The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-09

closed from June 81 to the latter part of
July, and another is said to be now closed
in another stream. When the volume
of water fell last month from 600
cubic feet to less than 100, some
of the dams were reported as
closed, and the statement comes that
dams on the st. Croix and tributaries are
now closed in order to collect water TO be
eventually released to remove stranded
logs. The great importance of the log
| ging business must be conceded by every
body, but the storage of water can un-
doubtedly be managed so as to reduce
the Inconvenience TO steamboat and barge
navigation during the seasons of drouth
resulting from the present method of
operating the logging dams Every 100
cubic feet of water per second flowing
steadily past St Paul ought to, at the
present low rate of water, raise the water
surface or increase the depth at this par.
ticular point about one inch. As the stage
of water increases the effect of 100 feet
is, OF course, less appreciable at the
gauge, but all increase of 1000 feet per
second at present ought to affect the
water surface at St Paul not less than
fifteen inches, probably more, 1t is ex.
pected to increase the volume from the
reservoirs in about ten days, but unless
there are rains soon TO swell the tributar-
les. there will be but little else than RESI-
ervoir water runnig above st. Paul.
This report is accompanied hy a de.
tailed history of
THE ROCK ISLAND IMPROVEMENT
by Assistant Engineer c. W. Durham,
filling 12S pages of legal cap manuscript
OF the Des Moines rapids canal Mai.
Mackenzie says:
The work remaining to be done consists
of small amount of blasting and dredg-
ing in the channel above Nashville. rais>
ing lock walls four feet at the lower and
middle locks, reilling and completing
facing of canal entertainments, building
two sluices for removing sediment, build
ing office at lower lock and completing
lock grounds. The estimate cost of the
above work is S91, 745 To this must be
added $4,000 for pier connecting the
lNu x-nff r.
keokuk bridge. 1t IS very desirable that
the work be completed, AS that will effect
a reduction in the expenses of operating
the Des Moines rapids canal
In the place of permanent pier con
meeting the canal wall with the Keokuk
bridge Maj. Mackenzie recommends float
| ing boom that would not cost more than
fourth as much as the pier The total
expenditures on this work from 1886 to
June 80, 1856 amounts TO 81, 491 200.
| There is balance or hand of $4,000.
| The total cost of operating the canal has
| been 1850, 497. The total cost of operating
the canal has been 1850, 497. The cost of
completing the modified project Will be
Sl01, 745. The DeS Moines rapids canal
was open Tor navigation during the past
year, 23S days, during which time there
passed through it 7S4 steamers and 2lS
barges, carrying %, POI passengers, Sc.
00l tons merchandise, 465, GS1 bushels of
grain. %, 100 ,S93 feet of lumber. S,l95,.
500 feet of logs, S.253,000 shingles, and
4.302 500 lath. A favorable stage of
water in the spring of 1886 permitted
many boats and most of the RATS to go
over the rapids outside the canal Ar
rangements for lighting the middle lock
with electricity will be made during the
coming year. There is required to COM
plete the Des Moines canal dry~doek. ac>
cordng to the original project, $65, 900,
and in the interest of economical con
struction this amount should be made
available III an appropriation. Delays or
reductions of the amount givea will re
suit in an increased total cost. The large
| plant owned by the United States in cons
| nection with river improvement and the
entire commerce of the upper Mississippi
are liable to be benefited hy this improve.
mCnt