the river and the inclernency OF the weather.
After having compile led my examination
the harbor, aud reported thereon To the I"P'
graphical Bureau, ! proceeded, according
directions, to ST Louis, and thence to L"ul
vile, to make inquiries as to the facilities "
constructing dsedge boat, and on the Sd M
vember reported from St Louis, that 1t woui
be better To have the boat built at Louisville.
| arrived at louisville on the 9Th, when
received instructions from the Tapngrsphlc
Bureau not 10 enter into anv arrangements tor
! dredge boat until further orders.
| Ga the 20n November | received orders tro
the Typographical Bureau 10 finish estimates
the probable cost of completing the impr"v
me lis suggested BY me for the barber OF "
buoue, which were forwarded on the 9th.
On the 22d December | received orders
make the Necessary arrangements ard have
dredge boa, constructed aud on the 2oth, at
: having made the necessary inquiries as I" pro
8 Bile cost OF ma erials, labor, &c, | suggr>t-
tn the Typographical Bureau, that $20,uOU
j RI served OF the appropriation tor snag boat
2 dredge boats, for the construction of the dred;
boat.
Measures were Immediately taken, and I
the 9TH of January, 1883, | reported, that
3 rangements had been made with d. Il J Ho'
n ard, of Jetfersonville, for the construction
< the hull, 1 aiming, &c ; with w. II Grange
r of Louisville, for the engines, castings, az
and with A. Van Deventer, for buckets q buca
chains: Estimating the cost at 8 l6,OOo.
Y remained a, Louisville experimenting Il
construction of the dredge boat until it W
nearly completed, when in the latter part
April repaired To- Washington, when receiv
verbal orders from the Typographical Bure
to proceed to Dubuque with the dredge, a
commence operations on the Improvement
d the harb IF, in conformity with the plans ! h
r suggested in my report of the 2lst OF Octob
: 1852.
Having previously written for information
Il the subject, | was informed by telegraph on I
;, LIST of March, that two or more scnws could
III. ~, ~ Nav
. accordingly directed that they should be bui
i and imm. diately sent drawings an specific
9 lions 10 govern their construction. Dsappail
Il ments in obtaining suitable timber was, no
: ever met with, of which | was not apprised
time, and the scows were not commenced VIII
a reached Dubuque " it'll the dredse on the y
e of May
y | immediately took measures to have t
: timber sawed, aud ma erials procured, aid h
w"rkmen engaged on Their construction BY I
Is Oath. Every effMt was made to have the
T, completed with as much expedition Us possib
but it was the LIST of July before one of the
: was ready for operations, and the dredging "
l. commenced on that day, the con'rmplat
1t cut through the ou'er island opposite the upr
e cut through Bass Island
>, The wat of the river was then nine Fl
n above low water mark, a. it VAS hoped that
might be found practicable to make his Gu, &
tie by means of The dredge, As there was the
h sufficient depth OF waller on greater par, IT I
!: surface of TIE island to q ,at the boat, and I
d river still rising. 1t was found, however, II
.. the firmly rooted stumps which covered I
N ground IN many places, presented great obs
lie els to the operations, and this t"ge h
lie with the want OF scows, and the raj
Is SUI sdence Of the water mad it impos>i'
is to effect the required excavations W
ID the dredge. The work at this cut was con
i'd qu-ntly suspended when the water becale
r low that the dredge would not foa,, then a
from that time to the present it has been empl,
ii ed in removing the distractions which exist
in the former improvement and enlarging t
channels for approaching the harbor.
The estimated amouat ofexcavaton abo
low water in the cut through The outer islar
Was % 7if cnhc yards. at which there renal
about 10000 cubic yards, and have adveris
for proposals to remove il by con,ract during
&c 10 stage of water this fall; the proposals 10
~ received until The Is instant When Il
, earth is removed there will be no diff leu
:" whatever in removing the remainder with
y dredge boat, during the high wafer of nj
: spring, and thus perfect the con emplated il
" provrment to the hsrbor, by making it access
" bile at all stages of wafer to boats asce nding
Il n ar,,,.