Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-10-25

R1WvScot Oh uUc H8uVhOSs
There is every reason to believe that the
long desired improvement Of the Mississippi
river At the Des Mones rapids will nov be
undo AIKEN ithout dcley, and prosecuted
with sufficient energy, to insure the CON-
pletion OF the work at IN early period. Gov.
eminent q last has como . the couclueion
thes ths mighty Mississippi, a. : commer>
cial channel in peace and means Of com.
munication In var, Is eminently worthy Of
consideration and there can be no doub,
but that the asnplest appropriations will be
meoe In compliance with the estimates ol
the omcers employed to examine the mag
nifude Of the imped,menss in the way ol
navigation and the cOss nf their re0ovsl-
The delegates appointed BY the Merchants
Exchange Of this city. to meet and confer
With Maj. Gen .mes n. Wilson, made
their report on the 8d inst, from which "
learn that ss snon ~ the stage Of water will
permit, that officer appointed to the service
BY the War Department at Washington,
will proceed to make thorough examiua.
ton Of the rapids with reference 10 the best
plan Of improvement The method propos
ed by many pr csical men to be the mos,
feasible. Of constructing canal throughout
ths entire extent. will be closely scrutini
1ed, as we'll a. that other equally popular
mode Of blasting out q channel from the
rocky bed of the river. The work requires
for its perfect performance . high degree
Of engineering ability, with great practical
experience, and the best evid ence that the
official sppointee possesses both Is indica. ed
in tho intention he expresses thoroughly Il
investigate exery plan that has been or uay
lie proposed evincing any merit BY this
means he wi ! call TO tis aid the experience
Of many intelligent boatmen, a. we'll az
others familiar with the subject, theoret-
icslly and practically. The regard to
the opinions and views of others
shows that 70 preconccived notions
are en'ertained, that vain concei,s and pre-
JUDGES are discarded, and that an effective
Improvement, co~extCnsive with the com
merciai importance of the river, 10 the aim
aud object in view. THIS 10 further evi.
denced by the request II Gen. Wilson. con
veycd through the delegation to the mer-
chants Of st. Louis, that civil engineer oI
this city. Of acknowledged reputation, shall
be deputed 10 take an active and prominent
part IN the examinations necessary for Z
successful contamination Of tho work, the
officer generously declaring hts unwilling.
ness 10 take hnal step in the matter 10 Vi.
tally affecting the interests Of this center Of
trade, without the voice, countcnance and
approval OF our citizens. Ii is very appa.
rent from all this that the prospect for an
early and thorough Improvement of the
river at the point proposed Is Is bright AZ
could we'll be desired.
Another indication of favorable import
brought on bv this action Of the Govern.
ment, is tho determination evinced to pre-.
serve the free navigation Of the Mississippi.
1t would scarcely be necessary to blast, ct .
heavy expense, = channel through the rapids
or construct c nal round thet Obstruction
At an equal outlay, Il the intention was mod
itated scri usly to bar the river, from .
central point 10 its source with low draw
bridges. Such artificial barriers would be
greater and more destructive than the nat
ural ones existing and our commercial
marine, were the choice presented, would
choose with the strongest demonstra lions of
preferen =, the rock he:.cath the surface Of
the water to the wooden impediments above
for the former is occasionally covered suffi :
ciently deep to admit Of safe and easy pas.
sage. while the latter would prove steadily
detrimental under all circumstances. It il
TO be hoped, therefore, that the railroad
proposition in regard to the draw. bridge
plan Of spanning the river will be finally de-
tcrmined against, and structures alone au.
thorlzed whose dimensions every way will
comport with the interests Of both modes Of
conveyance. Missouri Democrat.