Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-15
FOR THE UPPER RIVER.
Secretary Of War Lsmont's Reeommen-
dations for Its Inpeove0sat.

fO6 TIE OFeeN NUveN.
Secretary Of War Lannon'S Recommeu-
aations for Its Inpeove0sat.
Secretary of War D. S. Lamont in
his annual report tc congress OF
upper Mississippi river improve
ments such as have for years been
carried ON from this city, first under
Col. Mackenzie and now under Col.
King. recommends an appropriation
Of 1867 900 for the Improvement of
the Mississippi river between the
mouth of the Missouri and Minne-
apolis. He says:
LAT the beginning of the fiscal
year there was available for i'm prove
ment work between the limits men.
toned. under acts of Sept. l9. 1890.
aud March 3. 1898. the sum Of ti4O..
QSl 81, to which was added by act
Of Aug. Is. 1894. $500. 666. CO, max ing
a total of $l,007. 60O.SS. Under this
head is carried on the Improvement
of thorough navigation. Work has
been in progress under approved
project since 1873, aud very favor
able results have been secured, show.
ing that by q continuance OF the
work under the liberal appropriations
the low water channel Of the Mis-
souri, river can be made compare
lively deep. available and perma-
nent. The interests for which the
improvement is being made are very
large and important. The amount
Of freight carried during 1894, in
Guiding the logs and lumber floated
in the river. aggregated approx
mately 2.975.OOO tons.
The original condition of the
channel between the Missouri river
and st. Paul was such that in low
stages the larger boats were unable
to proceed further up the river than
La Crosse or Winona. and in many
seasons at points much lower down
their progress was checked or seri.
ously hindered. In all such cases
through freight was reshipped on
small and light draft boats OF
barges. The originally adopted pro.
ject for the improvement. which has
not been materially changed. pro.
posed the contraction Of the channel
or waterway by means of wing and
closing dams to such an extent as, by
means Of the scour thereby caused
to afford channel of sufficient width
and of a depth of AS feet at low
water. to be eventually increased six
feet by further contraction.
TheAggregate Expenditure.
There was expended on the perma.
nent improvement of through navi.
CATION to June 80. 1894, the sum OF
"a, 1856, 1876 or $6,SS5.57 per mile.
At that date and for several years
previous the condition of the chan.
mel was such as not to per-
nit the passage of the largest
boats at verp low stages through to
St Paul.
The secretary also shows that
during the year the Des Moines
Rapids canal was open for naviga-
ton 251 days. during which time
there passed through it COG steam.
boats and $40 barges. carrying a..
al passengers. 22.034.5OO tons OF
merchandise and IS, bushels OF
grain. There also passed through
this canal 155, 628, 500 feet Il. NJ. OF
Der. 29.545,91O feet Of logs, S.
go, 254 shingles and S., O6i, 93S laths.
AS has heretofore been stated the
amount recommended is for two
years, and it takes the appropriation
back to congress direct, whereas it has
been carried in the sundry civil bill,
and has amounted to $500. G67 to.
, gether with $25. O09 annual allow.
ance for the maintenance of the snag
boat Gen. Barnard. While the sec
rotary o; war has shown q realization
of the importance of the river i'm
provement it is to be regretted that
the work could not be continued un,
der the operation OF the sundry
bill. where it becomes q distinct auC
separate item and is provided for &C
cordingly.