The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-21
The Pacification OF the Mississippi
VALLEY.

Mississippi banks and the security of th,
river navigation.
The causes of danger be believes to bt
as follows:
l. In the scarcity of fuel
2. In raids of guerrilla bands.
To obviate these obstacles, Capt Ruscl
proposes the following plan:
Both banks of the Mississippi river are
rich in excellent good timber, which
should be cut not only to meet the neces.
sity of the present demand, but also in
sufficient quantities to afford il time to
dry.
A twelve months experience as Quar-
termaster on the Mississippi has convinced
Capt Rusch thar the coal which is used
for our steam feet, costs our Government
not less than 60 cents per bushel on an
average during the year, including i'm
mense losses occasioned by the sinking
OF coal-boats, and the almost unavoidable
destruction of the empty barges. One
cord of dry wood is equal to fifteen BUSH
els of coal. The former can be procured
Tor three or four dollars per cord, while
the latter will cost nine dollars. The
difference of FIVE dollars on a quantity OF
200,0 ,0O0 cords Of wood, would not be less
than one million OF dollars.
But where shall we procure the hands
to, cut the wood? Capt. Rusch at first
thought Of employing negroes. There
are, however, not enough of them, nor
can they be depended upon. since all
those physically able arc recruited for the
military service, and the rest are mostly
employed to work the vacated fatlns-by
far the best use that can be made of
them
According to The Captains idea, it is
possible to procure a sufficient number Of
white laborers, and his calculation is as
follows
The scarcity Of work, and the consider
atle high prices for labor here, have
swelled the tide of emigration this year
very much Capt. Rusch, therefore, pro-
poses the recruiting of four or six thou
sand Germans and Irish at Castle Gar
den, New York. His two years experience
as Emigration Commissioner for Iowa at
New York, confirms him in the opinion
that such a plan would easily be carried
out, provided the Secretary of War and
the Quartermaster General give the neces-
sary authority. Such done. the active
aid and assistance of the officer of Clstle
Garden would be sure. Another large
number Of laborers could be procured at
Canada, as our Consul General at Mon
treal gives the assurance and reports that
many Canadians would like very much
TO cut wood for the Government on the
banks of the Mississippi
A Mr.. Phillips, of Memphis, who dc.
sired to obtain a contract for the furnish
ing Of wood upon the advice OF Captain
Rusch went to Canada, and in very
short time procured 600 laborers. After
this was known in Canada, far greater
number ofCanadians reported themselves
at the American Consulate for the same
purpose.
Capt. Rusch makes the proposition to
offer one dollar per cord for the cutting CT
the wood, and free transportation from the
place of enlistment to the place OF desti-
nation. a corps Of 5000 ofhese labor
ers should be armed. Companies of 100
men each, under the command of an able
overseer, should be detailed at different
points. The overseer or Captain has to
understand military tactics, and drill his
men at least one hour daily, and the Gov
ernment must be bound to furnish the
men one ration each per day.
This armed corps OF laborers should be
stationed at twelve different points be-
tween Memphis aud New Orleans, so tha.
the distance from one station to the other
should not be more than about sevent, :
FIVE miles.
The benefits obtained by this plan
would be as follows:
l. A sufficient quantity of fuel for
boats al suitable distances.
9. A saving Of perhaps one million OF
dollars to our Government by substituting
wood instead of coal for fuel.
g.. A system Of ample protection Tor
river navigation through the employment
Of men, which the Government otherwise
could not force to military duty and on
the other hand, has not to pay the S20O
bounty. They would secure to boats GER
tain protected landings, do away with
our garrisons at the different points on
the Mississippi, like Lake Providence,
M,llitan,c Rand Chipu,fh Iard;nn oDc