The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-11

continually bringing hntlcs oil SAND INTO
the Mississippi the bars are very numerous
and the crossings very shallow. For
many years the Beef Slough river was
the head of navigation at low water for
even the lighter craft and was very
troublesome, particularly to the lumber
| interest,
Improvements, consisting of wing and
closing dams ana shore protection. were
begun in 1873, and have been carried on
unit! the present time. In 1888, II very
low water season, there were not less than
4 feet on any bar in this stretch OF river,
where formerly, often for weeks at u
time, the maximum depths on several
reefs did not exceed 80 inches to 3 feet
At Mount Vernon bar IA very ba OBJ
siruction below Mlnneska-one of the
most successful of work yet attempted
being entirely eradicated by the building
of six dams.
Work has been carried on at Rolling
stone Bars for several seasons, and The
Improvement is nearly completed In
1877 these bars, 115 miles below St. Paul,
were. for time the head of navigation.
The Betsy Slough bar, 100 miles from
St. Paul. was very troublesome for sev>
eral years, but was thoroughly improved
in 1878 and 1879, the low water depth on
its crest being increased from 80 inches
to feet.
/ Above WinOna very shallow crossing,
on which boats were continually aground
in 1878 and 1879 Was improved in 1880,
and the depth permanently increased from
80 inches to to feet at low water.
The long and shallow crossing at
Queens Bluff, very troublesome at low
water, was improved in 1878, and the
depth increased from 3 to feet.
The work near La Crosse consisting OF
} several closing dams and about miles OF
shore protection, has resulted in the
marked Improvement of the river between
the head of Minnesota Island and Root
river, a distance of . miles.
A bad obstruction at the foot of Cuss>
vile slough, 2GO miles from St. Paul, ioI
several years the head Of navigation for
all but lighter craft, has been entirely
: eradlcated, the water on the crest having
been deepened from 3 to 8 feet.
Bellevue bar, 31I miles below st. PAM
was very bad for several years in success
sion, and often prevented boats from gO>
: ing higher up stream. In 1873 the eastern
{ chute was closed, and since then nc
trouble has been experienced.
The crossing below keithsburg was
= uuch obstructed by powders, clay and
gravel. These We're removed by dredge in
1879 and 1880.
= At Rush Chute and siIokokon Slough
: in the vicinity of Burlington, Iowa much
work has been done, although the improve
+ ments have not approached completion
5 the closing of Shokokon Slough in 1885
, proved very beneficial in increasing the
depth of water on several bad bars below
Burlington.
2 III addition to the cases above cited
L works for impi ovcment have been com
: pleted, or are in process of construction
at various points, among which may be
! mentioned Redwing West Newton ISL
and, Chimney Rock, Guttenburg, Dallas
: Fort Madison, and Montrosc
All completed works have given goot
= results.
e The total amount thus fan appropriated
y for improvements to general navigation
; between st, Paul and Des AEoines Rapids
G Il distance of 80 miles, aggregate 81,
| 200, coo.
FROM DIES MONIES RAPIDS TO u1INol
RIVER.
q This stretch of river, 173 miles il
= length, does not present as many pointt
of INSTRUCTED navigation US the section
/. above, but, owing to the greater average
: width and depth and the liability Of it
e banks to abrasion, the works are far more
+ extensive and costly.
q The works at the Warsaw crossing
t Just below the mouth of Des Moines riv,
er, were begun in 1880 and completed r
: 1881, ctfecting n thorough improvement