The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-09-24
MR.. sAWVER'S RECORD.
from the Oshkosh Northwestern.


the fact that our present Member is no
snoutist. or blow-hard, and that his work
is done without demonstration or noise;
10 claim that he has done no work and
to insist that he is incapable and ineffi
Gent. This is a very serious charge and
if true, would be good reason why Mr..
SAWYER should not AGAIN be returned to
place thus disgraced by his incompe
tency. Every man of them, from Haight
up, knows full well, that the District ne
yer had member who has done so much
for its local interests; who has in every
thing, from the smallest private interest
10 the most important public work, been
so thoroughly attentive, capable and eff
cient.
But it may not be amiss, at this time,
to glance again at some of the more i'm
portant services rendered by Mr. Sawyer,
during the three sessions that he has oc-
cupied a seat in Congress. All the mat
tiers we shall mention originated with Mr.
Sawyer, were managed solely by him in
the House, and were successful, because
he made them so. OF course, Judge
Howe did his part in the Senate, but of
that we have not Low to speak.
In 1852, We think it was. Manitowoc
secured from the General Government,
an appropriation of $4,000 to improve
her harbor. This sum was too small to
be Of much service, and we cannot learn
that it was used to much advantage The
harbor there can he made much the SAT
est and best on the west side of the lake
and it is matter of great importance
not only to this district, but to the i'm
mense commercial interests IF the great
lakes, that ii should be well improved
Yet for years, Manitowoo -kei in vain
for aid. Not cent could be wrung from
the government to push on the work.
When the 39th Congress convened, a
short thick set man made his appearance
on the floor of the House, and wassworn
in as member from the 18th District of
Wisconsin. This man had all his life
been IN the habit of doing, not talking
and he brought into the public service
the same qualities Of clear insight, cool
judgment, restless energy, and determi-
nation which had made him eminently
successful in private life In his first
session, he did for Manitowoc what they
had been yainly trying for years to get
done, and an appropriation Of $50, 900
commenced the work in good style.
For many years the difficulties of en-
tering the Harbor of Green Bay had al
most amounted to an embargo upon her
marine interests, and very seriouly i'm
paired the usefulness Of the Fox and
Wolf Rivers. Not one cent Of money
had they ever been able to get TO aid in
removing these difficulties. Often had
she asked, and as often been refused Mr.
Sawyer saw the great necessity Of Gov
ernment helping in this work, and at this
his first session, obtained $50, 800 for this
purpose.
The improvement of the Fox and Wis
sonsin rivers, next claimed his attention.
4 survey was necessary to show to Con-
gress that these rivers could ami should
lie improved. Mr. Sawyer secured an
appropriation, and an order for the sur
yey, which was commenced in 1866 and
completed last year, and on this survey
compared with the results of the survey
q, other routes, the vast superiority of
this route for ship canal between the
great lakes and the great rivers of the
country, work of national as well as To-
cal Importance, stands confessed.
At this same session Mr.. Sawyer also
secured an appropriation of 200, 900 acres
Of land for the Sturgeon Bay canal This
project had long been before the country
begging in vain torrecognition. The 3Sth
Congress refused to entertain any propo-
sition to aid it. But when this silent
man, this incapable, inefficient man.
took hold of the matter, 10 it was done
and the vast maritime interests of Wis
consin and the great lakes were suddenly
found TO be of enough importance to de-
snand help.
During the ID session of the seth Con
sress, Mr.. Sawyer secured another APP
preparation TO continue the work on the
Larbor of Manitowoc, OF $4,000 An
other appropriation OF $4,000 he got
for the Green Bay Harbor. The survey
on the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers had by
this time so far progressed, that some es-
innate could be made. and Mr.. Sawyer
immediately secured the nice little sum
Of $40, coo to begin the work on that i'm
provement. There is here we see. no
time lost. He does not wait even for the
completion Of the survey. As soon as
that is sufficiently advanced to allow es-
Inmates to be made, as soon as the work
can commence, it does commence. There
would seem to be suspicion of efficiency
shown here.
At this session Mr.. Sawyer obtained an
appropriation and an order for the survey
of the Menomonee River, preparatory to
asking the Improvement of this river
The survey was made in 1867, the report
of which was.iaid before Congress at its
last session
So far as we propose to enquire into it
to-day, this ends the record Of our mem
Der during his first term in Congress
The District was astounded. Thevhad
expected good, faithful service, but they