The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-31

steamer that was engaged in carrying
material for the work above, had been
obliged to stop on account of sand bars
at this point The italics are mine,
to call your attention to the fact that
these sand bars had formed
since the steamers commenced to carry
material to the work above. Where did
this sand bar come from, Mr.. Aberne-
thy! 10 be sure. in the low water, this
channel deepened. But you do not tell
US the effect of high water on these
same artificial channels. Col. Houston
says every freshet brings down large
quantlti.s of sand from the upper wa
tiers OF the Wisconsin. The banks Of
the river at several points, are compos-
ed OF this material, &c. The unvarL-
iShed truth is this. Large portions of
several counties along the Wisconsin
are OF this material, as we'll as the bed
Of the river, and ''if taken in time as
he suggests. would hav, been taken at
the creation. Ask your engineer Mr..
A. what has become o. the wing
dams that were put in just below Sank
City in 1852. They have gone the way
Of all others that have been, or will, be,
put IN that river. When the floods
came, they were numbered among the
follies Of men. Your engineers esti-
mates for removing distractions and
maintaining the channel tour years. is
S426.O44. What! are we to petition
for water route that will have TO have
an apr opriation every four years of
several hundred thousand dollars in or
der to secure navigation. You ask if [
am more familiar with the Wisconsin
than are the government engineers
who have every foot of it, and every
sand bank carefully surveyed and
mapped out, sc. \ quarter of a GEN.
fury ago, | was one of many who sur
veyed the Wisconsin river.
its depth. width, rate of
current, and especially its sand banks.
But we used to survey it with hand
spikes, in low water, to get RATS down,
and not unfrequently to get the little
steamers up, and for years | was ICON.
tinually watching and noting its
changes. You will see at once, that
[ must be somewhat familiar with that
stream. Theory is easy, but actual
experience in this case, has made me
tolerably familiar with the subject.
Instead of being a ''relief'' it will
only add to the burdens of the people.
without any prospect of any relief in
the future. You ask me to show you a
more feasible route. If you will give my
mmln:caticn another perusal you will
see, doubtless, that | did allude to one
more practicable. Take the report
that DR.. David Dale Owen, U. S. Geol-
ogist, made under direction of Congress
for Minnesota, and examine in con-
nection with map of Minnesota, and
In my humble opinion, you will find
something more practicable than the
route you proposed. And because
Congress is not likely to help us at
present to another water route, is no
reason why you should make a cats
paw of US, to pull Wisconsin chestnuts
out of the fire. think we had better
save our time and money until the time
does come for us to do some good with
it. With regard to my hasty conclu-
sion. One quarter Of a century NAV
be short time to arrive at correct
conclusion. but you know we "mud-
s'lls' are thick-headed, and you ought
to overlook some of our hastiness.
In conclusion let me add, that I am
not IN receipt Of "kind words or
material aid from any one to help
me maintain my position.
A. J. Coon.