The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-05-16
THE EOK AND WISCONSIN RIE
ER IMPROVEMENT.

The Appleton Post in the plenitude
of its wisdom and veracity of statement,
taxes us with displaying "copious evi-
dence of ignorance or Intentional error
in our structures on the Fox and Wiscon-
sin River Improvement. Circumstances
may excuse ignorance, they cannot justi-
fy mendacity. We do not choose 10 al
low the splenetic editor of the Post TO
place rs on the defensive on either
charge. If orr ignorance will add by
contrast to the splendor of his erudition
the glory is his, the humiliation ours.
We sincerely desire to eschew person
alities and shall never take the III
itiatiye in bringing forward the individu-
atty OF any person whose viaws
do not coincide with ours; but let
not this imperious editor believe
that his assumption of superior knowl-
edge will awe us into submission. The
PMoT is neither anxious 10 avoid his re-
sentiment, nor to court his favor. It IS,
perhaps, as we'll that this fact be under
stood
Every inhabitant of the state is inter-
ested III the prosecution of any work
calculated to enhance the prosperity of
the state. 1t is no less his duty to oppose
any scheme which does not enure to the
advantage of the state and which, 10y
misdirecting effort, interferes with pro-
gress. Those truths are self evident.
Every principle Of allegiance to the wei
fare OF the state makes opposition il the
one case as mandatory as it does advo-
cacy in the other. Firmly convinced,
as we are, that the advantages accruing
to the state or to the section of the Z. S.
by this proposed improvement, if at all
practicable, would be SO incommen-
surate with the cost, to holu our peace
would be to prove recreant to those in
terests which every citizen should cher
ish. Caa opposition which is justih Il
by the logic of events be said to
be "born OF prejudice?' Whatever is
beneficial to the state as whole re-
bounds to the advantage of the county
with whose interests the PLoT is most
especially concerned; whatever is prej1
dicial to the state, works an injury to
Manitowec. We hold that sound judg
ment and experience oppose further
attempts at Improvement of the Fox and
Wisconsin and this, notwithstanding the
luminous and forcible presentation OF
facts for whose nonacceptancet the PILOT Is
declared an ass by this editorial Dogbar-
~, whose inciyilities betoken something
meaner than Ignorance. To diye5t
ourself of what is denominated 'preiu-
dice" would be to stife our own settled
convictions and servilely accept the
opinions of the Post sustained by mere
assertion and advanced, confessedy,
when the editor had lost his patience.
AS we understand the Improvement,
its desirability is dependent on having
the entire route, from Green Bay to
the Mississippi, made nayigable. The
Improvement does not merely contem
plate the utilization of water power,
but is designed to include the Wise onsin,
and any OBSTACLE which renders the i'm
provement of the Wisconsin inexpedient
or impracticable interposes a valid OBJ
lection to the improvement of the Fox;
tho project is integral and indivisi-
BILE and defect i'll part vitiates
the whole. Our knowledge of the Fox
is not extensive. Here we plead guilty
to the charge Of Ignorance. \ short
soiourn in Appleton made us acquainted
with the facilities afforded by the ''solid
and imperishable stone and combination
dams" for manufacturing purposes.
more intimate acquaintance with the
tickle Wisconsin,, showed us the utter
worthlessneSs Of the work done, and con-
WINGED us of the utter hopelessness of
ever making constant what is naturally
80 waywarl.
Much stress is laid upon the sauguine
predictions of competent engineers. Col.
Houston is civil engineer of unques-
toned ability ana his thorough acquain-
tance with the Wisconsin enables him to
speak with authority on what may be
effected through the agency of wing
dams" 1t was our fortune to be present
ut m ovation given to a number of celeb
i, i, 3
the Wisconsin with view to determine
w.lether it was susceptible of improve
ment. Among the crowd of distinguished
visitors to the little hamlet on the banks
of the Wisconsin, was Col. Houston. In
an address to the crowd, Col, Houston
spoke of the grave doubts he entertained
of the wing dams effecting any good.
He spoke of it as al experiment whose
success WAS by no means fully assured,
bot thought it wise to fully test the eff
cheney of the dams before resorting to
more costly mode. This was said to crowd
whose enthusiasm disappointment could
not dampeu, whose futh IN the ultimate
success OF the Improvement, repeated lali
ure was unable to shake and who looked
upon doubts as the rankest heresy. 1t
seems then, that Col Houston is not of
opinion that the wing dam system is zen
tirely practical. What are the streams
similar to the Wisconsin, which have
been thus improved aud which demon
strate the 'practicality'' of Improvement
by the system in question? Let the Post
name them aud we shall guarantee it one
interested and unpl eiudiced reader. 1t
can not cite the ietty system employed
by Capt. T ads 20 improve the mouth of
the Mississippi. The circumstances are
so entirely different as to exclude parity
of reasoning. Below the works construct