Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-07-17
POOR PROSPECTS.
Hindrances to River Navigation Wit h
which Maj. Mackenzie Has to Con
rend-4uper Methods of ApprOpria-

HindrancFs 20 hiNer Navigation with
which Mai. Mackenzie Has to Con
rend-4ueer Methods of Appr0pria-
| tons.
What is being done with that 500 900
available. that the senate committee re-
ported as being in the hands of Mai
Mackenzie" a reporter asked Chief Clerk
Martin in the government engineers
office
Work that is absolutely necessary, >"
was the reply. For one thing dams are
being built near Fountain City to scour
out bar that is great hindrance to
navigation in low water when there is a
good stage above 1t and below it, Then
u survey is being made between Reeds
Landing and WinOns, for work which
must be done if the navigation of the
river is to be well maintained there.
am speaking of low water navigation, of
course, Then another survey is being
made from Muscatine to kelthsburg. as
there is much work to he done on that
stretch of the river. Suppose that, in
| ALL 80 to 90 men are employed in Major
Mcken2ie's jurisdiction of the improve
ment of the navigation of the Mississippi
river between the keOkuk canal and St.
Paul. That 500 600 is all the money we
have for the purpose"
There was noapHropriation last year,
either
NO but there was more than $3.50
900 available, because the appropria>
ton of the year before was made so
late in the season The work of per
mantnt Improvement was carried on by
DAYS labor between st Paul and Hast
ings, in the vicinity of Crooked Slough,
between Reeds Landing and Winona,
on these upper rapids, and between
otter island and Nauvoo. The section
of the river between St Paul and the
mouth of the St. CrOix is now well under
control, ana plans and estimates have
been prepared for completing work in
that vicinity. Such work with funds
available will, it is thoupht. occupy two
seasons The plans for the improved
river above the st CrOiX contemplate
channel 400 feet wide and SIX feet deep
at low water. The height of dams is
such a. 10 secure the securing effect of
the current AT four feet stage. The
width chosen is desirable for navigation,
hut II Is not certain that it can be main
tanned. Il Is anticipated that in portions
of that section and practically ils upper
end To secure and maintain the fun
DEPTH q further reduction of width NAV
ultimately be necessary. On sections Of
the river below 81. CroIX. to secure UNI
form work which eventually will be a
part of continued system probable chan
mel widths and general plans have been
fully considered, but no consecutive de,
tailed plans or estimates have been pre-
pared. Daring the calendar wear 1887.
1881 cubic yards of material were put
into dams and shore protection at cost
of $50 25o"
This method of intermittent appro.
priations Embellishments retard the ma
Ior's planning and working very much "
Certainly it does. He can't plan for
work more than year ahead-for when
year comes round congress NAV not
make an appropriation, or if ii does the bill
may be loaded with so many Jobs that
the president will, veto it. If congress
should pass the river and harbor bill to-
day, we couldn't get to work before the
first Of September, do our best. You see
there must be advertising for proposals
thirty days before the contracts can be
let, and then the contractors must get
ready. There ought to he reform in the
method OF river appropriations If CON
gress should appropriate million for the
work in Major Mackenzie's jurisdiction it
would enable him 10 60 ahead and accom-
pllsh much more than has been done on the
river before, because he could plan it and
prepare for it properly, knowing that
there would be no delay the next year, or
next three or four years, through delay
of appropriation or lack of funds
But there Is no prospect of change at
present. As to the river and harbor ap-
preparation bill now before congress,
agreements have been reached in respect
to all but the canal projects which are
embodied in the bill and in respect to
which neither side manifests disposition