The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-23
Great River Slowly Returning to
Its Natural Condition by Wear
ing Away Hurdles.
LARGE EXPENDITURE NEEDED.
One Million Dollars Is the Esti-
mate for the Fiscal Year
Amount Expended to
Date Is S9,4S5, 259.
The Republic Bureau.
fath CT and Pannsylyanfa Ave

Washington. July 1.-THE War Depart
ment has received the report Of Captain Ed
ward Burr, engineer officer in charge Of the
removal Of snags and wrecks in the Missis-
sippi below the mouth OF the Missouri, for
the fiscal year ended June 80.
Referring to the permanent improvement
Captain Burr reports that the protection
begun year ago was extended up the bank
at stages varying from seventeen to twenty
feet above low water. The subaqeous pro-
lection was extended 1000 feet down stream
and the bank protected to the thirteen-foot
stage. The protection of Penitentiary Point,
Ill. has been under consideration, but has
been deferred for lack Of appropriation.
The caving had progressed to such an ex-
tent as to threaten an increased pressure
against the hurdles on the Missouri side,
three miles below, and sufficient work was
done here to hold the bank.
At Ste. Genevieve. Ill, further improve
ment was carried on at the Turkey Island
crossing, and three new hurdles were pro-
jected, but only one was constructed on ac-
count Of the lack of sufficient funds. Hur-
die No. 2 was built % feet and finished with
stone buttress and inclined tee-head. 1t
produced a marked Improvement In the
crossing, from which good depth was found
all winter.
River Wearing Away the Hurdles.
At Ste. Genevieve. Mo-. the reach of river
from Little Rock landing to the head of
kaskaskia Island is now the most trouble
some and difficult section Of river between
st. Louis and Cairo.
Although some work was done a large
additional expenditure will be necessary to
secure good navigation.
A series of hurdles, which were built on
both the Missouri and Illinois sides several
years ago, were designed to contract the
river to a depth of $50 feet. In spite of this
the river Is slowly returning to its natural
condition by wearing away Of the ends of
the hurdles.
A slight cave-in was reported and revet-
ment work extended 1900 feet downstream
near Horse Island. Mo-, opposite Chester
and seventeen miles below St. Louis.
At Liberty, Mo-, bank protection has been
extended and eco feet of revetment fav
been built to accommodate stages Of water
to eighteen and twenty-one feet above low
water
The available balance on hand Juno 20
was S139, $50. exclusive Of outstanding liabili-
ties. The amount expended on the project to
date Is $685. 19. The estimate of the engi-
neer for the work is the same as year ago,
$l,0o0,oo for the next fiscal year.
st. Louis Receipts and Shipments.
Commercial statistics are included in the
report. They show that there has been q
steady increase in the receipts and ship
ments at st. Louis since 1898. in such articles
as barbed wire, ores. metals cement, coal.
coke, cotton and groceries. The receipts in
1893 were 50S,5S5 tons and in 1900 $1,000 tons.
Shipments show like increase. There has
been also steady increase in the tonnage
across the ferries at st. Louis. The number
Of tons in 1900 reached o,2l1,967 tons, as
against 3.0i2.s74 in 1898.
Accompanying the report is one by Cap
tain d. NJ. Currie on the improvements IN
ST. Louis harbor. He states that no money
was expended in the ilarbor during the past
year. The hurdles, In connection with the
Improvement Of the harbor. are in good con-
dition. and serve the object for which they
were built, except at the channel ends.
which have been cut away by drifts and
undermining.
A project has been approved for the ex-
penditure of $751; in rebuilding and making
permanent the ends of these hurdles, but
no further appropriation is asked for.
Tho engineer reports that an examination
made by him in relation to the harbor a;
Harrisonville. ILL.,, with view to restoring
it. shows that the locality is not worth i'm
provement by the United States. otherwise
than is now contemplated in carrying for
ward the improvement of the Mississippi De-
tween the mouths of the Missouri and the
Ohio, under existing projects authorized by
Congress.