The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-02
Wisconsin ship Canal.


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Wisconsin ship, Canal.
The distinguished party of Westerners,
numbering among them two Governors,six
congressman, nine editors, many mayors,
Government engineers, and other equally
notoble gentlemen, left Prairie Du Chien
this morning in a drenching rain and a
special car for Bridgeport, about seven
miles up the Wisconsin river, where the
steamer ''Ellen Hardy" was boarded.
With the eclloing cheers from the popu-
lace resounding from the shore, she
swung out into the stream and begun her
perilous (e) voyage. A descriptions 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
small stern-wheel paddler, drawing Is
inches light and % when loaded with
$500 bushels. She is 120 feet in length
from stem to stern, has % feet breadth
of beam over decks, and q capacity of $50
tons. This, it is to be understood, ap-
plies only to deck freight. In order to
transport wheat or corn 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 u,,-
loaded. travels the river with the utmost
difficulty. Load her with one thousand
bushels of wheat. and she could not make
rs miles from the mouth of the 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
the Wisconsin is q mere fallacy, notwith-
standing the fact that thousands of dol
lars have already been spent in so-called
improvements.
1t would require falr-sized volume to
correctly describe this remarkable stream
As We have to deal only with the distance
from Portage down, I will attempt only a
cursory examination of its peculiarities.
Running from Portage to Prairie du Chen
Q18 miles), with a fall Of l6o 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 milein width, ,thickly stud
ded with islands and interrupted by nu.
merous jutting points. The bed is com.
posed of q peculiar shifting sand, so hard
and hinty in its nature that it refuses to
adhere and pack, but moves and rolls
about as uneasily as drifting log. To.
day the channel is on the right hand, to.
morrow the water boils through on the
left 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.
1t 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 broached, and as
yet have not reached successful reali.
zation. OF the wing dam system I am
not yet prepared to positively assert, but
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 a
canal, one of the most valuable channels
for transportation in the country will be
opened for navigation. The
whole river is skirted by
bottom lands furnishing most admirable
opportunity for the construction Of 4
canal. Government Engineers say that
there is ample volume of water to- fur.
nish canal three hundred feet in width
with constant flow Of 6 ! feet Of water
SUCCESS INEVITABLE. 5
|: The success of this grand scheme, il
properly conducted, is inevitable. - - Not,
withstanding the contrary opinions ex.
l 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 were
assembled on the main. deck, for the pur.
pose of obtaining formal expression Of
their opinion concerning the Fox and
q 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 Tor sccre'
tary. :; +. i: 5:..'.. 8 .3.52a
i Mr.. Larrabee Of Fsyette county, Iowa
moved the appointment Of . committee o.
I two from each State t. prepare resolu'
tions. Carried. and the chairman ap'
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