Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-02-07
KroxuK, Norember, 1854.

seen:-
KEoXuE, .Nouember, 1854.
SIR: The cold weather having setin, and
having dispersed the laborers of the con-
tarctors for the Improvement OF Rock XIV
er and Des Moines Rapids. | beg leave to
submit repor. OF the operations Tor the sea-
son.
The work was closed on the upper rapids
on the lst, aud at the lower rapids on the
sth instant.
The contractors were enabled to COM
mence work in August and have continued
si,hou, interruption. Trey have manifest
ID a c ,mmend4bie spirit OF energy and in
dus,ry, hut ut no time have they opcrated
upon as many points as intended. nor have
they employed as many hands.
The work upon the lower rapids has been
confined exclusively t. The English chain.
at points designated on Lieutenant War
frn's mp as "Centre patch" and "D.oYa's
PATCH"
Both these points have been entirely re-
moved with the exception CT small patci
Of rocks at the head and foot OF each. giving
al '.Cer,re pa'cn" an average depth Of va
ter Of six feet aud al Browns Of i've feet
larg." al low water.
The work at the upper rapids has been
confined exclusively to "Campbell's chain
aud -Sycamore chain" they being undoub,-
ed,y the worst and most dangerous points
to the navigation Of the upper rapids.
"Campbell's chain" a depth has been
obtained of ..!our feet large at low water
throughout the channel. and at least one
hundred feet wide.
A. Sycamore the work was conanet ex-
clusi,e'y 10 point c., on Warren's map, the
most difficult and dangerous point in that
rhain.
Tasy have taken from the chsnnel in al
b ~ $500 cubic yards Of stone, and hay
deposited il in IN most con,ig Gus deep hol =
;, a - b. tnfir y cut o. the cham whei
complete, aiii out OF danger Of washing
qgin into il.
The bed % tha rver at "Eaglish chain,
at The points worked is composed OF Blu
limestone. the stratum about three Tee
mick, somptiin less, but most commoni
+ that thickness, cpver with d.t 'oL
three inches To one foot on the top. the film,
ruan ming IL irregular veins from one u Nv
inches throughout the stone.
The length OF tubes rs d was never les
than si1, and many seven and eight teet
long. according to the depth 0 water and the
depth Of drill, the latter mos commonly
three feet, in order to obtain the most eff c.
tive blast.
The di4metcr Of tube from y to 2 X
inches, the quantity OF powder from ! to =
x pounds To the blast.
The drilling was done by two men TO ths
drill, the wages $3.50 for common drill
hands, and for the watermen s. to S. pc,
day. running up a. the weather and water
grew colder.
The cost of drilling alone was about 80
cents a foot. inclusive Of all other expenses
varying according to the hardness of the
stone.
One rock in browns patch" required two
and duHed y steel points.
And the rock known as ''Centre rock,
in Campbell's chain, required the labor oi
four men two weeks to cutit OFF, x feet
A breakwater was used at all points ex
cept at Sycamore chain, where the velocity
Of the current and the constan. interruption
from passing steamboats, prevented the use
These breakwaters were OF simple cunsti-
tuition and cheap, and answered a most ad
mirable purpose, forming an eddy, behino
which the men worked free from the feet:
of the current.
The operations Of this season consider
10 have beenof very great advantage TO the
navigation Of the rapd s, and ] think the
most experienced navig tors entirely concur
with me.
II - 4 L. IL
5000 900. which can be most advantageous
ly expended.
! propose that the watermen shall be pro-
vided with India rubber garments, so con
structed as to ef1ectually protect them from
the water; and TO commence the work at the
first low water Of March or at the opening
of the river in spring, when the water j:
most commonly low and clear. could thu.
add two months to the season; then TO d.
vide the twenty-four hours into three shifts
of eight hours each, and work night anc
day; to operate upon at least two points in
each chain with thoroughly organized Par
ty Of men, tools boats, aud machinery of ev.
ery description. could thus carry on the
work at about twenty points continuously
throughout the season than double even a
good season.
Unless the work is prosecuted upon some
vigorous plan Of this sort. the completion
NAV run on TO an indefinite length Of time
and the great nd increasing commercial in
terests OF the upper Mississippi b. deprived
of the bt nefits Of tue plan To an indefinite
period.
Very respectfully, your Oh, scr''.
JNO. G. FLOYD.