The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-09-05
The Beginning Of the United States
Survey of That Most Treach-
erous Stream.
After Whic;. Report VA! be Made
to the Engineering Department
cf The Government.
The Survey to be Extended This
Year From Fort LesvenWorif
to The Rivers Mouth.
A Detailed Statement Of t5e M0dus
Operandi and Other Facts
in Relation Thereto.
THE RAGING MISSOURI.

The raging, deceiiful, torturous, wirdin!
and treacherous Missouri, which has 81
long been a terror to navigators and steam
boatmen, which is as tickle as a woman anC
as uncertain as a professional politician
is nov in the hands OF physicians, who, al
ter a careful aud labored diagnosis OF tn,
} complaint will make detailed and care.
full statement of the symptoms to the gen
: eral government, after which prescrip
ton is tob be
MADE OUT AND ADMINISTERED.
Congress at its last session made an ap
preparation for the survey OF the stream
from Sioux City, Iowa, to its junction with
the Mississippi above ST. Louis, the work
of survey having been began day before
yesterday, under the control and supervis.
ion OF Capt. DIV Wellman, Chief OF the corps
OF engineers. There are now
LYING AT THE LEvEE
two large quarter-boats built by the govern
ment, which were launched few DAYS ago,
while there is now building at St. Louis a
steam launch which will be used for the
purpose of towing the quarter boats and
doing other service. The money appropri-
ated by Congress being insufficient to fulfill
the original idea, OF Il survey from Sioux
City 10
THE JUNCTION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI,
the work will be begun, or rather has been
begun about the town of Weston, three
! miles above Fort Leavenworth, the antici-
patton being, that ii the weather proves IA
vorable the survey will be completed to the
month the present year. The general idea
of the surrey is to give the engineering de-
partment OF the government an idea of The
topography Of the river, as also OF
TIE VALLEY
through which this stream takes its course.
with soundings as 10 the depth, together
with a detailed map showing the currents,
sandbars, distractions, etc, In order that
plans may be formed for the general i'm
provement of the river at some future time
Tor the purpose of protecting and
FOSTERING NAVIGATION.
The engineering corps, all told, amounts to
twelve men, Of which Capt. Wellman Is
chief, and consists OF men OF ability and
capacity. The force, all told, will number
at least seventy five men, including those
employed on the quarter boats, chainmen,
engineers, and others employed on vsrious
duties. The quarter boats are all ready
for duty, and active operations will be be-
gun next Monday, although the survey
was really begun day before yesterday, 4
couple OF men being employed, but
THE MAIN BODY
will not go to work until Monday. The
progress to be made is two miles per day,
but everything depends upon the weather.
Elaborate maps are TO be prepared, which
Dl..p- Nth h..
every channel, sand bar, bend, slough, anu
other cheerful
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH DISTINGUISH OUR
RIVER,
above all others upon the continent. This
work has nothing 10 90 with the improve
ments TO be made in the river, at Fort
Leavenworth, and other places, appropIia-
tions for which were made at the last ses-
sion of Congress, although it is for the fu-
ture improvement OF the river that the sur
vey is being made. The work il to be put
through as expediiiously, vet as thorough
iy, as possible.
CAPT. d. W wELLMAN
Is the engineer in charge of the United
States survey OF the Missouri river from
the town of Weston TO the mouth, 4 Gis-
tsnce of 42G miles.
THE TRIANGULAIIoN PARTY
under Mr. s. E. McGregory, assisted by
Mr.. III. +. Albright and Mr.. Geo. L.
Fritcher, will lead the survey, measuring
base lines and triangulating from bank to
bank of the river, fixing the main points
of the survey. They will be provided with
tents and will keep in advance OF the
main party using the quarters boats.
THE HYDRoGRaPHICAL PARTY
will be under charge of Mr.. Hart Vance,
vino will have the supervision OF all work
within the river banks, such as soundings,
survey Of bars, ETC., "a also the survey OF
islands, which latter will be under the i'm
mediate charge OF Mr.. J. c. Shepard. 10
the sounding of the river Mr.. Vance will
be assisted by Mr.. L. l.. Billings, recorder.
EACH SHORE
will be under charge of separate party,
whose duties will be to run from point to
point "a fixed by the triangulation party
infinitely detailing the topography Of each
bank. To each of their parties will be at
tsched a compass party to take the interior
topography as far back as the bluffs. The
party on the right or south bank of the
river will be in charge of Mr.. ID. W. Camp
bell, and the interior party Of Mr.. +. L.
Sohrader. Mr.. J. A. Schreiner will be in
charge Of the party on the left bank, assis-
ted in the interior topography by Mr.. Z.
Biefendorf.
LINE OF LEVELS
will be run on the south bank OF the river
by Mr.. X. X. Southland, connecting with 4
series OF water-gaugeS, which have been
established at most Of the prominent towns |
on the river within the survey, and which |
will be read and recorded twice each day
during the survey.
FIELD MAP
of the work as the survey progresses will |
be kept up 10 the Office on the quarter |
boat by Hr. Il. Relf, craftsman, and all the |
good things Uncle Sam is supposed to fur |
nish SUCH parties, will be hunted up by
Mr.. J. Il. Boliinger, clerk and steward.
Instead of chain the photographed, |
island and two shore parties will Use stadia
rods in measuring distance; the figures on
the rod, cut by the horizontal wires in the |
telescope, Indicate at glance its distance |
from the observed with more accuracy than |
it can be chained. As the rapidity with |
which
THE DETAILS OF THE SURVEY
can be determined and sketched, depends in |
great measure upon the judgment used
in placing these rods, they are in the hands
Of young graduates OF engineering schools,
anxious to make their mark Each of
these parties has two. With the HYDRO
graphical party, ". II. McKnew and How
ard Vance; the island party, J. A. Gre "
and J. ID. Wilson; with the party on tie
right bank W. J. Shepherd and 4. :
Sabin, and with the left bank party J. c.
Sba xkland and C. +. Palmer. The level
rcGman is Mr. J. p. Bates.
Eall1TA1J AATTESS