Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-11-12

IstOS - MessSS. Nase a. 20, uc rOVuact-
ors for improving the rapids. are working
large force Of men, and making ~ much
hcadway - possible while the weather is
favorable. The heavy dr,lls st arst intro
duced did not prove - successful as Was
expected. and they have been Abandoned.
Golfer dams have been substituted on
Dack Creek Chain. The drills. however.
may pro bsbly prove useful in breaking Of
points Of rock st various places in the river.
Hand drills and blasting now do the
chief portion Of the lsbor. The contract
ere have sent for one Of The new Gardiner
patent steam drills, which is claimed TO
drill che rock as fast - On augur will bore
. stick Of timber The patentec will come
on With |, and supesintsnd the trial. The
experiment Of blasting with nitro ycer-
inc, the power Of which is vastly greater
than powder, will also be tried. The con-
tractors regard most 0! their present work
a. experimental. e They hope, by next year,
to be able TO work TO better advantage. and
accomplish something substantial. Golfer
dams will be erected in . number Of pla ces,
il necessary, and the whole improvement
will bs pushed to successful termination.
The Argus Of last evening Gays that the
steamer James Means, with barge in tow,
while going up the river Saturday forenoon,
ran into the great Golfer dam at Duck
Creek chain, about five miles above the
bridge, and would have ruined it had not
she lines parted which held the barge TO the
steamer. Some idea OF the force OF The
collision may be obtained by remembering
thst the dam Is constructed Of heavy tim
bcrs, strongly locked together and strongly
planked, leaving space Of ten feet between
the planking, which epace is 6llsd with
gravel. clay and fine rock dredged from the
river bottom. The bow Of the barge
smashed the planking. broke the timbers
and ran almost through the whole concern,
even breaking The inside timbers Had
not the lines parted the break would have
been 80 great that the water would have
rushed in, driving the men from the dan,
destroying the whole works, damaging the
contractors something like $4,000. and
putting an end to fsrther work this season.
A force Of some 150 men, at work inside oi
the dam, r0shed to the scene and BY great
efforts succeeded in repairing the breach.
/
| METROPOLITAN SrABLRs-We announced
several days ago that Mad. Fisher, the pop.
ular proprietor Of the Metropolitan Livery
Stables, had formed partnership with Mr..
Isaas Smithers Of ST. Louis. That gentle.
man has now become one Of the psrmanen,
fix ures Of this city, and the above mention
ed arrangement has been duly entered up
on. Although Mr.. Fisher, during his resi-.
dence here, has thoroughly sustained his
lifelong reputation for keeping up his O.
tablishment in re most acceptable style
yet there was occasion for still further addi.
ticns and improvements in order 10 satisfy
the increasing demands Q! the public upon
his s,ock-hencc the CO. partnership.
by this new arrangement the stock oi
fine horses, elegant carriages and buggies
etc., has been largely increased, and still
further additions will be made as soon as
the requisite room is provided. To this end
they propose forthwith 20 extend their sta
Bile back forty feet 20 the alley, which will
give them building forty-two feet from,
by one hundred and atty feet deep.in which
TO conduct their business. This done they
will have room for about ff.y horses snd
carriage room to match, ali Of which il L
BE- Of tho very best quality.
Among the valuable additions TO their fa
ciities We notice magnificent hears,
brought here from St. Louis by Mr.. Smith
ers. which ae assures us may have an equs
in New York, brt not in any Western city
and a superior nowhere l. cost owe,
e. 200, and is perfect model Of beauty
lie also brings splcnded phacton and scv
eral valuable top and open tuggies recent,
built for private uae. regardless of expense
| to yetaer With the finest setts of harness il
the city. Another fine close cafriase and
number of single and double eeated carri
ages will be ai.lad forthwith With horses 4
match
They have made arrangements with Mr.
n. Boies. III. wsll-known undertaken, TO use
their hearse and carriages in connection
With his business.
Ia short they are determined to spare re
pains o, expense whatever to furnish thu
public with the most perfect facilities in ths
line, and cordially invite ell who may fee
disposed 10 handle the ribbons behind SAT,
and spirited horses. matched or single, &c
give them a cali aud look through their e.
tablishment