River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-02
WISCONSIN ship Canal.


this morning in drenching rain and a
special car for Bridgeport, about seven
miles up the Wisconsin river, where the
steamer ELLEN Hardy" was boarded.
With the echoing cheers from the popu-
lace resounding from the shore, she
swung out into the stream and begun her
perilOus 90 voyage. A description of
THE STEAMER,
ordinarily, would be of no interest to the
reading public, but under the present
circumstances, is of vital i'm
portance TO aid in the formation Of
an adequate opinion Of the navigation
Of The great route from the Mississippi to
the sea board. The Ellen Hardy is a
small stern-wheel paddler, drawing Is
inches light and % when loaded with
$500 bushels. She is 100 feet in length
from stem to stern, has % feet breadth
of beam over decks, and a capacity Of $50
tons. This, it is to be understood, APP
plies only to deck freight. In order to
transport wheat or corn a deck bin has
been constructed, but properly the meth
cd Of the most utility is by barges.
Owing to the narrow draws in the bridges,
of which there are eight between Prairie du
Chen and Portage, she is obliged to
drop her barge or tow astern. This
boat, then drawing only Is inches IN
Lodaed. travels the river with the utmost
difficulty. Load her with one thousand
bushels Of wheat, and she could not make
25 miles from the mouth ofthe river. This
fact, coupled with the assertion that this
boat is the only one on the river that
can make the entire trip, clearly shows
that at present cheap transportation on
tho Wisconsin is a mere fallacy, nOtwith-
standing the fact that thousands of dol.
lars have already been spent in so.called
improvements.
THE RIVER.
1t would require fair-sized volume to
correctly describe this remarkable stream
As we have to deal only with the distance
from Portage down, will attempt only
curSory examination Of its peculiarities.
Running from Portage to Prairie du Chen
us miles,, with a fall Of 100 feet, the
water assumes an average velocity of
about four miles per hour. The crown
ing bluffs on either side Of the river al
lows an average channel Of fully three.
quarters Of nile in width, thickly stud.
ded with islands and interrupted by nu-
merous jutring points. The bed is COM
posed Of a peculiar shifting sand, so hard
and tlinty in its nature that it refuses to
adhere and pack, but moves and rolls
about as uneaslly a. a drifting log. To.
day the channel is on the right hand, to-
morrow the water boils through on the
lef. where to-day the water fowl walks
upon dry sand. This sand advances in
banks, presenting an identical appear.
ance with that Of drifting snow, skirted
on the lower end by perpendicular edge
Ii is this shifting sand which causes ali
the trouble. Dredging, the ordinary
method Of channel improvement, in this
tortuous stream is Of no effect.
PLANS, PLANS, PLANS,
without number, for the improvement
and utilization Of this vast tranSporta.
ton system have been preached, and as
yet have not reached successful reali-
zation. Of the wing dam system | am
not yet prepared to positively assert, bat
from conversation with practical men who
have spent their lives in the navigation
Of this stream. | can safely state that
should the plan ultimately result in
canal, one Of the most valuable channels
for transportation in the country will be
opened for navigation. The
whole river is skirsed by
bottom lands furnishing a most admirable
opportunity for the construction Of a
canal. Government Engineers say that
there is ample volume OF water to fur
nish a canal three hundred feet in width
with a constant flow Of 9 ieet Of water.
SUCCESS INEVITABLE.
The success Of this grand scheme, if
\ properly conducted, is inevitable Not,
withstanding the contrary opinions ex.
pressed | am confident that this river.
united by some practicable means with
the Fox, will fulfill for its enthusiasts
their fondcst anticipations.
The Ellen Hardy reached here at FIVE
o'clock this afternoon. When about ten
miles from the city the excursionists we're
assembled on the main deck. for the pur.
pose Of obtaining a formal expression Of
their opinion concerning the Fox and
Wisconsin river route and the improve.
ment thereof Gov Taylor called the
meeting TO order and was chosen for chair.
man, with W. j. Abernethy for sccre.
/ tary.
Mr.. Larrabeo Of Fayotte county, Iowa,
moved the appointment Of committee Of
two from each State To prepare resolu.
tons. Carried, and the chairman ap.
pointed as follows:
Iowa-Wm. Larrabee and W. l. Gil.
christ.
Wisconsin--C. d. Robinson and 4. NJ.
Keyser
MinnoSota--Samuel Adams and A. VI.
Dole
Col. Adams declined, as he could not
| consc'entiously act in the matter for the
people Of his section.
l.. l.. BreeSe was substituted for Mr..
heyser and A. b. Donaldson for Colonel
Adams, but Mr.. Donaldson also declined.
Then the Minnesota delegation selected
W. j. Abcrncthy and he Iwas appointed
and accepted.
The committee, being thus completed.
a recess Of half an hour was taken. al
the end Of which time the committee re.
ported the following resolutions:
Rssoirsd Tint our examination Of the WIS
consin River throughout IT, whole course.
from its mouth 20 ITS junction M porta - vttb