Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-03

CONSIDERING.
Tho late appearance of w. J. Abernethy, of
Minneapolis, Mimi, who is Secretary or some
thing of the State Grange of that state, at all
,niuJs Immediately interested in the Fox and
WISCONSIN Improvement decrying the present
plans OF the government, and urging the con-
struction Of a continuous Ship Canal from Port
oye CITY to Prairie du Chen, indicates all exten-
siye and well organized purpose to compel the
congressional Conventions to come OFT this year
in the especially Interested districts 10 take
tion by imperative resolutions and in the presen-
,ation of candidates for the abandonment of pres
eut plans and for the substitution Of the ship ca
nal project at whatever cost To the General Gov
ernlnent. Cost is TO be reckoned all indifferent
factor In the case. The question of feasibility is
accepted upon inadequate data and judgment
is made up altogether upon loose generalities. As
a friend of the improvement, one who really de-
sires Its early completion upon the most feasible
and least costly plan consistent with greatest util-
ity invite attention to some considerations, and
some problems in engineering, which seem to me
10 stand in the way of this Ship Canal project,
and to favor the pursuance of the plans for open
river improvement now under consideration
We have these general facts to guide us
Distance from Portage to the Mississippi
Fall of the river, which is quite uniform,
about Is inches per mile. 1863 feet.
Depth of proposed draft.................. feet.
Then, to overcome this fall, there win be re-
Quircd about 30 locks and 80 levels, which latter
will average about miles in length. The locks
properly built will cost $4,000 each, or, in the
aggregate 81 100000 Time required to pass each
lock 10 minutes for each steamer, and Ii having
barges in tow, much longer. This will consume
about hours in lockages, enough time for
steamer to run in the open river if rightly i'm
proved, nearly the distance from Portage City to
the mouth of the river, or III going up, near one.
half this distance in reversion. Two lock tenders
would be required ut each lock, 60 lock tenders
ill all who couldn't be got to vote the Administra-
ton ticket ut the elections unless they were liber-
ally paid say 500 year each, which would
make s3OoOJ year for this service The Govt
"a fp prDNi1n lap in ir
dwelling house and an Office at each lock for use
OF the employees Let us estimate them at 81 900
each, or $4,000 in the aggregate. Canals are
much given u breakages by various causes,
which not only cost immense sums in this way
for annual repairs, but often for long periods of
time totally stop navigation thereon.
1t remains 10 consider the probable cost of con-
structing the residue of the canal not estimated
the levels, excluding the locks, HI miles. There
are two plans to select from, viz:
Ist To keep the grade down that the sur
face of the water in the canal at the head of the
levels shall correspond with, or be slightly below
the surface of the river, at its lowest stage that
the canal may be fed by the river with feeders
adjustable to all stages OF water In this case,
the lateral streams could also be used feeders
without great cost, q tGcy could be made to dis
charge into the cana! without being elevated by
dams, and any surplus m times OF lrcshet could
be carried OIL by Wastt-WVIra. IL would cost much
less than the other plan ana be much less liable
10 breakagcs without much danger of great loss
of water by soakaSe.
1t is quite impossible to make close estimate
Of the entire cost of the work under this or any
other plan without having at hand the tabuatons
of q careful and complete instrumental survey of
the whole route which has never been made. 1t
is true that General Warren has chosen to antici-
pate all instrumental work, and TO lump up the
lob in the rough at four millions of dollars for an
underlined plan. He has probably got only about
fifteen millions of dollars out of the way. How
erer, it is u fair average calculation for all gov
eminent Jobs.
find that the cost of sse15 miles of canal-l2
in Notwithstanding To the State of n ", was
about 65l2 millions-this gives an average cost
per mile of about $4,000 Under this rate then
the Wisconsin river canal would cost over eight
millions But, having some knowledge of the
many and serious natural obstacles presented by
this route, | maintain that 100000 per mile
would not suffice To build upon an average in a
frst-class manner, this proposed ship Canal Law
ing miles upon miles of cut stone solid masonry
ill beds of loose sand, bottom and sides of the
prism alike, with miles upon miles of rip-rap sea
wall and rock reyetements by the mile covering
escarpmcntS OF loose sand 30 feet in height in
places. would prove costly undertaking, not be-
Mont Cents tunnel. And such are some of the
obstacles this route presents.
This plan would further incur the hostility of
Fl du C. and places like it, now altogether inlpa-
tient over delay IN the lmpvt which are located
upon the North side of the river: for nothing is
certain than, If the canal be built it will be
located upon the South or left bank of the river.
With the grade kept down To the level of the river
could be no crossing aud re-crossing of the chan
mel TO accommodate interested localities as the
perpetually rolling sand in the river would per.
petualy prevent the transit of boats from side TO
side, If ii did not connuallychoke the entrances
and clearances of the canal sections
We think 1t quite beyond engineering skill to
prevent such "A result in such case unless by the
constant work OF powerful steam dredges Prairie
1u Chen seems bent on fighting its own Interests.
Other places which need not be named the same
~. The second plan is easily disposed Of II
oilers from the first in that ii may be kept up in it's
grades irres pective of the river and that il NAV
be kept in some favorable localities away from
the low grounds bordering the river With this
plan 1t will be possible 10 cross and re-cross the
river by aqlieducts built upon heavy arches of
masonry, allowing the river to flow beneath,
Zach aqueduct would probably cost a million of
dollars, buy this might not be an objection to
some IL would be possible under this plan if
the money held out, to accommodate every rival
bursh and inchoale city, dreaming Of antc pated
metropolitan spendor, on the route. But there
is one serious drawback to the undertaking. viz
1t would not be possible to feed the canal except
at the head level at Portage, unless al! the lateral
streams were damned so as TO submerge all their
lower valleys, or unless it proposed to be
done by immense hydraulic works located at reg
uiur distances along the whole line. And as to
the matter of cost some thirty millions might do
II, but that sum in these times shouldn't be over
much regarded in the contemplation of Great
improvements by the General Government
We have briefly stated some salient objections
10 the ship Canal project, and it Is but fair to adj
mt that the plan of open river Improvement
now being pursued by the Government, is also
open to criticism, though We maintain that this
/
III all It's parts gigantic undertaking at the best
and Yet the great Northwest persists in its early
completion. We trust that this route may AS
speedily as possible be opened up to commerce
a great highway, free for all time. The presen.
plan is by far the cheapest and we think under
every aspect ii Is feasible and by far the best I'm
patience Will not avail, and idle clamor will only
Tend 10 injure the cause for which the clamor Is
raised. Any proposed recklessness prodigality
IN the expenditure of public moneys without re-
gard 10 utility, should be met and frowned down
10y all good citizens. Lee The General Govern
meut 60 on with its plans in peace, AMI let us all
hope that the Improvement when fully conplet-
ed, will accomplish all in the way Of cheap
transportation that its most sanguine friends now