The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-01-23

,ewness sss'ts ssiss ~ property ON.
demned..
Improvements designed 10 enlarge
the avenues Of commerce and euualiSe
its advantages, are, ct all times, eonsld.
erations of such VIII Ard univeeGnl Inn.
portance to the country. thst anoSre O..
tended and explanatory view q this
great enterprise may noble deemed oul
OF place in this Communication.
The only serious national impedi.
ments interposed to the navigation Of
the Mississippi river between Ut. Pau
and New Orleans, exist along the
borders Of Illinois and Iowa In the form
OF what Is known ~ the Des M0ines
and the Rock Island Rapids. These
rapids, though quite dissimilar in their
formation and general characteristics
are SO developed ~ TO render the navi.
cation Of this great stream, at certain
seasons OF the year, exceedingly haz.
ardous, aud sometimes impossible, fol
boats Of ordinary tonnage. BY reason
of these distractions the Northwestern
States especially, are deprived Of the
inestimable advantages which this
great commercial highway would 9th.
erwise afford. by removing these OBJ
structions safe and uniform medium
oftransit would be opened to the com.
merce of these States, from st. Paul to
the Gulf of Mexico. The annual pro-
auctions of this vast agricultural region,
so largely in excess of local demands,
would thereby secure cheap and relia.
BILE mode of transportation to the mar
ket of the Atlantic seaboard. To what
extent the agricultural interests of the
entire Northwest would be promoted by
this inter State achievement, need not
undertake to show indeed its real
magnitude, viewed with reference to
In my Judgment the period has arrived
when the substantial interests of this
portion of the country requires some
system of transit facilities whereby the
enormous cost OF transporting agricul-
tural productions may be essentially
reduced. The injudicious and discrim-
mating system of railway tariffs now
existing In the subject of almost univer-
sal complaint, and by some Is regarded
as the most effectual means that inge-
NOUS selfishness can devise for subordi-
mating the proceeds Of industrial pur-
suits to the interests of an imperious
monopoly. And the people of~thess
producing States, unless blind to their
own welfare, will readily embrace that
mode OF transmission which imposes
the lightest tax upon their productions
The profit realised by the producer IL
measured by the difference between the
actual cost Of production and the price
obtained for tbs commodity, after
deducting thcrefrom that amount ex-
pended IN getting 1t to market. 1t Is
obvious therefore, that every dollar
which the farmer pays In transport du-
ties diminisles to that extent. the real
value of his product, and augments, in
like proportion, the amount of his inert
capital. The sum expended in trans
p0rtation curtails the profit Of the pro-
Queer, and increases the cost without
enchanting the value Of the product, to
the consumer. The different modes Of
being questions Of rela-
tive waste orloss, considerations Of econ
omy require the adoption Of the cheap
er and equally available mode.
A reference to the well ascertained
ing this question. The cost of river
does not exceed q mills
to the mile for a ton Of average freight,
ocean u, lake y, and canal 5, while that
Of railway ranges from Il to IA mills
per mile. The loss to the producer in
by water being SO materi-
ally less than that by rail, most clearly
recommends the former a. the superior
mode, whenever accessible. This COM
parison also discloses the fact that the
agricultural productions Of this State
:an reach New York city Mt cheaper
'ates by river aud ocean transit than by
lake, and canal aud when the |
delays of transhipuent !
re considered il may not be inaccurate |
@ assume that the latter is also a less
expeditions route.
Nor is this the only or most important
consideration involved. Bell 3 deprived
j the advantages of continuous river
rams portation, the farmers OF Iowa
're practically excluded from the desir-
ble markets of st. Louis and New Or
eans, and deprived Of the advantages
which more intimate commercial in
crcourse with those great cities would |
ltlord.
The most practical remedy for existing
viii be found in the estab-
ishment of rival transit lines, and the |
'hoiee of competing aud equally 'availa
DE markets.
Commencing in the year 1859, five
liiierent surveys of these rapids have
'eeil made 10y engineers detailed from
he military service of the United States
nd acting under orders and instructions
ROM the Mar Department.. These sur
'eys, though of Il general character, !
erved to develop the extent of the ob.
truct!ons, and to confirm the idea that /
hey could he permanently removed
The Glost thorough and scientific survey |
'et made is the one recently conducted |
" General J. ii. Wilson, the accom-
'li-hed engineer in charge of the work.
A briet description Of the character
nj extent of these distractions may
crve To illustrate the feasibility of the
resent undertaking to remove them
h Rock Island rapids extend from the
ity Of Davenport To lie Claire, Il dis
ance. OF l4i miles, developing n fall of
bout Il feet between these points.
lie distractions here presented consist
lainly Of series of reefs or chains Of
bid rock. with navigab!e spaces be-
reen them
+. Snch being the character and extent
these distractions, the mode adopted
II removing them is by excavating the
'ck from these reefs to an extent suffi-
ent to procure q channel of 200 feet in
idth, with low water depth Of aot
IS than four feet, which will be sutii.
ent for the safe passage of boats, with
'eir barges attached, during the entire
lvigating season. These excavations
g effected by means of Golfer dams,
liSal boats ov,l .,,ha-nno,,. 49, ! .