The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-05-02
THE FOX AND WISCONSIN RIV-
Err IMPROVEMENT.

tency, during the early days of Ameri-
can history, in the attempt to discover
the Northwest Passage, it is the per-
severance with which the Government
labors to ''improve" the Fox and Wis
consin rivers. The Missionaries in search
of the North Passage lad these
excuses to offer for their folly: a. They
were entirely unacquainted with the
extent and Typographical features of the
country o. the requirements of COM
merce made more direct route to India
necessity. The Missionaries who advo-
cate the improvement of the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers do it i'll defiance of the
oft repeated demonstrations of the utter
fntility of the attempts, in defiance of
the knowledge that the geologic forma-
ton of the country drained by the portion
of the Wisconsin which is to be ''improv-
ed" utterly precludes all possibility of
success and in defiance of the knowledge
that the desired consummation would be
of little commercial value to this state or
to those adjoining.
This job commended itself at time
when experience had not shown its i'm
practicability and when railroads were in
their infancy and transportation by water
was the only means that naturally sug-
gested itself to the public. What was at
that time plausible scheme has now be-
come costly delusion which diverts the
attention of the people of the valley of
the Wisconsin from a more practicable
and less expensive mode of transporta-
ton and which squanders millions in
fruitless attempts to improve ariver which
has proved incorrigible. AS well might
the millions which have been expended
in erecting Ewing dams and submerging
brush piles have been cast upon the swift
1y rolling waters of the Wisconsin as an
Offering to the God of the food to APP
pease his anger and coax him into making
his domain navigable. The deyout Hin
doc does not look upon the sacred waters
of the Ganges with more reverence than
does the inhabitant of the interior of this
state upon the shifting channels of the
Wisconsin. Nothing seems to shake his
faith in the ultimate success of the in
terminable Improvement" The daily
stranding of lumber RATS, when the con-
dition of the river will allow RATS to float
at all, ano Nh Inconsistency OF the chan
mel are but fresh evidences that n new
and large appropriation is needed. The
government responds to the appeal made,
another obstruction is placed in the river,
the people rejoice and the river changes
its course and thus at i,tfnitun1.
The disintegration of the sandstone
which abounds in the valley of the Wis.
consin and the consequent formation of
sand bars will render every attempt to
make the Wisconsin river navigable
abortlve. This same element which rem
ders success in the present scheme i'm.
possible, will make the construction of q
canal matter of serious difficulty. Even
fthe practicability ola canal were assured
the question arises, will it pay2 The
course of the Wisconsin and the Fox is
at right angles to the course of those
great thoroughfares which are the out.
growth of the demands of commerce.
Rapid transportation is what the pro-
gressive spirit of business il. peratively
demands. Can canal compete with
railroads in transportation of goods
Experience has answered this question
III the negative in those states where the
matter has been fully tested
We recollect having sailed over brush
pile, few years ago, which was sunk
IN heWisconsin opposite Prairie du Sac.
The work was done under the supervision
of the U. S. Engineer in charge of the
Improvement at cost of $25, 900.
The people were delighted with the brush
pile until they realized its utter worth
lessness, and then they prayed for some
thing having positive qualities of good
or bad. The next improvement was the
erection of ewing dams" at Merrimack a
few miles farther up the river. Loud and
deep were the curses of the crew of the
Ellen Hardy-the solitary steamer on
these waters-at the ruin wrought by
these dams. A beautiful bridge spanned
the river at Boscobel. Its construction
was superlntended by an astute govern
ment engineer so that the draw" would
be placed most conveniently for the pas
sage of imaginary steamers. The next
year the river shifted and the only good
the bridge did was to point out to the
curious stranger where the river used to
flow.
This impossible improvement has al-
ways had extravaganza appropriations.
The.amount expendedup to date amounts
to 1000, 900, with constant failure for re.
suits. This year, prospects bid fair for
an appropriation of S250,000. There are
harbors in this state languishing for aid,
which would make ample returns in in
creased business for little more liberal
appropriation than what is granted them.
The Fox and Wisconsin River Improve
ment is n cemetery for the major part of
the appropriations made for Wisconsin.
Let this fact be recognized and agitatei
until the money drawn from the national
treasury for internal improvements is ex-
pended on something that-will appreciate
the outlay and increase commercial facil-
ties.
HAYEs's civil service is falling into
disrepute. United States officers NAV