Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-17

of these mill men, giving simply their
negative testimony that they had not seen
it: OF what value would be the testimony
OF one hundred such witnesses that they
had not seen thing, if one reliable wit
ness swears that has seen it and expert
enced it for years as an obstruction to
navigation. Your committee therefore
herewith report. the following positive tes-
tinony of one government witness. Capt.
John 3. Davis, as a full and complete an
swer to the negative testimony of the mil
lers' committee:
EXPERIENCE OF IN EXPERT.
To the Editor of the Pioneer Press:
= ST. Paul, Oct. BY request. write to
give you my experience and views in re-
gard to the sawdust question. While in
command of the United States steamer
Montana from 1873 to 1877, had consid-
cradle experience with the sawdust Oh the
bars, as it was part of our operation to
dredge the shoalest bars, SO that the steam
boats could pass over them in low water.
Our dredge was composed of large scoops
made of boiler iron about three feet long,
and nearly the same diameter. These
scoops were attached to frame, so as to
stand at an angle Of about forty-fve de-
grees, and extended below the
bottom of the frame some eighteen or
twenty inches. The frame was hoisted up
and lowered down by means of chain that
passed through shive IN pair of shears
that projected over the bow of the boat,
and then to the cay stan, which was worked
by steam. We would run the boat up on
the bar. lower the scoops, and then back
the boat down over the bar. In doing this
the scoops would pillow up the sawdust or
sand, as the case might be, to depth of
say twenty inches. l have stood on the
bow Of the boa. time and again whilst
dredging, and have seen sawGust, pieces Of
slabs, and all the refuse matter thrown III
the river by the sawmills at Minneapolis
plowed up from the bottom of the river in
immense quantities, and this, too, in the
channel of the river, not on one side, as
the Minneapolis folks try to make out.
Now, it appears to me, that experience
Of this kind is more valuable, to get at the
truth in this matter. than the means used
committees in their recent so-called irves-
tigation. as in this way you probe the mat
ter to the bottom.
The Minneapolis committee thought
they had made a point, because they did
not find any sawdust in the channel at
Pigs Eye bar. Alloac me to captain Uhy
they did not find it. The river has been
down to a low stage for over a month, a;sd
since the dam aUds rebuilt at Pigs Eye, it
has caused such Oh increase IN The rolune
of aUdter as to scour out oil the sa,udust,
debris, ETC., down to the sand or gravel
bottom. as the case may be. About six
weeks ago we were compelled to haul the
steamer Libbie Conger over the bar at
Pigs Eye, drawing only thirty inches of
water, while the gauge at st. Paul called
for five feet. Now, this would appear
strange to any person but a steamboat
man, but to US it is nothing new or strange
for we see it every season, to greater or
less extent, as in high water these bars fill
up, or choke up, with the sawdust, and
sand also, and these scour out as the
water falls.
This week we had fonr feet on Pigs Eye,
while the gauge only called for three feet
three inches, or nine inches more water on
the bar than on the gauge at st. Paul.
will venture to say that any disinterested
person could have found all the sawdust.
ETC., he cared to see at Red Rock bar or any
other bar that is not secured out by artifi-
ciai means between st. Paul and Lake Pc
pin. This sswdust question is too serious
matter to be dealt with lightly, for it not
only touches the farmers pocket, but in
fact affects the whole commercial interest
of the state of Minnesota, and it is to be
hoped that both st. Paul and Minneapolis
will take steps to get at the whole truth in
regard to this matter. The Mississippi
river regulates rates during the season of
navigation, saves millions of dollars to the
citizens of Minnesota, and it is high time
that they were beginning to look to their
own interests by defending their best
friend. JOHN B. DAVIS,
Captain Steamer Libbie Conger.
To this positive testimony we also add
that OF Capt. Russell Blakeley,well known
all over the state as an old and experienced
steamboat captain, who,on request of your
committee reduced to writing his remarks
on this question in this chamber on the I'd
of October.
CAPT. BLAKELEY's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: I must say word
about the sawdust question, as may not
be here when it comes up for discussion.
The sawdust, edgings and bark that have
been and are being deposited in the river
for years past are very seriously and con-
tinuously injuring the navigation of the
river, and if it is not stopped it is only a
question of time when the channel of the
river will be filled mp, and there will
be continuous rapid from here to
Prescott, if not the head of the lake.
1t will not only be found on the bars, but
will finally fill all the deep holes and places
in the river, and the bottom will continue
to rise up until there is, as I said, only a
continuous rapid from here to the lake if
the deposit is continued long enough. Saw
dust does not leave the river but sinks to
the bottom, when it has accumulated weight
to carry it down. There it will be found
until some agency beside the current is
used to remove it.
There is no possible good that can come
to the river by this deposit being continued
but as believe great and irreparable dam
age. hope that all who are in any way
contributing to this great wrong may be
induced to desist without waiting until
there is an appeal to congress or the state
legislature to stop it. R. BLAKELEY.
We add the following, taken from the
Pioneer Press this morning, as another
complete answer to the millers' report:
THE sAwDUsT QUESTION.
Hastings Gazette: 1.-THE Minneapolis
sawdust investigating committee, with the