The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-21
MAKING PREPARATIONS.
River Improvements in Charge OF Ma.
j0r Observation-Disclosures for
Work and Material.

Msj. Mackenzie and the corps of en-
gineers under him are waiting impatiently
for the river to open SO that operations
can be begun upon the improvements
commenced, but not yet completed. But
limited amount of work can be done
this summer unless a SPECIAL session of
congress is held and new appropriations
made. The defeat of the river and har,
hoT bill leaves this district with only such
funds as remain unspent from last years
appropriations. This will not allow of
any new work being commenced, but il
will he used, as far as it goes, in CONS
pletlng the improvements now under way
Nearly all of the work to be done is in the
| neighbcrhood of St. Paul. Above Du>
buque some rip rapping is to be done, and
also between Rock Island and Montrose.
Major Mackenzie has just opened and
accepted bids for various bargcs, dump
boats and material to be used in this
work, There were fourteen proposals for
the construction of six flat boats for use
between st. Paul and the Des MONIES
rapids, The lowest bid was 1900, that
| of Thomas G. sherwood, of lie Claire
1t was accepted. The next to the lowest
was $500, by Van SAINT & Edwards, of
lie Claire. Kahlke Bros, Of this city,
put in bid of SO, 800
For dredgingin the mississippi river at
St. Paul, Mimi, there were numerous
bids, that of Charles Appleton, of Quincy,
being accepted. His figures were, IS:
cents per cubic yard for dredging and re-
moving material, and depositing the same
at distance not to exceed three miles
A. j. Whitney was close to him with a
bid of II cents per cubic yard.
Proposals for furnishing 10000 cubic
yards of rip rap rock and delivering the
same on the bank of the river between
Rock Island, H., and Montrose, Iowa.
Patterson Bros, of Nauvoo, made bid
of Ash cents per cubic yard, to be deliver
ed at Nauvoo, and it has been accepted.
There were nine bids for the construc>
ton of six dump boats for use in the i'm
provement of the upper Mississippi. NJ
Van Hine, Of lie Claire, offered to make
them for SS,340 without chains, and a
contract was entered into with him to
make them. They are to be delivered at
lie Claire
Two bids OF the same amount were the
lowest for furnishing brush and poles and
delivering the same on United States
barges between St. Paul ana Hastings,
MINI. One was by A H. Truax, of
Hastings, who wanted 81 cents per
cubic yard for furnishing 5000 cubic
yards of brush and 3! cents per
pole for furnishing 5000 poles
| The whole amount for both being 81,
$50. Mr.. George Robinson, of Still
water Mimi, offered to furnish the brush
for half cent more per cubic yard, or
344 cents, and the poles for half a cent
less less per pole, or 8 cents per pole,
amounting for both TO 50, ESQ No de-
cision has been reached as to which of
these will be accepted.
A. II. Trusx, of Hastings, made the
lowest bid for furnishing 6,000 cubic
yards of rip rap rock and the same at
United States barges between st. Paul
and Hastings, MINI, but the place he
names for delivery is so far from the place
the material is to be used, that it has not
been decided whether to give it TO him OF
another bidder at a higher figure but
nearer the work
OF six bids for furnishing 10000 cuhic
yards Of rip rap rock. and delivering the
same on the bank of the river between
Lansing and Dubuque, Albert Warren
made the lowest bid. He gave four diff
ferent figures, 60, 81, 20 and 65 cents per
yard, according to the place of delivery
The next higher bid was by Thomas
FINE. All of these bids were considered
excessive by Maj Mackenzie and were re
Ijected. He says that rip rap has been fur.
nished IN that territory for 40 cents
| Church Contract