The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-10-10
The Damage Caused by the Cutting
Current of the Raging Mis-
souri, ct Fort leavenworth.
The Government Appropriation Of
s25,000 to Save the Land
Upon the East Bank.
The Great Iron Bridge Across tho
River at This Point in lmin-
ent Danger.
The Work to be Commenced Next
Monday-Whst Will be Dcne.
ENGCLPHING WATERS.

ENGULPHING WATERS.
That raging, roaring, surging, see,hip,
treacherous and entirely unreliable strean
the Missouri river, has been pisying th
very mischief with the soil of the State 9
Missouri for distance of something owe
two miles in length, beginning at a point
short distance north Of the great iron bridg
which crosses this unruly river at thi
point, and has carried away acre after acr
of valuable land, which, however, ha
proved but a very slight morsel in satisfy
ing
THE UNSUITABLE APPETITE
Of the rivers hungry NAV. For some tim,
past the havoc has been going on, until the
government at last was induced 10 look in
to the matter, and accordingly, at the last
session Of the National Congress a bill was
passed appropriating $4,000 for the pur.
pose Of throwing up intrenchments, 50 to
speak, TO prevent the onslaughts Of the cur.
rent and save from destruction not only
hundreds of acres OF magnificent farming
land, but to prevent the complete isolation
Of
THE SPLENDID IRON BRIDGE,
which cost $4,000 in its construction. As
is known. the river, above Fort Leayen-
worth makes bend toward the east, and
this point is where the destruction has
been the greatest, the disaster having its
initial point short distance south of where
the bluffs leave the stream, two miles or 80
below the town Weston. The once splendid
and commodious steamboat landing at
Fort Leavenworth has become a thing of
the past, and where it once was is now
AN UNsIGHTLY SLOUGH,
choked up with weeds and debris, while
the current, capricious as q woman, and
as professional politician, has
swept around toward the east, cutting for
itself way where once was a flourishing
farm, and sweeping into the waste Of waters
THE PRODUCT OF YEARS
,f toll and honest accumulation. To rem
sdy this evil, it is the intention of the en-
,ineer in charge Of the work, Mr.. d. w.
Church, a young man, and but recently
graduate from the Rennsalear Polytechnic
Institute, of Troy, New York, has decided
ipon filling up for distance of 14,l36
eet, beginning at point about half a mile
,orlh OF the bridge, extending out from
THE EAST BANK
bout sixty feet, the current, in order to
PRESENT a wall against which the current
an dash itself without harm. The mattres- |
Is will be composed of brush bound tightly |
rith wire cording, and after being towed |
ut to the required place will be sunk by |
tone, a sufficient quantity to keep them |
own, and heavy enough to constitute
Ortifciiion impregnable, and proof against
eing cut out by high water. In order to
xplain this more fully,
THE READER CAN IMAGINE
ne current OF the river, making bend to
ne eastward, beginning a short distance
Glow Weston, the current cutting into the
li@souri shore and threatening the desruc-
on Lot only Of farm lands, but the cutting
way through east Of the bridge and
'aying that structure crossing slough or
vast sand-bar. While there is no imme-
late danger If this catastrophe, vet five or
< yeas at the longest would witness its
after which it would be
TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING
wards saving land or preventing the
olation OF the bridge. Already the high
ay leading from The bridge TO Platte City
rhrestened, and a short time, il no pre-
u,ions be taken, will witness its destruc
on. Day by day the destruction con,in-
=, the remorseless current eating its way
SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
Mr.. Church says the present appropria-
On uf 50 coo, however, will not he sutG-
ent TO compl,te the work laid cut, and ac-
4 /
asked tor another appropriation OF S35,- ,
NJ. The engineering corps will consist Of
r. Church, as chief, two assistants, one OF
hich, Mr.. George 7. Nelles, Of this city, is
ready selected, and ten others,
EMPLOYED IN GENERAL WORK.
The entire force employed will probably
clude about sixty men. The engineering
be done will consist of observations on
e Velocity of the current, the determine c
IN Of the di charge Of the river and the
Mount OF sediment carried. The washing
say Of the Missouri bank in four years Q
Is caused the destruction of a strip Of ter
.ory four hundred feet in width aud over
o miles in length, which
INCLUDES SEVERAL ACRES.
le active work will be begun mex. Mon i
v, and this year il is estimated that nat ,
rises will be sunk for the distance of
lie and a quarter, the weather permitting
le work will be carried on through the ,
nter when outdoor work can be done !;
Tree large boats are now being built
the levee for use by the workm,p, and
addition to these
SEVERAL SMALLER BOATS In
II be used. Mr.. Church regards the 81
ent than anything else, but is of the L
inion that they will answer the purpose g
ended. The Missouri being entirely
ferent from any other river on the face
the earth, having a sandy bed, shifting
rent and no bluffs for miles to con6ne
.sweeIing waters, makes the matter con- =
cradle of an experiment, but as some "
ng must be done, and as this plan of =
,ceedure /!
HAS PROVED EFFECTIVE
other rivers, ia has been concluded to
it upon the Missouri 1t is a matter n
vital importance that this work of pro- a,
ton b. completed as soon as possible, h
il will save to Platte county, Mo-, hun NJ
de Of acres of valuable land and save :,
Leavenworih her magnificent bridge r.
On which nearly 100000 has been a,
mt. Mr.. Church is an active and COM ,r
eat young man, and will push the mat =
forward as rapidly as it is possible TO do
w~e~,ao~. >w R,sse. n.hs~~ ,A.s | Ia