The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-12

width of the stream. At minor
Islands dykes connect them with the
shore, and in time the sands and silts
from soil erosion will so accumulate
as to connect those islands with the
main land. This is the law of aecre-
ton. There is popular criticism of
these improvements, but my readings
and observations rather favor the
work. | judge that the high author
tiles know the logic of their mission
and their work. The Sidney followed
the mapped out line of right of way,
and she sailed in majesty even in
low water. Usually it is safest not
to fire on Fort Sumter in whatever
form it may appear. Then there is
the system of rip-rap or adding rock
to the river banks to prevent them
from being washed by the waves and
currents especially when the river is
at food tide This system Of mac
adam serves as counter influence
from the wing dams, and thus the
waters are confined and a deep chan
mel secured.
luhdlCis lOI lilClily l1NSI lOWuS
and cities don't make much showing
| when viewed from the river. There is
Canton, quite city, but little in dis
play. The old town of LAGRANGE
seems dim indeed. A front yard or
the lawn of home should be attrac-
tive and decoration to all the place.
Alas for the river towns and cities!
While in Quincy visited briefly the
soldiers home and talked with some
of the wartime veterans The build
ings and grounds and all the accom-
modations of the place are an honor
to the soldiers and to the generosity
of the state of Illinois, but all these
blessings fail in their mission to make
real home for the veterans. There
Is that absence of sympathy, and
there is the lack of woman's tears,
as the good old song well says
Withal, Quincy is a pretty good old
town. l reviewed its fine court house,
after several years. But my chief
concern was the voyage and study of
the river, and SO | returned to the
Sidney well in advance of the crowd
so as to have choice of location. The
territory was ample, and location
perfectly In front was adopted, and
had for company fine man, Robert
Liddell Of Delaware, who is now visit
ing in Keokuk Mr.. Liddell served
three years in the First Delaware
battery, and he related to me exper-
fences of his long service during the
war which would compose book OF
interest and much value. Mrs.
Lawrence, a soldiers widow, was in
troduced to me, and the veteran j. K.
Gallup added interest and good cheer
to our select company. Mr.. Ganup
says that FIVE brothers of them Of
fered their lives that this nation UNI
| der God should have new birth of
| freedom, as declared in the Presi-
/ dents Gettysburg speech. We held
an excellent view point all the way
home, and talked of signal lights,
dykes, principles of the river, the
civil war, little politics, agriculture
| in Delaware, Iowa and Missouri, and
along lines of many other topics.
was especially fortunate in having so
good company of friends. 1t was
/ little amusing to us to notice that
the steamer was silent as to some
4 points along the way, and gracefully
sailed by them. A pilot on river
steamer in this time of progress has
comparatively easy profession, as
signal lights Illuminated the way, and
the search light reveals landings,
steamers, and all concerns of the
steamer and it's safety. Old time
pilots who guided steamers on the Des
Moines and Mississippi before civil
war years and later tell me that their
:. business was purely of knowledge OF
the river, and that hills, depressions
forests and natural features made up
their knowledge of following the chan
mel.
The Mississippi river is the great
central water way of the United
States 1t is stream OF national
, and international Importance. It will
; improve in navigation interests as
population increases and wealth adds