St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-30

An appropriation of $50, 600 is recommended
for the next fiscal year. In the report relat-
ing to the section of the river from St. Paul
TO DeS Moines rapids, Maj. Mackenzie says
the allotment of this appropriation to vari-
Gus works and localities has usually been
left to the discretion Of the secre. airy of
war. This principle has resulted to-
THE GREAT ADVANTAGE
of the general improvement of the river.
masmuch as it permitted the expenditure
of the appropriation on work at points
where it was most needed, which points,
as a rule, are away from cities,
and while well known to those actually EN-
gagged in navigating the river or carrying on
works of improvement do not receive so
great consideration from others as do points
near towns or cities which are constantly
under the eyes OF the inhabitants. Among
the specific provisions in the river and har-
Dor bill referred to by Maj. Mckenzie, was
one ''fOr the protection of the
bank of the Mississippi river at
Winona, Mimi" The report states
that ''no work was carried on at WinOna,
there being no caving banks to protect. as
indicated i'm the river and harDOr act"
1.-The improvement of the upper Mississippi
river" Maj. Mackenzie reports, from ST.
Paul TO Des Moines rapids, can
be carried on to greater advantage than
with such small appropriations as have
heretofore been made. l would respectfully
recommend an appropriation of $1,000. 900
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1857.
and if further provision for several years
could be made at the same time great good
would result theTefrom- The section of
river for which this appropriation is recon-
mended is about 525 miles in length, and
the amount suggested will give less than
SS. 600 per mile" The amount now
available for the works is SIS. .992.
Mai. Mackenzie reports S5G.745 available
for the improvement of the Des MOines
rapids. and estimates that S+5, coo addi-
tiOnal may proiitably he expended during
the fiscal year ending June so, 1887, which,
it seems. will complete the present projects.
He reports SIS. 565 available for the dry dock
at DeS MoineS' rapid canal, and estimates
that SG5, 600, necessary to complete the
work, can prOiitably be expended during
tine next fiscal year.
ST. ANTHONY FALLS.
In relation to St. Anthony falls, Mai.
Charles j. Allen. in his annual report, calls
attention to the fact that the flank of the
works in progress by the government
rests upon private mill dams, some
of which are leaky and are liza
bic To give way. He also says:
"A radical change of plans If the exterior
work of protection, understanding by these
the apron. wings and rolling dams, and
such as would best serve 10 preserve the
falls. would call for the removal of most if
not all of the mill dams from the bed
of the stream. The extension of
rolling dams from bank to bank,
and large extension of apron work.
10 consist either of timber or concrete. If
the government adheres to the present plan
of exterior works for protecting the fails,
the sum of $50. 900 will be needed for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1885.
THE RESERVOIRS.
Mai. Allen, in his report upon
the reservoirs at the headwaterS
of the Mississippi river, says: The three
completed dams had impOunded by the close
of the fiscal year over anu above what was
allowed to flow during the fall and winter
months, and during March, April, May and
June, "a, 600. 600, 900 cubic feet OF
water. a quantity which equaled the eX-
pectation for that time. the result having
been achieved again; but so far as effects
upon the channel are concerned from the
discharge of the impounded water, il can
| only be said that the public must not eX-
pect from the reservoirs the same results n:
from the entire number cOntem-
plated. The system as originally re-
| ported upon provides for fOrty-One reservoir
dams i'm Minnesota and Wisconsin. Five
hundred and eighty-iiye thousand dollar:
have so far been appropriated for these
water works, and S5O3, 976 expended. the
balance being now available. In addition
Maj. Allen estimates that S-50.000 can bC
proftably expended during the neXt
fiscal year. He also submits al
estimate OF $50. 900 for surveys for the res
eryOirs at the sources of the Mississippi,
/ st. CroiX. Chippewa and Wisconsin rivers
Maj. Allen submits the following eSti
mates of amounts which can be prOfitably
be expended during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1887:
For the Mississippi above st. An
| thOny falls.. .Sl1O.Ou'
i For the Chippewa below Banks, Wis. 30,OU'
/ For the st. CroiN river below Taylor's
| Falls, Mimi. and the Wisconsin line 26,45
| For the Red River OF the North, Min
neSOta and Dakota z5,O0'
| For the hGrbor at Duluth, .......... l25, Co
/ For Lake Superior bays. 50,0OI
| Tor the harbor at Grand Marais. 49,. 4O,OO
/ For the construction OF dam ut
Goose Rapids, Red River OF the
North. -.-................... lOO,OO