Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-16
ROUGH NAVIGATING.
Can't Killeen of the Pittsburg Makes
Some Explanations.
WHY BOa Have Been so Long Laid
Up-Maj. Ruffners lnd,anatiOa
Over Ora ici.m OF Him.

The Diamond 10 has determined to
weather the storm and attempt TO run
boat on the upper Mississippi despite the
low water Notwithstanding that the
water is still at a desperately low stage,
the Lbbie Conger has been sent out of
St. Louis for the headwaters of naviga,
ton or as far up as she can get. The
boat is due at Rock Island Saturday,
Capt Lamont is informed providing she
can run the bar at Hickory Chute
No matter what reaso-s are given for
the present condition of things, the fact
remains that the navigation of the Mis-
souri, and upper Mississippi is practically
closed, and that too at what should be the
busiest aud most profitable season Of the
year, said the St Louis Posl-Dispstch
the other day.
In order that the real state of affairs
might be ascertained, a Post Dispatch
man made trip along the levee of the
great city at the foot of the upper river
navigation Agent Isaac LIsk, of the
Diam md 10 line, and Capt Killeen, of
the Diamond j. packet, Pitlsburg, stood
on the deck of the tied-up packet, sor-
rowfully gazing out over the muddy river.
Mr.. Lusk held in his hand b ellicose let
ter from Msj. Ruffner, United States
engineer eff GER in charge of the Missis,
sippi from the mouth of the Illinois to
Keokuk. The irate officer had written a
three page letter full of fight. because the
steamboat men had dared to criticise his
management of the river.
its just this way" said Capt. Killeen.
"We never before have had so much
trouble and never before had to shut
down at this season of the year. From
St Paul to ST. Louis is 500 miles and all
the trouble is experienced on the stretch
of river ZIG miles long, in charge OF Maj
Ruffner. Above Keokuk Maj. Macken>
ze has charge and the river is nsvIgable
for the entire distance to st. Paul. For
merly Mai Mackenzie had charge of the
entire distance. He is the OILY man who
ever understood the upper Mississippi.
If he has not enough money on hand to
enable him to build wing dams he sends
out his dredges Now you can't keep
Mississippi channe! in one place, of
course. 1t may be here today and on
the other side of the river tomorrow.
But by using the dredges you can keep
navigation open. Major Mackenzie has
gone to no end Of trouble to help the
steamboat men. He leaves blank printed
postals with us and whenever we notice
a new snsg or find a channel filling up
we drop him the postal from the first
landing place and he at once sends out
and removes the obstruction. If packet
gets on bar and can't get off, the majors
men always stand ready to lend helping
hand.
Now, eyer since the high water we
have had trouble between keokuk and
the Illinois. Major R0ffner is an invinc>
ible officer, indispensable and strong
wil'ed. 1t is of no use to try 10 tell him
anything ard the steamboat men have
learned that it is cheaper TO tie up
and shut down than TO try to do
ANYTHING with him. When we
complained TO the papers the
other day he got mad and charges us in
this letter with attacking him through the
press. Why, bless your soul. we do not
want TO reflect upon Major Ruffner. but
we can't help Bat feel that an engineering
officer ought to do 81 in his power rather
than force packet lines to tie up at their
landings
The stretch of river from here up to
tie Illinois is in fair condition. barring
the bar at Hickory Chute. Maj. Miller
has charge here, and he always helps US
al he can. We are anxious to resume
our trips to 81. Paul. Why. we had to
send over hundred passengers with re
turn coupons oyer our line back home by
rail this week. There are several hun
dred people in the north now who are
waiting to come home on our boats, and
if we can't get through they will have to
60 by rail Then, added TO this. there is
large amount of freight waiting for.
warding, ard our float here is piled up TO
tine rOOf with detained freiuht -