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DEVOTED..TO — SS rere re ae “EO es a MMER = SCrENC E: VOL. V. NO. 84. 09 PER ANNUw SinGLE Copies 5 Cextr, RIVER IMPROVEMENT. A dispatch from Washington, August 17, says the engineers in charge of works on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers report as follows on the removal of snags and rocks: ‘Three x ng bouts were at work dur- ing the yearonthe Missouri. But little was done laet fall, owing to the extremely: low stage of water, but during the spring the river was put ina very satisfactory condi- tion. On the Mississippi the work was very thorough and complete, and the river was kept in better condition than ever before possible. . ‘The work on the Mississippi ex- tended. from the. mouth of the Missouri River to Glasecock’s Island, 4 distance ot 1,000 miles, For this work $85,000 was ap- propriated by the act of 1882, and there re- mained unexpended ‘July 1, 1883, $19,291. An appropriation’ of $17,000 is reeommend- ed for vise next year. : On the Missouri the operations extended fvom the mouth to Kansas city, a distance of 375 miles, ‘The whole distance was worked over twice and the lower half four times, For this work the act of 1882 appropriated $65,000, and there remained unexpended of j this and former appropriations on July 1, 1783, $98,339 An appropriation of $188,000 is asked for next year. An estimate of $130,- 000 's submitted tor the ‘construction and repairs of snag-bonts on these two rivers. In closing the report the engineer says: “The failure of the river and harbor bill was very unfortunate for the West. ‘The thorough work last season had-placed . the rivers in excellentconuition, and they-could have easily been kept-so had the funds been available. As it is, however, the amall bal- ance from last year’s appropriations will only admit of six month’s work during the year,” : During the past year the survey of the Mis- souri River was extended from Fort Karc- dall to Pierre, 192 miles. An appropriation of $50,000, available early next spring, is asked for to cover 500 miles .of the river during the year; $65,000 will be required to complete the work. It is estimated $25,000 will be required to completé the improve- ment of the Gasconade River in Missourri, but the engineer reports the nature of the stream such that any considerable depth available for boats of any capacity can prob- ably only be obtained by means of locks and dams. Linprovement of the Missourri River from the mouth ‘to Sioux City :—Kan- sas City division—4,200 feet of bank revet- ment was coustructed and a thorough sur- vey of the river within the limits of the di- vision made. It is expected revetment work will be substantially completed the present seuson. . Leavenworth Division—8,959 feet of re- vetment has been construcied and a thorough survey of this portion of the river made. Extensive rectification works have been projected above Fort Leavenworth, but the +mull balance of the appropriating re- maining will not allow their inception the present season ; 10,009 feet more revetment are required. St. Joseph Division—In this division work was done in two places, St. Joseph and Atchison, At St. Joseph efforts were directed to repairing and extending the El- wood.revetinent opposite the town, which had been dumaged during the flood of 1881. About 4,100 feet of revetment was placed, and will meet immediate danger, thon gh its ultimate extension to Belmont is deemed essential, as is also the extension of revet- ment on the upper side of the French bot- tom above St. Joseph. ‘This work will be carried on as tar as possible the coming sea- son. At Atchison the work done was direct- ed to protccting t e left bank of the river above the bridge by the construction of some training dykes. A survey of the river within the limits of the division was also made, ‘There was allotted from the gener- al appropriation for the work on this por- tlon of the river, $340,000, of which $110,- 461 remained unexpended July 1,1883. Im- portant work was also done during the year at St. Charles, Nebraska City, Omaha, and other pointe, Of operations the present year, the engineer says: “These will nec- essavily be very limited, and will consist mainly in extending and keeping up the work now already in place.” The completion and protection of the large and costly plant fs au. imperative necessity. und will be a heavy draft on the balance of last year’s appropriations. Lt is a grievous disappointment to all to be thus checked by lack of funds just as the organi- zation has been completed and an adequate plant secured, and the results can not but be serious so far as tuture interests of this work are concerned. Unlees the work can be carried on continuously, with ample funds, its success is very problematical. The act of 1882 appropriated $850,000 for the improvement ‘of this river, of which $150,200 remained anexpended July 1, 1883. ‘The engineer estimates $7,150,000 will be required to complete the present project, and recommends $1,000,000 be appropriated next year, ‘Work has been carried on at various pdints on the Mississippi River between the Illinois and Ohio Rivers, as fullows: At Arsenal [shind, Horse ‘Tail; "wo Hol- lows, (eart bank) Pulltight, “Jimsmith’s,’ Foster Island. and Alton ivbor. ‘The operations here consisted: -in excending and ralsing the dyke begae in 188]. lt was ex- tended to the full length contemplated, 4,800 feet.; For a distance of 3.000 teet it was raised to its full height, 14 feet above low- water mark, for-a distance of 700. feet to 1,200 feet, and the remaining distance to 10 teet. There was expended $34,000. The engineer submits an estimate of the cost of the completion of the existing pro- ject for the improvement of the river from the Illinois to the Ohio, whieh. he fixes at $14,152,500. “He recommends au appropria= tion of $1,000,000 for use vext year, He says it is proposed to extend this tirst in im- proving that part of Hart river below St. Louis, and then working down the stream, reclaiming land and building up new banks, thus reducing the river to an approximately uniform width ot about 2,500 feet. Lt is in- tended by this to sectire a channel depth of at least 8 feet at the lowest stage. Alluvial banke are also to be protected trom erasion. The act of 1882 appropriated $600,000 fox this work, and the unexpended balance July 1, 1883, was $195,246, Improvement Mississippi, opposite St. Louis: There was allotted to this work last vear $60,000, of which $33,094 was ex- pended, leaving available}26,096 It is es- timated this sum will be sufficient to com- plete the improvement. Improvement Mississippi at or near Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Milton Point, Il: It is estimated $41,820 will be required to com- plete the work, and that sum can be profit- ably expended next year. The following appropriations are recom- mended for next year for the continuace of _ ‘Michigan improvements: Charlevoix harbor,, Frankfort harbor,,, 000 Portage Lake harbor refuge 140,000 Manis:ee harbor... 50,000 Ludington harbo: 40,000 Pentwater harbor... 40,000 Whitewater harbor. 50,000 Moskegon harbor... 100,000 Black Lake harbo: 2°10 Saugatuck barbor. 12,000 South Haven har! 30, 0 Total... WasHInaron, Aug. 17.—The contracts for the construction of the new cruisers were furwarded to Secretary Chandler this week, and have been sigtied by him. ‘They ‘are now in the hands of Mr. Roach, ‘I'be dis- patch boat DoJphin is under way, and work on the Boston, Chicago and Atlanta will be commenced shortly. Every preparation is being made by the Advisory Board to push forward the construction of the’ vessels as rapidly as possible. Inspectors are being ordered to take charge of the different branches of the work to serve under the di- rection of the board. Naval Constructor G. R. Boush has been ordered to Chester as in- spector of hulls, aud two assistant naval in- structors, Hoover and Hanecom, have been detailed for similar duty. Lieutenants F. J. Drake and F. P. Gilmore are now at the Washington Arsenal being instructed in ordnance, preparatory to being ordered as inspectors of materials at the rolling mills which will furnish the : aterlals for the new vessels. ; cn a I a aA A I SE a cE Te CE Ee Ee EY ON LAKE ERIE. From the September Atlantic. ‘ In approaching the lake, long betore the blue ribbon that binds the northern horizon | appears above the land verge, you should know by the quick, springing breeze that you are nearing some great gathering of wa- ters. yonder by that three-forked. seeptre thrust sharply up against the sky—though it is possible that you may see nothing but the crabbed form of a tall dead tree: from long familiarity [have learned its true pur- port. Observe bow the landscape avails it- self of the lake as a favorable foil. Mhis field of ripe whent.—how red is ite gold when dis- played: agaiust the azure distance! Never looked Indian corn more beautiful than here, floating its green blades on the wind, and holding whispered parley. with the wate Ht we walk along, having this tield hetwoe'l us and the lake, we shall still-cateh glimpsex of. ita heavenly face down oll the vistas formed by the rows. Thus we play hide and seek awhile before coming face tu face with our friend. It is nota difficult matter, any morning, to take the lake napping (for it holds no arro- gant views on the subject of early rising.) At sunrise, its only sound is the soft lapping of the ripples along. the sand, a sweet and careless lipeervice. One would say. that the ‘hildeer’s sharp wing left a distinet mark up- on the surface. As the bird rises higher, its shadow, slim and elongated in the water, seems to-be diving,—a shadowy bird tor striking shadowy fish, ‘The interva’ between the faint swells has the gloss and smoothness of the will-stream slipping over the edge of the dam. While in this slumberous condi tion the lake well merits the characteriza- tion of ‘The Big Pond giver it by one who Is frequently with me upon the beach. ‘ Often ’tis in such gentle temper found Tha: scarcely will the very sm «lest shell Bs moved for days from where it sometime fell When last the winds of heaven were unbound.” At evening, when the lake breeze is drop- ing off to sleep, this wide spread of misty olue looks not. unike a tine lawny curtain, or tent cloth, tacked at the horizon, free ai the shore, and here and there lifted by a light wind underneath. At such time to east in a pebble were, seemingly, at the risk of making an trreparable rent in an exquil- site fabric. Where, inland, dovs the day so graciously take leave? Not that the color pageant is here especial’'y remarkable, but that the water has the effect of a supple- mental heaven, repeating and emphasizing the tendemness and beauty of the evening sky. On these two canvases, how many pictures, both lovely and grotesque, have been painted! How often the trail of erim- son light over a mouerately rough surface showed me the outline of a monstrous lake serpent, Whose head was at the down-going of the sun, and whose tail reached to the oozy sand at my feet,—that tail, sure to writhe until the very last beam had depart. ed! Once watching the sun eink through a light mist, 1 saw what appeared a globe slowly filling with water, as though the lake had risen init by force of capillary attrac- tion. At another time, astrip of dark cioud lying across the sun, threw up the protile of a tropical island, palm grove, coral reef, and lagoon: a graven land of the sun, with the golden disk for a sunset back-ground. One memorable evening there was a rainbow, of Which one base rested upon the lake. The reven-hued seal laid upon that spot hinted that the traditional treasure cofter of ‘the heavenly are had been sunk in the water for greater security. Far away from land, might nota rainbow, with its shadow upon the waves, vainly indicate a prismatic circle, through which a sailing ship might seem to pass to unimagined regions of romauce? $$$ —$_— Nothing that should now be done with paper would cause much surpris Pails, tubs, tableware, floor-matting, car-wheels, railroad ties, houses, and obrervatory domes are no longer novelties, and now a steam- boat made almost entirely of paper is about to be launched on the Ohio river. [t is twenty feet long and can carry several tons. ‘The sheathing is a solid paper three-eighths of an inch thick, You should infer who holds sway | ABOVE 'THE RAPIDS. From the Inter Cosan, Lhave just read, in your Sunday issue, under the head of “Escapes at Niagara,” ah account of several escapes at that treach- erous place, and f think [have one never published. as interesting and hair-searing asnny I have ever seen published. Ut ‘s one in which [ was the sole actor, Well, I will briefly relate, as | remember, the situa- tion and the surroundings—the how and where and when it was. [was a resident of the village of Chippewr, at the mouth of the Chippewa Creek or Welland River, where the Welland Canal by way of the Welland River, enters the Niagara river through.a “eue”’ which opens into the Niag- uraa little above the mouth ot the Welland. From Chippewa across the river, below Navy Island to. the old “French Landing,” half a mile below Schlossy, opposite the foot of Navy Island, the. river is said to be two and a half or three miles in width and about three-quarters of a mile above the Niagara Rapids. L owned a that skiff, with- out keel which | often crossed the river on various. errands. About the middle ef October, 1851, an American tailor called cn me and asked for the use of my boat to take some cloth over tu the American side. 1 re- fused to loan him the boat, but told him [ would. take the cloth over for him if be would Jeave it with we and meet me on the other side in time to enable me to return be- fore dark. He brought the cloth and L went over with it, but’ he was late-in. coming .to take tt auway thatit wasdark wher | sturted tur home. L rewed «to “Grass Island,” a low island opposite the “landing,’? some distance from the American shore, and bde- -zan-to study uy course across the river. A slight breeze enabled ine to lay my course. Ustarted out, heading well up. Lhad go-e puta short distance from Grass [sland when (found myself without any means of know- ing which way L was going. The breeze had become so faint L could not.teel it, and the darkness had been made more palpable by a heavy cloud from which snow was falling, and which seemed to make the darkness more impenetrable; [ could not hear the falls, nor even the rapids, which were so near ine; [looked fora light, bat none was visible; L locked for the shadow of Navy Island, but the darkness was too dark for a shadow—I could not even see the water upon which L floated. IT dare not -stop te throw over an anchor; [ feared the frail line might part, and I Knew L would 300n be in the rap ds it I did not keep my- self up by constant, hard rowing. My skit? had no keel, and lL would not know if it should change its course. I fancied, now and then, my eculls felt more resistance, which warned me that Iwas heading the wrong way, and then, would change my course. At iength I saw a light which seemed to be passing objects rapidly, bui 1 dare not be suided by it, for [ knew no light at Chippe- wa would be shownin that way. [after- ward learned that it was at the toll gate be- tween Chippewa and the Falls, between which andthe river isa grove of trees. Soon after [saw the lyght Ll passed over the reef near the rapids, and the pitching of the ~kilf in goiug over the rough break on the reet caused me to take a pall on the oar on the side toward the rapids, and by which tie skiff was turned downward. LI felt safe, however, for L knew T coul | run down the Buruing Spring rapids safely. [ reached the shore near the head of the rapids, and towed and rowed by tarns up to Chippewa, where I arrived about 11 o’clock. I haye had a hand in several other escapes, though none as terrible as this. tad there been a keel on my skiff [L would have gone over the falls. ‘Phe skiff was afterwards used in ranning the raplds past the Burn- ing Spring, and at last made its final pass- age over the falls. — Mr. Fries now owns the largest fleet of any single owner on the lakes. He owns allof the William Edwards, Golden Age, Charles Foster and M. W. Page, seven- eights of the Atmosphere and three-fourths of the William Shupe, all of which are com- paratively uew yessels. evr