The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-05
MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF
THE MISSISSIPPI.
REPORT OF THE ENGINEER.
LATE NAVIGATION ON THE LAKES
CAUSES A RUSH OF GRAIN
CARGOES.
Ex. GOV. LOUIS *. CHURCH DEAD.
Former Executive of Dakota Elk
pires in AInska-Nevs of the
Northwest.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe
WINONA, Mimi, Dec. 4.-Capt. w.
A. Thompson, assistant engineer di
recting the work of improvement on
the upper Mississippi river, in response
to a request furnishes the following
report-the first made this year, per-
tanning to the river improvement work
between the head of Lake Pepin and
Prairie du Chem, during the present
year:
Operations were much retarded during
the earlier part OF the season on account of
high water and the difficulties attending the
delivery Of material required in the prosecu-
ton OF the work. Improvement works, for the
purpose of preventing further erosion of the
banks, deepening the channel and confin-
ing the water to the 500 foot channel limit
were carried on during the in Lake
Pepin and in the vicinity of Wabasha, Alma
Fountain City. Wnona, Trempealeau, Da-
kota La Crosse. Brownsville, Coon Slough
and Genoa.
The construction Of the pier or harbor
of refuse in Lake Pepin, at Kings Coolie
midway between Lake City and Reads Land
ing, commenced in 1896 was continued. This
pier is being built to height of u feet above
low water mark of 1864 in water ranging from
80 to 80 feet in depth. Five hundred feet
OF the pier have been completed and an ad-
ditional 100 feet have been built to the water
surface. There has been used in the cOnstruc-
ton OF this breakwater 104 COG cubic yards
gravel, SIT cubic yards OF rock and 13. 307
cubic yards; total amount expended to date,
s23. 900
THE following work was performed under
contract with Fetter Il Crosby, of La Crosse
between Reeds Landing and Trempealeau
Four wing dams, having a total length of
1900 feet were built from the Wisconsin
shore opposite and above Gratis island below
Wabasha. One lateral dam $40 feet long
and wing dam $50 feet long were built from
the Wisconsin shore above Tee-pee-Ota Point
Three wing dams, aggregatlng 3,OS5 feet in
hitiIt from
below Grand Encampment island Two wing
dams, having a total length of 100 feet, were
built from Island No. 49, opposite Alma. Two
wing dams $50 feet long were built from the
Wisconsin shore above Fountain City. Two old
dams above Fountain City were repaired.
raised and extended 1880 feet. Total lineal
feet of dams built under contract II S65. To-
tai amount of material used: rock, Is, 224 cubic
yards; brush, 66,9l5 cubic yards; grand total,
S5169 cubic yards. Total cost of work.
$27. 800"
Dams and shore projections were built
by hired labor and use of government plant
/ in the following localities: The system Of
dams opposite and above Richmond island,
requiring the extension of three wing dams
and the construction of five others. was COM
pleted. The series of dams opposite Pacayune
| island. below La Crosse was raised and eX-
tended. Shore projections were built as fol-
lows: Richmond island, 400 feet Island No.
SO, 700 feet; Broken Arrow island, 5000 feet
Minnesota shore below Root river, $500 feet
Coon Slough. 5,3l5; Island No. 126, below
Genoa, liO feet In ADDITION to TINS, repairs
were made to dams in vicinity of Winona,
Trempealeau, Dakota, La Crosse and Genoa.
| Total lineal feet of dams built and repaired.
by hired labor, $3.50. Total lineal feet of
shore protection built and repaired, by hired
labor, 1855. Total amount of material used :
Rock. 81 275 cubic yards; brush, 1908 cubic
yards, grand total, 49,, 1913 cubic yards. Total
cost of work about $65, 500
The work in the above named localities
are of a permanent character and the re-
suits obtained have been most satisfactory.
An exceptionally good stage o: water pre-
vailed during the entire season. and very
lttt: trouble was experienced by navigators
in this section of the river.