The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-14

barrassments and extOrtiOns to which the
producers are subjected in getting their sur
plus to market, make the necessity for other
and cheaper avenues to the Sea, apparent to
every observer The rates of transportation
have gone ON constantlyrnc Increasing until they
have become an unboarable oppression.
Wheat, our great staple, which was formerly
transported by rail to the Lake for from ten
to twelve cents, now has to pay from 26 TO
80 cents rates which if extended to New
York would bring farmer m debt uhe sent a
bushel of wheat to that city, and rates upon
other commodities are equally extortionate.
The difference in the price Of wheat between
La Crosse and New York has averaged du
ring the season of navigation full sixty hve
cents per bnshel, thus showing that it costs
that sum per bushel to lay down bushel of
wheat in New York, or considerably more
than one-half its value here. What it will
cost after navigation closes, heaven only
knows. The recent advance in Rail Road
Stocks, the papers tell us, is in anticipation
of an advance In freights after navigation
closes, and it is safe to presume that freights,
if not already advanced, soon will be far
above present extortionate figures. The rea-
son for this unfortunate state of affairs, Is
found in the vast amount of business to be
DONE with limited means for doing it, from
the ease and readiness in making comblna-
tions by the various lines TO fleece the public,
and from the irresponsibiiity Of the various
corporations to the people, they having, as
was said by Cob. Benton, "neither souls to be
id, or bodies to be kicked"
While in this State the public has srernedy
against the abuses Of Corporate power, given
by the Constitution, unfortunately such is not
the case with most of the States, and the diff
ferent lines have the right to fix their own
rates, and such rate as the cupidity of these
managers may dictate.
| The country is then left absolutely hopeless
unless some other route 20 the sea can be
| opened Fortunately, there is such route.s
where. by the expenditure of less money
| than it takes to build one hundred miles of
railroad, line will be open two thousand
miles in length, of u capacity greater than all
the railroad lines on this continent.
! The Mississippi river, which should be one
great National highway, is rendered compar-
atively useless for six hundred miles of its
course, and that. too, through the richest and
most productive regions of the world, by
reason of the Rock Island and Des MONIES
! Rapids of that river But for these there
would be uninterrupted navigation for the
largest class of boats, for most Of the navi.
gable season, from La Crosse TO New Or
| leans.
The Upper Rapids extend from the foot of
Rock Island to the village of lie Claire, in
Iowa. distance of about fifteen miles, and
have fall within that distance of 254 feet.
The river descends over a rocky bed, brok-
en- by reefs, which at some points reach en-
tirely across the river, affording at low water
a shallow channel. and projecting at other
points from opposite sides, lnteriock and form
a winding, difficult and dangerous passage.
The depth Of water is generally sufficient,
. =, .,,lfv, Ell m tho short
and narrow passes between the reefs, which
oblige the boats to cross the currents obhque-
ly and incur the danger of icing forced upon
the rocks These rapids can be very easily
improved, and at small expense, as 1t only re-
auires the strengthening of the channel by re-
moving the jus-iag points OF rocks, and the
deepening of il in onep place for about 400
Yards, to give five of water In the channel at
low water. The lower, or Des Moines rapids,
commence four miles above the mouth OF the
river Des Moines, and just above the city OF
Keokuk. and extend eleven miles to the VII
lage of Montrose, in Iowa. and have fall OF
twentv-four feet within that distance. Be
tween these points the Mississippi flows with
great velocity over an irregular bed of blue
lime stone, reaching from shore to shore. and
at all times cover ed with water, and through h
which many crooked channels have been
worn by the action of the current. The pas
sage over the rapids during low stages OF the
river, is very difficult in consequence Of the
shalovness of the water, its great fall and
velocity. and the narrow and wining channels
through them. These rapids forms much
more formidable obstruction to navigation
than the Rock Island aapids, and are the de-
testation Of all boatmen. They were sur.
veved in 1886 by Capt. Shreve, U. 5. A, and
both Upper and Lower Rapids by Lieut.. K.
f. Lee, of the engineer corps, (lste Geueral OF
the rebel arny,) in 1887. Capt. Shrcye re-
commends the Improvement of the Lower ra-
pids. by a canal on the Iowa shore. but a'
that would be attended with great cost, re
, ouirine the excavation of over one million
Yards of solid rock, Lieui. Lee recommended
that both Upper and Lower should be i'm
nroyed by blasting out. widening, deepeniBt
t and strengthening the channel. This method
so far as the Upper Rapids are concerned IL
= no doubt practicable, as an actual survey
|. made by him demonstrated that the remoya
:. of II 1923 cubic yards of rock would give
4 channel 200 hundred feet wide, and five fee
n in depth ut low water, which would be ample
= for all purposes, as many Of the larger Lowe
Mississippi boats, with carrying capacity o
over 1900 tons have no greater draft of waite
than that
q This improvement Lieut.. Lee estimated
could be made for Sl54, ,558 or 50 per cubi'
: ward: price entirely too low, nor it is believ
. ed that rock excavation under water, ant
q where work can only be carried on success
o fully during the period Of low water, can b.
!, done for less than from SIS to 81 per cubi
: ward. tits, however, safe to gay that 70
, $500, 900 these structions to navi CATION can b
: safely overcome But the Lower Rapids ca
e not be so readily disposed Of, andthe expens
t of a really effective improvement will be muc
greater. Capt. Shreye end Lieut.. Lee appea
7 70 have differed as to the proper methods o
t Improvement Lieut.. Lee recommended tn
It sttaiehtening and deepening Of the channel
e by blasting out the rocky bed Of the river; bu
! am satisfied from experience and observa
ton since 1889, that this is not the true meth
0 cd, if . really effective improvement is to b.
y attained. Fas
;sI Aside from the great expense necessary I
). to give sufficient depth ofwater, you hay
= stih to overcome the velocity Of the current
. which would no doubt be considerably accel
q Grated II tbs, method should be adopted
i The descent per mile over the Lower chai
!, is about three feet, and over Lammelf s chni
of 8 Is feet per mile, which gives a rapidit
:, tof current very diaicult for an ordinary boa
h to stem, and With b heavy head wind impos
" sible.
: The principal objection to the plan Of Capt
: Shreve is its great cost, probably not LEI
q than So, 0O0, 900, and the further. objeciio