Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-23
TIE RIVER.
Mai. Mackenzie Pleased With the
Recommended Appropriations.
a New style Water craft TO be Built
Drop Keel ard be DANDY.

Drop Keel ard be DANDY.
The Mississippi appropriations as
recommended by the committee, said
Maj. Mackenzie in reply to a question
from an ARGUS reporter this morning as
to how he was i'm pressed with the report
of the river and harbor committee, zap
proximately speaking double up what we
have been accustomed to having for the
upper river. The congress of so gave us
$500, 600. Two years before that we
had 5000, 000-that is for the river from
St Paul to the month of the Des Moines
river. This year see we have $500. 600
from the mouth of The Missouri to St. Paul,
which. taking out the part from the mouth
of the Des Moines TO the mouth of the
Missouri as we would spportion it $780,
O0C, caves with $500, coo year or ST.
000, 900 in two years if the bill with its
provisions Of regular stipulation for river
improvements passes, and hope and be-
lieve it will. This would enable US not
only to work more systematically as we
could look ahead and properly estimate
our improvements with the allowances
forthcoming. and the river as conse>
quence would show the benefits. In
short our improvements would be of a
more enduring character, and 1 am sure
would be more satisfactory to myself and
all interested in the betterment OF the
Mississippi"
ANEW KIND OF BOAT.
The Mississippi River and Ocean Navi
CATION company is St. Louis concern
which controls the patents on the Lucas
adjustable or drop keel boat. The Lucas
boat is designed 70 navigate in both shall
low and deep waters. As described by
the inventor this new idea In ship-build-
ing consists essentially Of an adjustable
or drop keel. When in actual use the
drop keel is suspended and made to as
cend between the two hulls. Tie upper
; part of the drop keel is held firmly in
place by strong steel braces constructed
along the entire length of the inner sides
Of the two bulls The mechanism for
raising and lowering this keel will be
mounted in conn ection with the engine
shaft of the vessel. The keel may be
lowered at will any distance equal to the
double immersion of the ship. From the
bow TO point over the forward end
of the drop keel the ship is 10 be
built solid with water tight compart-
ments. From this point to the stern,
in order to admit OF the free working
Of the keel, the null will be built in two
parts. Twin screws, one in each of the
bulls will prcpel the boat The engine
and machinery throughout will be of spec
cial design and embody number of the
inventors original ideas. The use of the
keel is this When navigating river,
where a light draft is essential, the keel
will be raised: when the ship has to
weather high rolling seas, all required
stability is secured by its immersion.
With the movable keel down to its full
extent the ship will have all the steadi>
ness of vessels of the deepest draught.
The Lucas ship is designed for trade
between the Mississippi valley aud the
republics of South America. 1t will
transfer our farm and factory products
direct to the southern continent and in
return deliver its coffee, rubber, fruits
I'd other exports to the docks along the
Mississippi. Thus the great bulk Of the
trade of the South American countries
which now goes to Europe will be diverted
to the United States where it naturally
belongs.
The first.vessel of this type will be
built by the Iowa Iron works OF Du>
buoue. The work of construction will
be completed in the spring of 1893 when
the water will be high enough to admit
of her reaching st. Louis. This vessel
will be called the st. Louis" and will
cost 100000. She will be about 800
feet long and 81 to 50 feet beam, and will
be built entirely of steel. She will have
displacement Of 8 200 tons. three times
that of the Pittsburgh Of the Diamond
Jo line, the largest steamer running be-
tween St. Louis and st Paul. She will
carry the weight of 10000 bushels Of
wheat on five feet of water.
The St. Louis will have single bow.
Aft she will be IwinDed. She will have
two separate sterrs, each carrying ruds
der and screw. There will be triple ex
psnsion engine for each screw, SO that if
one becomes disabled half the power at
laaSt will renal