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in order that the vast interests of commerce and navigation may receive their proper meed of protection.

The report of Captain Mackenzie shows clearly the necessity for legis lation in regard to the bridges over the Upper Mississippi River; is entitled to careful consideration, and is commended accordingly.

I beg to recommend that copies be sent to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the information of the Committees on Commerce of those bodies respectively.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. G. WRIGHT,

Chief of Engineers, Brig. and Bvt. Maj. Gen.

Hon. ROBERT T. LINCOLN,
Secretary of War.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Rock Island, Ill., March 9, 1882.

GENERAL: I have this day forwarded a special report showing the great importance of some action which may lead to facilitating navigation through the various bridges on the Upper Mississippi, and especially those which were built under laws framed prior to the act of June 1, 1872.

As regards the bridges indicated, neither Congress nor the Secretary of War have, except on general principles, the power to compel additional securities to be provided by the bridge or railroad companies.

The report gives information that may assist those who are now agitating the subject with a view of obtaining the relief to which they are undoubtedly entitled, and it is presented with a knowledge that such information as it contains will probably be called for by Congress.

I have endeavored to avoid any expression of opinion as to how or by whom the work should be done. While the report may, to a greater extent than is ordinarily desirable, touch upon the policy of the work, it appears to me that with a personal knowledge of the facts it would be more proper to give it weight by furnishing the information officially through the Engineer Department than to leave those interested in navigation to present the same. Time being of importance, I have forwarded my report in advance of any call for information. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A.

A. MACKENZIE,
Captain of Engineers.

BRIDGE OBSTRUCTION TO NAVIGATION OF UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE,

Rock Island, Ill., March 9, 1882.

GENERAL: I have the honor to present for your information a special report on the subject of obstruction to navigation caused by the Upper Mississippi Bridges. With a view to showing the great damage and loss to which the steamboat and lumber interests are continually subjected

from delays and accidents due to want of proper structures, floating or fixed, by means of which the approach to, and passage of, the numerous bridges now spanning the river might be rendered reasonably safe for life and property, and by which the frequent and vexatious delays now necessary at night or in windy weather might be in great measure avoided. On March 3, 1875, Congress called for an inquiry into the expediency of establishing sheer-booms at bridges, and the report of a Board of Engineers, appointed for the purpose of considering the matter, submitted to the honorable, the Secretary of War, February 19, 1877, recognizes the necessity of works for protection to navigation, and presents plans for the various bridges. Since the report was made the river business and injurious effects of bridges built prior to April 1, 1872, have vastly increased and the subject of protection has been continually agitated. It seems, therefore, proper for me to again present this matter to your notice owing to the immense importance of it to all interested in navigation. My belief, which I am sure is shared by all familiar with the wants of the Upper Mississippi, is that no more useful work could be done than that by which the passage of the bridges may be improved. The two bridges last built, viz, those at La Crosse and Sabula were constructed, subject to the excellent provisions of the act of April 1, 1872, which gives to the Secretary of War full powers in regard to location, plans, &c., and these bridges provided with suitable draws adjacent to the shore, and with long and substantial guard fences, present obstacles to navigation diminished, according to the opinion of experts, fully 70 per cent., as compared with those formerly built. This very fact, demonstrating as it does the practicability of making all bridges reasonably safe, is a strong argument in favor of so doing. The plans presented by the Board of Engineers in their report of February 19, 1877, would, in the light of more recent experience, require some modifications, and without desiring to express an opinion as to whom the work should be done by, I would say that if it were to be performed by the government, it would be desirable to revise the plans, after consultation on the ground with the most experienced raft, boat, and packet pilots. Until such new plans are prepared, it is impracticable to give the cost of the work, but an approximate estimate for furnishing a certain amount of relief at all the bridges would be $100,000.

The bridges at which the most trouble is experienced are nine in number, viz:

1. Winona, built under act of July 25, 1866.

2. Dubuque, built under act of July 25, 1866.

3. Clinton, built without authority from Congress, but legalized in 1867.

4. Rock Island, built under act of July 25, 1865, by United States.

5. Burlington, built under act of July 25, 1866.

6. Keokuk, built under act of July 25, 1866.

7. Quincy, built under act of July 25, 1866.

8. Hannibal, built under act of July 25, 1866.

9. Louisiana, built under acts of March 3, 1871, and June 4, 1872. During the past few months I have received many letters from prominent lumber firms, raftmen, and steamboatmen, and I desire by giving extracts from these, and by calculations based upon information contained inthem, and upon data otherwise in possession of this office, to show approximately the money value of the annual damage resulting from bridge obstructions, 70 per cent. of which could probably be saved if adequate protection were afforded.

[Extract from letter of Joseph Reynolds, president and proprietor of the Diamond Jo Line of packets and towboats, which line carried in 1881 197,931 tons of freight and 16,579 passengers.]

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DUBUQUE, IOWA, December 23, 1881.

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SIR: In regard to the amount of damage the Diamond Jo Line sustained in 1881, I can inform you about as follows: One barge struck Rock Island bridge in May-damage, $10,000; one barge struck Hannibal bridge in June-damage, $3,000; one barge struck above Rock Island bridge, in consequence of the bridge, in November-damage, $2,000; total, $15,000. But all this is light compared to the damage we sustain in waiting for wind to go down or daylight to come, so that we may dare venture through the bridges. I was just talking to the captain of the Mary Morton, and he estimates the damage at $2,500 to that boat's business just from this delay alone, and says it is still more to my other boats, from the fact that he did not tow so many barges and could go through when the others could not venture.

My own opinion is that, without any accidents whatever, the delay on account of darkness, wind, and breaking of tows cost my boats an average of $600 a trip to each, running between Saint Paul and Saint Louis, more than if there were no railroad bridge abutments in the river. I think there is no one improvement to the river where so little money can do the lumbermen and boatmen so much good as in building sheer-booms, dikes, &c., at these bridges.

Yours, truly,

Capt. A. MACKENZIE.

In another communication Mr. Reynolds says:

JO. REYNOLDS.

But I think amidst of all our wants and needs that the greatest need at present is dikes and booms at the various bridges along the river to protect our boats in passing the draws. It may be, and undoubtedly is, the business of the railroad corporations to erect these protections, but they never will do it, and the sooner the government takes hold of the matter the sooner our boats will be better protected from those accidents.

[Extract from letter of F. L. Johnston, secretary Saint Louis and Saint Paul Packet Line, which car ried in 1881 182,075 tons freight and 37,200 passengers.]

SAINT LOUIS, December 28, 1881. SIR: In reply to yours of the 12th instant to W. F. Davidson, president, will say the Saint Louis and Saint Paul Packet Company have sustained lesses as follows by collision of their steamboats with bridges, namely:

September 30, steamer Minneapolis collided with Hannibal bridge, damage to to boat..

November 4, steamer War Eagle collided with Keokuk bridge, damage to boat and cargo (estimated)

November 13, steamer Minneapolis collided with Louisiana bridge, damage to boat

$1,000

500

40,000

Total

41,500

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Yours, respectfully,

Capt. A. MACKENZIE.

I give below extracts from letters of prominent lumber firms, whose interests are far greater than even those of the packet and towboat companies.

F. L. JOHNSTON, Secretary.

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[From W. J. Young & Co., of Clinton, Iowa.]

CLINTON, IOWA, December 15, 1881. DEAR SIR: Will say that the only serious accident which occurred, or greatest loss, was from towboat Abner Giles' log-raft which broke upon Clinton bridge, loss $808. Our other smaller losses at this bridge we would estimate at $500, and at bridges above here through which our boats have to pass, viz, Sabula, Dubuque, La Crosse, and Winona, we estimate our loss by detention at not less than $8,000 for year 1881. Our three boats made through trips as follows: Sterling, 27; Mills, 34;

Boardman, 19; in all 80 trips through four bridges above Clinton, detention at each bridge, say, average of 5 hours, which would be 20 hours' lost time for each trip; so we have 80 trips with loss of 20 hours each, which make 1,600 hours of lost time, at $5 per hour, equal to $8,000.

Capt. A. MACKENZIE,

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W. J. YOUNG & CO.

[From Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company.]

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WIS., January 14, 1882. DEAR SIR Replying to your favor, we hand you statement of damages sustained by us through delays at bridges.

We have no break-ups to report, having been unusually fortunate in that respect. We heartily indorse your views regarding the establishment of sheer-booms or guardfences at the several bridges (such as exist at La Crosse, McGregor, and Sabula), and are satisfied the same would prove of material benefit to navigation, making the running of bridges safe by night as well as by day. We estimate our loss through delay at each bridge to be not less than $25 each trip.

Capt. A. MACKENZIE.

DEAR SIR:

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WILLIAM IRVINE, Secretary.

[From McDonald Bros.' Towboat Line.!

LA CROSSE, WIS., January 31, 1882. The six boats which we use exclusively in towing rafts to points below ran down through the various bridges 1,340 times. The half of this number would be the number of whole rafts ran through them. It would be very moderate to put the average cost occasioned by the delay at each bridge at $20 per raft. This would make a total expense occasioned by lost time alone of $13,400 for the past season. A very considerable proportion of this amount would be saved if we had the assistance of sheer-booms, &c.

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SIR: We beg leave to make the following statement of the damages suffered by our steamboat and rafting interest during the season of 1881, on account of the improper location and management of the several bridges spanning the Mississippi River at Winona, La Crosse, Dubuque, Sabula, Clinton, and Rock Is'and. In connection herewith it would be proper to state that the cost of running and the time consumed thereby is materially less at the La Crosse and Sabula bridges than at the other bridges, for the reason that the approaches thereto, that is, to the draw from above, are carefully protected by heavy guard-fences, by means of which a raft is directed squarely between the piers, and whereby the danger is materially lessened. This sorely-needed danger-diminishing device is lacking at the other bridges and should be introduced at the earliest practicable moment. Our actual damage, or money loss, is as follows: The C. J. Caffrey during season of 1881 made 22 trips; the Denkmann, 20 trips; or a total for both of our boats of 42 trips. In making these trips they passed all of the above-named bridges. The average detention at Winona, Dubuque, Clinton, and Rock Island is fully 6 hours for each bridge, or a total of 24 hours or one day per trip. This would make 42 days for the entire season. The average

cost of running each steamer is about $85 per day. Now, to obtain our actual damage, it will only be necessary to multiply 85 by 42=3,570, and you have it, namely, $83,570. Besides this, we had the misfortune of having half of a raft strike the Rock Island bridge, thereby entailing a further loss upon us of $2.000. We believe that a large proportion of these losses might have been saved had the approaches been protected, as at Sabula and La Crosse.

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WEYERHAEUSER & DENKMANN.

Capt. A. MACKENZIE.

From the above statements of W. J. Young & Co., Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company, McDonald Brothers, and Weyerhaeuser and Denkmann, it will be safe and moderate to estimate the actual loss by delays, accidents, &c., at each bridge to be $25 per raft, with the exception of La Crosse and Sabula, which we put at $7.50 per raft. There follows a tabular statement showing names of bridges, number of passages of rafts in 1881, approximate amount of loss by detention, accidents, &c., at

each bridge, and the total damage to the lumber interest from this cause during the season.

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The above indicates a loss to the lumber interest of $133,202 in 1881, by far the greater portion of which would have been saved with proper guard fences and shear-booms.

The following copy of a letter from S. B. Withrow, captain of steamer Menomonie, gives a sample of the experience of raft-boats during a

season:

READ'S LANDING, December 21, 1881. DEAR SIR: I send you the report of the damage and detention of the steamer Menomonie for the season of 1881, at the bridges of the Mississippi:

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The actual cost of running the boat a day is $85, and the delay for season amounts to 25 days. At $85 a day, the total loss for the season would be $2,125. I have not mentioned Sabula bridge, as it has been improved and causes very little delay. The bridges I have mentioned are in an unimproved state, but if improved there would be scarcely any detention.

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