Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-10-22

The lsoe, river surveying party, under
the direction If Col Wnrrtl. arrived here
on Tuesday last, aud are now on their way
60 the river. As most Of our readers ARE
aware. this survey is made under the iircc
ton OF the war department, and at tho gov
eminent expense, with a view Of securing
passage for gunboats from the great lake 10
the Mississippi. and should the route be
found practicable for governmental use, It
would no doubt no grand improvement.
viewed in that sense alone; but when We
consider its great commercial advantages
aud the immense benefits that it would con
fer up on a locality already celebrated for its
wealth and population il is not surprising
that the people Of the valley look upon the
progress u the survey with great interest.
Practical men assert that section Of coun
so rich in its resources as the Rock river
valley, with hundreds Of miles Of navi.a-
tion already III use to the north of US. and
With thousands Of miles OF navigation on
the south and west, afforded by the Missis
sippi aud it's tributaries, would warrant the
building OF canal from Fond du Lac Ii
Rock Island but when there is river. like
the Rock, penetrating nearly through the
entire distance, whose channel is already ii,
for use for a large proportion of the way, i,
will be most surprising If natures grand
opportunities are left much longer unim.
proved. The great necessity for the com :
llct,on OF this improvement, as = local ems
terprisc. has heretofore been fully set forth
in these columns, and the reasons assigned
for it have been acquicscei in by the v"'~...
Of public meetings and CORE. ,.,.d nv III.
universal iulsw~-. ., ~:
nee" ssary to repeat them here but the oh
jcct Of this article is to give the result OF the
surveying party thus far 50 that our readers
may form al intelligent Judgment Of what is
involved IN the work.
Col. Warrcl 10 instructei to make his
survey with the idea Of obtaining At least
seven feet Of water, aud THE has formed the
basis Of his investigation, and he has kind
" Furnished US with the following important
results: The canal from Fond du Lac, ID
miles in length, connecting Lake winncbago
with Lake Horizon, the head waters Of Rock
river, will be somewhat expensive for a
country comparatively level, but costing
much less than many canals already con-
structcd In other parts Of tho country. =
From the head Of Lake Horizon to Horizon
village. . distancc Vi 10 miles, there 10 a.
ready 6 feet Of water and can - improved I,
the required depth at very uiilng OK
psnsc. From, Horizon 70 Watertown, dis
tance Of about 70 miles, the river Is quit
crooked. 30 much 80 that the bed Of tn
stream measures 30 miles, and in the iuds
ment OF Col Warrcl, . canal is much NOR
enconomical every way. From Water .ow,
to this city. distance Of 81 milea, the rive
will furnish slack water navigation, man,
miles Of which is already fit for use, and tn
balance requiring but very little improve
ment Through this city, Distance Of "
miles the work will be quite expensive. bu
from Monterey TO the mouth Of the rive,
about 100 miles. the navigation Of the strcal
will be easily and chcaply made.
Col Warrel who has the survey in charr,
Is not ooly sk,llful eneil Ger, but is gen
teman Of large experience in the bushes
in which he is n,w engaged, and while he
careful not to allow his enthusiasm to rul
away with his Judgment, he does not hest
tate to saw that the work is entirely prsctie
able within n limited cost, and one tina
ought 10 be speedily completed. Jaaesriii
Gazette.