The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-29
THE ROCK ISLAND HARBOR.
The Sum of Six Thousand Dollars Set
Apart by the Government TO Dredge
it---What is to be Done.

The United States government is no
hog even if it is large in circumference
and unlimited by space The officials of
:ie government the high muck mucks,
grand mognls, etc, recognize the fact
that Rock Island is city of no small
importance. In this conclusion they are
right We have the United States arsenal
here which is said to be the largest arse
nal in the world This is one thing that
causes Rock Island to be known far and
wide, Then again this city is on the
Mississippi river the largest river in the
United States. Do not he surprised at
this statement, dear reader, for we are
not laboring under the impression or the
delusi0n that we are imparting any in
formation that you are not aware of. For
long time the harbor here has been fill =
ing up. This is not owing to the fact that
refuse is allowed to be dumped in the
river. Such is not the case for the city
authorities have passed very stringent
ordinance in regard to the dumping of all
kinds of refuse. While there is certain
place set apart for the dumping of refuse,
it is such place that will not inter fere in
any way with anybody or any business
At the last session of congress the sum of
$4,000 was set apart by that body to
dredge the harbor here. and this sum
placed at the disposal of the engineers
office here, to be disposed of in conform
| ity with rules and regulations made and
provided for this particular piece of work.
An ARGUS reporter climbed the stairs
leading to the engineers office this
morning, and there found Major Nc.
Kenzie, very pleasant and courteous
gentleman, by the way, who was inter
viewed.
Il am an ARGUS reporter, the paper
that tells the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, blr. Mckenzie
and have come up to interview you in
regard to the dredging of the Rock Island
harbor.'
Il am perfectly willing to be inter,
welded, young man. said the Major,
what is it you want to know? state spe
officially, and | will give you all the in
formation can"
Il see by an advertisement the harbol
here is to be dredged What | came tc
find out is when it will be dredged, by
whom it will be dredged and what the
cost will be-"
THE cost of dredging the harbor cannot
be over $1,000. That is the sum that ha!
been appropriated by the government
and when that sum is exhausted work will
have to stop. do not know exactly IL
how bad condition the harbOr is
but l think that it needs dredging
very badly. As to how long it will take tt
complete the job, cannot say. 1t de
ponds upon how the work is pushed, and
how many dredge boats are put to work
There are not many dredge boats in thi:
part of the river l do not believe thai
there are over five between St Paul anC
St. Louis. OF the five two are owned BY
Captain Whitney. If Captain Whitne!
should secure the contract he would
probably put on both of his dredge boat
and get the job completed as soon a
possible, If only one dredge boat is Sc
to work, am of the opinion that the jol
ought to be con pleted inside of month
On a dredge boat there is generally
crew of ten men The advertisement
calls for bids to be handed in by tn
twcntvthird of next month, and if yol
will come around here on the morning o
the twentyfourth l will tell you the nam
of the lowest bidder"
In what locality will the most dredg
ing be done, MajorE'
in all probability between the Peori
depot and the Chicago, Burlington
IQuincy depot The harbor, as you ar
aware, does not extend over seventynin
yards from the shore This is the poin
that will be dredged, aud dredged in a
good manner as it is possible for tn
workmen to do"
There is no question in the mind of an
river men, and we have interviewed sey
eral on the subject. but that our harbc
needs dredging, and has needed dredgin
for q long time. 1t is something thf
should have been done long time age
and the Daily ARGUS is glad to chronicl
the fact that this long felt want is to b