Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-14
ST. PAUL. BOOM.
What Major Allen Has to Say of the De-
lay at tho Falls.


lay at tho Falls.
The st. Paul boom has been subjected to
no little interference from the good folk of
Minneapolis. The latest scheme, it was said
to produce delay, was to invoke the power
of the general government to prevent the
delivery of logs over the falls-st. Anthony.
A GLOBE reporter called on Major
G.. j. Allen, United States en-
gineer, in charge OF government
improvements of the Northwest, to learn
what there was in this rumored state of af-
fairs, to prevent, harrass and delay legiti-
mate business at st. Paul.
The subject was introduced by asking the
major if he had ordered the running of logs
over the falls to cease.
81 have no right to order anything of the
kind. requested the Mississippi and Rum
River boom company not to do so
for few days, as I feared the apron of the
falls was being injured They declined to
do so, and that IS all there is of it,
Thereupon the Major permitted the GLOBE
to see his letter to the company of the I'd inst,
in which he conveyed the request, and asked
that the company 80 locate Boom as to pre-
vent the run of logs.
In reply the Mississippi q Rum river navi-
cation company, stated they could not do it,
as they would be liable for damages.
Meanwhile the logs are still coming over,
but not in such quantities as formerly.
Mai. Allen was asked what he was going
to do about it.
And for q reply said he was going to
hurry the sluicewaY to speedy finish.
In this connection he explained the situa-
ton of the sluice, and told how near to q
completion it had reached.
The sluice will be finished in four weeks,
though work has been retarded by high
water. The sluiceway is located on
the right bank of the river or apron
of tho falls. 10 construct it, one of the
cribs of the apron is removed, and copper
dam made to construct the new crib for the
the head-gate of the sluice. Following this
crib work will be used to make the sides of
the sluiceway staunch.
The slope at top Is precipitous, but takes a
more gradual declivity as it debauches into
water below the falls, just near the mill
race of the Minneapolis Mill company
The work throughout will be of
the strongest kind, q sIuiceway six feet
in the clear with sufficient fall and volume
of water will thus be provided to carry out
logs, no matter what the stage of the water
may be In the river.
Major Allen was asked relative to the
apron at the falls. Ho stated that it had
been constructed by the govern
ment, and was within his prov
ince to look after it's safety.
His action in requesting the dscontinuance
of running logs over it, had been done be
cause he feared the apron would be injured.
In fact he apprenhended that some injury
had already been done to the crib work.
This was produced by the late floods or high
water, the extent he was unable to deter
mine until the water lowered. However, to
prevent any possible damage to the run of
logs, he thought best to make the
request as he had done. Major Allen
said there was no feeling in the matter what
ever, and as the Mississippi g. Rum Rive,
company couldn't do as he had asked, it was
left to him to hurry up the sluice-way and
save the apron of the falls from any possible
injury at low stage of water.
With this the interview terminated