The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-05

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FROM lengthy report in the st. Louis
Democrat, of Jan. LIST, we clip the following
concerning the improvement of the Missis.
sippi river. It says:
To those who take broad view Of the in
terest, not only Of st. Louis, but OF the whole
Mississippi Valley, it is q pleasant reflection
that all doubts concerning the Improvement
| OF our rivers BY Federal appropriations may
be considered ct an end. The magnificent
| system OF water courses, draining million
SQUARE miles, 10 at last the acknowledged
ward of the Government. Not only are the
| Des Moines and the Rock Island rapids TO be
rendered passable and safe, with good depth
at all stages Of water, but the minor difficult
ties of the general navigation are also to be
Ameliorated,
Liberal appropriations have already been
made BY Congress, and more will follow. The
interests of the whole Union, and the power
Of the West and South, concur in demanding
that all the necessary OUTLAWS shall be made
TO render our navigation safe and easy; and
| this demand should not be neglected.
Happily the execution of the work is in
charge Of officers who devote talents and
time with great industry and faithfulness to
accomplish the objects desired. General
Warren, to whom the superintendent is in
trusted, seems to be peculiarly fitted to carry
on the improvement at the Rapids and
throughout the extent Of the rivers, in the
most satisfactory manner. dis assistants are
worthy Of their chief. On all sides we hear
| expressions Of confidence in the ability of
the Engineer Corps for the service to which
they are assigned.
Il il not necessary to detail the different
items of work being done. At both Rapids
the improvements are going forward a.
| fast Is the nature Of the undertaking will
permit. Many shoal places on the upper
| rivers have been deepened; and on the lower
| river, az we'll o. in the Missouri, hundreds Of
dangerous snags have been removed. In
| brief, the operations now going on will i'm
prove our navigation, and facilitate business
on the rivers, fer beyond what we dared to
dream Of few seasons ago.
| sNAGs TO BE PULLED OUT BIZ UNCLE SAM.
| Our people have long known that the snags
could be taken out. More than quarter Of
century ago this fact was demonstrated, by
the snag boats built on the plan devised by
| Captain Henry NJ. Shreve, citizen Of ST
Louis. But never until now was it the set
tied policy Of the government to take the
snags out In former years, appropriations
to the rivers we're the subjects Of party con.
test, and were cspriciously granted or wish-
held. Now, the rivers are to receive the
came measure Of attention always given to
the coasts and harbors on the lakes and sea.
Not only Are the rapids to be reduced and
/ h. IN hn tako but h. IL
also will be improved. Long a~scraper has
been q work on the upper rivers, and will
be kept ct work until Ill the bars shall have
disappeared. This scraper like the sna2-
boat is twenty-five years old, but never until
now permanently in the service.
/ THE scRAPER AND SAND BAR ANH1HILAroR-
SOMETHING NEW.
/ The scraper is also to be used on the tenn.
porAfy bars, such . form in the channel be-
| low the mouth Of the Missouri. 1t il well
| % the water declines, few bars ars found to
fx the depth to which = boat can load ct this
port for . southern voyage. On such bars the
scraper will be of great service, % will also,
ii il believed, the process proposed BY Mr..
r. 8, Elliott, Of this city. Mr.. 3. (assisted
by Captain w. s. Nelson in the perfection Of
| the plan and model) hes IN invention that il
| is believed will prove Of great value for
opening channsls through the bars during
the decline Of the rivers, % we'll - for re-
lieving boats when aground. 1t 10 claimed
that this device will operate even more rapid
y than the scraper, and we shail probably
soon see it trieA Thecommerce Of St. Louis
viii Do greatly benefited, If " cs1 eain Two
fest more on the bars, . The lOw voaer 49,
/ son comes roand eech year and II this can
| L. 81 l. H st. ~