The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-13

portion OF the revenues arising from taxa
ton, there is no reason TO doubt the ability of
Gus Railroad Companies, and other boal
holders, to realize nearly the par value of
the city bonds, if it be found necessary TO
subject them to sale in q foreign market
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RAPIDS
In speaking Of the rapids improvement, il
IA mainly my purpose on this occasion TO
sAow its bearing on the interests of our city.
have so often expressed my views OF the
erroneous plan of attempting TO blow out n
nayigable channel in the solid rock bed of
the river, and years of toll and treasure have
been so unsuccessfully expended here in your
4 presence, that it would seem useless. for me
to advert to it, in this community. Yet it is
important for you to note, that just so far as
any success might follow that plan, it would
have tendency TO draw the water from the
Iowa to the Illinois shore, and SO far tend to
injure our harbor. Wemight with propriety
object TO plan that attempts to divert our
channel from this point, where commerce is
concentrated, to an opposite point, where
none naturally exists. Other harbors on the
river have obtained aid from Government
for their improvement. 1t cannot be that
the same Government would disregard this
/ port Of entry which has grown up into i'm
portance since that plan was devised, and
during its ATTEMPTED progress. keokuk has
not, and Hill no, interpose an objection to
any reasonable plan and effort that is de-
signed TO improve the commercial adyanta-
ges Of the Mississippi Any thing that Will
advance her commerce, will advance keo-
kuk, and more than compensate for the petty
/ income that arises from the lighting and
towing business that is shared nv this place
and Montrose. But we may respectfully ask
for reconsideration of plars that seem
not only inimcal to US. but entirely useless
To the Government.
In view of change of plan, that sooner
or later is sure TO be effected, trust the
, change Will result in the construction of
steamboat and hydraulic canal on the Iowa
shore. Engineers, experienced in similar
and more difficult works, have concurred in
expressing their conviction that it is compar-
atyely easy matter to construct broad
canal, that will secure safe, certain, and
speedy passage Of boats over these rapids,
at all hours and seasons when the river il
not frozen over. Such a canal would Sc
cure continuous lines of commerce, and vast
~ increase the river business. Instead Of
thousand steamboat arrivals, it is nv opin-
ION we would Immediately have two thousand
year. All the cities above and below, and
all the vast country drained by this river,
sould particlp pate in tho advantages Of such
work. Besides sharing III these wide and
equally distributed advantages, which keo-e
kuk fully appreciates, there are other conse-
quenees that will tend still more TO our local
and national welfare. Such canal would
/ include sufficient width to serve as great
steamboat harbor. 1t would extend to Mon
trose, twelve miles, and be sufficient to safe
II moor all the steamboats, Of the upper Mis-
sissipp. Here in still water they would be
safe from floating ice, and from the terrible
effects Of floating burning boats. Millions
have been expended on ocean and lake har-
boris, and We have reason TO hope that Con-
gress will ultimately favor our interior wa
ters. When such improvements are COM
menced on this river where can they so wise
ly apply means Us here on a solid foundn-
ton, where the fall in the river affords such
facilities for improvement Besides the
convenience as a harbor, the canal will also
furnish convenient arrangements for build
/ ing and repairing boats. Chambers can be
! constructed on the upper side Of the canal,
and the water drawn off below the bed, leav-
Ing boats on ways where they can be cheap
" and safely repaired or constructed. Such
dry docks on the sea shore have been built by
h the Government, at great expense. On this
canal they would cost comparatively trife,
ana be great convenience TO our commerce
/ We would thus have dry docks and q harbor
where Il floating city Of steamboat palaces
would be collected in the winter, which
would in the opening spring renew their mi
gratory fight TO al the branches Of our
great river.
As matter Of great interest TO our city,
and no inconvenience TO others, we could ap-
ply small portion of the water power that
| would be here accumulated, as a means for
furnishing our city with supply of water.
After paying the canal fair price for the
power, our waterN orks would be curluilad
in their cost one half A small simrie
construction would pump the water up into
towers ana tanks, erected on our hills, from
whence 1t could be distributed to. all parts Of
oar city.
But more than oil the rest, here would be
accumulated vast water power which could
be applied to u thousand useful mechanical
purposes. fall of twenty-f four feet, locat-
81 on rock, and conveniently applied, who
can estimate the value of such a source of
wealth TO the western country? Here the
gram and wool Of the North and surround
ing section OF country can be collected, man
ufactured, and cheaply distributed to differ
ent parts OF our country. Here the heavy
products of slave labor can be conveniently
transported, and here manufacturing masses
can be accumulated to man the engines
thread the spindle, fly the shuttle, and weave
them into useful and ornamental fabrics,
} which can again be sent by our great riv-
ers to various parts of the world. Surely
the latent advantages Of the Mississippi rap
; ids will be developed, and will far exceed
those which are patent and palpable. There
! is no place in America where million Of
dollasr would produce such stuppendous re-
: suits.
: 1t is the privilege and duty of our city to
present this matter of the rapids improve
, ment in its true light before Congress, with
, view Of securing to lis great harbor with
: other conveniences, without detriment to the
, public elsewhere. | am certain if the matter
Enln fu ii Y unda rstand r,lans unuld LIZ 20 rr,