Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-19
MAI. MACKENZIE's FRIENDS.

They are spriuging up on all sides to
Refute the Charges OF the st. Paul
Chamber of Congress..-More strong
Testimony.
1t is very often the case that man
must be attacked before IL can beIknown
just how many his friends are. This is
not necessarily the case with Maj, Mac
kenzie. of this city. but the recent refec~
ton made upon his river work in St.
Paul has demonstrated well that he has
more staunch friends up and down this
great river than it usually falls the lot Of
one man to enjoy. They are bristling
about him from all directions ready to
take up the cudiel and STAY his assaliants
no matter who they may be or from
whence they come. The ARGUS last
night published the remarks of Capt.
Sam Van SAINT, the famous steamboat
man. in the majors defence. Now
comes still further expressions of indig-
nation from those who know the real
facts.
Supervising Inspector Hayes, when
asked by reporter if he had read the re-
port of the committee of the St. Paul
chamber. which contains the indirect
charges against Maj. Mackenzie, said:
"Yes. l have read it, and l think the
committee is away off. II is my duty to
visit every steamer that makes a landing
at the levee and make semi monthly re-
ports as to the condition of the bulls,
pumps, llfe>ssving apparatus, boilers,
etc. During the year there arrived at St.
Paul 81 different steamers, a greater
number than at any time since | became
superintendent. four years ago. The
report is right when it states that only
three steamers from St Louis reached
here after September 25; that is. of the
regular packet line. However. 40 land.
ings were made by other boats from
Hastings and points below, and many oil
these steamers were of greater draft than
the St. Louis packets. Up to September
% there was more tonnage landed at st
Paul than for years. During the sea.
son there were only five transfer of pass
engers and freight at Hastings, owing tc
the low water above that point. which
WAS due to the sediment carried down BY
the Mississippi make no account o
the numerous small craft 0ocal) that 4
constantly plying up and down the river
know nothing about the scheme sug
! gested BY Capt Bell, for the removal o
bars, but from the description given
should think the present system of win
dams would be equally as effective, sine
both depend more or less on the current
These dams are built on an angle o
b from rs TO 45 deg. up stream. On the en-
of each dam is what is called |, and tn
formation are such between the 7 and tn
I shore as TO form pocket of slack wateI
' where the heavier sediment will SETTLE
The light particles will follow around tn
end of the T. being carried by the carer
into the slack water, where it will settle
Mr.. J. H. Southa!l, of the United State
engineers office. upon being shown Il
II statement that There was as much o
'a struction during the season just closed
ever before" SAID;
l. Some Of the largest boats on the U
g. per river came to ST. Paul in Septemb
- and October. II one boat could ha
.. come through, hundred could ha
"a done so. Inc through packets MAJ
j. less frequent trips toward the close
the season, for the reason that busine
A did not warrant their coming often
The present navigators Of the upp
III Mississippi all bear testimony to d
al fact that the condition of the riy
ID; between St. Psul and the mouth of /
n. St Croix is better today than it has e'
" been. Capt Hays, United States sup
vising inspector of steam vessels. sta
ok that the uavigs tors of the river this yet
tai every one, declared the river from
q, Paul to Prescott much easier to navigs
than they have ever known it before
page os OF the Annual Report of
ID Chamber of Commerce" it is stated u
lit is the universal verdict of the ns
NJ gators familiar with old and new con-
=. lions that by the closing and wing da
uo between St Paul and Prescott that D
ne, ton of the river formerly almost imp
L. sible at low water has been made bet
than many stretches for hundreds of nj
below" In recommending the dev
proposed by Capt. Bell the committee
fer to the government system of impro
eS ment as "a confessed failure '-langus
To- entirely unwarranted-ss is the folio
he ing: 1--WE know the reluctance W
of which the officers of the ems ineer bur
-. consent to experiment with new device
'U What instances are known to the &C
mittee?"
ire The Davenport Democrat. Gazette IS
A' All the pilots and masters on the up
.es river are ready to affirm that the SIT
~ ments of the st Paul committee are vi
ECU out the leas. foundation in fact. BE
e' bers of the committee are interested
ms the patent, which they wish to sell to
'uu government.