Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-10-20

been struck in one spot, the STERN
in which are the chieels-is drawn
by means ola windlas. fo7t or
more to one side and then secured.
The blows are then repeated on this
spot until sufficient depth has been
obtained, when the stern Is again
moved, aud the cutting commenced
on another contiguous spot. 1t VIII
be seen that by this arrangement the
track pursued by the chsels deccri.
hes the arr Of a circle, and, as each
boat swings through an are Of more
tan hundred feet, the two boats
must soon achieve the the required
width OF two hundred feet. When this
is done, the boats are then drawn up
stream few feet, and the cutting re-
newcd AS before.
These chisels are the invention OF
Major Floyd. and surely, for the pur-
pose intended, no means more eff
Gent could be devised.
When they have done their work,
and the obnoxious patch lies in ruins
beneath their titanic blows, then
comes the dredge boat to sweep away
the last trace Of its existence. The
Excavator, with which this dredge
boat is furnished, is certainly won
derful affair. 1t is the invention OF
Mr., Osgood, of Troy, New York, to
whom the contract for clearing away
these rapids has been awarded. 1t
consists of long and heavy beam of
wood, strengthened with iron, at the
projecting end OF which is fastened
an enormous scoop of iron, capable
OF containing cubic yard OF earth.
The facility and even dexterity with
which this monstrous machine may
be manipulated surpasses belief
1t has as many motions as an elc-
plants trunk, and seems to be as per-
fectly under control. Its precision
and its power alike are wonderful. 1t
can pick an orange from = lady's
hand, or hurt high into the air mass
Of stone that the force of fifty men
could not stir. 1t can he moved to
the right or to the left, or in any di-
rection, at any time. Following at
ter the boats that belabor the patch
cs into fragments, it scoops up the last
atom of detritus, and leaves the bot
tom as smooth AS an ordinsry floor
1t is an interesting sight to witness
it, roofing about among the masses Of
broken rock, pushing them in heaps
before it, and then emerging full to
the brim with captured fragments, 10y
an easy swing to the right or left, de-
post them on the deck OF the lighter
alongside. This latter it does in a
way convenient, at least, if not grace
full, by opening it's mouth and letting
them fall ont. Then, as if greedy to
be gorged again, it goes back into the
water openmouthed, and snaps Its
avs in savage manner at the very
first bite.
This dredgeboat is capable of re-
maving one hundred cubic yards Of
stone per day, which is about the
amount broken off bv the chisels.-
These appliances were first pnt into
operation last season, on the English
chain, about two miles above Kcokuk;
but owing to very early winter, lit
tie progress was made. Work was
resumed this spring on the turn above
the Omega patch; but not until July,
when the water fell to eight feet could
much be effected. Since then, with
constantly shoaling water, the work
has advanced rapidly. Two large
islands, measuring each more than a
hundred yards in length, by forty in
width, have been built exclusively of
the rocks taken out of the channel.
These islands were formed in water
four aud half feet deep, and have
already attained an elevation OF more
than two feet above the surface. They
are so arranged as to serve the double
purpose Of marking out the channel
and of throwing the greatest volume
Of wator where il is most needed -
The bed of the river, from which the
fragments were takep. now measures
six feet of water; before their reno
val not more than four feet could he
found. although the volume of water
in the river was greater then than at
present.
The results obtained by Major
Floyd are in the highest degree en-
coursging, and demonstrate clearly
the pratcicability of the plan by which
he is operating. There is no longer
room 10 doubt that the distractions
can be removed by the method he is
pursuing. The results are palpable
and appeal to II Q senses. The only
questions are such as regard the con.
sumption of time and money. After
infinite toll and large sums had been
trutlessly expended, the most eco>
nomicai and the only feasible plan
has been hit upon at last. With sui.
ticient pecuniary facilities, the mach
inery now at command, can be made
available for removing every obstruc-
on to navigation on either the Up
per or the Lower Rapids. Major
Floyd, whose position gives him sur
pcrior advantages for arriving at a
correct conclusion says, that with
half a million Of dollars, he can, in
three seasons more, render the nayi-
cation ot::the Lower Rapid perfectly
free from hazard. OF this we can
not pretend to Judge. We know on
ly what our own eyes have shown us.
We have seen The shoal places made
deep, aud we know that these process
SEES can be repeated indefinitely until
the end be attained. When that NAV
be.and hy what cost il must be reach