St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-22
THE FATHER OF WATERS.
Practical Men Before the Chamber Of
Commerce.
AN ENGINEERS OPINIONS
improvements Noted in the Missis.
sippi's Channel Are Works Of
Skillful Scientists. Sc

The chamber of commerce committee
on Mississippi river improvements met
Maj. Mckenzie, the United States army
engineer, at the chamber at 4 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. There were about
twenty-five gentlemen present. among
whom were Russell Blakeley. w. r.
Murray, H. f. Stevens, Capt. Castle,
Capt. Bell, Nathan Ford, Maj. Nc
KenZie, q. S. A.; Mr.. Dickey. manager
OF the Diamond 10 line at Dubuque:
Capt. Hayes. Mr.. Delaney and Secre-
tary A. s. Tallmadge. The discussion
was wholly informal, and in addition to
Maj. Mckenzie several river men were
called upon and substantiated the state
ments of the engineer. Maj. Mckenzie
gave a statement of the work performed
by the engineer corps, dates OF appro-
priations. and general review OF the
present condition of the river. French
mans bar has hitherto been the cause
for impeding navigation said he, ''but
since the channel has been cut through,
this difficulty has been obviated."
Mr.. Dickey, manager of the Diamond
10 line, of Dubuque, stated what had
been done and was proposed regarding
the improvement of the river. He read
paper in which it was declared that
the adoption of the proposed resolution
of the chamber of commerce would
operate against future improvements.
Ninety-nine per cent of the practical
STEAIBOATMEN OF THE NORTHWEST
are pleased with the Improvements, and
desire their continuance. STATISTICS
were cited showing that steamboating
was possible on the upper river, and
that freight had been transferred at
points down the river for economical
reasons.
Capt. Hays, supervising inspector of
steam vessels, was invited to address
the committee, During the past year
there have been IS, 764 people landed On
the levee." said he, land since sept.
26 but three ST. Louis steamers arrived,
although forty-twO made trips between
st. Paul and the mouth of the st, CroiX
river. Six hundred and thirty-hve
swings of the draw-bridge were made
for the passage OF vessels. ana the
steamer Musser, which is heavier than
any boat owned by the st. Louis Packet
company, made thirteen trips since
Sept. 26, having on each occasion from
SOC. 600 to 500. 900 feet of lumber in tow"
In conclusion he stated that number
of river men of Saltwater intended to
present petition to the committee ask
ing them to discontinue the present at
tack.
This statement called forth consider
able discussion, and the committee took
the stand, through its chairman, that it
had never intended to criticise the en-
gineer corps, but rather to cooperate
with them: an erroneous impression OF
the committees aim had been dissent
mated by an editorial which had APP
peared recently in amorning paper.
Mr.. Delaney, of the st. Louis Packet
company, substantiated. the testimony
of Messrs. Dickey and Hays. 1--WE sim
ply knew that there had been more Sc
rlous trouble with the river this year
than heretofore" replied the chairman,
'.and each of us has some slight per-
sonal knowledge on the subject. We
wish to make Investigation on the sub
ject, and contemplate no radical
changes"
Russell Blakely concluded the after
moons meeting with short talk, In
which he thought the committee was to
be congratulated. They would now OBJ
tain the information which they had so
long desired.