The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-22
THE U. S. STEAMER MONTANA,
IN WINTER QUARTERS AT ROCK
ISLAND.
a Pleasant Dinner Party on Board.

The L. S. steamer Montana went into
winter quarters, in the harbor at
Rock Island. on Friday of last week.
The baat is in good repair and will need, in
the spring. only an ordinary overhauling
and painting to be ready for its work on
the river next season. W atchmen will re-
main on the boat during the winter to pro-
tect the property. The harbor where the
Montana is laid up is jus: at the lower, ex-
tremity to the city, easy of access at all
times, and safe from ice when the river
breaks M. Capt. Davis resides in this
city, and will attend to the care of the boat
while here
On Saturday, party of gentlemen were
invite! by Capt j. 3. Davis, the Mont
ana's c.mmardcr, to dine on board.
The party consisted of Messrs. G. NJ. Os-
born, DIR. G. Truesdale, James M. Buford,
A. G. Dart, B, d. Buford, NJ. T. Wiser,
Elijah Carter, John Crubaugh, and J. S.
Drake of THE ARGUS, all of this city; and
Messrs. Thomas Scott, George Fl. Parker,
d. N. Richardson of the Democrat, Louis
Ochs. and w. G, Warmer, of Davenport,
and Capt. Davis, and Pilot Upton, of the
Montana, making pleasant party of l6
gentlemen. The dinner was a very choice
one, served in excellent style, and was
greatly enjoyed by ALL The afternoon was
spent In discussing the work of the boat
during the past season. the improvements
made in the nayigable condition of the
Mississippi river, under the intelligent and
efficient direction of Col, J. n Macomb, of
the U. S. Engineer Corps, and the impro-
yements yet required to aid in the safe
and expeditions navigation of the stream.
The district in which the boat is used
extends from Keokuk to St. Paul. and the
Montana has conveyed Col. Macomb's sur
veying party to various points within the
district, during the season, and has towed
the sounding boat over the whole line.
The surveyors have done large amount
of work in sounding the river, and will at
Col Macomb's office in Rock Island, fin
ish up maps of the river, from their notes
the coming winter, in order to be ready
for such work as congress may order done
next season. Many dangerous snags and
other distractions have been removed
by the Montana the past season; but her
principal work has been at Pigs Eye Bar,
few miles below ST. Paul. where per
manent dam, from the east bank of the riv.
er to the head of an island, has been con
structed, by driving two parallel rows of
piles to the depth of Is feet and filling with
brush and stone The effect of this dam
is to contract the channel and turn the
entire volume of the river into narrow
space, between the island and the ives;
bank of the Mississippi The increased
volume of water passing through the mar.
rover channel increases the current and
deepens the water some Is inches, making
the navigation safe and easy, at low water
The saving in the cost of transportation
for one year, it is estimated, will more
than repay the cost of the work, This
mode Of improving the navigation of the
river has been pursued by Col. Macomt
for the past few years, and, it is believed
with sufficient aid from congress, that the
navigation of the river may be made good
during the lowest water. We are now
beginning to realize the benefit of this sys.
TEN, and it is hoped that congress will APP.
prove the plan by such further aid as may
lie asked for by the war department.
We append a notice, from the St. Pau
Dispatch of Nov. Sd, OF an excursion from