Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-12-12
OUR WATER WAY.
Mai. Mackenzie's River Work
This Season.
A REVIEW OF WHAT WAS LONE.

! Plans for Next Year.
Capt. c. W Durham of Maj Mscken
zie's engineering corps has furnished the
press a review of the work done on the
Missi> sippi. within the jurisdiction OF
Msj Nacker zie between Minneapolis
and the mouth of the Missouri river,
during the past season.
What Maj Mackenzie is Striving For
The object of the improvements now
carried on is &C. secure channel Of
suitable width an from ~ to feet in
depth st extremc low water, and also TO
| remove such distractions as may exist in
the channel in the form of snags. wrecks,
|edgcs Of rock, powders, etc. During
the early part Of 1892 and up to August
the river continued at too high stage
for favorably conducting operations in
the field, so that the work accomplished
was less than commonly p rfoIm,d on
| account of the l4teness Of the season. A
! portion Of The work was carried on by
the government itself, using its own
| plant, purchasing material and hiring
! lahOr; and the remainder under contract.
The entire district was divided INTO a
number of sections, and each section was
placed in the hands OF a competent engi
neer, ri Mackenzie having an eve over
the whole work.
Between Minneapolis and St Paul
dredge work was done, the excavation
being piled on the cxrs,irg dams; and
3 large number of rocks and bpwlders
were removed.
Between ST. Paul and Lake Pepin
wing dams and shore protection works
were constructed in large extent.
From Reeds landing to Minnesota
shore protection AID dam work were
done, and. as above. surveys were
made.
Between Minaeiska snd Lacrosse
wing dams. shore work, closing dams
across chutes and similar work was
rgely done.
Between Bellevue AMI Savannah a
considerable number Of closing dams
we're built, cOnhuiug the river there to y
much narrower low stage channel than 1t
has previously followed.
The stretches embraced between
Krithsb.rz and Montrose. and the foot
Of the Des MONIES rapids and the mouth
81 the Missouri, we're treated in general
in the same ma0ner There were Varia
tons in all This work in the differen,
localities, of course.
The snsghost Gen Barnard put in 8
busy season. 1t pulled susgs, straight
ened I'd leaning trees that threatened to
fall into the water, cut others that could
not he saved in other ways, made surveys,
established gauges, and ran nearly 6 0OU
miles N doing all this.
The Rock Island Rapids
The lrk of improvement on the Rock
l~!anG rapids was delayed on account OF
the high water, and operations did no,
commence until Aug 5, and closed foI
the winter Nov. 20 The plant en-
ployed belongs to the United States, and
the work was done by the goEernm ent.
A steam drill boat was operated ,285
hours, and drilled 1924 lineral feet of
holes in the rock bottom.
The remainder of the rock patch at
Winnehago chain. left unfinished in
1901 roe b-oEen M hp b1ost;ou ood -,
rock removed by the dredge Ajax The
chief work OF the drill boat was at Mo,
line chain. where the contemplated iock
excavation was nearly completed.
The dredge Ajax operated SIS hours
removing the broken rock al Winnebsgo
and Moline chains, great number of
loose pieces Of rock and boulders at Duck
creek chain, and in clearing of loose rock
the pool at the foot of Duck Greek chain.
All the material thus obtained, amount
ing to 740 cubic yards, WAS put in
dams Nos 3, 81 and 10. and the trailing
dam at Benham's island. The Ajax also
removed she wreck of the Silas Wright, a
number Of cribs, and q large amount of
debris from the Moline water-power pool
In addition to the amount obtained nv
the dre'ge, 2 81 cubic yards of rock
were purchased, and this material was
also used in he dams above mentione+.
and in The slight rer airs made to the
guide piers.
A complete systrm of huovs for the
use Of navigation was kept up during the
season.
1t is proposed 10 1893 to continue the
rock excavation al several points on the
rapids. TO build few guide piers. and
continue the construction of dams in &C
cordsnce with approved project. The
Rock Island Rapids Improvement is in
locel charge of Superintendent J O. Nc
Elherne
For the Coming Season.
1t is propose in 1893 to continue The
WORK all alarc 'he riv r. as heretofore.
by US of the government plant. and also
to perform similar work by contract.
Nearly a. material vii be purchased by
contract.
CONTRACTS haze already been let for