Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-22
Substantial :Levee Will Not
Come Until Started.
SHOULD BEGIN IT THIS YEAR.
An Enterprise That Warrants
Sacrifice in Other Ways.
Davenport and Other Cities
Are Going Ahead.

W PIOvlOCu 40 0b0I b0Os 4U
make beginning seems to be the
most difficult part OF the undertak-
ing, and it 10 the more so because Of
the half hearted way that some OF
the aldermen approach tho matter.
There is not an official in any man.
ner identified with the municipal
government, however, who con-
scientiously sntertains the least
doubt rs to his duty in the premises.
There is no conceivable argumens
that can be raised against the city
making now determined start ia
this great improvement by laying
out the work and in at least putting
in one solid block from property line
to water line this season. The city
has been patient with the CO, pora-
lions there, and with those of long
standing it should be, but they
ought to be required to act
in good faith and q categoric-
al understanding be reached. The
ferry company Is on record as to
what il is willing to do. The two
railroads occupying rights there have
repeatedly expressed their desire to
see the question disposed of, and
their willingness to contribute a
reasonable proportion to the solution
OF the matter. No more could be
asked of them. But this much
should be asked, and In Q manner
that will insure reasonable compii-
ance on their part, and only q reason
able compliance. The ARGUS has
always favored fair treatment OF
long established corporations there,
but it does not believe in wasting
time on humbugs that block public
Improvements. II the city will take
hold Of the enterprise it can put i:
through. and in doing 80 it can very
quickly locate the obstacle. It is
only those who are of bad faith who
are attempting to delay and retsrd.
and who are seeking to divert atten-
ton from this all important project
The city of Davenport has devoted
considerable attention to its river
front this spring, aud has already
laid out plan for its substantial i'm
provement, which will be entered
upon at once and this, tso, notwith-
standing the TACT that its levee has
been for sometime in q many times
more respectable condition than
Rock Islands. This city's advan-
tages are much superior to those on
the opposite side, and to further
overlook the duty of adopting a
course looking to .permanency there
would be shameful neglect.
As to Levees In General.
In this connection it may interest.
ing to know that NJ. H. King, the
Des Moines contractor, has invented
70 patent for permanent levees, which
he has used successfully in the i'm
provement at Burlington, Iowa, al
though he lost money personally, on
the contract. The plan proposed by
Contractor King looks to permanent
levee system along the whole river.
1t Is simply . steel center with q
shield on top to keep the earth from
washing. This steel center can BE-
placed In a levee which has been
built for years by simply digging q
trench and placing it in this and
afterward filling In about it. The
first work in constructing the levee
supposing it to be an entirely new
structure, would be to drive piiinp
in the su bstrats and placing a plate
upon this either of metal Or OF wood
To this plate are to be set metal up
right steel plates. making q waite.
tight dyke of metal. The
weakness Of the ordinary levse il
in the fact that In extremely
high water the en- bsnkment becomes
soaked and soft. This metal core OF
partition will prevent at least half oil
the embankment from becoming
50 liked. The great objection to there
proposed levees IL the matter OF cost.
Me. King feels that he has something
that will overcome this trouble
Taking the average height OF levees
along the Mississippi river as a
basis. he figures that the cost will
not be over 5000 = mile. There
are 1000 miles OF levee between hers
and The gulf. The total cost Of pla.
cling this steel dyke would be abou,
$40. 600, 900. while the loss by over.
flow last spring alone WAS estimated
at about $4,000. 600.