St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-19

over 425 miles of river below Grand
Rapids. 70 complete the whole system
will cost S1,094.5S3. The amount estl-
mated to complete the work on the Chip
pewa river as planned is S105,737.
In the ST. CrOiX river operations were
confined to dredging on the shallow bars
above Hudson bridge. The condition
of the river now is four feet in extreme
low water, from the Mississippi to the
head of Lake st. CrOiX, and two feet to
the head of nav igation. The amount
required to complete the entire improve
ment is $40, 200.
Nothing has been done on the Mime
sofa river, although there Is about Si0.-
00O on hand for its improvement.
On the Red River of the North the
dredging fleets have been repaired and
work has been begun on the channel
between Grand Forks and the boundary.
The sum of So, j9S will be needed to
complete the work.
The work of improvement upon the
upper Mississippi has progressed very
fairly during tie past year. The appro-
priation in the last river and harbor bill
for two years was 100000, $4,000 OF
which was to be expended between st.
Paul and Minneapolis. The general
work of improvement has consisted of
dredging and snagging and improving
the channel and steamboat landings at
various points.
An amount of S1,5O0,OOO for the en-
tire river is deemed practicable for the
ensuing year. Considerable work has
been done between st. Paul and Pres
colt, Sl7,545 being expended on that
portion of the river in 1890.
As to the commerce of the river, the
amount of freight carried on all the
boats and barges in 1880 was about 1885,
O23 tons, and the number of passengers.
124, 542.
Between st. Paul and Minneapolis
Seventy-six boulders and FIVE pieces of
ledge rock have been removed from the
channel. The work of removing snags
and building reVetments is under con-
tract. While the lower portion of this
stretch of the river may be made as
favorable for navigation as the river be-
low st. Paul. the upper portion and rap
ids can only be radically improved by
the construction of locks and dams. Of
the $4,000 appropriated So, 147.99 has
been expended between Minneapolis
and the Omaha bridge, on eleven miles
of river.
In regard to the serious question of
the obstruction of the river by refuse,
the report says: 1.-THE quantity of mill
refuse dumped into the river at Min
neapolis has greatly diminished. but
there are yet large amounts going in
throughout the year. The quantity of
city refuse and garbage deposited in the
river is on the increase since the city
crematOrium was abandoned. All the
garbage and other refuse collected from
this city has been deposited in the river.
This city refuse proves not only men
ace to the health of large community
along the river, but also helps to form
Instructions to navigation, at least as
far as Prescott. Wis, forty-fOur miles
below Minneapolis. In the interest of
navigation and health of steambOatmen
and all river Improvements, it cannot be
too strongly urged that deposits OF re-
fuse of all kinds should cease. Moreover.
it cannot be expected that the river be-
tween Minneapolis and st. Paul can be
permanently improved so long as de-
posts continue"
The reporC says that the river between
the Omaha bridge and Minnehaha creek
can be improved as the lower river has
been, but above that point the swift
current necessitateS some slack water
improvements.