Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-05-18
CRUISE OF THE HORNET FROM
DEs MONIES TO oTTuMWA CON-
PLETED LAST EVENING BEFORE
STORM CAME UP.
STREAM NAVIGABLE
NOW AS EVER 1T WAS
RIVER MAN INTERVIEWED Ar no.
TEL TELLS OF OBJECT OF SUR.
VEY- LEVELS TAKEN THIS
MoRNlNG-REcEPTIoN.

Arriving wet and fatigued from
their cruise down the river from Des
Moines, Major Montgomery Meigs,
T. T. Meyling Of Keokuk and Harry
Young Of Des Moines. reached the
club house OF the Ottumwa Oarsmen
about $3.50 p. m., yesterday, seeming
ly glad to have reached the city and
anxious to get some rest after their
trip. The welcome over with the party
repaired to the Ballingall hotel where
they were comfortably quartered for
the night. This morning the major
with all the earmarks of an old sea
captain was found at an early hour by
representative of the press, seated,
pajama-clad on the side of his bed, in
the process of a shave, and despite the
fact that his face was lather covered
and the trusty blade was plying down
ward removing the beard growth of a
few days, the genial major between
strokes had pleasant word for his
interviewer, who retired until later
when the river man should have finish
ed his toilet and breakfasted.
Des Moines Is Navisabie.
Later when seen the major with
Harry Young of Des Moines was the
center of an interested group OF the
waterways committee members in the
lobby of the hotel and was cleaning
from the Ottumwans such information
as he could regarding the stream in
the navigability Of the Des Moines,
A6os -. 40 ~
that can tell you anything about that
until l have first reported by findings
to my superior, Colonel Ritthie at
Rock Island, although to my notion
the stream Is as navigable now as ever
1t was. would not however care to
state anything further than that until
after my report has been made to
headquarters.
MY trip is but preliminary survey
or investigation Of the possibilities Of
the Des Moines river for navigation
purposes and am taking soundings
and dwellings, as we'll as having Mr..
Young kept busy photographing var
ious places along the stream. am in
a word collecting all information rela-
tive to the navigation of the Stream
and securing its history in order that
the department can determine as to
| what will be done toward carrying out
the terms of the appropriation Of con-
gress for the navigation of the Iowa
streams.
Much Red Tape Necessary.
When asked If the navigation de-
pended entirely upon his report, the
chief of the cruising expedition said 1t
did not. "You see said the major,
congress appropriated 100000 for
the survey of the Des Moines, Iowa
and Cedar rivers and If they prove to
be practicable the streams will in all
probability be put in condition for
navigation. The preliminary survey
that is being made of these rivers is
covered by an appropriation of $3.50
for the Des Moines river and $3.50 for
the Iowa and Cedar rivers However
my report on these streams is not final
in as much as this Is but the prelimi
nary investigation and my report will
be made to Colonel Ritchie at Rock
Island, who will make his own obser
| walton on 1t and report to the chief OF
the engineering department at Wash
ington, who in turn makes report tc
the secretary of war If their finding
Is favorable survey will then be
made by the engineer corps
Has Rock Bottom.
The reason for the Des Moines being
as navigable now as 1t ever was is
given by the major as being due tc
the fact that the bed of the Des
Moines is practically all rock and the
fall Is much greater than many Other
streams, likewise the filing UP of the
stream with sand is not SO likely az
is the case in some of the bigger
streams. This rock bottom is inclined
to be shelf-nke and graduates down
ward as the river reaches the mouth
from the source. The great volume O
creeks and their drainage into thu
Des Moines is also cited in favor o
the streams being practicable fo
navigation purposes.
II believe the cause Of the appropr!
alton for these surveys is largely du,
to the conservation ideas of Roose
velt,' said Major Meigs. 'The max
ing of feeders for the large stream
that now carry commerce seems to b.
the idea that actuated the policy an,
there are many Of the larger of thes
streams known as the small river
: that can be made navigable. Til
bridges and dams located at variou
points along the streams are the chic
obstacle to the navigation.
Boats Conveyed Past Dam.
Engineers Hartel and Meyling i,
paired to the boat house at an earl
hour this morning to procure their II