Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-06-23

The question of river protection for
OttumWa has been brought to the at
tention of its citizens with renewed
emphasis by the serious damage done
during the recent food of the Des
Moines river. In order that the people
OF the city may intelligently consider
this matter it is the purpose of the
Courier to present from time to time
discussions of this subject from differ
ent view points that the citizens may
reach some practical solution of the
question. Believing that such a decis-
ion should be based on a thorough and
comprehensive knowledge of the ac-
ton of the river at this point in the
past and a knowledge of what has been
done in this direction the Courier to.
day presents a cut giving the course of
that portion of the river just above
the Market street bridge, showing the
changes that have been wrought since
the United States survey of 1S47, and
succeeding surveys of 1870, 1875 and
1891. In order to get this matter be-
fore the citizens of Ottumwa the Cour-
Ter also presents a review and discus
sion of the river question prepared by
G. r. Allen in his report as city engi-
neer and made; to the city council in
1896, recommending the building of
the revetment from the Wabash tres
tie to the Market street bridge. Sub
sequent to this report to the council
Mr.. Allen brought this question to the
attention of the engineers of the state
at their meeting in 1895.
A careful perusal of Mr.. Aliens dis
cussion of the subject in connection
with study of the cut herewith pre-.
tumwa a good foundation on which to
form decision for some plan to meet
an exigency such as has been expert
enced by the city.
1.-THE city council of OtttInlwa, Is con-
fronted with a problem that, may be
of some interest to this society When
asked to read a paper at the annual
meeting, this problem was enc that
was occupying the writer's attention.
The subject may be old to many OF
you, yet may serve to bring out some
points from the members present that
may be OF value, even IL this paper it
self does not contain any such.
"The Des Moines river enters the
Slly VI OlIulhWa az lto llOl JuSdoI SOl ACl
and runs diagonally through the city
to its southeast corner, however, form
ing in its course, two large horseshoe
bends, each enclosing an area equal to
a section of land. The lower reach of
one of these bends is about a mile in
length and flows transversely to the
general course of the river in north
easterly direction.
"On or near the right bank of the
same runs a thoroughfare which is
paved with brick and generally built
up on each side, with store buildings
of brick for three-quarters of the dis
lance. The lower quarter OF a mile
has a few wooden dwellings, but as it
crossed lowland, subject to overflow it
has been raised to a uniform height
OF say, three feet above high water,
making a fill of from seven to twelve
feet. This street is Joined TO the north
side by bridge 1 1850 feet in length, of
seven spans, costing 100000.
1.-THE AUDITING has considerable of
value, and the roadway and bridge, in
Guiding the paving, has cost $4,000.
The river has encroached on the lots
SO that it is within eighty feet of the
roadway for some distance, and at no
point is it over 270 feet away During
the flood of 1892, the erosion amounted
to 200 feet In one place; the soil is
a sandy loan and erodes very fast,un-
der ordinary circumstances, but here
everything seems to have conspired to
aid the encroachment. (See diagram
published herewith. The city is also
defendant in suits amounting to $40,-
900 arising from the encroachment of
the river during the flood of 1899. The
writer was called upon by the city
council to report upon the matter
which report is herein introduced.
TO the Honorable Mayor and City
Council OF ottumwa, Iowa:
Gentlemen: | herewith submit re.
port of my investigation in relation to
the protection of the right bank OF
the Des Moines. river from the Wabash
trestle to the Market street bridge: a
distance of 1000 Feet