The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-06
WATER GUAaEs.


the courtesy of the Chief Signal Officer of
| the Army. These records are obtained at
trifiing expense, and will prove of great
benefit in considering certain river phe
tnomena Some arrangement is desirable
by which the stage of the river at various
points may be more generally published IN
the daily papers for the benefit of navi-
gators. This, if now done, must be at the
papers expense, and in individual cases
the returns would not justify the exces-
sive cost This information would be of
gre at assistance in loading vessels, and in
estimating the progressive effect of floods,
| &C.. e@ha
sAwDUsT.
There was referred to me last month a
communication addressed to the honorable
the Secretary of War, by the Saint Paul
Chamber of Commerce. and relating to the
deposit of sawdust in the Mississippi River.
By Endorsement of the Chief of Engineers,
I was requested to give the matter my at
tention with view to presenting the mat
ter to Congress il this report. Having no
funds available for special examination,
I must depend for my information upon
the records and such facts as are gathered
in connection with the improvement of the
river Since the receipt of this communi-
cation the Assistant Engineer in charge of
the section of the upper river materially
affected by the deposit of sawdust, has
been so busily employed in connection with
the works of Improvement that no new in
formation has been obtained. As based
upon general information and records OF
the office, can say that at all points where
improvements have been made above Lake
Pepin, it is shown that many of the bars
are largely composed of sawdust. 1t has
also been found in the bars as far down as
Winona. That the promiscuous depositing
of sawdust in the river is public evil, and
liable to injure navigation, has
been acknowledged by all,
who, from their connection
with the river improvements, ha We had
occasion to practically investigate the sub
ject; and Congressional or State Legisla-
ton prohibiting deposit of sawdust or
other refuge in the Mississippi river, would
seem very necessary. The river and har-
Dor act of August IA, 1876, directed the
Secretary of War to report to Congress
what legislation was necessary for the pre-
servation of public works. A full report
on this subject and form of act is found in
the report of Chief of Engineers for 1877,
but as yet Congress has taken no action on
this subject.
LIGHTING THE DAMS.
1t is very important that lights should
be kept up at the ends of certain of the
spur dams at certain stages of the river
AS rule the channel passes near them,
and on dark nights it is difficult for pilot
to locate them. The necessity of this
work is fully recognized, and / think
arrangements viii soon be made by the
Light House Department for carrying it
out. Should their appropriation be insult
Gent for this work at present, believe
the lights are sufficiently important Access
sorry to certain of the dams to warrant the
the cost to be paid from the general appro-
priation for improvement of the river.
ICE HARBoRs.
The establishment of several ice-harbors
on the upper river is of grest importance,
but few now existing; and to avoid damage
by ice most Of the boats must be hauled
out on ways for the winter. The necessity
of these harbors was fully demonstrated
during the past winter, and if the loss, due
to their absence were known, 1 have no
doubt it would go far towards carrying out
the desired work.
In accordance, as claimed with authority
granted by section 1854 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States, piers are
continually being built by the various lum-
Der firms and others in the river, but in
few cases, as far as is known to this office,
has any action been taken by those building
them which has permitted previous consi-
deration of the special cases. Such special
examination is necessary; and while no
work Of this kind yet done interferes with
general navigation, the habit, If continued,
may cause trouble.
sNAG BOAT.
Under this appropriation has been ope-
rated during the past year the snag and
dredge boat General Barnard. The seasons
operations are fully set forth in the report
of Assistant Engineer c. w. Durham, to
whom much credit is due net only for the
effective work OF the snag boat, but also
for the valuble information collected in the
interests of navigation, and for assistance
rendered in the various works of improve
ment along the river.
The river and harbor act of March g.
1881, provided for the construction of a
Light draught steamboat to be used in con-
neetion with the General Barnard. The
original estimate for this boat, which was
thought to be ample, was $4,000, but the