Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-22
PLANS FOR IMPROVING RIVER
Two Seasons to Be Spent in Removing
snaEs from N ssouri.
FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND AVAILABLE
Colonel Quinn, Engineer in Charge,
Submits Estimates of work ana
Methods Of Spending Money and
They Are Approved.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON March 21.-(Special Tele-
gram)-The work Of improving the Mis-
souri, river In accordance with the provi-
sions OF the rivers and harbors bill passed
at the recent session Of congress will be
started about May 1. The plans for this
work have been submitted to the War de-
partment by Colonel j. B. quinn, at Sioux
City, engineer in charge Of the Missouri
river, and were approved today by General
Alexander Mckenzie. chief OF engineers.
The rivers and harbors bill made avail
able for Missouri river work $4,000, to be
/ expended as follows: Between the mouth
Of the river and Kansas City s15Oooo; be-
tween Kansas City and Sioux City, $4,000;
between Sioux City and Fort Benton, Mont,
100000
The most important part Of the work, as
outlined by Colonel Quinn, will consist OF
the removal Of snags and other distractions
! from the channel On this work about
half of the total appropriation will be ex-
pended 1t is believed that when 1t Is
/ finished the river will be in coE,ition for
/ the navigation of boats of the proposed
/ freight lines that are being organized in
| Omaha and Kansas City for the greater
/ part of the year. Three snag boats will
! be put at work, the c. r. Suter between
Kansas City and st. Louis, the James b.
! Mcpherson between Kansas City and Sioux
City and the Mandan above Sioux City.
None Of these boats is now in commission
and Colonel Quinn says it will cost S23, 600
to get them ready for work He thinks 1t
will require two snagging seasons for the
removal Of the distractions in the channel.
He estimates the cost Of this work will be;
| From the mouth to Kansas City, $S50O0i
from Kansas City to Sioux City S59,OO0i
| 20
Protection for Banks.
A considerable portion Of the appropria-
tion will be expended on revetment work
and protection OF banks where such work il
necessary to navigation.
Colonel Quinn says the survey of the
river at st. Joseph, which was specifically
provided for in the rivers and harbori
bill, can be completed at an expense o.
about 5000. The purpose of this surve!
Is to determine II the Improvement
planned to prevent the diversion of tn,
water of the Missouri through Lake Con
trary should be continued.
One Of the most important projects out
lined by Colonel Quinn provides for tn
improvement Of the harbor at Bismarck
s. d. These improvements will consist o
the construction Of pile dikes and othe
work that will involve total expepditur
Of $4,000. The work will be done on tn
east side of the river and below the North
ern Pacific railroad bridge. The engineer
! at the war department. say the Mssour
: river work cannot be fairly started unit
! May /, as the river will not be free o
ice before that time.
Merchants Bank Gets Customs Money
Senator Burkett today received a lette
e from the secretary of the treasury advis
: ing him that the Merchants National ban
of Omaha will be designated as the de
= pository for such government funds a
> may in the future be collected by the col
lector Of customs for Nebraska.
Browns First Postmaster.
Senator Brown has performed his frs
: official act in recommending e. F. Fasset
for postmaster at Arlington, Neb vice I
A Gierens, resigned.
Fred NJ. Bryner has been appointed post
master at Oconto, Custer county, Ne