The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-08-23
cCr7c1AL PAPER OF THE CITY


OOun0s makes desperate euort 10 sheer
1t Col. Curtis views in regard to the i'm
provement Of the Rapids. In IFS article
q The subject it seems 10 fall into the
mistake that the Missouri Republican is a
co-WoTker with Col Curtis, and designates
thst paper as the 'mustiest Of all old fogy
sheets. The truth is hat Col Curtis article
was called forth by an editorial of the Re-.
psblican commencing the Government op-
erations IN the improvement ofthe Rapids,
and expressing the confident anticipation
thai but very brief period would now be
required to insure q successful compIe,i
Of the Improvement The editors of the
Hawkeye have therefore The entire bene-
fit Of the authority of that 'mustiest Of all
old fogy sheets" to sustain their views Of
the practicablity of the present mode Of
improvement.
II happens, however, that the grand
patent selfregulatlng steam drilling ma
chine BY meaps which channel was TO
be drilled through the rapids in few
weeks according to that "mustiest Of all
old fogy Sheets" has already been aban-
doned as insufficient for the purpose. And
now the parties in charge have resortsd by
way of laid and comfort TO their patent
drill, to another grand invention which is
no.hing else than sieel-pointed punch of
great weigh, worked on the principle Of
pile driving machinery.
We wait now in awful expectation till
this new machine shall punch out the bot.
tan Of the Mississippi. and annihilate the
Rapids. il not the river itself.
But, ii this concern should only produce
a splash in the water, instead of smash
amongst the flinty rocks beneath, what
then? Must We still continue patiently
and 10 silent endurance to wait for further
puerilc and Intellectual efforts to remove
the rocky bed of the rapids?
Almost the period of genera ion has al
ready passed away since these experiments
commenced. Hundreds OF thousands Of dol
lars have been spent by the Government
without any beneficial result, and millions
Of dollars have been lost by the est in
consequence of this obstruction TO uayi-a
ton. And now II appears to us, that il is
time for the advocates or this blowing
out policy 10 cease teir snecrs II. and
abuse OF C1l Curtis, ~Anolhcr Engi
necr," or Of any one else whose scicnt. tic
knowledge and practical experience emit,
lie their views to some respect from edi-
tors aud others, who know no more about
the subject OF engineering than mud ,ur-
lie knows Of The science OF Astronomy -
Ii is time too, We think, that the people of
lows and Of tie entire Northwest should
cease their opposition to plan OF improve
ment which is exceedingly economical
may be speedily completed. and promises
reasonable facility 10 navigation with en-
tire certainty; and against which here is
nothing under heaven to aliegc. except
kind OF blind prejudice against "sack wa
s ter navigation and narrow and contemp-
tible jealousy and envy of the incidental
advantages which will result to keokuk
from such mode Of improvement
In regard to the intimation Of the HauA-
eye that nobody but Col. Curtis aud "ano-
Their Engineer" approves This plan of i'm
proyenent. we are happy 10 know that The
Hawkeye is not posted. Col. Forrer, of
Ohio, Of whose reputation as An Engineer
the editors Of that paper cannot lie igno
rant hdS expressed his views in our paper
in full accordance with those of Col. Cur
It's, and SO far as our observation and in
formation serves US upon this matter, We
are inclined to believe that the general and
prevailing opinion with a large majority
Of the scientific and practical Engineers of
the country in regard tc the best mode of
improvement concurs with the The view
Of COL Curtis
The utter failure of beneficial results
from the present plan, notwithstanding the
Immense sums expended and the great
length oil time already consumed, together
with the demonstrated fact that more than a
century would be required under the most
favorible circumstances 10 complete the
Improvement on this plan is It's all suf-
ncisn' condemnation in the minds OF prac
teal men.