Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-12
SPECIAL BOARD OF ARMY OFF
GERS WILL COME TO IOWA.
TWO TOWNS IN DISPUTE
Guttenburg, Iowa and Glen Haven,
Wis.,, Believe They Are Each to Be
Damaged BY Work on the Missis-
sippi - Board of Officers
TBY II. J. MiAHIN.l

Washington Bureau of the Courier,
Washington, Dec. II, 1908.
Within few weeks a special board
Of three army officers will go from
Washington to Rock Island, where they
will hear testimony and finally
settle the contention between
the communities OF Gutenberg,
Iowa, and Glen Haven, Wis, in
regard to the proposed improvement
of the Mississippi river opposite those
towns.
This board will be composed Of alb
solutely impartial army officers ap-
pointed by the secretary of war, and
they will grant public hearings to all
the parties interested in the conten'
ton.
Officials at the war department make
no secret of the fact that the strife be-
tween Glen Haven and Gutenberg has
been the source Of much annoyance.
The continued protests against the
plans of the engineers has had the ef-
feet of suspending the work at a some
what critical stage of the improve
ment. 1t appears that each town
thinks it is to be harmed, and its har-
bor affected by the rival plans. Gut
tenberg has had the idea that 1t was
to be deprived Of its harbor entirely,
and the citizens have stirred them
selves to unusual efforts with petitions
and protests galore. The war depart
ment has gone to unusual lengths IN
appointing this special board, and 1t
hopes in this way to be able to settle
the controversy satisfactorily to both
towns.
AS matter Of course the plans of the
engineers have been adopted only with
view to the demands of general nav
igation. TIL plan adopted was to pre-
serve in Cassville slough, on which
Glen Haven is situated. an adequate
channel, if practicable. ..at a reasonable
cost. At the same time, the proposed
! improvements of the Gutenberg chan
mel was with view of the through
river business. The permanent I'M.
proyement of that channel was adopted
by the engineers because it was better
ADAPTED to meet the need OF general
| navigation for single route, gooo al
| all stages.
The Improvement of the Gutenberg
channel is not new thing. AS far
hack as 1885 the officer then in charge
of that district reported that the work
of the Gutenberg channel might be
regarded as part of the adopted
system of thorough navigation.
The special board will go first to
Rock Island and will there examine
the plans of the engineers in charge
of the Mississippi river improve
ments and familiarize the members
| with the whole scheme of improve
ment. This done the board will pro
| ceed to some point convenient to both
Glen Haven and Guttenburg and give
an opportunity for full presentation OF
| both sides of the controversy by cltl
zens of Iowa and Wisconsin as well as
rivermen from Davenport and Other
towns who are familiar with the needs
| of navigation on the upper river. Il
4 is likely that the board will hold ses
sions at Dubuque although this has moi
vet been decided and will not be unit
| after the officers reach Rock Island.
Congressman Hull stepped UP to the
speakers desk the other day just after
Uncle" Joe Cannon had been through
an unusually hard parliamentary strug
gle with some members on the flool
and the speaker relieved himself witt
the following frank declaration to Mr.
/ Hull:
"If / could only use both hands il
| presiding over this house," he said il
all earnestness, Il might handle thi.
speakership job with more satisfac
! ton to myself and in a manner NOR,
acceptable to the brethern on the floor
/ It's no use. can't do myself justic,
in talking when | am compelled b,
custom to keep my hands still. I an
ill at ease when try to strike digni
field attitude with one hand restin.
on book of rules and the other lean
ing on the gavel l give more though
to controlling my hands than / do t,
what I have to say
| When Mr. Cannon was on the foo
and would get warmed UP to som,
| good lively argument he would us,
| both hands in some very strange bu
still effective gestures. 1t is said tha
i away down deep in his honest oil,
heart Uncle" Joe feels that he woul,
sometimes be easier in rough an,
4 tumble debate on the floor than in th
. speakers chair, struggling to wiel,
the gavel with becoming dignity an,
in strict accordance with parliament
arl law.
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