instrument containing the approval of the Secretary of War for the erection by this company of its proposed bridge across the Sunflower River. As requested by you, I beg to return herewith one copy of the executed instrument, indicating approval by the Secretary of War of the plans for the bridge proposed to be erected by this company across the Yazoo River, said paper having been sent to this office through mistake. With thanks for your kind and prompt attention in these matters, I am, President. Hon. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT, Secretary of War. W W 18. HIGH BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT DUBUQUE, IOWA, AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED FEBRUARY 21, 1887. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Rock Island, Ill., January 13, 1887. GENERAL: In my letter of August 31, 1886, I brought to the notice of the Department that a high bridge was in course of construction at Dubuque in lieu of the ponton bridge authorized by act of Congress approved May 29, 1884. I further stated that, "although the proposed height of bridge (over the channel) is but 50 feet, while if the plans had been submitted 55 feet would have been recommended," yet the high bridge, if built as proposed by the company, "would be less of an ob struction to navigation than the ponton bridge authorized by law." By indorsements on my letter of August 31, 1886, I was instructed to forward plans, etc., for the action of the Secretary of War. After considerable delay in obtaining the papers from the bridge company, I now have the honor to forward herewith the following documents duly au thenticated: (1) Articles of incorporation of the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company, with amendments thereto. (2) Proceedings of East Dubuque Bridge Company, (holding the charter for the ponton bridge under act of May 29, 1884), transferring their rights to the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company, and approving the change from a ponton bridge to a high bridge. (3) Records of first meeting of Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company. (4) Plan and elevation of proposed high bridge under construction by Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company. (5) Details of piers. The drawings show the elevation of lower chord of long span at from 51 to 55 feet above extreme high-water mark, which will permit the pas sage of any boat now in use on the Upper Mississippi River. The ar rangements of piers and location are good, and, as I stated in my letter of August 31, 1886, I believe the proposed bridge to be less of an obstruction to navigation than the ponton bridge authorized by law. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. MACKENZIE, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. Major of Engineers. [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, September 26, 1887. Respectfully returned to Maj. A. Mackenzie for report. Major Mackenzie is requested to ascertain whether the high bridge now being built across the Mississippi River at Dubuque is the one referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887, and, if so, whether in his opinion such wagon bridge is a "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." He will also report whether the bridge is being constructed upon the location and according to the plan inclosed herewith. If the bridge in question is correctly represented, or if changes have been made, drawings of the bridge as it is being built should be submitted in duplicate by the bridge company. By command of Brigadier-General Duane. [Second indorsement.] JAS. C. POST, Major of Engineers. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers. (1) The high wagon bridge built at Dubuque, Iowa, by the "Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company" is the bridge referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887. (2) This bridge has been constructed upon the location and according to plans originally presented by the above-named company and now accompanying this paper. (3) This bridge is not a "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." For reasons upon which above conclusions are based, reference is made to my report dated February 2, 1888, inclosed herewith. The duplicate plans of bridge as built are sent herewith, as requested. A. MACKENZIE, Major of Engineers. [Third indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY, Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War, through the Acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army. The bridge within referred to was originally authorized by act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, to be built as a ponton bridge, which act was modified by an act approved May 29, 1884, and finally, by act approved February 21, 1887, authorized to be built as a high wagon and foot-passenger bridge. The bridge is already constructed under the lastnamed act, and, as will appear from the accompanying report of Maj. A. Mackenzie, Corps of Engineers, dated February 2 last, has been constructed upon the location and according to the accompanying plans, and furnishes reasonable accommodation to the steam-boats now navigating the Upper Mississippi River, and is no "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." Major Mackenzie's views are concurred in and no objection exists to the approval of the plans of the bridge within submitted by the Secretary of War. JAS. C. POST, Acting Chief of Engineers. Fourth indorsement. ] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War. The accompanying papers are complete, with the exception of the extracts of the company's minutes showing the names of the present officers of the company, and the acceptance by the company of the provisions of the act of Congress granting the privilege in question, which do not accompany these papers. The evidence of the acceptance by the company of the provisions of the act of Congress is essential under the rule of the War Department of July 31, 1886. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. [Fifth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, inviting attention. Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War, through the Acting Judge-Advocate-General, U. S. Army, with the papers referred to in the fourth indorsement. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. [Seventh indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War, with instrument (prepared in duplicate) for his approval of plan and location of the bridge constructed by the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company over the Mississippi River between the city of East Dubuque, Ill., and the city of Dubuque, Iowa. G. NORMAN LIEBER, Acting Judge-Advocate-General. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers to have the acceptance executed by the proper officer of the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Com Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War with the acceptance duly executed in accordance with the requirements of the foregoing indorsement. J. C. DUANE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers. REPORT OF MAJOR A. MACKENZIE, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, ACCOMPANYING SECOND INDORSEMENT ON THE FOREGOING COMMUNICATION. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Rock Island, Ill., February 2, 1888. GENERAL: By an indorsement dated Office Chief of Engineers, September 26, 1887, I was requested to ascertain whether the high bridge across the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa, was the one referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887, and whether the bridge is constructed upon the location and according to the plans presented by the "Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company" and forwarded to the Chief of Engineers with my letter of January 13, 1887; also whether in my opinion this high wagon bridge is a "substantial obstruction to the navigation of said river." Immediately upon receipt of the papers I addressed letters to the managers of the packet companies on the Upper Mississippi, requesting dimensions of their packets and their opinion as to possible dimensions of the boats of the future which might be considered most suitable to the upper river trade. The last reply to my inquiries has just been received. The high wagon bridge at Dubuque, Iowa, opened for travel November 29, 1887, was built by the Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company. Construction was commenced under authority supposed by the company to be granted by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1875, and amended by act approved May 29, 1884. These acts authorized the construction of a ponton bridge, and permission was granted to the "East Dubuque Bridge Company" to construct a ponton bridge. This com pany transferred all their rights and franchises to the "Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company," which changed the plans and built the existing high bridge. Attention being called to the fact that the act of Congress did not authorize such a structure as was being built, the matter was presented to Congress by the bridge company, and an act of Congress, approved February 21, 1887, authorized the "Dubuque Ponton Bridge Company," the company holding the franchise of the "East Dubuque Bridge Company," to construct in lieu of the pontoon bridge a high wagon bridge, and it is under this act that the existing high bridge at Dubuque was completed. By the act of February 21, 1887, the acts referring to a pontoon bridge were virtually repealed, and there now exists no authority for the further construction of bridges under the acts of Congress herein referred to. I would therefore reply that the high bridge across the Mississippi River at Dubuque, Iowa, is the one referred to in the act of Congress approved February 21, 1887, and the bridge is built on the location and according to the plans originally forwarded with my letter of January 13, 1887. This high bridge is located immediately below the existing railroad bridge, with piers in same line. So far as widths of spans are concerned, the bridge satisfies all demands of navigation. From measurements taken since the bridge was completed, it appears that the clear heights given are very slightly in excess of those indicated on the plans submitted. The clear headway above high water of 1880 given by the bridge are as follows: At a point 20 feet east of west channel pier At a point 50 feet west of draw protection of railroad bridge. Feet. 51.0 54.8 55.56 The available height may therefore be considered at 54.8 feet above the high water of 1880, the highest of which we have authentic record. The largest boats now navigating the Upper Mississippi River are the Saint Paul and War Eagle, of the Saint Louis and Saint Paul Packet Company, and the managers of the line report that they consider the Saint Paul a model boat for the upper-river trade, and would follow her dimensions in the construction of new boats. The chimneys and pilothouses of these boats are higher than those of any of the Diamond Jo Line steamers. The heights for the Saint Paul above water-line are: Top of chimneys, 61.6 feet; top of pilot-house, 48 feet; and these are the heights to be taken in connection with a consideration of the Dubuque High Bridge as a substantial obstruction to navigation. On the Ohio River, where high bridges are common, it is customary to consider the height of the pilot-house only, it being practicable to lower chimneys, and an excess of 3 feet above pilot-house is usually given. Considering the heights, it appears that all boats now used on the Upper Mississippi, even when light, would, so far as tops of pilot-houses are concerned, pass under the Dubuque High Bridge at extreme high water, and their chimneys would also pass under without lowering whenever stage was less than 7 feet below extreme high water. Ä higher stage than 7 feet below extreme high water is not common, and is of comparatively short duration. During high water it has happened that the larger class of steamers from the Ohio or the Lower Mississippi have been sent for an occasional trip through to Saint Paul. Such a class of boats could not in all cases pass under the Dubuque High Bridge; but as such class is not adapted to the Upper Mississippi River, and do not properly belong there, they they have not been considered. |
