The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-22
WORK ON THE RIVER POLICY OF FRIARs
More Details of Major Townsend's Is
Annual Report.
CHANNEL MUCH IMPROVED
Work SOutlined for the Future-Sta-
Ss < ttstics of River COM ~
&S# 1nerce. -+ 4.
From The journal BnredH, Room Is. Poh
DWtldtaG, WasNiMQt0n.

From, The journal Bureau, Room kS, Poss
building, Washington. -. ''''o''' o''
Washington, July 22.-The annual re-
port OF Major C. Med. Townsend, in
charge of the Improvement of the Missis-
sippi river between St. Paul and the
Emouth of the Missouri river, states that
since the Improvement of this stretch of
the river was begun in 1878, and UP to
June 80, 1902, $1o147,S01 has been cx-
pended The result is such an improved
condition Of the channel as to permit
the passage of the largest boats at very
low stages through to st. Paul. On July
1, 1901, there was an unexpended balance
of $20S,9SS and during the past year the
improvement OF the river. by dam con-
struction, shore protection, dredging. re-
moval OF rock, ETC., has been continued.
Between St. Paul and Winona work
was carried on during the summer Of 1901
In the vicinity OF Teepeeota Point, where
four wing dams and one closing dam
were built, and one wing dam was length
ened.
From Winona to the mouth of the Wis
consin river the only work consisted of
the construction of four short wing dams
from the east side of Barron's island, op-
posite La Crosse. Below La Crosse, from
| Cassville to Dubuque, five wing dams in
| the vicinity of Finley's Landing, begun
| in 1900, were completed, as was also shore
| protection on Hurricane island. In the
vicinity of Dubuque repairs were made
to one closing dam and one wing dam.
The government dredge Geyser worked
about three weeks in deepening the chan
mel through the bar below the draw of the
Illinois Central railway bridge. Wing
dam construction and other work was
done below Dubuque. ..-.
| A summary of expenditures shows that
$16,654 was expended for work between St.
| d., ~
| to La Crosse; $S,381 from Winona to the
wisconsin river: s4,261 from the Wis
consin river to Bellevue, and $14, ,061 from
| Cassville to Dubuque.
Assistant Engineer J. D.. Du Shane
! whose report Is also submitted, says that
during the current season additional work
will be necessary at Teepeeota Point and
below Wilds Landing. Dams and shore
projections should be built near Minneis-
ka and below Fountain City; shore pro.
lection should be built on the left bank
below Alma, on the right bank above
Zumbro river, and on the left bank op-
posite Island 55.
Soundings made in October showed that
from st. Paul to Lake Pepin, where the
work has been carried to a more nearly
completed state than any other part o.
the river, showed least depth Of fee
at 2-foot stage, or feet below low water
of 1864.
In La Crosse harbor the cross dam ant
bulkhead were completed during the yea
and the filing commenced with a dippel
dredge and teams. About $4,000 cubi
yards of sand was moved by the dredge
resulting in a material deepening Of tn
water at the bulkhead landing and goo,
current along the bulkhead and level
which will insure the maintenance Of tn
depth desired. .l'' :... 49,
Statistics OF commerce included in tn
report show that the most importan
business carried on in connection witt
the navigation of the upper Mississipp
and its tributaries is the lumber trade
which gave employment in 1901 to abou
4 T5ytowtoats, valued at $400, 900. Along tn
i river from Minneapolis to st. Louis 5
sawmills were operated by so wholesal
lumber firms, having an invested capita
of about $25, 900. Their manufacL&se
of white pine in 1901 were: Lun4Sie1
!, ,107, ,432 900 feet b. M, shingles, 196, ,48f
600; lath, 265, 453 600; and Of hemlock lum
ber 6.971 200 feet b. m. in addition t
i the manufactures there are great man
retail or distribution firms. The :entir
manufactures of the upper Mississippi
valley in 1901, according to the report
were valued at about $50, 900, 900, and ag
: gregated 1891 1925, 900 feet of lumber an
1876, ,438, 900 lath The larger part of thi
product was f1oated for greater or les
distances on the Mississippi, either a
logs or lumber. -'.': ::
| w W. Jermane