Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-24

tee to Investigate the Efficiency of tst
Fire Department-Rlver Improvement
At the meeting of the chamber of COM
merce yesterday morning the following let
ter was read for information:
MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI,
Aug. II, 1880.
Hon. 81. 81. Sibley, President Chamber oi
Commerce, st. Paul, Mimi.
Sir: l am in receipt of yours of the l0tt
inst, inclosing copies of resolutions adopted
by the St. Paul chamber of commerce on Mon
day the 9th inst, on my return from trip tC
Lake Superior.
Replying t. the same. have the honor tc
state that the subject of the reservoir system
of the upper Mississippi aeceived the full and
intelligent consideration of the com.
mittees ON commerce in both
houses of Congress at the last session. which
its merits and its great importance
to this section of the country, as solving the
Mississippi river. above Dubuque, during the
summer months, seemed to Justify. As a re.
suit, an appropriation of $75, 900 was made to
inaugRrate the system.
will state in this connection that the appro-
priation for this purpose in no way interfered
with the harbor and river appropriation bill
for carrying out the present plan of dredging
Des Moines rapids, $150, 900 having been appro-
priated for that purpose.
The bill to which your resolutions refer. ("to
prevent mill refuse and other rubbish from be-
ing thrown into the Mississippi river'') pre-.
pared, as ! understood, by your chamber and
sent to the Hon. M. b. Dunnell, was by him
introduced in the House of Representatives
and referred to the committee on commerce.
The committee, understand, never made any
,nrf- Gov haf II ,.<~I H..
same bill was also sent to Senator Nc.
MILAN, and by him introduced in the
Senate and referred to the committee on COM
merce in that body. This committee referred
the bill to the engineer office of the War De.
partment, which was subsequently returned to
the committee with favorable recommends.
tion, however, making it general in its opinion
instead of confining it to the Mississippi river.
The bill SO amended was reported favorably TO
the Senate.
have no doubt the subject will be fully
considered by both houses of Congress at the
next session.. Yours respectfully,
w. d. WAsHBURN
Capt. James Starkey offered the follow
ing:
ReSozvsd, That in view of the disastrous
fires that within few hours has destroyed an
immense amount of property belonging to
some of our most worthy citizens and in rela-
tion thereto, the GLOBE newspaper in its issue
this morning casts some very grave reflections
on the capacity or sufticienoy of the city fire
department, special committee of five be
appointed by the chair to confer with the
common council and underwriters of the city,
to enquire into the origin of said fires, the
means employed to suppress the same, to-
gether with all and every information that may
tend to more efficient fire department Of the
city if in their judgment any is needed.
Mr.. Murray thought the resolution should
go further, and urged the appointment of 3
building inspector. If the buildings had
been properly built the morning fire might
have been averted. AS it was, nothing could
have saved them.
Mr.. Mo Caine offered the following as
additional to Capt Starkey's resolution.
RESOLVED, That in the opinion of the Cham
ber there should be no further delay in the
appointment by the city council of a super
visor of buildings whose business shall by to
for which they are intended, especially large
buildings for wholesale warehouses and
wholesale purposes.
After considerable debate on the faulty
building both resolutions were adopted, OK.
cept that the matter was referred to the
mercantile committee instead of special
committee. The mercantile committee is
composed of Messrs. D. r. Noyes, Jr., G.
Gotzian, John Mathies, VIM. Lindeke, 9. p.
Strong.
D. r. Noyes read the following as partial
report from the mercantile committee upon
river improvement:
U. 8. EEeINEER's OFFICE,
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, Aug. 20, 1880.
Mr.. Daniel r. Moves, Chairman Mercantile
Committee, Chamber Of Commerce, st. Paul,
Minn.:
Su:-Upon my return to Rock Island find
your letter of Aug. 16. l send you copy of
Maj. Farquhar's report for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1879. My report for the past fiscal
year, ending June 80, 1880, has not yet been
printed. When copies are received will take
pleasure in mailing you copy. A full abstract
of the latter report was published in the Mis-
souri, Republican of Aug. 10, 1880. If can
obtain copy of this paper will forward it to
you. These reports will furnish you in detail
the information you desire.
In reply to your question Of how SOON good
navigablo condition of the river may be ex-
pected I would say that the time depends upon
the amounts of the annual appropriations. All
parts of the river are now or liable to become
bad, and permanently good low water chan
mel cannot be assured until the whole river is
put under control. Very respectfully,
A. MACKENZIE, Capt. of Engineers.
The board then adjourned.