Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-31
TOWING OF HEAVY TRAFFIC DURING YEAR. SHOWS OF
RIVER SAYS UNITED STATES ENGINEERS OFFICE REPORT

but no detailed estimate for the work
was ever prepared. The method of
Improvement followed was to CON
tract the low waterway by spnr dams
and dams closing side chnfes Under
this plan UP to 1907, very valuable
results were obtained. but in tbat
year congress changed the depth 10
six feet. for which the estimate was
s2o,oO0,00o The change in project
was only to lengthen the spur dams
TO provide for further contraction. so
that none Of the work previously done
is wasted About fifty per cent Of the
project has been carried out and it is
proposed to complete it in 1922, If snf-
ficlent funds are provided by con
gress.
Up to the close of 1906, when the
four and one-half foot project was
abandoned, there has been put in
place 12,500,000 cubic yards of rock
and brush at a cost Of about sll .00o,-
o0o. The new project calls for IT,
100000 yards of material and 12,50o.-
! 900 yards of dredging
| In addition to channel improve
ments, much has been accomplished
/ in the improvement of various har-
| bors, among which may be mentioned
| ST. Paul. Red Wing, Lake City, Stock
| holm, Pepin, Fountain City, La Crosse,
Cassville, Prairie du CHEN, Dubuque
Clinton, Port Byron. Moline, Rock Is
| land, Davenport ice harbor, Muscatine,
Burlington, Fort Madison, KeoEuk,
| Quincy, Hannibal, Louisiana, Ham
burg, GAINESVILLE and winter harbor in
| Alton Slough
This Office built the levee from the
| Iowa river to Burlington and per
formed considerable work on the War
saw-Quincy and Sny levees.
The Rock Island Office employs
during the winter about sixty clerks
and other assistants in charge of
Major General Alexander Mackenzie.
! United States army, retired. with c.
W. Durham, principal assistant, and
George Ackley, chief clerk
The Rock Island district is divided
into 10 divisions, as follows, each di-
I vision having number Of assistants,
clerks, receivers of material, inspec-
tors, etc. besides steamboats, and their
crews and a large number of ever
| seers and laborers. In fact, the en-
tire number of employees, when the
work is in full operation. appropriates
1000 men, not counting light-keepers
This estimate does not include a very
large number of men, perhaps l.60C
more engaged in providing materials
for construction work.
First Division-St. Paul to Winona
in charge of Assistant Engineer ], y
, Du Shane.
Second Winona to Wiscon
sin river. boatyard at Fountain CITY
and quarry at La Noble, in charge 0
Assistant Engineer ". A. Thompson
, Third Division Wisconsin river t.
lie Claire ami Galena river improve
ment, in charge of Assistant Enginee
s. Edwards.
: Fourth Division-Rock Island rap
ids, including the lie Claire Canal ant
Moline lock, in charge Of Assistan
Engineer J. B. Bassett.
Fifth Diyision-Rock Island to Bur
] lingtop. Milan section of the Henns
i pin canal and boatyard at Silver Lake
a in charge of Assistant Engineer ]. {
4 McElherne.
q Sixth Division Burlington to Han
Inibal, lock and dry dock at Keokul
= Iowa, in charge of United States Civ
Il Engineer NJ. Meigs.
r Seventh Division Hannibal t
: Hamburg. in charge of Assistant Er
Il gineer A. l. Richards.
3 Eighth Division-Hamburg to mout
i OF Missouri river, in charge of JUNO
J, Engineer Robert 1akiseh.
+ Ninth Division-0peration Of h1
:. required at this time the building {