St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-16

dSG VI tuc tihSI anu HdlooI Uiu' mug. d,
1856. In that bill the appropriations for
this section of the river were as follows:
Improving Mississippi river from st.
Paul to Des Moines rapids. $751;. 500
HarbOr of Refuge at Lake City....... 10000
Improving Des Mones rapids. 26,250
Dry dock at Des MOines rapids canal. As, $50
Operations of snagboats.... .....-... 1880
Subsequent to the passage of the bill and
before work could be commenced projects
had to be submitted and approved, so that
it was well along in September before oper-
atoms were fairly under way.
BETWEEN ST. PAUL AND HASTINGS.
The most troublesome places to naviga-
ton between st. Paul and Hastings during
the year were at Red Rock and Merrimac,
where the channel had changed to the
banks opposite these places. Work was be-
gun opposite Red Rock late in August. By
the construction of three dams a channel
was formed down the Red Rock side. These
dams were so located as to permit boats to
use the existing channel while a new one
was being cut out by the action of the river
thus securing navigation through to st.
Paul without interruption during the period
OF lowest water which has occurred since
1879. A channel was formed with depth
of water of four and one-half feet at a
two-foot stage, where, at the begin
ming of work, a bar existed with less than
eighteen inches Of water over it.
At Merrimac a plan of operations similar
to that at Red Rock was followed. and
similar result was produced. Work at this
point was begun at the time the Plttsburg,
the largest of the Diamond 10 line Of steam
ers and the st. Paul, one of the largest of
the st. Paul and st. Louis Packet company,
started from st. Paul on excursion trips to
the st. Louis cOnclave of the Knights
Templar On the return of
these steamers. twelve days later.
they avaled themselves of the
new channel, which had resulted from the
construction of two dams, and passed up
without experiencing any trouble. A6-
dtional works. consisting of three dams.
in continuation of the series. were put in
at Merrimac to confne the channel to the
right bank of the river. At the upper end
of the ledge, on the right bank. there was
removed by blasting point of rocks 200
feet long, which had always proved dan
gerOus to navigation.
The next point OF operation was at New
port. where five dams were built opposite
tie town. The left bank below the land
ing was protected.
In addition to the above mentioned
works. shore projections were built on the
left bank below Merrimac and at the foot
of Grey Cloud island. The repair work
consisted in raising the dam at Red Rock.
built in 1884, and in adding some rip rap
rock to the shore protection above the
-ET i'll hill
high water of 1882.
There were constructed during the short
working season thirteen dams. aggregating
length of 4.S15 feet, and three pieces of
shore protection, of total length of 3,640
feet. In the construction of these works
there were used 200 cubic yards Of rock
6. 900 feet of piling, and 9. 100 feet Of lum-
Der. Work was finished Nov. 10th. the
plant was laid up in winter quarters the
18th, and the river closed with ice from st.
Paul to Hastings the 18th.
AT CROOKED SLOUGH.
For several years the channels at Crooked
slough had become more and more crooked
and shallow, and for the past two seasons
tbs locality was the most difficult of navi
sa.iOn of any on the river between Lake
Pepn and st. Louis. The trouble seemed
to be caused by the diversion of the waters
of the river into several branches, in none
of which was there sufficient water in depth
for the purpose of navigation. 1t was pro-
posed to close the western channel, called
Harper'S slough, and also several side
chuteS in Crooked slough, as well as to pro-
tect the shores in the bends. The greater
part OF this work was carried out; and it is
believed that with the necessary incidental
repairs and some small additions to the
works in the slough the improvement will
be complete. There are two shallow cross
ingS in the river between the head Of
Crooked slough and Lansing, the improve
ment of which may neceSSitate the closing
of Capol and Ferryville sloughs and several
other smaller ones making out of
the river on the left between
DeSoto and Heytman's; but the
improvement of the crossings mentioned
may result from the works already built
below, in which event the closing of the
slOughs named will not be undertaken. AT
all events. the Winneshek, which follows
the bluffs from DeSotO to Lynxville. and
affords a high water channel. can be left
open.
So soon as funds became available the
Gen. Barnard, assisted by t0wbOat Fury
and steam launches Louise and Stella. with
seventeen bargeS, started flom Keokuk for
Crooked slough. On arrival at that point.
the Fury was sent on to st. Paul, to work
in that vicinity: the Barnard was laid up,
and the launches were put in commission
bringing material to the works. Operations
were begun about Sept. 1 and closed Oct.
81, resulting in the construction Of five
dams. of total length of 1,2S6 feet and
IL, IF
eating in length 9, 125 feet. The cost of
the work was about S25, 900, and the num-
Der of yards of material put in: Rock.
II, 303 cubic yards; brush, 1854 cubic
yards.
THE DUCK CREEK CHAIN.
The work of removing rock from the
channel at Duck Greek chain of the Rock
Island rapids was successfully prosecuted.
There being several large patches of rock
above grade at the upper end of the cut at
Duck creek. chisel boat and dredge were
set at work in October and continued
operations until Nov. 20, and AS cubic
yards of solid rock and $50 cubic yards of
loose rock were removed, at a cost of some
81, 600. There remain to be broken up and
taken away several other patches at differ
ent parts of the chain, as well as conSidera-
bic solid and loose rock at St. Louis
Campbelfs and Moline chains. A system
of buoys twenty-sX in number. was kept
up on the rapids. 1t is hoped the coming
season to enlarge and better this service.
REMOVING BAR OPPOSITE DUBUQUE.
The United States dredge Phoenix and
dumps were employed at this work during
May, June and portion of July. The
principal part of the dredging was done
abreast of the levee. above the mouth of
the ice harbor, but considerable work was
performed near the wharf boats, and on
the lower end of the mid-river bar. The
number of cubic yards of material dredged
and removed was 41.O37, of which 6,674
cubic yards were deposited in the basin at
New Rarney cut- and the remainder on the