, 1860-05-10
Another Plan for Creating = Channel
I'M the Illinois River.


uzss1rtz. ILL.,. May 8, LEGO.
In compliance with your general suggestion,
will attemptto give your readers ny plan for |
the removal Of bars, when formed Of sand
from the rivers Of the West. hare for many
years lived on the Illinois River, and almost
every season, some part Of the time, boats even
of light draught could not come up thare, d.
though there is always sufficient water. but 1t Is
spread orer SO vide space that there is no chan
mel in which there is enough to be Of any use.
Noy. if fsoue means can be devised by which the
water can be brought to run in channel, then
the object is accomplished. A few years ago
the United States sent dredge boat here, but
it did yerJ little good in the upper part of the
river, because the bars are all composed OF
sand. But it is necessary TINT something should
be done, if it is possible for at this time there
are boats enough prevented from running to
warrant the expenditure Of large amount oi
money. My plan is to fasten to steamboat,
NTH a good engine, 4 series Of plows, 80 con-
structed as to first stir up the sand, and then
ptess it out to the desired width Of the channel
Such boat the Board Of Trade Of Chicago, or
tho Chamber Of Commerce Of St: Louis could
afford to purchase; or those On the river, inter-
ested, could buy it. The plows must be so coz
| structed that they eau be elevated or depressed
at pleasure. In using such boat, when once
made, Goull first stake out the channel on
bar. 1 would then place the plows SO that 1
could take of small amount from the centre
| Of the channel. After running over tho bar,
! would set the plows say one inch deepe7'
and run back, and SO continue 10 do until
Lad got it deep enough. If l found a
snag, would remove it If possible, if not
would move the channel to another place.
When once the channel is thus made it will not
f{l up very fast, SO that one boat would be en-
pable Of keeping out the whole river during the
low water. When the water was high, SO That
the boat was not needed for that purpose, l
would detach the plows and use 1t for low
boat; and when the water commenced to fall !
would start it with its plows and keep the river
SO that canal boats could run all summer. 1be'
1leyc that the thing is feasible, and ifmen Of en-
terprise and capital will take hold Of it., it can
be done.
Some one propose to make steamboat cana
from the Illinois river to Chicago, and by filling
it from the lake, increase the water in the rire
, 50 that bouts can run. / believe the time vii
. | come when steamboats, will run from New Or
leans 10 Chicago, but it will be many year
first, l think. Another plaa is to lock aud dan
the river. To this those living On it will neye
| consent. Every one acquainted with the I'LL
; nois river knows that Oh one or both sides is
: large amount Of what is called bottoms, whicl
t is land lying so low that very little submerge
! it. Nov, if the river was locked and damned
+ it would overflow 80 much Of the bottoms TIM
q it would cause the loss Of the timber, and Like
wise produce sickness. But the plan propos
!. would have tendency to produce just the o.
5 posite result. Resides, it locks are used, g to
: must be paid By all boats passing; but if th
|, channel is cleared it would be free to all.
= Hoping that this communication will awake
an interest in this subject so as to produce
10 practical result, l remain yours,
h J. p. HAYES.