The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-27
UPPER MISSISSIPPI.
What the Government is Do.
ing for the Rapids.
CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF
THE WORK AT DIES MONIES
AND ROCK ISLAND.
Extracts from the Report of Col. J. N
Macomb.

Macomb.
WASHINGTON, d, c., Oct. 2O.-The re-
port Of Col. j. N. Macomb, corps Of en-
gineers, on the improvement Of the Mis-
sissippi river above st. Louis, is as fol-
lows:
DIES MONIES RAPIDS.
This work has been continued in the
immediate care of Capt Amos Stickney.
The project for the years operations has
been carried out satisfactorily, except that
part relating to the building of lock-gates.
The timber which had been procured for
this purpose was so generally injured by
dry rot that very little if any of it remain
ed fit for use in constructing the gates, and
this led to considerable loss of labor in
handling the timber, as we'll as delay in
sending into the timber region in Indiana
to procure new supply. Satisfactory ar
rangements to this end have been made.
The rock excavation for opening the APP
proach FROM below into the lower lock has
been completed, and the material removed
has been disposed of in the embankments
and levees. A great deal of the inside
rip-rap wall has been built up to high
water-mark in the canal leaving the wall
above that level to be finished at leisure
after the opening of the canal if it cannot
be finished before that event. Consider
able trouble has resulted from leaks under
the natural rock in the river bed and un
der the embankment. This has in general
been successfully combated, and it is be-
leved that there will be no further anxiety
on that score. In January and February
last the intense cold caused suspension of
work out Of doors. Early in the spring Of
the year active operations were resumed,
and preparations were made as soon as au-
thority was granted in Anril last to carry
on vigorously the rock excavation through
Monteau chain above the head of the canal,
and also for removing patches of rock
between that chain and the head of the
canal. Preparatory to this a resurvery was
carefully made to insure the greatest
economy in this part of the work. This
survey was greatly facilitated by the use
of the excellent sounding-machines con-
trlYed by Assistant Engineer Hoffman,
whom 1 sent from the fields of the upper
rapids to undertake the survey above
named. The cofferdam around the place
of principal excavation is now in progress
vi OOu5Lt uOtlOu anu 10 WCll duNduCCu liz
chisel boats are at work removing detach-
ed patches of rock from the river bed tC
clear the channel leading from the upper
end oft the canal. Arrangements for pur.
chasing stone for rip-rap face have beer
madeon very advantageous terms. The
middlelock was completed and made ready
for the gates before the middle of August
1874. Stone Of excellent quality was fur
nished for this work. Much work ha.
been done Gin making catch-pools whert
certain creeks debouch into the canal, anC
it is believed that proper means have beer
perfected to prevent the canal being 10
numbered with mud from those sources
A small amount of work remains to b,
done in the vicinity of the lower lock. thu
embankmeDt having been allowed to re
main incomplete there to facilitate drain
age. The Disappointment experienced il
the loss of the timber above named AM
the unexpected award to liquidate certai
old claims against the work, render
necessary to ask for an appropriation G
$4,000 to bring up the availabl
amount to the basis on which it was whe
the estimate was presented for the apprC
priation for the completion of this grea
work. In addition to that there will
required sum for maintenance, as e1
penses OF superintendent and assistant an
incidental repairs. l agree with Cap
Stlckney in hoping that the necessar
amount may be reduced in future year
and 10 believing that it would not be pr
dent to depend upon less than the sum
$4,000 for the first year, | therefor
ask tor an appropriation for maintenan,
OF $4,000. Total required to be appropl
ated $4,000. Amount available July
1875, 1851, 999.SS.
ROCK ISLAND RAPIDS,
For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877
an appropriation of $4,000 was mad
AT the letting of the work on August |
1874, Mr.. George Williams was Il
lowest responsible bidder, and | was a
thoriz ID to enter into contract with hil
and BY his energy and skill the work
excavation at lower chain has been pusht
with such success that by the 9Th.
October | settled his final estimate und
that contract, which embraced in all
6499 cubic yards of rock excavation
expect to excavate about 2,469 cubic var,
at lower chain and about 2S7 cubic var,
at st. Louis chain during the fiscal year
lS75-76. There would then remain
round numbers 1000 cubic yards of 70,
to be removed at the foot of Moline chat
and as this remaining and closing wol
can only be done by means of chisel ar
dredge under all the difficulties of a We
strong current and the liability of freoue
interruption from passing RATS al
steamers, the price of l6 or Is is not e
timating the cost too high, and as the e
cheering and experimenting grows lik
wise more difficult and expensive, mo
earnestly recommend that the sum of $50
600 may be appropriated for finishing tn
great work at Rock Island rapids III
apparent inconsistency of asking 5000
for the completion of these rapids inste;
OF $4,000 as the balance from $500
set forth in my last annual report is e
planned thus:
l. BY the higher average price of e
'cavating cubic yard of rock to be pa
at the foot of Moline chain" 2. By Il
contingencies which are necessarily co
tinued year longer, and of which Il
part of engineering demands a great
COST
Amount available July 1, 1875 ........... SIS, 425
Amount required for fiscal year ending
june oo lo0........ ..............s.,-.. bO,UO0
ILLINOIS RIVER.
The work upon the lock foundation
Copperas creek was continued until iowa
the end of September, 1874, when I
amount allotted for it being expended, {
work was turned oyer to the canal col
mlssloners of the state of Illinois, and "
soon finished under the supervision of NJ
Jenne, their engineer. Their report I
1874 states: We take very great pie,