The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-06
NOT PUBLIC NECESSITIES
Army Officers Discourage River and
Harbor improvements.
The Proposition to Connect Lake
Superior with the Mississippi Re-
ported Upon UnfavornhIy - The
st. CroiN and Colorado Riv-
ers Projects Also Discounteuanccd.


mates Of cost OF construction. operation,
and maintenance, has been transmitted TO
| Congress by the Secretary of War.
The river and harbor act approved March
g. 1899, provides for examinations and sur
veys at number Of localities, and among
the items is the following;
| Lake Superior and Mississippi River:
The report upon the examination and sur
I vey for the location Of a canal connecting
/ Lake Superior and the mississippi River.
provided for by the river and harbor act of
1894, shall be supplemented by further
report as TO whether such canal is feasible
and an improvement which should be I'M
dertaken by the Government, and. if feast
bic, the probable cost of construction, op-
Grafton and maintenance of the same"
Major Clinton b. Sears. Corps of En-
gineers, L. s. A., was assigned to make
the examination. As a result of his inves-
iga;ion he has found that a canal from
Lake Superior TO the Mississippi River at
the mouth OF the St Croix River, 30 miles
below Minneapolis, of so feet width at wa
ter line, 80 feet wide at bottom, and ) feet
in depth on mitre sills of locks and lifts,
Is entirely feasible; that such q canal will
be about 30 miles in length and will cost
S5Sl2, 500; that the cost OF operation and
maintenance viii be about S550,00 per an
mum, and that, owing to the existence OF
four well-equipped and competing lines of
railroad parallel and near to the proposed
route and connecting the same commercial
termini, With the prospect Of several more
railroads TO be built within few years;
TO the shortness Of the navigation season
in this latitude. due 10 long and severe
winters; TO the longer route and conse-
quently much longer time of transit for
freight, /. e., the economic value OF speed
in transportation, and to the great cost of
the canal compared TO the benefits TO be
derived, the construction of this canal can
not justly be called an urgent public neces-
sity. Major Sears expresses the opinion,
concurred in by Col. ]. W Barlow, Corps
Of Engineers, the division engineer, and by
Gen. John NJ. wilson Chief of Engineers,
that the Improvement is not one which
should be undertaken by the General Gov
eminent.
Major Frederick V. Abbott. Corps Of En-
gineers, U. $. A., has reported against the
proposition TO improve the ST. Croix River
from saltwater Harbor TO Taylors Falls.
MINI. Major Abbott says:
The scenery along the river is very attractive.
and persons residing in Minneapolis. St Paul.
OF saltwater, CT any Of the summer resorts in
the vicinity can take the trip up the riv.r and
back by steamer and ftturn 10 their hons the
same day. At TavlOrs Falls there is a p.rk
maintained by the State Of Minnesota, sid stay
Of several hours j. included in the boat schedule
Fourteen thousand passengers made this trip In
the season OF 1877. The low stage Of water,
partly due TO natural causes and partly due to
the operation % the Nevers Dam (it is asserted
10y the steamboat interests, prevented such .
large traffic in the year Isgs. At the present
time an agreement has been reached between the
Interests representing the steamers and the own
ers Of the dam, and large passenger traffic is
looked for during the summer OF ls99. depth
OF three feet had been secured a Lesult Of
work done previous 20 1890, but the absence OF
commerce this section Of The river led 10
The application OF almost all # nds available after
that date to the lower river which had q large
traffic. At the present time a number OF the
bars have again shOa!cd 50 as 20 give a less
depth than Is REQUIRED fJr the Steamers now run
ming iTom saltwater TO Taylo.s Falls Since
ISIS the sum q Sl27OD0 has but little more than
suftced 10 keep the lower part Of the St. CrOix
River in fair steamboating condition. This is
at the rate Of about 5000 year. The upper part
would be more expensive Ii is possible that ~
annual expenditure Of 5000 would keen the
worst bars improved 10 such degree that the
small excursion steamers could run without
great delays Assuming that they might carry
2O0O passengers every year. which is largely
in excess OF the record far. this would amount
to the Government paving She steamers sub
sidy Of - cents a passenger. This docs not ap-
pear 10 be iusJihabie.
Capt c. s. Richie. Corps Of Engineers, L. |
5. A., has reported adversely on the propo-
sition that the Government shall improve
the Colorado River. This report has been
20 Congress by the Secretary
Of War Captain Richie says:
An examination Of the Colorado River from It's |
mouth % Wharton Tey8s was made ia IsgI.
The COLORADO River emptics into Msiagcrda Bay.
and its waters eventually reach the Gull Cf
Mexico through what Is known ss Pass Cavallo.
Where the river cinpucs into the bay an ostruc-
ton 10 navigation exists consisting OF a mud bar
about 5000 feet in width, with a depth ni one
and ouchali feet Of water on is crest Snags
and drift are also lodged on this bar. and uavi-
CATION is greatly obstucted. Once the bar is
crossed, however. ten feet Of water can be |
carried from The mouth Of the river 10 the foot
al the raft, q distance Of about twelve miles. |
The commercial interests TO be benefited by the |
opening q this SECTION II the river to a light
draft navigation are small that, in my iudg |
mcni, the proposition is unworthy Of considCa- |
ton by the General Government until such time |
IS the public sentiment 81 the locality becomes !
favorable 20 carrying the improvement abov. the |
raft. Then possibly an Improvement Tor six |
nent part q inland light draft navigation sys |
lem tributary t. the bays and harj1rs oi the Texas |
coast. For the present Therefore ] am ronstrlin-
I'd 10 report that tine Colorado River Is not worthy
Of improvement by the General Government.
Major D. W. Lockwood. Corps Of Engi
neers, has reported against the improve |
ment Of Bass River Harbor, Mass. He |
says;
Bass River IS one Of The snail rivers on the |
south shore % Cape cod BAY. between Hyauuis
and Chatham, and emptics into Nantucket sound |
about fiyC miles Cast Of llyannis. Tgo 4
snail schoouers. termed pockets, attend TO the
.ufrridl needs tf flc locality. crossing til. lgr
IN or out AZ high U-;er, and DELAYS are frequent
and anEly.ng undoubtedly. because the owners |
are liable % lead 90 the limit 0i depth. As "a |
1usH'-s proposition The securing q deeper water
might result - most ~ slight reduction in cost
li freight. There could De but little increase in
he commerce. which r. purely local, as the sec
lion 20 De Affected is small and the Iu9uufactuT-
rl-i Of any work 30 affect the depth 81 water on
The bar would be great Major BiXby estimated
that 10 benefit the sailing packets a dr,dged /
channel 900 feet long and six feet deem al low
.Itrr would be required. the sides being protected
by suitable rcrerfmCuts. In my opinion such q
channel could not be- kept open except AZ great
expense wing 90 iEc sHiiti1s sand along this
part Of the coast.
Capt. Chester Harding. Corps of Enei-
leers, L. :. A., offered a preliminary cy-
in compliance with the pro-
visions Of the River and Harbor act OF
March 3. 1899. of a channel from Lake
Michigan TO Stony Lake, Michigan has re-
,orted adversely. He says: Tho interests
involved are Of 100 local n character to
Justify The expenditure of public funds, and
I Is doubtful whether any benefits
would be derived from an Improvement OF
he channel
Major clinton II. Sears. Corps Of Engi-
leers, l. 5. A., has presented a report
gainst making harbor OF refuge at Two
Stands, MINI. lie finds that there is, not
nough commerce 10 warrant the improve
nent
~EEfHNRAs!