The Rock Island Argus., 1877-09-06


Proposed Improvement of River Navlga-
tion at louisville, Ky-Congress to be
Invited to do the Work,
PITTsBURG. Sept 6.-The convention
of the National Board of Steam NaYiga
tiou met this morning at 10 clock. Capt.
Sherlock, IRON the executive committee,
10 his report, submitted, states that 10
progress has been made toward obtaining
the legislation required for the relief of the
steam navigation interests of the United
States; and the committee earnestly
recommended that vigorous efforts be
made at this coming session OF congress,
with all the influence of those composing
the National Board to secure amendments
to the steamboat law sought for the past
six years.
| Capt. Brown submitted the report of
the committee on the propriety of re-
moving the rocks and widening the chan
mel at Louisville, Ky. The committee
consider it practicable and in every way
advantageous to the marine interests OF
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers aud their
tributaries, by giving an aggregate depth OF
water and offeringi more speedy and safe
transit through dangerous parts of the
! river between the northern and southern
i parts. The cost Of this most necessary
= Improvement, the committee estimates,
}, would not exceed $4,000.
Capt. Varble, of Louisville, stated that
: the committee had had u draft prepared
; showing the improvement suggested to the
5 falls at Louisville He referred to the
fact that pilots had at their own expense
widened the channel to as feet. Ii is pro
posed to remove the side lodges at the
: falls, thus widening the channel IA feet,
: giving greater depth also of two feet.
He called attention to the fact that fire.
uueuty, on the run ef boats they are de.
tanned at the falls As to Ga hours, at great
expense, and, If this improvement is
y made, boats can pass over the falls without
n the slightest delay. Relatiye to the method
TO be pursued in obtaining means to make
= the improvements there is now in the fund
n from receipt of tolls at the canal $4,000
; surplus, not in use, and he believed, j
e Gen. Witzel is consulted, advantage may
e be taken of the present low water to Sc
!, q cure improvements to the falls.
j, Capt. L. W Gould said he hoped some o
N thes delegates interested in navigation 0
T. the Mississippi river, would present plaI
a, for the Improvements OF that great highway
'me Captain John E. bravo and Gen. j. K
Moore here spoke Of the success of the Fad
= liettys system, and the latter said he want
ed the system introduced up the Mjssls
sippi as far as Carlo; he agreed with Capt
! Gould that the Mississippi should be i'm
proved from the mouth of the Missouri I
;" New Orleans and said he believed tbi
VI could be doue only by the jetty system
~ At the annual meeting of the executive
committee Capt Varble presented tn
:" following, which was adopted: Resolved
that it is the Judgment OF the Nations
= Board of Steam Navigation that the presen
charges for license TO officers of steaI
vessels are unfair and onerous and tina
the executive committee be instructed
use its best efforts for there reduction.
MIR. H. W. Hart, of st. Louis, ottere
the following: Resolved, that the ligh
house service as adopted upon our wester
) rivers is of indispensable service to th
interest of the navigation, and the COT
vention assembling In Plttsburg recon
mend to congress that the appropriate
to to this branch of the public service shall B
ei' proportioned to each district. The resoll
ne, ne, ton was adopted, Mr.. Hart explainiu
md that the government was about to max
ss. some changes which would be adverse
in, navigation and which would likely be pre-
VenNeo Dy tue LImeIy aoIlOu VI u
. National Board. Captain r.
Woodfalk offered resolution for the a.
poiutment of committee of FIVE to tai
into consideration the question of impro
ing the Mississippi river from the mou
of the Missouri river to New Orleans
accordance with the suggestions of Can
Gould. The resolution was adopted, al
the chairman appointed Captains =. '
Gould, Jno. A. Bofnger, John Z. Kesi
St Louis, N ". Jones, Memphis, al
Geo. II. Kirk, New Orleans. Adjourn
sine die