Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-02

Work on the rapids at Duck Creek chain
ia progressing most satisfactorily. Msssrt.
Case 4 Co., the contractors, undoubtedly
their business thoroughly. On
the sth day Of September last they com
menced erecting the huge Golfer dam which
covers the worst spot Of the chain. This
eoiIss dam is 2o5 feet vide and 45o fsst
long. made Of upright plank filled 10 With
rock and sand. The area included CON-
Drisss 81 900 feet. The sides are six feet
thick, and the head and foot are each eight
feet thick. On the 18th day Of October
the dam was completed. and on the 22d
day Of October al the water had been
pumped out, 80 that workmen could oom-
mencs operations. The manner Of proce-
dure then Was by hand drilling and blast
ing, one pound Of powder being used to ev-
cry cubic yard Of stone extracted. The
number Of cubic yards taken out up to now
amounts to 1900. AZ frst 60 men were
employed, but - the work progressed more
were added as fast IS they could be pro-
cured. and now $50 are at 'work. 1t is ex-
pected that in ten days from now enough
rock will have been takea from Duck Creek
chain to make safe channel through it
thus wiping out this nuisance to navigation
forever. Most Of the rock taken out has
been placed in cribs made by order Of Ma
ior Edison, Of General Rodman's staff, and
placed ct the head Of the island. The Golfer
dam is within $50 yards Of the Iowa shore,
and is . most substantial piece Of workman
ship we'll worthy visit.
Above and below the Golfer dam are two
bad spots. which are being reduced in their
dimensions BY 5000 10. chisels. These are
wedge shaped, blistered steel face. and lift
from 9 to II feet. They operate like pile
driver, running in grooved guides, and
dropping each time with immense force
Steam engines are used to propel them.
Upon invitation of General Wilson, about
. dozen Of the substantial citizens Of Rock
Island, and - many more from Davenport.
besides several reporters, visited the spot
to-day. and found everything progressing
finely. The real attraction is 10 see those
immense chisels come down upon the sub
merged rock with their two thousand horse
power, shattssing them in pieces. There
are two Of these, and . dredge boat
70 take out the broken rock
There is snothsr boat plying bst~ssa ID,
crib and the wing dam that runs out from
the upper end Of Rock Island.
At the south vest corner Of the oofFel
dam is . stationary engine that operates ,
centrifugal pump which keeps the ground'
inside Of the dam nearly clear Of wates.-
This pump is Of immense power-sufiicisn
10 fact to pump out the entire volume 0
water in the dam in day aud half.
ltis worth while to see several acres o
the bottom Of the Mississippi river bare. .ant
those who have any desire for that style o
scenery should avail themselves Of this op
portunity. Case / Co. will close opera
tions for the winter in few weeks, an,
complete their labors next season.
A LovELv BlLLRr DorH.-Hotel keeper
are occasionally favored with choice bits Q
correspondence. The following. receive,
on Saturday by DR.. Burtis. frsm depsrte,
guest, will bear circulation
| nAvrvpnp~ Nov o0 fQe-
M. BuRrIs:
Sis.-I much regret to cay to you this
my funds are nearly OUT, and l shall b
obliged to get you to excuse my bill thi
time. should have left last evening, bu
on seeing Ar. Kimball found | had 70 &
to Rock Island for . pass. and could no
get it till to-day. | have given my tim
and my labors in missionary labors amor
freedmen in Kansas for year past, an
have recently been sick, and have got oil
OF funds. ] 60 on tonight on pass ticket
clear through, and enter again upon educa
ton Of freedmen, for . while.
Yours with much respect and obligation
Miss DRuRr.
The Doctor considers the above billet iou
scarcely sufficient consideration for thre
days board and lodging bu, as the amis
BILE female sending il was well on her We
"clear through" that is-bef,r
the note came to hand, he is willing 10 es
cuse the till this time. For fear, however
that others may follow the example set an
wish to liquidate their bills with the sam
kind Of currency, he would like to have
understood that he is not . shareholder i
the Freedmen's Bureau, nor can he use th
scrip issued by lts admirers 10 build oper
houses. 1t won't even do to pay for mola,
ses to spread on buck wheat cakes or brio
dust to scour the knives. He wants n
more Of il.
Mics Drury, though "out Of funds" vi
do to travel. She can run her face about a
we'll - any ono we know Of. Bat the Freet
mems Bureau is huge STAIR. and she is
clever specimen brick Of the numeros
hangers-on who feast on that institution
Like leechcs, they suck the blood out Of e,
erything they touch. They live well, d
precious little, and laugh in their sleeves
the victimizsd individuals who foot the
bills. And Why shouldn't theys The
are "loyal," and that is considered sufieiss
to carry them ''cisas through"
"Oun YouKo FoLKs."-Ths Decsmbl
number Of this entertaining magazine hs
been received. Accompanying Il is . hsut
some picture entitled Little Bo-psep,
which will highly please the little iolks.-
Among its contents We notice: 'Cai
Awsy in the Cold. "" With two illustr,
tions; THE Pacha's Son." BY Bsysrd Tai
ler !" Mise Emily Proudis makes . Di
covsry." By Harriet Besehes Stove
"Round the World Joe, vlI1," "0ood sl
Times" I'm Times Swisg." and many oil
l smNao~nAsas aeNsa1aa Ts~koc. 4 ETA