wyijv - yfw\i.~ > VOL. V. "NO.34 CLEVELAND, 0.,, AUGUST 23, 1883. fa.uo I'm a»v"m Hisoik Coriin 6 Cxsi.". \ R1VEB IMPROVEMENT. A dispatch lrnnr"Washliigtoii, August 17, pnyB tho engineers liv charge of works on the HIsBourl mill Mississippi Rivers renort aa follows on i lie removal oj' snags tttitl rooks: Tlircn's'iig bouts, wore Ht work dur- lugtho year on the Missouri. Hut llttlu was dope last full, owing to the extremely low stago of water, but difrlng the spring the river was put in a very satisfactory condi¬ tion. On tlioMUBlsslppl'the work was very thorough and contfftote, and the rIVer was kept In better condition than ever before possible. The work on Hie Mississippi ex¬ tended from the mouth of the Missouri Klver to Qhtsscock's Island, a distance ot 1,000 miles. For this Work $85,000 was up- proprlttod by the act of 1842, and there re¬ mained unexpended July 1, 1883, $10,201. An appropriation of (17,000 is reuouiuiend- ed for use next year. .' On the Missouri tho operations extended from the mouth to Kitt)>as city, a distance of 375 miles. The whole distance was worked over twice and the lower half fout times. For this work the act of 1882 appropriated $05,000, and there rcinuliraJ unexpended of this and former appropriations on July 1, 1783, $08,330 An appropriation ol$188,000 Is asked for m'xt year. An estimate of $130,- 000 Is submitted lor the construction and repairs of suag-bnats _Qii__tUeae-t«o~river8. vltrolojtlTgTlie report tb« engineer says: "The failure of the river and liarbor blU, was very unfortunate lor tlfe West. Tho thorough work last season bad placed the rivers In eximllentcondition, and they could have ensHy been kept so I'lad-thc luuds been available. As it,Is, however, the small bul- unce from last year's appropriations will only admit of six moplli's work during the year," During the past year tho survey oftlio Mis¬ souri River was extended from Kort Kai- dall to Pierre, 102 miles. An appropriation of $50,000, available early next spring, Is asktd lor to cover 500 miles of the river during they cur; $03,000 "111 be required to complete the work. It la estimated $25,000 will be required to complete tin: Inipiovc- ment of the Gasconade Klver in Missouri-!, but the engineer reports the uatiiic ot the stream biicIi that any consldciuble depth avallablo for boats of any capacity can prob¬ ably only be obtained by means ol locks and dams. Improvement of the Missourrl Klver from the month to Sioux City:—Kan¬ sas city ulvlidiiii—4,200 feat of bank revet¬ ment watf constriieied and a thorough sui- vey of the liver within the limits of the di¬ vision made. U In expected revetment work will be substantially completed the present season Leavenworth Division—8,030 feet of re¬ vetment has been constructed and a thorough Mirvey of this portion of the river made. Ext-nslvo reotitlcillon works have' been projected above Kort Leavenworth, but the Mil.ill balance of the npproprhitl ms re- maluiug will not allow their Inception the present sea-on; 10,00') feet more revetment are required. ' St. Joseph Division—In this division work win done In two places, St. Joseph and Aiehison. At St. Joseph ellorts wuio directed to repairing and extending live. 101- wood revetment opposite the town, which bad been damaged during the Hood of 18_sl. About 1,100 feet of revetment was placed, and will meet liniiicdlnlo danger, though It- ultimate cxteiislnii to Belmont is deemed isscutul, as Is also the extension of revet¬ ment on the upper side ot the French bot¬ tom above St. Joseph. This work will lie carried on as lar as possible the coming sen- son. At Aiuhison the work done was direct¬ ed to protecting t e left bank of the river above tho bridge by the construction of some training dykes. A survey of the river within the limits of tile division was also made. There was allotted from the gener¬ al appropriation for tho wotk on till* por¬ tion ol the liver, $340,000, ol which $110,- 401 remained unexpended July 1,1883. Im¬ portant work was also done during the year at St. Charles, Nebraska Olty, Omaha, and other points. Ol operations the present year, tlie engineer says v "These will neo- eisailly be very limited, slid will consist uialnly In extending and keeping up tho wotk no# already In place." The completion and protection of the large mid costly plant U "an Imperative necessity and will be a henv> draft on the balance of last year's appropriation". It |s a grlcvo'us disappointment to nil to he thus checked by lack of funds Just ;i- tho organi¬ sation has been completed and an adequate plant secured, and the resitlin i-aii not but be serious so far aa liiinre itiicrcsis of Ibis work are concerned. Unless the work can be carried on continuously, with ample funds. Its success is very piobhwiullcnl. The act of 1882 appropriated »S3U.0O0 for the Improvement of tills rlwsr, of which $160,200 remained unexpended .Ink 1,1883. The engineer estimates $7,150,000 will be required to coiupliTi- the' picscni project, and recommends $1,000,000 be nppioprlntcd next. year. Work has been carried on at. various points on the Mississippi Klver between the Illinois and Ohio Rivers, as fijiow: At Arsenal IhIhuI, Horse Tall, I wo Hol¬ lows, (emu hank) Pulltlglit. MimsmltlrV," Foster Island and Alton Harbor, The operations hero consisted in cxendlng and raising thedyke begnr In 1S8). It was ex¬ tended to the full leuglb couieinplaled, 4,800 feeU__F-OT-a distance of 3.000 leet it was raised to Its full height, 11 feet atioVe low- water mark, for a distance of 700 leet to 1,200 feet, and the remaining distance to 10 leet. There was expended $34,000. .. The engineer submits an estimate of the cost of the completion of the existing pre¬ lect for the Improvement of the river fiom the Illinois to the Ohio, which lie Axes at $14,152,500. He ri'couimends no appropria¬ tion of $1,000,000 for use uexr year. He says it Is pvopo-cd to extend tins lirst In im¬ proving that part of Hart liver lielov St. Louis, and then working down the stream, reclaiming land and building op new bunks, thus reducing the liver to an approximate!} uniform width ot about 2,500 feel. It Is in¬ tended by this to secure a channel depth o: at least 8 feet at the lowest stage. Alluvial banks are also to be protected horn enislon. The act of 1882 apprnpilaied $000,000 lot (Ids wtuk, and .the unexpended b.dauce July 1, 1883J v,.e,?l'JS;21U. Improvement Mississippi, opposite St. Louis: There was allotted to thla wort, hist vear $00,000, of which $33,004 was ex¬ pended, leaping avnllable$2li,UDG It Is es¬ timated this sum will be "Ullloient to com¬ plete the improvement. Improvement Mississippi at or near Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Milton Point, ill.: It Is estimated $41,820 will be required to com¬ plete the work, and that sum can be prudi¬ shly expended next year. The following appropriations are recom¬ mended for next year 'oTthe eoutlnimce of Michigan Improvements: Clurlovolx harbor......................„..........„.,} 40,000 t-niukforl harbor................. ...........____ 50,000 I'urmgn Lako Harbor nfnge................... 140,1100 M'liili.L'u lisrlmr............................................ 60,ouo Liidlilgion harbur ...,.................................. '40,000 I'tlitwHter liurbi.r......................................... 40.000 Whltonuti-r harbor........................................ 60,000 MDHkigoii harbor....................................... loo 000 tir.ind llnveu hurbur................................ 150,000 Black Lako harbor.................................... 2'Y'OO buiignluck hftrbux....................... > ......... 12,1100 South Uavt'li halbor...................................... 30, 0 St. Juseph harbor...................................... 60,000 Total . ......................................_____ 1182,000 Wasiiinqion, Aug. 17.—The contiacts for the construction of (he new emitters were hr warded to Secretary Chandler this week, and have been signed by him. They are now In the hands of Mr. Koneh. The dis¬ patch boat Dolphin Is under way, and woik on the Huston, Chicago and Atlanta will be commenced shortly. Kvery preparation Is being made bv the Advisory Board to push forward tho construction of Jho vessels as rapidly as possible. Inspectors are being ordered to take charge of the .different brandies of the work; to serve under the di¬ rection of the boardi Naval Constructor U. K. llousb bus been ordered to Chester as. In¬ spector of bulls, and two assistant naval In¬ structors, Hooycr and Haut'com, liave been detailed for similar duty. Lieutenants F. J, Drake and F. P. Gllmore arc now at the Washington Arsenal being Instructed '" ordnance, preparatory to being ordered as Inspectors of materials at the rolling mills which will furnish the t: atoiials for (lie new vessels. -. ON LAKE K1UE. /Vow tha Seplambcr Atla'ntla. ■ In approaching the lake, long before the bjiio ribbon thutbliids tho northern boii/.on appears above the laud verge, you should know by the quick, springing breeze that you are iicarlligBnnie great gathering of \vi- terB. You should Infer who holds sway yonder by that throe-lurked sceptre thrust sharply up against the sky—though It Is possible, that you may see nothing tout the crijtiricd-form of a tall dead tiee: 'front long familiarity I have learned Its trim pui- lioit. Observe how the landscape avails it¬ self of the lake as a"favorable foil. This Held of ripe wheat.—how ri'd Is Its gold iVhen ills- played against the azure distance! Never looked Indian corn more beautiful than here, limiting Its green blades on the wind and lioliling whispered pailey with the water. If wc walk along, having this Held between us and |hc hike, we shall still catch glimpses of Its heavenly, face down all the vistas formed by the rows. Tims we play bide mid seek-nwbile bel'oie coming lace to face with onr friend. It Is not a dlfllciill mutter, any morning, to tnku the lake nii|>priTjjTsWfr it hohlsVn arro¬ gant views on the subject of curly \lslug ) At sunrise, Its onlysut ml Is the suit lapplnu. of the ripple's along the simd,. a sweet mid careless lip service. Ono would say that the klldeer-'n sharp vying {elta distinct 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 lor [striking shadowy IHh. Thclnirrva' between tlie faint anells has the ginks and smoothness of the inlll-streaiu slipping over tlie edge of the dam. While ill this shimliiTuu- eoiull lion the lake" well merits the chuiactcrjzu- tiou of The Dig Pond given it by one \\ho Is frequently with me upon the beach. ' Often 'tis la biicIi itnntle tunuicr found ^ T|iat»curc«ly will lliuvury aiinll. s| Midi ■ Bt iiiovinI •fofrtiryfl'fnmi whero It aoainthiK fell Whoo hut die winds ot hcau-n were uobonauV' Aueveuiug, ulien the lake bree/.e is drop- tug otl to'sleep, ibis whle spiead ol mUty nine looks not unlike u tine lawny curtail , or lent cloth, tacked at the horizon, free si tlie -,In■ i.■, ami here and th'uiu lilted by :i light wind underneath. At such time to cast in a pebble were, seemingly, at the risk of making an irrcparabjc lent In an exqul site fabric. Wbeie, Inland, does the day so graciously take leave? Not that the coloi pageant 'is here espciiary teiiiarkable.'bm lliat the water has the ellect of a sujiple mental heaven, repeating and emphasizing the tenderness ami beauty of the eveiiluo sky. On these two canvases, how many .pictures; both lovely iu_id_ gria^wusbavc_ been painted I How often the tndTnl'criin- sou llglit over a moileratiily rough surface showed me the outllmt of a monstrous Inks serpent, whilBc head Han at the dowu-golug of the sun, and whose tall reaehetl to the oozy sand at my leet,—that tail, sure to wlithe until the very last beam bad ilepait ed! Once watching the sun sink through a light mist, 1 saw what appenrrd a globe slowly Oiling with water, as though the hike bad risen in It by force, of eapillaiy atlrae- tlon. At another tlim, a strip ol dai k cloud lying across the.sun, threw up tliif |nollle ol a tropical island, palm grove, coial reel, and lagoon: a graven laud ol the suit, with the golden disk for a sunset back-ground. One memorable evening there was a rainbow , ol which ono base rested upon the lake. The seven-lined seal laid upon that spot hinted that I he traditional trensiiie collei ol the heavenly arc bad been sunk In the water lor greater security. Faraway from land, might nut a rainbow, with its shallow upon the waves, vainly Indicate' a prismallu circle, through which a sailing ship might seem to pass to unluiiigliicd regions of romance? ABOVE THE JIAFIDS. Fntin the Inter t c'toi,. I have just read, In your Sunday Issue, under the head ol l'Kscapes id Niagara," mi account ot several escapes at that treach¬ erous place, mid I think 1 have outi never published, as liileresling and hiilr-sciirltttf as any I have ever seen published- It, 'a one in which I was the sole actor. Wei), I will brielly re hue', as I remember, the altua. tlou and the surroundings—-tho bow and where and when It was. I was a resident. the village of Chlupewe, at tho mouth Of u Chippewa Clerk or Wellainl Riyet, where the Wellaud Canal by nay of the Nothing that should now be done with paper would cause much lliiqirlse. Pall", tubs, tableware, lloor-inaitlug, car-wheels, railroad ties, houses, and observatory domes are no longer novelties, mid now a steam¬ boat made almost entirely of paper.ls about to be launched on the Ohio river. It Is twenty feet long and can carry several tons. Tlie sheathing Is a solid paper three-eighths of an Inch ihk-k. I Welliind River, enters tlie .Niagara river through a "cut" which opens into the Niag¬ ara a Mule above the mouth ot the Wellaud. From Chippewa across the river, belo\v .Navy Island to thcold ■'French Landing," half a mile, below Schlossy, opposite tlie foot of Navy Island, the livijr is said to .be two and a hall or three miles In width and about three-quarters of a mile above the Niagara Kapids. 1 owned a tlal skill', with¬ out keel, in which I olteu crossed the river on various errand-, About the. middle of October, lH."il, an Auiei lean tailor culled < n me and asked fur tlie usi: of my bo.il to take some cloth over In the Auieiiuiu side. 1 re¬ fused to loan him the hual, lint lold hlin 1 would lake the clolb over lor him ll he wciild leave It with me and meet me on tho' ot her side in time to enable me to return be- f ire tlark. He brought the-tfUtUHttrd I went nver with Ir, but he was lain III coming to take It away tnVitit iva-d;irk when I started fur limne. I rowed to "Urass Island," :; low Island opposltu the "landing," some distance horn the American shore, and be¬ -all to study my course across the i ivui. A -llglit breeze enalded Ine to lay my course. I sinned oui, heading well up. 1 hail go e nit a e-hort dl-taucu ttoiti Gr.iss Maud w hen 1 lulled uiysell'^illiout anv iiieiun, ul know¬ ing which \yiy f was going'. .The biee/.e Had become so taint 1 could not leel It, and tlicdnikncss had been made nunc palpable oy ii heavy cloud ltom which snow was tailing, and which, seemed to make the daikui'-s more liiipenetiable; I could not Ileal'tile lulls, nor.even the lapnls, which w'eicMi near me; I looked I'm a light, but none was visible; 1 looked for the shadow of Navy Island, but tlie darkjicss was too ■link tin a shadow—1 could not even see the ivaler upon which 1 Honied. I dare not stop lc throw over an anchor; I feaied the tniil line might part, and I knew I would .null be In the rap ds It 1 did not keep my- ■ell uf) by constant, hard rowing. My skill' had no keel, and 1 would not knuw it ll -boiild change Us couise. I fancied, now "iiiiil*llTeTi,*l«y" sctllfs Ic1t-morn_n,si»tamw, - which wallied me that Iwas beading the wrong way, and then would change my couise. At length I saw a light which seemed to be passlog'objects rapldlv,(liui I dine not be guided by It, for I knew nu light at Chippe¬ wa would be shown in lhauwa\. I atlei- ivard learned that It was at ihe toll gate be¬ tween ( hlppewa and the I'.ills, between which mid lire livor Is a grove of tries. Soon aller 1 saw tlie ll^bt I passed over the i eel near the rapids, and the plleldsig of the -kill In Kolug ovei.tlu: lough lueak on the leet caused me to take a'pull on the oar on tlie stile toward the rapids, and by which t ic skill' was turned downwind. 1 felt safe, liowever, for 1 knew I cool 1 run down the lluiiiing bpiiug rapids -ulr!). I reached the shore near the head of the rapids, and towed and rowed by turns up to Chippewa, where 1 arrived about 11 o'eluck. 1 have bud a baud In several other escapes, though none as terrible as ibis, Had there becu a-keel on my skltf I would have gone; over the falls. The skid' was, afterwards used In running the rapid* past the Burn¬ ing Spring, and at lust made its final pass¬ age over the lulls. Mr. Fries now owns the largest fleet of any single owner on the lakes. Ho owns allot the Wlllluiii Edwards, Golden Age, Charles Foster and M. W. Page," aoveu- elglits of the Atmosphere and three-fourths ol the William Sliupe, all of which are com¬ paratively new vessels. ^