St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-23
MISSISSIPPI IMPROVEMENT.
Interesting Report of Maj. Mackenzie
on Work Done.
What is Needed--Advantag Which
VIII Follow Completion.
Special to the Globe.

"AohLNGIoN, July S2.-MaJ. Alex.
Mackenzie, stationed at Rock Island in
cnarge OF the improvements of the upper
Mississippi, has made his annual repOrt.
he reports that there was no appropria-
ton for the removal of snags between st.
Paul and the mouth of the Illinois river.
The work IS of great Importance, and some
OF the work was done by allotment froHs
the general appropriation. He thinks there
ought to be permanent provision made for
the work, so that it will not be subject to
interference by the failure of congress
to pass river and harbor bill.
About thirty thousand dollars should he
spent Tor Snagging, wrecking, tree-cutting
and pulling, clearing the banks, finding
and marking the channel, making SURVEYS.
soundings and examinations, assisting
DoatS IN distress, watching and
repairing existing improvements, su-
pervlsng work on bridges, col
lectlng physical data, and reducing the
expenses of navigation. The operation of
the snag boats on the Upper Mississippi
should be placed on the same basis as the
canals now operated by the government.
From 1880 to 1882 $500, 40 has been ap-
prOprlated for this portion of the work.
Inc appropriation for improving the river
from st. Paul to Des MOines rapids has
usually been made in large lump sum.
the secretary OF war having the authority to
disburse it. The last bill made
SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS
for localities. Maj. Mackenzie objects to
this because points near town where thew
are often seen are by this plan liberaliy
taken care of, while points which are re-
mote from towns get little or no pro-
visions, though they may need it more
than the conspicuous places. On this part
OF the work S192, S72 was spent during the
last fiscal year. Forty-tive hundred dollars
was spent in dredging AIuscatine
harbOr, and no further trouble in
this harbOr is expected for several wears.
The last appropriation bill made provision
for the banks at WinOna, but as the banks
there are gently SlOping gravel beaches
there was nothing to preserve.
and no work was done. There
are fourteen bridges across the
upper Mississippi, and considerable labor
and expense has been involved in making
surveys and collecting facts and opin-
ions about the alterations and i'm
provements needed to make the bridges
less obstructive to navigation. Plans
nave been prepared for the
bridges at Hastings, Winona, La Crosse,
Dubuque, Clinton, Burlington Quincy, Han
nibal and Louisiana. 1t is to be hoped that
promptly. If they delay unnecessarily
the government will make the changes
at their expense. Maj. Mackenzie SAYS:
1.-The. works heretofore carried out have
continued to exercise favorable effect on
the low water
CHANNEL. OF THE RIVER,
and the results have been of great benefit
to the interests of navigation. The fact
has been demonstrated that as long as the
river can be navigated with certainty and
comparative ease freight rates will be
kept down to very low figure and it is
| believed that no legislation looking toward
! the regulation of freight rates is of more
Importance and will furnish more beneficial
results than such as will permit
the rapid continuation and completion
of the upper Mississippi" He recommends
larger appropriations as being cheaper in
the end and advises an appropriation of
81, 800, 900 for next year. This would
be little less than So. 600
mile for the portion of
the river he supervises. There has thus
far been spent between st. Paul and
Des MoineS rapids 81, 099, ,O77. The amount
available for further work on July IS, 1885,
was S75,972. The appropriations for work
from the DeS MOineS river to the mouth
of the Illinois river, beginning in 1878,
| amount to $500 The amount available
on July 1, 1885, was $4,324. The ice har-
| Dor at Duluth is
| PRACTICALLY COMPLETED.
During the past year no funds have been
available for work on the Rock Island rap
ids. The work is not quite completed.
The channel ought to be at least
400 feet wide and six feet deep.
| The care of the rapids should be put On
the same basis as the canal at Keokuk.
The total appropriations for this improve
ment from 1860 to 1881 aggregate 81, 1885,
$50. Nothing remains to be done in
the harbOr at Rock Island. In the
case of the Des Moines rapids, nothing
should be attempted under the present pro-
| ject till there is money enough to complete
the work without delay. But the plans
can be modified by the substitution of a
| floating boom instead of solid crib
pier, SO as to accomplish good results with
the money now available. The major asks
for $50, 900 to complete the dry dock at
Des MOines rapids. For the current fiscal
year there are no appropriations for rivers
/ and harbOrS.