, 1874-09-04
THE Fox AND WISCONSIN, RIVERS IMPROVE
mEMT.

/ Correspondence or Tho Chitano 1ribuht.
! McanEoo1 Ia, Aug. 81, 1874.
| By an act Of Congroas Of 1857, tho navlgablo
rivors loading iuto tho Mississippi and st. Law
romeo, md tho carrying places botvoen tho eano,
woro declared public highways and foroyor froo,
Theao highways, in all subaeqnent legislation,
have boon guarded and kept open az such to Tho
fzoo uso OF all. In 1886, Oh tho admission Of
Wisconsin, agrant Of land WIS made by Congress-
to the State for tho purpoao Of improving the
navigation Of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers.
In the fall ct 1872, tho Unitod Btatcs purchased
tho improvements for the sum Of a145,000. Tho
lands grantod had boon disposed of In tho
meantime. The Government, on pnrchaso, re-
coivod credit for tho land at tho ratio of 81. 25
par aero on tho land granted. Congress- haa
made tho following appropriations In 1870,
100000; In 1873, $500, 900 md In 1874, 5000,
600 more.
The facts that I an about to present IN regard
to the work, progress, etc., wore obtained from.
gentleman who has made personal e1amina-
tion. In explanation will givo the course Of
these two rivors: Tho Wisconsin, having it's
souroe in tho northern part Of the State, flows
sorthorly, approaching tho Fox River. Whom
near tue last mentioned river. 1t turns abruptly
sothwesery ana funSns i9 lh4t ooq5aO 11e
below McGrogor. The Fox River haa its source
III tho southern part Of Wisconsin, lows north
westerly until it approaches tho Wisconsin River,
and, running In TINT course 1G0 miles, empties
into Lake Michigan nt Green Bay. The improve
mont OF the Fox from Portago to Green
Buy will require only the repair Of
tho dams md docks now standing, tho
building Of five additional locks, and tho clean
lug out Of tho chauuol. A largo force OF men
arc at prcsent engnsea upon this work. Tho
channel Of Wisconsin, from Portage to its mouth,
y to bo contracted by tho moana OF wing-da,ns.
Yheso dhms nro now IN process OF construction.
Experiment proves tDat this manner Of forming
the Fox md Wisconsin, Is practicable beyond
doubt At those points whoro these wing or
side dama haTo bcen constructed, distance Of
abollt 10 milos, tho channo Ia, ut loW water, Of
about feet aranght. 1t Is eat1natod that, by
tho action Of tho water in tho channel, BY nm
other yoar tho lowest places In low waser will iu-
creaso iu dept4 30 thnt tito water will not DO lesa
than 5 feet ut any time. Tho Wisconsin River,
the present season, has beon lower than
for many yeara; yot, on account of tho wing or
Bido dams abovo rofcrfol to, the rats, that lave
passed down in large numbers this soason, have
beop less liablo to accident than ever before.
When tho work is completed from McGregor
to Groom Bny, tho connection betweon tho Mis-
eiaaippi aud the Lakes, at tho reduced length Of
al miles, will consist Of & nilos OF cannls, lav-
Of which latter 1l7 miles will be as loYel a tho
Lakes, aud lib mites with current only ona-half
Of tho Average current Of tho mississippi Nvor.
There cnn DO no doubt OF tho SUCCESS Of this
enterprise If tha amount appropriated Is judi
cloudy expended; but thelo aro some complaints
by inhabit1nts along tho limo of tho lack Of ccon-
omy In the application OF The funds. 3.