Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-09
THOMAS GIVES
TIMELY DAT A
SOUTH OTTUMWA RlVERMAN
PREPARES INTERESTING FACTS
ON DIES MONIES RIVER.
5 AN ENTHUSIAST
Former Pilot is Confident That Mis-
sissippi River Steamboats, Could
Come to Ottumwa With I'm
proven,ent to Bridges

i
| Come to Ottumwa With I'm
proven1ent to Bridges.
I -
Believing that with slight improve
ment to the bridges Of the Dcs Moines
river viii make il possible for the Mis-
! sissippi river boats TO ply the stream
from Ottunwa south, Captain r. Fl.
Thomas, the veteran pilotman of South
OttumWa, has prepared very inter-
esting article on navigation. Mr..
Thomas sets forth in his article some
| valuable information, and concludes
his argument with an optimistic ring.
| He writes as follows:
w hat about the Improvement of the
Des Moines river?" is the question fire.
fQuently handed out to the undersigned
to which l viii make general answer
that the prospect is going along to the
entire satisfaction OF those who have
been advocating II.
About April 1st, Majors Richie and
Rowse Will forward to Washington
their plans and estimates for the work.
The dam, lock and the canal system
Will be used. Between the city OF Des
Moines and Croton there will be TWEEN
ty-three DAMS. one about every ten
miles Two OF these will need no locks
AT Croton the bluffs ~'1it. From that
town to the Mississippi river the banks
>~AA>~
HAT and large area T. fit subject to
overflow. Over this territory a distance
of about twenty live miles the engin-
GERS Will lecommend canal to be c1n-
structed on o direct line to the Mississ-
lppi river, The river will be used as a
1eeder for the canal.
viii be Endorsed.
The project will receive the full en-
dorsement Of the engineers who are
enXag ed in the work. The foundation
OF the dams will be placed nine feet
below the bed of the river. The engin-
GERS say that by doing this, they can
create and maintain either six or
nine foot steamboat channel. When
completed the dams will give six feet.
needed 1t can be secured by excavation.
Where the bottom of the stream is dirt
and sand the dredges would do this
work. That portion of the stream hay
Ing q rock bottom. as from Ottumwa to
the mouth, blasting would be neces-
sary to give 1t the additional three feet.
OF course 1t will take time to complete
the report of survey, have 1t examined
by the board Of engineers and war de-
partment, and then to receive appro-
prtations to start and complete tho
work. So that there Is plenty Of work
ahead for the friends Of river improve
ments.
But in the meantime 1t Is proposed 70
use the river, at least that portion Of it
between the OttumWa dam and the
Mississippi river, which can be done
for at least four months or one-half Of
the boating season. At the time ap-
plication was made to the government
for survey Of the river, those who
were urging 1t were requested to show.
that the stream had at one time been
navigated by steamboats,. Unless this
/ ~
and war department would not recon-
mend that money be appropriated to
pay for survey. 1t was something OF
task to go back flfty-eight years and
secure this information, but 1t was ac-
complished. A. C. Miller, president IF
the Iowa waterway commission and
others furnished the surveyor at
Washington with a list Of fifty-six diff
ferent Mississippi river steamers
which had navigated the Des Moines.
Not only the names of the boats but
the name Of the captains who had
charge of them was given. Upon this
information the survey was ordered
and an appropriation made to cover
the expense.
Facts and Legal Opinions.
During this time the following facts
and legal opinions were brought out,
towit: First, the fact. that the f1fty-six
steamboats, navigated it gives the Des
Moincs river a legal status as one Of
the navigable rivers of the country
Second, that where a stream can he
for even portion of each
year, it cannot be legally closed against
the boats and the people. Third, that
all laws declaring that rivers mot
are therefore null and void. !
Fourth, that the title to the Des
Moines river is now, and has always |
been in the government, and under the
absolute control of the war department |
as are other navigable streams. Fifth,
that all dams, bridges and other OBJ
structions to navigation are there
without the consent or authority Of
now operating steamboats, upon the
Des Moines river are subject to gov
eminent inspection and will be requir-
ed to pay the government toll.
Under these conditions and decisions
the government moved in and took
possession and control of the river and
sent the engineers here to make the
survey and it has been completed.
Under their decision, also, the war
has authority to order the
opening of bridges so that the Mississ-
ippi steamers can again navigate the
river, and so that our shippers can use
it as a means Of transportation. Ana
further an order of this kind is expect
ed during the present year after MAJOR
Riches report reaches the board of
engineers and the war department. The
opening Of about twelve bridges will
bring the Mississippi river steamers
up to Ottumwa and this can be quickly
and cheaply done without damage to
the bridges. The engineers will prob
ably recommend the latest devise, the
lifting span, now in use on many Of the
rivers A heavy steel frame is set up
and over one of the shore spans. One
end sets upon the abutment and the,
other upon the first piece. To this
frame is hung the span weights, chains
and pulleys. When ready the span
hangs upon a balance like window
sash, requiring but little power to
raise and lower it. A lift Of thirty to
forty feet on the twelve bridges will