Daily globe., 1882-10-05
A SAWDUST TRIP.

Ihe River Investigation Ycsterday-The |
Positive Rain of Navigation Clearly DEM
0nstrated.
Yesterday was the day selected for the |
chamber of commerce excursion on the
steamer Longfellow, to investigate and re-
port upon the effect of dumping saw
dust and mill refuse into the river. The
steamer left the foot of jackson street
about a. m, with J. w. McClung. Secre-
tary Fogg, VIM. Lindeke, VIM. A. Somers.
Mr.. Moore of the Navigation Company,
J. Smith, Eugene Underwood, Com
modore Davidson, j. P. Pond and J. P.
Grebben board.
The party enjoyed beautiful ride up
the river. They found the surface of the
stream covered with sawdust and slabs and
every rifle in the river clogged. Upon
reaching Fort Smelling halt was made to
leave passengers, and it was found that the
steamer had'broken the fange of her screw
by encountering slab.
A little below Minnehaha creek the Min.
neapolis explorers were encountered.
They had three batteaux, one for tents and
supplies and the others for the committee.
consisting of W. S. King, O. c. Merri-
man, P. B. Walker, Daniel Bassett
S. w. Farnham John De
Laittre, L. Day, D. S. Philbrick.
two river pilots and six boatmen. An in
spection was made of the bar at the mouth
of Minnehaha creek, and it was found to
be composed Of sand, sawdust and slabs.
At the lower end of the st. Paul boom
the party landed and cursory examina-
ton showed no sawdust, the surface being
covered with sand. On digging few
inches below the surface, mass of saw
dust was discovered, showing how bars are
formed. The sawdust was two feet thick,
or as thick as they could dig; the
sand perhaps two inches thick
on top. The Minneapolis delegation took
the position that this bar narrowed the
channel and benefited navigation.
The Minneapolis delegation then landed
and prepared their dinner while the steam
er came back to the landing at the levee
and took aboard sumptuous lunch fur
nished by Geo. Magee, at the expense of
the st. Paul Navigation Co.
For the afternoon trip the party were
| joined by. Capt. Hatcher, of the Saints
line; A. L. Gillespie, U. S. engineer corps;
| L. W. Rundlett, city engineer; Capt. Castle
and others. After luncheon, the Minneap-
oils party came along, and, after inter
change of courtesies, left part of their
number on the boat and started on in thei,
| batteaux.
| At Pigs Eye bar the Longfellow ran
aground. The investigation at that point
(the upper end of the barr showed saw
dust on the bottom of the river, but not
| much mixed with the sand. The detention
prevented examining the lower part
of the bar where the U. S. Engineer re-
| ported sawdust as impeding navigation.
A subcommittee of the st. Paul delega-
tion went down with the Minneapolis bat
| teaux to inspect it but boarded the Alex.
| ander Kendall on their return. and the
Longfeilow party saw no more of them.
This sub-com. consisted of Messrs. Rund-
| lett, Somers, Hatcher and Gillespie. The
| Longfellow got off the bar at about As
and started for st. Paul, where the levee
| was reached about 10 p. m.
| The detention on the bar made the in
| vestigation on the part of the Chamber of
Commerce very unsatisfactory, but suf-
fient was developed to prove all the dam
age which has been claimed from the saw
dust evil.
The st. Paul Navigation company show
ed every attention and courtesy, and the
entire party, (barring the bars) greatly en-
joyed the trip.