Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-15

Tue FOLLOWING is all abstract Of the adj
dress Of Mr. G.. Z. Abbott, who was engaged
as civil engineer with General Wilsoa In
The survc} OF the Upper Mississippi river,
delivered before tao River Convention at
ST. Louis:
The features of the upper and lower
rapids differ in the matter that although
the same volume OF water passes over each,
the upper rapids are only 1000 feet vide,
the lower rapids are 5000 feet wide, and
| thus the water at the lower rapids is shall
| low, and ne crss:ates different method Of
Improvement ut the lower rapids. II fol.
lows tina, tie lower rapids must be improv-
cd by canal six miles and seven-tenths in
length ard coo feet wide, with two lift
locks, in which the velocity of the current
will be one mile an hour, aifording a large
wster-power, which could only be counters
acted BY the passage Of "a boats through
tn. canal each hour. The upper rapids, on
the contrary, has deep water comparative
u, and can be improved by cutting out the
natural channel, in doing which the largest
excavation would be at Moline chain, where
would occur the phenomena Of rather re
tarding than increasing the vaume Of wa>
ter, at the same time that the channel would
be widened because the inclined plane would
be extended and tho rapidity of the current
would be lessened
"These positions were sustained by q
minute statement Of the surveys. in the
9 u Q, Of which Mr.. A. stated the cost Of
work at the upper rapids at $3.50, 900, and
By making the Improvement there IS sug-
gested, AM not by canal, Sa.75o, 900 would
be saved, which would nearly de,ray the
cost Of constructing . canal at the lower
rapids, where such improvement is abso
lutely necessary"
The following resolutions were adopted
singly at the St Louis river convention:
In order 20 bring before the convention
the distinct proposition to be considered,
your committee recommend the following
rs lutions:
I,esalri, That the interests OF the whole
Mississippi, valley require the immediate i'm
proyement by the national government of
the Mississippi river fem the Baliz, to the
Fails Of st. Anthony, including especially
the bars at the BALI, the uppe, aud lower
rapids, and The removal OF distractions above
those rapids, and also he Ohio river from
Cairo t. Pi,isbGrg. and especially the work
q. the falls Of the Ohio; sAid.,improvement
t. secure hc navigation Of said rivers free
from oil toll or tribute.
Resotred, That the vast Importance Of
such Action as viii secure the needed i'm.
provemcnss at any early day Of the follow
ing rivers is commenced to tho favorable
aad earnest consideration Of Congress, viz
The Missouri River from the mouth to Fort
Benton. the Illinois River to Red River. the
tennessee river TO Chattanooga, the Wis
consin aud Fox rivers. the Arkansas River
to Fort Smith, the Cumberland River TO
Nashville.
Resolrsd, That, when the financial condi-
ten of tie country may justify, Congress
be requested to CAUSE proper investigation
to be made as to the necessity Of improving
hereafter all the other rivers Of the Missis-
sippi Valley.
Rtsoired, That Congress should SO lcsis
late on the subject Of bridging the Missis-
sipp and the navigable rivera Of the United
States as will, while reco snising tho equai
importance of raiirosd aud river tsansposta-
ton, harmonic. those interests 10y securing
proper facilities for both.
Your committee recommend IN iurthers
ance Of the foregoing objects, the appoints
mcnt of committee consisting OF one mem
Der from each State represented In the ccn>
vention, with . subcommittee OF live, to
prepare Z memorial to Congress demonstra-
ting the national Importance Of said Objects,
and that each member Of said general co0-
mittss report 10 SAid sub-commilsee such
statistics q vii lAciitate its work.