The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-14
A TINE TO TEST.
The Benefit of River improvements
Plainly shown Now--strOng
Evideures

Evidences.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press contains the
following interesting article on the river
above Rock Island;
The present season affords an excellent
test of the value of improvements made
upon the Mississippi river. Its record
indicates most thoroughly and emphat-
ically the wisdom of river and harbor
work, and supplies sufficient answer to
those who charge that money thus appro-
priated is used to no purpose. We ven>
ture to say that IN no other part of the
country and upon no other stream can
there be found greater proved results
from the expenditure of the same amount
of money than are discoverable upon the
upper Mississippi. The protracted
drouth has produced the lowest stage of
water known for many years. At st,
Paul there is not more than eighteen
inches of water above the extreme low
water mark of 1864. A stage of two feet
might be thought to be fatal to naviga-
ton. But, with this usual marking, nav
igation goes on without let or inter-
ruption. Four years ago stage of three
or feet at st. Paul was the signal for
ceasing to attempt the navigation of the
upper Mississippi by the large packets of
the principal lines. They went no far
ther than Lacrosse, transferred their car
goes to little steamers, and these were
hauled and worried over the bars to st.
Paul. This summer, not only with a
~ IL II
stopped boats at Lacrosse, but with al
most phen0menally low water. depth
which, four years ago, would have left
no more than eighteen inches on the bars
in several places on the upper streams.
the boats go through regularly and
punctually. Great Steamers like the St.
Paul, of the White Collar, and the Pitts
burg, of the Diamond 10 lines, reach St
Paul without delay. The ouly trouble
reported is at Red Rock crossing, arising
not from lack of depth, but FROM the mar
rowness and Crookedness OF the channel
In this, the worst place on the river,
there is now three and half foot chan
mel.
Rivermen unite in congratulating
themselves upon the wonderful change
wrought and testify that there are now
actually more distractions to navigation
below Rock island than above AS re
suit, boats are doing more business,
bringing in more freight and passengers
on this low water than they did with a
higher stage last year at the same time.
Shippers know that boats will come
through and deliveries be made, and car
riers dare to complete definite contracts.
The credit for this improvement. which
has been made so marked aud prominent
by the shrinkage of the river, is due to the
intelligent work of the engineer depart
ment under Major Mackenzie. Liberal
Iy as the upper river has been treated in
| the river and harbor bills, the sum as
signed it has been so applied by the en-
gineer in charge. and the work under his
supervision has been so faithfully done as
to produce the results TO which we have
referred. If any one presumes to guess
ton the value of river improvements
hereafter, lie can be pointed to tue most
practical Of Illustrations in the changes
made IN upper Mississippi navigation
within the last few years.
Maj. Meigs, of Maj. Mckenzie's corps,
| and in charge of the government canal al
keokuk, has been interviewed by the
Gate CITY and from what he says, may be
obtained an idea of the condition of the
| river
BELOW ROCK ISLAND:
The prevailing low water in the Mis-